Gideon Nicksic
Wisconsin's first state-issued plates date back to 1905, and started out as flat zinc plates with riveted aluminum characters. The first base was intended to be permanent, however in less than a decade that changed. Since then many bases of plates have been issued, and many more types of plates were added to accomodate various types of vehicles and people. This page covers types of plates used on normal passenger vehicles and a few related types.
This page includes the following types:
Wisconsin first started issuing license plates in July 1905. These were made out of black painted zinc plates with aluminum numbers riveted to them. The initial fee was $1 for a plate to be used permanently on the vehicle it was registered to.
In 1909 existing plates were set to expire and were renewed for $1, while new registrations cost $2. Plates from 1905 to 1911 were used until December 31, 1911, though the issuance of undated black plates stopped after July 31, 1911.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 1905 | 32-W 21957-W |
In 1911 plates were to be issued on an annual basis and from August 1 to December 31, 1911, 1911 dated plates were issued for a $5 fee. 1,287 pairs of plates were issued in that timeframe.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 1911 | 13W 1258W |
In 1912 all previous plates were replaced and plates were replaced on an annual basis, being valid from January 1st to December 31st of each year. The material of the plates changed in 1913 from zinc to steel.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 1912 | 29W 24570W |
|
| 1913 | 56W 34042W |
Beginning in 1914, all plates were made out of embossed steel. From 1916-1917, and 1921 onward plates used a "WIS" to identify the state, while plates from 1914-1915, and 1918-1920 used a single letter "W" as a state identifier, although a single 1918 plate in the 1917 "WIS" format is known to exist. 1917 plates had a triangle of dots around the "17" date, allegedly with the state and year identifiers reading "WIS./'17." 1921 base plates are known to have a longer plate variation issued late in the series.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 1914 | Narrow Date | 56W 39958W |
| Wide Date | 40217W 53095W |
|
| 15 | 41 79283 |
|
| 16 | -41- 114986 |
|
| 17 | -798- 164288 |
|
| 18 | -731- 184332 |
|
| 19 | 413- 223482 |
|
| 20 | -731- 274650 |
|
| 21 | 731 319-519 |
|
| 22 | 731 359-264 |
|
| 23 | -1- 421-441 |
In 1924 plates gained weight class codes. Initially weight codes were full-sized letters, however from 1925-1931 weight codes were a small letter above the date. 1928 and 1929 plates have two fonts for the weight codes, with the estimated breakoff between the old and new fonts to be around 10-000A for most series, with the exception of the A weight class.
| Base Weight |
Variation | A 1,600 |
B 2,000 |
C 2,800 |
D 4,000 |
E >4,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | A2576 A156-655 |
B5065 B137-090 |
C 656 C93-573 |
D2834 D81-779 |
E1180 E4075 |
|
| 25 | 60 A 27-395A |
96 B 254-938B |
1533C 118-029C |
3492D 112-042D |
297E 6386E |
|
| 26 | A 310 A19-774 |
B 397 B257-408 |
C 142 C154-025 |
D 699 D124-475 |
E 691 E9539 |
|
| 27 | 1567A 19-917A |
269 B 238-984B |
1 C 185-388C |
60 D 141-801D |
691 E 11-914E |
|
| 28 | Old Font | A 38 A17-297 |
B 57 B214-221 |
C1892 C233-714 |
D 140 D155-478 |
E 172 E16-471 |
| New Font | C236-498 |
|||||
| 29 | Old Font | 262 A 12-248A |
40 B 7862B |
813 C 7895C |
434 D 8920D |
1717E 9824E |
| New Font | 13-333A |
13-935B 181-519B |
10-268C 294-303C |
12-416D 172-601D |
14-597E 20-236E |
|
| 30 | A 735 A8026 |
B 33 B133-455 |
C2593 C331-248 |
D1101 D173-173 |
E 147 E24-087 |
|
| 31 | 1019A 1865A |
1311B 91-793B |
6 C 339-681C |
325 D 169-262D |
3353E 22-479E |
In 1932 weight classes were dropped for passenger plates, and plates used a much more rectangular format. 1932 was also the first year that the full state name was put onto the plates, though shorter "shorty" plates still used a "WIS" identifier. From 1932-1933 numbers under 1000 used short plates, and from 1934-1939 numbers under 10000 used short plates. The slogan "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" was added in 1940 and there were two different fonts used for the numbers, the latter being a return to the taller letters from 1932-1939 allegedly because of law enforcement complaints about the shorter letters being less legible. However, the shorter font was returned in 1941. The 1940 base also has a variation in which there is a slightly embossed platform around the captions and slogan. 1937 plates also had a very subtle variation; an earlier base that had a short nub in the "3" in "37," and a later base that used a longer nub.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | 398 581807 |
|
| 33 | 2-255 565-789 |
|
| 34 | 179 578-194 |
|
| 35 | Horizontal Dash | 104 601-433 |
| Vertical Dash | 610-158 | |
| 36 | Horizontal Dash | 10 95-010 |
| Vertical Dash | 110-999 667-109 |
|
| 37 | Short "3" | 179 708-770 |
| Long "3" | 711-851 714-171 |
|
| 38 | 179 705-296 |
|
| 39 | Short Dash | 104 703-574 |
| Long Dash | 706-359 722-459 |
|
| 40 | Short Numbers Platform |
4878 |
| Short Numbers No Platform |
5122 268-839 |
|
| Tall Numbers | 551-003 746-545 |
|
| 41 | 4805 791-130 |
Gideon Nicksic
Gideon NicksicIn 1942 a multiyear base validated by tabs was issued. Due to the war effort corners were very rounded and the corners were saved. In late 1942, front plates were discontinued and motorists were instructed to keep their front plate; meanwhile, new plates issued were issued on a small, almost motorcycle-sized base that used a mere three characters that ran through every combination possible with letters and numbers. Windshield stickers with an image of the plate in reverse colors were issued in lieu of front plates, and when back plates were revalidated with tabs they were also issued windshield stickers to revalidate the front "plate." After 1943 full size plates were issued again, and both sizes were used through 1945.
1942 plates were issued as sequential numbers, however the small 1942 plates were much more complicated. The numbering started at A00 and it would run to A09, then go from A0A to A0Z, then A10 and so on. So each character would run from 0 to 9, then A to Z, treating the letters like extensions to normal numbers. So C19 would be a higher number than AZD, for example. Once ZZZ was reached the numbering restarted at 00A and the numbering system continued, except that the last character cannot be a number if all the other characters are numbers. The last plate issued was 9ZZ, then A000 was issued and plates sequences were issued normally, then Z999 was reached and the format started again at 0A00 and went to 9K99.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Full Size Plate | 3568 703 630 771 626 |
| 42 | Small Plate | ED5 ZPX 2KU 5BZ |
| 43 | B542 Y761 5G44 |
In 1946, Wisconsin issued a new base set to expire between June 1946 and May 1947; in doing so, Wisconsin became the first state to stagger registrations between all 12 months of the year, and the second state to stagger registrations at all. There are three major variations: the first dated base from the initial allocation in 1946, the second undated base, and a later squared base issued from late 1949 to 1952.
The first letter corresponds to the month of expiration, and for two digit months the first two numbers are stacked and correspond to the month of expiration also.
| Base Month |
Variation | 1 Jan |
2 Feb |
3 Mar |
4 Apr |
5 May |
6 Jun |
7 Jul |
8 Aug |
9 Sep |
10 Oct |
11 Nov |
12 Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Small prefix |
||||||||||||
| 6 13467 | 9 2612 |
||||||||||||
| Large Prefix |
1 89453 |
2 41961 2 92628 |
3 86057 |
4 14462 4 95972 |
5 92462 |
||||||||
| 6 62324 |
7 27972 |
8 84059 |
9 4310 9 99417 |
10 33797 10 90861 |
|||||||||
| 11 696 11 78410 |
12 88949 |
||||||||||||
| Undated Narrow Boltholes |
1 91974 1 97809 |
2 95007 2 99662 |
3 87942 |
4 97647 |
|||||||||
| 6 75043 6 84226 |
7 30625 7 37313 |
10 92864 10 98673 |
|||||||||||
| 11 79131 11 89258 |
12 92715 12 99376 |
||||||||||||
| Undated Wide Boltholes |
3 92467 | ||||||||||||
| 6 87244 6 97776 |
7 41134 7 55055 |
8 89265 8 99305 |
|||||||||||
| 11 96875 | |||||||||||||
| Square Plate |
1 98938 1 109-908 |
2 103-834 2 123-684 |
3 100-111 3 128-330 |
4 102-882 4 130-196 |
5 97002 5 132-301 |
||||||||
| 6 101-881 6 124-313 |
7 59301 7 85281 |
8 100-379 8 129-662 |
9 103-186 9 129-655 |
10 101-921 10 121-955 |
|||||||||
| 11 97890 11 109-197 |
12 101-081 12 126-176 |
Gideon NicksicIn addition to normal variations, there has also been variations in the metal type used for the plates, and even tabs, issued. It appears that between 1950 and 1952 a run of aluminum plates was issued then in late 1954 all plates permanently switched back to aluminum.
These are the known ranges:
| Base Month |
Variation | 1 Jan |
2 Feb |
3 Mar |
4 Apr |
5 May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun |
7 Jul |
8 Aug |
9 Sep |
10 Oct |
||
| 11 Nov |
12 Dec |
|||||
| 46 | Steel | 1 89453 1 109-908 |
2 92628 2 103-834 |
3 86057 3 105-024 |
4 95972 4 114-999 |
5 92462 5 116-703 |
| 6 13467 6 102-262 |
7 27972 7 61768 |
8 84055 8 100-907 |
9 2612 9 115-394 |
10 33797 10 115-210 |
||
| 11 696 11 109-197 |
12 88949 12 122-585 |
|||||
| Aluminum | 2 115-446 2 123-684 |
3 110-355 3 128-330 |
4 118-661 4 130-196 |
5 118-102 5 132-301 |
||
| 6 112-698 6 124-313 |
7 61768 7 85281 |
8 106-031 8 129-662 |
9 122-086 9 129-655 |
10 118-807 10 121-955 |
||
| 12 126-176 |
Gideon NicksicIn 1953 a new format of plates was issued, which was the first to introduce Wisconsin's notable "gutter border" design. Due to the design of the plate, the state name was abbreviated to "WIS" again. The serial format changed to a A12-345 format, with A being coded to the month of expiration like previous plates.
During this base of plates, there were many overflow formats made to accommodate rising registrations throughout the years, with the most notable being the addition of a new AK-1234 format with the K being a constant letter. After the 1955 series was exhausted L and N were added as second letters.
1953 base plates went extremely close to overflowing the normal series, to the point that several series reached less than 200 plates from overflowing the entire series. Given this, it's possible that plates using the previous skinny font may exist for numbers such as "C100-001."
For the 1955 base, numbers above 99-999 used a "AK-1111" overflow format. Reportedly, at least three series overflowed this series to EK10003, KK10003, and LK10001.
The 1955 base used a 6"x12" format late in the series, as the standard plate size was being adopted nationwide. The 1959 base had two major variations, one in which it had a groove at the top and the "WIS" was to the right of the bolt, and a late "61" variation which doesn't have the groove and the "WIS" is to the left of the bolt.
| Base Month |
Variation | A Jan |
B Feb |
C Mar |
D Apr |
E May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H Jun |
J Jul |
K Aug |
L Sep |
P Oct |
||
| T Nov |
V Dec |
|||||
| 53 | A 2118 A99-899 |
B 2171 B96-337 |
C85-463 C99-880 |
D12-243 D99-902 |
E38-027 E99-119 |
|
| H27-419 H97-850 |
J 1611 J83-347 |
K34-803 K96-719 |
L19-276 L97-398 |
P93-057 |
||
| T85-766 |
V 1172 V98-526 |
|||||
| 55 | Large Plate |
A32-449 A95-719 |
B60-114 B99-157 |
C38-297 C96-188 CK-8718 |
D85-570 DK-7532 DK-7766 |
E51-847 E93-455 EK-9082 |
| H17-548 H75-586 HK-5911 |
J 1611 J93-066 |
KK-8366 | L16-712 LK-5790 |
P77-921 PK-3356 |
||
| T 8408 TK-2398 |
V 1872 V41-748 VK-3210 |
|||||
| 6"x12" Plate |
||||||
| J94-447 | KK-9148 | LK-8012 LK-9711 |
PK-4134 PK-4690 |
|||
| 57 | A 6412 AK-8847 |
B 3236 BK-8497 |
CL-8782 | D 371 DL-8760 |
E 3 EL-8113 |
|
| H 2 HL-5913 |
J 1611 JK-3039 |
K 410 K26-463 KL-9445 |
L 1093 L13-621 LL-2382 |
P 270 P 7777 PL-1245 |
||
| T 792 T 5400 TK-5300 |
V 8875 V92-406 VL-3895 |
|||||
| 59 | AL-3607 | B 9054 BK-9914 |
CL-1916 CL-8765 CN-3096 |
DN-2572 | EN-9076 | |
| H 50 HN-5861 |
J 1611 JK-6809 |
K 410 KL 2913 KN-4060 |
LL-9663 |
PK-7270 |
||
| T 5400 TK-6210 |
V17-946 VL-6971 |
|||||
| 61 Format | ||||||
| LN-1807 |
PL-5718 |
|||||
| VL-7611 VL-8027 |
Like 46 base plates, there were multiple runs of different materials used for the plates. Aluminum was used from 1955 onward.
| Base Month |
Variation | A Jan |
B Feb |
C Mar |
D Apr |
E May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H Jun |
J Jul |
K Aug |
L Sep |
P Oct |
||
| T Nov |
V Dec |
|||||
| 53 | Aluminum | A 2118 A88-580 |
B78-418 |
C85-463 | D12-243 D40-934 |
|
| Steel | A93-969 A99-899 |
B92-399 B96-337 |
C99-880 | D98-681 D99-902 |
E38-027 E99-119 |
|
| H27-419 H97-850 |
J83-347 |
K37-444 K96-719 |
L19-276 L97-398 |
P93-057 |
||
| T85-766 |
V41-602 V97-216 |
|||||
| Aluminum | ||||||
| V98-526 | ||||||
| 55 | Steel | A32-449 | B85-386 | C38-297 | D85-570 | E93-455 |
| H17-548 | ||||||
| Aluminum | A37-558 A95-719 |
B90-992 B99-157 |
C96-188 CK-8718 |
DK-7532 DK-7766 |
E93-455 EK-9082 |
|
| H75-586 HK-5911 |
J93-066 J94-447 |
KK-8366 KK-9148 |
LK-5970 LK-9711 |
PK-3356 PK-4690 |
||
| TK-2398 |
V22-384 VK-3210 |
In 1961 stickers replaced tabs. The letter codes shifted and two letters were allocated for each month series, with A and B being alloted to January and C and D being allocated to February, for example. Beginning in 1966 low numbers below 10-001 were issued as reserved as "reserved series" plates and were issued for an additional $3 fee.
| Base Month |
Variation | A, B Jan |
C, D Feb |
E, F Mar |
G, H Apr |
J, K May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L, M Jun |
N, P Jul |
Q, R Aug |
S, T Sep |
U, V Oct |
||
| W, X Nov |
Y, Z Dec |
|||||
| 61 | A 4204 B26-211 |
C 597 D25-344 |
E 8469 F39-367 |
G 1510 H39-731 |
J 1870 K46-491 |
|
| L 249 M39-533 |
N 1611 P17-497 |
Q 97 R42-294 |
S 2072 T33-321 |
U 797 V21-534 |
||
| W 1100 X21-009 |
Y 1069 Z30-064 |
|||||
| 63 | Tab Slots | A 308 B34-386 |
C 1 D29-502 |
E 8255 F44-370 |
G27-279 H51-183 |
J 502 K48-880 |
| L 1 M50-727 |
N 1611 P25-557 |
Q 97 R41-893 |
S 986 T40-782 |
U 2723 V40-030 |
||
| W 792 X25-755 |
Y 5583 Z30-517 |
|||||
| No Tab Slots | ||||||
| P36-681 P38-636 |
||||||
| X27-062 X27-064 |
Z33-717 |
|||||
| 65 | Tab Slots | A1n-nnn | ||||
| No Tab Slots | A21-305 | |||||
| Tab Slots | A34-057 | |||||
| No Tab Slots | A43-963 B46-991 |
C99-519 D48-353 |
E 68 F71-094 |
H77-452 | K47-592 K85-369 |
|
| M81-302 | N 1611 P61-727 |
Q22-682 R75-558 |
T66-591 | V63-123 | ||
| W 1100 X44-056 |
Z47-680 |
Gideon Nicksic
Gideon Nicksic
Gideon Nicksic
In 1967 a new reflective base was introduced. This base also featured the full state name again, and a "WIS" identifier hasn't been used on passenger plates since. In 1969 an AB 1234 format was introduced and was used for series that overflowed the A12-345 format. The 1973 base had a "crude" font variation where only one die set was stamped into rubber as opposed to two matching sets being used. As such the plates have a lot less crisp stamping and the paint jobs tend to be sloppy. The 1980 series had the slo t removed in 1985 and a year later the gutter border was removed just before the first graphic plates were issued. There was also several variations in the font used for the state name and slogan.
Two letter plates with letters in the AA, BB, CC, DD, EE, GG, and UW series were issued low numbers from 1 to at least 889; it is unknown exactly what these plates are.
| Base Month |
Variation | A, B Jan |
C, D Feb |
E, F Mar |
G, H Apr |
J, K May |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L, M Jun |
N, P Jul |
Q, R Aug |
S, T Sep |
U, V Oct |
||
| W, X Nov |
Y, Z Dec |
|||||
| 68 | Slot UL | A49-469 |
||||
| Slot LR | A53-846 |
|||||
| Slot UL | A60-146 |
|||||
| Slot LR | AA 8191 |
CB 2222 | ED 4508 EF 8949 |
GG 1987 GG 1996 |
JJ 3464 | |
| LF 2915 LG 7485 |
N30-641 NC 1448 NE 9991 |
Q24-924 Q36-036 QB 2843 QG 3157 |
SF 1502 | UA 4149 UE 2247 |
||
| W18-688 X96-798 |
Z77-776 YA 3585 |
|||||
| 73 | Normal Stamping |
A11-840 B40-284 |
C17-221 C76-768 |
E17-207 F74-769 |
G13-391 H79-009 |
J16-162 K94-278 |
| L19-719 M71-896 |
N13-714 P52-505 |
Q11-995 R79-578 |
S21-236 S30-212 |
|||
| W11-606 |
||||||
| Crude Stamping |
B48-542 B74-137 |
F82-910 F91-676 |
H95-594? |
K99-2nn |
||
| M97-817 |
P86-091 ND 4280 |
R84-413 R89-620 |
S33-572 S77-185 |
U12-168 V72-900 |
||
| W18-454 X66-828 |
Y11-284 Y88-587 |
|||||
| Normal Stamping |
B91-055 |
CN 7973 |
EB 7869 EY 1342 |
GA 1104 GB 5872 |
JA 2921 KB 2284 |
|
| LA 1130 LB 9735 |
NE 9453 NW 9092 |
QA 9724 QY 2696 |
S84-618 S98-984 |
V77-641 V78-027 |
||
| X73-206 WB 744n |
Z16-969 |
|||||
| Crude Stamping |
GC 1124 GC 4868 |
|||||
| LC 1373 LC 6396 |
T14-478 T71-528 |
V90-991 V99-622 |
||||
| WC 1873 WC 4603 |
Z35-849 Z69-925 |
|||||
| Normal Stamping |
GD 5786 |
|||||
| LD 3414 |
T72-624 |
UA 4531 UV 4618 |
||||
| WD 3866 WL 1999 |
Z73-346 Z92-532 |
|||||
| Crude Stamping |
GE 3247 GE 4034 |
|||||
| LE 4656 LF 9196 |
T73-006 T86-271 |
|||||
| WL 4604 |
YB 2679 |
|||||
| Normal Stamping |
GF 7371 GY 1682 |
|||||
| LG 1891 LX 7978 |
SA 3354 SW 5420 |
|||||
| YC 3358 YK 9919 |
||||||
| 80 | Bolt and Slot |
A11-320 AR 2246 AR 8899 |
C97-015 D47-468 CA 3327 CS 8588 |
E71-273 F34-281 ES 9172 FB 7685 |
GL 8172 HA 8955 |
K27-991 JV 9041 KC 9050 |
| L93-643 LB 6269 MA 9345 |
N69-724 NG 2716 PA 4379 |
Q37-256 R82-943 QC 1160 QZ 9737 |
S79-161 T73-787 SU 1389 SU 7277 |
U99-694 UK 7093 US 9552 |
||
| WL 9189 | Z14-054 YG 9677 YJ 9776 |
|||||
| Border No Slot |
AS 2190 AU 8034 |
CT 2269 CW 4194 |
FD 8864 FF 6916 |
HB 1280 HF 3852 |
KD 2943 KH 8084 |
|
| MB 1986 ME 7375 |
PB 6968 PE 2907 |
RA 1460 RF 5480 |
SV 6591 TA 7537 |
UT 1986 UW 2403 |
||
| WM 1429 WQ 9332 |
YK 4501 YN 9896 |
|||||
| No Border or Slot |
AV 1075 AX 3873 |
CX 1255 DA 5194 |
FG 2063 FL 8272 |
HG 1786 HM 5056 |
KJ 3756 KP 6462 |
|
| MF 4966 ML 7146 |
PF 3444 PK 3449 |
RG 3931 RG 8793 |
TB 1856 TE 3787 |
UX 1853 VB 6684 |
||
| WR 3800 WT 9067 |
YP 2098 YR 2851 |
Reserved Series
Crude Stamp
Wisconsin introduced graphic license plates in 1986. The series started off with a blue lettered base, however law enforcemnt complained that the plates were too close to Illinois plates at the time which also used a blue on white graphic design. Blue base plates were only issued for around a year and were validated to 1993-1994, though vanities commonly were validated as far as 2001.
Reportedly the earliest of the graphic plates were reissues only; AAF-105 was issued to a new registrant at the time of release.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 87 | AAX-195 AZR-200 |
Red graphic plates were first issued in 1987, starting at BAA-101. Around the mid-N series the ink color changed slightly and a narrow font was used starting at NME-101. The series went to WRE-999 and plates were gradually replaced between 2000 and 2014, with all wide font plates being replaced between 2000 and 2003, P to T series plates being replaced in 2009-2010, and the rest of the plates being replaced in 2014. Like blue lettered plates, there are some red-lettered vanities that were validated beyond their normal usage period to as far as 2022, though replacements were issued long ago.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 88 | Wide Font Dark Ink |
BAA-101 NJR-894 |
| Wide Font Bright Ink |
NLF-830 | |
| Narrow Font 3M Sheeting |
NME-105 WKB-944 |
|
| Narrow Font Avery Sheeting |
WKT-544 WRE-970 |
In 2000 the font color changed and the graphics were revised. A new graphic baseplate was planned, however, the design wasn't very popular so the old graphics were hastily revised.
Four different sheeting variations have been used, with Avery sheeting being used from the beginning of the series in 2000 to 2006, 3M sheeting being used from 2006 to 2016, Avery sheeting being used again from 2016 to 2023, and new "prismatic" 3M sheeting being used from late 2023 onward. Due to statue changes specifically requiring prismatic sheeting, there likely won't be any sheeting manufacturer changes for the forseeable future, unless Avery creates their own line of prismatic license plate sheeting.
Plates used a 123-ABC format, and initially the issuance sequence was relatively simple. However, after reaching 999-ZXZ, numbers jumped to 101-ZYK to avoid confusion with human service vehicle plates, went to 999-ZYZ, then jumped to 101-ZZB to avoid confusion with "for hire" plates issued from 2000 to 2004, then continued through the ZZZ series. After that, the 6 digit format was finally exhausted in May 2017, and an ABC-1234 series was issued starting at AAA-1002, with AAA-1001 being retained by the DMV.
So far, four different license plates have been retained by the DMV, including 999-ZZZ, AAA-1001, ABC-1234, and BAA-1001. AWL-1001 was, surprisingly, issued, while the corresponding "first" plate for prismatic sheeting truck plates, UU1001, was retained.
| Base | Variation | Confirmed Ranges |
Expected Ranges |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Avery Sheeting | 101-AAA 925-LKW |
101-AAA 999-LKZ |
| 3M Sheeting | 830-LLB 705-ZCU |
101-LLA 999-ZCY |
|
| Avery Sheeting | 206-ZCZ 132-ZEH 564-ZZB 892-ZZZ AAA-1003 AWK-9782 |
101-ZCZ 999-ZXZ 101-ZYK 999-ZYZ 101-ZZB 998-ZZZ AAA-1002 AWK-9999 |
|
| Prismatic Sheeting | AWL-1002 BAA-1010* |
AWL-1001 AXS-1441 |
*BAB-9331 has been seen, however it is not on the DOT plate search and is out-of-sequence so I'm omitting it from the serial ranges for now:
Duplicate plates were issued from around 1925 to 1941. As the name suggests, they are duplicate plates issued to motorists who lost their plates. Early plates used a large, fully spelled out "DUPLICATE" caption, while later plates from around 1929 onward used horizontally rotated shortened captions such as "AUTO/DUPL."
| Base Weight |
Variation | A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | ||||||
| 25 | 756 B | 229 C | ||||
| 26 | 796 B | 215 C 310 C |
100 D | |||
| 27 | 780 B 879 B |
|||||
| 28 | C 289 | |||||
| 29 | B-558 | |||||
| 30 | C 388 | D 217 | ||||
| 31 | ||||||
Like normal passenger plates, weight codes were dropped in 1932. Most plates from this time onward used a small stacked "DUP" or "DUPL" caption. Duplicate plates were discontinued in 1943.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | 2486 2866 |
|
| 33 | 2531 2609 |
|
| 34 | 2723 | |
| 35 | 3000 | |
| 36 | 3447 | |
| 37 | 2759 | |
| 38 | 2422 2615 |
|
| 39 | 2984 3400 |
|
| 40 | 2716 3048 |
|
| 41 | 2009 3356 |
|
| 42 | 2 208 |
"Temporary" registrations have been issued since at least 1934. The first registrations known are windshield stickers used for temporary registration, and usually didn't carry serial numbers.
Issuance of temporary permits is unknown between 1947 and 1975.
"In-transit permits" were the first type of full-size temporary license plate known to exist, and were issued from 1975 to 1982.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | 503315 519006 |
"In-transit permit" plates were replaced with temporary plates in June 1982.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 82 | Wide Font | 532542 538346 |
| Skinny Font | 554066 712211 |
|
| 90 | 762687 939959 |
|
| 98? | 982496 | |
| 99 | No Vehicle Info | C33 313 W16 693 BW7 599 CA8 702 |
| Vehicle Info | A13 84A R73 45V |
Sometime in the late 2010s, plain temporary plates in the A1111AA format began to be issued; in 2020, these plain temporary plates replaced the earlier design, and currently two plate formats are being issued.
The two-letter plates are plates in an "A1111A" format, continued on from the previous plates, while the three-letter plates are a completely separate series. "PE" and "KE" suffixes have been noted on the three-letter plates, and both the suffix progression and the meaning of these separate series of plates is currently unknown.
| Base | Variation | 2 Letters | 3 Letters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | TnnnnU W6171V A6441S |
A6407PE B3104KE D8604KE |
Loaner plates have been issued since 1974, dated 1975. According to the 1984 plate guide it was used when plates were applied for but weren't received:
"Issued to a Wisconsin resident only for any vehicle requiring a license plate, when the application has been submitted to the Registration Bureau by the applicant and the licenses have not been received."
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | LZ 1639 | |
| 80 | LZ 1281 |
For hire plates were first issued in 1973. They are issued to vehicles for hire, commonly being used on taxis. They were discontined in 2004, however plates are still valid and have been used at least to 2021.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 73 | ZZ 1705 | |
| 80 | Groove and Slot | ZZ 1244 ZZ 2000 |
| Groove, No Slot | ||
| No Groove or Slot | ZZ 2127 ZZ 2130 |
|
| 88 | Wide Font | ZZA-458 |
| Narrow Font | ||
| 00 | 501-ZZA |
Fleet plates are Wisconsin's newest type of plates that were reportedly issued starting in December 2022. Fleet plates have a unique graphic design and are undated.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | Centered Avery Sheeting |
10001AFT 13394AFT |
| Right Aligned Avery Sheeting |
13750AFT 21608AFT |
Human services plates have been issued since December 1981, dated "DEC 82." They are used on vehicles transporting elderly or disabled people. Currently, ZYA-ZYJ is reserved for human service vehicle plates, while ZYK and above was issued to passenger vehicles; I'm guessing once 999-ZYJ is reached, ZYA-1001 will be issued. Though given how few of these plates are issued, 999-ZYJ probably won't be reached until well into the 2030s.
| Base | Variation | Ranges | Expected Ranges |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | Groove and Slot | ZY 1192 ZY 1705 |
ZY 1001 ZY 1800 |
| 88 | Wide Font | ZYA-101 | |
| Narrow Font | ZYE-798 | ZYE-999 | |
| 00 | 396-ZYA 439-ZYJ |
101-ZYA 430-ZYJ |
Disabled license plates are issued to disabled people, and were first issued in 1961, dated 1962.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | ||
| 63 | ||
| 65 | DA 1441 | |
| 68 | DA 1892 | |
| 73 | DA 3827 |
In 1980, a new "DIS" prefix was used. A wheelchair symbol was added in 1988, and there was no blue lettered base issued. Early plates used a screened "DIS" and wheelchair, while later narrow font plates used an embossed "DIS" and wheelchair. Later plates also dropped the caption and replaced it with the "America's Dairyland" slogan.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | Groove and Slot | DIS 4538 DIS 9762 |
| Groove, no slot | DIS A863 DIS C566 |
|
| No Groove or Slot | DIS D211 DIS D713 |
|
| 88 | Wide Font | DIS7580 DISQ684 |
| Narrow Font | DIS AZ30 DIS CT72 12548D |
In 2000 a D suffix was used for disabled plates instead of a "DIS" prefix, and plates started at 30001D for unknown reasons. The D series was exhausted around 2013 and a new "DS" stacked suffix was used.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 00 | Avery Sheeting | 30110D |
| 3M Sheeting | 92474D 10009DS 10999DS |
|
| Avery Sheeting |
In addition to disabled license plates, there are also disabled cards that are placed inside the car. They are also issued stickers, and they are meant for the card. However, every once in a while someone will stick a disabled sticker on a license plate.
Disabled veteran plates have been issued since 1950, and are issued to disabled veterans as the name suggests. In 1977 a new base was issued, and it appears older plates were reissued, even though the only difference was that the VET prefix was stepped as opposed to normal letters in the serial.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | ||
| 53 | ||
| 55 | ||
| 57 | VET 321 | |
| 59 | VET 384 | |
| 61 | VET 384 | |
| 63 | VET 384 | |
| 65 | VET 800 | |
| 68 | 248 VET VET1002 |
|
| 73 | VET 1 101 VET 781 VET |
|
| 77 | VET 1 VET 1725 |
|
| 80 | VET 1 VET 2283 |
|
| 88 | VET 1 |
In 1992, disabled veteran plate designs split off from normal passenger plate designs.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 92 | Wide Font | VET 1 |
| Narrow Font | VET 5053 | |
| 09 | 11342V |
Amateur radio plates have been issued since 1951 with 1952 dated plates. They are issued to amateur radio operators and plate numbers are their callsign.
Amateur radio plates are also available on disabled plates; they're simply amateur radio numbers on disabled plates, though.
Low speed plates were introduced in 2007, and are issued to low-speed vehicles as the name suggests. Plates are revalidated every two years and have identical expiration intervals to motorcycles.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 07 | 1004 LS 2733 LS |
