Louisiana License Plates

This America 250 commemorative design is the standard issue from January 2025 through December 2026, low 639 HUO.

This was a standard issue through 2014-15 to commemorate the bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans. There was no clean break between the Pelican and this plate; battle issues confirmed XSS064, XSN673, XSL and XUB535.

YDX682 and YFB 241 confirmed with earlier no-capital "www.louisianatravel.com".

YHA859 and YIX-prefix confirmed with later capital L & T "www.LouisianaTravel.com".

This "1812 - 200 Years - 2012" bicentennial plate was issued between Feb 2011-Jan 2013. These plates appear to have started at the VCT series, originally with a large graphic that overlapped the first letter. It was reduced in size for improved legibility by summer 2011.

Confirmed with original large graphic: VCT795, VCU477, VDA000, VDA754, VQD839 and VRW002.

Confirmed with revised smaller graphic: VQU727, VQX839, VRU595 and VRZ508.

This was the standard issue between 2002 and early-2004.

One report said the Purchase series began at KKR, but another shows it starting at KLL. Since our highest reported plain base before the Purchase is KKW 056, that supports the starting point of the Purchase at KLL rather than KKR. Our lowest reported Purchase plate is KLL 586 with the observed high in MSN.

This bucket tracks third issuance of the Pelican plate, which came back into use after the Battle Of New Orleans plate ceased in 2015.

Placed on hiatus when the "America 250" plate became the standard issue in 2025-26, high pelican 799 HUK.

This was the original pelican standard issue from 2005 starting with the NFV series. Initially confirmed Louisiana "lipstick" logo were NFX, OJV 078 and OKx/OLx/OMx prefixes. The logo was reduced in size slightly, early in the issue and the Q and U series were skipped.

Issuance continued normally until early-2011 when the 2012 bicentennial plate became the standard issue and the pelican was placed on hiatus. VCS 446 is the highest-known pre-2011 pelican.

This pelican reverted to standard issue status after the 2012 bicentennial base was dropped in early-2013. Low post-bicentennial: WUH 297 observed later 2015-10-16.

Pelican was placed on hiatus for the 2nd time when the Battle of New Orleans plate took over as standard issue during 2014-15. High 2014 pelican noted as XUB in our data but there was no clean break due to lower confirmed battle observations such as XSL-XSS. Battle of New Orleans dropped in early-2015, confirmed in our data only as high as ZPA.

Pelican resumed as standard issue once again in the high-Z series, tracked elsewhere on this website under the "after battle" header.

This plain style regular issue originated in the 1990s. It first ended in the middle of the K series (high KKW 056) when the Louisiana Purchase issue began in 2002. After that base ended in early-2004, numbering on this plain style resumed from MTE through NFU. NFV confirmed on the 2005 pelican, so we are confident this plain series ended at NFU,

Current permanent undated style features bold, fully-embossed "Apportioned" caption along bottom. Changed from "PWR PERMANENT APP" in mid-2000s somewhere between P162x and P199x. Annual issues ended in 1999. Thanks to Jim Moini for sharing data.

Only for boat trailers with under a 1500 lb. GVWR. Anything larger must have a regular Trailer plate.

CU TRUCK embossed on bottom.

Typically found on rental cars.

Previously early A prefix used for Taxis, A200000-A799999 for autos registered to corporations. A7xxxxx commercial plates were apparently being issued concurrently with the N plates. The early N prefixes were for motor homes.

Floater plate for new and used auto dealers, black on dark yellow, fully embossed with stacked D/I (Dealer Inventory) prefix on numbers higher than 99999.

Handicapped Dealer: HD0191, wheelchair symbol to the left followed by embossed full-sized HD prefix.

This lipstick design started at some point after 100000 in 1993. The number series started in 1974 with plates below 100000 prefixed by larger wheelchair symbol. The older reflective white on orange plate was still valid as recently as 2011.

Institutional Handicapped plate high 2269, INSTITUTIONAL embossed on bottom and sticker prefix IH does not appear on plate.

Handicapped - Commercial high 525, COMMERCIAL embossed along bottom.

This plate is issued to commercial buses, taxis and limousines that carry passengers for hire.

In 2012, Hire Passenger plates for "taxi cabs, limousines, horse drawn carriages, and pedicabs owned or operated by companies licensed by the city of New Orleans.". Louisiana in lipstick script on the top; "New Orleans" in an French Quarter-like font on the bottom. Louisiana map at left, followed by a four-letter stacked prefix (Q/N T/X), followed by the CPNC* number. High so far: QNTX1350. *CPNC=Certificate of Public Necessity and Convenience.

There are two types of special New Orleans for-hire plates. QNTX is for taxis; and QNLM is for limousines (high for this one is QNLM 150). Also, these plates are issued in pairs - the first Louisiana plates to be so issued since before WWII. Regular Hire Passenger plates (and all others) are still issued singly.

"LIGHT FARM TRUCK" across bottom.

This series has been running since the 1980s.

Issued to motor homes and non-school buses which do not carry passengers for hire (for example, church buses). This plate also used to be in the early "A" series before that was exhausted.

Private trucks, SUVs and vans under 6,000 lbs. used T, R, S, V, W, X prefixes since July 1978:

Y prefix for light pickups such as Chevy Colorado and Ford Ranger.

The "PRIVATE" embossed at the bottom was removed in 2004 around W66xxxx, thereafter, the screened Sportsman's Paradise appeared.

Over 6,000 lbs., including tractors that are not apportioned:

B100000-B999999 (B000000-B099999 is Tow-Recovery)

C000000-C999999

Z000000-present.

Y was used earlier for Apportioned 5 year Trailer (mostly rental) in the 1980s and '90s. That class of Trailer was discontinued in 2001, replaced by a Trailer plate with a PERM sticker for $70, or $10/year with a 1 year or 4-year registration.

Statewide issue for all vehicles of any class operated by public entities (state, parish, or city). Permanent plate with no validation sticker, on the plain Lipstick base. Has the word "PUBLIC" stacked vertically to the left of the serial (plates below 100000 had "PUBLIC" stacked diagonally, slanting down to the right). Series has been running since 1974.

Public - Handicapped - 1555 (wheelchair logo before number)

Issued only to privately-owned school buses.

Valid for 60 days., dealer fills in three tamper-resistant blocks with expiration month, day, and year using permanent marker.

Motorcycle Temporary: 407372MC 2015-07-10 David Wilson

Reflective white on red embossed plate issued to tow trucks.

Common permanent type for most trailers.

Two exceptions requiring annual fees;

light boat trailers under 1500lb GVWR tracked elsewhere on this page.

rare Light Semi-Trailer for trailers under 500 lb GVWR, D380333 observed 6/15/2012.

This plate series started at B100000 in June 1983. Old style was white on powder blue; currently on the plain Lipstick base. This plate was originally for trucks over 7,500 lbs., then to any truck after the X series.

Embossed TRUCK legend replaced by screened "Sportsman's Paradise" slogan somewhere around 500000.

Issuance of specialty plates has evidently resumed after several year legal hiatus.

"I'm Cajun...and Proud!"

This plate has a crawfish and accordion superimposed over a fleur-de-lis. There are no preceding letters before the number (similar to LSU and Saints plates.)

From the official state web site: "Designed by the late Cajun cultural preservationist Richard Guidry and French immersion educator Nicole Boudreaux, the plate features a Louisiana landscape with the words Chez Nous Autres (Cajun French for “our home”) and the fleur de lis shape of the Louisiana Iris with its French name la glaie bleue. Even the state’s name is written in French so instead of saying Louisiana it says Louisiane."

"Remember the Fallen" across bottom.

Plate features the American flag above the Louisiana flag.

Seen on Plateshack Y2K

Yet another new base for LSU has emerged. The purple tiger stripes have been removed, and only the LSU logo is to the left (no tiger's head). Serial is still purple. There have been low numbers on this base (remake or reissue). This is somewhat of a first for LA, as they have in the past just reissued a new plate with a new serial (they have, in the past, remade personalized plates).

The last new LSU plate incorporatied light purple tiger stripes on white background. Low-numbered plates (in the 1000 range) were re-made on the new base. OMV may be replacing the older base on renewal (or upon request.)

The early tiger-striped LSU plates had light purple stripes; this later version has darker purple stripes which make the purple serial harder to see. OMV prefix on sticker is ULS (does not appear on the plate itself.)

The new logo mentioned is the "Eye of the Tiger."

Saints logo on left, "Super Bowl XLIV World Champions" across bottom.

Revised design to accommodate different university name. Plate incorporates black into red and white fleur-de-lis design.

"Vol Fire Fighter" across bottom

White Tail Deer over red colored Louisiana on left, "Preserve our Hunting Heritage" across the bottom

Graphic "ARMY" stacked on left, then A/R stacked prefix, followed by serial.

On plates below A/R10000, "ARMY" is slanted diagonally.

This is a permanent plate on the lipstick base (no validation sticker.) Plates below DV10000 have a dash separator after DV.

Features flag and "XPOW" on left

"USMC" diagonal on the left, "U S Veteran" across the bottom.

This plate uses a PERM sticker and is issued to honorably discharged veterans of the following medal awards: Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal (Army)., Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Soldier's Medal, Airman's Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Coast Guard Medal.