# Vehicle registration plates of Ohio

The U.S. state of Ohio first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1908, although several cities within the state issued their own license plates from as early as 1902.
As of 2022, plates are issued by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety. Only rear plates have been required for all classes of vehicles, except commercial tractors, since July 1, 2020. However, vehicle owners can request specialized, personalized plate serials, in addition to their rear plates, for an extra charge. But eventually, that second-plate option will phase out entirely when state legislation passes a bill. All plates are manufactured by inmates at Ohio Penal Industries at the Lebanon Correctional Institution; since 2015, they have been manufactured out of aluminum, having been made of galvanized steel beforehand. The BMV issues a new license plate design about every five years, or with each new administration in the state government.
A new "Sunrise in Ohio" plate design was unveiled by Governor Mike DeWine on October 21, 2021, and was made available to drivers December 29, 2021, replacing the "Ohio Pride" design which had been issued since April 2013.

## History

On May 19, 1902, Cleveland became one of the first cities in the country to require motorists to display government-issued registration numbers on their vehicles. In the following years, various local governments in Ohio issued standard metal plates of varying design or numerals (to be mounted on a dark background), including:
* Canton (1905)
* Cleveland (1907–08)
* Cincinnati (initials only 1903–05; 1906–08; motorcycles in 1911, 1913), abbreviated "Cinti"
* Columbus (1907–08), abbreviated "Col's"
* Dayton (1905, 1907, 1908; motorcycles in 1909, 1912, 1913)
* Delhi Township, Hamilton County (1906–08), abbreviated "Delhi"
* East Liverpool (Health Department vehicles in 1924)
* Elyria (motorcycles in 1910)
* Hamilton (1907), abbreviated "Haml"
* Lima (motorcycles in 1908, 1912–13)
* Lorain (1907)
* Mansfield (1903)
* Massillon (1906), abbreviated "M"
* Newark (motorcycles in 1912–13)
* Sandusky (1903)
* Springfield (unknown; motorcycles in 1913), abbreviated "Spfd" on motorcycles
* Toledo (1904, 1907)
* Warren (1908)
In 1906, the state attempted to take over auto registration under the Ward Automobile Law, but litigation delayed the program until the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in favor of the law. The Ohio Secretary of State's Automobile Division, precursor to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, was established in 1907. The Ward Law went into effect on June 11, 1908, but the Automobile Division did not begin issuing plates for another 30 days due to a manufacturing defect. The first state vehicle registration was issued to Cincinnati resident Thomas B. Paxton, Jr., for his Franklin automobile. Locally issued and owner-provided license plates were phased out by 1909 for automobiles, but local plates continued to be used for motorcycles until 1914. One effect of the Ward Law was to eliminate a significant revenue stream for cities like Cincinnati, which took in about $5,000 a year (equivalent to $170,000 today) from auto registrations.
The Ward Law required automobile owners to display plates at both the front and the rear of the vehicle. Front and rear plates would be issued for passenger vehicles for over a century, through June 30, 2020, with the exception of 1944–46 when only rear plates were issued due to metal conservation for World War II. Ohio issued single-year plates from 1910 through 1973, except in 1943 and 1952 when windshield stickers were issued to revalidate the previous year's plates, again due to metal conservation (for World War II and the Korean War respectively).
Various Ohio license plate designs from 1908 to 1921 used distinctive monograms instead of a fully spelled-out state name. The 1938 plate commemorated the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Northwest Territory (from which the state of Ohio was formed), and thus was the first plate in the state to feature a graphic and a slogan. In 1953, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles commemorated the state's sesquicentennial by issuing a special front plate bearing the state shape and the word "sesqui-centennial" [sic] instead of the passenger serial, which was carried only on the rear plate.
From 1935 through 1979, serials were allocated in blocks to each of the state's 88 counties. Serials were originally up to five characters in length and featured one or two letters. Increased demand resulted in the introduction of six-character serials in 1949, followed by all-numeric serials in 1962. The scheme was finally abandoned in 1980.
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 (dated 1957) issue was the first Ohio license plate that fully complied with these standards: the state had been issuing plates 6 inches in height by 12 inches in width since 1926, and all plates of the 1952 (dated 1953) and 1955 (dated 1956) issues were to these dimensions, but none had had standard mounting holes.
In 1967, the state began issuing special plates to DUI offenders with limited driving privileges. Judges in Ohio, however, rarely issued them until a 2004 state law made it mandatory for all DUI offenders with limited driving privileges to have them.
After the last single-year plate was issued in 1973, the 1974 plate was revalidated for 1975 with a sticker placed at the bottom right corner. The first undated, multi-year plate was issued in 1976, while monthly staggered registration was introduced in 1979.
Since 1983, plates have carried the county of issuance on a sticker. Originally, this was a long sticker centered at the bottom of the plate, displaying the county name. In 1992, the state introduced a numerical county-coding scheme (see the County Coding section below), with the county number being displayed on a red sticker at the bottom left corner of the plate; this scheme was initially used only on specialty plates before being adopted on standard passenger plates when the Bicentennial base was introduced in October 2001. The scheme was discontinued on standard passenger plates in 2018 in favor of a return to county-name stickers, again centered at the bottom of the plate.
On April 3, 2019, Governor Mike DeWine signed a two-year state transportation budget bill that included the elimination of the requirement for front license plates to be displayed. This became effective on July 1, 2020.

## Passenger baseplates
### 1908 to 1973

| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| | 1908–09 | White serial on dark blue porcelain plate; "OH" monogram at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 23500 | |
| | 1910 | White serial on woodgrain-colored porcelain plate; vertical "OHIO" and "1910" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 33000 | |
| | 1911 | Black serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "OHIO" and "1911" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 46000 | |
| 12345 | 1912 | Forest green serial on white flat metal plate; vertical "OHIO" and "1912" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 63000 | |
| 12345 | 1913 | Maroon serial on white flat metal plate; vertical "OHIO" and "1913" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 86000 | |
| | 1914 | Red serial on white flat metal plate; "OHIO" monogram and "1914" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 121000 | |
| | 1915 | Black serial on white flat metal plate; "OHIO" monogram and "1915" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 181000 | |
| 123456 | 1916 | White serial on black flat metal plate; "OHIO 1916" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 245000 | |
| | 1917 | Black serial on yellow flat metal plate; vertical "OHIO" and "1917" at left and right respectively | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 342000 | |
| 123456 | 1918 | Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "OHIO" monogram and "1918" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 412000 | First embossed plate. |
| | 1919 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "OHIO" monogram and "1919" at left | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 509000 | |
| 123456 | 1920 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "OHIO" monogram at left and "19" over "20" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 527000 | |
| | 1921 | Embossed white serial on forest green plate; "OHIO" monogram at left and "19" over "21" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 618000 | |
| | 1922 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "OHIO-1922" centered at bottom | none | 123.456 | 1 to approximately 714.000 | |
| | 1923 | Embossed red serial on gray plate; "OHIO-1923" centered at bottom | none | 123.456 | 1 to approximately 927.000 | |
| | 1924 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "OHIO-1924" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
| | 1924 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "OHIO-1924" centered at bottom | none | ★12-345 | ★1 to approximately ★59-000 | |
| | 1925 | Embossed black serial on cream plate; "OHIO-1925" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 ★12-345 | | |
| | 1926 | Embossed white serial on brown plate; "OHIO-1926" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 ★12-345 A12-345 | | |
| | 1927 | Embossed black serial on gray plate; "OHIO-1927" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 ★12-345 A12-345 | | |
| | 1928 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "OHIO-1928" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 ★12-345 A12-345 | | |
| | 1929 | Embossed black serial on light green plate; "OHIO-1929" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 A12-345 | | |
| | 1930 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "OHIO-1930" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 A12-345 | | |
| No image | 1931 | Embossed black serial on gray plate; "OHIO-1931" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 A12-345 | | |
| No image | 1932 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "OHIO-1932" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 A12-345 | | |
| | 1933 | Embossed black serial on orange plate; "OHIO-1933" centered at top | none | 123-456 A12-345 | | |
| | 1934 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "OHIO-1934" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 A12-345 | | |
| | 1935 | Embossed yellow serial on dark blue plate with border line; "OHIO - 1935" centered at bottom | none | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1936 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "OHIO - 1936" centered at bottom | none | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1937 | Embossed maroon serial on white plate with border line; "OHIO - 1937" centered at bottom | none | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1938 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; embossed covered wagon graphic centered at bottom; "OHIO·38" at bottom right | "150 ANNIV· N·W·TERR·" at bottom left | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | Commemorated the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Northwest Territory, from which the state of Ohio was formed. |
| | 1939 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "OHIO - 1939" centered at bottom | none | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1940 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "OHIO - 1940" centered at bottom | none | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1941 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "OHIO - 1941" centered at bottom | none | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1942–43 | Embossed dark green serial on white plate with border line; "OHIO - 1942" centered at bottom | none | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
| | 1944 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "OHIO - 1944" centered at bottom | none | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1945 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "OHIO - 1945" centered at bottom | none | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1946 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "OHIO - 1946" centered at bottom | none | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1947 | Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "1947 - OHIO" centered at bottom | none | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1948 | Embossed black serial on light yellow plate with border line; "OHIO - 1948" centered at bottom | none | A·1234 AB·123 1234·A 123·AB A·123·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1949 | Embossed light yellow serial on waffle-textured black plate with border line; "1949 - OHIO" centered at bottom | none | A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1950 | Embossed black serial on waffle-textured yellow plate with border line; "OHIO - 1950" centered at bottom | none | A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1951–52 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "1951 - OHIO" centered at bottom | none | A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | Revalidated for 1952 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for the Korean War. |
| | 1953 | Embossed yellow serial on dark green plate with border line; "1803 - OHIO - 1953" at bottom | none | A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | Commemorated Ohio's 150 years of statehood. |
| | 1954 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "OHIO - 1954" centered at bottom | none | A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1955 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "1955 - OHIO" centered at bottom | none | A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1956 | Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "OHIO - 1956" centered at bottom | none | A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1957 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "1957 - OHIO" centered at bottom | none | A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1958 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "OHIO - 1958" centered at bottom | none | A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1959 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "1959 - OHIO" centered at bottom | none | A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1960 | Embossed blue serial on yellow plate with border line; "OHIO - 1960" centered at bottom | none | A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1961 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "1961 - OHIO" centered at bottom | none | A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1962 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "OHIO - 1962" centered at bottom | none | 12345 A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1963 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "1963 - OHIO" centered at bottom | none | 12345 A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1964 | Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "OHIO - 1964" centered at bottom | none | 12345 A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1965 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "1965 - OHIO" centered at bottom | none | 12345 A·12345 AB·1234 12345·A 1234·AB A·1234·B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1966 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "OHIO 1966" centered at bottom | none | 12345 A 12345 AB 1234 12345 A 1234 AB A 1234 B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1967 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "67 OHIO" centered at bottom | none | 12345 A 12345 AB 1234 12345 A 1234 AB A 1234 B | Issued in blocks by county | Over 1.4 million plates on this base were destroyed in a fire at the plate shop at the Lebanon Correctional Institution in November 1966; replacement plates were manufactured in New York, Arkansas and Nebraska using these states' serial dies. |
| | 1968 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "OHIO 68" centered at bottom | none | 12345 A 12345 AB 1234 12345 A 1234 AB A 1234 B | Issued in blocks by county | Most plates manufactured in New York, using that state's serial dies, while the Lebanon plate shop was being repaired. |
| | 1969 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "69 OHIO" centered at bottom | none | 12345 A 12345 AB 1234 12345 A 1234 AB A 1234 B | Issued in blocks by county | Some plates manufactured in New York, using that state's serial dies. Full manufacturing capacity at the Lebanon plate shop was restored by 1970. |
| | 1970 | Embossed scarlet serial on gray plate with border line; "OHIO 70" centered at bottom | none | 12345 A 12345 AB 1234 12345 A 1234 AB A 1234 B | Issued in blocks by county | Issued in the colors of Ohio State University, in honor of its centennial. |
| | 1971 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "71 OHIO" centered at bottom | none | 12345 A 12345 AB 1234 12345 A 1234 AB A 1234 B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1972 | Embossed yellow serial on dark blue plate with border line; "OHIO 72" centered at bottom | none | 12345 A 12345 AB 1234 12345 A 1234 AB A 1234 B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| | 1973 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "73 OHIO" centered at bottom | "SEAT BELTS FASTENED?" at top | 12345 A 12345 AB 1234 12345 A 1234 AB A 1234 B | Issued in blocks by county | |

### 1974 to present

All Ohio passenger plates issued since October 2001 are valid for display today, provided they have been continuously registered. "Ohio Gold" plates, issued from August 1996 through September 2001, were replaced during 2022 due to readability issues arising from degradation of the reflective sheeting through exposure to humidity, rain, snow, and road salt.
| Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| 1974–75 | Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "OHIO 74" centered at bottom | "SEAT BELTS FASTENED?" at top | 123456 A 12345 AB 1234 12345 A 1234 AB A 1234 B | Issued in blocks by county | Revalidated for 1975 with stickers. |
| 1976–79 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "OHIO" centered at bottom | none | 123456 A 12345 AB 1234 12345 A 1234 AB A 1234 B | Issued in blocks by county | |
| 1980–84 | Embossed blue serial with state-shaped separator on reflective white plate; "OHIO" centered at top | none | ABC•123 | AAA•010 to approximately UFU•999 | I and O used only as the second letter in serials; this practice continues today (except 2001–04). County sticker added at bottom of plate in 1983. |
| 1985 – December 1990 | Embossed green serial with state-shaped separator on reflective white plate; "OHIO" centered at top | none | 123•ABC | 010•AAA to approximately 999•YOZ | |
| January 1991 – November 1995 | Embossed blue serial with state-shaped separator on reflective white plate; "OHIO" screened in blue centered at top | "the heart of it all!" screened in red between state name and serial | ABC•123 | AAA•010 to XEU•999 | |
| November 1995 – July 1996 | Embossed blue serial with state-shaped separator on reflective white plate; "OHIO" screened in blue centered at top | "the heart of it all!" screened in red between state name and serial | ABC•123 | XEV•010 to YZZ•999 | Narrower serial dies. Both variants revalidated until 2002. |
| August 1996 – mid-1997 | "Ohio Gold": Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white and gold gradient plate; "OHIO" screened in dark blue centered at top | "the heart of it all!" screened in red between state name and serial | ABC 1234 | AAA 1000 to approximately ARR 5900 | Issued only to new registrants. Gold plates were revalidated until 2022, but plate numbers can be transferred to the most current design. |
| Mid-1997 – September 2001 | "Ohio Gold": Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white and gold gradient plate; "OHIO" screened in dark blue centered at top | "BIRTHPLACE OF AVIATION" screened in red between state name and serial | ABC 1234 | ARR 5901 to approximately BIF 9999; CAA 1000 to approximately CVV 9999 | Issued only to new registrants. Gold plates were revalidated until 2022, but plate numbers can be transferred to the most current design. |
| October 2001 – February 2004 | "Bicentennial": embossed dark blue serial on reflective white with Ohio Bicentennial Commission logo and red and blue bars | Ohio Bicentennial; Birthplace of Aviation | AB12CD | AA01AA to approximately FC99KV | Issued to new registrants and as replacements for 1991–96 plates. Letters I and O not used in this serial format. Last standard base to have embossed specialty plates. |
| February 2004 – November 30, 2010 | "Sunburst": embossed dark blue serial on reflective white with state seal graphic and red and blue bars. This license plate also is the second to have the '"Bicentennial"' font. It features a rising sun with its rays beaming brilliantly. | Sunburst; Birthplace of Aviation. | ABC 1234 | DAA 1000 to EQZ 9999; EUJ 1000 to FAK 9999 | Issued concurrently with the "Beautiful Ohio" base (below) from November 23, 2009. First standard base to have all specialty plates printed flat. |
| November 23, 2009 – April 14, 2013 | "Beautiful Ohio": embossed dark blue serial on rolling hills with farm, distant skyline, and airborne biplane | Beautiful Ohio; Birthplace of Aviation | ABC 1234 | ERA 1000 to EUH 9999; FAL 1000 to FVZ 9999 | Originally issued as a no-cost alternative to the "Sunburst" base, before replacing it as the standard base on December 1, 2010. With elements designed by Frances Strickland, the plate has been described as "a bucolic affair", in contrast to the later "Ohio Pride" plate. |
| April 15, 2013 – December 28, 2021 | "Ohio Pride": embossed dark blue serial on word cloud background and red triangle resembling an airplane wing | Birthplace of Aviation; DiscoverOhio.com; 46 "slogans" total, including facts and famous names | ABC 1234 | FWA 1000 to JCZ 9999; JEA 1000 to JPA 3505 (as of December 30, 2021) | Remaining "Beautiful Ohio" plates melted and recycled into this design so that materials were not wasted. "Ohio Pride" was designed by Aaron Roberts and chosen among four concept drawings put forward by the CCAD Design Group. The design was noted for its simplicity but also criticized for poor legibility. The plate was introduced as part of a coordinated branding campaign that also included a matching driver's license design. Only rear plates required beginning July 1, 2020, the change took place early in the 'J' series of serials. |
| December 29, 2021 – present | "Sunrise in Ohio": screened dark blue serial on sunrise scene featuring skyline, hills, river, wheat field, and child swinging from a tree, with Wright Flyer, state shape and red banner with slogan at top | Birthplace of Aviation | ABC 1234 | JDA 1000 to JDZ 9999; JRQ 1000 to KOD 5533 (as of January 23, 2025) | Beginning with this base, all new Ohio plates are now flat instead of embossed. Remaining "Ohio Pride" plates will be melted and recycled into this design so that materials are not wasted. An error in the initial design had the Wright Flyer flying backwards; around 35,000 plates were manufactured before the error was realized and corrected; these plates will also be melted and recycled. |

## Alternative passenger plates

| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| | 1967–present | Red on yellow | none | 123456 1234567 | 3700000 to 3769283 (As of July 22, 2023) | For DUI offenders with limited driving privileges. Issued since 1967 but rarely used before the plate became mandated on all DUI offenders in 2004. |
Ohio state law authorizes the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to issue a number of specialty passenger plates, as defined in Ohio Rev. Code chapter 4503, sections 4 and 5.

## Non-passenger plates

| Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| Apportioned | 2013–2021 | As "Ohio Pride" passenger base, with "APPORTIONED" at bottom | PBC 1234 | PVW 1000 to PWF 6115 (as of July 13, 2019) | |
| Commercial Trailer | 2013–2021 | As "Ohio Pride" passenger base, with "TRAILER" at bottom | TBC 1234 | TQE 1000 to TRX 5375 (as of October 19, 2021) | |
| Motorcycle | 2004–10 | Similar to "Sunburst" passenger base | 12ABC | 01HHA to 99QOZ; 01RXD to 99TID | 'Z' series used on Veteran Motorcycle plates. |
| Motorcycle | 2009–13 | Similar to "Beautiful Ohio" passenger base | 12ABC | 01QPA to 99RXC; 01TIE to approximately 99VVL | 'Z' series used on Veteran Motorcycle plates. |
| Motorcycle | 2013–15 | Similar to "Ohio Pride" passenger base | 12ABC | 01WAA to 99YZZ | 'Z' series used on Veteran Motorcycle plates. |
| Motorcycle | 2015–present | Similar to "Ohio Pride" passenger base | ABC12 | AAA01 to HPS59 (as of October 14, 2021) | 'Z' series used on Veteran Motorcycle plates. |
| Non-Commercial Trailer | 2013–2021 | As "Ohio Pride" passenger base | SBC 1234 | SUE 1000 to SZU 8824 (as of October 16, 2021) | |
| Truck | 1996–2001 | As "Ohio Gold" passenger base, but with "TRUCK" in place of county name at bottom | PBC 1234 | PAA 1000 to PCQ 9999 | |
| Truck | 2001–04 | As "Bicentennial" passenger base, but without Ohio Bicentennial Commission logo, and with "TRUCK" in place of blue band at bottom | PBC 1234 | PCW 1000 to PEN 9999 | |
| Truck | 2004–10 | As "Sunburst" passenger base, but with "TRUCK" in place of blue band at bottom | PBC 1234 | PEP 1000 to PGQ 9999; PGV 7000 to PHF 9999 | |
| Truck | 2009–13 | As "Beautiful Ohio" passenger base, but with "TRUCK" in place of graphics at bottom | PBC 1234 | PGR 1000 to PGV 6999; PHG 1000 to PIA 9999 | |
| Truck | 2013–2021 | As "Ohio Pride" passenger base, with "TRUCK" at bottom | PBC 1234 | PIC 1000 to PLB 9999; PMA 1000 to PMV 3418 (as of December 31, 2021) | |
| Truck | 2021–present | Screened dark blue serial on gradient blue and white; Wright Flyer, state shape and banner at top, "TRUCK" at bottom | PBC 1234 | PLC 1000 to PLZ 9999; PMZ 1000 to PNP 8078 (as of November 14, 2024) | |
From 1976 until 1996, license plates for pickup trucks and other light truck-related vehicles (SUVs and conversion vans aside) were issued truck plates that said "Non Comm" (for "non-commercial truck") while semi-trucks were issued plates that said "Commercial". Since 1996, however, the more consumer-oriented truck plates now say "Truck" instead of "Non-Comm."
* Church bus (1972)
* House Vehicle (1973)
* Non Commercial (1991-1995)

## Dealer/Manufacturer plates

| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| | 2021–present | Similar to the "Sunrise in Ohio" plate, but with a blue to white gradient background instead of the graphic background | DEALER at bottom | 123 A1BC | | |

## Temporary tags

Vehicles purchased from a dealership are given a 30-day or 45-day temporary tag. The paper tag is filled out by hand. Since March 2001, it has featured a hologram. On a 2001-series temporary tag, the plate number is preprinted, while the expiration date and vehicle details are written in permanent marker. As of August, 2020, the Ohio Department of Public Safety issues print-on-demand temporary tags and will phase out traditional paper tags in January 2021.
* 2002
* 2010

## County coding

In 1992, Ohio began using a numerical county-coding scheme to indicate the county of registration. The scheme assigns a two-digit number to each of the state's 88 counties in alphabetical order, beginning with 01 for Adams County and ending with 88 for Wyandot County. The scheme has been used on specialty plates since its introduction, and was also used on standard passenger plates from 2001 until 2018.
The county number is displayed on red or white stickers placed at the bottom left corner the plate. The stickers also display the county name, in small print below the number.

### List of county numbers

* Adams
* Allen
* Ashland
* Ashtabula
* Athens
* Auglaize
* Belmont
* Brown
* Butler
* Carroll
* Champaign
* Clark
* Clermont
* Clinton
* Columbiana
* Coshocton
* Crawford
* Cuyahoga
* Darke
* Defiance
* Delaware
* Erie
* Fairfield
* Fayette
* Franklin
* Fulton
* Gallia
* Geauga
* Greene
* Guernsey
* Hamilton
* Hancock
* Hardin
* Harrison
* Henry
* Highland
* Hocking
* Holmes
* Huron
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Knox
* Lake
* Lawrence
* Licking
* Logan
* Lorain
* Lucas
* Madison
* Mahoning
* Marion
* Medina
* Meigs
* Mercer
* Miami
* Monroe
* Montgomery
* Morgan
* Morrow
* Muskingum
* Noble
* Ottawa
* Paulding
* Perry
* Pickaway
* Pike
* Portage
* Preble
* Putnam
* Richland
* Ross
* Sandusky
* Scioto
* Seneca
* Shelby
* Stark
* Summit
* Trumbull
* Tuscarawas
* Union
* Van Wert
* Vinton
* Warren
* Washington
* Wayne
* Williams
* Wood
* Wyandot

## Reserved series

On recent seven-character baseplates, the state has reserved certain letter series to be issued in coordination with specific car dealerships or leasing agencies.
| Series | Assigned to |
| FAC | First Automotive Corp., Cincinnati |
| GLR | Grand Leasing and Sales |
| GAN | Ganley Automotive Lease |
| HON | Honda |
| HOM | Honda of Mentor |
| JAY | Jay Auto Group, Bedford |
| JSL | Jake Sweeney Leasing, Cincinnati |
| LAS | Shaker Auto Leasing |
| LEX | Metro Lexus |
| LXS | Metro Lexus |
| MAL | Mike Albert Resale Center and Leasing, Cincinnati |
| MBZ | Mercedes-Benz |
| MCT | Motorcars Toyota, Cleveland Heights |
| MCH | Motorcars Honda, Cleveland Heights |
| MET | Metro Toyota, Cleveland |
| MGM | Marshall Goldman Motors |
| MKB | MKB Leasing, Marietta |
| MVP | Classic Auto Group (Cleveland area/Northeast Ohio) |
| NON | Nissan of North Olmsted |
| SUN | Sunnyside, Cleveland |
| SSA | Sunnyside Audi |
| SSH | Sunnyside Honda |
| SST | Sunnyside Toyota |
| TOB | Toyota of Bedford |
| TOY | Toyota |
| VCJ | Adventure Chrysler Jeep, Willoughby |
| WIN | Classic Auto Group (Cleveland area/Northeast Ohio) |