First issued 1917.
"Z" prefix used 1919-present
all numeric >1000 in the 1940's
"Zx" began approximately 1998, where 'x' is a letter, issued in alphabetical order (A is excluded; used for Antique)
1917
black/light yellow
1918
white/green?
1919
blue/white?
1920
white/dark green?
1921
red/black?
1922
black/white?
1923
white/dark green?
1924
black/orange?
1925
white/green
1926
red/white?
1927
green/white?
1928
black/yellow?
1929
black/white?
1930
white/black?
1931
green/gray?
1932
black/yellow?
1933
black/white?
1934
yellow/black?
1935
unknown
1936 black/yellow
1937 black/white
1938
black/yellow
1939
black/white
1940
yellow/black
1941
black/yellow
1942
yellow/black
1943
black/yellow
1944
yellow/green
1945 yellow/green
presumably, Z-prefix was standard, but removed after plate number 999
1946 silver/black
1947 black/yellow
1948
yellow/black
1949
white/black
1950
black/white
1951
white/black
1952
yellow/black
1953
black/yellow
1954
white/black
1955
black/white
1956
black/yellow
1957
white/blue
1958
blue/white
1959
white/blue
1960
blue/white
1961
red/white
1962
white/red
1963
white/green
1964
white/black
1965
black/white
1966
white/blue
1967
blue/white (motorcycle size standardized to 7"x4")
1968
white/black
1969
white/blue
1970
white/green
1971
white/brown
1972
white/black
1973
white/blue
1974
white/green
1975
white/maroon
1976
blue/white
1977
red/white
1978
green/white
1979
black/white
1980
blue/white
1981
red/white
1982 "EXP. 11-30-82" bottom
green/white
1983 "EXP. 11-30-83" bottom
black/white
1984 "EXP. 11-30-84" bottom
blue/white
1985 "EXP. 11-30-85" bottom
red/white
1986 "EXP. 11-30-86" bottom
green/white
1987 "EXP. 11-30-87" bottom
black/white
1988 "EXP. 11-30-88" bottom
blue/white
1989 "EXP. 11-30-89" bottom
red/white
1990 "EXP. 11-30-90" bottom
black/white
1991 "EXP. 11-30-91" bottom
green/white
1992 "EXP. 11-30-92" bottom
blue/white
1993 "EXP. 11-30-93" bottom
red/white
1994-1995 "EXP. 11-30" bottom, passenger sticker
green/white
in use through 4/30/2017 if continuously renewed
1996-2015
blue/white
passenger month & year stickers used
at Z99999, ZB1001 issued (ZA skipped, used for Antique prefix)
at ZZ9999, stacked prefix Z/B10001 issued (Z/B and SOUTH CAROLINA screenprinted flat)
a batch of "ZX" plates were made with black numbers, unknown if this was an error, or intentional. possibly done to distinguish between Dealer (XZ prefix)
Full plate transitioned to flat (digitally produced numbers) at about Z/B38000
in use through 4/30/2017 if continuously renewed
2015-present
blue/red stripes at top, black/white 'standard design'
passenger month & year stickers used
Redesign effective 5/1/2015
Full replacement complete by 4/30/2017
each letter series started at 10001 (i.e. after ZB99999, next ZC10001. Until ZG, which started at 101.
