Figuring out Truck plates is a work in progress. Information provided here is a working theory.
Believed "private" truck information in left column; believed commercial in right column.
First issue 1921, when Weight Codes introduced.
All plates expired October 31 of year marked. 1/2 year same as passenger 1934-1936; Earliest truck-specific 1/2 year known 1956.
Believed "private" truck information in left column; believed commercial in right column.
First issue 1921, when Weight Codes introduced.
All plates expired October 31 of year marked. 1/2 year same as passenger 1934-1936; Earliest truck-specific 1/2 year known 1956.
Plates marked with TON but no leading letter believed to be Trailer (prior to 1965)
Restamped plates known 1943, 1948, 1951
jump to modern era: 1982-present
weight-based letter coding used 1921-1971
LETTER | designation |
years verified |
H | < 1 ton, pneumatic tire |
1921-1971 |
I | < 1 ton, solid tire |
1921-1938 |
J |
1-2 ton, pneumatic tire |
1930-1960 |
K |
1-2 ton, solid tire |
1924, 1927 |
L |
2-3 ton, pneumatic tire | 1934-1958 |
M |
2-3 ton, solid tire | 1931 |
N |
3-4 ton, pneumatic tire | 1927-1956 |
O |
3-4 ton, solid tire | 1926 |
P |
>4 ton, pneumatic tire | 1954+, used with specific weight |
Q |
>4 ton, solid tire | 1926 |
variation known without dash
last year for J, L, N, etc prefixes1925 (single) white/green 1926 (single) "SC" inside Palmetto Tree design green/white 1927 (single) "SC" inside Palmetto Tree design green/white 1928 (single) black/yellow 1929 (single) black/white 1930 (pair) "IODINE" vertically on right side white/black 1931 (pair) "THE IODINE STATE" bottom green/gray 1932 (pair) "THE IODINE STATE" bottom black/yellow 1933 (pair) "THE IODINE PRODUCTS STATE" bottom black/white 1934 (pair) "APRIL 30" top or "OCTOBER 31" bottom black/yellow(April) yellow/black(October) 1935 (pair) 1/2 year "APRIL 30" top or "OCTOBER 31" bottom color variations: red/white; white/red; black/white; white/black no rhyme or reason known as to color variations 1936 (pair) 1/2 year "APRIL 30" top or "OCTOBER 31" bottom yellow/black(April) black/yellow(October) 1937 (pair) 1/2 year unknown if APRIL exists - all I've seen are OCT black/white 1938 (pair) black/yellow 1939 (pair) black/white 1940 (pair) yellow/black 1941 (pair) black/yellow 1942 (pair) yellow/black 1943 (single) restamped from collected plates - most '42; rare unstamped exist no letter, assumed overflow of H-class yellow/black 1944 (single) strip applied to existing 1943; weight class matched, plate number did not yellow/green 1945 (single) yellow/green
1946 (pair)
some restamped known (shown)silver/black 1947 (pair) black/yellow some restamped known (shown) 1948 (pair) yellow/black first year actual weight marked on plate
some restamped know (both shown)
begin P-prefix for variable weight (Commercial vehicles)
other letters for Private vehicles
1954 (pair) white/black 1955 (pair) black/white 1956 (pair) black/yellow 1957 (pair) white/blue 1958 (pair) blue/white 1959 (pair) white/blue blue/white last year weight marked on plate (H only)
1962 (pair) white/red 1963 (pair) white/green 1964 (pair) begin 2-letter prefix, (overflow from single letter) white/black 1965 (pair) black/white 1966 (pair) white/blue P-prefix dropped, but still considered Commercial
begin P-prefix for private/weight-based tax
weight-marked considered Commercial
1968 (pair) begin reflective letters white/black 1969 (pair) white/blue 1970 (pair) "1670 300 YEARS 1970" white/green 1971 (pair) white/brown 1972 (pair) white/black 1973 (pair) white/blue weight codes discontinued; previous "H" truck get regular random-issue 1974 (pair) last year for pairs white/green 1975 (single) white/maroon Era 1976-1981 all single plates 1976 "1776 Bicentennial 1976" top blue/white 1977 red/white 1978 green/white 1979 black/white 1980 blue/white 1981 red/white | non H, opposite colors? ![]() ![]() 1/2 year changes to May 15 First year?? essentially same as above, but high weight codes receive leading letter 1/2 year changes to June 30 First year?? > forward to 1982-present |