Vehicle registration plates of Mississippi
The U.S. state of Mississippi first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1912. Since then, the state has gone through a variety of license plate designs and currently has several different designs for passenger, non-passenger, and optional-issue plates.
Plates are currently issued by the Vehicle Licensing Division of the Mississippi Department of Revenue. Only rear plates have been required since 1925.
Passenger baseplates
1912 to 1976
In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The first Mississippi license plate that complied with these standards was issued 22 years beforehand, in 1934.| Image | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| 1912 | Embossed black on white; vertical "1912" and "MISS" at left and right respectively | 1234 | First state issue. Local municipalities had issued license plates earlier. | ||
| 1913 | As 1912 base, but with "1913" at right | 1234 | |||
| Embossed black on white; vertical "MISS" at right | 12345 | 1 to approximately 44500 | |||
| 1919 | Embossed light green on black; vertical "1919" and "MISS" at left and right respectively | 12345 | 1 to approximately 60000 | ||
| 1920 | Embossed white on maroon with border line; vertical "1920" and "MISS" at left and right respectively | 12345 | 1 to approximately 65000 | ||
| 1921 | Embossed red on white with border line; vertical "1921" and "MISS" at left and right respectively | 12345 | 1 to approximately 64500 | ||
| 1922 | Embossed black on light green with border line; vertical "1922" and "MISS" at left and right respectively | 12345 | 1 to approximately 77000 | ||
| 1923 | Embossed yellow on black with border line; vertical "1923" and "MISS" at left and right respectively | 123456 | 1 to approximately 107000 | ||
| 1924 | Embossed white on dark blue with border line; vertical "1924" and "MISS" at left and right respectively | 123456 | 1 to approximately 133000 | ||
| 1925 | Embossed black on golden yellow with border line; vertical "1925" and "MISS" at left and right respectively | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 177-000 | ||
| 1926 | Embossed white on dark green with border line; vertical "1926" and "MISS" at left and right respectively | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 207-000 | ||
| 1927 | Embossed yellow on navy blue with border line; "MISS. 1927" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 235-000 | ||
| 1928 | Embossed white on black with border line; "MISS. 1928" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 249-000 | ||
| 1929 | Embossed white on maroon with border line; "MISS-1929" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 279-000 | ||
| 1930 | Embossed red on dark blue with border line; "MISS-1930" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 283-000 | ||
| 1931 | Embossed white on orange with border line; "MISS 1931" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 245-000 | ||
| 1932 | Embossed golden yellow on black with border line; "MISS-1932" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 221-000 | ||
| 1933 | Embossed white on dark green with border line; "MISS." centered at top; tax code letter and "33" stamped on locking bar, displayed to left and right of state abbreviation respectively | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 120-000 | ||
| 1934 | Embossed white on black with border line; "MISS." centered at top; tax code letter and "34" stamped on locking bar, displayed to left and right of state abbreviation respectively | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 149-000 | ||
| 1935 | Embossed orange on black with border line; "MISS." centered at top; "35" and tax code letter stamped on locking bar, displayed to left and right of state abbreviation respectively | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 152-000 | ||
| 1936 | Embossed white on black with border line; "MISS." centered at top; tax code letter and "36" stamped on locking bar, displayed to left and right of state abbreviation respectively | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 164-000 | ||
| 1937 | Embossed white on green with border line; "MISS." centered at top; tax code letter at top left and "37" at top right | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 170-000 | ||
| 1938 | Embossed white on dark blue with border line; "MISS." centered at top; tax code letter at top left and "38" at top right | 123-456 | 300-001 to approximately 491-000 | Issued only from January 1 through October 31, 1938. | |
| 1938–39 | Embossed black on yellow with border line; "MISS." centered at top; "19" at top left and "39" at top right | 123-456 | 300-001 to approximately 506-000 | ||
| 1939–40 | Embossed yellow on black with border line; "MISS." centered at top; "19" at top left and "40" at top right | 123-456 | 700-001 to approximately 892-000 | ||
| 1940–41 | Embossed white on black with border line; vertical "MISS" used as separator; county name and "EX. 10-31-41" at top | 123-456 | 100-001 to approximately 318-000 | First to use county name | |
| 1941–42 | Embossed yellow on dark blue with border line; vertical "MISS" used as separator; county name and "EX. 10-31-42" at top | 123-456 | 400-001 to approximately 643-000 | ||
| 1942–43 | Embossed orange on black with border line; vertical "MISS" used as separator; county name and "EX. 10-31-43" at top | 123-456 | 600-001 to approximately 815-000 | Due to wartime metal shortages, some 1943 plates were over-stamped on previously-used license plates, and the old embossed letters and numbers are still partially visible under the new paint. | |
| 1943–44 | Embossed white on black with border line; vertical "MISS" used as separator; county name and "EX. 10-31-44" at top | 123-456 | 700-001 to approximately 898-000 | Due to wartime metal shortages, some 1944 plates were over-stamped on previously-used license plates, and the old embossed letters and numbers are still partially visible under the new paint. | |
| 1944–45 | Embossed yellow on black with border line; vertical "MISS" used as separator; county name and "EX. 10-31-45" at top | 123-456 | 500-001 to approximately 700-000 | Due to wartime metal shortages, some 1945 plates were over-stamped on previously-used license plates, and the old embossed letters and numbers are still partially visible under the new paint. | |
| 1945–46 | Embossed white on black with border line; vertical "MISS" used as separator; county name and "EX. 10-31-46" at top | 123-456 | 200-001 to approximately 411-000 | ||
| 1946–47 | Embossed yellow on black with border line; vertical "MISS" used as separator; county name and "EX. 10-31-47" at top | 123-456 | 500-001 to approximately 735-000 | ||
| 1947–48 | Embossed white on black with border line; vertical "MISS" used as separator; county name and "EX. 10-31-48" at top | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1948–49 | Embossed orange on black with border line; vertical "MISS" used as separator; county name and "EX. 10-31-49" at top | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1949–50 | Embossed black on yellow with border line; vertical "MISS" used as separator; county name and "EX. 10-31-50" at top | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1950–51 | Embossed yellow on black with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | First use of the full state name. | |
| 1951–52 | Embossed white on dark green with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1952–53 | Embossed maroon on white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1953–54 | Embossed white on black with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1954–55 | Embossed white on blue with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1955–56 | Embossed yellow on black with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1956–57 | Embossed white on dark green with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1957–58 | Embossed black on golden yellow with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1958–59 | Embossed dark green on white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1959–60 | Embossed red on white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1960–61 | Embossed black on white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | ||
| 1961–62 | Embossed maroon on white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | A/1 12345 A/10 12345 | Coded by county of issuance and weight class | ||
| 1962–63 | Embossed blue on white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 12-3456 A-12345 | |||
| 1963–64 | Embossed red on white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 12-3456 | |||
| 1964–65 | Embossed white on blue with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 12-3456 | |||
| 1965–66 | Embossed blue on white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 12-3456 | |||
| 1966–67 | Embossed white on black with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 12-3456 | |||
| 1967–68 | Embossed black on beige with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 12-3456 12A 345 | |||
| 1968–69 | Embossed white on brown with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 1A 12345 10A12345 | Coded by county of issuance and weight class | ||
| 1969–70 | Embossed blue on white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 1A 12345 10A12345 | Coded by county of issuance and weight class | ||
| 1970–71 | Embossed green on white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 1A 12345 10A12345 | Coded by county of issuance and weight class | ||
| 1971–72 | Embossed green on reflective white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 1A 12345 10A12345 | Coded by county of issuance and weight class | ||
| 1972–73 | Embossed red on reflective white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | 1A 12345 10A12345 | Coded by county of issuance and weight class | ||
| 1973–74 | Embossed blue on reflective white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | ABC 123 123 ABC | Coded by weight class | Letters I, O and Q not used in serials. The 123 ABC format was used in the five most populous counties ; this practice continued until the cessation of weight classes in 1976. | |
| 1974–75 | Embossed red on reflective white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | ABC 123 123 ABC | Coded by weight class | ||
| 1975–76 | Embossed maroon on reflective white with border line; "MISSISSIPPI" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | ABC 123 123 ABC | Coded by weight class |