Andrew Turnbull
Motorcycles were first issued distinct plates in 1909, which, unlike other plates at the time, used a different color scheme and were embossed from their introduction onward. This page includes information on motorcycle plates, in addition to other small passenger vehicles that received small sized license plates.
This page includes the following types:
Most motorcycle dealer types are shown in the dealers page, while collector motorcycle types are shown in the collectors page. Electric motorcycles and moped plates, which will likely be issued later this year, will be in a new "electric vehicles" page. Driver education motorcycle types are shown in the bus/school page.
Motorcycle license plates were first issued in 1909. Unlike passenger plates, motorcycle plates have been embossed since their introduction in 1909. Additionally, plates on the 1909 base were unpainted zinc on a red background, as opposed to the riveted aluminum on black passenger plates.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 1909 - 1910 |
3 W 2047W 2402W |
|
| 1911 | 277W | |
| 1912 | 792W 3838W |
|
| 1913 | 52 W 6186W |
|
| 1914 | 119 W 6975W |
|
| 15 | 45 7887 |
|
| 16 | 498- 8908 |
|
| 17 | -48- 7961 |
|
| 18 | 1110 6564 |
|
| 19 | 692 6245 |
|
| 20 | 590 7157 |
|
| 21 | 849 7378 |
|
| 22 | 601 4846 |
|
| 23 | 127 198- 267 2126 |
In 1924, motorcycle plates were issued in two letter series: "A" plates were issued to normal motorcycles, while "B" plates were issued to motorcycles with sidecars.
| Base | Variation | A | B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | A 47 A2069 |
B 3 B1718 |
|
| 25 | A 66 A1761 |
B907 B1167 |
|
| 26 | 5 A 2064A |
355B 1046B |
|
| 27 | 102A 1611A |
317B 694B |
|
| 28 | A 31 A1419 |
B 6 B776 |
|
| 29 | A 51 A1560 |
B384 B905 |
|
| 30 | A152 A1959 |
B199 B365 |
|
| 31 | A 1 A1080 |
B466 |
In 1932, letters were dropped from motorcycle plate serials and all motorcycles were once again issued all numeric plates.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | 52 1860 |
|
| 33 | 15 1538 |
|
| 34 | 4 1272 |
|
| 35 | 5 2477 |
|
| 36 | 272 2830 |
|
| 37 | 46 1337 |
|
| 38 | 29 3241 |
|
| 39 | 141 2943 |
|
| 1940 | 252 3130 |
|
| 1941 | 593 3338 |
|
| 1942 | 12 2938 |
|
| 1943 | 424 5162 |
|
| 1946 | 41 5227 |
In 1947, A and B letters were once again added differentiating between regular motorcycles and motorcycles with sidecars. By this point, motorcycles with sidecars were evidently rare with the highest number known being under 200. A small font was used in 1948 and 1949 when registrations for A class motorcycles exceeded 9999.
| Base | Variation | A | B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 29 8150 |
136 | |
| 48 | Large Font | 2400 9619 |
171 |
| Small Font | 10016 11006 |
(none) | |
| 49 | Large Font | 674 9284 10613 10951 |
24 69 |
| Small Font | 10613 10951 |
(none) | |
| 50 | 116 9755 |
105 | |
| 51 | 522 8993 |
131 | |
| 52 | 23 8161 |
50 151 |
|
| 53 | Slot UL | 453 7115 8804 |
88 |
| 54 | Slot LR | 54 1885 |
37 100 |
| Slot LL | 2633 8678 |
||
| 55 | Slot UL | 25 8143 |
112 114 |
| 56 | Slot UL Only | 113 268 |
53 82 |
| Slot UL & Slot ML |
783 7454 |
||
| Slot UL Only | 8814 9325 |
96 107 |
|
| 57 | Slot UL | 865 9767 |
99 |
In 1958, letter classes were once again dropped, with all motorcycles being issued a single sequential series from that point onward. After 9999 was reached, a 1A23 format was issued.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 7 9959 1A18 |
|
| 1959 | 170 9442 1A47 4B87 |
In 1960, a completely new design of motorcycle license plates was issued. Plates in 1960 started at 1, and plates from 1961 to 1965 started at 10001. Plates from this time period in the 4000 block were issued to municipal motorcycles, while normal motorcycles used five digit plates exclusively.
Like motorcycle plates from the mid-1950s, several variations in slot position are known from 1960 to 1964, and slots continued to be used until around 1982.
| 60 | Slot Left | 1 10770 |
|---|---|---|
| Slot Right | 11825 | |
| 61 | Slot Left | 10413 21407 |
| Slot Right | 22210 | |
| Slot Left? | 22999 | |
| 62 | Slot Right | 10170 21656 |
| 63 | Slot Left | 11027 22941 |
| Slot Right | 24030 25252 |
|
| Slot Left | 25310 25387 |
|
| 64 | Slot Right | 10479 21109 |
| Slot Left | 22142 28863 |
|
| 65 | 11685 68899 |
In 1967, motorcycle plates were reflectorized along with many other plate types. Unlike previous bases, the slot stayed at the left for all plates from 1967 until slots were removed around 1981.
Reportedly, after 99999 was issued on the 1967 base, four digit plates were issued briefly before the 1970 base was introduced. They likely started at 5001 to avoid confusion with municipal motorcycle plates, and several unissued 1967 base plates in the number range of approximately 7000 to 9000 are known to exist. A letter series starting at E1001 was introduced as an overflow format after 99999 was reached beginning in 1972.
Several low number plates (two to three digits) from 1972 appear to be unissued; the reasoning for this is unknown.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | Issued | 10470 99620 5432 6317 |
| Unissued (?) | 7051 9048 |
|
| 70 | 1077 83986 |
|
| 72 | 1 99969 E2047 E9845 |
|
| 74 | 1 96221 E3108 K1998 |
|
| 77 | 1 98384 E7743 M3955 |
|
| 79 | Narrow WIS | 1 85753 E2854 N2355 |
| Wide WIS | N3045 P2551 |
|
| Narrow WIS | P3881 Q5917 |
|
| 81 | Slot | 1 99857 E4607 S6282 |
| No Slot | T1118 U4046 |
|
| 83 | Border | 1 92519 E3590 Z6084 |
| No Border | A8515 D9930 |
|
| 85 | Border | 1 96909 E4561 P9952 |
| No Border | Q2538 V8802 |
Starting in 1990, plates were revalidated on a biennial basis, being revalidated on even years. Unlike previous bases, the 1994 base likely went through the usual 1 through 99999 numeric sequence, but then started the single alpha series at A101 instead of the usual E1001 of previous bases.
The 1989 base has two known variations; one variation with a debossed "89" in the sticker box, and one without that debossed date. 1994 base plates have several minor variations in sheeting and foreground paint; earlier plates used a nonreflective opaque paint, while later plates used a translucent ink of sorts that reflected back along with the sheeting. Along with the paint change, the sheeting also had minor changes with earlier plates having a much duller texture on the reflective sheeting than later plates. Some plates made very late into the series used Avery sheeting.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 89 | Debossed "89" | 1 99970 E7369 Z7414 Z9487? |
| No "89" | A5012 B3807 |
|
| 94 | 3M Sheeting Opaque Paint |
1 99359 A8635 V983 |
| 3M Sheeting Translucent Paint |
W2348 W9929 |
|
| 3M Sheeting Opaque Paint |
X5083 | |
| 3M Sheeting Translucent paint |
X5953 Z7814 AA894 JF391 |
|
| Avery Sheeting | JR632 KB914 |
In 2002, Wisconsin became one of the last states to adhere to the standard size for motorcycle license plates, and so a new base was issued. This new base was issued to new registrants only and previous 1994 base plates were valid until 2016.
As before, there are several variations in sheeting composition, with earlier plates using Avery sheeting, plates from the early to mid-2010s using 3M sheeting, and plates from around the late 2010s onward using Avery sheeting again.
In 2023, the "X" series was mistakenly issued instead of the "W" series, so XA-XZ was issued out-of-sequence before WA-WZ. Additionally, the space in the serial appears to be being removed; so far two plates, one in the XX series and one in the WW series, are known to omit this serial space, though a "WF" suffix plate still has the space.
Around October 2024, the state name was shortened to "WIS" so that EV stickers could be placed at the top right corner. The earliest known issuance was October 21st, and it appears that Avery sheeting was used very briefly before switching to prismatic sheeting by November 8th. Allegedly, "WIS" plates were issued beginning sometime around the YG series.
Reportedly, plates 15 years old are being reissued. There are no plans to reissue more recent plates in favor of the new state name format as far as I know.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 02 | Avery Sheeting | KV 101 ZV 556 1252 A 1766 Q |
| 3M Sheeting | 3602 S 9645 Z 580 AA 941 HY |
|
| Avery Sheeting "WISCONSIN" |
551 JH 515XC 123XX 772 WF 447WW |
|
| Avery Sheeting "WIS" |
(Vanity) nnnYG |
|
| Prismatic Sheeting "WIS" |
259YK |
Disabled motorcycle plates were first issued around 1990, set to expire in 1992. They started at D101 and have only reached a little over D2000 since then.
There are known variations in sheeting type used on disabled motorcycle plates, however so few of these plates have been found that breakoff points aren't able to be determined. The second run of Avery sheeting (2016 to ca. 2024) is known on plates around D2000, while plates found in the D1000 block largely have 3M sheeting from 2007 to 2016.
The Wisconsin DOT plate guide usually shows the first number issued for all plates as "sample" numbers, and for disabled motorcycle plates, D601 is shown as a "sample" number for the current black on white base. However, D527 has been found to be made on the current base; it is unknown if this is a remake plate, if the guide is wrong, or if something else happened.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 89 | D101 D102 |
|
| 94 | D340 D430 |
|
| 02 | D527 D2255 |
Moped license plates have been issued since 1979, though they were uncaptioned until 1981. The first plates were identfiable by a serial in the Z, and, later, a "Y" series, while later plates used various four digit configurations split in the middle by an "APR" month designation.
Notably, the 1994 series was in use as far as at least 2020, as opposed to their motorcycle counterparts that were replaced in 2016.
As for variations, the moped series has considerably fewer known variations compared to their motorcycle counterparts, with the exception of the 1983 base which has a run of plates in the "Y" prefix series that used a debossed border. 1979 base plates don't have a wide state name variation known yet, while the 89 base doesn't have an undated base variation known yet, with the highest known number still carrying the debossed "89" date.
Information on reflective sheeting for moped plates is sparse, so I only include information on 2002 base sheeting for the time being. The 1994 base probably also has the same sheeting variations, however there isn't enough images on hand to determine breakoff points yet.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 79 | Z1001 Z9813 Ynnnn |
|
| 81 | 41 44 78 23 C5 87 J4 12 |
|
| 83 | Embossed Border | 10 96 98 39 A3 04 X8 78 |
| Debossed Border | Y1 20 Y3 82 |
|
| No Border | 33 2A 12 1D |
|
| 85 | Border | 10 75 84 35 A7 36 G6 03 |
| No Border | H2 85 Z7 83 41 3A 95 9D |
|
| 89 | 10 01 74 3T B1 81 X7 32 40 0D 17 5Q |
Beginning with the 1994 base, it appears that the serial progression has changed; previously, prefix letters were issued first, however given the known variations, it's likely that suffix letters were issued before prefix letters. When the 11 11, 11 1A, and A1 11 formats were all exhausted, a "A1 1A" format was issued beginning at A1 1A. The current base was reportedly issued beginning around summer 2004.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 94 | 3M Sheeting Opaque Paint |
13 33 88 81 40 2B 96 0Z G4 51 K3 17 |
| 3M Sheeting Translucent Paint |
R2 13 W9 01 A6 0C C7 6E |
|
| Avery Sheeting | E6 1Q E4 1W |
|
| 04 | Avery Sheeting | F3 1F T1 4Z V2 4C X8 1W Z1 6P A677C B230K |
| 3M Sheeting | B613Q C753H |
|
| Avery Sheeting | D254F D457J |
Autocycle plates were introduced around 2020, set to expire in 2021. Initially autocycle plates were registered yearly every April, however in September 2022 new registrants got a new base that would be registered yearly at all 12 months of the year, similar to regular passenger plates.
The serial format for autocycle plates is 123A4, and uniquely the last digit (4), is currently a constant suffix number, with the numbers running from 101A1 to 999A1, then 101B1 and so on. The earlier base of plates stopped around the mid-B series and the current base without the APR designation started at 101C1, though older plates are still valid and in use.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | April Dated |
259A1 962A1 |
| Staggered Registration |
267C1 417C1 |
A very rare type of license plate issued to "home-built, reconstructed or manufactured vehicles having a maximum speed of 35 m.p.h." according to the Wisconsin DOT plate guide. Motorcycle numbers 1200 to 1350 were reserved for this odd class of vehicles, though two mint condition 1981 base plates with the numbers 1351 and 1355 have been seen.
Plates were first issued in September 1980, set to expire in 1981. Plates made after the 1994 base are to be sequential motorcycle plates with a "special designed vehicle" sticker, however to my understanding no new plates have been issued since the 2002 base came out.
Allegedly, "only 12 vehicles ever qualified" to receive special designed vehicle plates during the 1985-1988 base of plates; the validity of such information is unknown for the time being.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | 1205 1212 1351 1355 |
|
| 83 | 1212 | |
| 85 | 1207 | |
| 89 | 1201 | |
| 94 |
Snowmobile dealer plates are issued by the DNR to snowmobile dealers demonstrating snowmobiles. They were first issued in the early 1970s, set to expire in 1975. Plates from around 1994 onward used bicycle sized plates, while older plates used motorcycle sized plates, allegedly being produced on leftover plate blanks no longer in use.
1978 base plates were issued in pairs; it isn't known if 1975 base plates were issued in pairs and it appears pairs were discontinued by the 1988 base. Plates from at least the 1980s onward were reissued each two years, so a dealer would get plates in 1982, 1984, 1986, and so on. Plates were undated all years so many issuance years are estimations, and plates seemingly changed colors at random from the 1990s through the mid 2000s. It appears that in 2018, plates wrapped from S9999 to S0001.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| 75 - 78 |
D211 D9784 |
|
| 78 - ca. 87 |
Y10 Y9906 |
|
| ca. 87 - ca. 89 |
D1876 | |
| ca. 90 - ca. 93? |
D4238 D6127 |
|
| ca. 94 - ca. 97 |
S1294 S4932 |
|
| ca. 97 - ca. 98 |
S6393 | |
| 98 - ca. 99 |
S6708 S6908 |
|
| ca. 00 | S1336 S1482 |
|
| ca. 01 - 07 |
Reflective | S3096 S7322 |
| Nonreflective | S8516 S9852 |
|
| 07 - 18 (25?) |
S0997 S9989 S0819 S1933 |
Another related type is ATV dealer, which is another type issued by the DNR to ATV dealers. The earliest known plate is from 1994, and like snowmobile dealer plates, many later issues used leading zeroes. Three bases are known to exist, none of which use snowmobile dealer colors, curiously.
| Base | Variation | Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| ca. 94 - 05 |
A1151 A4785 |
|
| 06 - 12 |
A5713 A9677 |
|
| 13 - 14 (25?) |
A0081 A0610 |
