Vehicle registration plates of Arizona

Current Arizona license plate

The U.S. state of Arizona first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1912. Registrants had to provide their own plates for display until 1914, when the state began to supply license plates to registrants. Plates are currently issued by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Arizona Department of Transportation (MVD).

The current "Grand Canyon State" slogan first appeared in 1940, appearing on all subsequent issues except for 1945.

Plates began to be county-coded in 1922 and were issued to all vehicle types until 1929, when commercial vehicles were given their own class of plate.[1]

In Arizona, the license plate belongs to the vehicle owner. This allows for the transfer of a license plate from one vehicle to another.[2]

As of FY 2009, the MVD has 6,693,413 license plates registered with the department.[3]

Passenger plates 1914 to 1955

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1914 ARIZ embossed vertically along right side; year of issue embossed vertically along bottom none 1234 unknown
1915 ARIZ embossed vertically along right side; year of issue embossed vertically along bottom none 1234 unknown
1916 ARIZ embossed vertically along left side; year of issue embossed vertically along right side none 1234 unknown
1917 ARIZ embossed vertically along left side; bull logo embossed along middle; year of issue embossed along bottom none 12345 unknown
1918 ARIZ embossed vertically along right side; year of issue embossed along top none 12345 unknown
1919 ARIZ embossed vertically along left side; year of issue embossed along bottom none 1234 unknown
1920 ARIZ embossed vertically along left side; year of issue embossed vertically along right side. none 1234 unknown
1925 ARIZONA embossed along bottom right; year of issue embossed vertically along right side. none 1-23456 unknown
1941 Black digits on copper background; "ARIZONA-41" embossed at bottom. GRAND CANYON STATE embossed and centered along top. A/B 1234 Coded by county of issuance (A/B)
1947 Red digits on white background; ARIZ. and last two numbers of year of issue embossed and centered along top. GRAND CANYON STATE embossed and centered along bottom. A/B 1234 Coded by county of issuance (A/B)
1949 Green digits embossed on a waffled textured reflective white background; ARIZONA and last two numbers of year of issue embossed and centered along top. GRAND CANYON STATE embossed and centered along bottom. A-12345 Coded by county of issuance (A)
1950–51 Black digits embossed on white background; ARIZONA and last two numbers of year of issue embossed and centered along top. GRAND CANYON STATE embossed and centered along bottom. A-12345 Coded by county of issuance (A) Revalidated for 1951 with aluminum tabs.
1952–53 White digits embossed on navy blue background; ARIZONA and last two numbers of year of issue embossed and centered along top. GRAND CANYON STATE embossed and centered along bottom. A-12345 Coded by county of issuance (A) Revalidated for 1953 with black tabs.
1954–55 Navy blue digits on white background; ARIZONA and last two numbers of year of issue embossed and centered along top. GRAND CANYON STATE embossed and centered along bottom. A-12345 Coded by county of issuance (A) Revalidated for 1955 with aluminum tabs.

Passenger plates 1956 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Arizona license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1956–58 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "ARIZONA 56" embossed in white block letters centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom A-12345 Coded by county of issuance (A) Revalidated for 1957 and 1958 with stickers.
1959–60 Embossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "ARIZONA 59" embossed in white block letters centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom ABC-123 AAA-001 to approximately BDY-999 Revalidated for 1960 with stickers.
1961–63 Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "ARIZONA 61" embossed in blue block letters centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" embossed in blue block letters centered at bottom ABC-123 CAA-001 to approximately DMC-999 Revalidated for 1962 and 1963 with stickers.
1964–65 Embossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "ARIZONA 64" embossed in white block letters centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom ABC-123 EAA-001 to approximately FMJ-999 Revalidated for 1965 with stickers.
1966–68 Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "ARIZONA 66" embossed in black block letters centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom ABC-123 HAA-001 to
JZZ-999;
NAA-001 to approximately NEF-999		 Revalidated for 1967 and 1968 with stickers.
1969–72 Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "ARIZONA 69" embossed in black block letters centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom ABC-123 KAA-001 to
MZZ-999;
YAA-001 to approximately YDF-999		 Revalidated for 1970, 1971 and 1972 with stickers.
1973–80 Embossed green numbers on pale orange plate with border line; "ARIZONA 73" embossed in green block letters centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" embossed in green block letters centered at bottom ABC-123 PAA-001 to approximately WNJ-999 Revalidated with stickers until 1990.
1980–96 Embossed white numbers on maroon plate with border line; embossed white saguaro cactus used as divider between letters and digits; "ARIZONA" embossed in white block letters centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom ABC-123 AAA-001 to approximately NXG-999 Front and rear plates issued until around the ETT series (1989); rear plates only thereafter. Still currently revalidated.
1996–2008 Embossed dark green numbers on desert scene with turquoise, white and orange gradient sky, white setting sun and purple mountains and cacti; "ARIZONA" screened in wide dark green block letters, with white outlines, centered at top "GRAND CANYON STATE" screened in narrow dark green block letters offset to right below numbers, on orange part of sky 123·ABC 101·AAA to 999·ZZZ Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1996 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time Arizona was so honored.
2008–present As above, but with numbers screened and security threads added to center of plate ABC1234 AAA0001 to BXH9999 (as of September 17, 2016)

Non-passenger types

1997 to present

Image Type First issued Design Serial format Notes
Alternative Fuel – Government Blue on sky and clouds graphic GA·12345
Alternative Fuel – Passenger Blue on sky and clouds graphic AF·1234
AF·123A
AF·12A3
AF1A23		 Early plates had lighter-colored background. Serials became screened at around AF·00P1, then unspaced (without a separator after the AF prefix) at around AF00S1.
Alternative Fuel – hybrid vehicle 2008 Blue on sky and clouds graphic 12L N34 Issuance ceased at 99L N99.
Amateur Radio As passenger base. Starting in 1955, a radio tower graphic appears to the left of the serial, and "GRAND CANYON STATE" is replaced with "AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR" The plate number is the FCC assigned call sign One of the earliest special plates that is still available as February 2013.
Apportioned As passenger base, but with "APPORTIONED" in place of slogan AA·12345 Began at AA·00001; currently issuing AG series. AC reserved for optional It Shouldn't Hurt to Be a Child plate, and AF skipped to avoid confusion with Alternative Fuel passenger plates. Serials became screened midway through the AD series.
Commercial October 1997 As passenger base CA·12345 Began at CA·00001; currently issuing CJ series. Serials became screened early in the CF series.
Disabled Person 1997 As passenger base ABC12 Small wheelchair embossed to left of serial. First series used older dies.
Disabled Person 1996 As passenger base -1ABC Large wheelchair embossed to left of serial with hyphen. First series used older dies.
Historic Vehicle All-embossed red on copper 1A2
ABC1		 Dated-1977 base issued continuously through the present.
Manufacturer As passenger base MT-1234
Motorcycle M/C1ABC
Trailer 1997 As passenger base A-12345
12345-A		 Letters J through Y (excluding O, Q and U) were used in the A-12345 format. Serials became screened late in the T series.
Transporter As passenger base XP-123A

1980 to 1996

Image Type Design Serial format Notes
Apportioned As passenger base, but with "APPORTIONED" in place of slogan 12A-345
Commercial As passenger base 1AB-234
Trailer As passenger base, but with "TLR." to left of state name A-12345 Letters D, E, F and G were used.

Optional types

Arizona offers its motorists a number of optional issue designs that are available upon the payment of an additional fee.

Image Type First issued Serial format Notes
Arizona Centennial October 30, 2011 A1234Z

A1234C

 Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2011 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time Arizona was so honored.
Arizona Diamondbacks April 4, 2007 DB12345
Arizona Highways Magazine early 2009 1AH2345
Arizona Historical Society June 2007 AH123
Arizona State University A1234
C1234 (series halted early for Pet plates)
D1234
Choose Life early 2009 12CL34
Conserving Wildlife W/A12345
Donate Life/Be an Organ Donor B1ABC
Early Detection Saves Lives March 26, 2006 JK1234
Environmental E1234
1234E
123E4
12E34
1E234
EA·1234 (counting up from EV)
Former Prisoner of War A12
Fraternal Order of Police L/E1234
Freedom January 14, 2007 1FR2345
Gold Star Family May 2009 B123 Serials are surface-printed.
Home of the Apache March 2007 C123E4
Honoring Fallen Officers November 2007 FP12345 Serials are surface-printed.
It Shouldn't Hurt to Be a Child AC·12345
It Shouldn't Hurt to Be a Child—Disabled Person AC·1234 Wheelchair embossed to left of serial
Live the Golden Rule November 2007 LM12345 Serials are surface-printed.
Medal of Honor 123
National Guard N1234
Navajo Nation September 2003 B/A1234
Northern Arizona University V1234
Pets Enrich Our Lives May 2005 C1234
1234C
Phoenix Suns May 5, 2009 1PS2345 Serials are surface-printed.
Professional Fire Fighters F/F1234
Purple Heart 1234
A State of Good Character September 2005 A12B34
Veteran V/T1234
Veteran—Disabled Person V/T123 Wheelchair embossed to left of serial.
University of Arizona P1234

S1234
University of Phoenix F/A1234
White Mountain Apache November 2007 WM123
123WM		 Serials are surface-printed.

References

  1. ↑ Arizona License Plates
  2. ↑ Motor Vehicle Division
  3. ↑ http://www.azdot.gov/mvd/statistics/documents/PlatesFY2009.pdf Plate Key Counts of Currently Registered Vehicles accessed 3 April 2009
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