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Since the late 1980s, Wisconsin license plates have had holograms on them. Though they're officially called "Ensure™ Directional Images," or, in the case of Avery sheeting, "Secure Mark™," most collectors refer to them as "holograms." These holograms are used to combat counterfeiting, and usually contain information such as a state identifier and a lot code.

The first holograms were the basic 3M holograms issued beginning around 1988, which were a circle which could be viewed at a certain angle and would be completely invisible otherwise, with a DMV logo and a lot code on them. The lot code has a "B" for Scotchlite manufacturing plant in Brownwood, Texas, a letter code for the last digit of the year of manufacture which runs from 1-0 with letters spelling out the word "COMPLAINTS," a letter code for the month of manufacture with letters spelling out the word "STENOGRAPHIC", and a numeric code representing the week of manufacture. For example, a code of "BTE3" correlates to March 15-21, 1988. This type of hologram was used until sheeting suppliers were changed to Avery in 1999.

The holograms were the same on all plate types, with the exception of motorcycle-sized plates, which used basic circular holograms with the lot code shown as letters/numbers put around the circle:

The second holograms were used on Avery sheeting from 1999 to 2006, and were a circle of holographic ink that would show slightly at an angle, but you could still see the ink at any angle. They consisted of a circle with a state outline and a year and month inside the state outline. Many times these holograms faded so there is a large number of plates out there that appear to have no holograms.

There is no holograms known for motorcycle plates in this run of Avery sheeting.

The third holograms were the same 3M holograms previously used in the late 80s to the late 90s, though the week code from this point onward has been a constant "1". Motorcycle plates also used the same plain holograms previously used in the late 90s.

This type of hologram was used until the sheeting was changed to Avery again in mid-2016.

The fourth holograms were more standard Avery holograms. They can easily be seen at any angle, which makes it very easy to tell the difference between types of sheeting. It consists of a state outline with "WI" and a year in the state outline, and a series of circle outlines around the state outline which are a code for the month of the manufacture of the sheeting. The number of circles runs from 11 to 0 circles, with 11 circles being for January and 0 circles being for December.

Motorcycle plates since 2016 have used the same exact holograms as regular sized license plates.

A fifth run of holograms is being phased in, which are used on the new 3M prismatic sheeting plates. This sheeting has three main hologram types; the first one being three "WI" holograms at the left side, the second one being a "DNA" style hologram in the center, and the last one being a simplified lot code at the right. STENOGRAPHIC is still used as a month code, however the year code is just a simple number of the last digit in the year. 3A correlates to August 2023, for example.

Chris Ackerman

As of April 2024, this new sheeting is only on regular passenger and light truck plates, while all other types are still using the old Avery sheeting. I have, however, seen blank prototypes of municipal and semi trailer plates made with the new prismatic sheeting, so other types might get the new sheeting later this year.

The following is several tables outlining the known ranges for lot codes. I do not update this page very much so this is not an exhaustive list of codes. Also note that many plates would switch from lot code to lot code at seemingly random intervals, and there are probably hundreds of ranges that are missing from the last seven years alone.

Passenger

Holograms added between CRR-159 and CZN-440

Apportioned

Disabled

Disabled Veteran

Farm

202197F* This singular plate has a slightly newer lot code, I'm guessing it could be a remake plate

Mobile Home/RV Trailer

Motorcycle

Motor Home

Specialty

Endangered Resources

Sesquicentennial

Trailer

Truck

Created May 13, 2021. Updated May 14, 2024.