Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1956

Vehicle registration plates of the United States by year
Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1955 Events of 1956 Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1957

Each of the 48 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates for 1956.[1][2][3][4]

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces 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, which has been the standard size for North American license plates since.[5] Motorcycles and other specialized vehicles often were issued smaller-sized tags.

Passenger baseplates

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Passenger  car  plates
Image Region Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
  Alabama
  Alaska
  American Samoa
  Arizona
  Arkansas
  California
  Canal Zone
  Colorado
  Connecticut
  Delaware
  District of
Columbia
  Florida
Georgia
  Guam
  Hawai'i
  Idaho
  Illinois
  Indiana
  Iowa
  Kansas
  Kentucky
  Louisiana Embossed white serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 56" at top none 123 456 1 001 to about 801 000
  Maine
  Maryland
  Massachusetts
  Michigan
  Minnesota
  Mississippi
  Missouri
  Montana
  Nebraska
  Nevada
  New Hampshire
  New Jersey
  New Mexico
  New York
  North Carolina Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA 56" at bottom "DRIVE SAFELY" centered at top A-1234
AB-1234
Serials progressed as follows: A-1 through A-9999, AA-1 through AZ-9999, B-1 through B-9999, BA-1 through BZ-9999, etc. This continued through 1972. Letters G, I, O and Q not used; this practice continued through 1968.
  North Dakota
  Northern Mariana
Islands
  Ohio
  Oklahoma
  Oregon
  Pennsylvania
  Puerto Rico
  Rhode Island
  South Carolina
  South Dakota
  Tennessee
  Texas
  Utah
  Vermont
  Virginia
  Washington
  West Virginia
  Wisconsin Embossed green serial on white plate; "EXP" at top left, month of expiration and "55" at top right; slogan at bottom AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND A12-345, AK 1234 Coded by month of expiration (A). AK 1234 format used when A12-345 format was exhausted.
  Wyoming

Non-passenger plates

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Non-passenger  Plates  
Image (standard) Region Type Design & Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
  Wisconsin Bus Embossed orange serial on black plate; "WIS" at top left, "BUS" at top right; "56" at bottom left, quarterly tab at far right A 12 Coded by weight class(A)
  BX bus Embossed black serial on orange plate; unknown format BX123 BX 1 to unknown First year of issue. Issued to privately-owned mass transportation vehicles; also named "Urban Bus" plates
  Canadian reciprocity Embossed black serial on orange plate; unknown format CR 12 CR 1 to unknown
  Dealer Embossed red serial on white plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right; "DEALER" at bottom A 1234 Dealer number and plate number Number is the dealer number, letters increment when a new plate is issued to that specific dealer
  Disabled veteran Unknown format
  Farm Embossed yellow serial on blue plate; "EXP" at top left, "DEC 55" at top right; "WIS FARM" at bottom 12345 1 to approximately 96000 Revalidated for 1956 with white on red tabs
  Heavy farm Embossed yellow serial on blue plate; "EXP" at top left, "DEC 55" at top right; "WIS FARM" at bottom A 1234 Coded by weight class (A) Revalidated for 1956 with white on red tabs
  In transit Embossed red serial on white plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right; "IN TRANSIT" at bottom AB 12 Transporter number and plate number Number is the transporter number, letters increment every time a new plate is issued to that specific transporter
  Manufacturer Embossed red serial on white plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right; "MANUFACTURER" at bottom AB 12 Manufacturer number and plate number Number is the manufacturer number, letters increment every time a new plat is issued to that specific manufacturer
  Mobile home Embossed white serial on green plate; "EXP" at top left, "DEC 55" at top right; "WIS MOBILE HOME" at bottom 1234 1 to approximately 6500 Revalidated to 1956 with red on aluminum tabs
  Motorcycle Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "A WIS 56" at top 1234 1 to approximately 9500
  Motorcycle sidecar Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "B WIS 56" at top 123 1 to approximately 100
  Motorcycle dealer Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "WIS 1956" at top, vertical stacked "DLR" at right AB1, A12 Dealer number and plate number Number is the dealer number, letters increment every time a new plate is issued to that specific dealer
  Municipal Embossed white serial on blue plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right; "MUNICIPAL" at bottom 12345 1 to approximately 14000
  Municipal motorcycle Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; unknown format M123 M 1 to unknown
  Official Embossed white serial on blue plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right; "OFFICIAL" at bottom, embossed hollow at left 123 1 to approximately 700
  Permit reciprocity Embossed orange serial on black plate; unknown format PR123 PR 1 to approximately PR 1000 First year of issue
  School bus Embossed orange serial on black plate; "WIS" at top left, "SCH" at top right; "56" at bottom left, quarterly tab at far right A 12 Coded by weight class (A)
  Special-UX Embossed orange serial on black plate; "EXP" at top left, "JUL 56" at top right; "WIS" at bottom UX 1234 UX 1 to approximately UX 1500 First known year of issue. Used on vehicles with specific permanently-mounted equipment; plate type also called "special mobile equipment"
  Special-X Embossed white serial on blue plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right 123 X 1 X to approximately 200 X
  State patrol Embossed black serial on white plate; "STATE" over "PATROL" at left, hollow black star to right of caption; "WISCONSIN" at bottom 123 Coded by district (1)
  Tax only Embossed orange serial on black plate; unknown format 123 1 to unknown
  Tractor Embossed orange serial on black plate; unknown format A 123 Coded by weight class (A)
  Light trailer Embossed white serial on green plate; "EXP" at top left, "DEC 55" at top right; "WIS TRAILER" at bottom A 1234 Coded by weight class (A) Revalidated to 1956 with red on aluminum tabs.
  Insert trailer Embossed orange serial on black plate; "WIS" at top left, "TRL" at top right; "56" at bottom left, quarterly tab at far right A 123 Coded by weight class (A) Weight classes are E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, R, S, T, V, X, and Y. Also issued to light trailers for hire in the A, B, C, and D weight classes.
  Commercial semi-trailer Embossed orange serial on black plate; "EXP" at top left, "JUN 56" at top right; "WIS SEMI-TRAILER" at bottom CS 1234 CS 1 to approximately CS 8000
  Embossed orange serial on black plate; "EXP" at top left, "JUN 56" at top right; "WIS SEMI TRAILER" at bottom
  Private semi-trailer Embossed orange serial on black plate; "EXP" at top left, "JUN 56" at top right; "WIS SEMI-TRAILER" at bottom PS 1234 PS 1 to approximately PS 5000
  Embossed orange serial on black plate; "EXP" at top left, "JUN 56" at top right; "WIS SEMI TRAILER" at bottom
  Trailer dealer Embossed red serial on white plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right; "DEALER" at bottom A 123 TL Dealer number and plate number Number is the dealer number, letter prefix increments when a new plate is issued to that dealer
  Light truck Embossed white serial on green plate; "EXP" at top left, "DEC 55" at top right; "WIS TRUCK" at bottom A12-345 Coded by weight class (A). Serials started at A25-001 Revalidated for 1956 with black on white tabs. Weight classes are A, B, C, and D.
  Insert truck Embossed orange serial on black plate; "WIS" at top left, "TRK" at top right; "56" at bottom left, quarterly tab at far right A1234 Coded by weight class (A) Weight classes are E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, R, S, T, V, X. Also issued to light trucks for hire in the A, B, C, and D weight classes.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Fox, Jams K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. ISBN 9781886777002.
  2. ^ Minard, Jeff; Stentiford, Tim (2004). A Moving History, 50 Years Of ALPCA. 100 Years Of License Plates. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company. p. 58. ISBN 1-56311-975-7.
  3. ^ Crisler, Bob; Crisler, Chuck, eds. (2007). License Plate Values (7th ed.). King Publishing Company.
  4. ^ Martells, Jack (1980). Antique Automotive Collectibles. Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc. pp. 128–145. ISBN 0-8092-7205-9.
  5. ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
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