United States of America license plate (USA) in 2026 ✅

Please, check matriculasdelmundo.com in Spanish here for all the updated information about license plates of United States of America.

Current registration system

United States car license plates are issued by each state, with a different registration system and plate design in every one of them. The standard size of United States license plates is 150 x 300 mm, and it is used in all states and territories under US administration.

The formats of license plates across US states vary from one to another. For example, Delaware and Rhode Island use the formats "123456" and "123 - 456" respectively, while California license plates use the format "1 ABC 234" and some other states use "ABC - 1234". New Jersey uses the format "ABC - 12D", which was close to being exhausted, so authorities decided to change it to "ABC - D12". In many states of the United States of America, license plates are easily distinguished by their colors and designs, which may change over the years. A well-known example is the cowboy associated with Wyoming, used continuously since 1936. In addition, the United States has several territories and minor territories in Oceania and Central America with their own license plates. Below you can see the license plates of all of them. The international distinguishing code of the United States is USA, identifying the United States of America.

License plates of all US states

Each state of the United States of America has a completely different configuration and design. Several states use special backgrounds, illustrations, or landscapes. In addition, at the top or bottom of the American license plate, a unique slogan is displayed for each state. The designs or slogans usually refer to the state itself, often highlighting places or historical figures.

What American license plates are like in detail

Normally, the registration number on license plates is made in embossed relief, although printed registration is also used on some plates. This method is not very common due to the higher risk of counterfeiting. In 1956, US states and Canadian provinces reached an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association to establish a single standard plate size.

History of digital car license plates in the United States

Since June 2018, in California, digital license plates have already been in use. What seemed very distant just a few years ago has become a reality thanks to Reviver. These plates use E-Ink technology, the same as eBooks, and in addition to facilitating license plate numbering, they can display police alert messages and even identify a stolen vehicle. Shortly after, Arizona began using them, and in 2021 their use also started in Michigan. (More information)

Size of United States of America license plates

The United States uses license plates sized 150 x 300 mm (or 6 x 15 inches) for all vehicles except motorcycles. In North America, only the French territory of Saint Pierre and Miquelon does not use this size. On the other hand, only the "Northwest Territories" in Canada use a different design, shaped like a polar bear.

Stickers and registration codes on American license plates

The registration sticker is placed in a corner of the plate, giving it a slight embossed relief. In other states, validation is placed on the windshield.

When a vehicle owner moves to another state, they are required to change the plate to that of the new state. When a vehicle is sold, depending on the state, the plate may or may not be transferred to the new owner. In the state of New York, license plates have been changed every 8 years since 2009.

Is it mandatory to use a front license plate on cars in the United States?

Below is a map of the United States by state showing whether it is mandatory to carry a front license plate or not. However, there are other states where small exceptions may apply, such as Nevada, where if the vehicle has no space for a front plate, it is not required. Since 2019, Ohio also allows vehicles to run without a front license plate.

Other license plate systems

In the United States, special license plates are also issued for classic vehicles, test vehicles, New Jersey buses, historic cars, school and university vehicles, commercial vehicles, construction equipment, Diplomatic Corps, people with reduced mobility, emergency vehicles, agricultural vehicles, hearses, government vehicles, hot rods, loaner vehicles, military vehicles, motorcycles, Olympic vehicles, buses, police cars, press vehicles, school buses, senators, taxis, trailers, tractors, volunteer firefighters, national parks, and more.

Temporary United States license plate

When a person buys a vehicle from a dealer, the dealer is required to issue a temporary license plate so the buyer can legally drive to the government agency in charge of vehicle registration. Due to massive misuse in the state of California, their use has been severely restricted, as many vehicle owners did not use them properly. (See news)

A vehicle may also use a temporary license plate while waiting for the permanent registration plate. These plates have different designs and formats depending on the state and are often made of paper. In Columbia, the format is one letter followed by five numbers. In North Carolina, the format consists of eight numbers.

Moped

Motorcycle and moped license plates are generally smaller in size, using the same designs as car plates, with identical numbering or fewer characters. In some cases, the plate design may be vertical instead of horizontal, with characters arranged horizontally on a fully vertical background.

United States Diplomatic Corps license plate

Until the 1980s, United States diplomatic license plates were issued by the state where the embassy or consulate was located. Currently, all plates use a single national system across all states. These plates follow the format "LDD-NNNN", where "N" is the vehicle serial number. "L" is a prefix indicating the type of identification: C represents a foreign consul, D the Diplomatic Corps, S non-diplomatic embassy staff, and A a United Nations secretary.

In the first part of the plate, following the LDD-NNNN format, the letters "DD" identify the country. Each letter combination corresponds to a specific country. You can find the full list at the bottom of this page or by clicking here. At the top of the plate, one of the following texts appears: diplomat, consul, or nothing, which identifies embassy staff. Diplomatic plates also exist for trailers, semi-trailers, and vehicles for people with reduced mobility. The design uses a white background with blue lettering.

License plates on Route 66

Route 66, also known as The Mother Road, is one of the most iconic routes in the United States. It crosses eight states and allows travelers to discover unique landscapes and landmarks, such as the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, one of the most emblematic symbols of the journey.

For license plate enthusiasts, traveling Route 66 is a true adventure. Along the way, you can observe how license plate designs and colors change from state to state, with each plate telling a small story about its place of origin.

Native American and Tribal license plates

There are several Native American tribes in the United States today, many of them located in Oklahoma, although others exist in different states. Some tribes issue their own unique and distinctive car license plate designs, which we explain in more detail in the section about Native American license plates.

Territories controlled by the United States around the world

In addition to the states previously mentioned, the United States has several territories under its control around the world, each with its own license plate systems. These territories can be of two types: territories where the U.S. exercises a certain level of administrative control, and minor outlying territories. Practically all of the minor territories consist of currently uninhabited islands that were strategic positions during World War II. These territories had their own license plates in the past, while most minor territories do not currently have license plates in use.

Moon license plate

On July 20, 1969, Apollo 11 reached the Moon. At that moment, a lunar rover was used to move across the lunar surface. Although it has not been officially confirmed, the lunar rover is believed to have used a license plate, presumably with white characters on a blue background or black characters on a white background. This Moon license plate would have carried the registration LVR001 and displayed the word MOON at the top. There is no evidence that license plates were used on lunar vehicles in any other space mission.

As far as is known, vehicles that have been transported to the Moon or to Mars do not use any type of license plate. The Moon license plate shown here was used only on that occasion and does not belong to any regulated vehicle registration system.

Guantánamo Bay Naval Base license plate

The current license plates of the Guantánamo Bay Naval Base use the standard U.S. size, with blue characters on a white background. The license plates of the Guantánamo Naval Base are registered within the territory of the base itself and not in Cuba, where the common Cuban vehicle registration system is used. U.S. Guantánamo Bay naval base license plates follow a configuration of one letter followed by four serial numbers. When the first letter changes, the plate design also varies. During the 2020s, the first letter used was C, which is wider than usual. At the top of the Guantánamo base license plate the letters U.S.B.N. are displayed, and at the bottom the text “GTMO BAY CUBA”. Registration stickers are shown in the upper right and left corners.

Before the adoption of the current Guantánamo Bay naval base license plate system with the introduction of the letter C on the left side, a design very similar to the current one was used. Older Guantánamo Bay Naval Base plates used black characters on a white background. The first letter had the same size as the numbers, with a configuration of one letter followed by four numbers. At the top, U.S.N.B. was displayed, and at the bottom the text “GTO BAY CUBA”.

United States diplomatic corps codes

Below you can see all the codes used on United States diplomatic corps license plates in detail.

Matriculasdelmundo. License plates of United States of America. Reviewed and updated information. Matriculasdelmundo.com. Retrieved on 06/01/2026 from https://matriculasdelmundo.com/en/united-states-america.html.

License plates from other states and territories that you may be interested in:

Map of the United States of America license plates

Copyright 2026 www.matriculasdelmundo.com

Official Sources on License Plates of United States of America

All the information about the license plates of cars and motorcycles in United States of America and vehicle plates shown here has been extracted from official state archives (such as the BOE and the DGT in Spain), from personal sightings, by contacting automobile clubs from other countries, or through media or files referenced in the text. This information on car and motorcycle plates in United States of America has been collected since 2009, so we hope you find the information you're looking for about United States of America license plates.

😊 You can send us your comments and photos via the form or email us at matriculasdelmundo@gmail.com, and we will be happy to respond.

Copying, either in whole or in part of the information displayed on each section of matriculasdelmundo is prohibited, except in specific cases and with the site's administration's permission.

Please, check matriculasdelmundo.com in Spanish here for all the updated information about license plates of United States of America.