Vehicle registration plates of Indiana

{{short description|Adding vehicle license plates}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox vehicle registration plate

| image =

| nickname =

| size = {{convert|12|x|6|in|cm|abbr=on|disp=br}}

| material = Aluminum

| serial_format = 123A
123AB
123ABC

| current_start_date = {{Start date|2017|01|01}}

| designer =

| issuer = Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles

| manufacturer =

| start_date = {{Start date|1913|07|01}}
(pre-state plates from 1905 to June 30, 1913)

}}

The U.S. state of Indiana first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until July 1, 1913, when the state began to issue plates.{{cite web|url=http://leatherlicenseplates.com/old-indiana-license-plates-vintage-indiana-license-plates/ |title=Old Indiana License Plates |date=27 August 2015 |publisher=LeatherLicensePlates.com |access-date=March 2, 2016}}

Plates are currently issued by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1956.

Passenger baseplates

=1913 to 1980=

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 {{convert|6|in|cm}} in height by {{convert|12|in|cm}} in width, with standardized mounting holes.{{cite magazine |last=Garrish |first=Christopher |date=October 2016 |title=Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size |magazine=Plates |publisher=Automobile License Plate Collectors Association |volume=62 |number=5}} The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Indiana license plate that complied with these standards.

class="wikitable"
Image

!First issued

!Design

!Slogan

!Serial format

!Serials issued

!Notes

150px

|1913

|Black serial on yellow porcelain plate; "IND 1913" in yellow on black section at right

|none

|12345

|1 to approximately 45000

|

150px

|1914

|Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "IND 1914" at right

|none

|12345

|1 to approximately 67000

|First embossed plate.

150px

|1915

|Embossed green serial on pink plate; "IND '15" at right

|none

|12345

|1 to approximately 97000

|

rowspan="2"|150px

|rowspan="2"|1916

|rowspan="2"|Embossed black serial on white plate; "IND '16" at right

|rowspan="2"|none

|12345

|1 to 99999

|rowspan="2"|

A1234

|A1 to approximately D9000

rowspan="2"|150px

|rowspan="2"|1917

|rowspan="2"|Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "IND 17" at right

|rowspan="2"|none

|12345

|1 to 99999

|rowspan="2"|

A1234

|A1 to approximately K2000

150px

|1918

|Embossed black serial on green plate with border line; "IND 18" at right

|none

|123456

|1 to approximately 223000

|

150px

|1919

|Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IND 19" at right

|none

|123456

|1 to approximately 277000

|

150px

|1920

|Embossed green serial on cream-colored plate with border line; "IND 20" at right

|none

|123456

|1 to approximately 296000

|

150px

|1921

|Embossed black serial on salmon-colored plate with border line; "IND 21" at right

|none

|123456

|1 to approximately 344000

|

150px

|1922

|Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IND 22" at right

|none

|123456

|1 to approximately 407000

|

150px

|1923

|Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "IND 23" at right

|none

|123-456

|1 to approximately 499-000

|

150px

|1924

|Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "IND 24" at right

|none

|123-456

|1 to approximately 562-000

|

150px

|1925

|Embossed maroon serial on tan plate with border line; "IND 25" at right

|none

|123-456

|1 to approximately 620-000

|

150px

|1926

|Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "IND 26" at right

|none

|123-456

|1 to approximately 667-000

|

150px

|1927

|Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IND 27" at right

|none

|123-456

|1 to approximately 707-000

|

150px

|1928

|Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "INDIANA-1928" at bottom

|none

|123-456

|1 to approximately 713-000

|First use of the full state name.

150px

|1929

|Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "INDIANA-29" at bottom

|none

|123-456

|1 to approximately 743-000

|

150px

|1930

|Embossed orange serial on dark blue plate with border line; "INDIANA-30" at bottom

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 763 000

|

150px

|1931

|Embossed dark blue serial on orange plate with border line; "INDIANA-31" at top

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 761 000

|

150px

|1932

|Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "INDIANA-32" at bottom

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 741 000

|

150px

|1933

|Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "INDIANA–33" at top

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 742 000

|

150px

|1934

|Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "INDIANA–34" at bottom

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 722 000

|

150px

|1935

|Embossed black serial on light blue plate with border line; "INDIANA-35" at top

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 729 000

|

150px

|1936

|Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "INDIANA-36" at bottom

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 779 000

|

150px

|1937

|Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "INDIANA-37" at top

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 835 000

|

150px

|1938

|Embossed maroon serial on cream-colored plate with border line; "INDIANA–38" at bottom

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 857 000

|

150px

|1939

|Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "INDIANA–39" at top

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 849 000

|

150px

|1940

|Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "INDIANA–40" at bottom

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 873 000

|

150px

|1941

|Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "INDIANA–41" at top

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 923 000

|

150px

|1942

|Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "INDIANA–42" at bottom

|none

|123 456
1 234 567

|1 to approximately 1 034 000

|Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.

150px

|1944

|Embossed white serial on black plate; "IND 44" at right

|none

|123456

|1 to approximately 899000

|

150px

|1945

|Embossed white serial on brown plate; "INDIANA" and "45" centered at top and bottom respectively

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 894 000

|

150px

|1946

|Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "46" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 901 000

|

150px

|1947

|Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate; "INDIANA" and "47" centered at top and bottom respectively

|none

|123 456

|1 to approximately 942 000

|

rowspan="2"|150px

|rowspan="2"|1948

|rowspan="2"|Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "48" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively

|rowspan="2"|none

|123 456

|1 to 999 999

|rowspan="2"|

A-12345

|A-1 to approximately A-27000

rowspan="2"|150px

|rowspan="2"|1949

|rowspan="2"|Embossed white serial on red plate; "INDIANA" and "49" centered at top and bottom respectively

|rowspan="2"|none

|123 456

|1 to 999 999

|rowspan="2"|

A-123456

|A-1 to approximately A-112000

150px

|1950

|Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "50" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively

|none

|AB 1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1951

|Embossed black serial on white plate; "INDIANA" and "51" centered at top and bottom respectively

|none

|AB 1234

|County-coded

|Revalidated for 1952 with yellow tabs, and for 1953 with green tabs, due to metal conservation for the Korean War.

150px

|1954

|Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "54" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively

|none

|AB 1234

|County-coded

|Revalidated for 1955 with red tabs.

150px

|1956

|Embossed golden yellow serial on dark blue plate; "IND–56" centered at bottom

|"DRIVE SAFELY" on golden yellow bar centered at top

|AB 1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1957

|Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate; "IND–57" centered at top

|"DRIVE SAFELY" on dark blue bar centered at bottom

|AB 1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1958

|Embossed golden yellow serial on dark blue plate; "IND–58" centered at bottom

|"DRIVE SAFELY" on golden yellow bar centered at top

|AB 1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1959

|Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate; "IND–59" centered at top

|"LINCOLN YEAR" on dark blue bar centered at bottom

|AB 1234

|County-coded

|Commemorated the 150th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, who lived in Indiana from 1816 to 1830.

150px

|1960

|Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "IND–60" centered at bottom

|"SAFETY PAYS" on white bar centered at top

|AB 1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1961

|Embossed white serial on red plate; "IND–61" centered at top

|"SAFETY PAYS" on white bar centered at bottom

|AB 1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1962

|Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "IND–62" centered at bottom

|"SAFETY PAYS" on golden yellow bar centered at top

|AB 1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1963

|Embossed golden yellow serial on blue plate; "1963" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively

|none

|{{small|0}}A1234
{{small|00}}A1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1964

|Embossed reflective white serial on red plate; "INDIANA" and "1964" centered at top and bottom respectively

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1965

|Embossed reflective white serial on dark green plate; "1965" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1966

|Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; "IND–66" centered at bottom

|"150TH YEAR" centered at top

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Commemorated Indiana's 150 years of statehood.

150px

|1967

|Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "1967" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1968

|Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; "INDIANA" and "1968" centered at top and bottom respectively

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1969

|Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; "1969" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectively

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|

150px

|1970

|Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "IND–70" centered at top; month sticker and "71" at bottom

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Monthly staggered registration introduced, with the month of expiration determined by the initial letter of the registrant's surname. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1971.

150px

|1971

|Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; "71–IND" centered at top; month sticker and "72" at bottom

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1972.

150px

|1972

|Embossed green serial on reflective white plate; "IND–72" centered at top; month sticker and "73" at bottom

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1973.

150px

|1973

|Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "INDIANA" centered at top; month sticker and "74" at bottom

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1974.

150px

|1974

|Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; "INDIANA" centered at top; month sticker and "75" at bottom

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1975.

150px

|1975

|Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; "INDIANA" centered at top; month sticker and "76" at bottom

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1976.

150px

|1976

|Blue serial on reflective white, red and blue graphic background

|Heritage State

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|First graphic plate; commemorated the US Bicentennial. The letter in the serial was moved to the bottom of the plate to accommodate the Minuteman graphic. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1977.

150px

|1977

|Green serial on reflective white, green and yellow background

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1978.

150px

|1978

|Black serial on reflective white, red and light blue background

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Indianapolis 500 race cars in background. This issue is thought by some to be a tribute to Tony Hulman, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, who died in 1977; sample plates, normally numbered 00A0000 in most years, were numbered 00H0000 this year, lending some credence to this belief. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1979.

150px

|1979

|Brown serial on reflective white, yellow and brown background

|1779 George Rogers Clark

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1979 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Indiana has been so honored. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1980.

150px

|1980

|Black serial on reflective white, yellow, orange and red background

|none

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Final single-year passenger plate in the United States. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1981.

=1981 to present=

class="wikitable"
Image

!First issued

!Design

!Slogan

!Serial format

!Serials issued

!Notes

150px

|1981

|Brown serial on reflective white, light and dark brown and black graphic background

|Hoosier State

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|First multi-year plate in Indiana since 1955, and the first to be renewed with decals (except for plates with numbers up to and including 100, which were reissued annually). Plates were valid through June 30, 1984.

150px

|1984

|Black serial on reflective white, yellow, green and red background

|Wander Indiana

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Staggered registration expanded to January–October with 1987 expiration. Plates were valid through October 31, 1987.

150px

|1987

|Blue serial on reflective blue, white and gold background

|Back Home Again

|0{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Small white-on-blue county name sticker in bottom right corner. Plates were valid through October 31, 1990.

150px

|1990

|Red serial on reflective white background

|Hoosier Hospitality

|0{{small|A}}1234
0{{small|AB}}123
00{{small|A}}1234

|County-coded

|Small white-on-blue county name sticker in bottom right corner as on the Back Home Again base. Allen County began issuing two-letter, three-digit serials in 1992 after reaching 2{{small|Z}}9999. Plates were valid through October 31, 1993.

150px

|1993

|Black serial on reflective red, yellow and black background

|Amber Waves of Grain

|0{{small|A}}1234
0{{small|AB}}123
00{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|AB}}123

|County-coded

|Replacement cycle extended from 3 to 5 years. Early plates had a small yellow-on-black county name sticker in the bottom right corner; this was soon discontinued. Plates were valid through October 31, 1998.

150px

|1998

|Dark blue serial on reflective white background, gold state outline and coat of arms - Indiana and Crossroads of America Printed in dark blue.

|The Crossroads of America

|0{{small|A}}1234
0{{small|AB}}123
00{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|AB}}123

|County-coded

|Final embossed plate. Plates were valid through October 31, 2003.

|2003

|Dark blue on reflective farm scene graphic

|www.IN.gov

|0{{small|A}}1234
0{{small|AB}}123
00{{small|A}}1234
00{{small|AB}}123

|County-coded

|First screened plate. The original design had the slogan "Back Home Again" (as on the 1987–90 base); this was replaced with the state's web address before production began. Early plates used a bolder serial font that included full-height letters; this was changed in response to legibility concerns. Plates were valid through October 31, 2008.

|2008

|White serial on reflective dark blue; torch and stars from the state flag at left; county number and name on white sticker at top

|none

|Standard Version
123A, 123AB or 123ABC Grandfathered
Version

00{{small|A}}0, 00{{small|A}}00 or 00{{small|A}}000

|Serials not issued sequentially.

Letters or combinations of letters are unique to a particular county.

|Issued concurrently with "In God We Trust" base. Staggered registration once again expanded to include all twelve months of the calendar year; four dates, the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th of each month, are used (except in January and December). Grandfathered Version are laid out by county coding depending on demand for them. Some counties may only use single suffix numbers while others may use as much as three.

150px

|2013

|Black serial on reflective white fading to gold; number 200 and circle of 19 stars (the 19th enlarged and colored gold) over dark blue state shape at left; expiration date, year, county number and recycling symbol in corners clockwise from top left

|Bicentennial 1816-2016

|123A
123AB
123ABC,
No Grandfathered Version

|Serial tied to owner

|Registrants keep their old license plate numbers upon renewal if they have a license plate in either the 123A, 123AB or 123ABC formats. If vehicle was issued a previous plate with serial 661XYZ for example, the vehicle's 2013 issued plate will have serial 661XYZ.

|2017

|Dark blue serial on reflective country scene graphic featuring a covered bridge; expiration date, year, county number and recycling symbol in corners clockwise from top left

|none

|123A
123AB
123ABC

|Serial tied to owner

|Registrants receive new plates on a rolling 7-year basis, bearing the same number they had previously. This process replaced the previous Bicentennial plates between 2020 and 2023.

Optional types

class="wikitable"
Image

!First issued

!Design

!Slogan

!Serial format

!Serials issued

!Notes

150px

|2007

|Screened white on blue with national flag at bottom; "08" screened in top right corner and county code on sticker in bottom right corner

|In God We Trust

|{{small|A/B}}1234

|

|While very popular, this plate was controversial as the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana claimed that it is a symbol of endorsement of a religion. After a lawsuit from the ACLU, the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the plates' constitutionality.{{cite web|url=http://www.theindychannel.com/news/17999573/detail.html |title=Court Upholds 'In God We Trust' Plate |publisher=WRTV |date=November 17, 2008 |access-date=December 21, 2008}}

|2012

|Screened black on national flag motif; expiration year screened in top right corner, county code in bottom right corner, expiration date in top left corner and recycling symbol in bottom left corner

|In God We Trust

|ABC123

|Uses multiple iterations through the alphabet;
Began at RAA101

|"In God We Trust" now appears at the bottom instead of on the left. The changes were made to address visibility issues with the previous version and in preparation for the introduction of the Bicentennial passenger base in 2013.

150px

|March 4, 2008{{cite news|last=Bradner |first=Eric |date=March 5, 2008 |title=New Indiana license plate touts 'Lincoln's Boyhood Home' |url=http://www.courierpress.com/news/local/new-indiana-license-plate-touts-lincolns-boyhood-home-ep-448698694-327038261.html |newspaper=Evansville Courier & Press |access-date=March 3, 2016}}

|Screened black on white with graphic of young Abraham Lincoln at left; "09" screened in top right corner and county code on sticker in bottom right corner

|Lincoln's Boyhood Home

|{{small|B/F}}1234
{{small|B/F}}123A
{{small|B/H}}1234

|

|Aside from this and the In God We Trust Plates, there are approximately 70 other various organizations, schools, and other entities that offer plates using the same format but come with a $15 organizational fee. See [http://www.in.gov/bmv/2352.htm Indiana Plate Types] for further details.

Non-passenger plates

class="wikitable"
Image

!Type

!First issued

!Design

!Serial format

!Serials issued

!Notes

|Amateur Radio

|

|As current passenger base

|FCC call sign

|

|Issued only to Indiana residents holding valid amateur radio operator's licenses.

150px

|Bus

|

|Screened black on white; vertical "BUS" at left

|B123AB

|

|

150px

|Disability

|

|Screened blue on white; International Symbol of Access at left

|D123A
D123AB
C123A
C123AB

|

|

150px

|Farm Semi-Trailer

|

|As regular Semi-Trailer (Permanent) plate, but with vertical "FARM" at left

|FP123AB

|

|

150px

|Farm Vehicle

|

|Screened black on white; vertical "FARM" at left

|F123AB

|

|Issued on farm trucks, farm trailers and farm semi-tractors.

150px

|Fleet Vehicle

|

|Screened black on white; "FLEET" at bottom

|FL123ABC

|FL101AAA to FL389AAD {{small|(as of November 2024)}}

|

150px

|Historic Vehicle

|

|Screened black on tan; state seal at left and "HISTORIC" at bottom

|AN123A

|

|Issued on vehicles that are at least 25 years old.

150px

|Mini-Truck

|

|Screened black on white; "MINI-TRUCK" at left

|MT123ABC

|

|.

rowspan="3"|150px

|rowspan="3"|Motorcycle

|2008

|Screened blue on white; "M CYCLE" at bottom right and "09" at top right

|123456

|1 to approximately 178000

|rowspan="3"|

rowspan="2"|2010

|rowspan="2"|As above, but with "11" at top right

|M123A

|M101A to M999Z

M123AB

|M101AA to present

150px

|Municipal

|

|Black on light blue; "MUNICIPAL" at bottom

|12345

|

|

150px

|Municipal Owned School Bus

|

|Black on yellow; "MUN. OWNED SCHOOL BUS" at bottom

|12345

|

|

150px

|Recreational Vehicle

|

|Screened black on white; vertical "RV" at left

|R123AB

|

|

150px

|Semi-Tractor

|

|Screened black on white; "SEMI TRACTOR" at bottom

|TC123ABC

|

|Issued on tractors used in combination with semi-trailers. Tractors not used in such a combination are registered as trucks.

150px

|Semi-Trailer (Non-Permanent)

|

|Screened red on white; "SEMI TRAILER" at bottom

|SE123ABC

|

|

150px

|Semi-Trailer (Permanent)

|

|Screened black on light gray; "SEMI TRAILER" at bottom; "NO" at top left and "EXP" at top right

|SP123ABC

|

|

150px

|Special Machinery

|

|Screened black on white; "SPECIAL MACHINERY" at bottom

|SM123AB

|

|Issued on vehicles used to perform specific functions unrelated to transportation on highways, usually on tow trucks.

150px

|Trailer

|

|Screened black on white; "TRAILER" and gross weight at bottom

|TR123ABC

|

|

150px

|Truck

|2013

|Screened black on white; "TRUCK" and gross weight at bottom

|TK123ABC

|TK101LAA to TK713ORW
{{small|(as of July 2024)}}

|

Organizational and collegiate plates

Indiana issues a large number of organizational and collegiate license plates.{{Cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/bmv/2404.htm |title=Indiana's Organizational License Plates |publisher=Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles |access-date=April 18, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/bmv/2403.htm |title=Indiana's College and University License Plates |publisher=Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles |access-date=April 18, 2017}} A portion of the fees for these plates is given to the respective organization or college.

=Organizational plates=

class="wikitable"

!Plate

!Organization

!Slogan

150px

|Indy 500 Festival

|500FESTIVAL.COM

150px

|American Diabetes Association

|American Diabetes Association

150px

|American Legion

|LEGIONNAIRE

150px

|Autism Society

|AUTISM AWARENESS

|Bicycle Indiana

|I Share The Road

150px

|Black Expo

|INDIANA BLACK EXPO, INC.

150px

| rowspan="2" |Boy Scouts

|BOY SCOUTS (Used from 2000 until at least 2007{{Cite web |last=Troop #344 |first=Rob Dukarski, Scout of |date=2007-09-19 |title=#344 PROUDLY PROMOTED |url=https://waynedalenews.com/2007/09/344-proudly-promoted/ |access-date=2024-07-27 |website=The Waynedale News |language=en-US}})

150px

|BOY SCOUTS

150px

|Breast Cancer Awareness

|INDIANA BREAST CANCER AWARENESS TRUST

150px

|D.A.R.E Indiana

|D.A.R.E. INDIANA

150px

|Donate Life Indiana

|Be an Organ, Tissue, & Eye Donor!

150px

|Ducks Unlimited

|DUCKS UNLIMITED

150px

|FFA Foundation

|www.inffa.org

150px

|Freemasons

|FREEMASON

|Greenway Foundation

|I SUPPORT TRAILS!

150px

|Habitat For Humanity

|Help build it!

150px

|Indiana 4-H Foundation

|4-H Foundation

|Indiana Arts Commission

|CELEBRATE THE ARTS

150px

|Indiana Association of Chiefs of Police

|CHIEFS OF POLICE

IACP FOUNDATION

|Indiana Association of Pregnancy Centers

|Choose Life

150px

|Indiana Blood Center

|{{as written|indiana}} BLOOD CENTER

150px

|Indiana Coal Mining Institute

|COAL KEEPS THE LIGHTS ON!

|Indiana Department of Education

|Hoosier Family of Readers

150px

|Indiana Emergency Medical Services Association (IEMSA)

|Supporting EMS

150px

|Indiana Golf Foundation

|THE FIRST TEE OF INDIANA

|President Benjamin Harrison Conservation Trust (formerly Indiana Heritage Trust)

|ENVIRONMENT

|Indiana Homeland Security Foundation

|SECURE INDIANA

150px

|Indiana Motor Truck Association - Put The Phone Down

|INTRUCKING.ORG

150px

|Indiana Organization of Nursing Executives

|BE A NURSE

|Indiana Patriot Guard Riders

|PATRIOT GUARD RIDERS

150px

|Indiana Recycling Coalition

|INDIANARECYCLING.ORG

150px

|Indiana Sheriff's Association

|LAW ENFORCEMENT, CORRECTIONS, COURT SECURITY

|Indiana Soccer

|WE SUPPORT INDY ELEVEN

|Indiana State Museum (Abraham Lincoln)

|Lincoln's Boyhood Home

|Indiana State Police

|REMEMBERING OUR HEROES

150px

|Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association

|SAVING INDIANA LIVES

|Indiana Youth Group

|INDIANA YOUTH GROUP

150px

|Indianapolis Colts

|GO COLTS

150px

|Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame

|HALL OF FAME MUSEUM

|Indianapolis Zoological Society

|Advancing Animal Conservation

150px

|Juvenile Diabetes research Foundation

|IMPROVING LIVES. CURING TYPE I DIABETES.

150px

|Kids First Trust Fund

|PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE

150px

|Lincoln Boyhood Drama Association

|LINCOLN FAMILY ARRIVES 1816

150px

|Lions of Indiana

|WE SERVE

150px

|Lupus Foundation of America

|SOLVING THE CRUEL MYSTERY

150px

|Marine Foundation of Indiana

|SEMPER FI

150px

|National Rifle Association

|TEACHING FREEDOM

|National Wild Turkey Federation

|CONSERVATION

150px

|Native American

|Land of the Indians

150px

|Pacers Foundation

|PACERS FOUNDATION

|Pet Friendly - Spay-Neuter Services of Indiana

|PET FRIENDLY

150px

|Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St Vincent

|stvincent.org/paytonmanning

150px

|Prisoner of War - Missing in Action

|NOT FORGOTTEN

150px

|Professional Firefighters

|FIREFIGHTERS

|Riley Hospital for Children

|RILEY HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN

150px

|Shrine Association

|Indiana Shriner

|Special Olympics of Indiana

|Special Olympics Indiana

150px

|Tony Stewart Foundation

|ACCELERATING CHANGE

150px

|To Your Health

|To Your Health

=Collegiate plates=

class="wikitable"

!Plate

!College

150px

|Anderson University

|Ball State University
|Bethel College
150px

|Butler University

|DePauw University
|Earlham College
|Franklin College
150px

|Grace College and Seminary

150px

|Hanover College

150px

|Huntington University

|Indiana Institute of Technology
150px

|Indiana State University

150px

|Indiana University

150px

|Indiana University Purdue University of Fort Wayne

150px

|Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis

150px

|Indiana Wesleyan University

150px

|Ivy Tech Community College

150px

|Manchester University

150px

|Marian University

150px

|Purdue University

150px

|Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

150px

|Saint Joseph's College

150px

|Saint Mary's College

150px

|Taylor University

150px

|Trine University

|University of Evansville
|University of Indianapolis
150px

|University of Notre Dame

150px

|University of Saint Francis

150px

|University of Southern Indiana

150px

|Valparaiso University

150px

|Vincennes University

150px

|Wabash College

Military plates

Indiana also issues several military-related license plates.{{Cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/bmv/2402.htm |title=Indiana's Military License Plates |publisher=Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles |access-date=April 18, 2017}} Most are available for veterans only.

class="wikitable"

!Plate(s)

!Representation

!Elegebility

150px

|Hoosier Veteran (all branches of service)

|Verify Veteran Status with one of the following:

  • A US Uniformed Services Retiree ID card
  • A DD214 or DD215
  • US military discharge papers
  • Indiana ID with Veteran Status (V or AM)
150px

|Disabled Hoosier Veteran

|Certified by Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs

150px

|Ex-Prisoner of War

|Certified by Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs

150px

|Gold Star Family

|Spouse, Parent, Grandparents, Great-Grandparents, Siblings, or Children of anyone who died while serving on duty in the military - active, Reserve or National Guard

Must Provide Official DD1300

150px

|Pearl Harbor Survivors Association

|Any military document verifying the person was an active member of the United States Armed Forces and served at Pearl Harbor at the time of the Pearl Harbor attacks.

150px

|Purple Heart

|Certified by Indiana Department of Veteran Affairs

|Support Our Troops

|Any Indiana Resident; supports the Military Family Relief Fund

Temporary plates

Indiana temporary tag, 1989.png|1989

New plate prefixing

Starting in 2010 special plates such as the handicapped, POW, National Guard, Disabled American Veteran that use the background of the standard plates will no longer use just numbers. Instead they will now use a predetermined prefix of three numbers and one or two suffix letters depending on if they have one or two prefix numbers. In all the max total characters will amount to six and, except the Disabled American Veteran and Purple Heart plate will use the background of the standard plate. Starting in 2015, the colors of these plates, with the exception of the Hoosier Veteran and Purple Heart plates, will invert, producing plates with dark blue serials on a white background.

{{div col|colwidth=48em}}

  • Recreational Vehicles - R123A or R123AB
  • Handicapped -
    D123A or D123AB
    C123A or C123AB
    H123A or H123AB
  • Disabled American Veteran - DH123A or DF123A
  • Pearl Harbor Survivor - PH1234
  • Ex-Prisoner of War - PW123A
  • National Guard - NG123A
  • Purple Heart - PH123A or PH123 (Handicapped)
  • Gold Star Family - GF123

{{div col end}}

Starting in 2012 veterans of each of the five branches of the armed forces will be able, for an extra $15, to obtain a plate with the seal of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard beginning in 2012. The $15 fee will benefit the state's Military Family Relief Fund.{{cite web|url= http://jacobslicenseplateblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/no-more-generic-veteran-plates-for.html|title= Jacob's License Plate Blog|date= 9 November 2011|publisher= Jacob Newkirk|access-date= 2013-10-17}}

{{div col|colwidth=48em}}

  • Air Force Veteran - VA1234 or VA123A
  • Army Veteran - AV1234 or AV123A
  • Coast Guard Veteran - CV1234 or CV123A
  • Marine Corps Veteran - VM1234 or VM123A
  • Navy Veteran - NY1234, NY123A, or FL1234
  • Merchant Marine Veteran - MM1234

{{div col end}}

=Trucks and trailers=

Indiana maintains separate plates for trucks, trailers, tractors/trailers, and farm vehicles. Except for farm and motorcycle vehicles, the plates follow an eight character AB123CDE format. All following plates use a plain white background

{{div col|colwidth=48em}}

  • Standard Truck - TK123KAA, TK123LAA, TK123MAA, TK123NAA, TK123OAA, TK123PAA
  • Tractor Rig - SP123ABC
  • Farm Vehicles - F123AB
  • Small Trailer - TR123LAA
  • Semi Trailer - ST123ABC
  • Motorcycle Standard - M123AB

{{div col end}}

County coding

From 1950-1962, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles issued standard passenger plates bearing a two-letter prefix which identified the county in which the vehicle was registered. Smaller counties were issued only one two-letter codes, while larger counties were issued a series of two-letter codes to accommodate the number of registrations.

=List of county two-letter prefixes=

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

{{div col end}}{{cite web |title=Indianan License Plate County Codes |url=https://www.shoplicenseplates.com/indiana-license-plate-county-codes?srsltid=AfmBOooh8QO5P9o8XwTNEQVfcfsOnOIXnCkDA6A3o6LhiICte92IlfsY |website=shoplicenseplates.com |access-date=April 24, 2025}}

From 1963 through 2008, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles issued standard passenger plates bearing a one- or two-digit prefix identifying the county in which the vehicle was registered. These prefixes were assigned to each county in alphabetical order, beginning with 1 for Adams County and ending with 92 for Whitley County; prefixes 93 through 99 were reserved as overflow for the state's two most populous counties, Marion (93, 95, 97, 98 and 99) and Lake (94 and 96).

In each county, serials consisted of the prefix followed by one letter and up to four digits, progressing sequentially. In 1992, Allen County reached 2{{small|Z}}9999 and subsequently introduced a new format with the prefix followed by two letters and three digits (beginning with 2{{small|AA}}101); this format was later used in St. Joseph (71), Hamilton (29), Elkhart (20) and Vanderburgh (82) Counties.{{cite web |last=Nicholson |first=David |title=Indiana License Plates, 1969-present |url=http://www.15q.net/in.html |publisher=15q.net |access-date=September 23, 2007}}{{cite web |last=Tanner |first=Eric N. |title=Indiana Passenger License Plates |url=https://allaboutlicenseplates.com/displayPage.asp?country=US&p=Passenger&jurisdiction=Indiana&code=in |publisher=allaboutlicenseplates.com |access-date=February 25, 2021}}

Following the introduction of multi-year plates in 1981, plates with serials containing numbers above 100 were revalidated with decals, while those with serials containing numbers 1 through 100 continued to be issued annually.

In 2008, new serial formats were introduced with the white-on-blue torch base, consisting of three digits followed by one, two or three random letters. However, the county number system was retained through the use of decals at the top of each plate displaying both the county number and name, with the overflow numbers for Marion and Lake Counties discontinued.Northup, John B. License Plates of America. River Pointe Publications, 2009, p. 36.

The no-cost alternative "In God We Trust" plate introduced in 2007 featured the county number on a sticker at the bottom right corner of the plate. The revised "In God We Trust" plate, introduced in 2012, has the number screened onto the bottom right corner; this technique was subsequently adopted on standard passenger plates, beginning with the Bicentennial base in 2013. Since 2013, the following numbers appear at the bottom corner of every plate issued in the state from passenger plates, to truck plates, municipal, even motorcycle plates.

=List of county numbers=

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

{{div col end}}

=Overflow numbers (until 2008)=

{{col-begin}}

{{col-end}}

Renewal date tags

In the past, Indiana colored its due date tags by month. Another change to the plate system is that there are only four colors of tags which are the same regardless of the month, whether it be January, June, or December, another change because Indiana used to only issue month tags from January to October. These are all found on the top left corner of an Indiana plate based on the first three letters of the last name of the owner. Note: Business owned vehicles have black tags that expire 1-31 regardless of name.{{cite web |url=https://myweb.in.gov/BMV/mybmvportal/RegistrationsAndPlates/IndianasLicensePlates/LicensePlateStickersAndFrames.aspx |title=License Plate Stickers and Frames |website=Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles |access-date=November 14, 2022 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603091249/https://myweb.in.gov/BMV/mybmvportal/RegistrationsAndPlates/IndianasLicensePlates/LicensePlateStickersAndFrames.aspx |archive-date=June 3, 2010}}

{{div col|colwidth=18em}}

  • 01-07
  • 02-07
  • 03-07
  • 04-07
  • 05-07
  • 06-07
  • 07-07
  • 08-07
  • 09-07
  • 10-07
  • 11-07
  • 12-07
  • 01-14
  • 02-14
  • 03-14
  • 04-14
  • 05-14
  • 06-14
  • 07-14
  • 08-14
  • 09-14
  • 10-14
  • 11-14
  • 12-14
  • 01-21
  • 02-21
  • 03-21
  • 04-21
  • 05-21
  • 06-21
  • 07-21
  • 08-21
  • 09-21
  • 10-21
  • 11-21
  • 12-21
  • 01-28
  • 02-28
  • 03-28
  • 04-28
  • 05-28
  • 06-28
  • 07-28
  • 08-28
  • 09-28
  • 10-28
  • 11-28
  • 12-28

{{div col end}}

References

{{Reflist}}