Vehicle registration plates of Montana

Montana
Current series
SloganTreasure State
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial format1-12345A
10-1234A
Introduced2010
Availability
Issued byMontana Department of Justice, Motor Vehicle Division
History
First issuedMarch 11, 1913 (1913-03-11)

The U.S. state of Montana first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1913. As of 2024, plates are issued by the Montana Department of Justice through its Motor Vehicle Division. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates

1913 to 1975

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 (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[1] The 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Montana license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1913–14 Embossed black serial on white plate; "M" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 10500 Front plates were perforated in order to allow air to pass through to the vehicle's radiator, while rear plates were solid.
1915 Embossed white serial on black plate; "MON 1915" at right none 12345 100 to approximately 14500 First dated plate.
1916 Embossed light green serial on dark green plate; "MON 1916" at right none 12345 100 to approximately 24500
1917 Embossed red serial on gray plate; "MONT -17" at right none 12345 1 to approximately 42000
1918 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "MONT 1918" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 51000
1919 Embossed dark green serial on light green plate with border line; "MONT –19" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 58000
1920 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MONT –20" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 61000
1921 Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "MONT –21" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 57000
1922 Embossed black serial on orange plate; "MONT –22" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 55000
1923 Embossed red serial on white plate; "MONT –23" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 66000
1924 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "MONT –24" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 70000
1925 Embossed white serial on red plate; "MONT –25" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 82000
1926 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MONT –26" at left none 12-345 1 to approximately 90-000
1927 Embossed black serial on green plate with border line; "MONT –27" at left none 12-345 1 to approximately 95-000
1928 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "MONTANA–28" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 103-000 First use of the full state name.
1929 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "MONTANA–29" centered at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 115-000
1930 As 1928 base, but with "MONTANA–30" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 107-000
1931 As 1929 base, but with "MONTANA–31" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 103-000
1932 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MONTANA–32" centered at bottom none 12-345 1 to approximately 87-000
1933 Embossed orange serial on maroon plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–33" below serial none 12-345 1 to approximately 83-000
1934 Embossed orange serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "34–MONTANA" below serial none 1-1234
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) First use of county codes.
1935 Embossed white serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–35" below serial none 1-1234
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1936 Embossed black serial on orange plate with state-shaped border; "36–MONTANA" below serial none 1-1234
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1937 Embossed black serial on green plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–37" below serial none 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1938 Embossed black serial with buffalo skull separator on orange plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–38" below serial none 1-12345
1/0-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)
1939 Embossed orange serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–39" below serial none 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1940 Embossed white serial on blue plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–40" below serial none 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1941 Embossed blue serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–41" below serial none 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1942–43 Embossed white serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–42" below serial none 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1943 with red tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944 White serial on green fiberboard plate; "MONTANA-1944" centered at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Manufactured on soybean-based fiberboard due to ongoing metal conservation.
1945 Embossed white serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–45" below serial none 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1946–47 Embossed black serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–46" below serial none 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1947 with windshield stickers.
1948 Embossed white serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–48" below serial none 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1949 Embossed black serial on white plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–49" below serial none 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1950 Embossed white serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–50" below serial "THE TREASURE STATE" at top 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1951–52 Embossed yellow serial on blue plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–51" below serial "THE TREASURE STATE" at top 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1952 with windshield stickers.
1953–54 Embossed white serial on black plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–53" below serial "THE TREASURE STATE" at top 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1954 with silver tabs.
1955–56 Embossed white serial on red plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–55" below serial "THE TREASURE STATE" at top 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1956 with silver tabs.
1957–58 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MONTANA–57" centered at bottom none 1/ 12345
1/0 1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0) First 6" x 12" plate. Revalidated for 1958 with silver tabs.
1959–62 Embossed black serial on unpainted aluminum plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA 59" below serial, stamped "PRISON MADE" beneath state outline none 1·12345
10·1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1960 with yellow tabs, for 1961 with black tabs, and for 1962 with blue tabs.
1963–66 As 1959–62 base, but with "MONTANA 63" below serial "TREASURE STATE" centered at top 1·12345
10·1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1964 with black tabs, for 1965 with blue tabs, and for 1966 with yellow tabs.
1967 Embossed yellow serial on light blue plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA 67" below serial "BIG SKY COUNTRY" centered at top 1·12345
10·1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1968–69 Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA" and debossed "68" below serial "BIG SKY COUNTRY" centered at top 1·12345
10·1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1969 with stickers.
1970–72 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA" and debossed "70" below serial "BIG SKY COUNTRY" centered at top 1·12345
10·1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1971 and 1972 with stickers.
1973–74 Debossed white serial on reflective green plate with state-shaped border; debossed buffalo skull at bottom left; "MONTANA 73" below serial "BIG SKY COUNTRY" centered at top 1·12345
10·1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Revalidated for 1974 with stickers.
1975 Debossed white serial on reflective blue plate with state-shaped border; debossed buffalo skull at bottom left; "MONTANA 75" below serial "BIG SKY COUNTRY" centered at top 1·12345
10·1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)

1976 to present

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1976–91 Embossed sky blue serial on reflective white plate with screened red state-shaped border; red "76 Bicentennial" logo and sky blue buffalo skull screened at top left and bottom left respectively; red band screened above serial containing "MONTANA" in white; screened sky blue "'76" at bottom right "BIG SKY" screened in sky blue centered at bottom 1·123456
10·12345 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) A straight-line die was originally used for the number '1', before being replaced by a serifed version.
1991–2000 Embossed dark blue serial on reflective sky blue and white gradient plate; white and pale blue state outline screened around plate and yellow, orange and purple band, resembling a mountain range, screened above serial; "MONTANA" screened in white at top left "Big Sky" screened in sky blue at bottom right, along with a sky blue buffalo skull 1P·1234A
3P·123AB
10·1234A 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Letters I, O, Q, R and V not used in serials.[2] Three-digit, two-letter serials briefly issued in Yellowstone County after 3P·9999Z was reached.
2000–03 Embossed black serial on reflective graphic plate with sky blue background and gradient sky blue and white state shape containing purple mountain range and orange badlands; "MONTANA" screened in blue centered above serial; "2000" screened in white above state name "BIG SKY" screened in sky blue at bottom left, with words separated by a blue buffalo skull 1·A12345
10·A1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
2003–06 As above, but with serial screened rather than embossed
2006–09 Screened black serial with buffalo skull separator on reflective graphic plate with gradient dark blue and white background, yellow state outline and mountain range and forest at bottom; "MONTANA" screened in gold, with curved underline, centered above serial "Big Sky Country" screened in brown between state name and serial 1C-12345
1C-1234A
10-12345 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Still currently revalidated, due to mixed reception of the 2010 blue base (below) and financial concerns.

2010–present Screened white serial with buffalo skull separator on reflective blue plate with white state-shaped border; "MONTANA - 10" screened in white centered below serial "TREASURE STATE" screened in white centered at top 1-12345A
10-1234A 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) New serial font, similar to that used in Arizona, introduced in mid-2016.[3]

2012–present As 1991–2000 base, but with screened black serial with buffalo skull separator "Big Sky" as on original 1991–2000 base Replicas of 1991, 2000 and 2006 bases and the optional Montana Centennial plate, issued due to mixed reception of the 2010 blue base. Motorists can choose any one of these five plates. Montana Centennial replicas use the same serial format as current optional plates. New serial font, similar to that used in Arizona, introduced in mid-2016.

As 2000–06 base, with serial screened as from 2003 onwards, but with buffalo skull separator "BIG SKY" as on original 2000–06 base

As 2006–09 base "Big Sky Country" as on original 2006–09 base

As original Montana Centennial plate (see Optional Plates below), but with serial screened "100 YEARS" as on original Montana Centennial plate ABC123 Not issued in blocks

Optional plates

All optional plates issued from 2003 onwards use an ABC123 serial format. Since 2012, this format has also been used on the Montana Centennial replica plate (above).

Image Type Dates issued Design Slogan Notes
Gallatin Valley Land Trust White serial on graphic plate; Gallatin Valley and two silhouettes in background; "MONTANA" in grey at top "Trails & Conservation" in white at bottom
Glacier National Park February 2002–2022 White serial on graphic plate with dark blue state outline and Glacier National Park in background; "MONTANA" in blue with white outline at top "Glacier National Park" in green at bottom Still valid for renewals.
2022–present White serial on graphic plate with the northern lights and Saint Mary Lake in background; "MONTANA" in white at top "Glacier National Park" in white at bottom
Missoula Downtown Foundation White serial on black plate with white state outline; small white heart outline to left of serial; "MONTANA" in white at top "406" in white at bottom right
Montana Concerns of Police Survivors White serial on black plate; C.O.P.S. logo at left; "MONTANA" in white at top "HONORING FALLEN OFFICERS" in white within blue band at bottom
Montana State Golf Association 2003–present Black serial on graphic plate with blue sky at top, golf course at bottom and black silhouette of golfer at bottom left; "MONTANA" in cream color at top "Golf the Big Sky" in blue below serial

Before 2003

Image Type Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
Montana Centennial (original) 1987–89 Embossed blue serial on graphic plate with gold background, white state shape and brown mountain range at top; "MONTANA" screened in brown at bottom right, with a Montana Centennial logo for the 'O' "100 YEARS" screened in brown at bottom left 1ABC12
10AB12 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Also issued to trucks, with 1TAB123 and 10TAB12 serial formats. Remained valid until 1996.

Non-passenger plates

Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Motorcycle 1988–present Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "MONTANA" at bottom and "CYCLE" at top, offset to left 1-1234
1-A123
1-AB12
10-123
10-A12
10-AB1 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)

Discontinued

Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Truck 1976–91 As 1976 passenger base 1T·12345
3T·A1234
10T·1234
10T·A123 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1991–2000 As 1991 passenger base 1T·1234A
10T·123A
10T·12AB 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
2000–06 As 2000 passenger base 1T·A1234
10T·A123
10T·AB12 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) Truck plates discontinued 2006; passenger plates issued to trucks since.

County coding

Montana established a numeric county-code system for its license plates in 1934, which remains in use today (except on optional plates). With some exceptions, the order of the codes is based on the respective populations of the state's 56 counties according to the 1930 United States census.[4][5]

Code County County seat
1 Silver Bow Butte
2 Cascade Great Falls
3 Yellowstone Billings
4 Missoula Missoula
5 Lewis and Clark Helena
6 Gallatin Bozeman
7 Flathead Kalispell
8 Fergus Lewistown
9 Powder River Broadus
10 Carbon Red Lodge
11 Phillips Malta
12 Hill Havre
13 Ravalli Hamilton
14 Custer Miles City
15 Lake Polson
16 Dawson Glendive
17 Roosevelt Wolf Point
18 Beaverhead Dillon
19 Chouteau Fort Benton
20 Valley Glasgow
21 Toole Shelby
22 Big Horn Hardin
23 Musselshell Roundup
24 Blaine Chinook
25 Madison Virginia City
26 Pondera Conrad
27 Richland Sidney
28 Powell Deer Lodge
29 Rosebud Forsyth
30 Deer Lodge Anaconda
31 Teton Choteau
32 Stillwater Columbus
33 Treasure Hysham
34 Sheridan Plentywood
35 Sanders Thompson Falls
36 Judith Basin Stanford
37 Daniels Scobey
38 Glacier Cut Bank
39 Fallon Baker
40 Sweet Grass Big Timber
41 McCone Circle
42 Carter Ekalaka
43 Broadwater Townsend
44 Wheatland Harlowton
45 Prairie Terry
46 Granite Philipsburg
47 Meagher White Sulphur Springs
48 Liberty Chester
49 Park Livingston
50 Garfield Jordan
51 Jefferson Boulder
52 Wibaux Wibaux
53 Golden Valley Ryegate
54 Mineral Superior
55 Petroleum Winnett
56 Lincoln Libby

References

  1. ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  2. ^ Tanner, Eric N. "Montana Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  3. ^ "Montana License Plates To Feature New, Larger Font". Montana Department of Justice. August 8, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  4. ^ "What's the deal with Montana's license plate numbering system?". Billings Gazette. May 2, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  5. ^ "Montana County Seats & Corresponding License Plate Numbers". Montana Association of Counties. Retrieved January 2, 2022.