Michigan License Plates

This 2013 revision of the 2007-base features "PureMichigan" logo along top, low DAA 0801 observed by Duncan Malloch 2015-09-13.

2007-base plates were all replaced via regular 10-year rolling replate between 2017 and 2023.

The design of this plate was changed in 2014 for better visibility. Low: AJH 790

Available as an option starting January 27, 2024.

This option debuted December 1, 2021. Low is 0NBM00 per Eric Tanner.

Available February 1, 2025.

Low of AA7AAC spotted by Bill Woodard on 2026-03-01.

Available February 1, 2025.

Available only during 2026, design mimics Michigan's 1976-78 Bicentennial series, numbered in same sequence as the retro blue "Great Lakes" plates.

'Pure Michigan' base started with RB 00000 in 2013.

This 2013-series "Pure Michigan" commercial base presumably started at DA 00000.

2007-series low CA 00275, high CF 13636 observed by Eric Kipp.

The design of this plate was changed in 2014 for better visibility.

From John Northup: Dealer plates expiring Feb 2014 and later issued with the "PureMichigan" tourism logo along top instead of the previous blue bar. This makes the state name much more difficult to read. The numbering sequence resets every year. Even-year expirations have the small "D" in the fourth position; odd-year expirations place it in the third.

Low: 000D03 2015-07-02 observed by Gary Forgue.

On the Pure Michigan base

Eric spotted the first plate of this new type - 0000E0 on 2007-09-29.

On the revised Mackinac Bridge base.

Gary Forgue observed low 00E048 on 10/07/24.

Available February 1, 2025.

Available February 1, 2025.

Used by large vehicle fleets after being piloted in 2008 on Consumers Energy vehicles. Stickers not required, PF stands for Permanent Fleet.

BA02155 low for Pure Michigan series.

2007-series plates used AB12345 format, low AA00852.

Plate designed for bottom weight sticker placement.

The series continued where the former yellow/blue series left off, however skipping the 100000's, which are used for State Govt.

Effective from 2024, the usage restrictions ("club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades, and similar uses, including mechanical testing") do not apply between Memorial Day and Labor Day each year, allowing motorists full use of their vehicles during this period.

"PureMichigan" base since 2013, series low 000G013.

Various numbering formats used, see History tab for details.

2007 base low K022N

"MUNICIPAL" screened along bottom, low 000x050.

Issued to non-profit entities, like churches, the Red Cross, and some ambulance companies. Some say MUNICIPAL at the bottom (ALPCA Archives includes two such examples with 055 prefixes). Gary Forgue observed low 000Y038.

2013 base.

Some trailers were switched to this type upon renewal in 2002, numbering started at A000000, low A000042. These replaced the last 5-year trailer plate used on many semi-trailers until final expiry 2-28-02.

Other than personalized plates, this was Michigan's first 7-character series of any type since 1932.

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Usually reserved for very specialized equipment permanently mounted to a vehicle, such as for mounting commercial signs.

"STATE GOVT" screened at bottom. Probably started at 100000. 100002 reported as a low by Jim Turner.

MDOT has a different numbering scheme than other state government vehicles, possibly starting with 0030000. Isaac observed 0033154 on 2009-07-24.

Same numbering format as Municipal series, Tribal plates issued in 900x000 series. All sightings to date have been on this "blue bar" base.

Issue began in 1996 at 0MA00 but switched briefly in 2008 to the same numbering configuration as other Specialty plates. It returned in 2010 with the addition of one extra number to the end due to the Florida dies. Artwork here reflects post-2013 design updates. Only 1,748 of these plates remained active by November 2025.

Original fee was $25 annually, changing to $35 in 2012 and creating relative scarcity for this plate. By comparison, the optional "Bridge" graphic plates at the time were only $5 extra upon first registration and nothing additional at renewal.

Series shared by Michigan State Fire Fighters Union, Michigan State Firemen's Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Freemasons, and Police Officers Association of Michigan.

"Pure Michigan" base as early as 1CF38.

This numbering series is applied to all of Michigan's university and fundraiser plates except for those listed elsewhere on this page. Rob observed low AA04A on a Central Michigan Univ. plate. B and G series used on "Pure Michigan" base from 2013-15. G high: GY92K 2015-10-12 Bill Woodard.

Defunct A00AA format was used for mail orders from Lansing.

Vanities are permitted on specialty plates, initially with a five-character limit, later expanded to six characters after smaller dies appeared.

Wheelchair symbol appears on right side.

Formerly, screened diagonally stacked D/V before the characters AND prefix DV embossed on regular series plates, until the series went to seven positions. Five-year expiration; once had the old two-sticker month and year validation system. Formerly on the 2007-era blue bar base. Can also be personalized with up to six characters.

On the "Pure Michigan" base.

This optional design replaced the earlier Great Lakes Splendor bridge plate in 2007. Commercial starting point was G00 00A, Rob observed low G01 42A.

This series may have picked up near where the now-defunct blue trailer series concluded in 2007. John Northup observed X-series high on 3/7/10 but the reason for that series is unknown.

This optional design replaced the earlier Great Lakes Splendor bridge plate in 2007. Passenger starting point was 0HA A00, Steven observed low 2HA A56.

Spec. Pen. Purple Heart: 476C1 2013-11-10 Bill Christian, III

Wheelchair symbol appears on right side.

This base replaced previous blue plates during 2007. Its design was later updated in 2013 for new registrants, tracked separately on this website.

Low BAA 0006 observed by Colin MG.

This final version of the 1982-series white on blue beaded passenger plates was produced through AJX 1999.

Unissued leftovers were all shredded for scrap in January and active plates replaced during the remainder of 2007.

This series appeared in 2005 using the familiar white on blue design that was used with six-characters for more than 20 years. AAA0013 low, observed by Ted Martin on 2006-03-04. There was initially no space between the letters and numbers on these plates but that changed at AFP8999/AFP 9000.

Several far out of sequence and odd prefixes were observed:

ATJ7242 John Northup photographed on 05-05-05, Joey Hurd AUR 5436 on 2006-03-22, DSD1225 by Frank Foster on 2005-05-01 and SCH9802 (unspaced, photographed) by Isaac.

John reports having seen two ZZZ plates in Brighton, so perhaps that office got the last of the 6-digit plates. Plates have been observed as high as XHE 280 with no sticker box, and as low as XJH 451 with a sticker box in the lower right corner. Narrow dies low was UDU 000, observed by Eric 11/18/01.

In 1994, narrower dies were adopted to allow seven characters on personalized plates. These moved onto passenger plates with the UDU xxx series. They eventually crept into all other plate series as well, completely replacing the 1982 die set, except for a few blue-base holdouts that clung to the large 1970s die set. As of 2007, all series were using even narrower 8-digit Florida-style dies.

This final narrow-dies version of the 1982-series beaded white-on-blue Light Commercial plate was ordered by the Secretary of State as low as 5197 KP and eventually through 8000 NB. Unissued leftovers were all shredded for scrap in January and existing registrations replaced during the remainder of 2007.

John Northup advised that non-commercial trucks now receive regular passenger plates instead of truck plates, and fees will be based on the same schedule as cars. Existing truck plates on non-commercial vehicles will continue to be renewed, but new registrations will receive passenger plates. Commercial trucks will continue to receive truck plates.

The "Month" and "Year" sticker boxes were eliminated at some point after high F13 26B.

New dies obs R0003, R1658

Old dies obs R0060

Should include large white sticker along bottom with small stacked text "ELECTED GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT" and large two-digit weight value.

Beaded yellow on non-reflective navy blue design with 1970s dies. Ten year validation interval, not renewed after 2016; replaced with new fully-reflective plates.

This 2013 Mackinac Bridge optional design was changed in 2014 for better visibility between AJG 843 and AJH 790.

Andy Deceunynck observed two MBA-prefix plates in St Ignace, MI which is the town on the north end of the bridge. The letters would seem to be an acronym of Mackinac Bridge. Eric Kipp speculated that the "MBA" on the plate legend likely stands for "Mackinac Bridge Authority." Gary Forgue later observed several MBA-prefix plates in the Detroit area.

Eric Kipp reported AA 2110 on 2014-07-09, which appeared to be a Commercial number on the Mackinac Bridge base.

Started at 00AA0 in 1997 with other Bridge plates.

Screening updated without "Month" and "Year" boxes in blue band along the top when Michigan changed to single validation sticker. Wider "Florida" dies appeared on later Bridge plates.

Low: 0AA A00 Eric

The first narrow die trailer plate was in configuration 0B0001. Series replaced by the 2002 Permanent Trailer base.

Eric received official confirmation that the last wide die trailer plate was Z 99950.

Phased out in favor of the "permanent trailer" plate. No longer revalidated.

Smaller dies

This optional design was introduced in 1996, low AAA 04, was not available in personalized format.

Michigan changed to a maximum 10 year plate life in 2015, and the Great Lakes Splendor and World's Motor Capital plates were all removed from use as a result.