Vehicle registration plates of Texas
The U.S. state of Texas first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own license plates for display, with serial numbers assigned by their county of residence, until the state began to issue plates in 1917.
Plates are currently issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Front and rear plates are required on all vehicles except for motorcycles and trailers.
Passenger baseplates
1917 to 1974
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 Texas license plate that complied with these standards was a modification of the 1955 plate, introduced towards the end of that year.| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "TEX" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 767000 | Validated for 1917, 1918 and 1919 with round seals, and for 1920, 1921 and 1922 with rectangular seals. | ||
| 1923–24 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate with border line; vertical "TEXAS" at both left and right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 999-999 | Validated for 1924 with rectangular seals. | |
| 1925 | Embossed white serial with star separator on maroon plate with border line; vertical "TEXAS" and "1925" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 935-000 | First dated plate. | |
| 1926 | Embossed black serial with star separator on gray plate with border line; vertical "TEX-26" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 997-000 | ||
| 1927 | Embossed white serial with star separator on green plate with border line; vertical "1927" and "TEXAS" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | ||
| 1927 | Embossed white serial with star separator on green plate with border line; vertical "1927" and "TEXAS" at left and right respectively | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately A69-000 | ||
| 1928 | Embossed white serial with star separator on dark brown plate with border line; vertical "TEX-28" at right; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 1-114-000 | ||
| 1929 | Embossed orange serial with star separator on black plate with border line; "TEXAS–1929" centered at bottom; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left | none | 123-456 1-234-567 | 1 to approximately 1-195-000 | ||
| 1930 | Embossed dark blue serial with star separator on golden yellow plate with border line; "TEXAS–1930" centered at top; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at left | none | 123-456 1-234-567 | 1 to approximately 1-358-000 | ||
| 1931 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate with border line; vertical "TEX" and "31" at right | none | 1-2345 | 1 to 9-9999 | ||
| 1931 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate with border line; vertical "TEX" and "31" at right | none | A1-2345 | A0-0000 to approximately P5-0000 | ||
| 1932 | Embossed white serial with star separator on green plate with border line; "TEXAS–1932" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | Only letters A, F, K, N, V and Y used in the A12-345 serial format. This practice continued through 1944. | |
| 1932 | Embossed white serial with star separator on green plate with border line; "TEXAS–1932" centered at bottom | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately V19-000 | Only letters A, F, K, N, V and Y used in the A12-345 serial format. This practice continued through 1944. | |
| 1933 | Embossed orange serial with star separator on white plate with border line; "TEXAS–1933" centered at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | ||
| 1933 | Embossed orange serial with star separator on white plate with border line; "TEXAS–1933" centered at top | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately F90-000 | ||
| 1934 | Embossed black serial with star separator on orange plate with border line; "TEXAS – 1934" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | ||
| 1934 | Embossed black serial with star separator on orange plate with border line; "TEXAS – 1934" centered at bottom | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately F35-000 | ||
| 1935 | Embossed white serial with star separator on maroon plate with border line; "TEXAS–1935" centered at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | ||
| 1935 | Embossed white serial with star separator on maroon plate with border line; "TEXAS–1935" centered at top | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately F64-000 | ||
| 1936 | Embossed dark blue serial on lemon yellow plate with border line; vertical "TEX" used as separator; "19" at bottom left and "36" at bottom right | "CENTENNIAL" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | Commemorated the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Republic of Texas. | |
| 1936 | Embossed dark blue serial on lemon yellow plate with border line; vertical "TEX" used as separator; "19" at bottom left and "36" at bottom right | "CENTENNIAL" centered at bottom | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately K31-000 | Commemorated the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Republic of Texas. | |
| 1937 | Embossed ivory serial with star separator on black plate with border line; "TEXAS–1937" centered at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | ||
| 1937 | Embossed ivory serial with star separator on black plate with border line; "TEXAS–1937" centered at top | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately K83-000 | ||
| 1938 | Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate with border line; "TEXAS–1938" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | ||
| 1938 | Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate with border line; "TEXAS–1938" centered at bottom | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately K88-000 | ||
| 1939 | Embossed dark purple serial with star separator on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS 1939" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | ||
| 1939 | Embossed dark purple serial with star separator on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS 1939" at top | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately N18-000 | ||
| 1940 | Embossed dark purple serial with star separator on white plate; "19 TEXAS 40" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | ||
| 1940 | Embossed dark purple serial with star separator on white plate; "19 TEXAS 40" at top | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately V06-000 | ||
| 1941 | Embossed golden yellow serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS 1941" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | ||
| 1941 | Embossed golden yellow serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS 1941" at top | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately V70-000 | ||
| 1942–44 | Embossed black serial with star separator on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-42" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 999-999 | Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, and for 1944 with green tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. | |
| 1942–44 | Embossed black serial with star separator on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-42" at bottom | none | A12-345 | A00-000 to approximately Y79-000 | Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, and for 1944 with green tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. | |
| 1945 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-45" at top, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately H/L4000 | ||
| 1946 | Embossed cream serial on black plate; "TEXAS-46" at top, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately J/B7000 | ||
| 1947 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "TEXAS-47" at bottom, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately J/U7000 | ||
| 1948 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "TEXAS-48" at top, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately K/U7000 | ||
| 1949 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-49" at bottom, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately L/Y8000 | ||
| 1950 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "TEXAS-50" at top, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to L/Z9999; U/A10 to approximately U/E3000 | ||
| 1951 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-51" at top, offset to right | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to L/Z9999; U/A10 to approximately U/R8000 | ||
| 1952 | As 1950 base, but with "TEXAS 52" at top | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately P/J2000 | ||
| 1953 | As 1951 base, but with "TEXAS 53" at top | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately P/J4000 | ||
| 1954 | As 1950 base, but with "TEXAS 54" at top | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately P/X9000 | ||
| 1955 | As 1951 base, but with "TEXAS 55" at top | none | A/B1234 | A/A10 to approximately R/E9999 | ||
| 1955 | As above, but to 6" x 12" size, and with "TEXAS 55" centered at top | none | AB1234 | RF10 to approximately SD3000 | ||
| 1956 | Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "TEXAS 56" centered at top | none | AB1234 | AA10 to approximately SV6000 | ||
| 1957 | Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "TEXAS 57" centered at top | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately UR-3000 | ||
| 1958 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS 58" centered at top | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately TT-6000 | ||
| 1959 | As 1957 base, but with "TEXAS 59" centered at top | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately UK-3000 | ||
| 1960 | As 1958 base, but with "TEXAS 60" centered at top | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately UN-7000 | ||
| 1961 | Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "TEXAS" centered at top; "61" at top right | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately UY-9000 | ||
| 1962 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS" centered at top; "62" at top right | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately VZ-4000 | ||
| 1963 | Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "TEXAS" and "1963" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately WS-7000 | ||
| 1964 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS" and "1964" centered at top and bottom respectively | none | AB-1234 | AA-10 to approximately YT-1000 | ||
| 1965 | Embossed black serial on white plate; "19 TEXAS 65" at top | none | ABC 123 | BBB 10 to approximately PHG 999 | Vowels and Q not used in serials; this practice continued through 1974. | |
| 1966 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "19 TEXAS 66" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately PYK-999 | ||
| 1967 | Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "19 TEXAS 67" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately RKN-999 | ||
| 1968 | Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS" centered at top; "68" at bottom left and bottom right | "HEMISFAIR" centered at bottom | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately RSM-999 | ||
| 1969 | Embossed black serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 69" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately RWV-999 | ||
| 1970 | Embossed blue serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 70" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately SDN-999 | ||
| 1971 | Embossed black serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "TEXAS 71" at top, offset to right | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately SWD-999 | ||
| 1972 | Embossed green serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 72" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately TKK-999 | ||
| 1973 | Embossed black serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 73" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately VDD-999 | ||
| 1974 | Embossed red serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 74" at top | none | ABC-123 | BBB-10 to approximately VMG-999 |
1975 to present
Non-passenger plates
Optional plates
Texas has more specialty plates than any other state, with 506 available.| Image | Type | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| 4-H | |||||||
| A Fine Cause | |||||||
| Adopt-A-Beach | |||||||
| Air Force Association | |||||||
| Animal Friendly |