NC truck license plate identification
North Carolina issued plates for "tonnage" starting in 1920 which included both trucks and trailers and were determined by the symbol "T" through 1927. In 1928, plates were changed to give trucks and trailers their own distinctive symbols. These symbols changed often by year.
1928
Single plate issued
Color: White numbers and border on green background Type: Embossed steel 5' x 15" Serial: 3-5 digit all numeric. Symbol: T- trucks with pneumatic tires, Ts- Trucks with solid tires Weight code over "28" on left side. Stacked "NC" on right side. Weight codes: F, G, H, N Weight divisions- 1/2 ton, 1 ton, 1-1/2 ton, 2 ton, 2-1/2 ton, 3 ton, 3-1/2 ton, 4 tons and greater. |
1929
Trucks with pneumatic tires carried a "T" symbol and trucks having solid tires carried a "Ts" symbol. Both had 8 weight codes which included C,E,F,G,H and N.
Single plate issued Color: White numbers and border on light blue background Type: Embossed steel 6" x 14" Serial: 5 digit all numeric with dash separating symbol & serial. Symbol: T- trucks with pneumatic tires, Ts- Trucks with solid tires left of serial Weight code: Right side of serial Weight codes: F, G, H, N Weight divisions- 1/2 ton, 1 ton, 1-1/2 ton, 2 ton, 2-1/2 ton, 3 ton, 3-1/2 ton, 4 tons and greater. "NORTH CAROLINA-1929" on bottom of plate First year of plates with NORTH CAROLINA spelled out. |
1930
Pairs of plates issued
Color: White numbers and border on maroon background Type: Embossed steel 6" x 14" Serial: 5 digit all numeric with dash separating symbol & serial Symbol: T- trucks with pneumatic tires, Ts- Trucks with solid tires left of serial Weight code: Right side of serial Weight codes: F, G, H, N Weight divisions- 1/2 ton, 1 ton, 1-1/2 ton, 2 ton, 2-1/2 ton, 3 ton, 3-1/2 ton, 4 tons and greater. "NORTH CAROLINA 1930" across top of plate. NOTE- Three variants known. space between T and number with no dash, Dash between T and number, Dash in the middle of the number. |
1930 was the first year for Interstate and Intrastate trucks to be licensed differently. All contract carrier truck plates had a "S" symbol and franchise carrier truck plates carried a "C" symbol. No weight codes were shown on these plates as taxes paid were based on 6% of the value of the products being transported.
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1931
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Pairs of plates issued
Color: Yellow numbers on black background Type: Embossed steel 6" x 14" Serial: 4-5 digit all numeric with dash separating symbol & serial Symbol: "TON"- trucks with pneumatic tires, "TS"- Trucks with solid tires under weight amount Weight divisions- 1/2 to 10 ton capacity in 1/2 increments "NORTH CAROLINA - 31" along bottom of plate. . Contract carrier truck plates included a "S" symbol to the left of the numbers. Franchise Carrier trucks included a "C" symbol to the left of the numbers. No plates with these symbols have been authenticated even though other years of these types are known.
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1932
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Pairs of plates issued
Color: Black numbers on yellow background Type; Embossed steel 6" x 14" Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating serial & symbol Symbol: T suffix for all private trucks. "NORTH CAROLINA-32" on top of plate. Weight codes not used this year. Contract carrier truck plates continued with the "S" symbol to the left of the plate number.
Franchise carriers were now considered "Interstate" trucks and had "IST" symbol to the right of the plate number. |
1933
Pairs of plates issued
Color: White numbers on blue background Type: Embossed steel 6" x 14" Serial: 4-5 digit all numeric with dash separating symbol & serial Symbol: None with trucks with pneumatic tires, "TS"- Trucks with solid tires to left of serial Weight divisions- 1/2 to 10 ton capacity in 1/2 increments "NORTH CAROLINA - 33" along bottom of plate. Contract carrier truck plates continued with the "S" symbol to the left of the plate number. Franchise carriers were still considered "Interstate" trucks and had "IS over T" symbol to the right of the plate number in lieu of tonnage. |
1934
Pairs of plates issued
Color: Yellow numbers on black background Type: Embossed steel 5 1/2" x 12" Serial: 4-5 digit all numeric with weight to right of serial Symbols: C- Franchise Carrier, S- Contract Carrier, "NORTH CAROLINA-34" on top of plate. All trucks now carried the "TON" symbol with the exception of Interstate trucks which carried the "IS over T" symbol of 1933. Contract carrier plates retained the "S" symbol to the left of the number. Franchise carriers again carried the "C" symbol. |
1935
Pairs of plates issued
Color: Silver numbers on black background Type: Embossed steel 5 1/2" x 12" Serial: 4-5 digit all numeric with symbol right of number Symbols: C- Franchise Carrier, S- Contract Carrier "NORTH CAROLINA-35" along bottom of plate. For 1935, symbols for trucks are shown as "B over T" for most trucks and "C over T" for road tractors trucks. Most of the "C/T" plates have the "C" and "S" symbols for contract and franchise carriers. The "G" symbol plate shown is a bit of a mystery as there is no explanation for this symbol. May be a replacement for X symbol used in 1934 as no 1935 plates have been confirmed. The 1933 General Assembly mentions "excursion passenger vehicles" such as sight-seeing tour vehicles so perhaps this plate may be just that. |
1936
Pairs of plates issued
Color: Light green numbers on black background Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12" Serial: 4-5 digit all numeric with symbol B left of serial "NORTH CAROLINA + 36" on top of plate. 1936 was a year of transition where trucks were classified by the letter "B" which was shown on registration cards as well. |
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943 (tab)
1944
1945
Single plate issued
Colors: Black letters on "Goldenrod" yellow background* *(Some later issues had "School Bus yellow" background) Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12" Serial: 6-digit all numeric with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of serial Numbers issued: 100001 through 300000 "NORTH CAROLINA 45" on bottom of plate |
1946
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
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Type 1
Pairs of plates issued Colors: "School Bus yellow" numbers on black background Type: Embossed steel 5-1/4" x 12" Serial: 6-digit all numeric 800-000 through 900-000 series with dash separating 3 & 4 digits of number. "TRUCK - N.C. 55" on bottom of plate Type 2
Pairs of plates issued Colors: "School Bus yellow" numbers on black background Type: Embossed steel and aluminum 5-1/4" x 12" Serial: Letter prefix series Y-00000 series with dash separating letter prefix and numbers. "NORTH CAROLINA 55" on bottom of plate |
1956
1957
Single plate issued
Colors: "School Bus Yellow" numbers and border on black background Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12" Serial: 1-S through 9999-TZ. Letters G, I, O, & Q not used. "DRIVE SAFELY" on top of plate "NORTH CAROLINA 57" on bottom of plate Later issued plates may have been made with bolt slots instead of holes. |
1958
1959
1960
Single plate issued
Colors: Black numbers and border on "School Bus Yellow" background Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12" Serial: 1-S through 9999-TZ. Letters G, I, O, & Q not used. "DRIVE SAFELY" on top of plate "NORTH CAROLINA 60" on bottom of plate Plates changed from slotted to round bolt holes between SW and T suffixes. |
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
1975
Single plate issued
Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective sheeting Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12" Serial: AA-1001 through DZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used Dies: 1956 through about DJ series, 1975 starting about DK series. "1975" on top center of plate "NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate Later plates manufactured with slightly smaller thinner (1975) dies. Some "hybrid" plates using both dies were also made. |
1976
1977
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Type 1
Single plate issued Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective sheeting Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12" Serial: AA-1001 through DZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used Dies: 1956 style "1977" on top center of plate "NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate Type 2
Single plate issued Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective sheeting Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12" Serial: AA-1001 through DZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used Dies: 1975 style "1977" on top center of plate "NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate Type 3
Single plate issued Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective sheeting Type: Embossed aluminum 6" x 12" Serial: AA-1001 through DZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used Dies: 1956 style "1977" on top center of plate "NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate Type 4
Single plate issued Colors: Red numbers and border on white reflective sheeting Type: Embossed aluminum 6" x 12" Serial: AA-1001 through DZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used Dies: 1975 style "1977" on top center of plate "NORTH CAROLINA" on bottom of plate |
1978 Base
Single plate issued 1978 used through 1988. Issued to trucks with <4000GVW.
Staggered registration implemented beginning in 1981. Colors: Green numbers and border on white reflective sheeting Type: Embossed steel 6" x 12" Serial: CA-1001 through JZ-9999. Letters G, I, O, Q, & U not used Dies: 1956 and 1975 style "1978" on top center of plate "NORTH CAROLINA" (Freedom Base) on bottom of plate |