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View images of plates by decade:

Links to other license plate history sites

Read more about Idaho automobile history from our Reference Series:

• Automobiles per Idaho Household, 1920-1990
• Automobiles in Early Idaho Mining Camps

Undated, early plate. Metal leters on dark brown leather backing. (Actual size 6 3/8" x 11 3/4")

ISHS Reference Series # 170 (Revised 1988)

Since 1913, Idaho automobile license plates have been, issued in the following colors. The State has never used porcelain plates, and undated plates have never been issued for general use.

1913 : white on blue
1914: white on red
1915: red on white
1916: black on cream
1917: yellow on black
1918: white on brown
1919: cream on dark green
1920: white on blue
1921: black on orange
1922: orange on black
1923: light orange on silver
1924: black on yellow
1925: black on white
1926: black on orange
1927: orange on dark blue
1928: green on tan
1929: deep yellow on black
1930: black on deep yellow
1931: white on black
1932: black on orange
1933: orange on black
1934: black on deep yellow
1935: yellow on black
1936: black on deep yellow
1937: black on silver
1938: white on maroon
1939: yellow on blue
1940: green on yellow-orange
1941: black on yellow
1942: blue on light gray
1943: 1942 plate with windshield sticker
1944: 1942 plate with windshield sticker
1945: black on yellow-orange
1946: white on black
1947: white on blue
1948: black on aluminum
1949: 1948 with red on aluminum 1949 date tab
1950: white on black
1951: white on maroon
1952: 1951 with red on aluminum 1952 date tab
1953: white on black
1954: black on white
1955: white on black
1956: black on white
1957: white on apple green
1958: green on white
1959: white on green
1960: green on white
1961: white on green
1962: green on white
1963: white on green
1964: green on white
1965: white on green
1966: green on white
1967: white on green
1968: green on white/5-year reflectorized
1969: 1968 plate with green on white sticker
1970: 1968 plate with red on white sticker
1971: 1968 plate with black on yellow sticker
1972: 1968 plate with black on white sticker
1973: 1968 plate with white on red sticker
1974: green on white/5-year reflectorized
1975: 1974 plate with black on yellow sticker
1976: 1974 plate with white on orange sticker
1977: 1974 plate with black on white sticker
1978: 1974 plate with red on yellow sticker
1979: 1974 plate with white on black sticker
1980: 1974 plate with white on red sticker
1981: 1974 plate with white on blue sticker
1982: 1974 plate with black on yellow sticker
1983: 1974 plate with white on red sticker
1984: 1974 plate with white on green sticker
1985: 1974 plate with white on blue sticker
1986: 1974 plate with white on black sticker
1987: 1974 plate with white on red sticker
also: optional Centennial plates red/white/blue
1988: 1974 plate with white on green sticker
1989: 1974 plate with white on blue sticker

County Designations 1932-Present

County License plate prefixes: before 1932, a straight numerical system was used with no county prefix. In 1932 and 1933, the letters A, B, H, K, and R were used with the numerals 1 through-9 as county prefixes. From 1934 through 1942, the same prefixes were used except that the B was changed to a P. In 1945 the county prefix designation was started.

Pictures and slogans have appeared on Idaho license plates off and on, as follows:

1913-1927: none
1928: "Idaho Potatoes;" number printed over background picture of potato.
1929-1939: none
1940: "50 Years Statehood", across top "1890 Idaho 1940" across bottom.
1947: Skier between county & plate number "Vacation Wonderland" across bottom.
1948-1949: Colored potato decal between numbers; "World Famous Potatoes" across bottom.
1950-1952: none
1953: "World Famous Potato" across bottom.
1954-1955: none
1956: "World Famous Potato" across bottom.
1957- "Famous Potatoes" across bottom.
1983- Graphic mountain scene across top.
1987-1990: Optional red/white/blue centennial plates with "1890 Idaho 1990" across top and "Centennial, across bottom.