Vehicle registration plates of New Mexico

The U.S. state of New Mexico first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1912.

Passenger baseplates 1912 to 1960

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
150px	1932	white embossed design on green background	SUNSHINE STATE	00-000		Last two year digits embossed at left under abbreviated state name. Nickname at bottom.
150px	1933	red embossed design on yellow background		00-000		Last two year digits embossed at left inside sunburst design. State name embossed at bottom.
150px	1936	navy embossed design on white background		00-000		Last two year digits embossed at left inside sunburst design. State name embossed at bottom.
150px	1937	red embossed design on turquoise background		00-000		Last two year digits embossed at left inside sunburst design. State name embossed at bottom.
150px	1939	black embossed design on golden yellow background		00-000		Last two year digits embossed at left inside sunburst design. State name embossed at bottom.
150px	1947	yellow on red background	Land of Enchantment	00-0000		Last two digits of year embossed inside sunburst design after left two digits. "Land of Enchantment" embossed at top. State name embossed at bottom.
150px	1953	white on red background	Land of Enchantment	00-0000		"53" and "Land of Enchantment" embossed at bottom. State name embossed at top.

Passenger baseplates 1961 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that fixed 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 New Mexico license plate that complied with these standards.

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1961–64	Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO" embossed in wide red block letters centered at bottom; embossed red Zia sun symbol used as separator in numbers	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" embossed in narrow red block letters at top	1-12345 1-A1234 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)	Single-digit county plates had the slogan centered, while double-digit county plates had the slogan offset to the right.
	1965–69	Similar to 1961–64 base, but yellow rather than white	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" as on 1961–64 base	1-12345 1-A1234 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)	Positioning of slogan same as on 1961–64 base. Single-digit county plates had "65" embossed in the bottom left corner.
150px	1969–71	As above, but with "NEW MEXICO USA" embossed in narrow red block letters centered at bottom				No change to positioning of slogan. Single-digit county plates initially had "19" embossed in the bottom left corner.
	1972–74	Embossed red numbers on white steel plate with border line; red Zia sun symbol embossed in the center; "NEW MEXICO USA" embossed in red block letters centered at bottom; "72" embossed in bottom left corner	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" embossed in red block letters centered at top	ABC-123	AAA-001 to BCT-999
	1974	Red numbers on white paper plate; red Zia sun symbol in the center; "NEW MEXICO" in red serifed letters centered at bottom; "74" in bottom right corner	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" in red serifed letters centered at top	ABC-123	BCW-001 to BFC-999	Temporary plates issued due to steel shortage.
	1974	As 1972–74 plates, but aluminum rather than steel, and with "74" embossed in bottom left corner	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" as on 1972–74 plates	ABC-123		Replacements for paper plates.
	1974–76	As 1972–74 plates, but aluminum rather than steel	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" as on 1972–74 plates	ABC-123	BFD-001 to BTM-999
	1976–78	Embossed red numbers on white plate; red Zia sun symbol embossed in the center; "NEW MEXICO" embossed in red block letters centered at bottom; "72" embossed in bottom left corner	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" embossed in red block letters centered between numbers and state name	ABC-123	BTN-001 to approximately CCW-999	Plate had stamped indentation for county sticker.
	1978–82	Similar to 1976–78 plates, but yellow rather than white, and with no embossed year	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" as on 1976–78 plates	ABC-123	CCX-001 to approximately EGZ-999	Plate had stamped indentation for county sticker.
	1982 – mid 1988	Embossed red numbers on yellow plate; red Zia sun symbol embossed in the center; "New Mexico" screened in wide red serifed letters centered below numbers	"Land of Enchantment" screened in narrow red block letters centered below state name	ABC-123	EHA-001 to approximately KAJ-999	Plate had stamped indentation for county sticker.
	mid 1988 – late 1990	As above, but with "USA" added after state name			KAK-001 to approximately LKL-999
	late 1990 – early 1991	Embossed red numbers on yellow plate; red Zia sun symbol embossed in the center; light blue yucca graphic screened at bottom left corner and Native American zigzag bands screened at top corners; "New Mexico USA" screened in red serifed letters centered below numbers	"Land of Enchantment" screened in light blue block letters centered below state name	ABC-123	LKM-001 to approximately LLL-999	Plate had blank/stamped indentation for county sticker. County stickers discontinued sometime after 1996.
	early 1991 – mid 1997			123-ABC	001-AAA to approximately 999-KFG
150px	mid – late 1997	Embossed red numbers on yellow plate; red Zia sun symbol embossed in the center; light blue Native American zigzag bands screened at top corners; "New Mexico USA" screened in red serifed letters centered below numbers	none	123-ABC	001-KFH to approximately 999-KHM	Erroneously made on trailer base, without yucca or slogan.
150px	late 1997 – late 1998	Embossed red numbers on yellow plate; red Zia sun symbol embossed in the center; light blue yucca graphic screened at bottom left corner and Native American zigzag bands screened at top corners; "New Mexico USA" screened in red serifed letters centered below numbers	"Land of Enchantment" screened in light blue block letters centered below state name	123-ABC	001-KHN to approximately 999-LRK
	late 1998 – present				001-MAA to 999-TJK (as of January 1, 2016)	Smaller dies and no stamped indentation for county sticker.

Optional types

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1999–2010	Embossed red numbers on white, yellow and orange gradient plate; green, yellow, orange and red hot air balloon graphic screened at far left with red Zia sun symbol on yellow section; "NEW MEXICO USA" screened in yellow serifed letters centered below numbers and balloon	"Land of Enchantment" screened in yellow serifed letters between numbers and state name	NM1234	NM0001 to NM9999
				1NM234	0NM001 to 9NM999
				12NM34	00NM01 to 99NM99
				123NM4	000NM1 to 999NM9
				1234NM	0001NM to 9999NM
				AB 123	AA 001 to BZ 999
				ABC123	CAA001 to LGP999
	2010–present	Embossed yellow numbers on turquoise plate with border line; yellow and red Zia sun symbol embossed in the center; "NEW MEXICO" and "CENTENNIAL 1912-2012" screened in white block letters centered below and above numbers respectively	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" screened in yellow block letters centered below state name	ABC-123	LGR-001 to NPJ-999 (as of January 1, 2016)	Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2010 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time New Mexico was so honored.

Non-passenger plates

Image	Type	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
150px	Truck	1961–63	Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO" embossed in wide green block letters at bottom; embossed green Zia sun symbol used as separator in numbers	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" embossed in narrow green block letters at top	1-12345 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)
150px		1964–65	Embossed black numbers on reflective yellow plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO" embossed in wide black block letters at bottom; embossed black Zia sun symbol used as separator in numbers	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" embossed in narrow black block letters at top	1-12345 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)
150px		1966–70	Embossed navy blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO" embossed in wide navy blue block letters at bottom; embossed navy blue Zia sun symbol used as separator in numbers	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" embossed in narrow navy blue block letters at top	1-12345 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)
		1971–74	Embossed white numbers on reflective pale green plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO USA" embossed in narrow white block letters at bottom; embossed white Zia sun symbol used as separator in numbers	"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" embossed in narrow white block letters at top	1-12345 1/0-12345	Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)

External links

• New Mexico license plates 1969-present