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Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives |
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Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives |
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This page illustrates some of the various types of license plates currently or recently seen on the streets of North Carolina. There are also many additional types of North Carolina license plates, some issued in very small numbers, that do not appear on this page. As I find them, I will add their images to this page.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 or near the city of 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.
Latest noteworthy updates:
- Nov. 19, 2007 - Added images of two medium-duty truck vanity plates and an older-style farm truck plate still in use.
- Feb. 17, 2008 - Added photo of a current special mobile equipment plate.
On this page - Current and recent North Carolina license plates typically issued to commerical and
government-owned vehicles
Truck and other commercial motor vehicle plates
Trailer plates
Dealer and other automotive business plates
Commercial vehicle vanity plates
Government-owned and charity-owned vehicle plates
Commercial and government motorcycle plates
Government official and National Guard member plates - Now moved to the Current NC Plates, part 1 page
Antique vehicle plates - Now moved to the Current NC Plates, part 1 page
Personal vehicle vanity and amateur radio operator plates - Now moved to the Current NC Plates, part 1 page
Handicapped person plates and placards - Now moved to the Current NC Plates, part 1 page
Motorcycle plates - Now moved to the Current NC Plates, part 1 page
Temporary cardboard plates - Now moved to the Current NC Plates, part 1 page
General information about stickers, expiration dates, etc.
Serial format reference guide
Related links
Trucks with gross vehicle weights under 7,000 pounds are supposed to be issued passenger car plates, unless they qualify as "for hire" or apportioned vehicles. This is regardless of whether the truck is registered to an individual or a business, or whether it's used for personal or commercial purposes. However, it's just as common to see light-duty trucks in commercial use displaying medium-duty truck "weighted" plates as it is passenger car plates. I have no idea why. Personal light-duty trucks nearly always have passenger car plates.
These plates are issued to trucks with gross weights between 7,000 and 26,000 pounds that are not used to transport passengers or property for compensation. The "commercial" legend was used through 2003, regardless of whether the vehicle was actually used for commercial purposes. Starting in 2004, the legend was changed to "weighted", presumably due to increasing numbers of people driving trucks over 7,000 pounds strictly for non-commercial private use. The term "weighted" apparently comes from the registration fees being calculated based on the gross vehicle weight. Weighted plates were issued annually in 2004 and 2005 only; in 2006, a new undated base plate was issued and staggered registration began, with renewals being assigned an initial expiraiton between July 2006 and June 2007. In recent years, at least, commercial and weighted plates have serial format xx-0000, with the first letter always A, B, C, or D. Through 2005, first letters A and B were used in odd years, and letters C and D were used in even years. Undated plates started with letter A and are now up to the first letter C.
Also see commercial vehicle vanity plates, below.
Not-for-hire, non-apportioned trucks with gross vehicle weights over 26,000 pounds have a distinct plate type with the legend "Permanent Commercial" and serial prefix YA. For many years, these plates were issued with a YA-00000 serial format, but that format was exhausted in late 2006. Now, Permanent Commerical plates are issued with format YA000000. Besides the somewhat bizzare 8-character format, these plates are also unusual by North Carolina standards in that lead zeroes are used in the serial number. Why the NCDMV just didn't continue sequentially into format YB-00000, which isn't being used for anything else, I have no clue.
This is one of several types of so-called "permanent" blue-on-white plates issued to vehicles with gross weights over 26,000 pounds. These plates and their registrations are in fact not permanent, but must be renewed annually. The term "permanent" is a remnant from 2005 and prior, when December month stickers, but no year stickers, were used on these plates. The plates were permanent in the sense that they were not replaced annually and did not require any renewal stickers. However, the registrations did expire annually each December and had to be renewed. Like other non-passenger plate types, staggered registration began in 2006, and since then, both month and year expiration stickers are required on these "permanent" plates. July 2006 was the earliest staggered expiration date.
Prior to 2006, farm trucks were among the only commercial vehicles that were issued an undated base plate and year stickers. Most but not all had December expiraiton months then; now the expiration months can be any time during the year. All farm trucks are issued the same type of plate regardless of weight.
Van Pool plates are also typical boring non-passengers. Serial format is VP-0000 and the legend is "Van Pool". I've lived in Raleigh for over 5 years now, and I've never seen one of these actually in use.
Through 2005, taxis were issued annual plates with serial format TA 0000 and an embossed year. There was no legend identifying the vehicle type, though. On the 2006 base that uses stickers to indicate the expiration, the TA 0000 format continues, but the legend "Taxi" is now embossed at the top of the plate.
Most vehicles used to transport passengers or property for compensation are issued these six-character "For Hire" plates. (The exceptions are taxis, apportioned trucks, and trucks for hire with gross vehicle weights exceeding 26,000 pounds; these vehicle types have their own distinct plates.) Examples of vehicles that would typically be issued six-character "For Hire" plates include limousines, charter buses, tow trucks, package delivery trucks, and local household moving trucks. Through 2005, these plates were issued annually and had the legend "Commercial For Hire". As far as I know, prefix letters ZB and ZC were used in even years, and prefixes ZF and ZH were used in odd years. Beginning in 2006, undated six-character "For Hire" blue-on-white base plates were issued with staggered month and year expiration stickers. The initial registration end datefor these plates fell between July 2006 and June 2007. So far, prefix letters ZB and ZC have been used on the undated base.
The seven-character "Permanent For Hire" plate is the type issued to non-apportioned trucks with gross weights over 26,000 pounds used to transport property for compensation. Mostly these are issued to dump trucks. These plates all have serial format ZB-00000.
Plate ZB-31303 shown above was spotted on a dump truck in July 2005, which means it should have had a December month sticker rather than July. I have no explanation for the July month sticker. Year stickers and staggered month stickers were introduced in January 2006 with the earliest expiration occurring in July 2006. See the article on regular heavy-duty trucks, above, for discussion of the term "Permanent" and for registration periods and expiration dates.
Apportioned plates are issued to certain commercial vehicles that cross state lines. Most are seen on heavy straight trucks and semi-tractors. However, North Carolina also has an apportioned plate type for light- and medium-duty commercial trucks. This is an infrequently seen plate type, at least in Raleigh, where I live. Perhaps they're more common in the Charlotte area, which is adjacent to South Carolina.Through 2005, these plates were issued annually and bore the embossed year and the legend "Commercial Apportioned". They had serial format Lx-0000, which was also used on undated apportioned plates issued to heavy trucks. The annual version always used second letters beyond the range of what the undated plates were projected to use that year. Starting in 2006, an undated base plate with format Lx-00000 and just the legend "Apportioned" is used for light- and medium-duty apportioned trucks. These plates have staggered registrations, with the first registration period ending between July 2006 and June 2007. The plate pictured above was spotted on a commercial pickup truck.
Apportioned plates are issued to certain commerical vehicles that cross state lines. The most common variety is this type, used for heavy straight trucks and truck tractors with a gross vehicle weight over 26,000 pounds. These have the legend "Permanent Apportioned" and serial format Lx-0000. The plate pictured with a December month sticker and no year sticker is another pre-2006 so-called "permanent" plate example. Beginning in 2006, expiration month and year stickers are attatched to this plate, and the month can be any time in the year. The earliest expiration date where a year sticker is used is July 2006. "Permanent Apportioned" plates with serial format L-000000 are trailer plates.
Special mobile equipment plates look like other boring non-passenger plates, and have serial format ME-0000. These are rarely seen; they're only issued to self-propelled equipment such as cranes. Prior to 2006 they were issued annually and had an embossed year, but no identifying legend. As you'd expect, the undated base plates are blue on white; the state name is at the bottom, the month and year stickers go in the upper corners, and the legend "Spec Mobile" is at the top center.
I must admit I'm rather unclear about what type of trailer plate is used for what type of trailer or use. The rules for the various trailer plate types seem to overlap.
Regular trailer plates have had staggered registrations and expiration month and year stickers for a number of years. When serial format x-00000 was exhausted, new format xx-00000 was started. Both formats are still in use, although the earlier format is seen infrequently. These are the only trailer plates I ever see on personal trailers, but they are also used on all varieties of commercial and heavy trailers and semi-trailers as well. Prefixes AY and AZ were not used on these plates, because they are reserved for multi-year trailer plates, which are covered below.(Motorcycle trailer plates are addressed below in the commercial motorcycle plate section.)
There are three types of long-term and/or heavy trailer types.
- "Permanent Trailer" plates are issued to commercial trailers pulled by a truck whose gross weight exceeds 26,000 pounds. Serial format is PT-00000. The plate pictured below with serial PT-58121 was spotted on a semi-trailer. This is another of the so-called "permanent" plate types that prior to 2006, always had a December month sticker affixed but no year sticker. The registrations weren't permanent - they had to be renewed annually - but the plates themselves were considered permanent because they did not need to be replaced annually or issued year stickers annually. Now, starting in 2006, they get various month stickers and a year sticker to indicate the registration expiration date.
- "Permanent Apportioned" plates with serial format L-000000 don't say they're trailer plates, but trust me on this. They just ran out of room for the word "Trailer". These are also for commercial trailers pulled by trucks whose gross weight exceeds 26,000 pounds. Being apportioned plates, they are intended for trailers that travel out of state, but from what I know about the apportioned vehicle program, apportionment of trailer mileage is no longer required, and so there's no real reason for these plates any longer. But as far as I know, they're still being issued. These also got staggered registrations and varying expiration month stickers and expiration year stickers starting in 2006. For some unknown reason, these plates began in and have only been issued in the L-800000 series. "Permanent Apportioned" plates with serial format Lx-0000 are truck plates.
- Multi-year trailer plates were and still are undated and unstickered. They're colored black on white and have the legend "Multi Year". Serial format until recently was always AY-00000; in December 2006 I saw my first multi-year plate in format AZ-00000. Again, these plates don't actually say "trailer", but they're only issued to trailers. They are seen on commercial trailers and semi-trailers of all sizes. I believe these are true permanently-registered trailer plates.
A small number of multi-year plates have the state name between the bolt holes; the overwhelming majority have the state name spanning the width of the plate. The small state name plate pictured was in actual use in September 2006 when I snapped the photo; it has a 1997 manufacture date printed on the reflective sheeting above the lower bolt holes. This is the only one of these I can ever recall seeing since I moved to North Carolina in 2001. The more common wide state name variety was also used for plates with serials lower than the narrow state name plate, so presumably the narrow state name was a very short-term issue.
There are two types of motor vehicle dealer plates in wide use. Franchised (new vehicle) dealers get plates with a stacked F/D prefix, while independent (used vehicle) dealers get plates with a stacked I/D prefix. Until at least 2002, and possibly 2004, both F/D and I/D plates had serial format x/D-00000. Now I/D plates get format I/D-000000; there are obviously a lot more used car dealers than new.Back in the days of annual embossed date plates, dealer plates always indicated June expirations. It's no coincidence that June 30 is the last day of the state government fiscal year. The last annual dealer plates were stamped with June 2006 expiraitons. Dealer plates have now converted to staggered registrations. The undated plates are blue on white, and otherwise look like the earlier annual plates, except with month and year expiration stickers affixed instead of an embossed date. The initial expiration range is from January 2007 to December 2007.
(There are also motorcycle dealer plates, which are addressed below in the commercial motorcycle plate section. However, there's no distinction on the plates between new vs. used motorcycle dealers.)
There's also a seldom seen Dealer Transporter plate that I don't really know much about. I have no idea what the difference is between "Dealer", "Dealer Transporter", and "Transporter" (covered below) registrations. Anyway, these have the word "Dealer" at the top center, "Transporter" at the bottom center, and the letters "NC" both of the bottom corners. Until 2006, these were issued annually and had embossed June expirations like the regular Dealer plates, and shared the serial format TP-00000 with regular Transporter plates, presumably with separate numerical ranges. New, undated Dealer Transporter base plates have the serial format TP100000, with all serial characters full sized and no spaces or separators. They're also unusual in that the colors of the undated base are black on white rather than the standard blue on white. I've seen so few of them, I'm not positive, but I believe the embossed date Dealer Transporter plates were also always black on white.
Vehicle manufacturer plates look like dealer plates, except that they say "Manufacturer" at the top, and they have serial format MF-0000, with all the characters full-sized. These also were issued annually with an embossed June expiration through June 2006, then converted to staggered registrations. I believe these are primarily used by Thomas Built Buses, Inc., which manufactures school bus bodies at a factory in High Point, North Carolina. I've seen a few of these plates in Raleigh, where I live, in each case attached to a new GM full-sized SUV - a Chevy Suburban or Tahoe, or a GMC Yukon. Apparently General Motors must maintain an office in Raleigh, but there's no assembly plant here, so I'm mystified why I've only seen one type of GM vehicle with these plates.
Regular transporter plates, according to the DMV, are: "Issued to a person engaged in a business requiring the limited operation of motor vehicles to facilitate the manufacture, construction or rebuilding or delivery of new and used truck cabs or bodies between manufacturer & dealer, or the foreclosure or repossession of motor vehicles." Okay, I get the part about these plates being used by vehicle finance companies and/or repossessors. Otherwise, it seems like these could be redundant with manufacturer and/or dealer plates. And how regular transporters differ from dealer transporters, I have no idea.
Annual non-dealer transporter plates, issued through 2005, had no identifying legend. They had the state name across the top of the plate and the four-digit embossed year at the bottom center of the plate, which was unusual for a North Carolina plate. The registration year coincided with the calendar year like most all other non-dealer plates. These converted to an undated base with staggered expiration stickers beginning in 2006, with initial expiration dates ranging from July 2006 to June 2007. These undated plates follow the normal pattern of the plate type legend at the top and the state name at the bottom, and the blue on white color scheme. Serial format TP-00000 continues unchanged from the annual dated plates.
"Commerical" vanity plates were issued when medium-duty trucks bore "commercial" plates regardless of whether they were used for commercial purposes, through 2003. These are no longer issued but continue to be renewed with stickers. Since 2004, "weighted" vanity plates have been issued instead. These look the same except for the caption at the top of the plate. Expiration month for both was always December through 2005, to coincide with the expiration date of annually-issued commercial or weighted plates. Now that weighted plates are staggered beginning in 2006, the month sticker can be from any month. A variety of special characters may be ordered on vanity plates, although they're not considered part of the plate serial number. Both "commercial" and "weighted" vanity plates are infrequently seen.
Trailers may be issued vanity plates as well. Strange as it may seem, trailer vanity plates are made on the graphic "First in Flight" base, rather than a non-graphic regular trailer base. Therefore, off of the vehicle, a trailer vanity cannot be distinguished from a passenger vanity. Almost nobody bothers to get vanity plates for their trailer, however.
(Motorcycle trailer vanities are covered in the commercial motorcycle plate section, below.)
Most, but not all, state-owned vehicles get these loud black-on-yellow plates with serial format Px-0000. The major exception would be Highway Patrol vehicles, which get passenger-style "First in Flight" plates with an embossed year and with serial prefix "SHP".Local government-owned vehicles and vehicles owned by charitible organizations both receive undated, unstickered black-on-silver plates with the legend "Permanent". This includes city police cars, fire trucks, public school buses, etc. Silver plates usually have R or S suffixes, but I've seen a few P suffixes as well. Probably they were issued sequentially starting with the P series. I've only ever seen a few of these actually used on charitible vehicles.
(Government-owned and charity-owned motorcycle plates are addressed below.)
You might collectively call these plate types "non-passenger" motorcycle plates. Motorcycle plate dimensions are 7 inches wide by 4 inches high.
Motorcycle trailer plates are issued on the same blue-on-white motorcycle base as current regular motorcycles and motorcycle dealers, but have a serial number in format MT-000. Vanity serials up to 7 characters are available; these are indistinguishable in appearance from actual motorcycle vanity plates.
Motorcycle dealer plates' serial format is MD-0000. These were issued annually and expired each June through 2006. They had "N.C." in the upper left corner, "Jun" along the top center, and the two digit expiration year in the upper right corner; colors varied each year. These were replaced in June 2006 with blue on white undated plates that use stickers to indicate the expiration date. I presume these are now staggered like other dealer plates, and if so, the initial staggered expiration period can expire anywhere from January 2007 to December 2007.
State Highway Patrol motorcycles are issued plates on the standard blue-on-white motorcycle base, similar to the motocycle dealer plate shown above. Serial formats HPMU-0 and/or HPMU-00 are used. These plates get regular month and year expiration stickers.
Other government-owned and charity-owned motorcycle plates resemble full-sized government and charity plates. State government motorcycle plates other than for Highway Patrol use are black on yellow and have the legends "State Owned" at top and "N.C. Permanent" at bottom, and have serial format 00-Px. Local government and charitible motorcycles are black on silver and just have the legend "N.C. Permanent at top, with serial format P-0000. Probably these are mostly issued to local police or sheriff's department motorcycles. Legends are screened on both plate types, and neither type uses month or year stickers.
All plate types that use stickers to indicate the expiration date use the same type and color of stickers. These are addressed on the personal vehicle plate page.
Expiration dates
- Farm trucks: Farm truck plates have used stickers to indicate the expiration month and year for many years. Through 2005, farm trucks could be registered annually based on calendar year, in which case they get a December month sticker but, like most other non-passenger plates, actually had a 46 day grace period and expired on the following February 15th. Beginning in 2006, annual registrations are staggered and can expire in any month, with a 15 day grace period. Farm trucks may also be registered for three month periods, with the registration expiring at the end of the second month follwing the registration month. For example, a farm truck registered on May 10 for a three month period would have its registration expire on July 31. There is no grace period for three month registrations.
- Commercial/weighted vanity plates: These also have used month and year stickers for many years; however, the month sticker was always December through 2005. These also had a 46 day grace period and were actually valid until February 15th of the following year. Now these have staggered expiration months and a 15 day grace period.
- Other plate types using stickers: Most, if not all, other plate types that use stickers to indicate the expiration have a 15-day grace period, and so do not really expire until the 15th day of the following month. For example, a plate with March 2005 stickers actually expired on April 15, 2005.
- Dealer plates: Dealer plates were issued annually based on the state fiscal year, and were embossed with the expiration month (always June) and year, through June 2006 expirations. These have now also gone to undated base plates and staggered expiration stickers.
- Other plate types with an embossed year: Most, if not all, annually-issued plates with embossed years are supposed to be valid throughout the calendar year indicated, but they have a 46-day grace period and actually expire on February 15th of the following year. So, a plate with an embossed 2004 year was valid through February 15, 2005.
- Multi-year and permanent plates: These plates do not have embossed years, nor were they issued year stickers to indicate the registraion was current, at least through 2005. Blue on white "permanent" plates were always issued with December month stickers through 2005. The intent appeared to be to remind the registrant that although the plate was permanent and did not need renewal stickers, the registration was not permanent and expired each December, albeit with a 46 day grace period that effectively extended the expiration date to February 15 of the following year. Beginning in 2006, blue on white "permanent" plates have staggered expiraiton months and are issued year stickers, and they have only a 15 day grace period. Black on silver and black on yellow permanent plates still do not indicate any expiraiton dates on the plates. Black on white multi-year trailer plates still do not have any expiration dates embossed or indicated with stickers. I believe these are true permanently-registered trailer plates.
Change of vehicle ownership When a registered vehicle is sold or disposed of, the plates do not stay with the vehicle. The plates can remain with the owner and be transfered to a replacement vehicle. Otherwise, the plates must be returned to the DMV.
Key to Serial Format symbols: x = variable letter 0 = variable number= handicapped wheelchair symbol / = letter preceding slash is stacked above the letter following the slash
| Serial Format | Legend | Usage |
| 00000 | First in Flight / Antique Auto | stock motor vehicle over 35 years old |
| 000000 | none (small plate) | motorcycle (serial format 1 of 2) |
| 00000000 | 30-Day Tag (cardboard) | temporary plate issued by a dealer |
| K000 | First in Flight (with logo) | Knights of Columbus organizational |
| P-0000 | Permanent (small plate) | motorcycle owned by a local government entity or charitible institution |
| x0000 | various | special interest or organizational; prefix letter identifies type |
| 0000x | various | special interest or organizational; suffix letter identifies type |
| x-00000 | Trailer | trailers of all types; annual registration (serial format 1 of 3) |
| 0x0000 | none (small plate) | motorcycle (serial format 2 of 2) |
| 00000-P | Permanent | vehicle owned by a local government entity or charitible institution |
| 00000-R | Permanent | vehicle owned by a local government entity or charitible institution |
| 00000-S | Permanent | vehicle owned by a local government entity or charitible institution |
| L-800000 | Permanent Apportioned | heavy-duty trailer used in interstate commerce; annual registration despite "permanent" legend |
| HD00 |
none (small plate) | handicapped motorcyclist |
| 00-Px | State Owned Permanent (small plate) | state government-owned motorcycle |
| MT-000 | none (small plate) | small trailer intended to be pulled by a motorcycle |
| x000x | various | special interest or organizational overflow series; prefix identifies type, suffix is variable |
| Ax-0000 | Weighted (since 2004); Commercial (thru 2003) | medium-duty truck not for hire (serial format 1 of 4) |
| Bx-0000 | Weighted (since 2004); Commercial (thru 2003) | medium-duty truck not for hire (serial format 2 of 4) |
| Cx-0000 | Weighted (since 2004); Commercial (thru 2003) | medium-duty truck not for hire (serial format 3 of 4) |
| D/V0000 |
First in Flight / Disabled Veteran | military veteran with a service-related 100% disability (serial format 1 of 2) |
| Dx-0000 | Weighted (since 2004); Commercial (thru 2003) | medium-duty truck not for hire (serial format 4 of 4) |
| Lx-0000 | Permanent Apportioned | heavy-duty truck or truck tractor used in interstate commerce; annual registration despite "permanent" legend |
| Lx-0000 | Commercial Apportioned (thru 2005 only) | light- or medium-duty truck used in interstate commerce |
| HD0000 |
First in Flight | handicapped person (serial format 1 of 3) |
| MD-0000 | none (small plate) | motorcycle dealer |
| ME-0000 | Spec Mobile (since 2006); no legend (thru 2005) | self-propelled mobile equipment such as cranes |
| MF-0000 | Manufacturer | vehicle manufacturer |
| P/D 0000 | First in Flight / Partially Disabled Veteran | Military veteran with a service-related disability of less than 100% |
| Px-0000 | Permanent State Owned | most state government-owned vehicles, excluding State Highway Patrol vehicles |
| Rx-0000 | First in Flight | rental car; no longer issued but still valid (probably will soon be phased out completely) |
| TA-0000 | Taxi (since 2006); no legend (thru 2005) | taxi |
| VP-0000 | Van Pool | passenger van used by a commuter cooperative |
| Wx-0000 | Commercial Farm Truck | truck used for farming purposes |
| Xx-0000 | Commercial Farm Truck | truck used for farming purposes |
| Zx-0000 | For Hire (since 2006); Commercial For Hire (thru 2005) | light- and medium-duty trucks for hire (such as package delivery trucks, freight trucks, and tow trucks); also charter buses, limos for hire |
| x/x 0000 | various | special interest or organizational; prefix letters identify type |
| 000 N/G | First in Flight / National Guard (embossed year) | National Guard officer or senior enlisted |
| 0000HD |
First in Flight | handicapped person (serial format 2 of 3) |
| 0000D/V |
First in Flight / Disabled Veteran | military veteran with a service-related 100% disability (serial format 2 of 2) |
| 0000 N/G | First in Flight / National Guard (embossed year) | serial up to 3000: National Guard officer or senior enlisted |
| 0000 N/G | First in Flight / National Guard (embossed year through 2005; stickers since 2006) | serial 3001 and up: National Guard enlisted |
| 0000 x/x | various | special interest or organizational; suffix letters identify type |
| AY-00000 and AZ-00000 | Multi Year | commercial trailer; multi-year or possibly permanent registration |
| Ax-00000 (excluding AY and AZ) | Trailer | trailers of all types; annual registration (serial format 2 of 3) |
| Bx-00000 | Trailer | trailers of all types; annual registration (serial format 3 of 3) |
| F/D-00000 | Dealer | franchised (new vehicle) dealer |
| H/D00000 |
First in Flight | handicapped person (serial format 3 of 3) |
| I/D-00000 | Dealer | independent (used vehicle) dealer (format used through about 2004) |
| LA-00000 | Apportioned (since 2006 only) | light- or medium-duty truck used in interstate commerce |
| PT-00000 | Permanent Trailer | heavy-duty trailer; annual registration, despite the "permanent" legend |
| TP-00000 | Transporter (since 2006; no legend thru 2005) | automotive-related business with a need to drive unregistered vehicles |
| TP-00000 | Dealer Transporter (this serial format thru 2005 only) | unknown |
| YA-00000 | Permanent Commercial | heavy-duty truck (such as a dump truck) or truck tractor not for hire; annual registration, despite the "permanent" legend (serial format 1 of 2) |
| ZB-00000 | Permanent For Hire | heavy-duty truck (such as a dump truck) or truck tractor for hire; annual registration, despite the "permanent" legend |
| I/D-000000 | Dealer | independent (used vehicle) dealer (format used since about 2005) |
| TP100000 | Dealer Transporter (this serial format since 2006 only) | unknown |
| YA000000 | Permanent Commercial | heavy-duty truck (such as a dump truck) or truck tractor not for hire; annual registration, despite the "permanent" legend (serial format 2 of 2) |
| xxx-00 | First in Flight | passenger car or van, SUV, light truck, motor home, or private bus (serial format 2 of 3; will soon be phased out completely) |
| SHP-000 | First in Flight (embossed year) | State Highway Patrol vehicle (serial format 1 of 2) |
| xxx-000 (excluding SHP prefix) | First in Flight | passenger car or van, SUV, light truck, motor home, or private bus (serial format 1 of 3; will soon be phased out completely) |
| x/x 000x | various | special interest or organizational overflow series; prefix letters unique to each type |
| x000 x/x | various | special interest or organizational overflow series; suffix letters unique to each type |
| OBX-0000 | First in Flight | Outer Banks resident (serial format 1 of 2) |
| SHP-0000 | First in Flight (embossed year) | State Highway Patrol vehicle (serial format 2 of 2) |
| xxx-0000 (excluding OBX and SHP prefixes) | First in Flight | passenger car or van, SUV, light truck, motor home, or private bus (serial format 3 of 3) |
| GTP00000 | First in Flight | Global TransPark economic zone resident |
| OBX00000 | First in Flight | Outer Banks resident (serial format 2 of 2) |
| HPMU-0 | none (small plate) | State Highway Patrol motorcycle |
| HPMU-00 | none (small plate) | State Highway Patrol motorcycle |
Back to Current and Recent North Carolina License Plates, Part 1 - License plates typically issued to personal vehicles
Other related pages on this site
Current and Recent Maryland License Plates, Part 1 - License plates typically issued to personal vehicles
Current and Recent Maryland License Plates, Part 2 - License plates typically issued to commercial and government-owned vehicles
Current and recent North Carolina license plates elsewhere on the web
North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles
Highs from North Carolina (highest observed licence plate serial numbers, by plate type)
Plate Shack North Carolina Y2K page
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