The U.S. state of
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
first required its residents to register their
motor vehicle
A motor vehicle, also known as motorized vehicle or automotive vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on Track (rail transport), rails (such as trains or trams) and is used for the transportation of pe ...
s in 1907. Registrants provided their own
license plate
A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate (British English), license plate (American English), or licence plate ( Canadian English), is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identificati ...
s for display until 1913, when the state began to issue plates.
, plates are issued by the
North Carolina Department of Transportation
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is responsible for building, repairing, and operating highways, bridges, and other modes of transportation, including ferries in the U.S. state of North Carolina.
History
The North Carolina ...
(NCDOT) through its
Division of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1956.
Passenger baseplates
1913 to 1974
In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the
American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) is a non-governmental, voluntary, tax-exempt, nonprofit educational association. AAMVA is a private corporation which strives to develop model programs in motor vehicle administration, ...
, the
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.
A different group called the Automobile Manufacturers' Association was active in the ...
and the
National Safety Council
The National Safety Council (NSC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public service organization promoting health and safety in the United States. Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, NSC is a member organization, founded in 1913 and granted a congressi ...
that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for
motorcycle
A motorcycle (motorbike, bike, or trike (if three-wheeled)) is a two or three-wheeled motor vehicle steered by a handlebar. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long-distance travel, commuting, cruising ...
s) at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes.
The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first North Carolina license plate that complied with these standards.
1975 to present
Non-passenger plates
Temporary plates
North Carolina temporary tag, 1997.png, 1997
North Carolina temporary tag, 2003.png, 2003
North Carolina motorcycle temporary tag, 2009.png, 2009, motorcycle
References
Further reading
North Carolina license plates, 1969–presenth1>
External links
*
{{North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
North Carolina transportation-related lists
Transportation in North Carolina