Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1940

Vehicle registration plates of the United States by year
Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1939 Events of 1940 Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1941

Each of the 48 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates for 1940.[1][2][3][4]

Passenger baseplates

Passenger  Car  Plates
Image Region Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
Alabama
Alaska
American Samoa
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Canal Zone
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of
Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Guam
Hawai'i
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas Embossed white serial with border line on black plate ; "KANSAS '40" centered at bottom none 1-1234
12-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 12)
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska Orange on turquoise with State Capitol graphic; "NEBRASKA 40" at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234 		Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1940" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 147-000
Northern Mariana
Islands
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming Sample plate shown.

Non-passenger plates

Non-passenger  Plates  
Image (standard) Region Type Design & Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
Wisconsin City Bus Embossed red serial on white plate; "CITY" over "BUS" at left, "WISCONSIN 1940" at top, "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom 1 A Coded by weight class
Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "CITY" over "BUS" at left, "WISCONSIN 1940" at top, "EXP. 3-31-40" at bottom It is unknown what this plate was used for, other than it is a city bus plate type.
Dealer Embossed red serial on white plate; "WIS DEALER 1940" at top, "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom 1234A Dealer number and plate number Number is the dealer number, letter is the plate number for that dealer
Farm Embossed blue serial on yellow plate; "39 FARM TR'K 40" at top, vertical "WIS" at left 12-345 1 to approximately 58-000
Interurban bus Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "INT" over "BUS" at left, "WISCONSIN 1940" at top, "EXP. 3-31-40" at bottom 12 A Coded by weight class
Motorcycle Embossed red serial on white plate; "1940 WIS" at top 1234 1 to approximately 3200
Municipal Embossed white serial on red plate; "WISCONSIN 1940" at top, "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom; embossed hollow star at right. 1234 1 to approximately 8800 Identifiable with a hollow star
Trailer Embossed blue serial on yellow plate; "39 WIS TRAILER 40" at top 1234 A Coded by weight class Weight classes are same as truck. It is unknown if heavy trailers received green plates like heavy trucks did.
Embossed yellow serial on blue plate; "WIS TRAILER" at top, "EXP. 3-31-40" at bottom 12 A Weight classes are F, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N. It is unknown what this plate was used for, other than it was used on trailers.
Truck Embossed blue serial on yellow plate; "39 WIS TRUCK 40" at top 12-345 A Coded by weight class Weight classes are A, B, C, and D
Embossed white serial on green plate; "39 WIS TRUCK 40" at top Weight classes are E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N.
Embossed yellow serial on blue plate; "WIS TRUCK" at top, "EXP. 3-31-40" at bottom 12 A Weight classes are F, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N. It is unknown what this plate was used for, other than it was a truck plate type.

See also

References

  1. ^ Fox, Jams K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. ISBN 9781886777002.
  2. ^ Minard, Jeff; Stentiford, Tim (2004). A Moving History, 50 Years Of ALPCA. 100 Years Of License Plates. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company. p. 58. ISBN 1-56311-975-7.
  3. ^ Crisler, Bob; Crisler, Chuck, eds. (2007). License Plate Values (7th ed.). King Publishing Company.
  4. ^ Martells, Jack (1980). Antique Automotive Collectibles. Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc. pp. 128–145. ISBN 0-8092-7205-9.