Vehicle registration plates of New Jersey

The U.S. state of New Jersey first issued license plates in 1908. Plates are currently issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission.

All bases of all classes of plates from 1959 to present are still valid for display in New Jersey. Since 2004, passenger plates have no requirement to display proof of valid registration, using only the registration card issued to the driver, which is stored in the glove box or on the person. New Jersey issues both front and rear license plates for almost all classes of vehicles. "USED CAR DEALER" plates only issue rear license plates.

Issuance and validation

Passenger plates were issued in pairs 1908 to present except for 1944, 1945, and 1946. New plates were issued every year until 1943 due to wartime restrictions. From 1943 until 1952 plates were issued yearly. Between 1953 to 1956 metal tabs were issued for re-validation of plates. In 1956 re validation began with front windshield stickers. In 1999 the state tried re-validating plates with stickers, but that scheme ended in 2004 with stickers issued to expire in 2005. Since then passenger plates have been re-validated with just the registration card issued to the driver.

Passenger baseplates 1908 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that standardized 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 plates issued in 1955 were the first New Jersey license plates that complied with these standards.

Image	First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1908	Gold lettering and blue background painted on porcelain-coated steel base	none	12345	unknown	Steel registration seal on right side between "N.J." and "08"
	1909	White lettering and black background painted on porcelain-coated steel base	none	12345	unknown	Steel registration seal on right side between "N.J." and "09"
	1910	Black lettering and yellow background painted on porcelain-coated steel base	none	12345	unknown	Steel registration seal on left side between "N.J." and "10"
	1911	Red lettering and white background painted on porcelain-coated steel base	none	12345	unknown	Steel registration seal on right side between "N.J." and "11"
	1912	Yellow lettering and blue background painted on porcelain-coated steel base	none	12345	unknown	Steel registration seal on left side between "N.J." and "12"
150px	1913	Red lettering and white background painted on porcelain-coated steel base	none	12345	unknown	Steel registration seal on right side between "N.J." and "13"
150px	1914	White lettering on red background painted on porcelain-coated steel base	none	12345	unknown	Steel registration seal on left side between "N.J." and "14"
	1915	White lettering on green background painted on porcelain-coated steel base	none	12345	unknown	Steel registration seal on right side between "N.J." and "15"
	1916	White lettering on brown background	none	12345	unknown	No steel registration seal
	1917	White lettering on blue background	none	12345	unknown	No steel registration seal
	1918	Blue lettering on white background	none	123456	unknown	"N. J." Next to "1918" above lettering
	1919	White lettering on green background	none	123456	unknown	"N. J." Next to "1919" above lettering
	1920	White lettering on red background	none	123456	unknown	"N. J." Next to "1920" above lettering
	1921	White lettering on dark green background	none	123456	unknown	"N. J." Next to "1921" above lettering
	1922	White lettering on black background	none	123456	unknown	"N. J." Next to "1922" above lettering
	1923	Orange lettering on black background	none	123456	unknown	"N. J." Next To "23" above lettering
	1924	White lettering on red background	none	123456	unknown	"N. J." Next to "1924" above lettering
	1925	Silver lettering on dark blue background	none	123456	unknown	"N. J." Next to "25" above lettering
	1926	White lettering embossed on red base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
	1927	White lettering embossed on green base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
	1928	White lettering embossed on light blue base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
	1929	White lettering embossed on black base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
	1930	White lettering embossed on brown base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
	1931	White lettering embossed on red base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
	1932	White lettering embossed on black base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
150px	1933	Orange lettering embossed on black base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
	1934	Green lettering embossed on black base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
	1935	White lettering embossed on black base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
	1936	Orange lettering embossed on black base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
	1937	Green lettering embossed on black base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
	1938	White lettering embossed on black base	none	A12345	unknown	County letter code at left
	1939	Orange on black	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown
	1940	Green on black	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown
	1941	White on black	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown
	1942	Yellow on black	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown
	1943	Yellow on black	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown	"43" tab over original date. nail on bottom right
	1944	Black on straw	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown
	1945	Blue on straw	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown
150px	1946	Black on straw	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown
150px	1947	Blue on straw	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown
	1948	Black on straw	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown
150px	1949	Straw on black	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown
150px	1950	Black on straw	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown
150px	1951	White on black	none	A/B 123; A/B 12C	unknown
	1952	Orange on black; "N. 52 J." embossed at bottom	none	A/B 123 A/B 12A A/B A12 A/B 1A2 A/B 1234	Coded by county (A/B)	Revalidated for 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1956 with tabs.
	1957	Similar to 1952 base, but to 6" x 12" size, and with stacked "NJ" embossed at right	none	A/B 1234	Coded by county (A/B)	Revalidated for 1958 with windshield stickers.
150px	1959	Black on buff, non-reflective, "N.J." embossed in wide block font above numbers	"GARDEN STATE" embossed in plain block letters below numbers	ABC-123	AAA-100 to RHZ-9991, 2	A number of "B" series were made in Arkansas. Notice the different "B" stamp.
150px	1969	As above, but reflective			RIA-100 to SZZ-9991, 2, 5	Experimental plates.
150px	1970	As above, but non-reflective as from 1959-69			UAA-100 to YZZ-9991, 2, 5
150px	1973			123-ABC	100-AAA to 999-HBZ1, 2, 5
150px	1977	As above, but with "NEW JERSEY" embossed in plain block font above numbers			100-HCA to 999-KZZ1, 2, 5	First use of the full state name on passenger plates. Two different dies were used for the state name during 1978 - one with a narrow 'W' (the standard), and the other with a wide 'W'.
150px	1979	Buff on medium blue, non-reflective, "NEW JERSEY" embossed in plain block font above numbers	"GARDEN STATE" embossed in plain block letters below numbers	123-ABC; New Jersey state icon used as dash	100-LAA to 999-ZZZ1, 2, 5
150px	1985			ABC-123; New Jersey state icon used as dash	ZAA-100 to ZZZ-9992, 3, 5
150px	1985			ABC-12D; New Jersey state icon used as dash	AAA-10A to HZZ-99Z2, 3, 5
150 px	1992	Black embossed numbers on yellow to white gradient, reflective; "New Jersey" screened in black plain serifed font above numbers; black outlines for registration stickers at top corners	"Garden State" screened in black plain block letters below numbers	ABC1234	AAA1000 to ADJ99993, 4, 5
150 px	1993			AB-123C; New Jersey state icon used as dash	BA-100A to ZY-999Z3, 4, 5
150 px	1999			ABC-12D; New Jersey state icon used as dash	JAA-10A to VZT-99Z3, 4, 5	In March 2001, somewhere between the LGW and LHC series, the plates changed from using 3M reflective sheeting to Avery reflective sheeting.
150px	2007	As above, but without black outlines at top corners			VZU-10A to ZZZ-99Z3, 4, 5	Security threads added to vertical center of plate in November 2009 somewhere in the Z series
150px	2010	As above, but with security threads added to center of plate		A12-BCD; New Jersey state icon used as dash	A10-AAA to T99-EEK4, 5	R40-EEK (current highest embossed series known on 04-30-2014)
	2014	As above, but with numbers and state icon screened rather than embossed			A10-EFF to present	J34-GCG (current highest series known on 12-04-2015)

Notes

• 1 Plates did not use the letters D, T, X, or Z in the first position;
• 2 Plates did not use the letter Q in any position;
• 3 Plates did not use the letters D, T, or X in the first position;
• 4 Plates did not use the letters I, O, Q in any position;
• 5 Plus remakes of serials issued on previous bases

Courtesy plates

File:New Jersey SVM 2.jpg

New Jersey Courtesy License Plate

Courtesy plates are issued to individuals with political connections. The plates are in an ABC 1/ABC 12 or 1 ABC/12 ABC format and range from 1 to 20. Courtesy plates may also be personalized with the owners 3 initials appearing before the number of 20 or less. If not personalized, then the individual is issued a standard Courtesy Plate, where the first letter is a county code, the second letter is the first initial of the vehicle owner's name, and the third letter is the initial of the last name of the vehicle owner.

Courtesy plates must be approved by a NJ State Senator from the applicant's election district prior to being submitted to the MVC. The staff for the applicant's senator must also get approval from the state senator from the NJ county that corresponds to the first letter on the plate being requested. D, O, T, and X can not be used in the first letter position and no Q can be used in any position.

Courtesy plate county codes 1959 to present

Letter	County
A	Atlantic
B	Bergen
C	Camden
E	Essex
F	Ocean
G	Gloucester
H	Hudson
I	Hunterdon
J	Salem
K	Middlesex
L	Morris
M	Monmouth
N	Burlington
P	Passaic
R	Mercer
S	Somerset
U	Union
V	Sussex
W	Warren
Y	Cumberland
Z	Cape May

Current plate types

All plates issued since 1959 are still valid for use.

Non-Passenger

Image	Type	First Issued	Current Serial Format	Previous Serial Formats	Notes
	Apportioned		AB-123C
	Commercial		XAB-C12	XA-123B, X-1234A, X12-A34, XAB1234, (last seen: XAF8090) XA-12BC, XAB-12C
	Commercial Vanity		varies	varies
	Commuter Van		CV12345
	Constructor		12345
150px	Courtesy		ABC  1, ABC 12 1  ABC, 12 ABC
150px	Equipment In Transit	1960	12-1-AB
150px	Farm Use		FA-1234
	Handicapped		1234HA	HA1234, H1234, 1234H
150px	Historic		12345QQ	QQ-A123, 123A-QQ, QQ-1234, 1234-QQ, QQ12345
	Historic Motorcycle		Q1234
	In Transit Empty		ZA-12
	Limousine		OL1234A
	Limousine Vanity		OLABCDEF
	Livery			OL1234A	Withdrawn and replaced with Limousine plates.
	Livery Vanity		varies	varies
	Moped		1A2B3
	Motorcycle		1ABC2	A123B, AB123, 123AB, A1234, 1234A
	Motorcycle Courtesy
	Motorcycle Dealer		DA-12−1
	New Car Dealer		DAB-12 1
	NJ Transit			1234-NJ	no longer in use
	No Fee		NF12345	NF-A123
	Non-Conventional Dealer
	Omnibus		OXA1234 (OYA1234)	OXA-123
	Passenger Vanity		varies	varies
	PUC-LIM		OL-1234
	School Vehicle I	1977	S1-A123(as of 10/10, approaching end of series)	S1-123A, 123A-S1, 1234AS1
	School Vehicle II	1977	S2-A123	S2-123A, 123A-S2, 1234AS2
	Street Rod		R1234
	Temporary	2012	A000000	B000001 to B999999	Skipped A; as of 04-17-12, B59####
	Temporary	early 2013	A000000	F000001 to F999999	Skipped C and D; as of 04-06-13, F78####
	Temporary	late 2013	A000000	H000001 to H999999	Skipped E and G; as of 05-15-2014, H63####
	Temporary	late 2014	A000000	J000001 to present	Skipped I; as of 10-11-14, J55####
	Temporary Non-Resident	2012	000000A	000001N to present	Skipped K L and M; as of 03-01-12, ####83N
	Tractor		TA-0000
	Trailer		TAB-12C	1234TAB, T12-A3B, TAB-123, T123-AB, 123-TAB, T1A-234, TAB1234
	Transporter
	Used Car Dealer		DLB-12 1(2)
	Vehicle Converter
	Vehicle Manufacturer

Governmental

Image	Type	First Issued	Current Serial Format	Previous Serial Formats	Notes
150px	Assembly		AV1		Letters at left are assemblyman's initials
	Cabinet		(numeric)
	County Government		CG1-ABC	A123-CG, CG12345
	Department of Transportation		TD12345	TD-1234
	Former Assembly
	Former Senator
	Governor		1
	Highway Authority		HA-A123		No longer issued, as the Garden State Parkway is now under the purview of the Turnpike Authority.
	Mayor		AB1CD		The first two letters are a code signifying the municipality, and the last two letters are the mayor's initials.
	Mayor Emeritus		ME1234
	Municipal Government		12345MG	MG12345, MG-A123, MG-123A, MG-1234, 1234-MG, 123MG-A, MG-12AB
	Municipal No Fee
	Municipal Government Motorcycle
	Senate		AB		Letters indicate senator's initials.
	State Government		SG12345	SG-A123, SG-A12B
	State Police		SPA123B	SP-A123
	State Senate Majority Leader
	Turnpike Authority	1979	TPA1234	TP-A123
	U.S. Congress
	U.S. Senate		1 or 2 (depending on seniority), flanked by state seals

Professional

Image	Type	First Issued	Current Serial Format	Previous Serial Formats	Notes
	Chiropractor		1 DC 234
	Dentist		DMD 123, DDS 123
	EMT-A		EM1234
	Farmer	1933	XYA-12B	XYA-100	Farmer plates begin with either XY or XZ
	Firefighter		A1-2B	1A-B2
	Firemen's Benevolent Association		FF1234
	First Aider		F1234
	Fraternal Order of Police		FP1234
	New Jersey Press		NJP-123
	New York Press		1234NYP	NYP-123, 123-NYP
	Newark Firefighter		FD1234
	Operating Engineer		OE1234
	Patrolmens Benevolent Association		PB1234
	Physician		MD-1234	12MD A, MDA-123
	Podiatrist		DPM-123
	Society of Professional Engineers		PE1234

Organizational

Image	Type	First Issued	Current Serial Format	Previous Serial Formats	Notes
	Amateur Radio		(call sign)
	Freemason		MB1234
	Honor Legion		PD1234
	Knights of Columbus (Columbianism)		KC1234
	Rotary International		RI1234
	Square Dancer		SD1234
	Teamsters		IB1234
	Telephone Pioneer		PA1234
	United Bowhunters		UB1234

Military and Veteran

Image	Type	First Issued	Current Serial Format	Previous Serial Formats	Notes
	Air Force Auxiliary		CP1234
	Air Force Reserve		CF1234
	Air Force Retired		RA1234
	Air Guard		NGA 123		The letter appearing after the N/G is the first letter of the plate owner's last name.
	Airborne		AB1234
	American Legion		AL1234
	Amvets		AV1234
	Army Guard		NGA 123		The letter appearing after the N/G is the first letter of the plate owner's last name.
	Army Reserve		AR1234
	Coast Guard Auxiliary		CA1234
	Coast Guard Reserve		CR1234
	Combat Veteran		CI1234
	Combat Wounded		PH1234
	Disabled American Veteran		WD1234	DAV-123
	Disabled Veteran		DV1234
	Gold Star Family	2011	MH1234
	Leatherneck		ML1234
	Merchant Marine		MM1234
	Navy Cross		NC1234
	Navy Lakehurst		LK1234
	Navy League		NL1234
	Navy Reserve		NR1234
	Pearl Harbor '41		1234PH
	Prisoner of War		P1234
	Silver Star		1234SS
	Silent Service		SS1234
	Tin Can Sailors		DD1234
	U.S. Army Retired		GI1234
	Veterans of Foreign Wars		WV1234	VFW-123
	Vietnam Veteran		VV1234

College and University Optionals

Image	Type	First Issued	Current Serial Format	Previous Serial Formats	Notes
	New Jersey Institute of Technology		JT1234		"Highlanders"
	Notre Dame		ND1234
	Penn State Alumni		PS1234
	Rutgers		RU1234, 1234RU		New graphic features Rutgers' red "R" and numbers-first format.
	Seton Hall		SH1234		Base revised in 2007 - rim is no longer embossed and has updated Pirates logo
	Stevens Tech		ST1234
	Temple University		UN1234
	University of Delaware		UD1234
	University of Michigan		UM1234
	West Point		WP1234

Specialty

Image	Type	First Issued	Current Serial Format	Previous Serial Formats	Notes
	Animal Friendly	1995		IM1234, IM123A, IM12AB (ended at ...99CZ)	No longer issued but still valid
	Animal Friendly (Mutts)	2002	IM12EA		Plate features characters from Patrick McDonnell's comic strip
	Battleship	1996	BB12AB	BB1234, 1234BB	Features an image of battleship USS New Jersey
	Baymens Heritage	1998	BH12AB	BH1234	Sports an image of the Tucker's Island Lighthouse
	Center for Food Action		CF1234		No longer being issued (see below)
	Choose Life	2011	CF1234		Uses same prefix as previously issued Center for Food Action plates, of which less than 100 were registered.
	Conquer Cancer	1998	A123CC	CC1234, CC12AB
	Conserve Wildlife	1994	CW12AB	CW1234, CW123A
	Conserve Wildlife	1997	WC123A
	Deborah Heart & Lung	2000	DH1234
150px	Discover NJ History	1997	ZZ1234		Features painting of a house in Lambertville, NJ by renowned New Jersey artist Harry Devlin. Proceeds go to the Historic License Plate Preservation Fund to save priceless historic buildings, artifacts and documents.
	Liberty State Park	1999	1234LS	LS1234
	Meadowlands	2001	MC1234
	New Jersey Agriculture	2001	1234GS	GS1234
	NPDF Safe Cop		PF1234
	Olympic Spirit	1995	1234 US	US1234
	Organ Donors Save Lives	2002	DL1234
	Pinelands	1998	PL12AB	PL1234
	Price of Honor	2002	LE12AB	LE1234, 1234LE
	Shore to Please	1993	SR123A	SA1234,SA123A, SC123A, SE123A, SF123A, SJ123A, SK123A, SL123A, SN123A
	Treasure Our Trees	1998	WE123A, XA123WE (commercial)	WE1234
	United We Stand	2004	1234UW	UW1234

Sports

The New Jersey sports bases all share the same numbering system and are the first NJ plates to be issued in a flat, non-embossed format.

Image	Type	First Issued	Current Serial Format	Previous Serial Formats	Notes
	NASCAR	2010	RM12AB		Different bases will be available for drivers Dale Earnhardt, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Matt Kenseth, Jeff Gordon, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman, Martin Truex, Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Kasey Kahne and a generic NASCAR base.
	NBA	2010	RM12AB		Different bases will be available for New Jersey Nets New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers
	NHL	2010	RM12AB		New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers
	MLB	2010	RM12AB		New York Yankees, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies.
	NFL	2010	RM12AB		New York Jets, New York Giants, and Philadelphia Eagles.

External links

• New Jersey License Plates 1969-Present
• Garden State Region of the Automobile License Plate Collector's Assoc.