The U.S. state of North Carolina first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1913, when the state began to issue plates.

As of 2024, plates are issued by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1956.

Passenger baseplates

1913 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 (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first North Carolina license plate that complied with these standards.

1975 to present

Non-passenger plates

Temporary plates

References

Further reading

  • North Carolina license plates, 1969–present
  • Gallery of North Carolina License Plates, 1913-present (by Rick Kretschmer)

External links

  • Media related to License plates of North Carolina at Wikimedia Commons

North Carolina License Plate Stock Vector Art & Illustration, Vector

North Carolina License Plates For Sale Shop License Plates

Form MVR16A Download Fillable PDF or Fill Online Application for

North Carolina Product categories Automobile License Plate Store

NORTH CAROLINA MOTORCYCLE LICENSE PLATE