Passenger Plates: 1956 - 1982 Archive
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Information displayed in these archives is the culmination of personal knowledge, North Carolina historical documents, North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles documents, the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA) archives, and other various informational sources. All utilized sources will be appropriately credited where the credit is due. All pictures associated with the archive are from my personal collection, unless otherwise credited. While the intention of this archive is to provide valid and correct information, it is possible that some information displayed is invalid or incorrect. Anyone who recognizes invalid or incorrect information is urged to contact me through the "Contact" tab so that the necessary corrections can be made.
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1956 - 1966
1956
1959 (Holes)
1963
1957 (Holes)
1960 (Slots)
1964
1957 (Slots)
1960 (Holes)
1965
1958
1961
1966
1959 (Slots)
1962
The 6"x12" Introduction
In 1953 the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA), the Automobile Manufacturer's Association (AMA), and the National Safety Council met to discuss the standardization of license plate sizes. Their discussions led to the acceptance and the standardization of license plate sizes in the United States and Canada. The new accepted size was 6" in height and 12" tall, with the mounting holes being 2.5" from their respective sides, 7" apart in width, and 5/8" from the top or bottom of the license plate. These new changes were implemented in 1956, allowing for several years of advanced preparation amongst states and auto manufacturers alike. (1)
(1) Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, PLATES Vol. 62 No. 5, "6x12=60 Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size" by Christopher Garrish 🔗
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.
General Statistics
Year:
- 1956
- 1957
- 1958
- 1959
- 1960
- 1961
- 1962
- 1963
- 1964
- 1965
- 1966
Low: ()
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
High: ()
- 1956
- 1957
- 1958
- 1959
- 1960
- 1961
- 1962
- 1963
- 1964
- 1965
- 1966
Plates Issued per Vehicle:
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
Registrations Issued: (1)
- 1,212,356
- 1,250,185
- 1,233,558
- 1,313,982
- 1,380,833
- 1,435,023
- 1,479,798
- 1,546,384
- 1,614,110
- 1,711,951
- 1,835,133
(1) United States Department of Transportation, "Motor Vehicle Registrations, by vehicle type and state" 🔗
1967 - 1974
1967
1972
1968
1973
1969
1974
1970
1971
Special Personalized Registration Plates
An act ratified by the North Carolina General Assembly on May 12th, 1967, allowed vehicle owners to apply for and receive, if approved, license plates containing personalized text, numbers, or a combination of both. Vehicle owners were required to pay $10.00 annually for their personalized plates. The additional revenue gained from personalized plated was divided evenly between the Department of Conservation and Development and the State Highway Commission. (1) Personalized license plates were required to have a minimum of three characters and a maximum of six characters. These plates were also allowed to contain one dash. (2) Vehicle owners were first allowed to obtain personalized plates starting in 1968. This act was first introduced in Session Law 1967 Chapter 413 and is today governed under North Carolina General Statute 20-79.7.
(1) North Carolina General Assembly, Session Law 1967 Chapter 413 House Bill 45, "AN ACT TO AMEND PART 5, ARTICLE 3 OF THE MOTOR VEHICLE ACT OF 1937 SO AS TO PROVIDE FOR OPTIONAL SPECIAL PERSONALIZED REGISTRATION PLATE UPON PROPER APPLICATION AND PAYMENT OF ADDITIONAL FEE." 🔗
(2) Watauga Democrat, "Special License Plates May Be Secured To September 30" 🔗
Serial Number Changes
As in previous years, North Carolina passenger plates' numbering format continued with 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. Beginning in 1973 the serial number format switched to a three letter and three number combination. Serial numbers began with three letters and the number 101 and would end when reaching 999. After reaching the end of this format, serial numbers would advance by one alphabetical character and restart at 101. For example, the first four serial number formats were as followed: AAA-101 to AAA-999, then AAB-101 to AAB-999, then AAC-101 to AAC-999, then AAD-101 to AAD-999, and so on. This serial number format continued until 1986 when the state switched to a seven character format. From 1956 until 1969 the letters G, I, O, and Q were not used. Beginning in 1969 the letters G, I, O, Q, and U are no longer used in the standard serial numbering format. (1)
(1) All About License Plates, "North Carolina: Passenger" and "North Carolina: Miscellaneous 1" by Eric Tanner 🔗 🔗
Design Differences
Beginning in 1967, North Carolina passenger plates switched from an alternating color non reflectorized base to a white reflectorized base. Between 1967 and 1971 plates alternated lettering color between green and red. Odd years contained green lettering while even years contained red lettering. Plates in 1967 contained green lettering on a white base with "1967" across the top and "North Carolina" across the bottom. Plates in 1968 contained red lettering on a white base with "North Carolina" across the top and "1968" across the bottom. Plates in 1969 contained green lettering on a white base with "North Carolina" across the top, "19" in the lower left corner, and "69" in the lower right corner. Plates in 1970 contained red lettering on a white base with "19" in the upper left corner, "70" in the upper left corner, and "North Carolina" across the bottom. Plates in 1971 contained green lettering on a white base with "71" across the top and "North Carolina" across the bottom. Plates in 1972 differed from previous years, containing blue lettering on a white base with "North Carolina" across the top, "19" in the lower left corner, and "72" in the lower right corner. Plates in 1973 contained red lettering on a white base with "19" in the upper right corner, "73" in the upper left corner, and "North Carolina" across the bottom. Plates in 1974 contained green lettering on a white base with "1974" across the top and "North Carolina" across the bottom. Plates throughout this entire time period contained all the same information, the year, the state, and the registration number, however, the year and the state were displayed in a different configuration every year.
General Statistics
Year:
- 1967
- 1968
- 1969
- 1970
- 1971
- 1972
- 1973
- 1974
Low: ()
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- A-1
- AAA-101
- AAA-101​
High: ()
- 1956
- 1957
- 1958
- 1959
- 1960
- 1961
- 1962
- 1974
Plates Issued per Vehicle:
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
Registrations Issued: (1)
- 1,922,694
- 2,036,631
- 2,144,426
- 2,226,905
- 2,364,498
- 2,530,456
- 2,693,713
- 2,773,153​
(1) United States Department of Transportation, "Motor Vehicle Registrations, by vehicle type and state" 🔗
1975 - 1982
1975
1979
1982 (1980 Base)
1976
1980 (Undated)
1982 (1981 Base)
1977
1980
1982
1978
1981 (1980 Base)
1978 (Undated)
1981 (No Year Sticker)
Introduction of Registration Stickers
An act ratified by the North Carolina General Assembly on April 13th, 1974, changed the way in which yearly vehicle registrations were handled. Beginning in 1975, vehicle owners were issued a plate which was designed to be used for a period longer than one year, contrary to plates issued before which were used for only one year each. For the renewal registration period beginning on January 1st, 1976, instead of being issued a new plate, vehicle owners would now receive a sticker which was to be displayed in the upper right corner of the license plate. (1) Another act ratified by the North Carolina General Assembly on June 25th, 1980 introduced a new concept of staggered registration renewals. Beginning on January 1st, 1981, vehicle owners were not only issued a year sticker, which had been in effect since 1976, but they were also issued an accompanying month sticker. These month stickers were used to spread out vehicle registrations over the course of the year, rather than at the end of the year as per previous registrations. Under this new staggered system, vehicle registrations expired at midnight on the final day of the month displayed on the sticker. This act also encompassed a 15 day grace period which allowed for vehicle owners to continue to operate their vehicles for a full 15 days into the next month following their registration expiring. (2) The process of issuing a sticker for registration renewals continues to this day.
(1) North Carolina General Assembly, Session Law 1973 Chapter 1389 Senate Bill 830, "AN ACT TO AMEND G.S. 20-66 PERTAINING TO ANNUAL MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION TO PROVIDE FOR SEMI-PERMANENT REGISTRATION PLATES AND ANNUAL ISSUANCE OF SUITABLE STICKERS, TABS OR DEVICES FOR RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION IN LIEU OF NEW REGISTRATION PLATES." 🔗
(2) North Carolina General Assembly, Session Law 1979 Chapter 1280 House Bill 1691, "AN ACT TO MAKE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 20 OF THE GENERAL STATUTES OF NORTH CAROLINA RELATIVE TO THE STAGGERED REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES." 🔗
Serial Number Changes
As in previous years, North Carolina passenger plates' numbering format continued with a combined letter and number format. Serial numbers began with three letters and the number 101 and would end when reaching 999. After reaching the end of this format, serial numbers would advance by one alphabetical character and restart at 101. For example, the first four serial number formats were as followed: AAA-101 to AAA-999, then AAB-101 to AAB-999, then AAC-101 to AAC-999, then AAD-101 to AAD-999, and so on. This serial number format continued until 1986 when the state switched to a seven character format. Beginning in 1969 the letters G, I, O, Q, and U are no longer used in the standard serial numbering format. (1)
(1) All About License Plates, "North Carolina: Passenger" by Eric Tanner 🔗
Design Differences
Beginning in 1975, North Carolina passenger plates stopped alternating lettering color and instead used a lettering color of red, with a white reflectorized base. Plates in 1975 contained the slogan "First in Freedom" across the top, "North Carolina" across the bottom, and "75" stacked vertically in the center of the plate. Plates were not issued stickers for this year. Plates in 1976 utilized the 1975 base but added a blue registration sticker to the upper right corner. This sticker contained "North Carolina" across the top, "76" on the second line of text, "Exp. Feb. 15th, 1977" on the third line of text, and a serial number in a white box across the bottom. Plates in 1977 utilized the 1975 base but added a red registration sticker to the upper right corner. This sticker contained a image of the state, with "NC" inside, across the top, "77" in the lower left corner, a serial number in the lower right corner, and a curved upper right corner. Plates in 1978 utilized two different bases, the 1975 base and an undated base. The undated base contained no character across the top and "North Carolina" across the bottom. Both bases contained a green registration sticker to the upper right corner. This sticker contained a image of the state, with "NC" inside, across the top, "78" in the lower left corner, and a serial number in the lower right corner. Plates in 1979 utilized the undated base from 1978 but added a orange registration sticker to the upper right corner. This sticker contained a image of the state, with "NC" inside, across the top, "79" in the lower left corner, and a serial number in the lower right corner. Plates in 1980 utilized two different bases, the undated base and a dated 1980 base. The dated based contained "1980" across the top and "North Carolina" across the bottom. Undated bases contained a black registration sticker while dated bases did not contain a registration sticker. This sticker contained a image of the state, with "NC" inside, across the top, "80" in the lower left corner, and a serial number in the lower right corner. Plates in 1981 utilized the 1980 base, adding a blue registration sticker to the upper right corner and a red month sticker to the upper left corner. The registration sticker contained a image of the state, with "NC" inside, across the top, "81" in the lower left corner, and a serial number in the lower right corner. The month sticker contained a three character abbreviation of the expiration month across the top and "NC" along the bottom. Plates in 1982 utilized three different bases, the 1980 base, a 1981 base, and 1982 base. The 1981 base contained "North Carolina" across the top and "1981" across the bottom. The 1982 base contained "North Carolina" across the top and "1982" across the bottom. All three bases contained a red registration sticker and red month sticker. The 1980 base contained the registration sticker in the upper right corner and the month sticker in the upper left corner. The 1981 and 1982 bases contained the registration sticker in the lower right corner and the month sticker in the lower left corner. The registration sticker contained a image of the state, with "NC" inside, across the top, "82" in the lower left corner, and a serial number in the lower right corner. The month sticker contained a three character abbreviation of the expiration month across the top and "NC" along the bottom.​
Registration Stickers
Year:
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
Year Sticker:
- None Issued
- White on Blue
- White on Red
- White on Green
- Black on Orange
- White on Black
- White on Blue
- White on Red
Month Sticker:
- None Issued
- None Issued
- None Issued
- None Issued
- None Issued
- None Issued
- White on Red (3 or 4 Letter Abbreviation)
- White on Red (3 or 4 Letter Abbreviation)
General Statistics
Year:
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
Low: ()
- AAA-101
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
High: ()
- 1956
- 1957
- 1958
- 1959
- 1960
- 1961
- 1962
- 1974
Plates Issued per Vehicle:
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
Registrations Issued: (1)
- 2,860,249
- 3,002,710
- 3,126,610
- 3,262,223
- 3,356,370
- 3,395,784
- 3,420,297
- 3,445,754​
(1) United States Department of Transportation, "Motor Vehicle Registrations, by vehicle type and state" 🔗