License Plates have reflected Indiana’s vehicle registration history for more than a century, showing how plate materials, colors, numbering systems, and designs changed over time. From early metal and porcelain plates to later standardized formats, old Indiana plates provide a record of changing transportation and registration practices. Collectors and vehicle enthusiasts often examine historical plates by year, design, serial format, and condition. This page explores major periods in Indiana plate history and the characteristics that help identify older plates.
License Plates from different periods can look very different from modern Indiana plates, making historical examples valuable for collectors, researchers, and classic vehicle owners. Changes in manufacturing methods, color combinations, slogans, numbering patterns, and registration practices created distinct designs across different years. Some old plates are associated with particular vehicle categories or special registration programs, creating further differences between examples. Reviewing Indiana’s historical plate designs can help identify the approximate period, format, and purpose of an older license plate.
How to Identify Old Indiana License Plates by Era
Old Indiana license plates can often be identified by comparing several physical and visual details. The year printed on the plate is usually the best starting point, but colors, materials, serial formats, and graphic elements can provide additional clues. BMV Locations may also be useful when you need official assistance with plate-related information or registration records. Because Indiana plate designs changed repeatedly over different decades, using several identification features together can help distinguish one historical era from another.
Check the Year
Look first for a visible year marking. Indiana historically issued plates with year-specific designs, making the date an important part of plate identification and plate chronology.
Examine the Background and Letter Colors
Color combinations changed frequently throughout Indiana’s history. Compare the background color and lettering color, as combinations can help narrow down the approximate era.
Look at the Plate Material
Older plates may have different physical characteristics from modern plates. Look for features such as:
- Porcelain or early metal finishes
- Embossed letters and numbers
- Reflective material on later plates
Study the Number and Letter Format
The serial format can also provide historical clues. Older Indiana plates used different numbering systems, including primarily numeric sequences, county-related identification, and later letter-and-number combinations.
Identify Graphics, Slogans, or State Imagery
Later historical Indiana plates often became easier to identify through visual themes. Look for state imagery, slogans, commemorative graphics, or recognizable design elements associated with a particular plate era.
Indiana Legacy License Plates, Historic Plates, and Antique Plates
Indiana legacy license plates, historical plates, antique plates, and authentic model-year plates are related terms, but they do not always mean the same thing. An old plate may simply be a vintage registration plate from a previous year, while an officially registered historic or collector vehicle can be subject to separate Indiana registration rules. Registration Renewal requirements may also differ depending on the vehicle’s registration category and the type of plate being used.
Here is the general distinction:
- Old or legacy plates: Previously issued Indiana plates that are primarily identified by their age or historical design.
- Historic or antique plates: Plates connected with qualifying historic or collector vehicles under applicable registration rules.
- Authentic model-year plates: Original plates from the same model year as a qualifying vehicle that may be subject to specific approval and condition requirements.
This distinction is important because owning an old plate does not automatically mean it can legally be used on a vehicle. Registration eligibility and display requirements can differ depending on the vehicle and plate situation. For more detailed information, readers can explore Indiana Antique & Historic License Plates, Indiana License Plate Types, and Indiana License Plate Laws.
Where to Find Historical Indiana License Plate Information
Indiana License Plate History can be researched through official archives, historical collections, and collector documentation. The Indiana BMV’s historical plate resources are particularly useful for comparing designs from different years and decades.
Useful sources of information can include:
- Indiana BMV historical plate archives
- Official year-by-year and decade-based historical records
- Archival photographs and historical collections
- Collector references documenting vintage plate designs
The First Indiana License Plates: 1913–1919
Indiana’s earliest historical Indiana plates marked the beginning of the state’s official vehicle identification system. Before 1913, Indiana vehicle owners received numbered seals and could create their own identifying placards. In 1913, however, Indiana began issuing official license plates, starting a system of regularly changing designs and colors. Throughout the rest of the decade, old Indiana license plates developed through different color combinations, increasing registration numbers, and embossed metal construction.
The 1913 Indiana License Plate
The 1913 Indiana license plate was Indiana’s first official license plate. It measured approximately 4.5 by 14.5 inches and remains especially notable because it was the only Indiana plate produced with a porcelain finish on a heavy metal base. Its early design used yellow and black colors, giving the plate a distinctive appearance compared with later issues. Today, the 1913 issue is an important starting point in Indiana license plate history because it represents the transition from privately made identifying placards to officially issued registration plates.
The 1914 Indiana License Plate
The 1914 Indiana license plate introduced a noticeably different appearance, using a dark blue background with white lettering. Indiana’s historical records list 66,410 plates issued for that year. Like other early plates from this period, its construction reflected the embossed metal style used for vehicle identification during the early development of the state’s registration system. The strong contrast between the dark background and white characters also made the 1914 issue visually different from the yellow-and-black design used in 1913.
How Indiana Plates Changed During the 1910s
Indiana plates changed almost every year during the 1910s, particularly through new background and lettering combinations. The 1915 plate used pink and green, followed by white and black in 1916, black and yellow in 1917, green and black in 1918, and black and white in 1919. Registration numbers also increased significantly during the decade, showing the growing number of registered vehicles in Indiana.
Important changes during this period included:
- Annual color changes that made each plate issue visually distinctive.
- Increasing registration numbers, rising from 66,410 in 1914 to 277,255 in 1919.
- Continued use of embossed metal plate designs during the early manufacturing era.
Indiana License Plates During the 1920s
The 1920s continued Indiana’s tradition of issuing visually distinct plates with changing colors and year-specific designs. Old Indiana license plates from this decade can often be recognized by their strong background-and-letter color combinations and visible year identification. Indiana’s official historical archive documents a different color scheme for each year, making the decade particularly useful for collectors and researchers studying plate chronology.
The 1920s Plate Design Era
Indiana plates during the 1920s were primarily identified through bold color contrasts and annual changes in appearance. The decade included combinations such as cream and green, orange and black, dark blue and white, brown and white, and black and orange. These changing combinations gave many historical plates a distinctive year-by-year identity. Registration numbers also generally increased during the decade, reflecting continued growth in vehicle ownership throughout Indiana.
The 1925 Indiana License Plate
The 1925 Indiana license plate featured an ivory background with maroon lettering. Indiana’s official historical collection records 627,173 plates issued for that year. The design stands out from surrounding years because of its lighter background and darker lettering combination. For collectors examining vintage plates, the ivory-and-maroon appearance provides an important visual clue when identifying this particular historical issue.
The 1926 Indiana License Plate
The 1926 Indiana license plate changed to a green background with white lettering. Indiana recorded 663,540 plates issued during the year. This design demonstrates the state’s continued practice of changing the visual appearance of its plates between annual issues. The strong contrast between green and white also makes the 1926 plate easier to distinguish from the ivory-and-maroon plate issued the previous year.
The 1928 Indiana License Plate
The 1928 Indiana license plate used a reddish-brown background with white lettering. According to Indiana’s historical archive, 718,173 plates were issued that year. The darker background and contrasting white characters continued the visual approach used throughout the decade, where color combinations played an important role in distinguishing annual plate issues.
What Makes 1920s Indiana Plates Easy to Identify?
1920s Indiana plates are often easier to identify because the state used clearly different color combinations for individual years. Collectors can examine several details:
- Background and lettering colors
- Visible year markings
- Embossed characters and plate construction
- Numbering patterns associated with the annual issue
Indiana License Plates of the 1930s
The 1930s continued the pattern of annual visual changes seen on earlier Indiana plates. Historical Indiana plates from this decade used a wide variety of contrasting colors, making individual years easier to distinguish when compared with modern multi-year plate designs. Indiana’s official archive documents a year-by-year sequence covering the entire decade.
The 1930 Indiana License Plate
The 1930 Indiana license plate began the new decade with a black background and orange lettering. Indiana’s historical records show that 733,792 plates were issued during the year. The high-contrast color combination made the plate visually distinctive and continued Indiana’s tradition of changing plate appearances between annual issues. It also represents the beginning of another important period in the state’s evolving plate chronology.
Plate Designs Throughout the 1930s
Indiana continued changing plate colors throughout the decade. The 1931 design used orange and blue, while later issues included dark green and white, reddish-brown and white, black and white, light green and black, red and white, black and yellow, white and maroon, and yellow and blue.
Several characteristics help define this era:
- Frequent annual color changes
- Continued use of visible plate legends and serial characters
- A strong year-by-year visual identity
Indiana License Plates in the 1940s and World War II
Indiana license plates entered the 1940s with the same pattern of changing annual colors seen in earlier decades. However, World War II created an important interruption in normal plate production. Metal shortages led Indiana to conserve materials by changing how registration plates were issued during part of the war. This makes the decade especially important in the history of old Indiana license plates.
The 1940 Indiana License Plate
The 1940 Indiana license plate featured a black background with silver lettering, creating a strong and simple visual contrast. Indiana’s historical archive records 848,222 plates issued for the year. The design represents the beginning of the 1940s before wartime material shortages changed the state’s normal plate-production practices. Like many earlier Indiana plates, the 1940 issue can be identified by its year-specific color combination and traditional metal plate construction.
How World War II Changed Indiana License Plates
World War II created significant demand for metal, affecting Indiana’s normal license plate production. Indiana had issued plates in pairs until May 22, 1943, when wartime conservation measures changed the system. Governor Henry Schricker asked residents to turn in collections of old license plates and their front 1942 plates so the metal could be reprocessed for future use. Instead of receiving a completely new full-size plate for every vehicle, motorists completed 1943 using their existing 1942 rear plate with a smaller 1943 tab attached to it. The same material-saving approach continued for 1944, when another smaller tab was fixed over the 1942 plate.
Key wartime changes included:
- Collection of old plates and front 1942 plates for metal conservation.
- Use of a rear plate and tab system during 1943.
- Continued use of a smaller 1944 tab to reduce metal consumption.
The Return to Full Plate Production
After the wartime conservation period, Indiana returned to issuing regular full plates. The 1945 plate used a brown background with white lettering, followed by additional annual color changes during the late 1940s. By 1948, Indiana issued more than one million license plates for the first time. This post-war period marked a return to normal plate production and continued the state’s tradition of year-specific designs.
1950s Indiana License Plates and Major Numbering Changes
The 1950s Indiana license plates introduced important changes to both plate numbering and production practices. Indiana continued using different annual color combinations, but the decade also marked a major shift away from the earlier numerical-only system. Metal-saving tabs appeared again during several years, while plate formats continued moving toward the modern style recognized by later generations of motorists.
How the 1950 Plate Changed Indiana’s Numbering System
The 1950 issue introduced a major change to Indiana’s plate-number system. Before 1950, Indiana license plates used only numerical sequences. Beginning in 1950, the state assigned a prefix consisting of two alphabetic characters before the numerical portion. The alphabetic prefixes were connected with county identification. For example, Indiana’s historical records describe prefixes ranging from AA through AY for Marion County, while other prefix ranges were assigned to other counties, extending through ZX to ZZ for Miami County. This change made the plate number structure more flexible as vehicle registrations increased. It also created an important distinction between earlier Indiana plates and later Indiana legacy license plates, which increasingly used combinations of letters and numbers.
1950s Indiana License Plates and Metal-Saving Tabs
Indiana again used metal-conservation methods during several years of the 1950s. Rather than producing a completely new full plate for every issue, the state sometimes used smaller tabs attached to an existing plate.
Important examples include:
- 1952: A tab was placed over the 1951 license plate.
- 1953: Motorists again used a tab bolted over the 1951 plate.
- 1955: A tab was placed over the 1954 license plate.
These issues are useful for identifying old Indiana license plates because a tab-based registration system can look very different from a standard annual plate. The practice also shows that material conservation continued to influence plate production after the World War II era.
The Move Toward Standard Plate Dimensions
The late 1950s represented an important transition toward the modern physical format associated with American license plates. Historical references commonly place Indiana’s adoption of the standardized 6×12-inch plate format with the 1956 issue. The change created a more consistent physical size for manufacturing and vehicle mounting. Indiana’s 1956 plate featured a blue background with yellow lettering, followed by additional annual color changes through the end of the decade. The combination of standardized dimensions, evolving serial formats, and changing colors helped establish the foundation for later Indiana plate designs.
1960s Indiana License Plates and Reflective Designs
The 1960s Indiana license plates continued the tradition of annual color changes while introducing an important technological development: reflective plate materials. Early in the decade, plates used bold background-and-letter combinations, while later designs increasingly focused on improved visibility and practical identification.
Early 1960s Indiana Plate Colors
Indiana used several distinctive color combinations during the early 1960s. The 1960 plate had a blue background with white lettering, followed by red and white in 1961, black and gold in 1962, and blue and gold in 1963. Later issues continued the pattern with red and white in 1964 and green and white in 1965. These annual changes provide useful identification clues for collectors of vintage plates. When examining a plate from this era, the combination of background color, lettering color, year marking, and serial structure can help narrow down its historical period.
The Introduction of Reflective Plate Materials
A major development occurred in 1966, when Indiana used reflective sheeting on its license plates. According to the Indiana BMV historical archive, this change was intended to provide better visibility at night. The 1966 plate featured a white background with black lettering. Reflective material represented an important step in the evolution of license plate design because visibility became a more significant practical feature alongside color and identification. The use of reflective sheeting helped distinguish later plate technology from many earlier metal designs that relied primarily on painted color contrast.
How to Identify a 1960s Indiana Plate
A 1960s Indiana plate can often be identified by examining:
- The background and lettering color.
- The visible year marking and serial format.
- Whether the plate uses reflective sheeting, particularly for later issues.
License Plates in the 1970s The Beginning of Graphic Designs
The 1970s marked an important change in Indiana license plate history. Earlier designs in the decade continued using relatively simple white backgrounds with changing lettering colors, but the later years introduced increasingly detailed graphics and state-related imagery. This transition helped move Indiana plates toward the more visual design style seen on later issues. From 1970 through 1975, Indiana continued using white backgrounds with lettering that changed between red, blue, green, and black. The major visual shift began in 1976 with a Bicentennial graphic and blue lettering.
The late 1970s included several distinctive graphic designs:
- 1976: Bicentennial graphic design.
- 1977: State-themed graphic background.
- 1978: Indy 500 car imagery.
- 1979: George Rogers Clark graphic design.
These designs marked a clear departure from the simpler color-based plates of earlier decades. Graphics, historical themes, and recognizable imagery became a larger part of Indiana’s plate identity, beginning an era in which plate design could communicate more than just a year and registration number.
1980s License Plates and the Rise of Graphic Plate Designs
The 1980s Indiana license plates continued the graphic design trend that emerged during the late 1970s. Instead of changing only the background and lettering colors each year, Indiana used recognizable multi-year design series. These plates created stronger visual identities and made different periods of the decade easier to recognize.
The 1980 Indiana Plate
The 1980 Indiana plate featured a Graphic – Color Stripes background with black lettering. This design continued the movement toward more visual plate artwork and represented a transition from the individual graphic themes of the late 1970s into longer-lasting design periods.
Indiana Plates From 1981–1983
Indiana used the Graphic – Hoosier State design from 1981 through 1983. The plates used brown lettering and maintained a consistent design across multiple registration years. This represented a shift away from the earlier practice of completely changing the plate’s overall appearance every year.
Wander Indiana: 1984–1986
From 1984 through 1986, Indiana plates used the Graphic – Wander Indiana design with black lettering. The design became closely associated with the state’s tourism campaign and gave the plate a distinctive visual identity. Its three-year run made it particularly recognizable among Indiana legacy license plates from the decade.
Back Home Again: 1987–1989
The Graphic – Back Home Again design replaced Wander Indiana and was used from 1987 through 1989. These plates featured blue lettering and continued Indiana’s use of multi-year graphic designs. The shift from Color Stripes to Hoosier State, Wander Indiana, and Back Home Again demonstrates how the 1980s became a major period for graphic plate design and recognizable statewide visual themes.
Frequently Asked Questions
These frequently asked questions cover important points from Indiana License Plate History, including the state’s first official plates, early designs, historical sizing, and the use of metal-saving tabs. They also help explain how historical plates changed as vehicle registration and plate manufacturing developed over time.
When did Indiana first issue license plates?
Indiana first issued official state license plates in 1913. This marked an important starting point in Indiana License Plate History, replacing the earlier system in which vehicle identification could involve owner-provided number displays. The 1913 plate is especially notable for its porcelain finish on a heavy metal base and its distinctive early design. From that point forward, Indiana developed a system of regularly issued plates with changing colors, numbering patterns, materials, and designs.
What did the 1914 Indiana license plate look like?
The 1914 Indiana license plate had a dark blue background with white lettering, making it visually different from the yellow-and-black plate issued in 1913. It used the embossed metal construction common during the early years of Indiana vehicle registration. The strong contrast between the dark background and light characters makes the 1914 issue relatively recognizable among early historical plates. Its design also reflects Indiana’s practice of changing the appearance of license plates between annual issues.
How can I identify an old Indiana license plate?
You can identify old Indiana license plates by examining several features rather than relying on one detail alone. The printed year is usually the best starting point, followed by the background and lettering colors. You can also examine the plate material, embossed construction, serial format, and any visible graphics or slogans.
Helpful identification features include:
- Year markings and color combinations
- Letters and number sequences
- Graphics, slogans, or state imagery
When did Indiana license plates become the standard size?
Indiana’s transition to the modern standardized 6×12-inch license plate size is generally associated with the 1956 issue. Earlier plates could have different dimensions and proportions depending on the period in which they were manufactured. Standardized sizing helped create greater consistency in plate production and vehicle mounting. This change represents an important stage in Indiana License Plate History, separating many older plate formats from the physical dimensions commonly used on modern American vehicles.
Why did Indiana use plate tabs during some years?
Indiana used plate tabs during certain years as a way to reduce the amount of metal required for license plate production. During World War II, metal shortages led to conservation measures, including the use of smaller tabs attached to existing plates instead of issuing completely new full-size plates.
The system helped with:
- Metal conservation during periods of limited supply
- Continued registration identification without producing full replacement plates
- Reducing manufacturing materials for certain annual renewals