The Ultimate Guide to New York License Plates: History, Designs, Codes, and DMV Hacks

Welcome to the comprehensive scoop on New York License Plates—from their nostalgic historical journey to the nitty-gritty of serial codes and fancy personalized plates, topped off with DMV wizardry to keep your vehicle road-legal. Curious what New York plates have looked like since the horse-and-buggy days? Wondering how to decode that pesky letter sequence on a car you just saw on the highway? Or maybe you're itching to order a vanity plate that screams you? Read on, dear New Yorker, because we've got all the golden (and blue, and orange) nuggets for you right here.

1. Historical Evolution and Design Changes of New York License Plates

From Self-Made Tags to Standardized State Issuance

Did you know New York was the first U.S. state to require vehicle registration way back in 1901? Early car owners got creative: initially, residents provided their own plates, often emblazoned with their initials until 1903. Numbers took over by 1903, but it wasn’t until 1910 that New York began issuing official state license plates—talk about pioneering!

1910–1965: Porcelain, Embossed Colors, and County Coding

Between 1910 and 1965, plates transformed through a kaleidoscope of colors and materials:

• 1910–1919: Porcelain and embossed steel plates with colors like maroon, purple, yellow, and white, frequently featuring a vertical "NY".
• 1925 Onward: Introduction of county codes—first subtle, then explicit—allowing officials to track registrations geographically.
• World War II Impact: To save metal for the war effort, only rear plates were issued in 1942–43, with revalidation tabs handling renewals. Peeling stickers were later abundant—anyone else remember struggling with those?
• The 1956 international agreement standardized plate size to 6" x 12", which New York adopted promptly with its 1957 plate series. This move synced NY with Canada, Mexico, and states, making plates more uniform across borders and friendly to manufacturers.

Mid-20th Century Changes: Blue-on-Orange to Empire State Plates

• 1973–1986 (Blue-on-Orange): Vibrant orange reflective plates with dark blue embossed serials hit the scene. The serial system was county-coded based on significant local features—a clever blend of geography and registration.
• 1986–2001 (Statue of Liberty Plates): These plates featured the iconic Statue of Liberty graphic and shifted to reflective white bases with red stripes. Security-wise, they began embedding 3M security marks that evolved from the word "Liberty" to year stamps and lot numbers, a subtle nod to fighting plate forgery.
• 2001–2010 (Empire State Plates): A scenic panorama of Niagara Falls, Adirondacks, and NYC's skyline, including the Empire State Building, adorned these plates. The slogan "THE EMPIRE STATE" made a grand comeback, and serials moved to the ABC-1234 format, omitting confusing letters like I, O, and Q.
• 2010–2020 (Empire Gold Plates): A golden-yellow plate with dark blue serials and subtle blue bars replaced Empire State plates. Customers grumbled about a $25 mandatory replacement fee—cue the classic New Yorker grumble—but adoption continued regardless.

The Modern Marvel: 2020-Present Excelsior Plates

Governor Cuomo rallied New Yorkers in 2019 to pick a new design, giving the people the power—democracy at its shiny best. The winner? A sleek white plate emblazoned with images of Niagara Falls, NYC skyline, and Long Island lighthouse, with "NEW YORK" centered at the top and the state motto "EXCELSIOR" in golden letters at the bottom.

Heads up: The first batch (series KAA-KCH) was too reflective, effectively blinding toll and speed cameras, so they got pulled back for a reprint. Plates now start from the KDA series forward, distributed progressively across counties as supplies refresh.

Role of Auburn Correctional Facility

Believe it or not, New York plates come from a prison workshop! The Corcraft Products facility at Auburn Correctional Facility manufactures the aluminum license plates, combining rehabilitation with production. It’s a little bit of upstate craftsmanship on every bumper.

2. Serial Formats, County Coding, and Geographic Allocation

Serial Formats Through the Years

From simple numeric sequences to alphanumeric puzzles, serial formats evolved significantly:

County Coding: When License Plates Became Mini Maps

Between 1946 and 1986, New York encoded county information right into the serial letters—a bit like secret VIP passes for Nassau, Albany, or Bronx. Letter blocks were assigned to counties, often with phonetic ties or local landmarks:

• Example: The 'AUB' series was reserved for Cayuga County’s seat at Auburn (home of the plate’s production facility).
• Early blue-on-orange plates (1973–1986) allocated letter series by county based on geographical or cultural features.
• Later, this system relaxed, eventually phasing out county codes on passenger plates with the introduction of the Liberty plates in the 1980s.

For collectors and New Yorkers, spotting a plate tells a localized story—like a mobile cultural snapshot of the Empire State.

3. Current License Plates and Specialty Options

The Excelsior Plates: New York’s Pride on Wheels

• Design elements: White aluminum background, dark blue serials separated by the state-shaped silhouette, iconic images of Niagara Falls, NYC skyline, and Long Island lighthouse, topped with “NEW YORK” and the motto “EXCELSIOR” in golden script.
• Serial formats: Standard ABC-1234, using letters and digits but skipping confusing letters I, O, and Q.
• Distribution: Currently issued in counties with depleted Empire Gold stocks. Serial batches for new plate numbers start at KAA-1000, advancing into the L series as of 2025.

Optional and Non-Passenger Plates: Flaunt Your Interest or Profession

You'll find a vast universe of license plates beyond the standard:

Fancy a plate showing your love for the Yankees or your alma mater? Or perhaps a golf plate to showcase your hobby? New York has you covered.

Historical and Vintage Plates

Preserving history never looked so stylish. If you own a classic car, you can apply for vintage plates that echo the era of your ride. These plates offer reduced renewal fees and make you the king or queen of classic car streets.

4. Personalized, Vanity, and Professional Custom Plates

Vanity Plates: Your Personality, Up to 8 Characters

From pre-1977’s modest 3-letter/3-digit combos to today’s 8-character extravaganzas of letters, numbers, spaces, and dashes, New York’s vanity plates let you stamp your personality onto your car. Want to be the JIM-1 or BROOKLYN on the road? You got it.

Rules & Restrictions

• Plates must include at least one letter.
• Banned combinations? Absolutely—over 5,000 applications were rejected between 2010 and 2015 for offensive or confusing topics.
• Duplicate combos with existing standard plates (e.g., FAB-1000) are disallowed to avoid mix-ups.
• The DMV keeps a sharp eye on inappropriate or questionable content, so no funny business allowed.

Ordering Your Plate

Ordering a personalized plate is straightforward—just follow the NY DMV online portal. A yearly fee applies, so be ready to invest in your vehicular vanity.

Professional Custom Plates: Wear Your Profession with Pride

The DMV offers categories for emergency services, medical professions, and other qualified fields. These plates come with unique designs and coding, denoting your expertise or service to the community.

Here’s a glimpse of eligible professionals:

Searching for your exact plate is a breeze on the DMV site with filtering by vehicle type and profession.

5. Registration, Plate Management, and DMV Procedures

Registering Your Vehicle and Getting Plates

To hit those iconic NYC or upstate highways legally, register your vehicle at a DMV office or online via the NY DMV portal—a true gem for saving time.

Transferring Plates: Keep Your Look

Selling a vehicle? You can transfer your plates to another vehicle you own—especially useful if you're attached to your custom or historic plate.

Surrendering Plates: When Your Ride Takes a Bow

If you dispose of a vehicle or register it out of state, you’re required to surrender your plates to the DMV. No plate left behind!

Lost, Damaged, or Stolen Plates? Stay Calm and Replace

Peeling, destroyed, or missing plates? Don't worry—replacement plates are available through the DMV, both online and in-office. For personalized plates, special procedures exist to maintain your unique combo.

Temporary Registrations & In-Transit Permits

Need to drive your car before full registration? The DMV issues In-Transit Vehicle Permits, perfect for new purchases or moves between states.

Plate Revalidation and Stickers

Since 1973, New York plates are validated annually via windshield sticker decals—an easy way to prove your registration is current while saving the hassle of plate changes.

Different Needs, Different Plates

Motorcycles, trailers, rental cars, commercial vehicles—all have distinct plate designs and registration rules in New York. Remember, motorcycles only require rear plates, while passenger vehicles must sport both front and rear plates.

6. Vehicle Inspection and Compliance

The Law of the Land: Annual Inspections

Every vehicle registered in New York must pass a state vehicle safety inspection every 12 months. Skipping this? Prepare for parking tickets or worse!

Out-of-State Vehicle Inspection Process

Bringing a car from another state? It must pass inspection before New York registration. Think of it as New York’s way of saying, “Welcome, but only if you’re safe and street-worthy.”

The Cost of Ignoring Inspection Stickers

Driving without a valid inspection sticker isn't just risky; it's ticket-worthy. The authorities are quite diligent about spotting expired or missing stickers.

Quick Tips & Trivia

• Did you spot the "county code" on a 1970s plate? That letter block can tell you where the vehicle was initially registered.
• The 'AUB' series plates are a nod to the Auburn Correctional Facility, where many NY plates are crafted.
• The transition to standardized plate size was a unifying event across North America in 1956, making life easier for manufacturers and car owners alike.
• Want to avoid the $25 fee for new plates? Hold on to your legible old plates as long as you want! The 2020 Excelsior replacement fee plan was scrapped due to protests.
• Don’t forget to check if your desired vanity plate is not on the banned list before falling in love with a combo.
• DMV phone lines: (800) 698-2931, Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM—patience is a virtue here!

Wrapping Up

Navigating New York license plates is no small feat, but now you've got the essentials—from their storied past and design quirkiness to the secret language of serials and the wonders of modern DMV self-service. Whether you're a veteran plate collector, a proud professional seeking a custom tag, or a first-time registrant eager to rep your New York pride, the Empire State's plates have your back.

And hey, next time you see a license plate with a mysterious letter block, you won't just squint—you'll decode a bit of New York history right there on the bumper.

Feeling inspired? Go explore your options with NY’s DMV online. And remember: a cool plate + a safe car = a happy New Yorker. 🚗💙

Useful Resources

Got a burning NY plate question? Pull over and ask away—because in New York, even license plates have stories to tell!