Vehicle registration plates of Arizona

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...

first required its residents to register their motor vehicle

Motor vehicle

A motor vehicle or road vehicle is a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not operate on rails, such as trains or trolleys. The vehicle propulsion is provided by an engine or motor, usually by an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor, or some combination of the two, such as hybrid...

s in 1912. Registrants had to provide their own plates for display. In 1914, the state began to supply license plates to registrants. The current Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...

State slogan first appeared in 1940, appearing on all subsequent issues except for 1945. Plates are currently issued by the Motor Vehicle Division of the Arizona Department of Transportation (MVD).

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.

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

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

Passenger plates 1920 to 1954

First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format
1920	ARIZ embossed vertically along left side; year of issue embossed vertically along right side.		1234
1925	ARIZONA embossed along bottom right; year of issue embossed vertically along right side.		1-23456
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.	AB-12
1949	Black digits embossed on 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-12
1950	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
1951	Green digits embossed 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.	1-234A
1952	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-12
1954	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-12

Passenger plates 1955 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association

Automobile Manufacturers Association

The Automobile Manufacturers Association was a trade group of automobile manufacturers which operated under various names in the United States from 1911 to 1999....

that fixed the size for all their passenger vehicle plates 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.

First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1955	White embossed digits with white border on black background; ARIZONA and last two digits of registration year embossed in white and centered at top between screw holes	"GRAND CANYON STATE Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States... " embossed in white and centered at bottom	A-12345		Coded by county of issuance.
1958	White embossed digits with white border on blue background; ARIZONA and last two digits of registration year embossed in white and centered at top between screw holes	GRAND CANYON STATE embossed in white and centered at bottom	ABC-123	AAA-001 to BZZ-999
1960	Blue embossed digits with blue border on white background; ARIZONA and last two digits of registration year embossed in blue and centered at top between screw holes	GRAND CANYON STATE embossed in blue and centered at bottom	ABC-123	CAA-001 to DZZ-999
1963	White embossed digits with white border on blue background; ARIZONA and last two digits of registration year embossed in white and centered at top between screw holes	GRAND CANYON STATE embossed in white and centered at bottom	ABC-123	EAA-001 to FZZ-999
1965	Black embossed digits with black border on white background; ARIZONA and last two digits of registration year embossed in black and centered at top between screw holes	GRAND CANYON STATE embossed in black and centered at bottom	ABC-123	HAA-001 to JZZ-999
1968	Black embossed digits with black border on yellow background; ARIZONA and last two digits of registration year embossed in black and centered at top between screw holes	GRAND CANYON STATE embossed in black and centered at bottom	ABC-123	KAA-001 to NZZ-999
1972	Green embossed digits with green border on pale orange background; ARIZONA and last two digits of registration year embossed in green and centered at top between screw holes	GRAND CANYON STATE embossed in green and centered at bottom	ABC-123	PAA-001 to WZZ-999
1980	White embossed digits with white embossed border on maroon background, with white embossed saguaro cactus Saguaro The saguaro is a large, tree-sized cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in the U.S. state of Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, a small part of Baja California in the San Felipe Desert and an extremely small area of California, U.S... dividing the letters and numbers; ARIZONA embossed in white and centered at top	GRAND CANYON STATE embossed in white and centered at bottom	ABC-123	AAA-001 to NZZ-999
1996	Dark green embossed digits on screened background of purple mountains and cacti with white setting sun and sky fading from orange to white to turquoise at top; ARIZONA in wide plain dark green letters outlined in white and centered at top	GRAND CANYON STATE in dark green thin plain letters at bottom right in orange part of screen	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 Automobile License Plate Collectors Association The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association is the largest such organization in the world. Founded in Rumney Depot, New Hampshire, United States, in 1953 and holding its first meeting in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1954, its members have come from all 50 U.S... , the first and, to date, only time Arizona has been so honored.
2007 or 2008	Dark green screened digits on screened background of purple mountains and cacti with white setting sun and sky fading from orange to white to turquoise at top; ARIZONA in wide plain dark green letters outlined in white and centered at top; security stripe through center of plate		ABC1234	AAA0001 to present

1997 to present

Type	First issued	Design	Serial format	Notes
Alternative Fuel Alternative fuel Alternative fuels, known as non-conventional or advanced fuels, are any materials or substances that can be used as fuels, other than conventional fuels... —Government		GA·12345	Blue on sky Sky The sky is the part of the atmosphere or outer space visible from the surface of any astronomical object. It is difficult to define precisely for several reasons. During daylight, the sky of Earth has the appearance of a pale blue surface because the air scatters the sunlight. The sky is sometimes... and cloud Cloud A cloud is a visible mass of liquid droplets or frozen crystals made of water and/or various chemicals suspended in the atmosphere above the surface of a planetary body. They are also known as aerosols. Clouds in Earth's atmosphere are studied in the cloud physics branch of meteorology... s graphic.
Alternative Fuel—Passenger		AF·1234AF·123BAF·12A3	Blue on sky and clouds graphic. Earlier plates had lighter-colored background.
Alternative Fuel—hybrid vehicle Hybrid vehicle A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle. The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles , which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors.-Power:...	2008	12L N34	Blue on sky and clouds graphic.	Issuance ceased at 99L N99.
Amateur Radio Amateur radio Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...		On passenger base. Starting in around 1997, a radio tower graphic appears to the left of the serial, and "GRAND CANYON STATE" is replaced with "AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR".	call sign
Apportioned International Registration Plan The International Registration Plan is a registration reciprocity agreement among the contiguous United States and Canadian provinces which provides payment of registration fees on the basis of total distance operated in all jurisdictions...		On passenger base, but "APPORTIONED" legend replaces slogan.	AA·12345AB·12345AD·12345	Serials became surface-printed during AD series.
Disabled Person Disability A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...		On passenger base.	-1ABCABC12	Wheelchair embossed to left of serial. First series used older dies Die (manufacturing) A die is a specialized tool used in manufacturing industries to cut or shape material using a press. Like molds, dies are generally customized to the item they are used to create... .
Historic Vehicle Antique car In the United States, an antique car is generally defined as a car over 45 years of age, this being the definition used by the Antique Automobile Club of America. However, the legal definition for the purpose of antique vehicle registration varies widely. The antique car era includes the veteran...		All-embossed red on copper.	1A2ABC1	Dated-1977 base issued continuously through the present.
Manufacturer		On passenger base.	MT-1234
Motorcycle			M/C1ABC
Transporter Transporter Transporter may refer to:* Transporter , types of vehicles designed to transport items* Volkswagen Transporter, a model of van- Film and television :...		On passenger base.	XP-123A

1980 to 1996

Image	Type	Design	Serial format	Notes
	Apportioned International Registration Plan The International Registration Plan is a registration reciprocity agreement among the contiguous United States and Canadian provinces which provides payment of registration fees on the basis of total distance operated in all jurisdictions...	On passenger base, but "APPORTIONED" legend replaces slogan.	12A-345
	Trailer Trailer (vehicle) A trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials....	On passenger base.	G·12345

Optional types

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

Type	First issued	Serial format	Notes
Arizona Diamondbacks Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...	April 4, 2007	DB12345
Arizona Highways Magazine	early 2009	1AH2345
Arizona Historical Society Arizona Historical Society The Arizona Historical Society is a non-profit organization whose goal is to collect, preserve, interpret, and disseminate the history of Arizona, the West, and Northern Mexico as it pertains to Arizona. It does this through 4 regional divisions. Each division has a representative museum...	June 2007	AH123
Arizona State University Arizona State University Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...		A1234C1234 (series halted early for Pet plates)D1234
Choose Life	early 2009	12CL34
Conserving Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....		W/A12345
Donate Life/Be an Organ Donor Organ donation Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. Transplantable organs and tissues are removed in a surgical procedure following a determination, based on the donor's medical and...		B1ABC
Early Detection Saves Lives	March 26, 2006	JK1234
Environmental Environment (biophysical) The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...		E12341234E123E412E341E234EA·1234 (counting up from EV)
Former Prisoner of War Prisoner of war A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...		A12
Fraternal Order of Police Fraternal Order of Police The Fraternal Order of Police is an organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. It claims a membership of over 325,000 members organized in 2100 local chapters , organized into local lodges, state lodges, and the national Grand Lodge...		L/E1234
Freedom	January 14, 2007	1FR2345
Gold Star Family	May 2009	B123	Serials are surface-printed.
Home of the Apache San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation The San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, in southeastern Arizona, United States, was established in 1871 as a reservation for the Chiricahua Apache tribe. It was referred to by some as "Hell's Forty Acres," due to a myriad of dismal health and environmental conditions.-Formation:President U.S....	March 2007	C123E4
Honoring Fallen Officers Police officer A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...	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 Golden Rule Golden Rule may refer to:The Golden Rule in ethics, morality, history and religion, also known as the ethic of reciprocityGolden Rule savings rate, in economics, the savings rate which maximizes consumption in the Solow growth model...	November 2007	LM12345	Serials are surface-printed.
Medal of Honor Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...		123
National Guard		N1234
Navajo Nation Navajo Nation The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...	September 2003	B/A1234
Northern Arizona University Northern Arizona University Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of...		V1234
Pets Enrich Our Lives Neutering Neutering, from the Latin neuter , is the removal of an animal's reproductive organ, either all of it or a considerably large part. The process is often used in reference to males whereas spaying is often reserved for females. Colloquially, both terms are often referred to as fixing...	May 2005	C12341234C
Phoenix Suns Phoenix Suns The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...	May 5, 2009	1PS2345	Serials are surface-printed.
Professional Fire Fighters International Association of Fire Fighters The International Association of Fire Fighters is a labor union representing professional firefighters in the United States and Canada. The IAFF was formed in 1918 and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO in the United States and the Canadian Labour Congress in Canada. The IAFF is headquartered in...		F/F1234
Purple Heart Purple Heart The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...		1234
A State of Good Character Character education Character education is an umbrella term loosely used to describe the teaching of children in a manner that will help them develop variously as moral, civic, good, mannered, behaved, non-bullying, healthy, critical, successful, traditional, compliant and/ or socially acceptable beings...	September 2005	A12B34
Veteran Veteran A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...		V/T1234
Veteran—Disabled Person		V/T123	Wheelchair embossed to left of serial.
University of Arizona University of Arizona The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...		P1234
University of Phoenix University of Phoenix The University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...		F/A1234
White Mountain Apache	November 2007	WM123123WM	Serials are surface-printed.

External links

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