The U.S. state of Utah first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1909. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1915, when the state began to issue plates.[1]
As of 2025[update], plates are issued by the Utah State Tax Commission through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, including motorcycles and trailers. The front plate requirement was lifted for passenger vehicles on January 1, 2025.[2] Month and year decals have now been consolidated into one sticker instead of two separate decals. New license plates will now be flat-screen printed instead of being embossed.
Serials 1 through 399 used on dealer plates, and 400 through 4999 on truck plates.[4]
1920
White on blue; "U 20" at right
none
12345
5000 to approximately 42300
Dealer and truck plate serials same as 1919.
1921
Orange on black; lines at top and bottom borders; "U 21" at right
none
12345
7001 to approximately 47500
Serials 1 through 400 used on dealer plates, and 401 through 7000 on truck plates.
1922
White on black with border line; "U 22" at right
none
12-345
8-501 to approximately 49-500
Serial 1 issued to Secretary of State; 2 through 300 used on dealer plates, 301 through 8-000 on truck plates, and 8-001 through 8-500 on trailer plates.
1923
White on red with border line; slanted "UTAH" and "1923" at left
none
12-345
8-501 to approximately 65-000
First use of the full state name. Secretary of State, dealer, truck and trailer plate serials same as 1922.
1924
White on dark blue with border line; slanted "UTAH" and "1924" at right
none
12-345
10-000 to approximately 79-000
Serial 1 issued to Secretary of State; 2 through 299 used on dealer plates, 300 through 499 on trailer plates, 500 through 999 on exempt plates, and 1-000 through 9-999 on truck plates.
1925
White on green with border line; "UTAH 25" at left
none
12-345
13-000 to approximately 91-000
Serial 1 issued to Secretary of State; 2 through 299 used on dealer plates, 300 through 399 on trailer plates, 400 through 999 on exempt plates, and 1-000 through 12-999 on truck plates.
1926
Black on silver with border line; "26 UTAH" at right
none
12-345
14-000 to approximately 95-000
Serial 1 issued to Secretary of State; 2 through 299 used on dealer plates, 300 through 499 on trailer plates, 500 through 12-999 on truck plates, and 13-000 through 13-999 on exempt plates.
1927
White on dark blue with border line; "UTAH 27" at left
none
12-345
1-500 to approximately 82-000
1928
Black on yellow with border line; "UTAH 28" at right
none
12-345
1-500 to approximately 91-000
1929
Black on green with border line; "UTAH 29" at left
none
12-345
1-500 to approximately 96-500
1930
White on black with border line; "UTAH 30" at right
none
12-345
1-500 to approximately 93-500
1931
Black on silver with border line; "31 UTAH" at right
none
12-345
1-500 to approximately 91-500
1932
White on black with border line; "32 UTAH" at left
none
12-345
1-500 to approximately 95-500
1933
White on black with border line; "UTAH - 1933" at top
none
12-345
1-500 to approximately 78-500
1934
Black on silver with border line; "UTAH - 1934" at bottom
none
123-456
30-000 to approximately 133-000
1935
White on black with border line; "1935 - UTAH" at bottom
none
123-456
50-001 to approximately 154-000
1936
Black on silver with border line; "UTAH - 1936" at bottom
none
123-456
50-001 to approximately 167-500
1937
White on black with border line; "UTAH - 1937" at top
none
123-456
50-001 to approximately 179-000
1938
Maroon on white with border line; "UTAH - 1938" at bottom
none
123-456
50-001 to approximately 174-000
1939
White on blue/black with border line; "UTAH - 1939" at top
none
123-456
100-001 to approximately 229-500
1940
Orange on dark blue with border line; "UTAH - 40" at bottom
none
A-1234
1941
White on black with border line; "UTAH - 41" at top right
none
A 1234
1942–43
Black on white with border line; "42 UTAH" at left
CENTER SCENIC AMERICA
A 1234
Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944
Black on white; "UTAH 44" at bottom
none
A1234
Manufactured on soybean-based fiberboard due to ongoing metal conservation.
1945
White on maroon with border line; "45 UTAH" at left
CENTER SCENIC AMERICA
A1234
1946
White on black with border line; "46 UTAH" at left
CENTER SCENIC AMERICA
A1234
1947
Yellow on black with border line; "47 UTAH" at left
THIS IS THE PLACE
A1234
1948
White on black with border line; vertical "UTAH" and "48" at left
THE FRIENDLY STATE
A1234
1949
White on black with border line; "UTAH - 49" at bottom right
none
A 1234
1950
Orange on black with border line; "UTAH - 50" at top right
none
A 1234
1951
White on green with border line; "UTAH 1951" at top right
none
A/B 123
1952
White on blue with border line; "UTAH 1952" at bottom left
none
123 A/B
1953
Yellow on black with border line; "UTAH 1953" at top right
none
A/B 123
1954
White on dark green with border line; "UTAH 1954" at bottom right
none
A/B 123
1955
White on black with border line; "UTAH 1955" at top
none
AB 123
1956
White on dark red with border line; "UTAH 56" at bottom right
none
A/B 1234
A/A 1000 to approximately D/J 9999
For each two-letter series, only the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, H, J and K were used. This practice continued until 1970.
1957
White on dark blue with border line; "UTAH 57" at top right
none
A/B 1234
A/A 1000 to approximately D/J 5000
1958
Yellow on dark blue with border line; "UTAH 58" at top right
none
A/B 1234
A/A 1000 to approximately D/H 9999
1959
White on red-orange; "UTAH 59" at top
none
AB 1234
AA 1000 to approximately DK 5000
1960
Dark red on off gray; "UTAH 60" at top
none
AB 1234
AA 1000 to approximately DK 9999
1961
Dark blue on off white; "UTAH 61" at top
none
AB 1234
AA 1000 to approximately EC 5000
1962
Red on off gray/white; "UTAH 62" at top
none
AB 1234
AA 1000 to approximately EE 5000
1963
White on dark blue; "UTAH 63" at bottom
none
AB 1234
AA 1000 to approximately EH 5000
1964
White on green; "UTAH 64" at top
none
AB 1234
AA 1000 to approximately EJ 9999
1965
White on blue; "UTAH 65" at bottom
none
AB 1234
AA 1000 to approximately FA 9999
1966
White on black; "UTAH 66" at top
none
AB 1234
AA 1000 to approximately FB 9999
1967
White on green; "UTAH 67" at bottom
none
AB 1234
AA 1000 to approximately FD 5000
1968 to present
Image
Dates issued
Design
Slogan
Serial format
Serials issued
Notes
1968–72
White on black; "UTAH" centered at bottom
none
AB 1234
AA 1000 to KK 9999; LL 1000 to approximately PR 9999
Revalidated for 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972 with stickers. After KK 9999 was issued in 1970, the serial format continued with only the letters L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V and W used.
1973
Black on reflective white; "UTAH 73" at bottom
none
ABC 123
AAA 001 to approximately HDH 999
Three-letter series used a split-alphabet system, with each letter advancing A, B, C, D, E, F, H, J, K (block 1), or L, M, N, P, R, S, T, V, W (block 2). Progression was as follows: all three letters in block 1, then first letter in block 2 and last two letters in block 1, then first two letters in block 2 and last letter in block 1, then all three letters in block 2, and finally first two letters in block 1 and last letter in block 2.
On the 1974–78 variant, two different designs of beehive were used - one rounded, the other pointed.
All variants are still currently revalidated.
1973
As above, but without year ("UTAH" offset to left)
HDJ 001 to approximately HJB 999
1973–74
As above, but with "UTAH" centered
HJC 001 to approximately KEE 999
1974–78
As above, but with embossed beehive used as separator in serial
KEF 001 to KKK 999; LAA 001 to WKK 999; LLA 001 to approximately LWK 999
1978–81
As above, but without beehive (similar to 1973–74)
MLA 001 to WWK 999; LLL 001 to approximately MVW 999
1982–85
As above, but with "UTAH" screened rather than embossed
MWL 001 to WWW 999; AAL 001 to approximately BFP 999
Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1986 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Utah has been so honored. Letters G, U, X, Y and Z added to serials in late 1992, beginning with the FPG series.[4]
Certain plates in the 001 LAA - 999 LZZ series have been spotted with the 'W' dies incorrectly stamped.
Commemorated Utah's 100 years of statehood. Issued concurrently with the 1985 Ski base, first as an extra-fee base and then as a no-cost base from 1997. The first letter in the serial progressed backwards (so 999 ZZZ was followed by 001 YAA, 999 YZZ was followed by 001 XAA, and so on).
Certain plates in the 001 XAA - 999 XZZ series have been spotted with the 'W' dies incorrectly stamped.
Redesigned Ski base and updated Arch base, issued concurrently. On the Arch base, the first letter in the serial progresses backwards (Z then Y then X etc.). For both types, then the letters in the 5th and 6th positions are issued alphabetically (AA to ZZ). Then the next first letter is started. The letters I, O and Q are not used. [6]
For Life Elevated - Skier plates, certain plates in the B-BW series have been spotted using the 'W' die stamped correctly and incorrectly. All plates issued during the B-NW - D-FW series can be spotted with the 'W' die incorrectly stamped. Both the D-WZ and the F-GW series have been spotted with the 'W' die stamped incorrectly.
For Life Elevated - Arches plates, all plates issued during the Z-YW - X-CW series have been spotted with the 'W' die incorrectly stamped, except for the Y-SW and Y-TW series. The Y-SM, Y-TM, X-DM, and X-MJ series have been spotted with the 'M' die incorrectly stamped. Certain plates in the X-SW series have been spotted with the 'W' die stamped correctly and incorrectly. The X-UW, X-WD and V-BW series have been spotted with the 'W' die incorrectly stamped.
With the updated North Carolina dies introduced in 2023, Ski and Arch plates have been seen reverting back to the old dies in random sequences throughout the G-Yx series and T-Hx series. Approximately G00 1YW-G34 9YW, G00 1YX-G99 9YZ, and T00 1HZ-T84 9HZ were seen using the previous dies.
For 2025, Utah no longer embosses the characters into the plate. All new plates are now flat screen printed. It appears that Utah is re-using retired plate numbers from when they were originally issued from 2007-2024 on both the 2007 skier and arch base. Skier plates are issued in ascending order similar to how they began in 2007, starting again with the A series. Arch plates are issued in ascending order but with the first letter progressing backwards, starting again with the Z series. This is the first time the state has re-issued a previous serial run to our knowledge.
May 2023 – December 2024
As above, but with thinner, squarer serial dies (using North Carolina dies)
As above, but with thinner, squarer characters (using North Carolina dies)
T00 1HA to approximately S05 5BD
January 2025 - present
As above, but with flat print
Z00 1AA to Z39 8AY (as of January 30, 2025)
January 1, 2017 – April 2018
Dark blue on white with national flag at left
In God We Trust / United We Stand
A123B
Z001A to N999Z
First issued in 2013 as a specialty plate; standardized from 2017 onwards.[7] In the A123B serial format, the first letter progressed backwards (so Z999Z was followed by Y001A, Y999Z was followed by X001A, and so on).
In the 1A2BC and 1ABC2 formats, letter combinations begin with the numbers 00 instead of 01 (so 9AAA9 is followed by 0AAB0, 9AAB9 is followed by 0AAC0 and so on).
The #A#FM, #A#GM, and #M#MB series have been spotted with the 'M' die incorrectly stamped. Certain plates in the #U#ZW series have been spotted with the 'W' die stamped correctly and incorrectly.
For 2025, Utah no longer embosses the characters into the plate. All new plates are now flat screen printed. In God We Trust plates are still issued using the 1ABC2 format that began in August 2023, but it appears that Utah is also re-using plates from the A123B format, which is the format that specialty plates used from 2007-2023 and are currently re-using. What determines which alphanumeric series gets printed onto an In God We Trust plate is unknown. The current 1ABC2 format transitioned from embossed to flat plates sometime during the F series. The re-using of the A123B format for In God We Trust appears to have begun around B001A and is ascending up the alphabet similar to what Specialty plates did from 2007-2013. This is the first time the state has re-issued a previous serial run to our knowledge.
April 2018 – June 2023
1A2BC
0A0AA to approximately 4Z9GL (see right)
June 2023 – August 2023
As above, but with thinner, squarer characters (using North Carolina dies)
Approximately 5Z0GL to 9Z9ZZ
August 2023 – present
1ABC2
0AAA0 to approximately 2FCD7
January 2025 - present
As above, but with flat print
1ABC2, then A123B
0FFA0 to 2FGZ5, then B001A to D143F (as of February 2, 2025)
Drivers who need a disabled person plate have 3 different options for a plate design. They are able to choose from a plain white base, a skier base, or an arches base.
Serial formats 1234A, A123B, & 12AB3 are shared with the optional plates, as all optional plates share the same plain white base.
The B###W, C###W, and D###W series have been spotted with the 'W' die stamped incorrectly.
For 2025, Utah no longer embosses the characters onto the plate. All plates are now flat screen printed. It appears that Utah is re-using retired plate numbers from when they were originally issued from 2007-2023 using the A123B format. This same format is also being shared with flat printed In God We Trust plates. Specialty plates are issued in ascending order starting again the A series. This is the first time the state has re-issued a previous serial run to our knowledge.
A123B
A001A to M999Z
12AB3
00AA1 to 99FB9
July 2023 — present
As above, but with thinner, squarer characters (using North Carolina dies)
Redesigned Ski base and updated Arch base, issued concurrently. On the Arch base, the first letter in the serial progresses backwards (Z then Y then X etc.). For both types, then the letters in the 2nd and 5th positions are issued alphabetically (AA to ZZ). Then the next first letter is started.
Important to note, the AB12C serial format is exclusive to the Skier and Arch disabled person plates.
For the Disabled Person Life Elevated - Arches plates, the ZA-W series has been spotted with the 'W' die incorrectly stamped. Certain plates in the ZM01A - ZM99Z series have been spotted with the 'M' die stamped correctly and incorrectly.
As above, but with thinner, squarer characters (using North Carolina dies)
ZP01X to ZR03S (as of November 14, 2024)
Motorcycle
1985
Embossed blue on white; "UTAH" embossed in blue at top, offset to left
none
123 AB
001 AA to approximately 999 ET
1994
Embossed dark blue on white; "Utah" screened in red at top, offset to right
none
123AB
001FA to approximately 999KZ
1992
As 1992 Centennial passenger base, with "UTAH" in white
Centennial
123AB
001ZA to approximately 999VP (see right)
Issued concurrently with the 1985 and 1994 bases. The first letter in the serial progressed backwards (so 999ZZ was followed by 001YA, 999YZ was followed by 001XA, and so on).
2008 to 2023
As 2007 Ski passenger base
Greatest Snow on Earth / Life Elevated
A12BC
A01AA to E99BY
Issued concurrently. On the Arch base, the first letter in the serial progresses backwards (so Z99ZZ was followed by Y01AA, Y99ZZ was followed by X01AA, and so on).
2023 - present
As above, but with thinner, squarer characters (using North Carolina dies)
E01CZ to E58CZ (as of July 15, 2024)
2008 - 2023
As 2007 Arch passenger base
Life Elevated
Z01AA to U99NZ
2023 - present
As above, but with thinner, squarer characters (using North Carolina dies)
U01RA to U39XT (as of October 28, 2024)
2017 – present
As 'In God We Trust' passenger base
In God We Trust / United We Stand
ABC1
AAA0 to AZU0 (as of October 28, 2024)
Temporary
varies
Hand-written date on paper
none
MM-DD-YY
A 00000 to Z 99999, then AA 00000 to DC 09474 (as of November 28, 2024)
Plain Desert Tan base; "UTAH" and plate dies in black (using North Carolina dies)
Off-Highway Vehicle
1AB23
0AA00 to 8GL03 (as of December 7, 2024)
Issued to off-highway vehicles only. These plates CANNOT be personalized.[8]
Deprecated
Image
Type
First issued
Design
Serial format
Notes
Commercial 1/4 Year
October 1, 1957
Colors unknown; "4 Expires Dec. 31 1957" at bottom
UTAH 1234
October 1, 1963
White on orange; "UTAH 63" at bottom; "EXP 31 DEC" at left
12345
January 1, 1967
White on brown; "UTAH 67" at bottom; "EXP 31 MAR" at left
12345
April 1, 1967
White on red; "UTAH 67" at bottom; "EXP 30 JUNE" at left
12345
July 1, 1967
White on blue; "UTAH 67" at bottom; "EXP 30 SEPT" at left
12345
October 1, 1967
White on black; "UTAH 67" at bottom; "EXP 31 DEC" at left
12345
October 1, 1971
White on green; "UTAH 71" at top; "EXP 31 DEC" at left
12345
July 1, 1972
White on green; "UTAH 72" at bottom; "EXP 30 SEPT" at left
12345
October 1, 1972
White on brown; "UTAH 72" at bottom; "EXP 31 DEC" at left
12345
July 1, 1973
Blue on white; "UTAH 73" at bottom; "EXP 30 SEPT" at left
12345
Optional plates
Utah currently offers over 60 optional license plates.[9] With the exception of the Amateur Radio Operator & Historic Black & White plates, all use the same serial format – originally 1234A (with a high of 4285U), then A123B (A001A to M999Z), and now 12AB3 (00AA1 to 99FB9) alongside the generic disabled plate.
Current
Image
Type
First issued
Design
Slogan
Serials issued
Notes
Amateur Radio
Amateur Radio
The serial number is the operator's FCC call sign.
Collegiate - Ensign College (Formerly LDS Business College)
Ensign College
Collegiate - Salt Lake Community College
Salt Lake Community College
Collegiate - Snow College
Snow College
Collegiate - Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Collegiate - University of Utah (Single U)
The University of Utah
Collegiate - University of Utah (Double U)
The University of Utah
Collegiate - Utah State University
Utah State University
Collegiate - Utah Tech University (Formerly Dixie State University)
Utah Tech University
Collegiate - Utah Valley University
Utah Valley University
Collegiate - Weber State University
Weber State University
Collegiate - Western Governors University
Western Governors University
Collegiate - Westminster College
Go Griffins
Disabled Veteran
Disabled Veteran
Donate Life
Organ, Eye, & Tissue Donation Saves Lives
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Emergency Medical Technician
Farm Vehicle
Farm Vehicle
Firefighter
Firefighter
Former Prisoner of War (POW)
Prisoner of War
Fraternal Initiatic Order
www.utahgrandlodge.org
Gold Star
Honors Their Sacrifice
Historic Society
May 2023 – present
white on black, "UTAH" screened at top
none
0AA000 to 5AS056 (as of February 5, 2025)
The serial format is different from the 1968 version, being 1AB234 instead of AB 1234. The serial dies are also different (using North Carolina dies) as used on the new Skier & Arches plates. [14]
none
00A00 to 74A04 (as of October 27, 2024
The motorcycle variant of the Historical Society plate.
Plates with the bolder dies have been spotted using the 'M' and 'W' dies being stamped incorrectly. In this image,[22] the 'W' die in V62 0BW was stamped with an upside down 'M' die. This has been spotted on a variety of serial sequences throughout the years.
