Minnesota License Plates

Minnesota passenger plates have been all-flat with black numbers since the 2008 suffix series. Prefix letters used since 2017. This is the over-the-counter series, see bucket for mail-out series elsewhere on this site.

As of December 2025, the Y prefix started being used on plates mailed out from central office, as opposed to those picked up at local outlets. Letter prefixes starting with M, N and P previously used, see History tab for details.

Apportioned Truck Tractor license plates are flat with weight sticker on right side, numbering started at PAK0000 in 2010. Prior fully-embossed version had stacked P/A prefix.

This graphic flat Apportioned truck plate series started at PRY0000 after the previous fully-embossed series ended in 2010. Numbering progressed to PRZ9999, followed by 0000PRA from 2016-26 then PZx prefix series since early 2026. Weight class sticker, usually T for truck appears along right side. Continually being refreshed on standard 7-year replacement cycle.

Note that IRP buses once shared this series, usually with weight class F, J, M, N or O sticker until the new "Apportioned Bus" type was created in 2022. See bus tracking bucket for details.

Used on non-IRP buses.

New type "Apportioned Bus" plate with no weight class sticker for coaches operating under IRP added in 2022. Highs 2268PRA 12-28-22, 0883PRB 6-15-23 and 0323PBA 3-22-26 Manny Jacob.

Jay Maynard provides us with the description of a Classic Car: Any motor vehicle manufactured between and including the years 1925 and 1948, and designated by the commissioner as a classic car because of its fine design, high engineering standards, and superior workmanship, and owned and operated solely as a collector's item. The law includes a list of cars that are considered classics.

Minnesota Classic Motorcycle plates are flat with black printing on a white background.

Minnesota Collector plates started in 1974 at 600-000 (confirmed low 600-038) and went through the 700-000 range. Numbers moved to 300-000 range in 2006 to prevent duplication with Tax Exempt plates in the 800-000 to 900-000 ranges. The flat version does not have a hyphen between the numbers.

Flat plate on graphic base with weight sticker and no stacked characters. Previous type was non-graphic embossed with stacked letters. Numbering Y/A Z9999 on the previous type was followed by Y/B Ax format in 2008.

According to the DMV website, the flat Commercial Concrete Pumper and Street Sweeper plate is a distinctive powder blue." High YZA0375, we would love a photo.

Flat black printing on a plain white background. Somewhere after D 94459 in 2008, numbers moved down to the D00001-10249 range, followed by a large gap to high D 55318 in 2011. The letter D moved to suffix position in 2015. Various numbering formats used, see History tab for details.

Series started out with IT prefix letters which were later moved to suffix position.

Plates changed to fully-flat with black numbers at mid-HL suffix in 2009. Letters moved to prefix in 2018, wheelchair symbol remained on right side.

Blue suffix letters stacked on right side, handicapped symbol appeared on left of prior fully-embossed plates up to mid-HL suffix.

Revised to this graphic flat design with "Farm Trailer' along bottom.

"Farm Truck" along bottom, flat graphic design replaced previous green on white embossed base.

Fleet plates on this graphic base are used by large companies such as Qwest, Comcast, UPS and others. Some embossed suffix FLF fleet plates from several years ago may still be in use. Various numbering formats used, see History tab for details.

AB series high: AB9441 2015-11-18 Nick Jankovich

Flat, graphic

Lake scene all-flat graphic plate, "Motorcycle" along bottom, month (always Feb.) appears bottom left, alpha suffix no longer stacked.

White on black 00775MW 7-13-25 MJ.

This non-commercial Y class plate is for one-ton pickup trucks registered at a gross weight of 10,000, 12,000, or 15,000 pounds (G sticker) and operated exclusively for personal use.

Small print along plate bottom edge says: "Warning: Commercial operation of this vehicle will require obtaining COMMERCIAL license plates and possible vehicle display of USDOT carrier number"

high YNA5818 2015-09-27 Jay Maynard

Originally embossed, now flat. Also available in motorcycle size.

Flat with "Recreational Trailer" along bottom, various numbering formats used, see History tab for details.

Flat

Flat graphic design.

Previously embossed in 1234 S/T A format, with S/T stacked.

Known as Special Registration (WX, Impounded, or "Whiskey"), plates are flat black on white, "Minnesota" on top, "10,000 Lakes" on bottom. Issued to allow a licensed driver to operate a motor vehicle when the original license plates have been impounded by court order or through administrative action.

Nick Jankovich has observed that this type appears to be going backwards. Both the WJ and WK series were flat, but the earlier WL and WM series were embossed. See History tab for details.

There is a Motorcycle version on same white background with black serial, no graphics.

Motorcycle: WC0983

Flat

Same flat style as current Dealer, including the thin border.

Valid for 31 days.

Flat

Nick Jankovich also reports 1911CLT, which must be a different type of Trailer plate, but we don't know the difference yet. 3269CKT with "C 4500GVW" screened/stacked right, 7-9-11 Manny Jacob

Flat with thin screened border, also known as "Drive-Away In-Transit". Plates changed to flat in 2010 and DRW moved to suffix in 2014.

Plates were originally embossed, high DR/W52079.

Weight class letter on right.

Flat graphic base.

Introduced January 1, 2024 at ZAA. See History tab for unusual sequencing details.

Several schools are using this series in the same format and letter blocks. St. Olaf College, Bemidji State University and St. Cloud State University have been observed in this type.

The University of Minnesota has its own format and series.

Guy Peterson photographed 4LN 001 on this type, but it is unknown why it was issued since the rest were in the Ax series at the time.

Handicapped: 18ZJ 2012-09-05 Nick Jankovich

This designed originated in 2009 with a photograph of a single buck facing viewer on left side. Numbering format continued 1AB234, but see History tab for letter details.

Handicapped high: 212ZK 2015-06-22 Hap Huber

Handicapped high: 01ZG

Handicapped high: 28ZH

Critical Habitat loon plates are flat, various numbering formats used, see History tab for details.

Handicapped high: ZY11

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Flat with red Minnesota firefighter crest on left, professional and volunteer firefighters both use same plate series. Various numbering formats used, see History tab for details.

Firefighter - Truck:: FF359 2015-06-29 Nick Jankovich

Graphic structure is similar to the critical habitat plates.

Went on sale January 1, 2024, with proceeds benefiting the Minnesota Fastbreak Foundation.

Went on sale January 1, 2024, with proceeds benefiting the Minnesota Fastbreak Foundation.

Went on sale January 1, 2024.

Probably began at 0000A1

Introduced January 1, 2024. Proceeds support the Minnesota Vikings Foundation's mission to advance children's health and education initiatives.

Available January 1, 2024 starting at 001AA1.

Issued since 2014 to owners of passenger vehicles, one-ton trucks, motorcycles and RVs who served 10 years or more and left the fire service in good standing. "Retired FireFighter" (note 2nd capital F) along bottom, special emblem on left.

Revised design without middle red stripe of the flag, making the plates much more legible. Various numbering formats used, see History tab for details.

Guy Peterson observed 123ZA suffix series on a 1 ton truck with a weight sticker.

Support Our Troops - Handicapped: 50ZB 2010-02-12 Nick Jankovich

Support Our Troops - Motorcycle: 04939MT 2013-09-17 Nick Jankovich

Support Our Troops POLICE plate also observed.

Remembering Victims of Impaired Drivers

Flat

CWV Handicapped: ZS67 2011-09-20 Nick Jankovich

Ex-POW embossed at bottom of plate, "P/O/W" before numbers is stacked on angle, (not directly across or down.)

For numbers less than 1000, EX is stacked on top of POW, both horizontal (not at an angle.)

Families of fallen service members.

Flat

ZX720 Manny Jacob 2-9-14

Global War On Terror

Motorcycle version: 00493MV ("Iraq Vet" on bottom) 2014-05-29 Nick Jankovich

Nick observed ZX484 on a newer flat plate, likely a remade number from a previous plate style.

Generic veteran plate lacking specific conflict or service branch.

There was another version of this plate in format 000MV.

Medal high: 424MV 2013-05-16 Nick Jankovich

Medal high: 488MV 2014-07-13 Manny Jacob

Flat low: 0004VV 2015-06-23 Jay Maynard

This mid-2000s redesign with pair of brown deer was flat starting as low as NZ 911, then numbering changed to a brief 123JA format up to high 731JD. Numbering changed again to 1AB 234 format with high 1AC627.

Plate was again redesigned in 2009, newer version tracked elsewhere on this website.

The original Critical Habitat plates were embossed with pair of GREEN deer on the left side and used numbering format AA123 in the A, D, G and N series, high NU286.

Flat red, white, blue, with black screened characters. David R. Wilson advises that according to the MN Statehood Sesquicentennial Final Report (and other news items) with photo, the first Sesquicentennial plate was SQ001.