# Vehicle registration plates of Alabama

The U.S. state of Alabama first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1911.
As of 2021, plates are issued by the Alabama Department of Revenue. Only rear plates have been required on standard passenger vehicles since 1963.

## History

Some Alabama municipalities issued their own license plates for horse-drawn vehicles as well as automobiles prior to 1911. The earliest known plate is a bronze plate, "No. 1", issued by the city of Bessemer on a two-horse wagon in 1901, while the earliest known plate for an automobile is a 1906 dash plate issued by the city of Birmingham, originally assigned to a 1904 6-cylinder Ford. Between 1909 and 1911, Birmingham and Mobile issued annual plates made of porcelain-coated steel, while Montgomery, the state capital, issued a similar plate only in 1909. Dothan also issued a porcelain plate in 1911.
The state first issued annual license plates on October 1, 1911, with plate #1 being issued to the Leak Funeral Home in Montgomery. Until 1980, the license year was October 1 to September 30. Porcelain plates were originally used, before the state switched to embossed metal plates in 1915. The 1916–17 plate was the first to feature the year of expiration, while the 1921–22 plate was the first to use a horsepower class system, with each class denoted by a letter. Kilby Prison near Montgomery took charge of all plate manufacture in 1928.
In 1933, the horsepower classes were replaced by weight classes, using the same letter system; these lasted until 1952. County coding was introduced in 1941.
A 1951 law added a heart shape and the phrase "Heart of Dixie" to the state's license plates (beginning with the 1954–55 plate), adopting a slogan created by the Alabama Chamber of Commerce. The heart motif and slogan remain in use on all standard-issue plates today.
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 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Alabama license plate that complied with these standards.
Since 1980, Alabama has used a staggered registration system based on the first letter of the registrant's last name. Registrations expire January through November, with fleet, leased, and commercial vehicles expiring in November.

## Passenger baseplates
### 1911 to 1976

| Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| 1911–12 | White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "ALA" at left | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 4000 | |
| 1912–13 | Black serial on orange porcelain plate; vertical "ALA" at left | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 4800 | |
| 1913–14 | Black serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "ALA" at left | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 8300 | |
| 1914–15 | White serial on green porcelain plate; vertical "ALA" at left | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 12100 | |
| 1915–16 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; vertical "ALA" at left | none | 12345 | 1 to 10000; 15001 to approximately 24100 | First embossed plate. |
| 1916–17 | Embossed red serial on white plate; vertical "ALA" and "1917" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to 25000; 35001 to approximately 36600 | First dated plate. |
| 1917–18 | Embossed blue serial on gray plate; vertical "1918" and "ALA" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 30200 | |
| 1918–19 | Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; vertical "ALA" and "19" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 00001 to approximately 49500 | |
| 1919–20 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; vertical "20" and "ALA" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 00001 to approximately 64700 | |
| 1920–21 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; vertical "21" and "ALA" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 00001 to approximately 69600 | |
| 1921–22 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "ALA" and "22" at right; "PRIVATE" centered at bottom | none | A-12345 | Coded by horsepower class (A) | |
| 1922–23 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "23" and vertical "ALA" at right; "PRIVATE" centered at bottom | none | A-12345 | Coded by horsepower class (A) | |
| 1923–24 | Embossed brown serial on cream plate with border line; "ALA. PRIVATE 1924" at bottom | none | A-123-456 | Coded by horsepower class (A) | |
| 1924–25 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "1925 PRIVATE ALA." at bottom | none | A-123-456 | Coded by horsepower class (A) | |
| 1925–26 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "1926 PRIVATE ALA." at bottom | none | A-123-456 | Coded by horsepower class (A) | |
| 1926–27 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "ALABAMA 1927" at bottom | none | A-123-456 | Coded by horsepower class (A) | First use of the full state name. |
| 1927–28 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "ALABAMA" at bottom, offset to left; "28" at bottom right | none | 123-456A | Coded by horsepower class (A) | |
| 1928–29 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "ALABAMA" at bottom, offset to left; "29" at bottom right | none | 123-456A | Coded by horsepower class (A) | |
| 1929–30 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "ALABAMA" at top, offset to left; "30" at top right | none | 123-456A | Coded by horsepower class (A) | |
| 1930–31 | Embossed yellow serial on green plate with border line; "ALABAMA" at top, offset to right; "31" at top left | none | A123-456 | Coded by horsepower class (A) | |
| 1931–32 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "ALABAMA" at top, offset to left; "32" at top right | none | 123-456A | Coded by horsepower class (A) | |
| 1932–33 | Embossed white serial on light blue plate with border line; "ALABAMA" at bottom, offset to left; "33" at bottom right | none | 123-456A | Coded by horsepower class (A) | |
| 1933–34 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "ALABAMA" at top, offset to left; "34" at top right | none | 123-456A | Coded by weight class (A) | |
| 1934–35 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "ALABAMA" at bottom, offset to left; "35" at bottom right | none | 123-456A | Coded by weight class (A) | |
| 1935–36 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "ALABAMA" at top, offset to left; "36" at top right | none | 123-456A | Coded by weight class (A) | |
| 1936–37 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "ALA. FRONT" (on front plates) or "ALABAMA" (on rear plates) at bottom, offset to left; "37" at bottom right | none | 123-456A | Coded by weight class (A) | Separate front and rear plates. |
| 1937–38 | Embossed red serial on dark blue plate with border line; "ALABAMA" at top, offset to left; "38" at top right | none | 123-456A | Coded by weight class (A) | |
| 1938–39 | Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "ALABAMA" at bottom, offset to right; "39" at bottom left | none | A123-456 | Coded by weight class (A) | |
| 1939–40 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "ALA." at top, offset to left; "40" at top right | none | 123-456A | Coded by weight class (A) | |
| 1940–41 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "ALA. 1941" centered at top | none | A 123-456 | Coded by weight class (A) | |
| 1941–43 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "ALABAMA 1942" centered at bottom | none | 1A12·345 10A1·234 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) and weight class (A) | First use of county codes. Revalidated through September 30, 1943, with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
| 1943–44 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "ALABAMA 1944" centered at top | none | 1A12·345 10A1·234 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) and weight class (A) | |
| 1944–45 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "ALABAMA 1945" centered at bottom | none | 1A12·345 10A1·234 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) and weight class (A) | |
| 1945–46 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "ALABAMA 1946" centered at top | none | 1A12·345 10A1·234 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) and weight class (A) | |
| 1946–47 | Embossed black serial on silver plate; "ALABAMA 1947" centered at bottom | none | 1A12·345 10A1·234 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) and weight class (A) | |
| 1947–48 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "ALABAMA 1948" centered at top | none | 1A12·345 10A1·234 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) and weight class (A) | |
| 1948–49 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "ALA. 49" centered at bottom | none | 1A12·345 10A1·234 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) and weight class (A) | |
| 1949–50 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "ALA. 50" centered at top | none | 1A12·345 10A1·234 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) and weight class (A) | |
| 1950–51 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "ALA. 51" centered at bottom | none | 1A12·345 10A1·234 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) and weight class (A) | |
| 1951–52 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "ALA. 52" centered at top | none | 1A12·345 10A1·234 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) and weight class (A) | |
| 1952–53 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "ALA. 53" centered at bottom | none | 1-123·456 10-12·345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1953–54 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "ALA. 54" centered at bottom | none | 1-123·456 10-12·345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1954–55 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; heart shape around county code at left; "ALABAMA" centered at bottom; "55" at bottom right | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1 12·345 1A 12·345 10 12·345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | First use of the "Heart of Dixie" slogan. One-letter serial format used in Jefferson County after 1 99·999 was reached; this occurred on each subsequent plate until 1976, with Mobile County following suit from 1960. |
| 1955–56 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "56" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12·345 1A-12·345 10-12·345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | First 6" x 12" plate. |
| 1956–57 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "57" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12·345 1A-12·345 10-12·345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1957–58 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "58" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12·345 1A-12·345 10-12·345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1958–59 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "59" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12·345 1A-12·345 10-12·345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1959–60 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "60" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12·345 1A-12·345 10-12·345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1960–61 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "61" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12·345 1A-12·345 10-12·345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1961–62 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "62" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1962–63 | Embossed reflective white serial on dark blue plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "63" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1963–64 | Embossed reflective white serial on red plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "64" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | Issued in the colors of the University of Alabama. |
| 1964–65 | Embossed reflective orange serial on blue plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "65" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | Issued in the colors of Auburn University. |
| 1965–66 | Embossed reflective white serial on black plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "66" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1966–67 | Embossed reflective yellow serial on blue plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "67" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1967–68 | Embossed reflective white serial on red plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "68" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1968–69 | Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "69" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1969–70 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "70" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1970–71 | Embossed black serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "71" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1971–72 | Embossed black serial on reflective mint green plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "72" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1972–73 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "73" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1973–74 | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "74", "ALABAMA" and heart shape at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1974–75 | Embossed black serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; heart shape, "ALABAMA" and "75" at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| 1975–76 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "76", "ALABAMA" and heart shape at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" centered at top | 1-12345 1A-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |

### 1976 to present

| Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| October 1976 – December 1981 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; red Alabama State Capitol graphic screened in the center; state flag, blue rectangle and U.S. Bicentennial logo screened at bottom; "ALABAMA" screened in blue centered at top | "HEART OF DIXIE" in white within red heart screened at top left | ABC 123 | AAA 001 to approximately HDZ 999 | Early plates carried the county of issuance on a sticker over the blue rectangle. Later plates used taller serial dies. Letters I and Q not used in serials. |
| January 1982 – December 1986 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "Alabama" screened in dark blue centered at top | "HEART OF DIXIE" in white within dark blue heart screened at top left | 1A 12345 10A 1234 47 12345 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | All-numeric serials issued in Madison County after 47Z 9999 was reached. |
| January 1987 – December 1991 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; two red hearts screened at top left and top right, connected by two red lines; "Alabama" screened in red centered at bottom | "HEART OF DIXIE" screened in red centered at top, between red lines | 1AB 1234 10AB 123 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| January 1992 – December 1996 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; "ALABAMA" screened in blue centered at top, with blue line on either side | "Heart of Dixie" screened in red centered between state name and serial, with heart outline around the "of" | 1ABC123 10ABC12 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | Letters E, I, O, Q, U and X not used in serials; this practice continued until 2022. |
| January 1997 – December 2001 | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; pale blue fade with stars at top and pale red fade at bottom; "Alabama" screened in red at bottom | "Heart of Dixie" screened in blue centered at top; with red heart behind the "of" | 1AB1234 10AB123 47ABC12 47A1B23 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | Three-letter and letter-number-letter serial formats used in Madison County after 47ZZ999 was reached. |
| January 2002 – December 31, 2008 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; blue bar with white falling stars and musical notes screened at top; "Alabama" screened in red centered at bottom | "Stars Fell On" screened in white centered on blue bar; "HEART OF DIXIE" in white within red heart screened above and to right of state name | 1A1234B 10A123B 47A1B2C | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | Alternating letter-number serial format used in Madison County after 47Z999Z was reached. Plates with screened serials issued in counties that had exhausted their supplies of embossed plates. |
| June – December 31, 2008 | As above, but with serial screened rather than embossed | "Stars Fell On" screened in white centered on blue bar; "HEART OF DIXIE" in white within red heart screened above and to right of state name | 1A1234B 10A123B 47A1B2C | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | Alternating letter-number serial format used in Madison County after 47Z999Z was reached. Plates with screened serials issued in counties that had exhausted their supplies of embossed plates. |
| January 2, 2009 – December 31, 2013 | Black screened digits with Alabama Gulf Coast graphic; blue cursive "Alabama" centered at bottom | "Sweet Home" in blue centered at top; "HEART OF DIXIE" in blue within blue heart outline to right of "Sweet Home" | 1A12B34 10A12B3 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
| January 2, 2014 – January 2, 2022 | Black screened serial with lake and forest graphic | "HEART OF DIXIE" in white within white heart outline at bottom right | 1AB1234 10AB123 10A1B23 | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | Letter-number-letter serial format used in Madison and Shelby Counties after 47ZZ999 and 58ZZ999, respectively, were reached. |
| January 3, 2022 – present | Black screened serial with sunrise beach graphic; "ALABAMA" centered at top in blue; "www.alabama.travel" centered at bottom in white | "HEART OF DIXIE" in white within white heart outline at bottom right | 1A2345B 1A23BCD 10A123B 10A12B3 10A1B23 10A1BC2 10A2BCD | Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | While the official start of this base was January 2022, some appeared as early as October 2021. The last 4-5 characters can be numbers or letters. Each progresses 0 to 9, then A to Y, from right to left. Letters I,O,Q not used. Additionally, the letters F,G,J,K,L,S,V and Z have only been observed in the 10A123B format. |

## Non-passenger and specialty plates

Alabama offers a variety of optional plates that motorists may display upon the payment of an additional fee as well as non-passenger plate types that are displayed on vehicles for specialized uses.

### Non-passenger types

Many non-passenger types are both county-coded and weight-coded. Where noted, the county code is the first one or two regularly sized number of the serial, while the weight code is a small number beneath the letter that indicates the vehicle type.
| Type | First issued (in design shown) | Serial format | Notes |
| Ambulance/Hearse | October 1, 2022 | 0K/0 12345 00K/0 1234 | Annual plates. "Ambulance" legend. |
| Apportioned | January 2012 | 1234567 | Annual plates. "Apportioned" legend. |
| Bus | October 2013 | 0Q/0 12345 00Q/0 1234 | Annual plates. "Bus" legend. |
| Consular Official | October 1, 2022 | CNSL12 | Annual plates. "Consular Official" legend. |
| Cotton Module | October 2013 | CM12345 | Annual plates. "Cotton Module" legend. |
| County Government - Motorcycle | Unknown | CM 123 | Permanent plates. |
| County Government - Passenger | Unknown | 12345 CO | "County" legend. Permanent plates. |
| County Government - Passenger - Disabled | Unknown | D12 CO | "County" legend. Permanent plates. |
| Dealer - Motorcycle | Unknown | 1234 | Annual plates. "Dealer" legend. |
| Dealer - Passenger | Unknown | 12345 | Annual plates. "Dealer" legend. |
| Dealer Transit - Motorcycle | | 12345 | Annual plates. "Dealer" legend. |
| Dealer Transit - Passenger | | 12345 | Annual plates. "Dealer" legend. |
| Disabled Person - Motorcycle | | 12G34 | |
| Disabled Person - Passenger | | 123 AB 1A2B3 | |
| Farm Truck or Farm Truck Tractor | Unknown | 0F/0 12345 00F/0 1234 | Annual plates. "Farm" legend. |
| Fleet | Unknown | | "Fleet" legend. |
| For-Hire - Limited | | 0X/L 12345 00X/L 1234 | Annual plates. |
| Forest Truck | Unknown | 0L/0 12345 00L/0 1234 | Annual plates. "Forest" legend. |
| Manufacturer | Unknown | MA1234 | Annual plates. "Manufacturer" legend. |
| Motorcycle | January 2014 | 123456M | |
| Municipal Government - Motorcycle | | MM 123 | Permanent plates. |
| Municipal Government - Passenger | | 12345 MU | "Municipal" legend. Permanent plates. |
| Municipal Government - Passenger - Disabled | | A12 MU | "Municipal" legend. Permanent plates. |
| Municipal Government - Public Utility | | 1234 PUD | "Municipal" legend. Permanent plates. |
| Permanent Trailer | | A123456 | Permanent plates. |
| Motor Home | | 0R/0 12345 00R/0 1234 | Annual plates. Weight class as legend. |
| Rental Trailer | | 0R/T 12345 00R/T 1234 | Annual plates. |
| Taxi | | 0Z/0 12345 00Z/0 1234 | Annual plates. |
| Semi Trailer | | 0TR 1234 00T/R 1234 | Annual plates. "Forest" legend. |
| State Defense Force | | 123SDF | |
| State Government - Motorcycle | | S M12 | Permanent plates. |
| State Government - Passenger | | S 1234A | Permanent plates. |
| State Government - Passenger - Disabled | | S 12A | Permanent plates. |
| State Government - Passenger - State motor pool | | SMP 123 | Permanent plates. |
| Truck or Truck Tractor - 8,001 to 10,000 lb. | | 0P/0 12345 00P/0 1234 | |
| Truck or Truck Tractor - greater than 10,000 lb. | | 0X/0 12345 00X/0 1234 | Annual plates. |
| U.S. Government-Loaned | | GL 1234 | "US GOV'T LOANED" legend. Permanent plates. |
| Vintage Vehicle - Motorcycle | | | |
| Vintage Vehicle - Passenger | | VAB 123 | |
| Volunteer Fire Department | | VF1234 | |

### Specialty types

| Type | First issued | Serial format | Notes |
| Active Reserve | Redesigned 2009 | 12AB | |
| Alabama A&M University | | | Available in personalized format. |
| Alabama Cattlemen's Association | | 1A23B | Available in personalized format. |
| Alabama Children's Trust Fund | | | Available in personalized format. |
| Alabama State University | | ABC123 | Available in personalized format. |
| Alabama Wildlife Federation | | 1A23B | Available in personalized format. |
| Amateur Radio | | various | |
| Athens State University | | | Available in personalized format. |
| Atomic Nuked Veteran | | A12B3 | |
| Atomic Nuked Veteran - Disabled | | A12B | |
| Auburn University | | 12A3B | Available in personalized format. |
| Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum - Motorcycle | | | Available in personalized format. |
| Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum - Passenger | | | Available in personalized format. |
| Birmingham-Southern College | | | Available in personalized format. |
| Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama | 2009 | | Available in personalized format. |
| Choose Life | | 1A23B | |
| Curing Childhood Cancer | | 12A3B | Available in personalized format. |
| Desert Shield/Desert Storm Veteran | | A12B3 | |
| Desert Shield/Desert Storm Veteran - Disabled | | A12B | |
| Disabled Veteran | | V12345 | Sticker with name of conflict placed between lower bolt holes. |
| Disabled Veteran - Disabled | | AB12 | Sticker with name of conflict placed between lower bolt holes. |
| Drive Out Ovarian Cancer | 2009 | | Available in personalized format. |
| Ducks Unlimited | | ABC123 | Available in personalized format. |
| Educator | Redesigned 2009 | AB123 | Available in personalized format. |
| Faulkner University | Redesigned 2009 | | Available in personalized format. |
| Farming Feeds Alabama | | ABC123 | Available in personalized format. |
| Fight Breast Cancer | 2009 | | Available in personalized format. |
| Fire Fighter | | F12345 | |
| First to the Moon and Beyond | | ABC123 | Serials were initially embossed but were later surface-printed. Available in personalized format. |
| Forests Forever | | ABC123 | Available in personalized format. |
| Forever Wild | | 1234FW | Available in personalized format. |
| Former Prisoner of War | | POW 1234 | "God Bless America" legend |
| Former Prisoner of War | | POW 1AB | "God Bless America" legend |
| Fraternal Order of Police | | 123FA 12AB3 | |
| Generic specialty plate: Alabama Association of Realtors; Civitan International; Delta Sigma Theta; Letter Carrier; NASCAR-themed; Organ Donor; Retired Educator; Square Dancer; Take a Kid Fishing | | 12A3B 1A2B3 | Decal promoting organization or cause applied to left of serial. Available in personalized format. |
| Global War on Terrorism Veteran | | 12A3B | |
| Global War on Terrorism Veteran - Disabled | | | |
| God Bless America | 2006redesigned 2013 | AB12345 and 12345AB1234AB5 | |
| Helping Schools | | HS123A | Available in personalized format. |
| Helping Uninsured Children | c. 2008 | | Available in personalized format. |
| Huntingdon College | | 1A23B | Available in personalized format. |
| Jacksonville State University | | | Available in personalized format. |
| Judson College | | | Available in personalized format. |
| Korean War Veteran | | A12B3 | |
| Korean War Veteran - Disabled | | A12B | |
| Medal of Honor | | MOH 1 | |
| Medal of Honor - Disabled | | 1AB | |
| Miles College | | | Available in personalized format. |
| National Guard | Redesigned 2008 | 12345 (until 2008) N/G (2008—present) | |
| National Guard - Disabled | | 1AB (until 2008) unknown (2008—present) | |
| National Wild Turkey Federation | | | Available in personalized format. |
| Oakwood College | | 1A23B | Available in personalized format. |
| Pearl Harbor Survivor | | 1A2 | |
| Pearl Harbor Survivor - Disabled | | AB1 | |
| Protect Our Environment | | ABC123 | Available in personalized format. |
| Purple Heart | Redesigned c. 2009 | PH12A | "Combat Wounded" legend |
| Purple Heart—Disabled | Redesigned c. 2009 | AB1 | "Combat Wounded" legend |
| Rescue Squad | Redesigned 2009 | RS 12345 | |
| Samford University | Redesigned 2009 | SU12A | Available in personalized format. |
| Save the Cahaba | | | Available in personalized format. |
| Selma University | | 1A23B | Available in personalized format. |
| Shriners Hospitals for Children | | AB 12 | |
| Sons of Confederate Veterans | | AB123 | Available in personalized format. |
| Spay and Neuter | 2009 | | Available in personalized format. |
| Spring Hill College | | SHC123 | Available in personalized format. |
| Stillman College | | 123 SC | Available in personalized format. |
| Support the Arts | | | Available in personalized format. |
| Talladega College | | 12 TC 123 TC | |
| Tuskegee University | | T123U | |
| Troy University | | | Available in personalized format. |
| University of Alabama | Redesigned c. 2004, 2009 | ABC123 | Serials were initially embossed but were later surface-printed. Available in personalized format. |
| University of Alabama Birmingham | | A1B23 | Available in personalized format. |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | | | Available in personalized format. |
| University of Mobile | | A1B23 | Available in personalized format. |
| University of Montevallo | Redesigned c. 2008 | A123B | Available in personalized format. |
| University of North Alabama | Redesigned c. 2009 | UNA123 | Available in personalized format. |
| University of South Alabama | Redesigned c. 2009 | SA123 | Available in personalized format. |
| University of West Alabama | Redesigned c. 2009 | 123WA | Available in personalized format. |
| U.S. Armed Forces - Retired | | A1B23 | Sticker with branch of service placed between lower bolt holes. |
| U.S. Armed Forces - Retired - Disabled | | 1234A | Sticker with branch of service placed between lower bolt holes. |
| Vanity | | various | |
| Vietnam Veteran | | A12B3 | |
| Vietnam Veteran - Disabled | | A12B3 | |
| World War II Veteran - American Campaign | | A12B3 | |
| World War II Veteran - American Campaign - Disabled | | A12B | |
| World War II Veteran - Asiatic Campaign | | A12B3 | |
| World War II Veteran - Asiatic Campaign - Disabled | | A12B | |
| World War II Veteran - Battle of the Bulge | | A12B3 | |
| World War II Veteran - Battle of the Bulge - Disabled | | A12B | |
| World War II Veteran - European Campaign | | A12B3 | |
| World War II Veteran - European Campaign | | A12B | |

## County coding

Alabama established a numerical county-code system for its license plates in 1941, with codes 1, 2 and 3 assigned to the three most populous counties of the time (Jefferson, Mobile and Montgomery), and codes 4 through 67 assigned to the remaining counties in alphabetical order. The state had no plans to update this numbering system. Code 70 was added in 1948 for replacement plates, followed in 1966 by code 80 for supplemental plates in counties that had run out of standard plates. The system remains in use today on passenger plates and some non-passenger types. Despite being 03 on registration plates, Montgomery County is no longer the third most populous county and ranks 7th in the state. The current second Most populous county as of 2024 is Madison County with the registration code of 47.
| Code | County |
| 1 | Jefferson |
| 2 | Mobile |
| 3 | Montgomery |
| 4 | Autauga |
| 5 | Baldwin |
| 6 | Barbour |
| 7 | Bibb |
| 8 | Blount |
| 9 | Bullock |
| 10 | Butler |
| 11 | Calhoun |
| 12 | Chambers |
| 13 | Cherokee |
| 14 | Chilton |
| 15 | Choctaw |
| 16 | Clarke |
| 17 | Clay |
| 18 | Cleburne |
| 19 | Coffee |
| 20 | Colbert |
| 21 | Conecuh |
| 22 | Coosa |
| 23 | Covington |
| 24 | Crenshaw |
| 25 | Cullman |
| 26 | Dale |
| 27 | Dallas |
| 28 | DeKalb |
| 29 | Elmore |
| 30 | Escambia |
| 31 | Etowah |
| 32 | Fayette |
| 33 | Franklin |
| 34 | Geneva |
| 35 | Greene |
| 36 | Hale |
| 37 | Henry |
| 38 | Houston |
| 39 | Jackson |
| 40 | Lamar |
| 41 | Lauderdale |
| 42 | Lawrence |
| 43 | Lee |
| 44 | Limestone |
| 45 | Lowndes |
| 46 | Macon |
| 47 | Madison |
| 48 | Marengo |
| 49 | Marion |
| 50 | Marshall |
| 51 | Monroe |
| 52 | Morgan |
| 53 | Perry |
| 54 | Pickens |
| 55 | Pike |
| 56 | Randolph |
| 57 | Russell |
| 58 | Shelby |
| 59 | St. Clair |
| 60 | Sumter |
| 61 | Talladega |
| 62 | Tallapoosa |
| 63 | Tuscaloosa |
| 64 | Walker |
| 65 | Washington |
| 66 | Wilcox |
| 67 | Winston |
| 70 | Replacement |
| 80 | Supplemental |