Vehicle registration plates of Indiana
The U.S. state of Indiana first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until July 1, 1913, when the state began to issue plates.
Plates are currently issued by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1956.
Passenger baseplates
1913 to 1980
In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 issue was the first Indiana license plate that complied with these standards.| Image | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| 1913 | Black serial on yellow porcelain plate; "IND 1913" in yellow on black section at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 45000 | ||
| 1914 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "IND 1914" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 67000 | First embossed plate. | |
| 1915 | Embossed green serial on pink plate; "IND '15" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 97000 | ||
| 1916 | Embossed black serial on white plate; "IND '16" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to 99999 | ||
| 1916 | Embossed black serial on white plate; "IND '16" at right | none | A1234 | A1 to approximately D9000 | ||
| 1917 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "IND 17" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to 99999 | ||
| 1917 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "IND 17" at right | none | A1234 | A1 to approximately K2000 | ||
| 1918 | Embossed black serial on green plate with border line; "IND 18" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 223000 | ||
| 1919 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IND 19" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 277000 | ||
| 1920 | Embossed green serial on cream-colored plate with border line; "IND 20" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 296000 | ||
| 1921 | Embossed black serial on salmon-colored plate with border line; "IND 21" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 344000 | ||
| 1922 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IND 22" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 407000 | ||
| 1923 | Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "IND 23" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 499-000 | ||
| 1924 | Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "IND 24" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 562-000 | ||
| 1925 | Embossed maroon serial on tan plate with border line; "IND 25" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 620-000 | ||
| 1926 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "IND 26" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 667-000 | ||
| 1927 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IND 27" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 707-000 | ||
| 1928 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "INDIANA-1928" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 713-000 | First use of the full state name. | |
| 1929 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "INDIANA-29" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 743-000 | ||
| 1930 | Embossed orange serial on dark blue plate with border line; "INDIANA-30" at bottom | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 763 000 | ||
| 1931 | Embossed dark blue serial on orange plate with border line; "INDIANA-31" at top | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 761 000 | ||
| 1932 | Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "INDIANA-32" at bottom | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 741 000 | ||
| 1933 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "INDIANA–33" at top | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 742 000 | ||
| 1934 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "INDIANA–34" at bottom | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 722 000 | ||
| 1935 | Embossed black serial on light blue plate with border line; "INDIANA-35" at top | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 729 000 | ||
| 1936 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "INDIANA-36" at bottom | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 779 000 | ||
| 1937 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "INDIANA-37" at top | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 835 000 | ||
| 1938 | Embossed maroon serial on cream-colored plate with border line; "INDIANA–38" at bottom | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 857 000 | ||
| 1939 | Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "INDIANA–39" at top | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 849 000 | ||
| 1940 | Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "INDIANA–40" at bottom | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 873 000 | ||
| 1941 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "INDIANA–41" at top | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 923 000 | ||
| 1942 | Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "INDIANA–42" at bottom | none | 123 456 1 234 567 | 1 to approximately 1 034 000 | Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. | |
| 1944 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "IND 44" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 899000 | ||
| 1945 | Embossed white serial on brown plate; "INDIANA" and "45" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 894 000 | ||
| 1946 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "46" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 901 000 | ||
| 1947 | Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate; "INDIANA" and "47" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 123 456 | 1 to approximately 942 000 | ||
| 1948 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "48" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 123 456 | 1 to 999 999 | ||
| 1948 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "48" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | A-12345 | A-1 to approximately A-27000 | ||
| 1949 | Embossed white serial on red plate; "INDIANA" and "49" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 123 456 | 1 to 999 999 | ||
| 1949 | Embossed white serial on red plate; "INDIANA" and "49" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | A-123456 | A-1 to approximately A-112000 | ||
| 1950 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "50" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | AB 1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1951 | Embossed black serial on white plate; "INDIANA" and "51" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | AB 1234 | County-coded | Revalidated for 1952 with yellow tabs, and for 1953 with green tabs, due to metal conservation for the Korean War. | |
| 1954 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "54" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | AB 1234 | County-coded | Revalidated for 1955 with red tabs. | |
| 1956 | Embossed golden yellow serial on dark blue plate; "IND–56" centered at bottom | "DRIVE SAFELY" on golden yellow bar centered at top | AB 1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1957 | Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate; "IND–57" centered at top | "DRIVE SAFELY" on dark blue bar centered at bottom | AB 1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1958 | Embossed golden yellow serial on dark blue plate; "IND–58" centered at bottom | "DRIVE SAFELY" on golden yellow bar centered at top | AB 1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1959 | Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate; "IND–59" centered at top | "LINCOLN YEAR" on dark blue bar centered at bottom | AB 1234 | County-coded | Commemorated the 150th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, who lived in Indiana from 1816 to 1830. | |
| 1960 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "IND–60" centered at bottom | "SAFETY PAYS" on white bar centered at top | AB 1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1961 | Embossed white serial on red plate; "IND–61" centered at top | "SAFETY PAYS" on white bar centered at bottom | AB 1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1962 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "IND–62" centered at bottom | "SAFETY PAYS" on golden yellow bar centered at top | AB 1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1963 | Embossed golden yellow serial on blue plate; "1963" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1964 | Embossed reflective white serial on red plate; "INDIANA" and "1964" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1965 | Embossed reflective white serial on dark green plate; "1965" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1966 | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; "IND–66" centered at bottom | "150TH YEAR" centered at top | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | Commemorated Indiana's 150 years of statehood. | |
| 1967 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "1967" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1968 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; "INDIANA" and "1968" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1969 | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; "1969" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | ||
| 1970 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "IND–70" centered at top; month sticker and "71" at bottom | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | Monthly staggered registration introduced, with the month of expiration determined by the initial letter of the registrant's surname. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1971. | |
| 1971 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; "71–IND" centered at top; month sticker and "72" at bottom | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1972. | |
| 1972 | Embossed green serial on reflective white plate; "IND–72" centered at top; month sticker and "73" at bottom | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1973. | |
| 1973 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "INDIANA" centered at top; month sticker and "74" at bottom | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1974. | |
| 1974 | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; "INDIANA" centered at top; month sticker and "75" at bottom | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1975. | |
| 1975 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; "INDIANA" centered at top; month sticker and "76" at bottom | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1976. | |
| 1976 | Blue serial on reflective white, red and blue graphic background | Heritage State | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | First graphic plate; commemorated the US Bicentennial. The letter in the serial was moved to the bottom of the plate to accommodate the Minuteman graphic. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1977. | |
| 1977 | Green serial on reflective white, green and yellow background | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1978. | |
| 1978 | Black serial on reflective white, red and light blue background | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | Indianapolis 500 race cars in background. This issue is thought by some to be a tribute to Tony Hulman, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, who died in 1977; sample plates, normally numbered 00A0000 in most years, were numbered 00H0000 this year, lending some credence to this belief. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1979. | |
| 1979 | Brown serial on reflective white, yellow and brown background | 1779 George Rogers Clark | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1979 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Indiana has been so honored. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1980. | |
| 1980 | Black serial on reflective white, yellow, orange and red background | none | 0A1234 00A1234 | County-coded | Final single-year passenger plate in the United States. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1981. |
Organizational and collegiate plates
Indiana issues a large number of organizational and collegiate license plates. A portion of the fees for these plates is given to the respective organization or college.Military plates
Indiana also issues several military-related license plates. Most are available for veterans only.| Plate | Representation | Eligibility |
| Hoosier Veteran | Verify Veteran Status with one of the following:
| |
| Disabled Hoosier Veteran | Certified by Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs | |
| Ex-Prisoner of War | Certified by Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs | |
| Gold Star Family | Spouse, Parent, Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Siblings, or Children of anyone who died while serving on duty in the military - active, Reserve or National GuardMust Provide Official DD1300 | |
| Pearl Harbor Survivors Association | Any military document verifying the person was an active member of the United States Armed Forces and served at Pearl Harbor at the time of the Pearl Harbor attacks. | |
| Purple Heart | Certified by Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs | |
| Support Our Troops | Any Indiana Resident; supports the Military Family Relief Fund |
New plate prefixing
Starting in 2010 special plates such as the handicapped, POW, National Guard, Disabled American Veteran that use the background of the standard plates will no longer use just numbers. Instead they will now use a predetermined prefix of three numbers and one or two suffix letters depending on if they have one or two prefix numbers. In all the max total characters will amount to six and, except the Disabled American Veteran and Purple Heart plate will use the background of the standard plate. Starting in 2015, the colors of these plates, with the exception of the Hoosier Veteran and Purple Heart plates, will invert, producing plates with dark blue serials on a white background.- Recreational Vehicles - R123A or R123AB
- Handicapped -
C123A or C123AB
H123A or H123AB
- Disabled American Veteran - DH123A or DF123A
- Pearl Harbor Survivor - PH1234
- Ex-Prisoner of War - PW123A
- National Guard - NG123A
- Purple Heart - PH123A or PH123
- Gold Star Family - GF123
- Air Force Veteran - VA1234 or VA123A
- Army Veteran - AV1234 or AV123A
- Coast Guard Veteran - CV1234 or CV123A
- Marine Corps Veteran - VM1234 or VM123A
- Navy Veteran - NY1234, NY123A, or FL1234
- Merchant Marine Veteran - '''MM1234'''
Trucks and trailers
Indiana maintains separate plates for trucks, trailers, tractors/trailers, and farm vehicles. Except for farm and motorcycle vehicles, the plates follow an eight character AB123CDE format. All following plates use a plain white background- Standard Truck - TK123KAA, TK123LAA, TK123MAA, TK123NAA, TK123OAA, TK123PAA
- Tractor Rig - SP123ABC
- Farm Vehicles - F123AB
- Small Trailer - TR123LAA
- Semi Trailer - ST123ABC
- Motorcycle Standard - '''M123AB'''
County coding
From 1950 to 1962, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles issued standard passenger plates bearing a two-letter prefix which identified the county in which the vehicle was registered. Smaller counties were issued only one two-letter codes, while larger counties were issued a series of two-letter codes to accommodate the number of registrations.List of county two-letter prefixes
JA-JC - AdamsDD-DH - AllenZA-ZB - BartholomewND-NF - BentonZD-ZE - BlackfordHA - BooneYE - BrownQC - CarrollSS-ST - CassWA - ClarkFA-FB - ClayXA - ClintonZG - CrawfordXG-XH - DaviessCA-CB - DearbornLC - DecaturUA-UC - DeKalbJJ-JK - DelawarePF - DuboisGG-GK - ElkhartZC - FayetteWW-WX - FloydXJ-XL - FountainTD - FranklinTC - FultonNA - GibsonNN-NR - GrantMA-MC - GreeneSA-SB - HamiltonUD - HancockXD - HarrisonEA-EC - HendricksQQ-QS - HenryPP-PW - HowardUT-UU - HuntingtonSJ-SL - JacksonGF - JasperLA-LB - JayEJ - JeffersonLD - JenningsKA-KC - JohnsonTT-TU - KnoxRR - KosciuskoYD - LaGrangeCC-CQ - LakeLL-LN - LaPorteQA-QB - LawrenceFF-FK - MadisonAA-AU - MarionYA-YB - MarshallFM - MartinZY-ZZ - MiamiVV-VW - MonroeTA - MontgomeryWF-WG - MorganME-MF - NewtonPA-PC - NobleXE - OhioSE - OrangeKN - OwenUE - ParkePY - PerryQD - PikeXX - PorterHD - PoseyRD - PulaskiNC - PutnamYX-YZ - RandolphSC-SD - RipleyVE-VF - RushBB-BH - Saint JosephJD - ScottRA-RB - ShelbySP - SpencerVJ-VK - StarkeSU - SteubenYF-YH - SullivanGD - SwitzerlandMM-MN,MP - TippecanoeDC - TiptonED - UnionEE-EH - VanderburghFC-FD - VermillionHH-HK - VigoVA-VB - WabashHE - WarrenJF - WarrickWD - WashingtonKK-KM - WayneGB-GC - WellsMG - WhiteDA-DB - WhitleyFrom 1963 through 2008, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles issued standard passenger plates bearing a one- or two-digit prefix identifying the county in which the vehicle was registered. These prefixes were assigned to each county in alphabetical order, beginning with 1 for Adams County and ending with 92 for Whitley County; prefixes 93 through 99 were reserved as overflow for the state's two most populous counties, Marion and Lake.
In each county, serials consisted of the prefix followed by one letter and up to four digits, progressing sequentially. In 1992, Allen County reached 29999 and subsequently introduced a new format with the prefix followed by two letters and three digits ; this format was later used in St. Joseph, Hamilton, Elkhart and Vanderburgh Counties.
Following the introduction of multi-year plates in 1981, plates with serials containing numbers above 100 were revalidated with decals, while those with serials containing numbers 1 through 100 continued to be issued annually.
In 2008, new serial formats were introduced with the white-on-blue torch base, consisting of three digits followed by one, two or three random letters. However, the county number system was retained through the use of decals at the top of each plate displaying both the county number and name, with the overflow numbers for Marion and Lake Counties discontinued.
The no-cost alternative "In God We Trust" plate introduced in 2007 featured the county number on a sticker at the bottom right corner of the plate. The revised "In God We Trust" plate, introduced in 2012, has the number screened onto the bottom right corner; this technique was subsequently adopted on standard passenger plates, beginning with the Bicentennial base in 2013. Since 2013, the following numbers appear at the bottom corner of every plate issued in the state from passenger plates, to truck plates, municipal, even motorcycle plates.