Vehicle registration plates of Wisconsin
Encyclopedia
The U.S. state
of Wisconsin
first required its residents to register their motor vehicle
s and display license plates in 1905. Plates are currently issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
(DMV).
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
first required its residents to register their motor vehicle
Motor vehicle
A motor vehicle or road vehicle is a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not operate on rails, such as trains or trolleys. The vehicle propulsion is provided by an engine or motor, usually by an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor, or some combination of the two, such as hybrid...
s and display license plates in 1905. Plates are currently issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation, abbreviated as WisDOT, is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Wisconsin responsible for planning, building and maintaining the state's highways...
(DMV).
Passenger baseplates 1986 to present
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
July 1986 to early 1987 | blue on reflective white with stylized lake and farm graphic | America's Dairyland | ABC-123 | AAA-000 to ? | Recalled starting in August 1993 and replaced with plates with red serials. |
|
early 1987 to 2000 | red on reflective white with stylized lake and farm graphic | America's Dairyland | ABC-123 | ? | |
|
June 2000 to present | black on reflective white with stylized lake and farm graphic | America's Dairyland | 123-ABC | 000-AAA to present |
Optional types
| Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Amateur Radio Amateur radio Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication... |
? to present | Same design as standard passenger plate, but with "Amateur Radio" legend. | various | various | ||
|
Children's Trust Fund | ? to present | Red on white with multicolored image of child at left. | Celebrate Children | 12345K | 10001K to present | |
|
1997 to January 1, 1999, with remakes made until August 1, 2008. | Sesquicentennial of Wisconsin's statehood | 1848 Sesquicentennial 1998 | red on multicolored background | 12345A A1234B A123BC |
Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new optional license plate of 1997 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association Automobile License Plate Collectors Association The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association is the largest such organization in the world. Founded in Rumney Depot, New Hampshire, United States, in 1953 and holding its first meeting in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1954, its members have come from all 50 U.S... , the first and, to date, only time Wisconsin has been so honored. Co-recipient with Manitoba Vehicle registration plates of Manitoba The Canadian province of Manitoba first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1911.-Passenger plates 1983 to present:-External links:*... . |
Non-passenger types
| Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Disabled person | ? to present | Embossed wheelchair at right. | America's Dairyland | 12345D | 10001D to present | |
|
Trailer Trailer (vehicle) A trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials.... |
? to present | Same as passenger, but with embossed "TRAILER" legend in black in place of slogan. | 1234 Z/A | |||
|
Truck | ? to present | Same as passenger, but with embossed "TRUCK" legend in black in place of slogan. | May be personalized. |