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]

CountyNumeric codes, 1952-61Numeric codes, 19622-letter codes, 1963-823-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

  1. "Oklahoma License Plates". licenseplates.tropikordia.com. Retrieved April 4, 2015.

External links

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