Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1940
| Vehicle registration plates of the United States by year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1939 | Events of 1940 | Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1941 |
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 1940.[1][2][3][4]
Passenger baseplates
| Image | Region | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Alabama | |||||
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Alaska | |||||
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American Samoa | |||||
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Arizona | |||||
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Arkansas | |||||
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California | |||||
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Canal Zone | |||||
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Colorado | |||||
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Connecticut | |||||
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Delaware | |||||
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District of Columbia |
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Florida | |||||
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Georgia | |||||
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Guam | |||||
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Hawai'i | |||||
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Idaho | |||||
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Illinois | |||||
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Indiana | |||||
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Iowa | |||||
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Kansas | Embossed white serial with border line on black plate ; "KANSAS '40" centered at bottom | none | 1-1234 12-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 12) | |
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Kentucky | |||||
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Louisiana | |||||
| Maine | ||||||
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Maryland | |||||
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Massachusetts | |||||
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Michigan | |||||
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Minnesota | |||||
| Mississippi | ||||||
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Missouri | |||||
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Montana | |||||
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Nebraska | Orange on turquoise with State Capitol graphic; "NEBRASKA 40" at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-1234 |
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10) | |
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Nevada | |||||
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New Hampshire | |||||
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New Jersey | |||||
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New Mexico | |||||
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New York | |||||
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North Carolina | |||||
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North Dakota | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1940" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 147-000 | |
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Northern Mariana Islands |
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| Ohio | ||||||
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Oklahoma | |||||
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Oregon | |||||
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Pennsylvania | |||||
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Puerto Rico | |||||
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Rhode Island | |||||
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South Carolina | |||||
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South Dakota | |||||
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Tennessee | |||||
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Texas | |||||
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Utah | |||||
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Vermont | |||||
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Virginia | |||||
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Washington | |||||
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West Virginia | |||||
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Wisconsin | |||||
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Wyoming | Sample plate shown. |
Non-passenger plates
| Image (standard) | Region | Type | Design & Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Wisconsin | City Bus | Embossed red serial on white plate; "CITY" over "BUS" at left, "WISCONSIN 1940" at top, "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom | 1 A | Coded by weight class | |
|
Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "CITY" over "BUS" at left, "WISCONSIN 1940" at top, "EXP. 3-31-40" at bottom | It is unknown what this plate was used for, other than it is a city bus plate type. | ||||
|
Dealer | Embossed red serial on white plate; "WIS DEALER 1940" at top, "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom | 1234A | Dealer number and plate number | Number is the dealer number, letter is the plate number for that dealer | |
|
Farm | Embossed blue serial on yellow plate; "39 FARM TR'K 40" at top, vertical "WIS" at left | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 58-000 | ||
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Interurban bus | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "INT" over "BUS" at left, "WISCONSIN 1940" at top, "EXP. 3-31-40" at bottom | 12 A | Coded by weight class | ||
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Motorcycle | Embossed red serial on white plate; "1940 WIS" at top | 1234 | 1 to approximately 3200 | ||
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Municipal | Embossed white serial on red plate; "WISCONSIN 1940" at top, "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom; embossed hollow star at right. | 1234 | 1 to approximately 8800 | Identifiable with a hollow star | |
|
Trailer | Embossed blue serial on yellow plate; "39 WIS TRAILER 40" at top | 1234 A | Coded by weight class | Weight classes are same as truck. It is unknown if heavy trailers received green plates like heavy trucks did. | |
|
Embossed yellow serial on blue plate; "WIS TRAILER" at top, "EXP. 3-31-40" at bottom | 12 A | Weight classes are F, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N. It is unknown what this plate was used for, other than it was used on trailers. | |||
|
Truck | Embossed blue serial on yellow plate; "39 WIS TRUCK 40" at top | 12-345 A | Coded by weight class | Weight classes are A, B, C, and D | |
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Embossed white serial on green plate; "39 WIS TRUCK 40" at top | Weight classes are E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N. | ||||
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Embossed yellow serial on blue plate; "WIS TRUCK" at top, "EXP. 3-31-40" at bottom | 12 A | Weight classes are F, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N. It is unknown what this plate was used for, other than it was a truck plate type. |
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Crisler, Bob; Crisler, Chuck, eds. (2007). License Plate Values (7th ed.). King Publishing Company.
- ^ Martells, Jack (1980). Antique Automotive Collectibles. Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc. pp. 128–145. ISBN 0-8092-7205-9.
























