Arizona License Plates

As of 2025, this format was still being issued for Fleet registrations, primarily on rental cars.

Flat, with seven characters, low AAA0039

Confirmed by ADY0325, the characters were shifted back to the center of the plate. The change probably took place at ADY0001.

On February 1, 2021 the seven-character 2020 series was abandoned. Passenger combinations are now in the same format as Generic Specialty (6) (below). Please submit your combinations observed on passenger plates here, while those observed on specialty plates should be recorded under Generic Specialty (6).

Various numbering formats used, see History tab for newer details.

Eric Sivertsen noted difficulty reading some of these flat plates due to similarity between blue font and background.

Low flat: AF-12P2

High embossed: AF-62N6

Disability: A72 CAF

Dot separator high: AF·74R8

No space low: AF15S9

Flat series began at GE0 001 for government-operated hybrid vehicles, hybrid logo used in plate center as a separator.

The hybrid plate was extended to a final additional 2500 applicants in September 2011. Updated plates were flat with 123 LN4 format, low 000 LN4. Single-person hybrid HOV lane access ended September 2025.

The original hybrid plate pilot program ended 5-16-2008 after the allotted 10,000 plates were issued. Only for use on Honda Insight, Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid automobiles. Plates allowed the drivers, even if alone, to use the HOV lanes in and around Phoenix. Black on White Hybrid sticker centered between the letters. Low 00L N02 and high 99L N77.

Once available with a Disability symbol added, low 0L N01.

APPORTIONED silkscreened lower right, where GRAND CANYON STATE normally is. All plates use a two-letter prefix starting in 1997 with AA then to AB and so on up to the present. Some letters like AC and AF were intentionally skipped. Plates changed from embossed to flat in 2008 as observed by Paul Petrinovich:

Embossed high: AD-51932 2014-08-14

Flat low: AD-53569 2013-12-16

Numbering moved from 3ZZ to 4ZA in 2001, plates changed to flat in 2009.

Low flat: 4ZR-001

High embossed: 4ZP-992

Commercial plates used the Generic Specialty (7) format as of June 2020.

2007-08 era commercial plates switched back and forth between embossed and flat over a long interval:

Flats first appeared in the CF-20000s, low CF-20703

CF-20000 series was both embossed and flat

CF-21000 series were all embossed

CF-22000 and CF-23000 series were both embossed and flat

CF-24000 through CF-31000 range were all embossed; high embossed CF-31151

CF-32000 series were all flat; low CF-32023, all higher plates flat.

This design replaced all previous embossed graphic dealer plates over two-week period in April 2014, flat, white on plain blue background, VEHICLE DEALER along bottom. Plate is for both new and used automobile dealers.

Previous graphic dealer high was DL-2E85. 2014 base started shortly after, still in prefix series range low DL0K08 through high DL9Z53. DL then moved to suffix, low 1A29DL until numbering format changed again in 2021, see History tab for details.

2014-era blue base with Vehicle Dealer along bottom.

Changed to flat in 2008.

Embossed high: 4464-DT

Flat low: 5151-DT

Changed to flat in 2008.

Embossed high: EBZ93

Flat low: ECA10

This fairly rare type changed to flat in 2012.

Embossed high: FV-05697

Flat low: FV-05737

Eric Sivertsen observed the very first of this type, FV-00001.

Various numbering formats used, see History tab for details.

As of June 2020, Government plates use the Generic Specialty (7) format.

Previously, there were 3 varieties of flat government plates:

1. Flat w/ dash separator
2. Flat w/ space (no separator) (shown as No dot low & high)
3. Flat w/ dot separator

Embossed high: G-955FG

Flat low: G-053FH

It appears the break between embossed and flat was 999FG/001FH.

Low dash: G-053FH

High dash: G-565FT

No dot low: G 002FV

No dot high: G 976GD

Dot low: G-597GE from 2011

Dot high: G.407HK from 2016

Still embossed

Government - Alternative Fuel (on the Alternative Fuel graphic)

Low: GA-00009

Flat, No space or dash, as shown

Historic Motorcycle: 87HM4 (First series was HM123, followed by 123HM, and 1HM23, now 12HM3)

Historic Vehicle - Disability: 5PV (has wheelchair logo between "Historic Vehicle" on left, and plate number on the right)

Historic Motorcycle Disability: 015H

2014-era blue base without a dash, Vehicle Dealer along bottom, no longer using PERM sticker, low (without dash): MT7727

Graphic high (with dash): MT-6993

Likely changed to flat at MT-6800

Very rare type; changed from white on maroon very late.

OCT ARIZ. embossed on top, MOPED embossed on bottom.

Changed to flat in 2007, high embossed M/C B89Z and low flat M/C C39A. Change most likely occurred at M/C B99Z - M/C C01A.

Progression after M/C ZZ9Z:

M/C A1AA to M/C A9AA

M/C A1AB to M/C A9AB, etc. to M/C Z9ZZ

M/C 0A1A to M/C 9Z9Z

M/C A01A to M/C Z99Z

M/C AA01 to M/C ZZ99

M/C 001A to M/C 999Z

M/C 00A1 to M/C 99Z9

A001 M/C to Z999 M/C

0A01 M/C to 9Z99 M/C

00A1 M/C to 99Z9 M/C

0 M/C A1A to 9 M/C Z9Z

0 M/C 1AA to 9 M/C 9ZZ

AA M/C 1A to ZZ M/C 9Z

00 M/C 1A to 99 M/C 9Z

00 M/C A1 to 99 M/C Z9

A M/C 1A1 to A M/C 9Z9

A M/C AA1 to A M/C ZZ9

A M/C A1A and up, see History tab for more data.

State owned Motorcycle/ATV: 5777 S/A spotted by Willie C. Brock, Jr. on 2015-06-18. No stickers on State plates.

2014-era blue base, Vehicle Dealer along bottom, no longer using PERM sticker, low M/D BRT3.

Previous embossed graphic motorcycle dealer high M/D AXK8.

Flat with wheelchair symbol after the numbers.

While several instances of apparently-linear Arizona temporary permit combinations certainly existed at various times, this topic is anything but a straight line. Please refer to our History tab for numbering details and continue posting your highs as usual.

This AZDOT official permits website listed descriptions of five different types of temporary vehicle permits in February 2026.

Restricted Use 3-Day Permit allows a person to legally operate an unregistered vehicle on Arizona roadways from the vehicle's present location to specific destinations listed on DMV website. PZ99890 observed.

30-Day General Use Permit allows an unregistered vehicle to operate on the roadway for a 30 day period, and can be issued only once in a 12 month period. It has no movement restrictions or residency requirements. Observations PU4440, D772X8, 9Z846D, 283PD6 and 528XD4 with the plate type indicated in small print along bottom.

A 90-Day Nonresident (Drive Out) Permit allows a person to drive their newly purchased vehicle out of Arizona for registration in another state, obs 77N2088.

90-Day Resident Permit; resident who does not have complete documentation for issuance of a title or registration may apply for a 90-Day Permit. This registration allows you to operate the vehicle while obtaining additional documentation.

Temporary Registration Plate (TRP) issued by licensed dealer when a vehicle is purchased. It will allow the vehicle to be operated for any purpose. The TRP is valid for 45 days.

This fullsize trailer plate changed to flat in 2008, embossed high T-69844 and low flat T-70008. After number Y-99999 in 2012, the series moved to 00001-N-range then to T suffix briefly in 2013, high 20747-T. See History tab for newer formats.

Trailer Dealer: Embossed TR-4586, no caption, "PERM DLR" appears on top right blue on white sticker.

This smaller m/c size trailer plate has been flat since 2009 and is usually found with white on black PERM sticker. There were 6,742 of these plates in use on 10/31/08.

See History tab for newer formats, order of issuance uncertain, these are the earlier known configurations:

F12H3, 1FH23, 1F2H3, 12HF3, H12F3, 0H1F2, G12H3, D12A3, 1A2D3, 1D2A3, 1D2E3, 12AD3.

Transporter flat low: XP14H8

Wally Punzmann observed XP-A553 on a flat plate on 2015-06-14, but we don't know where it fits in.

This 1996 graphic base started at 4TK-501 and remained embossed until high 1TN-882, changing to flat by low 1TP-001 in 2009. Numbering continued until 4TZ-999, moving to 1TA-001 in 2015 and proceeded to 1TZ-999. Numbering continued with 5TA-001, see History tab for more details.

Numbering originally started at 3TAx on the 1973 base. The next 1980 maroon base began by the 3TL series, progressed up to 3TZ-999 and then to 4TA-001 through 4TK-500.

In May 2020 most distinctive formats for specialty plates (e.g. "AG" for Agriculture, "AH" for Arizona Historical Society, "DB" for Diamondbacks, etc.) were abandoned. Thenceforth, all specialty designs drew from common alphanumeric series of 5, 6, or 7 characters.

In May 2020 most distinctive formats for specialty plates (e.g. "AG" for Agriculture, "AH" for Arizona Historical Society, "DB" for Diamondbacks, etc.) were abandoned. Thenceforth, all specialty designs drew from common alphanumeric series of 5, 6, or 7 characters.

Low: 0AG0010 spotted by Wally Punzmann 2013-01-25

Low: CY0059

First available 2-2-2009.

Justin Beus saw and photographed the first of the series, 0AH0001.

Wally Punzmann saw the first of the disability series, 00AH01.

Disability high: 00AH72 2015-08-09 Brad Rex

Another disability: 00AH23, 2013-05-26, Justin Beus

This special plate available as of 6/1/07., low AH003

Disability: 01H6

Flat base which originated as embossed, low A0003. High embossed D8591 to flat low D8620 in 2009.

Revised design appeared Oct. 2010, low F0701, high original base flat F0642. Still issued in pairs at the time.

ASU - Disability later added, wheelchair logo followed by registration characters, high BD9A

Low: BY0009

Arizona Cardinals introduced 1/31/2010, low/2nd 00FB02.

Original format 99FB99 reached in 2010; letters FB floated until 2019, see History tab for more numbering details.

Disability 18FB3 2016-01-07 Willie C. Brock, Jr.

Disability low/first: 00FB1

Centennial plates went on sale Oct. 31, 2011. Cost was $25 with $17 of that benefiting the Arizona Centennial 2012 Foundation.

Original series A0001Z - A9999Z was followed by A0001C until 2019; see History tab for newer numbering details..

Centennial - Disability: A080Z with disability sign along left.

A00B06 observed as possible low Justin Beus 2010-11-24.

Embossed high: A50B00

Flat low: A50B01

Disability: A0B33

Series low AC-00001, embossed high AC-64978 and flat low AC-65039, See History tab for more numbering details..

There is also a Disability version of this plate.  Disability sign on left in front of serial format.

Disability low:   AC-0002

Disability high:  AC-4322

Started at W/A00001, which has been spotted by Justin Beus. This type has been discontinued but is still available by request until stock runs out. Justin requested the highest available number and received our high of W/A01948 on 2014-01-23.

The official name for this type is "Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation" but the legend on the bottom of the plate is simply "Conserving Wildlife." Handicapped low:  00CW01 (This is the lowest number)  2013-08-24  Gary Fox Handicapped high:  00CW25

Flat plate for Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team in Phoenix was released on 2007-04-02.

Low: DB00015

Embossed high: DB05382

Flat low: DB05410

Disability: DB0020

Flat, no longer embossed

Environmental - Disability: AA47EV

Embossed; small wheelchair symbol precedes the registration characters.

Original design had background with the yellow and red "sunburst" from the state flag with a police officer silhouette on the right, but the red sunburst has been dropped to make the plate easier to read.

Low: FP00004

High with old design: FP05483

Low with new design: FP05511

Families of Fallen Police Officers - Handicapped: 0206FA

Low: 0029FA

Disability: AB4F 2015-08-01 Art Phillips

Low: FT0054

On the graphic base with the older large dies. Looked like a newly issued plate but the old dies haven't been used in years. Eric Sivertsen reports seeing 40 with the newer dies, so it was either a replacement or a reissue. Eric also reports 33 on the old gold on brown base, as well as 14 on the current base, embossed. Clark Wothe reports 64 with new embossed dies on a newly issued plates, so they appear to be reissuing old numbers. Justin Beus reports 65 and 71 on the old base.

An update from Eric: Honorary Foreign Consul plates 97, 98 & 99 are in mint condition on the storage shelf at the Florence prison complex plate factory. The Arizona members who went on the factory tour a few months ago were able to see these. The current graphic plate, but with the larger old dies.

After the graphic embossed series ended at 99, a flat plate desert-scene HFC plate with a red logo and a 12HFC3 format appeared, presumably starting at 00HFC1. These started appearing in early 2013.

From Clark Wothe: There is yet ANOTHER variety of this plate. The number above is still flat but now the logo on the left is gone, and the plate number is center justified in red letters (instead of the usual dark green.)

Embossed

Disability: AB9P 2016-01-14Eric Sivertsen FOP logo then wheelchair symbol then plate numbers.

The first plate of this 2007 type was 0FR0001. Dies were updated in 2008, high embossed 1FR0000, flat low 1FR0041.

Freedom Disability: 01FR37 (embossed with small wheelchair logo to left of serial)

Freedom Motorcycle low: 002F

Freedom Motorcycle high: 2779F (flat)

Series low: LM00010 reported by Ken Tuc.

Disability low: LM0001 (The lowest possible) 2013-05-26 Justin Beus

Design changed at old high LM09000, revised low LM09001.

Revised design Disability low LM0201, high LM0210.

00001HR reported as a low by Ken Tuc. Disability:  0013HR

Low: 00AB04

Disability: 04AB3

This flat plate introduced Feb. 24, 2013, low A0051B.

Disability: A011B

MM00004 reported as a low by Justin Beus.

Disability: 00MM12

Not tribal plates per se; this is a state-issued specialty plate that can be ordered by anyone.  Vanity plates are available on this type.   Disability: B/A 845 with the wheelchair symbol preceding the registration characters.

Embossed and issued in pairs until most likely V8500, changed to flat at V8501.

Disability low: AM2N, the first flat design Disability was AM1N.

Embossed through B9ZZW, low flat: C6AAW

High for Organ Donor - Disability: C1WD

Disability version has disability symbol before numbers and right of organ donor logo.

Disability: 0PBS11

Disability low: 0PBS11

First available on 5/1/05, original series was in the C1234 format, see History tab for more numbering details. Changed from embossed, high 9999C to flat, low 000C3.

Pets Disability, low C008, C158 embossed

Old Phoenix Suns orange background design low 0PS0006, high 0PS4803. Updated in 2014 with new black background and Phoenix Suns logo to the left, new numbering format low PX0003.

Disability orange: 00PS03

Disability black: PX012

This specialty plate is available to the general public and was originally embossed.

Disability:  C00E7

Disability: 01AE4

Thunderbird School of Global Management

Disability: TB14

Changed from embossed in 2008, high P5897, low flat P6017.

Original design high R4848, low 2012 revised design with white numbers on red background R5062.

Disability: BF1C

Lowest possible (F/A 0001) confirmed in use.

Disability: A52F 2013-05-26 Justin Beus

Third Arizona Native American Series flat plate started as WM001, then changed to 001WM, see History tab for more numbering details.

Disability: WM4B 2013-05-24 Justin Beus

Ex-POW low: A23

Ex-POW Disability: 1N (embossed) Progression: 0A-0Z, then 1A-1Z, and up.

Gold Star Motorcycle:  A001  2014-04-03  Justin Beus

Gold Star Disability:  B11  2014-07-27  Willie C. Brock, Jr.  (Began at A02)

Low: BC0109

Marine Corps Motorcycle low: 12BC

Flat

Purple Heart Disability flat low: D67P

Purple Heart Disability high: N68P

Purple Heart Motorcycle high: P48D

Purple Heart Motorcycle soup high: APK6

Purple Heart Motorcycle Disability High: P9P

Arizona Veteran passenger type introduced at VT0001 embossed, high 9S989 to flat low 00R01.

Progression after V/T numbers: 1R234, 1S234, 12R34, 12S34, 123R4, 0001R, see History tab for newer numbering details.

Stacked V/T prefix with passenger numbering formats progression 1R2C3, 1C2R3, 12R3C, 12C3R, 1S2C3, 1C2S3, 12S3C, 12C3S, 1R2B3, 1B2R3, 12R3B, 1D2R3, 12D3R, 123DR, 12DR3, 1D23R, 12R3D; other formats verified: 12RD3, 123RD, 12B3R followed by those shown in History tab.

High embossed: 42R0C

Low flat: 85R6C

See Veteran motorcycle bucket elsewhere on this site for Veteran motorcycle disability series.

This type started at T001, numbering moved to 1T23 and changed again in 2008; see History tab for newer numbering details. Changed in 2008 from embossed high 83T4 to flat low 039T.

Veteran - Disability Motorcycle: wheelchair symbol before registration number

Disability obs: 1ZT, RT4

Disability progression T12, 1T2, 12T, AT1, 1AT followed by alphabet soup serial in AAA1 format.

Low: WV0054

Disability: WV056

Low Disability: WV002

This standard maroon design was first issued in 1980 starting at AAA-001. Issued in pairs until c1989 high ETT-374. Arizona issued only single plates for regular passenger after that, but some other types (such as personalized and Environment) continued to be issued in pairs.

Embossed. Upon reaching 999·ZZZ, passenger plates rolled over to the AAA0000 format (see "2008 Series").

Starting April 15 2020, the previous AAA0000 format was abandoned and the passenger registration format switched to this mashup of letters and numerals.

Simultaneously, most distinctive formats for specialty plates (e.g. "AG" for Agriculture, "AH" for Arizona Historical Society, "DB" for Diamondbacks, etc.) were abandoned. Thenceforth, all specialty designs drew from common alphanumeric series of 5, 6, or 7 characters. So, this series is also applied to some specialty plates, such as Environmental, and some non-passenger types.