New Jersey License Plates

New Jersey passenger plates changed from embossed to flat by A10-EFF in April 2014. The FQ- suffix series was later skipped. The last embossed plate was possibly T99-EEK, highest embossed observation R40-EEK. No suffixes between EEL and EFE have been observed and there was no overlap between the embossed and flat plates.

After reaching ZZZ-99Z in 2010, the numbering format changed to A10-AAA. Letters T and X were used in first position (i.e. T10-AAA and X10-AAA) and did not conflict with Trailer or Commercial plates.

2010+ current format low: A27-AAA 2011-04-15 Jim Moini, Prior format high: ZZZ-86Z 2011-08-01 Brad Harding

There were some notable letter gaps in New Jersey passenger plates in 2009-10:

Pre-jump high: W74-ASP 2011-04-02 Dave Mackey, Jump low: C14-AUF 2010-11-24 Ed Angiolillo

YYH-prefix plate was spotted around 2009 when YND was high.

Passenger plates jumped from the Sxx to the Uxx prefixes in 2005 as the Txx-prefix series was used for TRAILER plates from 2004-22.

Simon observed blue passenger plate UVT-83G on 2006-05-08.

New Jersey stopped issuing new passenger license plate stickers around RVA-prefix series on October 1, 2004 and ceased for renewals as of Jan. 1, 2005.

Plate sticker boxes were dropped in 2006 during the late Vxx series yet reappeared in 2008 during the Y-- series (YBX or YBZ). There was no clean break as to exactly where they were dropped. VYX, VZS and VZT series plates have been observed with and without boxes. Thanks to Jeff Fazekas, Jim Moini and Dave Mackey.

New Jersey passenger license plates since 1992 have used 3M reflective sheeting except for a brief period from 2002-04 when Avery sheeting was used.

2004+ current 3M low PXS-prefix, more pronounced bottom border, standard middle 3M holograms.

Avery high PXL, Avery low LHM-76M

Original 3M high LGL-83P (state name in slightly larger font since LGX series)

Thanks to Wally Punzmann, Clark Wothe, Jeff Ellis and Bobby Pressimone.

0A-123A numbering format first appeared in 2024.

New Jersey Apportioned license plates were originally embossed before switching to flat style in 2014 at AS-100A. Renewal date stickers were issued to these plates only from 2002-04.

XAA-A10 2012-present, low XAA-A11, embossed high XCV, flats debuted at XCW in 2015

XA-100A 2002-12

X-9999Z 1992-2002

Original County Government numbering format from 1992 was issued between CG10000 to approximately CG21000; high CG21007 2012-09-29 Dave Mackey.

Flat

Flat plates probably started at H/Z 9000. And the H/A suffix was apparently skipped (went from H/Z 9999 to 1000 H/B.)

Earlier info:

Still with sticker boxes through H/U, but it appears sticker boxes were dropped starting at H/V 1000.

Embossed high: H/Z 8012

Flat low: H/Z 9901

The middle number is a small "suffix" number between 1 and 5. Progression is 10 AA, 11 AA... 99 AA, 10 AB... 99 AZ, 10 BA...

Switched to 00A-XAA numbering format in 2025 after XZA-00A series was exhausted.

These are on official vehicles that patrol the Garden State Parkway (help stranded motorists, etc.) Bottom of plate still reads Garden State.

There was a block of 100 plates in the HA- series, HA-701 through -800, that were assigned to State Police cruisers on the GSP. Most of these cars have since been replated, but some still use HA, some have TPA, and some just regular Passenger. All should have TPA eventually.

Sticker boxes disappeared between 32555QQ and 34747QQ.

A jitney is known as a dollar van, a privately owned type of bus service.

L/S/V is screened diagonally to the left of the serial, and "Low Speed Vehicle" legend is screened bottom center.

Formerly Blue on silver

Progression: 1AAA1 to 1ZZZ9, then 2AAA1, etc.

Upon reaching Z999Z in 2008, format changed to 1AAA1.  

In 2005 numbering reached 9999Z and moved to P100A with R, S, and T prefixes skipped.

MC plates from 1992-94 were fully embossed and issued in range A123B through N999Z before moving to 1234A format. Plates updated with screened "MOTORCYCLE" caption somewhere in the 1234V series around 2003 but initially retained embossed plate numbers. Eventually all MC types including dealers dropped sticker boxes and moved to all-flat plates.

Motorcycle Handicapped  -  A349  2009-05-25  Dave Mackey

Historic Motorcycle - Q4814  2009-08-18  Dave Mackey

Commercial Motorcycle ("COMM CYCLE" along bottom) - XG161  2009-09-21  Bob Mackey

Commonly found on police cars.

Flat low: NF36619

Embossed high: NF36531

New Jersey Omnibus license plate numbering was in the OXV1000 series at the time this design appeared.

From Jim Moini: The MD series went from MD-A100 to MD-Z999, and then in the late 1980s, started again at MD-1000 on the blue base.

Current numbering format appeared in June 2023.

School Vehicle II is for less than 16 passengers.

Caption on plate is STATE GOVT, but this type with the TD prefix is for the Transportation Dept.

It appears that the progression of these was TD10000 - TD11999, then they skipped to TD16000.

In early 2021 numbers jumped again from the middle of the TD18000 series to TD30000.

See listing below for Turnpike Authority regarding State Police cruisers used on the Garden State Parkway.

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This style of temporary permit features pre-printed expiration rather than prior hand-written date. Permit issued singly for mounting in rear plate spot on passenger vehicles. Back window permits ceased issuance 7/1/2012.

Prefixes E, G, I, K, M, N, O, P, Q, S, U, Y not used.

New Jersey has been known for odd jumps, including these temp examples:

J873263 reported on 2015-02-09 by Andrew Persaud when series was in the J2x range.  

J666606 reported on 2015-02-01 by Chris Scott when all other reports were in the J3x range.

182583N, 164786N and 163887N in June 2013 when normal observations were in F8x range. Perhaps these were non-resident permits?

Resident and Non-resident Temp tags are issued in Arial font.

New Jersey trailer plates updated from embossed to flat in 2015 between prefixes TNL and TNN.

State police cruisers assigned to the Garden State Parkway prior to 2008 were issued license plates from TPA1101 to TPA1200 with the last three digits 101-200 matching the cruiser number. Previously they had civilian plates in the famous HA-A701 to HA-A800 series which were among the very first black-on-goldfinch yellow plates New Jersey issued in 1992.

Colin MG observed TP-A858 on 2014-01-18.

Dave Mackey observed unusual numbering format 45 DMF 03 on this type.

New Jersey Agriculture plates appear with stacked G/S prefix or suffix.

Various letters omitted. Previous base high: I/M 52CZ

New Jersey battleship license plates debuted as fully embossed with stacked B/B prefix and 1234 numbering format in 1996. Stacked B/B moved to suffix after numbering reached 9999 on this popular plate in 1998. Stacked B/B later moved back to prefix and numbering format updated to 12AB in 2003. Last embossed plate 99KN issued in 2016 when sticker boxes dropped and plates made all-flat starting at 10KP. Thanks to Jim Moini for all data.

Flat plates debuted in 2018 starting at 1000 D/L.

Low flat: E/M 3027.

Stacked L/E can appear as a prefix or as a suffix.

A123 format appeared in 2025, numbers progress before the letter.

12AB format reappeared using previously-omitted letters in 2017. Letters progressed before numbers (i.e., 10AA, 10AB... 10ZZ, 11AA... etc.).

Numbering format moved from 99ZZ to AB12 in 2012 and plates changed from embossed to flat in 2014 between KV79 and LP13.

The original 1A A1 format was abandoned in the middle of its run before being switched to the A1 1A format. After Z9 9Z was reached in 2008, numbering continued where the original series had left off, probably at 1E A1.

This plate denotes membership in the NJ Professional Firefighter's Association/IAFF and is different from the standard issue "Firefighter" plates.

Stacked L/S was originally a prefix until 2006 when it was moved to suffix position.

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Stacked U/S originally a prefix until it was moved to suffix in 2010

Numbering moved from format 9999 to 12AB in 2008.

Stacked prefixes used: SA, SC, SE, SF, SJ, SK, SL, SN, SR, SU, SV.

Multiple sports organizations ((New York Yankees, Phillies, Mets) share this common flat plate format.

Firemen's Mutual Benevolent Association

Patrolman's Benevolent Association flat licence plates featured the stacked P/B as prefix until it was moved to suffix position in 2018.

Numbering format progressed from 1234 to 123A in 2008.

Commercial variant: X/A 250 W/E 2013-08-01 Jim Moini

Stacked U/W moved from prefix to suffix in 2006.

Numbering format changed from 1234 to 12AB and stacked U/W moved back to prefix in 2013.

This plate debuted in 1997. Numbering moved from 999Z to A123 format and stacked W/C moved from prefix to suffix in 2011.

This plate first appeared in 1993 but has since been discontinued, last issued plate was 99FZ.

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Army Guard and Air Guard plates differ but share a common numbering series.

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