# Vehicle registration plates of Texas

The U.S. state of Texas first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own license plates for display, with serial numbers assigned by their county of residence, until the state began to issue plates in 1917.
As of 2024, plates are manufactured at the Wynne Unit in Huntsville, Texas, and are issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles, trailers and antique vehicles.

## Passenger baseplates
### 1917 to 1974

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 first Texas license plate that complied with these standards was a modification of the 1955 plate, introduced towards the end of that year.
| Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| 1917–22 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "TEX" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 767000 | Validated for 1917, 1918 and 1919 with round seals, and for 1920, 1921 and 1922 with rectangular seals. |
| 1923–24 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate with border line; vertical "TEXAS" at both left and right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 999-999 | Validated for 1924 with rectangular seals. |
| 1925 | Embossed white serial with star separator on maroon plate with border line; vertical "TEXAS" and "1925" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 935-000 | First dated plate. |
| 1926 | Embossed black serial with star separator on gray plate with border line; vertical "TEX-26" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 997-000 | |
| 1927 | Embossed white serial with star separator on green plate with border line; vertical "1927" and "TEXAS" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
| 1927 | Embossed white serial with star separator on green plate with border line; vertical "1927" and "TEXAS" at left and right respectively | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately A69-000 | |
| 1928 | Embossed white serial with star separator on dark brown plate with border line; vertical "TEX-28" at right; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left | none | 123-456 1-234-567 | 1 to approximately 1-114-000 | |
| 1929 | Embossed orange serial with star separator on black plate with border line; "TEXAS–1929" centered at bottom; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left | none | 123-456 1-234-567 | 1 to approximately 1-195-000 | |
| 1930 | Embossed dark blue serial with star separator on golden yellow plate with border line; "TEXAS–1930" centered at top; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left | none | 123-456 1-234-567 | 1 to approximately 1-358-000 | |
| 1931 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate with border line; vertical "TEX" and "31" at right | none | 1-2345 | 1 to 9-9999 | |
| 1931 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate with border line; vertical "TEX" and "31" at right | none | A1-2345 | A0-0000 to approximately P5-0000 | |
| 1932 | Embossed white serial with star separator on green plate with border line; "TEXAS–1932" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | Only letters A, F, K, N, V and Y used in the A12-345 serial format. This practice continued through 1944. |
| 1932 | Embossed white serial with star separator on green plate with border line; "TEXAS–1932" centered at bottom | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately V19-000 | Only letters A, F, K, N, V and Y used in the A12-345 serial format. This practice continued through 1944. |
| 1933 | Embossed orange serial with star separator on white plate with border line; "TEXAS–1933" centered at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
| 1933 | Embossed orange serial with star separator on white plate with border line; "TEXAS–1933" centered at top | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately F90-000 | |
| 1934 | Embossed black serial with star separator on orange plate with border line; "TEXAS – 1934" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
| 1934 | Embossed black serial with star separator on orange plate with border line; "TEXAS – 1934" centered at bottom | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately F35-000 | |
| 1935 | Embossed white serial with star separator on maroon plate with border line; "TEXAS–1935" centered at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
| 1935 | Embossed white serial with star separator on maroon plate with border line; "TEXAS–1935" centered at top | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately F64-000 | |
| 1936 | Embossed dark blue serial on lemon yellow plate with border line; vertical "TEX" used as separator; "19" at bottom left and "36" at bottom right | "CENTENNIAL" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | Commemorated the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Republic of Texas. |
| 1936 | Embossed dark blue serial on lemon yellow plate with border line; vertical "TEX" used as separator; "19" at bottom left and "36" at bottom right | "CENTENNIAL" centered at bottom | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately K31-000 | Commemorated the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Republic of Texas. |
| 1937 | Embossed ivory serial with star separator on black plate with border line; "TEXAS–1937" centered at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
| 1937 | Embossed ivory serial with star separator on black plate with border line; "TEXAS–1937" centered at top | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately K83-000 | |
| 1938 | Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate with border line; "TEXAS–1938" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
| 1938 | Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate with border line; "TEXAS–1938" centered at bottom | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately K88-000 | |
| 1939 | Embossed dark purple serial with star separator on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS 1939" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
| 1939 | Embossed dark purple serial with star separator on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS 1939" at top | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately N18-000 | |
| 1940 | Embossed dark purple serial with star separator on white plate; "19 TEXAS 40" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
| 1940 | Embossed dark purple serial with star separator on white plate; "19 TEXAS 40" at top | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately V06-000 | |
| 1941 | Embossed golden yellow serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS 1941" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | |
| 1941 | Embossed golden yellow serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS 1941" at top | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately V70-000 | |
| 1942–44 | Embossed black serial with star separator on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-42" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, and for 1944 with green tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
| 1942–44 | Embossed black serial with star separator on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-42" at bottom | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately Y79-000 | Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, and for 1944 with green tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
| 1945 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-45" at top, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately H/L4000 | |
| 1946 | Embossed cream serial on black plate; "TEXAS-46" at top, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately J/B7000 | |
| 1947 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "TEXAS-47" at bottom, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately J/U7000 | |
| 1948 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "TEXAS-48" at top, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately K/U7000 | |
| 1949 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-49" at bottom, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately L/Y8000 | |
| 1950 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "TEXAS-50" at top, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to L/Z9999; U/A10 to approximately U/E3000 | |
| 1951 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-51" at top, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to L/Z9999; U/A10 to approximately U/R8000 | |
| 1952 | As 1950 base, but with "TEXAS 52" at top | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately P/J2000 | |
| 1953 | As 1951 base, but with "TEXAS 53" at top | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately P/J4000 | |
| 1954 | As 1950 base, but with "TEXAS 54" at top | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately P/X9000 | |
| 1955 | As 1951 base, but with "TEXAS 55" at top | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately R/E9999 | |
| 1955 | As above, but to 6" x 12" size, and with "TEXAS 55" centered at top | none | AB1234 | RF10 to approximately SD3000 | |
| 1956 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "TEXAS 56" centered at top | none | AB1234 | AA10 to approximately SV6000 | |
| 1957 | Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "TEXAS 57" centered at top | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately UR-3000 | |
| 1958 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS 58" centered at top | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately TT-6000 | |
| 1959 | As 1957 base, but with "TEXAS 59" centered at top | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately UK-3000 | |
| 1960 | As 1958 base, but with "TEXAS 60" centered at top | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately UN-7000 | |
| 1961 | Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "TEXAS" centered at top; "61" at top right | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately UY-9000 | |
| 1962 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS" centered at top; "62" at top right | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately VZ-4000 | |
| 1963 | Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "TEXAS" and "1963" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately WS-7000 | |
| 1964 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS" and "1964" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately YT-1000 | |
| 1965 | Embossed black serial on white plate; "19 TEXAS 65" at top | none | ABC 123 | BBB 10 to approximately PHG 999 | Vowels and Q not used in serials; this practice continued through 1974. |
| 1966 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "19 TEXAS 66" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately PYK-999 | |
| 1967 | Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "19 TEXAS 67" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately RKN-999 | |
| 1968 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS" centered at top; "68" at bottom left and bottom right | "HEMISFAIR" centered at bottom | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately RSM-999 | |
| 1969 | Embossed black serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 69" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately RWV-999 | |
| 1970 | Embossed blue serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 70" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately SDN-999 | |
| 1971 | Embossed black serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "TEXAS 71" at top, offset to right | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately SWD-999 | |
| 1972 | Embossed green serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 72" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately TKK-999 | |
| 1973 | Embossed black serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 73" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately VDD-999 | |
| 1974 | Embossed red serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 74" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately VMG-999 | |

### 1975 to present

| Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| 1975 | Black on reflective white, star separator | none | ABC-123 | AAA-10 to approximately MMV-500 | Letters I and O not used in serials; this practice continued until 1990. Monthly staggered registration introduced 1978. |
| 1976–81 | As above, but with state-shaped separator | none | ABC-123 | MMV-501 to ZZZ-999 | Letters I and O not used in serials; this practice continued until 1990. Monthly staggered registration introduced 1978. |
| 1982–84 | As above, but with state-shaped separator | none | 123-ABC | 001-AAA to 999-HEW | Letters I and O not used in serials; this practice continued until 1990. Monthly staggered registration introduced 1978. |
| 1985–86 | Dark blue on reflective white, screened red state-shaped separator | Sesquicentennial | 123-ABC | 001-HEX to 974-PAY | Commemorated the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Republic of Texas. |
| 1986–89 | As above, but with bolder state name | none | 123-ABC | 975-PAY to 999-ZZZ | |
| 1990 | As above, but with bolder state name | none | ABC-12D | BBB-01B to BKW-99Z | Vowels and Q not used in serials (as from 1965 to 1974); this practice continues today. |
| 1990–91 | Dark blue and red on reflective white, state flag screened to left of state name | none | ABC-12D | BKX-01B to GTX-99Z | |
| 1992 – December 28, 1995 | Dark blue and red on reflective white, state flag screened to left of state name | The Lone Star State | ABC-12D | GTY-01B to TKT-99Z | |
| December 29, 1995 – mid 1996 | State outline within abstract graphic. | 150 Years of Statehood | ABC-12D | VJL-01K to WSJ-99F | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new standard-issue license plate of 1995 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Texas has been so honored. Co-recipient with Pennsylvania. |
| mid 1996 – February 1998 | As 1990–95 base | The Lone Star State | ABC-12D | TKV-01B to VJL-99J; WSJ-01G to ZZZ-99Z | Some late 'Z' series plates made on next series' graphic sheeting, with state flag to right of state name. |
| February 1998 – mid 2000 | As above, but with state flag to right of state name | The Lone Star State | A12-BCD | B01-BBB to J99-GPZ | Some early 'B' series plates made on previous series' graphic sheeting, with state flag to left of state name. Sticker wells at top removed in late 1998, near the end of the 'C' series (plates were validated with windshield stickers from 1994 onwards). Issued concurrently with the Space Shuttle base (below) from February 2000 until supplies were exhausted. |
| February 2000 – November 2004 | Dark blue serial on reflective plate with graphic scene featuring a cowboy, oil fields, a Space Shuttle, stars and the moon; screened red state-shaped separator | The Lone Star State | A12-BCD | J01-GRB to Z99-ZZZ | |
| November 2004 – October 2005 | Dark blue serial on reflective plate with graphic scene featuring a cowboy, oil fields, a Space Shuttle, stars and the moon; screened red state-shaped separator | The Lone Star State | 123-ABC | 001-BBB to 999-HWL | |
| October 2005 – September 2007 | As above, but with a slightly smaller cowboy, the state flag added within the state-shaped separator, the national flag added to the Space Shuttle, and seven larger stars above the shuttle | The Lone Star State | 123-ABC | 001-HWM to 999-ZZZ | The seven larger stars honored the astronauts killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster of 2003, which occurred over Texas. |
| September 2007 – June 2009 | As above, but with a slightly smaller cowboy, the state flag added within the state-shaped separator, the national flag added to the Space Shuttle, and seven larger stars above the shuttle | The Lone Star State | ABC-123 | BBB-001 to approximately VLZ-999 | The seven larger stars honored the astronauts killed in the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster of 2003, which occurred over Texas. |
| July 2009 – June 2012 | First standard-issue non-embossed license plate issued in Texas; features the Davis Mountains against a sky backdrop, with a lone star and streaks of red and blue in the upper-left corner; state motto is retained on the bottom | The Lone Star State | AB1-C234 | BB1-B001 to approximately DZ9-Z999 | |
| July 2012 – present | Black lettering on white sheeting design with double security thread in the sheeting | The Lone Star State | ABC-1234 | BBB-0001 to WHP-7569 (as of March 16, 2025) | Known as the "Texas Classic" plate. Serials issued on both passenger vehicles and trucks. |

## Non-passenger plates

| Type | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued |
| Apportioned Tractor | 2013 | As "Texas Classic" passenger base; "APPORTIONED" between state name and serial | The Lone Star State | R12-3456 | R00-0001 to R73-1716 (as of June 2, 2024) |
| Apportioned Truck/Bus | 2013 | As "Texas Classic" passenger base; "APPORTIONED" between state name and serial | The Lone Star State | K12-3456 | K00-0001 to K20-1006 (as of 2025-01) |
| Disabled | 1986 | Embossed dark blue on reflective white; "TEXAS" in red centered at top | none | 1AB CD | 1BB BB to approximately 9WT MZ |
| Disabled | 2005 | Screened dark blue on reflective white; state flag within state shape at top right; "TEXAS" in blue centered at top | The Lone Star State | 1AB CD | 1WT NB to approximately 9YP ZZ |
| Disabled | 2007 | Screened dark blue on reflective white; state flag within state shape at top right; "TEXAS" in blue centered at top | The Lone Star State | 1ABCD | 1YTBB to 9ZZZZ; 1BBBB to approximately 9HZZZ |
| Disabled | 2013 | As "Texas Classic" passenger base | The Lone Star State | 1ABCD | 1JBBB to 7WLMC (as of June 28, 2024) |
| Exempt | 1969 | Embossed black on white with star separator; "TEXAS" and "EXEMPT" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 123-456 | 160-001 to approximately 250-000 |
| Exempt | 1975 | Embossed black on white with star separator; "TEXAS" centered at top; "EXEMPT" between state name and serial | none | 123-456 | 250-001 to approximately 285-000 |
| Exempt | c. 1977 | As above, but with state-shaped separator | none | 123-456 | 285-001 to approximately 556-000 |
| Exempt | c. 1988 | As above, but elements dark blue rather than black | none | 123-456 | 556-001 to approximately 831-000 |
| Exempt | c. 2000 | Embossed dark blue on reflective white with screened red state-shaped separator; "TEXAS" in red centered at top; "EXEMPT" in dark blue between state name and serial | none | 123-456 | 831-001 to approximately 850-000 |
| Exempt | c. 2003 | Screened dark blue on reflective white; "TEXAS" in dark blue centered at top; "EXEMPT" in red between state name and serial | none | 123-456 | 850-001 to 899-999 200-001 to approx. 299-999 |
| Exempt | 2006 | Screened dark blue on reflective white; "TEXAS" in dark blue centered at top; "EXEMPT" in red between state name and serial | none | 123-4567 | 100-0000 to approximately 117-9999 |
| Exempt | 2014 | As "Texas Classic" passenger base; "EXEMPT" between state name and serial | The Lone Star State | 123-4567 | 118-0000 to present |
| Truck | 1975 | Embossed black on white with star separator; "TEXAS" centered at top; "TRUCK" between state name and serial | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately HQ-5200 |
| Truck | 1975 | As above, but with state-shaped separator | none | AB-1234 | HQ-5201 to ZZ-9999 |
| Truck | 1983 | As above, but with state-shaped separator | none | 1234-AB | 100-AA to 9999-CQ |
| Truck | 1985 | As 1985 Sesquicentennial passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial | Sesquicentennial | 123-4AB | 000-1CR to 299-9KK |
| Truck | 1986 | As above, but without slogan and years | none | 123-4AB | 300-0KK to 999-9ZZ |
| Truck | 1991 | As above, but without slogan and years | none | AB1-234 | AA0-001 to ZZ9-999 |
| Truck | 1997 | As above, but without slogan and years | none | 1AB-C23 | 1BB-B01 to 4LL-Z99 |
| Truck | 2000 | As Space Shuttle passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial | The Lone Star State | 1AB-C23 | 4LM-B01 to 9ZZ-Z99 |
| Truck | 2004 | As Space Shuttle passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial | The Lone Star State | 12A-BC3 | 01B-BB1 to 99L-XZ3 |
| Truck | 2005 | As revised Space Shuttle passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial | The Lone Star State | 12A-BC3 | 01L-YB3 to 99Z-ZZ9 |
| Truck | 2009 | As revised Space Shuttle passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial | The Lone Star State | 123-4AB | 000-1AA to approximately 500-0BF |
| Truck | 2009 | As sky passenger base; "TRUCK" between state name and serial | The Lone Star State | AB1-2345 | AA0-0001 to approximately CB1-0000 |

## Temporary tags

Temporary tags are issued to unregistered vehicles and to vehicles registered in states that do not have a reciprocity agreement with Texas. These tags are printed on paper and are used mainly by dealers. As of 2022, four types are available: three are valid for 72 hours, 144 hours, and 30 days respectively; the fourth is the "one-trip" tag, which is issued only to unladen vehicles traveling from a single origin to a single destination (either of which must be in Texas) and is valid for 15 days.
In February 2022, it was reported that as many as 1.2 million fraudulent temporary Texas tags were sold in the United States in 2021. Due to inadequate security standards in the dealer application process in Texas, fraudulent individuals posing as dealers could purchase licenses for less than $800. This gave them access to the Texas DMV database, which they could use to print temporary tags and sell them online for profit. Most drivers who purchased the tags did so to make their vehicles untraceable when committing crimes, or to avoid paying tolls and registration fees.

## Optional plates

Texas has more specialty plates than any other state, with 506 available.
| Type | Notes |
| 4-H Club | |
| A Fine Cause | |
| Adopt-A-Beach | |
| Aerospace Commission | |
| Air Force Association | |
| Animal Friendly | |
| Be A Blood Donor | |
| Be An Organ Donor | |
| Big Bend National Park | |
| Boy Scouts (Scouts BSA) | |
| Buffalo Soldier Museum | |
| Cancer Survivor | |
| Columbia Remembered | |
| Conquer Cancer | |
| Dallas Cowboys | |
| Dallas Mavericks | |
| Don't Tread On Me | |
| Emergency Medical Services | |
| Enjoy Texas Music | |
| Fight Terrorism | |
| God Bless America | |
| Houston Texans | |
| Hunt Texas | |
| Kansas Jayhawks | |
| Keep Texas Beautiful | |
| Knights of Columbus | |
| March of Dimes | |
| Master Gardener | |
| Mission Valley | |
| Mothers Against Drunk Driving | |
| NASCAR | Discontinued |
| Native Texan | |
| Oil and Gas | |
| Olympic Spirit | |
| Proud For Kids | |
| Realtor | |
| Rifle Association | |
| Rotary Club | |
| Save Water, Texas! | |
| Share the Road | |
| State Parks | |
| Southern Methodist University | |
| Stop Child Abuse | |
| Texas Pride | |
| Texas Trees | |
| Trails! | |
| United States Air Force | |
| United We Stand | |
| YMCA | |