Vehicle registration plates of Kentucky

The U.S. state of Kentucky first started requiring its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1910.

Passenger plates 1910 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Kentucky license plate that complied with these standards.

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1910	Black base with white numbers painted on porcelain-coated steel. "KY" above circle containing single letter at right.		123456
	1911	Black base with white numbers painted on porcelain-coated steel. "KY" above circle containing single letter at right.		123456
	1912	Black base with white numbers and horizontal stripes at top and bottom, all painted on porcelain-coated steel. "KY" above square encircling single letter at right.		123456
	1913	Black base with white numbers and red horizontal stripes at top and bottom, all painted on porcelain-coated steel. "KY" above white diamond encircling single red letter at right.		123456
	1914	White base with black embossed lettering. "KY 1914" at right.		123456
	1915	White base with red embossed lettering. "KY 1915" at right.		123456
	1916	Blue base with white embossed lettering and border. "KY 1916" at right.		123456
150px	1917	White base with black embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1917" at right.		123456
150px	1918	Black base with yellow embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1918" at right.		123456
150px	1919	Green base with white embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1919" at right.		123456
150px	1920	White base with black embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1920" at right.		123456
	1921	Brown base with white embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1921" at right.		123456
150px	1922	Orange base with black embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1922" at right.		123456
	1923	Gray base with blue embossed lettering and border. "KY. 1923" at right.		123456
150px	1924	Black base with white embossed lettering and border. "KY 1924" at right.		123456
150px	1925	Green base with white embossed lettering and border. "KENTUCKY·1925" at bottom.		123456
150px	1926	Maroon base with white embossed lettering and border. "KENTUCKY·1926" at bottom.		123-456
150px	1927	Blue base with white embossed lettering and borders. Top third of plate used long rectangular box with "KY" and "27" on either side of county name; Bottom two-thirds divided into three boxes; left and right ones contained registration numbers and center box a white circular sticker.		123-456
150px	1928	Green base with white embossed lettering and borders. Top third of plate used long rectangular box with county name; Bottom two-thirds divided into three boxes; left and right ones contained registration numbers and center box "KY. 28".		123-456
150px 150px	1929	Pair of plates with blue base with white embossed lettering and border. Front: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 29" with county name at bottom. Registration digits in center separated by "FRONT" in small letters in middle. Rear: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 29" with "FOR" in center of plate between registration digits and "PROGRESS" emblazoned at bottom.		123-456		Different front and rear plates issued as noted.
	1930	Pair of plates, each with white base with red embossed lettering and border. Front: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 30" with county name at bottom and registration digits in center. Rear: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 30" with registration in center of plate and "FOR PROGRESS" emblazoned at bottom.		123-456		Different front and rear plates issued as noted.
150px	1931	Green base with white embossed lettering and border. "19 KENTUCKY 31" emblazoned at bottom.		123-456		Issued in front/rear pairs for one vehicle.
150px	1932	Maroon base with white embossed lettering and border. "19 KENTUCKY 32" emblazoned at bottom.		123-456		Issued in front/rear pairs for one vehicle.
150px	1933	Green base with white embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom between "KY" and "33."		123-456		Issued in front/rear pairs for one vehicle.
150px	1934	White base with black embossed lettering and border. "KY 34" emblazoned at either side of county name at top.		123-456
150px	1935	Golden yellow base with black embossed lettering and border. "KY 35" emblazoned at either side of county name at bottom.		123-456
150px	1936	Black base with white embossed lettering and border. "KY 36" emblazoned at either side of county name at bottom.		123-456
150px	1937	White base with blue embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom.		12A34		Issued as front/back pairs for one vehicle
150px	1941	Unpainted aluminum base with black embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom.		12345
150px	1942	Black base with white embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom.		12345		Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers
150px	1944	Black base with yellow embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom.		12345		Revalidated for 1945 with windshield stickers
150px	1946	Black base with gray embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom.		12345		Revalidated for 1947 with windshield stickers
150px	1948	White base with orange embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom.		12345
150px	1949	Gray aluminum "waffle" hatched base with black embossed lettering. County name at bottom.		12-345
150px	1950	Green aluminum "waffle" hatched base with white embossed lettering. County name at bottom.		12-345
150px	1951	Silver base with dark blue embossed lettering. "Tour" in front of state name at top, county name at bottom.		12-345		Revalidated for 1952 with windshield stickers.
150px	1953	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY" embossed in narrow white block letters at top with "-'53" to right; county name embossed in wide white block letters centered at bottom	"TOUR" embossed in narrow white block letters to left of state name, giving "TOUR KENTUCKY"	123-456	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1954	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" embossed in narrow dark blue block letters at top with "-'54" to right; county name embossed in wide dark blue block letters centered at bottom	"TOUR" embossed in narrow dark blue block letters to left of state name, giving "TOUR KENTUCKY"	123-456	Issued in blocks by county
	1955	As 1953 base, but with "-'55" to right of state name	"TOUR" as on 1953 base	123-456	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1956	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" embossed in narrow dark blue block letters at top, offset to right; county name embossed in wide dark blue block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in top left corner and "56" in top right corner	"TOUR" embossed in narrow dark blue block letters to left of state name, giving "TOUR KENTUCKY"	123-456	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1957	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY" embossed in narrow white block letters at top, offset to right; county name embossed in wide white block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in top left corner and "57" in top right corner	"TOUR" embossed in narrow white block letters to left of state name, giving "TOUR KENTUCKY"	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county	One-letter, five-digit serials introduced in counties that had exhausted their all-numeric allocations.
150px	1958	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in wide dark blue block letters centered at top and bottom respectively; "19" embossed in top left corner and "58" in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1959	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in wide white block letters centered at top and bottom respectively; "19" embossed in top left corner and "59" in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1960	As 1958 base, but with "60" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1961	As 1959 base, but with "61" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1962	As 1958 base, but with "62" embossed in top right corner; border line added on later plates	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1963	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in wide white block letters centered at top and bottom respectively; "19" embossed in top left corner and "63" in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1964	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in wide dark blue block letters centered at top and bottom respectively; "19" embossed in top left corner and "64" in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1965	As 1963 base, but with "65" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1966	As 1964 base, but with "66" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1967	As 1963 base, but with "67" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1968	As 1964 base, but with "68" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
	1969	As 1963 base, but with "69" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
	1970	As 1964 base, but with "70" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
150px	1971	As 1963 base, but with "71" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
	1972	As 1964 base, but with "72" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
	1973	As 1963 base, but with "73" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
	1974	As 1964 base, but with "74" embossed in top right corner	none	123-456 A12-345	Issued in blocks by county
	1975–77	As 1963 base, but with "75" embossed in top right corner	none	ABC-123	Issued in blocks by county	Revalidated for 1976 and 1977 with stickers. Letters I, O, Q and U not used in serials; this practice continues today.^[1]
	1977–83	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KY" embossed in dark blue block letters in top left and top right corners; debossed box for expiration sticker centered at top; county sticker centered at bottom	none	ABC-123	AAA-000 to approximately GFZ-999
	1983–88	Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in white block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	ABC-123	JAA-000 to approximately RNV-999
	1988–97	Embossed blue numbers on white plate; twin spires of Churchill Downs racetrack screened in blue at the top and a mare and foal screened in light blue in the center; "Kentucky" screened in blue serifed letters centered between spires; county name on blue sticker between state name and numbers	"Bluegrass State" screened in blue serifed letters centered at bottom	ABC 123	TAA 000 to ZZZ 999; AAA 000 to approximately EBP 999	Mare and foal based on the photo The Soul of a Horse, taken by Peter Thomann. The base was withdrawn when Thomann threatened to sue for copyright infringement.
	1997–98	Embossed blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in blue block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	none	ABC-123	EBR-000 to approximately FAE-999	Interim plates based on truck plates of the time, with county name in place of weight class.
	January 1998 – November 2002	Embossed blue numbers on graphic plate with light blue sky, white state-shaped cloud and green rolling hills; "Kentucky" screened in black italic serifed letters centered at top; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered at bottom	"BLUEGRASS STATE" screened in black italic serifed letters below state name	123 ABC	000 AAA to approximately 700 HYJ
	November 2002 – January 2003	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" embossed in dark blue block letters centered at top; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered at bottom	none	123 ABC	701 HYJ to 999 HZZ	Interim plates manufactured when stocks of cloud plates ran out before the smiling sun base (below) was introduced.
	January 2003 – July 31, 2005	Embossed dark blue numbers on graphic plate with blue, white and red gradient sky, green rolling hills, and an anthropomorphic rising yellow sun with a red smile; "KENTUCKY" screened in white serifed letters centered above numbers; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered at bottom	"The Bluegrass State" and "It's that friendly." screened in blue serifed letters above and below state name respectively	123 ABC	000 JAA to approximately 999 PSX	Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2003 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Kentucky has been so honored. Despite the honor, the plates were widely derided and defaced by residents.^[2]
	August 1, 2005^[3] – June 2008	Embossed dark blue numbers on white and light blue gradient plate; state icon screened in the center; screened blue and red Kentucky Tourism logo centered above numbers; county name on blue sticker in debossed box centered at bottom	"BLUEGRASS STATE" and "UNBRIDLED SPIRIT" screened above and below Kentucky Tourism logo respectively	123 ABC	000 AAA to approximately 900 JCB
	June 2008 – present			123 ABC	901 JCB to 999 VDN (as of January 1, 2016)	Narrower dies. S not used as first letter in serials.

Optional types

Image	Type	Dates issued	Description	Serial format	Notes
	Nature's Finest—monarch butterfly		12 345
	Nature's Finest—wren		12345

Non-passenger types

Image	Type	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	Motorcycle	2003–09	Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate; "KENTUCKY" and "MOTORCYCLE" embossed in dark blue block letters centered at top and bottom respectively	1234A	0000A to 9999Z
	Motorcycle	2009– present		AB123	AA000 to present

External links

Kentucky license plates 1969-present

References

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v t e Vehicle registration plates of the United States
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v t e Commonwealth of Kentucky
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Regions	Allegheny Plateau The Bluegrass Central Kentucky Cumberland Mountains Cumberland Plateau Eastern Kentucky Coalfield Highland Rim The Knobs Mississippi Plain Northern Kentucky Pennyroyal Plateau The Purchase Ridge-and-Valley South Central Kentucky Tennessee Valley Western Coal Fields
25 largest cities	Louisville Lexington Bowling Green Owensboro Covington Hopkinsville Richmond Florence Georgetown Henderson Elizabethtown Nicholasville Jeffersontown Frankfort Paducah Independence Radcliff Ashland Madisonville Winchester Erlanger Murray St. Matthews Fort Thomas Danville
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Counties	Adair Allen Anderson Ballard Barren Bath Bell Boone Bourbon Boyd Boyle Bracken Breathitt Breckinridge Bullitt Butler Caldwell Calloway Campbell Carlisle Carroll Carter Casey Christian Clark Clay Clinton Crittenden Cumberland Daviess Edmonson Elliott Estill Fayette Fleming Floyd Franklin Fulton Gallatin Garrard Grant Graves Grayson Green Greenup Hancock Hardin Harlan Harrison Hart Henderson Henry Hickman Hopkins Jackson Jefferson Jessamine Johnson Kenton Knott Knox LaRue Laurel Lawrence Lee Leslie Letcher Lewis Lincoln Livingston Logan Lyon Madison Magoffin Marion Marshall Martin Mason McCracken McCreary McLean Meade Menifee Mercer Metcalfe Monroe Montgomery Morgan Muhlenberg Nelson Nicholas Ohio Oldham Owen Owsley Pendleton Perry Pike Powell Pulaski Robertson Rockcastle Rowan Russell Scott Shelby Simpson Spencer Taylor Todd Trigg Trimble Union Warren Washington Wayne Webster Whitley Wolfe Woodford

Vehicle registration plates of Kentucky

Contents

Passenger plates 1910 to present

Optional types

Non-passenger types

External links

References

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