Passenger Plates: 1913 - 1955 Archive

The Vehicle Financial Responsibility Act of 1957

Ratified by the North Carolina General Assembly on June 12th, 1957, this act required that registrants of motor vehicles, at the time of registration, must show proof of financial responsibility (insurance). Registrants were, and still are, required to keep proof of financial responsibility (insurance) throughout the period in which the vehicle registration is active. The act became effective on January 1st, 1958, thus applying to all vehicles registered from 1958 to the present. The act was first introduced in Session Law 1957 Chapter 1393 and is today governed under North Carolina General Statute 20-309. (1)

(1) North Carolina General Assembly, Session Law 1957 Chapter 1393 House Bill 116, "AN ACT TO ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF OWNERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES." 🔗

Safety Equipment Inspection of Motor Vehicles

An act ratified by the North Carolina General Assembly on May 28th, 1965, required that registrants of motor vehicles, beginning in 1966, must have their vehicle inspected at a Safety Equipment Inspection Station prior to being operated on a roadway. Vehicles were required to possess brakes, lights, horn, steering mechanism, windshield wiper, and directional signals in a safe operating condition. Inspection certificates were valid for a period of not less than twelve months and expired at midnight on the last day of the month designated on the certificate. This act also required that dealerships shall have all vehicles sold on or after February 16th, 1966 inspected and approved prior to any sale. Vehicle inspections were implemented over the course of the year by corresponding the final digit of the license plate to a specific month in which the inspection was required by. Vehicles with a final digit of "3" on their license plate were required to be inspected by March 31st, 1966. Vehicles with a final digit of "4" on their license plate were required to be inspected by April 30th, 1966. Vehicles with a final digit of "5" on their license plate were required to be inspected by May 31st, 1966. Vehicles with a final digit of "6" on their license plate were required to be inspected by June 30th, 1966. Vehicles with a final digit of "7" on their license plate were required to be inspected by July 31st, 1966. Vehicles with a final digit of "8" on their license plate were required to be inspected by August 31st, 1966. Vehicles with a final digit of "9" on their license plate were required to be inspected by September 30th, 1966. Vehicles with a final digit of "0" on their license plate were required to be inspected by October 31st, 1966. Vehicles with a final digit of "1" on their license plate were required to be inspected by November 30th, 1966. Vehicles with a final digit of "2" on their license plate were required to be inspected by December 31st, 1966. This act was first introduced in Session Law 1965 Chapter 734 and is today governed under North Carolina General Statutes 20-183.2 and 20-183.3. (1)

(1) North Carolina General Assembly, Session Law 1965 Chapter 734 House Bill 536, "AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR ANNUAL SAFETY EQUIPMENT INSPECTION OF MOTOR VEHICLES." 🔗

Serial Number Changes

Beginning in 1956, North Carolina passenger plates' numbering format changed from a primarily ascending number format to a combined letter and number format. Serial numbers began at A-1 and theoretically ascended to ZZ-9999. Serial numbers would begin with a singular letter and the number 1 and would most often end when reaching 9999, or sometimes 1000. After reaching the end of the first serial number format, new numbers would begin being issued with two letters, this first of which being the same letter from the previous singular letter series. This format would again start with the number 1 and most often end when reaching 9999, or sometimes 1000. For example, the first four serial number formats were as followed: A-1 to A-9999, then AA-1 to AZ-9999, then B-1 to B-9999, then BA-1 to BZ-9999, and so on. This serial number format continued until 1973 when the state switched to a three letter and three number serial number combination. From 1956 until 1969 the letters G, I, O, and Q were not used. (1)

(1) All About License Plates, "North Carolina: Passenger" and "North Carolina: Miscellaneous 1" by Eric Tanner 🔗 🔗

Design Differences

Beginning in 1956 and ending in 1966, North Carolina passenger plates annually alternated base and lettering colors. Even years were designed with a yellow base and black lettering while odd years were designed inversely, with a black base and yellow lettering. Plates from 1956 to 1962 contained the slogan "Drive Safely" across the top and "North Carolina" across the bottom. Plates from 1956 to 1960 contained the year in the lower right corner in a two digit format. Plates from 1961 to 1962 switched the year from the lower right corner to the lower left. Plates from 1963 displayed "North Carolina" across the top and "Drive Safely" across the bottom. Contrary to the previous years, plates in 1963 moved the two digit year from the lower left or right corner to the upper right corner. Plates from 1964 to 1965 displayed "North Carolina" across the top, the year across the bottom, and did not contain a striped border, contrary to years previous. Plates from 1964 displayed the year in a two digit format while plates from 1965 displayed the year in a four digit format. Plates in 1966 marked the end of the alternating yellow and black base. These plates displayed the year across the top in a four digit format and "North Carolina" across the bottom.