Iowa License Plates

Introduced at prefix GXV in 2018.

This embossed series debuted in 1996 with blue numbers. Plates changed from embossed to flat in all counties during 2001 in the JXT-JYC range, although no cleaner break is identifiable.

County name originally printed on a sticker, changing to screened directly on the plates during the late-1990s between suffixes FLM (sticker) and FYO screened.

This flat version of the 1996 base debuted in 2001. The state name, county name and plate number were originally blue through the YPK series, changing to black in 2011 at YPL. The zero slash plates started at YYA and suffix letters were exhausted in 2012.

This flat black prefix series issued between 2012-18, low AAA 005 Carroll County, high GXV.

This Iowa Persons with Disabilities license plate series debuted with C prefix, then moved to suffix. Suffix and prefix series that followed included J, Y, Z, W, X and T, then to the current two-letter prefix format in 2012.

Prefix series started in 2012 at AA. Prior suffix series started at 0000 GA and lasted until high-P in 2012. Flat plates started in high KD and black font for registration characters appeared at suffix NM in 2011. These plates also used for untitled trailers.

Motorcycle Veteran: V4030 (Linn Co.) 2011-07-19 Jesse Wodstrchill

Limited Use Farm Truck and "Business Trade" plates for vehicles used in such fields as construction, excavation and heating/cooling/plumbing, etc. Series allocated from 000 SAA through 999 SHG, changed to flat with "SPECIAL" in red along side during SCN.

Black number between two red stars on yellow background. The plate number is the badge number.

Standard size plate used for titled trailers and non-apportioned semi-trailers. Series began at 0000 AA with high embossed BG-BH despite low flat observations in BF-BI suffixes, so they changed without a clean break. Letters moved to prefix in 2012.

Introduced July 2019, can be ordered in personalized version as well as regular numbers.

This Eagle plate is part of the Natural Resources series. Kenneth Barton advised that Iowa recalled 1,400 of the initial Eagle plates because of complaints from law enforcement agencies that the original eagle's wing obstructed part of the letters. Revised plates were subsequently designed with the eagle rotated so as to not block any letters.

See comments under Natural Resources bucket for numbering details on these plates.

Current format started at AA001 in 2012. Previous numbering used letters FF, FD and F in both prefix and suffix position over time. High before format change: F7434.

Flat low: 5478F, embossed high: 4666F

Plate is school colors, red on yellow and flat as early as 2009.

This flat Iowa National Guard series started at N0000.

The goldfinch (Iowa's State Bird), eagle, and pheasant plates have been joined by plates depicting a trout and a deer. They are all Natural Resources plates. They are all DNR issues that share the same numbering system. The Goldfinch, Eagle, and Pheasant plates use the same numbering system. The issues of the 3 Bird plates are rotated. They use one number on a base, and than the next issue goes on the next bird plate. Example, ME 125 is Goldfinch, ME 126 will be Eagle, so on as a rotation.

Trout high - MP804 (Marion Co.) 2010-12-26 Kenneth L. Barton

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Series started at ZA 000.

At what numbering point did this series change to a flat base?

At what point did this series change to a flat base?

U.S. Flag on left with "VETERAN" below the flag. At what point did this series change to a flat base?