# Vehicle registration plates of Nevada

The U.S. state of Nevada first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1913. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1916, when the state began to issue plates.
As of 2023, plates are issued by the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers. Front plates are not required if the vehicle was not designed for a front plate and the manufacturer did not provide a means of mounting such a plate.
From 1928 to 2012, Nevada's license plates were made at Nevada State Prison. The license plate factory moved to the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in 2012.

## Passenger baseplates
### 1916 to 1960

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1956 (expired June 30, 1957) issue was the first Nevada license plate that fully complied with these standards: the 1955 (expired June 30, 1956) issue was 6 inches in height by 12 inches in width, but had non-standard mounting holes.
No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection.
| Dates issued | Description | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| 1916 | Embossed yellow serial on green plate; vertical "NEV" at left | 1234 | 2001 to approximately 6700 | |
| 1917 | Silver serial on blue flat metal plate; "NEVADA" and "1917" centered at top and bottom respectively | 12345 | 10001 to approximately 16700 | |
| 1918 | Black serial on yellow flat metal plate; "NEVADA" and "1918" centered at top and bottom respectively | 12345 | 20001 to approximately 28400 | |
| 1919 | Red serial on white flat metal plate; "NEVADA, 1919" centered at top | 12345 | 30001 to approximately 39400 | |
| 1920 | Yellow serial on red flat metal plate; "NEVADA, 1920" centered at bottom | 12345 | 40001 to approximately 50500 | |
| 1921 | Green serial on white flat metal plate; "NEVADA 1921" at bottom | 12-345 | 50-001 to approximately 60-900 | |
| 1922 | Black serial on gray flat metal plate; "NEVADA 1922" at bottom | 12-345 | 70-001 to approximately 82-800 | |
| 1923 | Debossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NEVADA 1923" at bottom | 12-345 | 80-001 to approximately 95-700 | |
| 1924 | Debossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NEVADA 1924" at bottom | 12-345 | 00-001 to approximately 18-500 | |
| 1925 | Debossed white serial on purple plate with border line; "NEVADA 1925" at bottom | 12-345 | 00-001 to approximately 17-500 | |
| 1926 | Debossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NEVADA 1926" at bottom | 12-345 | 00-001 to approximately 21-000 | |
| 1927 | Debossed yellow serial on green plate with border line; "NEVADA 1927" at bottom | 12-345 | 00-001 to approximately 21-000 | |
| 1928 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NEVADA 1928" at bottom | 12-345 | 00-001 to approximately 22-000 | |
| 1929 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "NEVADA 1929" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 25-000 | |
| 1930 | Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "NEVADA 1930" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 25-000 | |
| 1931 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "NEVADA 1931" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 24-000 | |
| 1932 | Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "NEVADA 1932" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 28-000 | |
| 1933 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NEVADA 1933" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 26-000 | |
| 1934 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "NEVADA 1934" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 26-000 | |
| 1935 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NEVADA 1935" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 28-000 | |
| 1936 | Embossed silver serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NEVADA 1936" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 31-000 | |
| 1937 | Embossed dark blue serial on silver plate with border line; "NEVADA 1937" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 34-000 | |
| 1938 | As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1938" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 34-000 | |
| 1939 | As 1937 base, but with "NEVADA 1939" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 34-000 | |
| 1940 | As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1940" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 38-000 | |
| 1941 | As 1937 base, but with "NEVADA 1941" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 40-000 | |
| 1942–43 | As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1942" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 45-000 | Revalidated for 1943 with red tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
| 1944 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NEVADA 1944" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 44-000 | |
| 1945 | As 1937 base, but with "NEVADA 1945" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 41-000 | |
| 1946 | As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1946" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 44-000 | |
| 1947 | As 1937 base, but with "NEVADA 1947" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 46-000 | |
| 1948 | As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1948" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 53-000 | |
| 1949 | As 1937 base, but with "NEVADA 1949" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 55-000 | |
| 1950 | As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1950" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 57-000 | |
| 1951 | As 1937 base, but with "NEVADA 1951" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 67-000 | |
| 1952 | As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1952" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 74-000 | |
| 1953 | Embossed copper serial on green plate with border line; "NEVADA 1953" at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 82-000 | |
| 1954–55 | As 1936 base, but with "NEVADA 1954" at bottom | A/ 1–234 A/B1-234 | Coded by county of issuance | Validated from January 1 through June 30, 1955 with red sticker. |
| 1955–56 | Embossed blue serial on silver plate with border line; "NEVADA 6 30 56" at bottom | A/ 1234 A/B1234 | Coded by county of issuance | |
| 1956–57 | Embossed silver serial on light blue plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "56" at top left and "57" at top right | A12345 AB1234 | Coded by county of issuance | |
| 1957–58 | Embossed light blue serial on silver plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "EXP" at top left and "JUN 58" at top right | A12345 AB1234 | Coded by county of issuance | |
| 1958–59 | Embossed silver serial on light blue plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "EXP" at top left and "JUN 59" at top right | A12345 AB1234 | Coded by county of issuance | |
| 1959–60 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "EXP" at top left and "JUN 60" at top right | A12345 AB1234 | Coded by county of issuance | |

### 1960 to present

| Dates issued | Description | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| 1960–64 | Embossed silver serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "JUN 61" at top left and state outline at top right | none | A12345 AB1234 | Coded by county of issuance | Revalidated with stickers through December 31, 1964. To commemorate Nevada's 100 years of statehood that year, dark blue strips were fitted to the top of each plate containing "NEVADA CENTENNIAL" in silver in the center, "1864" to the left and "1964" to the right. |
| 1965–67 | Embossed dark blue serial on silver plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "65" at top left | none | A12345 AB1234 A/B12345 | Coded by county of issuance | Counties with two-letter codes issued five-digit serials with stacked codes after reaching 9999. |
| 1967–68 | As above, but reflective white rather than silver | none | A12345 AB1234 A/B12345 | Coded by county of issuance | Counties with two-letter codes issued five-digit serials with stacked codes after reaching 9999. |
| 1969–70 | Debossed white serial on reflective blue plate with border line; "NEVADA" centered at top; "69" at top left | none | A12345 AB1234 ABC123 | Coded by county of issuance | |
| 1970–74 | As above, but with "NEV" at top, offset to left | none | A12345 AB1234 ABC123 | Coded by county of issuance | |
| 1974–81 | As above, but with thinner dies and "NEVADA" at top, offset to left | none | A12345 AB1234 ABC123 | Coded by county of issuance | |
| 1982–84 | As above, but with "NEVADA" roughly centered at top | none | 123ABC | 001AAA to approximately 999ANR | Some plates carried the county of issuance on a sticker at the bottom. |
| 1984 – December 2000 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white and silver graphic plate with mountain scene featuring a Bighorn sheep; "NEVADA" screened in blue centered at top | "THE SILVER STATE" screened in blue centered at bottom | 123·ABC | 001·BAA to approximately 999·LDE | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1985 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Nevada has been so honored. Co-recipient with North Dakota. |
| January 2001 – December 2006 | Embossed dark blue serial on graphic plate featuring the Sierra Nevada mountains, in light blue, against a yellow and orange gradient sky; "NEVADA" screened in dark blue centered at top | "THE SILVER STATE" screened in white centered at bottom | 123·ABC | 001·MAA to 999·TUU | Letters I, O and Q not used in serials; this practice continues today. |
| December 2006 – April 2015 | As above, but with serial screened rather than embossed | "THE SILVER STATE" screened in white centered at bottom | 123·ABC | 001·TUV to 999·YZZ; 001·LDF to 999·LZZ; 001·ANS to 999·AZZ | After 999·YZZ was issued, the 'L' series not issued on the 1984 sheep base were issued, followed by the 'A' series not issued on the 1982 blue base. 'Z' series reserved for issuance through dealerships (up to the ZZZ series on the "Home Means Nevada" base as of March 2024). |
| April – July 2015 | As above, but with serial screened rather than embossed | "THE SILVER STATE" screened in white centered at bottom | 12A·345 | 00A·000 to 56B·999 | |
| July 2015 – mid-2017 | As above, but with serial embossed (different dies to those used from 2001 to 2006) and state shape used as separator | "THE SILVER STATE" screened in white centered at bottom | 12A·345 | 57B·000 to 48H·999 | Issued concurrently with the "Home Means Nevada" base from 2016/11/1 until supplies were exhausted. |
| November 1, 2016 – early 2024 | Embossed black serial with state-shaped separator on sky blue plate; stylized multi-colored mountain range at bottom; "NEVADA" screened in black centered at top | "Home Means Nevada" screened in black at bottom, in center of mountain range | 123·A45 | 000·A00 to 999·Z99 | |
| November 1, 2016 – early 2024 | Embossed black serial with state-shaped separator on sky blue plate; stylized multi-colored mountain range at bottom; "NEVADA" screened in black centered at top | "Home Means Nevada" screened in black at bottom, in center of mountain range | 123·ABC | 000·ZDK to 999·ZZZ | Dealer-issue series |
| March 2024 – present | Embossed black serial with state-shaped separator on sky blue plate; stylized multi-colored mountain range at bottom; "NEVADA" screened in black centered at top | "Home Means Nevada" screened in black at bottom, in center of mountain range | 123·4A5 | 000·0A0 to 000·0C4 (as of December 10, 2024) |
| March 2024 – present | Embossed black serial with state-shaped separator on sky blue plate; stylized multi-colored mountain range at bottom; "NEVADA" screened in black centered at top | "Home Means Nevada" screened in black at bottom, in center of mountain range | 12A·345 | 49H·000 to 49J·000 (as of December 15, 2024) | |

## County coding, 1954–81

| County | 1954–56 | 1- and 2-letter codes, 1956–81 | 3-letter codes, 1969–81 |
| Churchill | A | CH | CHA–CHX |
| Clark | B, B/A – B/D | C, CA–CF, CJ–CZ | CAA–CGZ, CJA–CZZ, TAA–TLU |
| Douglas | C | DS | DSA–DSZ, DAA–DAB |
| Elko | F | EL | ELA–ELZ, EAA–EAC |
| Esmeralda | G | ES | |
| Eureka | H | EU | |
| Humboldt | J | HU | HUA–HUK |
| Lander | K | LA | |
| Lincoln | L | LN | |
| Lyon | N | LY | LYA–LYF |
| Mineral | P | MN | MNA–MND |
| Nye | R | NY | NYA–NYP |
| Ormsby / Carson City | S | OR | ORA–ORZ, OAA–OCH |
| Pershing | U | PE | |
| Storey | V | ST | |
| Washoe | W, W/A – W/B | W, WA (1965–68 only) | WAA–WOZ, WRA–WRX |
| White Pine | X | WP | WPA–WPJ |

## Non-passenger plates

| Type | First issued | Description | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| Apportioned Bus | | Blue serial on white plate; "NEVADA" and "APPORTIONED" screened in blue centered at top and bottom respectively | 12345 A | 00001 A to present | |
| Apportioned Truck | | As Apportioned Bus plate, but without "APPORTIONED" at bottom | 12345 P | 00001 P to present | |
| Dealer | | Same design as passenger base | D/L/R12345 | D/L/R00001 to present | |
| Exempt | | Same design as passenger base | E/X12345 | E/X00001 to present | |
| Handicapped | | Same design as passenger base | 12345 | 00001 to 99999 | |
| Handicapped | 2009 | Same design as passenger base | A1234 | A0001 to K6682 (as of September 6, 2023) | |
| Loan | | Same design as passenger base | L/O/A/N12345 | L/O/A/N00001 to present | |
| Motorcycle | 2005 | Similar to Sierra Nevada passenger base, but with border line | 123456 | 000001 to approximately 044000 | |
| Motorcycle | 2007 | As above, but with screened serial and no border line | 123456 | 044001 to approximately 288000 | |
| Motorcycle | 2017 | Similar to Home Means Nevada passenger base | 123456 | 288001 to 363633 (as of November 27, 2020) | |
| Trailer | | Same design as passenger base | 12345 A | 00001 E to 59584 Y (as of April 18, 2023) | Letters E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, S, U, V, W, X and Y have been used. |

## Optional types
### Charitable & Collegiate plates

| First issued | Description | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| | Agriculture | A/G1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| | Animal Appreciation | S/N1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| May 2012 | Autonomous Vehicle | A/U123 | A/U001 to present | Autonomous vehicles are currently not available to the general public. |
| | Children in the Arts | A/R1234 | A/R0001 to A/R9999 | |
| | Children in the Arts | A/RA123 | A/RA001 to present | |
| October 2011 | Conserve Wildlife | C/W1234 | | |
| | Hoover Dam | B/C1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| | Hot August Nights | R/S1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| February 1998 | Lake Tahoe | LT12345 | LT00001-LT99999 | Originally embossed; became screened circa 2005 at approximately LT31800. |
| | Las Vegas Centennial with image of Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign | L/V1234 | 0001-ZZZZ | |
| | Missing and Exploited Children | M/X1234 | M/X0001 to M/X9999 | |
| | Missing and Exploited Children | M/XA123 | M/XA001 to present | |
| | Mount Charleston | M/T1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| | Nevada Test Site | A/T1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| | Organ Donor | D/L1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| | Preserve Pyramid Lake | P/L1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| June 2008 | Red Rock Canyon | R/C1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| | Reno Air Races | R/R1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| | Rodeo | N/R1234 | N/R0001 to N/R9999 | |
| | Rodeo | N/RA123 | N/RA001 to present | |
| | Support Wildlife | S/W1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| October 2004 | United We Stand | U/S1234 | U/S0001 to U/S9999 | |
| October 2004 | United We Stand | U/SA123 | U/SA001 to U/SZ999 | |
| October 2004 | United We Stand | U/S123A | U/S001A to present | |
| | UNLV Collegiate | 12345 | 00001-99999 | Full serial number has a prefix of ULV. Redesigned March 2010. |
| September 2011 | UNR Collegiate | 12345 | 00001-99999 | Original design first issued 1993; the current design includes the slogan "Go Pack!". Full serial number has a prefix of UNR. |
| | Veterans | 1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| | Virginia & Truckee Railroad | V/T1234 | 0001-9999 | |

### Classic Vehicle plates

| Description | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| Antique Truck/Truck-Tractor | 123 | 001-999 | Full serial number has a prefix of AVT. |
| Classic Rod | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of CROD. |
| Classic Vehicle | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of CVEH. |
| Fire Truck | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of FT. |
| Horseless Carriage | 12 | 01-99 | |
| Old Timer | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of OT. |
| Old Timer Motorcycle | 12 | 01-99 | Full serial number has a prefix of OTM. |
| Street Rod | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of SROD. |
| Vintage | | various | |

### Firefighter plates

| Image | First issued | Description | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| | | Professional Firefighter | P/F1234 | P/F0001 to present | |
| | | Volunteer Firefighter | V/F1234 | V/F0001 to present | |

### Organization plates

| Description | Serial format | Notes |
| Amateur Radio | FCC call sign | |
| Civil Air Patrol | 1234 | Full serial number has a prefix of CVAP. |
| Hall of Fame | 123 | Full serial number has a prefix of HF. |
| Honorary Consular | 123 | Full serial number has a prefix of CON. |
| Masonic Lodge | M/S1234 | |
| National Guard | 1234 | |
| Press | 123 | Full serial number has a prefix of PRS. |

### Veterans plates

| Description | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| Air Force | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of VF. |
| Air National Guard | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of GA. |
| Army | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of VA. |
| Army Airborne | 1234 | 0001-9999 | |
| Army National Guard | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of GS. |
| Coast Guard | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of VC. |
| Congressional Medal of Honor | 12 | 01-99 | Full serial number has a prefix of CONMH. |
| Disabled Veteran | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of DV. |
| Ex-Prisoner of War | 123 | 001-999 | Full serial number has a prefix of POW. |
| Marines | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of VM. |
| Navy | 1234 | 0001-9999 | Full serial number has a prefix of VN. |
| Pearl Harbor Survivor | 123 | 001-999 | Full serial number has a prefix of PHS. |
| Pearl Harbor Veteran | 123 | 001-999 | Full serial number has a prefix of PHV. |
| Purple Heart | 12345 | 00001-99999 | Full serial number has a prefix of HRT. |

## Discontinued non-passenger and optional plate types

| Type | First issued | Last issued | Serial format(s) | Serials issued | Notes |
| Commemorative: 125 Years of Vision | November 1, 1989 | October 31, 1990 | 12345N | 00001N to approximately 24000N | Commemorated Nevada's 125 years of statehood. Remained valid until 1997. |
| White Motorcycle/Small Trailer | ? | 2005 | ABC | | |
| Nevada Libraries | April 18, 2005 | December 31, 2006 | N/L1234 | N/L0001 to approximately N/L1300 | |
| Aviation | May 31, 2005 | December 31, 2006 | A/V1234 | A/V0001 to approximately A/V1050 | |
| Ducks Unlimited | August 1, 2005 | December 31, 2006 | D/U1234 | D/U0001 to approximately D/U2450 | |
| Nevada Tourism | June 27, 2005 | December 31, 2007 | N/V1234 | N/V0001 to approximately N/V2550 | |
| Carpenters | October 15, 2007 | December 31, 2009 | U/B1234 | U/B0001 to ? | |
| Search and Rescue | September 15, 2008 | December 31, 2009 | S/R1234 | S/R0001 to ? | |
| Las Vegas Springs | September 2000 | December 31, 2013 | V/S12345 | V/S00001 to approximately V/S02700 | |
| Las Vegas Federal Lands | March 2005 | December 31, 2013 | F/L1234 | F/L0001 to ? | |
| March of Dimes | April 15, 2013 | December 31, 2014 | S/C1234 | S/C0001 to approximately S/C0600 | |
| Teamsters Local 631 | April 15, 2013 | December 31, 2014 | T/M1234 | T/M0001 to approximately T/M0550 | |
| Air Force Thunderbirds | August 12, 2013 | December 31, 2014 | S/D1234 | S/D0001 to approximately S/D0600 | |
| Share the Road | December 1, 2014 | December 31, 2016 | P/B1234 | P/B0001 to ? | |
| City of Reno | January 4, 2016 | December 31, 2017 | R/N1234 | R/N0001 to approximately R/N0600 | |
| Horse Power | June 21, 2007 | December 31, 2018 | H/P1234 H/PA123 | H/P0001 to H/P9999; H/PA001 to approximately H/PE999 | |
| Great Reno Balloon Race | May 22, 2017 | December 31, 2018 | G/R1234 | G/R0001 to ? | |
| Heritage of Sparks | December 18, 2017 | December 31, 2019 | H/S1234 | H/S0001 to ? | |