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.