example current NC plate

Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives 

example current NC plate

Current and Recent North Carolina License Plates

Part 2:  Special interest and military service plates

 

This page illustrates some of the various special interest and military service license plates currently or recently seen on the streets of North Carolina. 

Latest noteworthy updates to this page
  • May 9, 2023  –  Added a North Carolina Aquariums plate. 
  • February 20, 2023  –  Added a version 2 I Care animal lovers plate on the First in Flight base.  Updated table of special interest prefix and suffix codes. 

Introduction

This page illustrates some of the various types of optional North Carolina license plates that are available to members of specific organizations, individuals who have served in the military or have achieved certain other criteria, or to members of the general public who wish to promote a particular cause or other special interest. 

Prior to July 1, 2015, most special interest plates and all military service plates were made on the standard First in Flight passenger base, with a screened image and/or text on the left side of the plate.  These have always been made with blue serial characters; the state never did switch these plate types over to red serial characters.  Since that date, however, motorists have the option of obtaining these plates on either the First in Flight base or the First in Freedom base.  And since July 1, 2019, a third option, the In God We Trustbase, has also been available.  It appers that sequential Freedom and IGWT plates are assigned blocks of otherwise-unsued plate numbers. 

Several special interest plates have been issued with graphic designs completely different from either of the standard passenger bases.  These designs have evolved over time, where previously almost any design was acceptable, but now, a white rectangle in which the plate number is displayed is required, and the font of the state name must match that of standard plates.  These requirements enable red light cameras and plate scanners to more easily identify the state and read the plate number. 

Special interest and military service plates typically have plate numbers with four variable characters and a fixed one- or two- character prefix or suffix, based on the plate type.  These plates are initially issued with numbers in the four variable positions, starting at 0001.  However, many plate types have exceeded 9,999 registrations.  The Great Smoky Mountains plate was the first to do so, in 2004 or so, on the first generation plate.  When format 0000S/M was exhausted, new format x000S/M was introduced.  Next, University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) plates exhaused the original U0000 format, and are now issued in format U000x.  As successive plate types passed the 9,999 mark, the pattern has been that a variable letter is introduced in either the first or fourth variable position, opposite that of the fixed prefix or suffix character(s).  In 2008, the Blue Ridge Parkway plate was the first to exhaust its second serial format x000B/P, and a third format of 0x00B/P was introduced.  This has also been used up, and these plates are now being issued in a fourth format of 00x0B/P.  Some other plate types have gone through sucessive formats in a similar manner. 

One-character prefix and suffix letters are full-sized; two-character prefixes and suffixes are usually much smaller and stacked one above the other.  Until mid-2008, variable characters and full-sized prefix and suffix characters were always embossed, while smaller prefix and suffix characters were nearly always screened.  Begining in mid-2008, newly-introduced special interest plate types, and all newly-issued vanity plates, were made with screened serial characters.  In late 2008 and throughout 2009, existing special interest and military service plate types with sequential numbers also switched over to using screened characters on newly-made plates.  Then, since mid-2011, newly-introduced special interest and military service plate types, and all newly-issued vanity plates, again are being made with embossed serial characters.  In late 2011 and continuing into 2012, existing special interest and military service plate types with sequential numbers also began switching back to embossed characters. 

These plates can be issued to any vehicle that would qualify for passenger car plates, and although the DMV doesn't make it obvious, they will also issue these plates to trailers.  In such cases, there's nothing on the plate or the expiration sticker that would indicate the plate was issued to a trailer. 

Please note that, unlike the other pages on this web site, very few of the plates shown on this page are from my personal collection, since I don't actively collect North Carolina plates.  Most of the plates shown on this page – the ones with bolts attaching them to vehicles – are simply photographs of plates that I've spotted on various vehicles found in parking lots, mostly in and around Raleigh.  I haven't tried to individually identify the source of each plate shown.  However, all images on this page are photographs that I've taken, unless otherwise credited.  Oh, and if you're wondering what that arc of light is on some of the candid shots, it's just a reflection from my camera.  I get this when I have to shoot towards the sun due to the position of the vehicle.  (Remember when cameras were black and didn't reflect light?) 

I sincerely hope that you find this information useful. If you find an error or have additional information, or can provide a photo of a plate that is not shown, please send me an e-mail.  There's a link to my e-mail address at the bottom of every page. 

Move your mouse over each image to see a description of that plate.  Click on any image to see a larger version. 

Special interest plates

For purposes of this discussion, special interest plates include all optional and/or extra-cost plate types, excluding vanity plates, amateur radio operator plates, handicapped plates, military service plates, and political officeholder plates.  Military service plates are addressed further down this page.  Strictly speaking, antique auto, horseless carriage, and street rod plates are also special interest plates in North Carolina, but those as well as the other types mentioned are addressed on the Current and Recent North Carolina Personal Vehicle Plates page. 

Special interest plates – restricted

These plates are restricted to individuals who have met the criteria or qualification indicated on the plate.  With the exception of the Eagle Scout plates, these are all for "first responders" – law enforcement, firefighting, and rescue personnel.  Military service plates are addressed separately, below

The first First in Flight Eagle Scout plate shown was made using the wider, non-passenger dies, in this case made possible due to the narrow graphic image.  The second Eagle Scout plate has the normal passenger dies, and the third Eagle Scout plate has flat serial characters. 

Eagle Scout, wide dies Eagle Scout, narrow dies Eagle Scout, flat Retired Highway Patrol Retired law enforcement officer Fire Fighter and Rescue Squad member Rescue Squad member Fire Fighter, embossed Fire Fighter, flat
First in Flight plates:  Embossed Eagle Scouts with wide and narrow serial dies, flat Eagle Scout, retired Highway Patrol member (O'Dell plate), retired law enforcement officer, fire fighter and rescue squad member, rescue squad member, embossed and flat fire fighters. 

Eagle Scout, "First in Freedom"
First in Freedom plates:  Eagle Scout. 

Eagle Scout, "In God We Trust"
In God Wer Trust plates:  Eagle Scout. 

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Special interest plates – organizational members

Typically, the registrant would be a member of the organization shown on the plate, but this is not necessarily a requirement in all cases. 

Amran Temple (Shriners) 82nd Airborne Division Association American Legion Coast Guard Auxilary Sons of Confederate Veterans Delta Sigma Theta Fraternal Order of Police Veterans of Foreign Wars Harley Owners' Group Knights of Columbus with wide dies Knights of Columbus with narrow dies Masonic Order International Association of Fire Fighters Omega Psi Phi Rotary International Oasis Temple (Shriners)
First in Flight plates:  Shriners Amran Temple; 82nd Airborne Division Association; American Legion; Coast Guard Auxilary; Sons of Confederate Veterans; Delta Sigma Theta sorority; Fraternal Order of Police; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Harley Owners' Group; two Knights of Columbus plates, an unstickered one with wide serial dies (Ciesielski photo / plate), and one with narrow serial dies (Casadonte photo / plate); Masonic Order; International Association of Fire Fighters union; Omega Psi Phi fraternity; Rotary International; Shriners Oasis Temple (O'Dell plate)

Knights of Columbus, "In God We Trust"
In God We Trust plates:  Knights of Columbus (Casadonte plate)

What's up with that Knights of Columbus plate?

By way of explanation regarding the plate number (you would think it would consist of a K followed by a four-digit number) and the lack of stickers on plate number K001 above, Greg Ciesielski wrote this to me via e-mail in 2005: 

It is a real plate that was given to the KofC State Deputy at the time of startup for the plate.  The initiator of the [Knights of Columbus plate] program got [plate number] K001 to put on his car but the NC DMV had a 2nd plate created for the State Deputy.  He in turn gave it to me for my collection. 

The KofC plates were issued with only three digits after the 'K'.  I have [similar plate numbers] on my 2 cars...  I have not seen a 4 digit KofC plate yet but I have seen numbers in the 600's and also vanity plates. 

Thanks for the info, Greg!  One additional point:  because they had fewer digits, low-numbered K of C plates were stamped with wider, non-passenger dies to emboss the plate number.  Obviously, the state eventually began making them with normal, thinner dies. 

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Special interest plates – universities and colleges

University and college plates are available to any motorist; no affiliation with the school is necessary.  North Carolina issues plates for both in-state and out-of-state schools.  A few schools have changed their logos over time, but outdated logos may still be found on older license plates still in use. 

Appalachian State Univ. Western Carolina Univ. Clemson Univ. Campbell Univ. Duke Univ. East Carolina Univ., version 1 East Carolina Univ., version 3a East Carolina Univ., version 3b East Carolina Univ., version 4 NC Central Univ. Wake Forest Univ. Univ. of Georgia Meredith College UNC Charlotte, version 1 UNC Charlotte, version 2 NC State Univ., version 1 NC State Univ., version 2 NC State Univ., version 3 NC A&T State Univ., version 1 Univ. of NC (Chapel Hill) Univ. of NC (Chapel Hill) with suffix Virginia Tech Winston-Salem State Univ., version 1
First in Flight plates:  Appalachian State University; Western Carolina University version 1; Clemson University; Campbell University; Duke University; East Carolina University versions 1, 3a (embossed), 3b (flat), and 4; NC Central University; Wake Forest University; University of Georgia; Meredith College; UNC Charlotte versions 1 and 2 (both O'Dell plates); NC State University versions 1, 2, and 3; NC Agricultural and Technical State University version 1; University of North Carolina without suffix letter (Casadonte plate); University of North Carolina with suffix letter; Virginia Tech (Casadonte plate); Winston-Salem State University version 1. 

East Carolina Univ., "First in Freedom"
First in Freedom plates:  East Carolina University. 

East Carolina Univ., "In God We Trust" Virginia Tech, "In God We Trust"
In God We Trust plates:  East Carolina University, Virginia Tech (Casadonte plate)

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Special interest plates – NASCAR

In 2005, the North Carolina DMV introduced with great fanfare an entire series of NASCAR special interest plates, most of them promoting a specific driver and car.  The response from North Carolina motorists has been overwhelming apathy – very few of these plates have been issued, and they are rarely seen on the road.  I personally am surprised by this, considering that North Carolina is the very heart of NASCAR country.  Despite this lack of interest, each year new NASCAR plates types are introduced, and existing types are revised as various drivers change teams, car numbers, and so on.  On the other hand, some plate types are discontinued as drivers retire. 

In 2008 a Dale Earnhardt, Jr. plate, previously conspicuous by its absense, was introduced.  The Earnhardt plate is unique in that it features an American flag in the background rather than a checkered flag.  All other drivers' plates, including those introduced after the Earnhardt plate, have the checkered flag background. 

In the summer or fall of 2013, a few more general NASCAR plates, not promoting specific drivers, were introduced.  These haven't been any more popular; the Ford Racing plate shown below was issued in May 2014, but it's only the seventh one made. 

NASCAR Ford Racing NASCAR Joe Nemechek #01 NASCAR Dale Earnhardt #88 NASCAR Tony Stewart #20 NASCAR generic version 2 (race car)
NASCAR Ford Racing, Joe Nemechek version 1 (#01), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (#88), Tony Stewart version 1 (#20), and generic version 2 with the race car graphic. 

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Special interest plates – general

General special interest plates are available to any registrant who requests them.  Proceeds from some of these benefit a non-profit organization or state agency.  Some of these just consist of logos on the familiar First in Flight background, while others have completely different designs.  The In God We Trust / Support Our Troops plate is a hybrid, showing the graphics from the standard plate but with an alternate slogan. 

American Indians Autism Society breast cancer Carolina Hurricanes Carolina Panthers Durham Bulls scuba diving Ducks Unlimited, version 1 historic lighthouse animal lover, version 1 animal lover, version 2 The V Foundation for Cancer Research Kids First Master Gardener nursing Piedmont Airlines Police Benevolent Association western square dancer shag dancing share the road sea turtles tobacco heritage non-game wildlife, embossed non-game wildlife, flat Watermelon NC Zoo, flat NC Zoo, embossed
First in Flight plates:  American Indians, Autism Society, breast cancer (Chapman plate), Carolina Hurricanes NHL team, Carolina Panthers NFL team, Durham Bulls AAA baseball team, scuba diving, Ducks Unlimited version 1, historic lighthouse (Casadonte plate), animal lover (I Care) versions 1 and 2, The V Foundation for Cancer Research, Kids First, master gardener, nursing, Piedmont Airlines, Police Benevolent Association (O'Dell plate), western square dancer, unstickered shag dancing plate (O'Dell photo & plate), bicyclist (Share the Road), sea turtles, tobacco heritage, non-game wildlife with embossed and screened serial numbers, watermelon (Steele plate), NC Zoo screened and embossed. 

Carolina Hurricanes, "First in Freedom" Durham Bulls, "First in Freedom" Kids Cancer, "First in Freedom"
First in Freedom plates:  Carolina Hurricanes NHL team, Durham Bulls AAA baseball team, Kick Cancer for Kids. 

Carolina Hurricanes, "In God We Trust" sea turtles, "In God We Trust"
In God We Trust plates:  Carolina Hurricanes NHL team, sea turtles (Casadonte plate)

North Carolina Aquariums Appalachian Trail, version 1 Appalachian Trail, version 2 Blue Ridge Parkway version 1a, numeric serial Blue Ridge Parkway version 1a, alpha prefix Blue Ridge Parkway version 2, partial graphic native brook trout Coastal Federation version 1a Coastal Federation, version 1b Coastal Federation, version 2 Choose Life Core Sound Waterfowl Museum, version 2 Coastal Land Trust Ducks Unlimited, version 2a Ducks Unlimited, version 2b Ducks Unlimited, version 3 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation First in Forestry First in Forestry Guilford Battleground Company Horse Council Home Care & Hospice Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament Arts In God We Trust, version 1a In God We Trust, version 1b In God We Trust, version 2 Save the Honey Bee, fully graphic version Buddy Pelletier Surfing Foundation, version 1 Buddy Pelletier Surfing Foundation, version 2 Great Smoky Mountains, version 1, numeric serial Great Smoky Mountains, version 1, alpha prefix Great Smoky Mountains, version 2a Great Smoky Mountains, version 2b Great Smoky Mountains, version 2b Great Smoky Mountains, version 3 State Parks version 1a State Parks version 1b Tennis Foundation Trout Unlimited Support Our Troops Wildlife Habitat Foundation Wild Turkey Federation
Unique designs:  North Carolina Aquariums, Appalachian Trail, with embossed serial and green non-web site legend, and with screened serial and black web site legend; Blue Ridge Parkway, full graphic without and with letter prefix, and partial graphic; native brook trout; Coastal Federation embossed and flat version 1; Coastal Federation version 2 (Weeks photo of plate in use); Choose Life; Core Sound Waterfowl Museum version 2; Coastal Land Trust; Ducks Unlimited versions 2a (flat), 2b (embossed), and 3; Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation; forestry versions 1a (flat) and 2 (embossed with white background); Guilford Battleground Company; Horse Council (Weeks photo of plate in use); Home Care & Hospice; Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament; Arts; In God We Trust versions 1a (embossed) and 1b (flat) with yellow ribbons, and version 2 with bald eagle and flag; Save the Honey Bee (graphic background version); Buddy Pelletier Surfing Foundation versions 1a (embossed) and 1b (flat) (Weeks photo of plate in use); Great Smoky Mountains version 1 without and with letter prefix; Friends of the Smokies versions 2a (embossed), 2b (flat; two serial formats shown), and 3; state parks versions 1a (flat) and 1b (embossed), tennisversion 1a (flat), Trout Unlimited version 1a (flat), Support Our Troops version 1a (flat), Wildlife Habitat Foundation (Adkins photo of plate in use); Wild Turkey Federation (plate in use)

Military service plates

Military service plates are issued based on one's military service record, and are not dependent on membership in any organization.  Only a few of these are shown on and may be ordered through the NC DMV web site; the others you apparently have to know about and order by some other method.  For these reasons, I'm categorizing military service plates separately from special interest plates. 

Military-related organizations such as the American Legion and VFW have their own plates, but those are considered organizational member plates, not military service plates. 

Pearl Harbor survivor Army Reserve Bronze Star medal recipient disabled veteran, format 1 disabled veteran, format 2 disabled veteran, format 3 Gold Star family member Korean War veteran National Guard retired National Guard active Naval Reserve Purple Heart medal recipient Army retired, R prefix Marine Corps retired Army retired, R suffix Silver Star medal recipient Navy submarine veteran Vietnam War veteran War on Terror veteran World War II veteran
First in Flight plates:  Pearl Harbor survivor; Army Reserve member (O'Dell plate); Bronze Star medal recipient (O'Dell plate); disabled veteran format 1 with D/V prefix, format 2 with D/V suffix and all numbers, and format 3 with D/V suffix and variable alpha prefix; Gold Star family member (O'Dell plate); Korean War veteran; retired National Guard member, active National Guard member, Naval Reserve member, Purple Heart medal recipient (Morgan plate); Army retired with R prefix; Marine Corps retired with R prefix; Army retired with R suffix; Silver Star medal recipient (O'Dell plate); Navy submarine veteran; Vietnam War veteran; War on Terror veteran (Key photo and plate); World War II veteran. 

disabled veteran, "First in Freedom" U.S. Army veteran, "First in Freedom"
First in Freedom plates:  disabled veteran; U.S. Army veteran. 

Special interest and military service vanity plates

Blue Ridge Parkway vanity Davidson College vanity Ducks Unlimited version 2 vanity Eagle Scout vanity NASCAR Elliott Sadler #19 vanity with special character First in Forestry version 2 vanity Olympic Spirit vanity Animal Lover vanity Kids First vanity Retired Air Force vanity Fire Fighter / Rescue Squad vanity Shag Dancing vanity University of Florida vanity
Blue Ridge Parkway vanity, Davidson College vanity (O'Dell plate); Ducks Unlimited vanity; Eagle Scout vanity (Casadonte photo and plate); NASCAR Elliott Sadler (#19) vanity; forestry version 2 vanity (Weeks photo of plate in use); Olympic spirit vanity; animal lover vanity; Kids First vanity; retired Air Force vanity; fire fighter / rescue squad flat vanity; shag dancing vanity; University of Florida vanity. 

(The shag dancing plate has a stuck-on apostrophe between the J and the S.  Apparently the owner didn't realize he could have ordered the plate with an embossed apostrophe.) 

Special interest and some military service plates are available as vanities, but the plates must have the prefix or suffix letter or letters associated with that plate type, regardless of whether the prefix or suffix is embossed or screened on the plate.  These plates may have up to 4 variable characters, including spaces and special characters which are not considered part of the actual plate number. 

For unknown reasons, retired military vanity plates are exceptions to the above limitations; they do not automatically get a specific prefix or suffix letter, and so up to five variable characters are permitted.  The U.S. Air Force Retired vanity plate above has the suffix letter "R" at the end, but this was apparently the motorist's choice. 

The "G" at the end of the Olympic plate is the required suffix letter, so the perhaps the plate should be read "1996 Gold" (with AU being the chemical designation for gold) rather than "1996 August" or "1996 Saint Augustine's".  Only its owner knows for sure. 

Special interest and military service motorcycle plates

Blue Ridge Parkway motorcycle plate
Blue Ridge Parkway motorcycle plate (Fox photo of plate in use)

Well, right now there's only one special interest design available as a motorcycle plate.  In the spring of 2009, a motorcycle version of the popular Blue Ridge Parkway plate was introduced.  It has some minor differences from the full-sized version, mostly to accommodate the slightly different shape and different bolt hole positions of the motorcycle plate.  The motorcycle version gets serial format 0000 B/R, while the full-sized plate has always had a B/P serial suffix. 

In early 2016 or thereabouts, the first military service motorcycle plate was introduced, for Purple Heart veterans.  I have not yet seen one of these in person or in a photo, but the NCDMV website shows a graphic representation of the plate with a graphic of the medal on the left, the text "Purple Heart Veteran – Combat Wounded" on the right, and the full state name (in a different font than full-sized plate) screened along the bottom.  Purple Heart motorcycle plates use serial suffix P/V, while full-sized Purple Heart plates use serial prefix P/H. 

Special interest and military service prefix and suffix codes

These codes are used on special interest and military service plates with four or fewer variable serial characters.  Codes used on various standard-issue non-passenger plates may be seen on the serial format reference guide on the North Carolina commercial and government plate page. 

Code Prefix Use Suffix Use
none
Military – Legion of Valor
none
Military – Medal of Honor
none
Military – Pearl Harbor Survivor
A Appalachian State University Shriners – Amran Temple
AA   82nd Airborne Division Association
AF U.S. Air Force Reserve Marine Corps League
AI Native American  
AJ   NASCAR – A.J. Allmendinger #43 (discontinued)
AL   American Legion
AM   Military – Air Medal
AP   Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
AQ   North Carolina Aquariums New, May 2023
AR U.S. Army Reserve  
AS   Autism Society
AT   Appalachian Trail
AU   Auburn University
AV   Military – Afghanistan Veteran
B Purdue University  
BC   Breast Cancer Awareness
BE   NASCAR – Bill Elliott #91 (discontinued)
BH   NASCAR – Kyle Busch #5 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Kyle Busch #18
BK   NASCAR – Brad Keselowski #2 (discontinued)
BL   NASCAR – Bobby Labonte #18 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Bobby Labonte #43 (discontinued)
BP   Blue Ridge Parkway (full-sized)
BR   Blue Ridge Parkway (motorcycle)
BS   Military – Bronze Star
BT   Native Brook Trout
BV   NASCAR – Brian Vickers #25 (discontinued)
BZ   Charlotte Hornets NBA team
C Western Carolina University Clemson University
CB   NASCAR – Clint Bowyer #33 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Clint Bowyer #14
CE   NASCAR – Carl Edwards #99 (discontinued)
CF   Coastal Federation
CG U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Carolinas Golf Association
CH   Carolina Hurricanes NHL team
CL   Choose Life
CM   NASCAR – Casey Mears #42 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Casey Mears #25 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Casey Mears #5 (discontinued)
CP   Carolina Panthers NFL team
CS   Core Sound Waterfowl Museum
CT   Coastal Land Trust
CU   Campbell University
CV   Sons of Confederate Veterans
D Duke University  
DA   Davidson College
DB Durham Bulls AAA baseball team NASCAR – Dave Blaney #22 (discontinued)
DC   Military – Distinguished Service Cross
DE   NASCAR – Hall of Fame / Dale Earnhardt
DF   NASCAR – Dario Franchitti #40 (discontinued)
DH   NASCAR – Denny Hamlin #11
DI   Scuba Diver
DJ   NASCAR – Dale Jarrett #88 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Dale Jarrett #44 (discontinued)
DL   Donate Life (organ donors)
DP   NASCAR – Danica Patrick #7 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Danica Patrick #10 (discontinued)
DR   NASCAR – David Ragan #6 (discontinued)
DS   Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
DU   Ducks Unlimited
DV Military – Disabled Veteran (100%) Military – Disabled Veteran (100%)
E East Carolina University N.C. Central University
EB   Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
EC   Elizabeth City State University
EF   Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
EL   Michigan State University New, Feb. 2023
ES Order of the Eastern Star Eagle Scout
ET   NASCAR – Elliott Sadler #38 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Elliott Sadler #19 (discontinued)
EU   Elon University
F Wake Forest University  
FB   Support Soccer
FC   Military – Distinguished Flying Cross
FF   First in Forestry
FP   Fraternal Order of Police
FR   NASCAR – Ford Racing
FS   Fayetteville State University
FW   Veterans of Foreign Wars
G University of N.C. Greensboro  Olympic Spirit
GA   University of Georgia
GB   NASCAR – Greg Biffle #16 (discontinued)
GC   Guilford Battleground Company
GL   Masonic Order – Prince Hall Grand Lodge
GS   Military – Gold Star Family
GT   Georgia Tech
GV   Military – Desert Storm Veteran
GW   Gardner Webb University
H   Historic Lighthouse
HB   Save the Honey Bee (standard background)
HC   Horse Council
HF   NASCAR – Hall of Fame
HG   Harley Owners' Group
HH   Home Care & Hospice
HK   Mountains to Sea Trail
HP   Retired N.C. Highway Patrol Officer
HU   High Point University
IC   I Care (Animal Lover)
IV   Military – Iraq Veteran
JB   NASCAR – Jeff Burton #31 (discontinued)
JD   Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
JF   NASCAR – Jeff Green #43 (discontinued)
JG   NASCAR – Jeff Gordon #24 (discontinued)
JJ   NASCAR – Jimmie Johnson #48 (discontinued)
JL   NASCAR – Joe Logano #20 (discontinued)
JM   NASCAR – Jeremy Mayfield #19 (discontinued)
JN   NASCAR – Joe Nemechek #01 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Joe Nemechek #13 (discontinued)
JR   NASCAR – Dale Earnhardt, Jr. #88
JV   V Foundation for Cancer Research
JY   NASCAR – J.J. Yeley #18 (discontinued)
K Knights of Columbus  
KA   Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
KB   NASCAR – Kurt Busch #97 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Kurt Busch #2 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Kurt Busch #22 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Kurt Busch #41 (discontinued)
KC   Kick Cancer for Kids
KF   Kids First
KH   NASCAR – Kevin Harvick #29 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Kevin Harvick #4
KK   NASCAR – Kasey Kahne #9 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Kasey Kahne #5 (discontinued)
KM   Battle of Kings Mountain
KN   Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity
KP U.S. Merchant Marine Academy NASCAR – Kyle Petty #45 (discontinued)
KS   NASCAR – Ken Schrader #21 (discontinued)
KV   Military – Korean War Veteran
LC   Lions Club
LE   Retired Law Enforcement Officer
LG   Cure ALS New, Feb. 2023
LL   Order of the Long Leaf Pine
LM   Military – Legion of Merit
LP   Litter Prevention
LR   Lenoir-Rhyne College (discontinued)
Lenoir-Rhyne University
LS   Surveyors
LW   Keeping the Lights On New, Feb. 2023
M   Masonic Order
MC U.S. Marine Corps Reserve  
MG Master Gardener  
MM   Maritime Museum (Wild Dolphins)
MS National Multiple Sclerosis Society  
MU Methodist University  
N Nurses  
NA U.S. Naval Academy  
NC N.C. National Guard Retired Meredith College
ND   NASCAR – David Stremme #40 (discontinued)
NASCAR – David Stremme #12 (discontinued)
NG   N.C. National Guard (active)
NJ   NASCAR – Jamie McMurray #26 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Jamie McMurray #1 (discontinued)
NK   NASCAR – Matt Kenseth #17 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Matt Kenseth #20 (discontinued)
NL   Florida State University
NM   NASCAR – Mark Martin #6 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Mark Martin #01 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Mark Martin #5 (discontinued)
NR U.S. Naval Reserve NASCAR – generic version 1 (flags graphic)
NS   NASCAR – Reed Sorenson #41 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Reed Sorenson #43 (discontinued)
NW   NASCAR – Michael Waltrip #55 (discontinued)
P University of N.C. Pembroke  
PA   Piedmont Airlines
PB   Police Benevolence Association
PC Pisgah Conservancy  
PD Military – Partially Disabled Veteran  
PF   International Association of Fire Fighters
PH Military – Purple Heart Veteran (full-sized) Shriners – Prince Hall Shrine
PM   NASCAR – Juan Pablo Montoya #42 (discontinued)
PO   POW-MIA / Bring Them Home (motorcycle) New, Feb. 2023
POW   Military – (Ex-)Prisoner of War
PS   Penn State University
PV   Military – Purple Heart Veteran (motorcycle)
PW   POW-MIA / Bring Them Home (full-sized)New, Feb. 2023
Q University of N.C. Charlotte Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
R Retired U.S. Military (various branches) Retired U.S. Military (various branches)
RA   National Rifle Association
RC   Charlotte Motor Speedway
RD   NASCAR – Ricky Rudd #21 (discontinued)
RE   Homes4NC (Housing Opportunity Foundation)
RF Fire Fighter and Rescue Squad member NASCAR – generic version 2 (race car graphic)
RH   Ronald McDonald House
RI   Rotary International Club
RK   Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament
RN   NASCAR – Ryan Newman #12 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Ryan Newman #39 (discontinued)
RP   NASCAR – Richard Petty Historic
RS Resuce Squad member NASCAR – Scott Riggs #10 (discontinued)
RT   Arts
RU   Ruritan Club
RW   NASCAR – Rusty Wallace (discontinued)
S NC State University Shriners – Sudan Temple
SA Sheriffs' Association Supporter In God We Trust / Support Our Troops (discontinued)
In God We Trust (eagle graphic)
SB   Save the Honey Bee (graphic background)
SC   University of South Carolina
SD Military – Silver Star Disabled Veteran Western Square Dancer
SF   Buddy Pelletier Surfing Foundation
SG Shag Dancing NASCAR – Sterling Marlin #14 (discontinued)
SH   NASCAR – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17
SI   Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
SM   Friends of Great Smoky Mountains (discontinued)
Friends of the Smokies
SP   State Parks
SR Street Rod (discontinued) Share the Road (bicyclist)
SS   Military – Silver Star
ST   Save the Sea Turtles
SU   Shaw University
SV   U.S. Navy Submarine Veteran
SW   NASCAR – Scott Wimmer #22 (discontinued)
T N.C. A&T State University Shriners – Oasis Temple
TB   NASCAR – Trevor Bayne #6 (discontinued)
TF   Tennis Foundation
TH   Tobacco Heritage
TK   NASCAR – Travis Kvapil #77 (discontinued)
TL   NASCAR – Terry Labonte #44 (discontinued)
TS   NASCAR – Tony Stewart #20 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Tony Stewart #14 (discontinued)
TU   Trout Unlimited
TX   NASCAR – Martin Truex #56 (discontinued)
NASCAR – Martin Truex #78 (discontinued)
U University of N.C. (Chapel Hill)  
UA   University of Alabama
UF   University of Florida
UK   University of Kentucky
UM   University of Michigan
US   Support Our Troops
V Virginia Tech Military – Bronze Star, Valor in Combat
VA   U.S. Army Veteran
VC   U.S. Coast Guard Veteran
VF Fire Fighter U.S. Air Force Veteran
VM   U.S. Marine Corps Veteran
VN   U.S. Navy Veteran
VV   Military – Vietnam War Veteran
W University of N.C. Wilmington  
WB   Wrightsville Beach New, Feb. 2023
WC   Wildlife Resources (cardinal) (discontinued)
Wildlife Resources (frog)
WH   Wildlife Habitat Foundation
WM   Watermelon
WP   U.S. Military Academy
WS   Winston-Salem State Univerity, version 2
WT Wild Turkey Federation Military – War on Terror Veteran 
WV   Military – World War II Veteran
X Winston-Salem State Univerity, version 1
(discontinued)
 
ZP   Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
ZS   N.C. Zoo
ZZ   U.S. Air Force Academy

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Page credits

Thanks to those who have directly contributed to the information on this page:  Greg Ciesielski, Paul Casadonte, Kenny O'Dell, Mike Fox, John Weeks, Neal Adkins, and Brad Key. 

Ciesielski, O'Dell, Casadonte, Fox, Weeks, Adkins, and Key photos are presumed to be copyrighted by Greg Ciesielski, Kenny O'Dell, Paul Casadonte, Mike Fox, John Weeks, Neal Adkins, and Brad Key, respectively, and are used with permission.  O'Dell, Chapman, Morgan, and Steele plates are from the collections of Kenny O'Dell, Craig Chapman, Michael Morgan, and Dan Steele, respectively. 


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