Wisconsin License Plates

This current base was first issued in June 2000, low 128 AAA. Seven-digit series appeared in 2017.

John Woodward advised that Wisconsin issues plates in the ZYx series to "human service" vehicles, such as wheelchair lift vans, and they also issue plates in the ZZx series to for-hire vehicles. For-hire vehicles include taxis and airport shuttle vans, but not rental cars.

This consolidated type was first issued in December 2004 (starting at 1001 B) and replaced earlier issued BX Bus and School Bus plates by the end of 2008. Black on white, on the graphic base.

Wisconsin disabled plate numbering moved from suffix-D to stacked D/S in 2012.

Black on white graphic base; constant expiration month "FEB" embossed at lower left, numbering started at 1001F in 1994. Earlier red on white farm plates were replaced in 2008.

The DMV announced this new type on May 8, 2023 as an option for customers with ten or more standard or light-truck vehicles. No validation stickers are used, and the plates cannot be personalized. Commonly observed on rental cars.

Weight class letter stickers are applied before the embossed numbers, but the numbers are sequential for all classes. After 100001 - 999999, went to AA1001 and up through the AV series, then DG through current.

Highs on the old base, still in use: A/N 69-000, B/M 25-952, C/D 66-000. Many or all of these types possibly replaced in 2009.

Format progression has been 12 34, A1 23, 12 3A, A1 2B, and finally A123B.

Black on white, graphic base. Single-letter prefix series followed 99999 by early-2000s.

The Wisconsin motorcycle plate has been fully-embossed black on white since 2004. Numbering formats moved from ZZ 999 to 1234 A, then from 9999 Z to 101 AA in 2014. Gideon Nicksic advised that the numbering format moved to A000AA some time between 9/20/2025 and 9/30/2025.

Wx-series accidentally omitted in 2023 so progression from Vx to Xx is shown correctly in our data. Wx series was produced and issued in 2024 after the error was discovered.

These plates are on a 15-year 'rolling replate' according to Nate Dee. DMV mails a new plate with a letter to the owner advising the old plate/number has been cancelled due to age.

Wisconsin motorcycle plates were green on white from 1994-2004.

Black on Tan plate with "Municipal" at top. This series started in 1989, with wide dies through at least the 44000 series.

Changeover to narrow dies was between 44321 and 47303.

Dark blue letters on straw background. Used for municipal and county law enforcement vehicles. A five-pointed star symbol precedes the plate number.

Black on orange series started at 200001 in 1987 with wide dies. Changed to narrow dies between 343040 and 346838 and to reflective background by 2003, low 427274.

Series started in 1981; changed to narrow dies in the early-2000s between 11090 and 11110. White on red plate, "State Owned" at top and state name on bottom.

Design included state map until 2019.

Available early January, 2026, beginning with ZAA-1000. More details are available from WMTV.

Available early January, 2026, beginning with YAA-1000. More details are available from WMTV.

Red on blue; type available for unmodified vehicles more than 20 years old.

Red text on blue background. Optional plate type issued for cycles 20 years or older but not valid for use during the month of January. One time fee, never expires.

This flat design was issued April 2010 through August 2015, low 10001E/R and high 12971E/R.

Replaced by Endangered Resources (Eagle), which continued the numeric series.

Debuted September 2015, replacing the Badger base and continuing the numeric series. Nate Dee reports that the changeover occurred around 13000E/R; he has confirmed 13342E/R on the Eagle design. The Gray Wolf design remains available.

Introduced in 2007.

Yellow on green; issued to modified, reconstructed, or replica cars 20 years or older and homemade vehicles.

Plates went on sale May 1, 2023. The Mission of the Ice Age Trail Alliance is to conserve, create, maintain, and promote the Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

Slightly redesigned in 2013 with black serial instead of red. "Wisconsin" along top changed from dark blue to red and "Celebrate Children" along bottom is also in red rather than the multi-color of older plates. Like some other specialty plates the redesigned Celebrate Children logo uses a decal rather than being printed on the plate. These updates appear to have happened around 20000K.

Numbers started at 10001R/A. The world's best racers have competed at Elkhart Lake's Road America—a legendary four-mile, 14-turn road circuit—since 1955.

Bucky Badger decal, black state name along top in large italicized font.

Over fifty different Wisconsin military service and/or medal designations are available. License plates were redesigned in 2008, combining the red-on-white state name of the 2007 version with the gradients of the original style.

Branch of service indicated in blue band at the bottom.

This narrow dies base with red characters appeared in 1996-97 using prefix range N in the first position until WRZ-999 was reached in 2000. Later replaced with 123-ABC format black number plates by 2014.

The original 1986-87 issue large die graphic plates in the AAA-101 series had blue characters, but they were changed to red in 1987 because they looked very similar to the current Illinois plates at the time. All of these plates were replaced by the end of 1993 due to defective ink on the embossed characters.