Vehicle registration plates of Oklahoma
The U.S. state of Oklahoma first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1915.
Passenger baseplates 1915 to present
In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that fixed the size for license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Oklahoma license plate that complied with these standards.
Image | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1915 | Teal on white | none | 12345 | unknown | ||
1916 | White on blue | none | 12345 | unknown | ||
1917 | White on brown | none | 12345 | unknown | ||
1918 | Yellow numbering and border embossed on deep green base; "OKLA" embossed at left and date embossed at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 145000 | ||
1919 | Green numbering and border embossed on yellow base; "OKLA" embossed at left and date embossed at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 159000 | ||
1920 | Silver numbering and border embossed on black base; "OKLA" embossed at left and date embossed at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 168000 | ||
1921 | White numbering and border embossed on brown base; "OKLA" embossed at left and date embossed at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 179000 | ||
1922 | Black numbering and border embossed on blue-green base; "OKLA" embossed at left and date embossed at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 191-000 | ||
1923 | White numbering and border embossed on maroon base; "OKLA" embossed at left and date embossed at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 216-000 | ||
1924 | Silver numbering and border embossed on olive green base; "OKLA" embossed at left and date embossed at right | none | 123.456 | 1 to approximately 235.000 | ||
1925 | Silver numbering and border embossed on black base; "1925 OKLA" embossed at right | none | 123.456 | 1 to approximately 257.000 | ||
1926 | Black numbering and border embossed on yellow base; "OKLA 1926" embossed at bottom | none | 123-456 123A456 |
1 to approximately 276-000 | First use of car letter on plates for codes F = Ford and A = Other car dealers | |
1927 | Yellow numbering and border embossed on black base; "OKLA 1927" embossed at bottom | none | 123-456 123A456 |
1 to approximately 289-000 | ||
1928 | Black numbering and border embossed on yellow base; "OKLA" embossed at left and date embossed at right | none | 123-456 123A456 |
1 to approximately 318-000 | ||
1929 | Yellow numbering and border embossed on black base; "OKLA-29" or "OK-29" embossed at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 339-000 | ||
1929 (Ford registrations only) | Black numbering embossed on white base; "OKLA" embossed at left and date embossed at right | none | 123A456 | 1 to approximately 345A000 | ||
1930 | Black numbering and border embossed on yellow base; "OKLA-1930" embossed at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 356-000 | ||
1931 | Yellow numbering and border embossed on black base; "OKLA-1931" embossed at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 379-000 | Last use of state abbreivaiton OKLA on plates | |
1932 | Black numbering and border embossed on yellow base; "OKLAHOMA-1932" embossed at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 416-000 | First use of full state name on all passenger plates this stopped at 1939 but returned at 1944 | |
1933 | Yellow numbering and border embossed on black base; "OKLAHOMA-1933" embossed at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 427-000 | ||
1934 | Black numbering and border embossed on yellow base; "OKLAHOMA-1934" embossed at top | none | 123-456 123A456 |
1 to approximately 442-000 | ||
1935 | Black numbering and border embossed on gray base; "1935-OKLAHOMA" embossed at bottom | none | 123-456 123A456 |
1 to approximately 459-000 | Last use of car codes on plates | |
1936 | Black numbering and border embossed on yellow base; "1936-OKLAHOMA" embossed at top | none | 123-456 123A456 |
1 to approximately 478-000 | 2 versions of the 1936-37 plates are shown one for the front and one for the rear R | |
1937 | Yellow numbering and border embossed on black base; "1937-OKLAHOMA" embossed at bottom | none | 123-456 123A456 |
1 to approximately 486-000 | ||
1938 | Black numbering and border embossed on yellow base; "OKLAHOMA-1938" embossed at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 499-000 | ||
1939 | Black numbering and border embossed on gray base; "OK-39" embossed at bottom | none | A/B123 | County-coded A/B | ||
1940 | Black numbering and border embossed on yellow base; "OKLA-1940" embossed at top | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1941 | Silver numbering and border embossed on black base; "OKLA-1941" embossed at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1942-43 | Dark blue numbering and border embossed on silver base; "OKLA-1942" embossed at top | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers | |
1944 | Black numbering and border embossed on yellow base; "OKLAHOMA-44" embossed at top | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1945 | Orange numbering and border embossed on black base; "OKLAHOMA-45" embossed at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1946-47 | White numbering and border embossed on black base; "OKLAHOMA-46" embossed at top | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | Revalidated for 1947 with yellow tabs | |
1948 | Black numbering and border embossed on yellow base; "OKLAHOMA-48 embossed at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1949 | White numbering and border embossed on black base; "49-OKLAHOMA" embossed at top | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1950 | Embossed black numbers on silver plate; "50 OKLAHOMA" embossed at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1951 | Embossed black numbers on yellow-orange plate; "51 OKLAHOMA" embossed at top | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1952 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "52 OKLAHOMA" embossed at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1953 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; "OKLAHOMA 53" embossed at top | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1954 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate; "54 OKLAHOMA" embossed at bottom | none | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1955 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "OKLAHOMA 55" embossed at top | "VISIT" embossed in block letters to left of state name, giving "VISIT OKLAHOMA" | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | First use of Visit on passenger plates | |
1956 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA 56" embossed at bottom | "VISIT" embossed in block letters to left of state name, giving "VISIT OKLAHOMA" | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1957 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "OKLAHOMA 57" embossed at top | "VISIT" embossed in block letters to left of state name, giving "VISIT OKLAHOMA" | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1958 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA 58" embossed at top | "VISIT" embossed in block letters to left of state name, giving "VISIT OKLAHOMA" | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1959 | Embossed white lettering and rims on black plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in block letters at top as part of slogan; "59" embossed in top right corner | "VISIT" embossed in block letters to left of state name, giving "VISIT OKLAHOMA" | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1960 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in black block letters offset to right above numbers; "19" embossed in top left corner and "60" in top right corner | "VISIT" embossed in black block letters to left of state name, giving "VISIT OKLAHOMA" | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1961 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in white block letters offset to right above numbers; "19" embossed in top left corner and "61" in top right corner | "VISIT" embossed in white block letters to left of state name, giving "VISIT OKLAHOMA" | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1962 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in black block letters offset to right above numbers; "19" embossed in top left corner and "62" in top right corner | "VISIT" embossed in black block letters to left of state name, giving "VISIT OKLAHOMA" | 1-123456 10-12345 |
County-coded 1 or 10 | ||
1963 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in white block letters centered above numbers; "19" embossed in top left corner and "63" in top right corner | none | AB-1234 | County-coded | Two-letter county codes introduced. Letters I and Q not used, except for CI in Cimarron County (and, later, WI in Washington County). Leading zeros used in numbers below 1000. | |
1964 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in black block letters centered above numbers; "19" embossed in top left corner and "64" in top right corner | none | AB-1234 | County-coded | Leading zeros used in numbers below 1000. | |
1965 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in white block letters centered above numbers; "19" embossed in top left corner and "65" in top right corner | none | AB-1234 | County-coded | ||
1966 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in black block letters centered above numbers; "19" embossed in top left corner and "66" in top right corner | none | AB-1234 | County-coded | ||
1967 | Embossed red numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in red block letters centered above numbers; "67" embossed in top left corner | "IS OK" embossed in red block letters to right of state name, giving "OKLAHOMA IS OK" | AB-1234 | County-coded | ||
1968 | Embossed black numbers on orange plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in black block letters centered above numbers; "68" embossed in top left corner | "IS OK" embossed in black block letters to right of state name, giving "OKLAHOMA IS OK" | AB-1234 | County-coded | ||
1969 | Embossed red numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in red block letters centered above numbers; "69" embossed in top left corner | "IS OK" embossed in red block letters to right of state name, giving "OKLAHOMA IS OK" | AB-1234 | County-coded | ||
1970 | Embossed green numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in green block letters centered above numbers; "70" embossed in top left corner | "IS OK" embossed in green block letters to right of state name, giving "OKLAHOMA IS OK" | AB-1234 | County-coded | ||
1971 | Embossed red numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in red block letters centered above numbers; "71" embossed in top left corner | "IS OK" embossed in red block letters to right of state name, giving "OKLAHOMA IS OK" | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | Three-letter county codes introduced in some counties that had exhausted their two-letter allocations. | |
1972 | Embossed green numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in green block letters centered above numbers; "72" embossed in top left corner | "IS OK" embossed in green block letters to right of state name, giving "OKLAHOMA IS OK" | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | ||
1973 | Embossed red numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in red block letters centered above numbers; "73" embossed in top left corner | "IS OK" embossed in red block letters to right of state name, giving "OKLAHOMA IS OK" | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | Carried over into 1974 after the plate shop at Oklahoma State Penitentiary was hit by fire during a riot in July 1973, destroying the supply of 1974 plates (below). | |
1973 | As above, but with border line around plate | As above | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | Supplemental plates manufactured by Polyvend Inc. of Arkansas while the prison plate shop was being repaired. | |
1974 | Embossed green numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in green block letters centered above numbers; "74" embossed in top left corner | "IS OK" embossed in green block letters to right of state name, giving "OKLAHOMA IS OK" | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | Most of these plates destroyed in the prison plate shop fire of July 1973 (above); salvaged plates were not issued. | |
1975 | Embossed green numbers on white plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in green block letters centered above numbers; "75" embossed in top left corner | "IS OK" embossed in green block letters to right of state name, giving "OKLAHOMA IS OK" | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | Manufactured by Polyvend Inc. while the prison plate shop was being repaired. | |
1976 | Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in red block letters centered above numbers; "19" embossed in top left corner and "76" in top right corner | "BICENTENNIAL" embossed in red block letters centered below numbers, with "1776" to the left and "1976" to the right | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | ||
1977 | Embossed green numbers on white plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in green block letters centered above numbers; "77" embossed in top left corner | "IS OK" embossed in green block letters to right of state name, giving "OKLAHOMA IS OK" | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | ||
1978 | Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in red block letters centered above numbers; "78" embossed in top left corner | "IS OK" embossed in red block letters to right of state name, giving "OKLAHOMA IS OK" | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | ||
1979 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in blue block letters centered above numbers; sticker boxes debossed in top corners with "79" further debossed in right box | none | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | ||
1981 | Embossed green numbers on white plate, with state shape used as dash between letters and digits; "OKLAHOMA" embossed in green block letters offset to left above numbers; sticker boxes debossed in top corners with "81" further debossed in right box | "IS OK" embossed in green block letters to right of state name, giving "OKLAHOMA IS OK" | AB-1234 ABC-1234 |
County-coded | Revalidated with stickers until 2009. | |
1983 | Embossed green numbers on white plate, with state shape used as dash between letters and digits; yellow band screened at bottom with a yellow sun and "Oklahoma" in black serifed letters in the middle; sticker boxes debossed in bottom corners | "is OK!" screened in black serifed letters centered below state name, giving "Oklahoma is OK!" | ABC-123 | County-coded | Commonly known as the "sunbelt" plate. Letter Q not used in serials; F used only as the second letter in Cimarron and Jefferson Counties; and I not used initially, but added in some counties circa 1987. Revalidated with stickers until 2009. | |
1989 | Embossed green numbers on white plate; battle shield of the Osage Nation screened in the center between letters and digits; "OKLAHOMA" screened in black cursive letters centered at top | "OK!" screened in tan cursive letters centered between state name and battle shield | ABC 123 | County-coded | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1989 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time Oklahoma was so honored. Co-recipient with Nova Scotia. Serials in each county continue from where 1983 plates left off, with leading zeros added in numbers below 100. Letter Q not used, and F used only as the first and/or second letter (this practice continues today). Revalidated with stickers until 2009. | |
1994 | Similar to 1989 base, but with debossed area in center containing redrawn battle shield graphic, and state name in larger serifed letters | "NATIVE AMERICA" screened in red serifed letters centered at bottom | ABC 123 | County-coded | Serials in each county continue from where 1989 plates left off, with 123 ABC format introduced in counties that had exhausted their ABC 123 allocations. Revalidated with stickers until 2009. | |
123 ABC | ||||||
2009 | Red on white with Allan Houser's "Sacred Rain Arrow" sculpture of Tulsa's Gilcrease Museum | Native America | 123ABC | 001AAA to present | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2009 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the third time Oklahoma was so honored. County coding discontinued; the county of issuance has been printed on the month revalidation sticker since 2010. C not used as the first letter in this serial format. |
County coding
The order of the numeric county codes used from 1952-61 was based on the populations of each county according to the 1950 United States Census, and the order of the codes used in 1962 was based on the populations of each county according to the 1960 Census.[1]
County | Numeric codes, 1952-61 | Numeric codes, 1962 | 2-letter codes, 1963-82 | 3-letter codes, 1971-82 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adair | 46 | 46 | AD, AR | |
Alfalfa | 62 | 62 | AL | |
Atoka | 51 | 57 | AT | |
Beaver | 73 | 69 | BV | |
Beckham | 29 | 35 | BK, BE | |
Blaine | 45 | 49 | BL | |
Bryan | 25 | 27 | BR, BY | |
Caddo | 16 | 20 | CA, CD | |
Canadian | 26 | 26 | CN, CX | CNN, CXX, CCN |
Carter | 14 | 12 | CR, CE | CRR |
Cherokee | 37 | 36 | CZ | CZZ |
Choctaw | 32 | 39 | CW | |
Cimarron | 77 | 77 | CI | |
Cleveland | 11 | 7 | CL, CV, CY, CF | CLL, CVV, CFF, CYY, CLE, CLV, CLY |
Coal | 71 | 74 | CO | |
Comanche | 4 | 3 | CC, CH, CM, CB, CP | CCC, CCB, CCH, CMH |
Cotton | 66 | 65 | CT | |
Craig | 39 | 37 | CG | CGG |
Creek | 10 | 11 | CK, CJ, CU | CKK |
Custer | 30 | 28 | CS | CSS |
Delaware | 47 | 45 | DL, DE | |
Dewey | 68 | 70 | DW | |
Ellis | 75 | 75 | EL | |
Garfield | 5 | 5 | GA, GR, GF, GB, GL | |
Garvin | 24 | 22 | GV, GN | |
Grady | 17 | 18 | GD, GY | GDD |
Grant | 64 | 64 | GT | |
Greer | 59 | 60 | GE | |
Harmon | 70 | 73 | HM | |
Harper | 76 | 71 | HP | |
Haskell | 54 | 58 | HK | |
Hughes | 31 | 40 | HG | |
Jackson | 33 | 17 | JA, JK, JS, JX | |
Jefferson | 60 | 63 | JE | |
Johnston | 63 | 61 | JN | |
Kay | 6 | 6 | KA, KY, KK | KAY |
Kingfisher | 55 | 54 | KF | |
Kiowa | 38 | 41 | KW | |
Latimer | 67 | 67 | LA | |
Le Flore | 15 | 19 | LE, LF, LR | |
Lincoln | 28 | 31 | LN, LL | |
Logan | 27 | 32 | LG, LO | |
Love | 72 | 72 | LV | |
Major | 65 | 66 | MA | |
Marshall | 69 | 68 | MR | |
Mayes | 35 | 30 | ME, MY | |
McClain | 48 | 47 | ML, MN | |
McCurtain | 22 | 25 | MC, MT | |
McIntosh | 40 | 48 | MO | |
Murray | 61 | 55 | MU | |
Muskogee | 3 | 4 | MK, MG, MS, MB | MKK |
Noble | 57 | 56 | NB | |
Nowata | 56 | 53 | NW | |
Okfuskee | 43 | 51 | OK | |
Oklahoma | 1 | 1 | XA-YZ | XXA, XXY-XXZ |
Okmulgee | 8 | 14 | OM, OL | OML |
Osage | 19 | 16 | OS, OA, OE, OG | OSG |
Ottawa | 21 | 21 | OT, OW | OTT |
Pawnee | 53 | 52 | PW | |
Payne | 7 | 8 | PA, PY | PYY |
Pittsburg | 12 | 15 | PB, PS | PPB |
Pontotoc | 23 | 23 | PN, PC | |
Pottawatomie | 9 | 10 | PT, PE, PD | PTT |
Pushmataha | 58 | 59 | PM | |
Roger Mills | 74 | 76 | RM | |
Rogers | 36 | 29 | RG, RE, RO, RR | |
Seminole | 13 | 24 | SM, SE | |
Sequoyah | 34 | 34 | SY, SH | |
Stephens | 18 | 13 | ST, SP, SN | STE |
Texas | 52 | 43 | TX, TS | |
Tillman | 42 | 42 | TL | |
Tulsa | 2 | 2 | ZA-ZZ | ZZA-ZZP |
Wagoner | 44 | 38 | WG, WN | |
Washington | 20 | 9 | WA, WH, WS, WI | |
Washita | 41 | 33 | WT | |
Woods | 49 | 50 | WD | |
Woodward | 50 | 44 | WW, WE, WB |
Optional types
Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
"State Parks"—pavilion | 2004 to present | Black on multicolored background. | O/P 1234 | O/P 1 to present | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2004 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time Oklahoma was so honored. |
References
- ↑ "Oklahoma License Plates". licenseplates.tropikordia.com. Retrieved April 4, 2015.