IOWA PLATE TYPES - SUMMARY CHRONOLOGICALLY BY INTRODUCTION DATE
(Types researched through 1984, expire 1985)
PLATE TYPE EARLIEST SEEN BEGAN NOTES
Passenger 1911 7/1/11 Ch. 72 P 4/17/1911
Dealer 1911 7/1/11 Ch. 72 P 4/17/1911
Motorcycle 1911 7/1/11 Ch. 72 P 4/17/1911
Motorcycle Dealer 1942 1913 Sample 1936
Non-Resident 1922 1920 Ch. 275 P 4/21/1919
Official 1920 1920 Ch. 275 P 4/21/1919
Official Motorcycle 1926 1920 Ch. 275 P 4/21/1919
Trailer 1931 1920 Ch. 275 P 4/21/1919
Truck 1921 1921
Sample 1924
Fort Des Moines Listed 1925-26
Duplicate 1932 1932
Special (Trailer) 1932 1932
Well Drill 1955 Ch. 79 P 4/20/1933
Farm Trailer 1940 Ch. 134 P 4/19/1937
Non-Resident In Transit 1947 Ch. 134 P 4/19/1937
Transporter 1948 Ch. 134 P 4/19/1937
Truck Tractor 1938 1938 Ch. 134 P 4/19/1937
Itinerant 1940 7/4/39 Ch. 209 P 5/16/1939
Compensation Tax 1940 1940 Ch. 135 P 5/25/1939
Semi-Trailer 1940 1940 Ch. 135 P 5/25/1939
Semi-Trailer Half Year 1940 1940 Ch. 135 P 5/25/1939
Trailer 1,000/2,000 lbs. 1940 1940 Ch. 135 P 5/25/1939
Truck Half Year 1940 1940 Ch. 135 P 5/25/1939
Truck Tractor Half Year 1940 1940 Ch. 135 P 5/25/1939
State Patrol 1941 1941
Special Mobile Equipment 1942 4/9/42
Trailer 4,000 lbs. 1944
Amateur Radio 1954 1954 No law
Antique 1958 1958
Prorate Sticker 1960 1960
Recipr. Semi-Trailer 1962 1960 Ch. 250 P 2/26/1959
Reciprocity Trailer [1963] 1960 Ch. 250 P 2/26/1959
Reciprocity Truck 1962 1960 Ch. 250 P 2/26/1959
Recipr. Truck Tractor 1962 1960 Ch. 250 P 2/26/1959
Recipr. Truck Half Year 1963 1961
Recipr. Trk.Trac. Half Yr.1963 1961
Mobile Home 1961 7/4/61 Ch. 108 P 4/12/1961
Urban Transit Bus 6/30/64 7/1/63 Ch. 208 P 4/5/1963
Mobile Home Half Year 1964 1/1/64
Trailer Dealer 1964 Not in 1964 Book
Travel Trailer 1964 1/1/64
Truck Dealer 1964 1960 reported
Private School Bus UND. 1/1/70 Ch. 199 P 6/6/1969
Restricted 1973
Personalized 1975 7/1/75 Ch. 174 P 3/18/1975
Personalized M/C 1977 1975?
Apportioned 1978 1978
Apportioned Half Year 1978 1978
Apportioned Tlr. 3-year "80" 1978? Ch. 173 P 7/14/1975
Disabled Veteran 1979 1/1/79 Ch. 1113 P 6/23/1978
Disabled Veteran M/C [1979] 1/1/79 Ch. 1113 P 6/23/1978
Limited Use (Dealer) [1979]
Off. Non Profit Fire Trk.[1979] UND.
Official Sheriff UND. 1/1/79 Ch. 103 P 6/30/1977
Special Farm 1979 1/1/79 Ch. 103 P 6/30/1977
Special Farm Half Year 1979 1/1/79 Ch. 103 P 6/30/1977
Moped 1980
Official State DOT [1980]
Ex-Prisoner of War 1983 1/1/81 Ch. 1094 P 5/20/1980
Handicapped 1981 1/1/81 Ch. 1094 P 5/20/1980
National Guard "MAY 85" 1/1/81 Ch. 1094 P 5/20/1980
PERMITS:
Truck Weight Class 1929 1929
Trailer Weight Class 1931 1929?
Motor Veh. Fuel Transport UND. 4/1/34 Ch. 56 P 3/9/1934
Truck Tract. Weight Class 1938 1938?
Unknown Type IHC UND. 1961-66 era
Ad Permit UND. 7/1/72 Ch. 1068 P 3/29/1972
Grain Dealer 6/30/74
LETTER PREFIX KEY:
D Dealer 1911-55, 1979-84 O Non-Resident 1922
DV Disabled Veteran 1979-84 T Truck 1922-28
FL-GS Trailer 1978 T Transporter 1979-84
JA-JL Mobile Home 1979-84 UD Used Car Dealer 1923-35
WINDSHIELD STICKERS AND TABS ISSUED:
1943: W/S Sticker - Passenger, Truck
Plate - Dealer, Farm Trailer, M/C, Semi-Trailer, Trailer, Trailer 1,000/2,000
1944: W/S Sticker - Passenger, Truck
Plate - Dealer, Farm Trailer, M/C, Trailer, Trailer 1,000/2,000/4,000
1945: W/S Sticker - Passenger (front)
1948: Tab - Passenger, Commercial, Trailer
Plate - Dealer, Farm Trailer, M/C, Non-Res. In Transit,
Official, Semi-Trailer Half Year, Truck Half Year
1951-57: Tab - Passenger
Plate - Am. Radio (1954, 1957), Commercial, Dealer, M/C, M/C Dealer (1955),
Non-Res. In Transit, Official (1951), Semi-Trailer (1952-57),
Spec. Mobile Equip. (1951-52), Trailer, Truck Half Year, Well Drill (1955)
DETAILED NOTES ALPHABETICALLY BY TYPE:
Numbers assumed to begin at #1 unless noted.
Numbers in [ ] on 1940 or 1963 charts.
1940: Types shown in Muscatine article 11/28/1939.
1952: All types issued singly except Dealer and Official pairs.
1963: All types Black/White except Passenger, Half Year types.
PASSENGER (See Passenger page)
AMATEUR RADIO
Began 1954. No law; authorized by department as supplemental
plate. Ch. 218 P 2/24/1959, E 1/1/1960, for registration plate.
Supplemental plate 1954-59, registration plate 1960-on.
Registrants still assigned passenger plates also, held at the
County Treasurer's office in case owner were to sell the
vehicle during the year (1960).
Short dies 1954, 1956-57, 1961-66, tall dies 1967-84.
Zero has slash through it all years.
Annual dated plates 1954, 1957, 1972-77, sticker 1978,
baseplate 1979-84. 1971-77 have "IOWA 71" centered top,
no sticker box. Truck colors 1972-84.
1954 W0AA - W0ZZZ
1958 K0AAA - K0ZZZ
1963 WA0AAA - WA0ZZZ
1975 WB0AAA - WB0ZZZ (Verify 1973-74)
ANTIQUE
Began 1958. Issued for $1 fee to vehicles >15 years old.
Increased to $5 fee and 25+ years old by 1964.
LEGENDS: "ANTIQUE" bottom 1958-84.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1958-71, Truck colors 1972-84.
County-coded numbering system same as Passenger 1960-72.
1958: 1,330 registered.
1960: Steel or aluminum reported.
1975: 3,409 registered.
1958 21 - 1225 (459 tab slots, 510 no slots)
1959 7 - 1692
1973 K/A 0001 - K/B 1204 (KA-KB assigned)
1974 K/A 0001 - K/B 1912
1975 1/ KA0001 - 9/4 KB1038
1976 1/ KA0001 - 9/7 KB1550
1977-78 1/ KA0001 - 9/7 KB1642
1979-84 HS 0000 - HX 0546 (HS-HZ assigned)
APPORTIONED
Began 1978. Previously issued Reciprocity plates.
LEGENDS: "IOWA 78" top, "APPORTIONED" bottom 1978-84.
RA = Truck (Pairs)
RC-RF = Truck Tractor (Singles)
RM-RS = Trailer/Semi-Trailer (Singles)
1978 Green/White RA 2503 RD 6280 RN 2191
1979 White/Green RA 1632 RD 5517 RN 3726
1980 Blue/White RA 1535 RD 2137 RM 5137
1981 Red/White RA 1627 RC 6901
1982 Black/White RA 3117 RC 6269 RN 7182
1983 Blue/White RA 2354 RC 2434 RN 5190
1984 Red/White RA 3798 RN 1618
APPORTIONED HALF YEAR
Began 1978. Previously issued Reciprocity plates.
If renewed for 2nd half of year, plate stickers issued 1981-84.
LEGENDS: "IOWA 78" top, "APPORTIONED" bottom 1978-84.
RB = Truck (Pairs)
RG-RJ = Truck Tractor (Singles)
RL = Semi-Trailer (Singles)
1978 Red/White RB 1247 RG 0820 RL 1994
1979 White/Red RB 0304 RG 5339 (none)
1980 White/Blue RB 1347 RG 4390
1981 White/Red RG 6900
1982 Green/White RB 0235 RG 9393
1983 White/Blue RB 1982 RG 3024
1984 White/Red RH 1410
APPORTIONED TRAILER 3-YEAR
Ch. 173 P 7/14/1975, E 1/1/1977. Earliest seen 1978/80.
LEGENDS: No legend 1978/80, "APPORTIONED" bottom 1979/81 - 84/86.
1978 "80" Green/White SZ2436
1979 "81" White/Green [RL 0000 - RL 9999]
1980 "82" Blue/White RL 2000
1981 "83" Red/White RK 2949
1982 "84" Black/White RX 0718
1983
1984 "86" Red/White RZ 0677
COMPENSATION TAX
Ch. 135 P 5/25/1939. Began 1940. Last seen 1953.
Issued by the State Commerce Commission to trucks, truck tractors,
semi-trailers and buses. Unknown if supplemental or not.
LEGENDS: Vertical "1940" left, vertical "IOWA" right,
"COMP.TAX 16" bottom 1940-41, 1946, 1949-53.
Possible prefix codes: A = 8, B = 12?, C = 16, D = +16.
The tax was based on weight, so "8" perhaps was 8,000 lbs., etc.
Tax could be payable quarterly, so first number may be quarter.
1940 16 4C 269 Black?/White
1941 +16 1D 596 White/Black
1946 +16 4D 516 Black?/Yellow
1949 8 3A 39 Black/Orange
+16 1D1074 Black/Orange
1950 12 3B 103 Maroon/Yellow (Waffle aluminum)
1951 +16 1D 646 Black/Yellow
1952 8 3A80 Yellow/Green
1953 8 1A18 Green/Yellow
DEALER
Ch. 72 P 4/17/1911. Began 7/1/1911.
Ch. 159 P 4/8/1921 split type into Dealer and Used Car Dealer
from 1922 to at least 1935. The Daily Times (Davenport) 8/21/1937
reported a stolen car that day with dealer plates UD-1762.
Recombined 1940-56. Type split again into New Car and Used Car
Dealer 1957-78; recombined 1979. Issued singly 1979-82.
LEGENDS: No legend 1911-55 (short dies 1955), 1979-84,
"DEALER" bottom 1956.
"IOWA-1943" bottom 1943, "IOWA-1944" top 1944, "1948-IOWA" top 1948.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1911-42, 1945-47, 1949-50, 1979-82,
Black/White 1943, 1948, White/Black 1944, Truck colors 1951,
Truck Half Year colors 1952-54, reverse Passenger colors 1955-56,
Blue/White 1983, Red/White 1984.
Ordered: 1911 - 900, 1912 - 1,250, 1913 - 2,500, 1915 - 2,500,
1916 - 3,000, 1923 - 2,000, 1925 - 2,000, 1929 - 4,600.
Numbers probably began at D-1 all years 1911-55, 1979-84, 0001 1956.
Prefix number added 1938 (2-D-9999), moved to after "D" 1955
(D2-9999), became suffix 1956, still full-size (9999-2).
Hyphen before "D" dropped 1951 (2D-9999). (Verify 1950 hyphen)
No prefix number = First plate set. Prefix number = Extra plate
set 2, 3, 4, etc. Highest prefix seen: 11 1940.
Prefix numbers omitted in table below for simplicity.
1913: 2-digit has D00- format.
1914: 3-digit has D000- format.
1915: 2-digit has D-00- format, 3-digit has D000- format.
1916: Formats D-1- - D-99-, D-100 - D-999, D1000 - D9999.
1911 D-979 1928 D-1276 1943 D-340
1912 D706- 1929 D-493 1944 D-1155
1913 D1623 1930 1945 D-1485
1914 D2300 1931 D-368 1946 D-1565
1915 D2454 1932 D-493 1947 D-1617
1916-18 D3541 1933 D-600 1948 D-2148
1919 D-1687 1934 1949 D-2300
1920 D 298 1935 D-1425 1950 D-2026
1921 1936 D-0000 1951 D-1177
1922 1937 D-1019 1952 D-2420
1923 1938 1953 D-2380
1924 D-318 1939 D-1288 1954 D-1872
1925 D-223 1940 D-1887 1955 D-1421
1926 D-954 1941 D-1941 1956 1835
1927 D-1842 1942 D-177
1979-82 D-1 - D-2211 (Black/White number suffix sticker)
1983 D-1 - D-2180 (Blue/White number suffix sticker)
1984 D-280 - D-2180 (Red/White number suffix sticker)
USED CAR DEALER: Began 1922.
Seen: 1923 #U/D 1279, 1930 #UD-755 - UD-802, 1931 #UD-493 - UD-1719, 1933 #UD-222,
1935 #UD-1022, 1936 Sample not pictured, but M/C Dealer U/D Sample pictured.
Ordered: 1923 - 500, 1925 - 1,700, 1929 - 3,800.
NEW CAR/USED CAR DEALER: Began 1957.
LEGENDS: "NEW CAR" or "USED CAR" bottom all years,
"(57) IOWA" top 1957, "58 IOWA" top 1958-70, "IOWA 71" top 1971-77.
(Two die types 1967 New Car, 1971 Used Car)
COLORS: NEW - Passenger colors 1957-71, Truck colors 1972-77, Passenger sticker 1978.
USED - Yellow/Black 1957, Black/Yellow 1958,
Orange/Black 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965,
Black/Orange 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966,
Truck Half Year colors 1967-77, Passenger sticker 1978.
Numbers began at D-1 for both types all years.
Dealers selling both New and Used Cars could get the same number
on both (and on New/Used Truck plates if applicable).
No suffix number = First plate set. Suffix number = Extra plate set 2+,
vertically placed on 10+ on if Dealer number is over #D-999;
small size 1957-69, full size 1971-76.
Highest suffixes seen: New Car 8 1957, 14 1964, 480 1974, 630 1975
Used Car 15 1966, 18 1972
Suffixes omitted in table below for simplicity.
1957 D-1307 1964 D-1676 1971 D-1606
1958 D-2000 1965 D-1977 1972 D-2532
1959 D-1524 1966 D-2005 1973 D-1906
1960 D-1688 1967 D-1591 1974 D-1951
1961 D-2157 1968 D-1647 1975 D-1906
1962 D-2050 1969 D-1906 1976 D-2503
1963 D-2128 1970 D-1606 1977-78 D-2433
DISABLED VETERAN
Ch. 1113 P 6/23/1978, E 1/1/1979. Began 1979.
LEGENDS: No legend, "DV" prefix 1979-84.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1979-84.
1979-84 DV 257 - DV 869, DV 015A
DISABLED VETERAN MOTORCYCLE
Ch. 1113 P 6/23/1978, E 1/1/1979. Earliest seen 1979 chart.
DUPLICATE
Began 1932. Discontinued 1979 (Ch. 103 P 6/30/1977), although
1980, 1984 stickers seen. All plates are replacements of original number.
The Algoma Upper Des Moines, 7/29/1931:
"New Type of Auto License Plates."
"Secretary of State Greenwalt will issue a new type of
automobile plate for 1932...If the plates are lost or stolen,
duplicate plates may be secured but between the number of the
county and registration the letters D.U.P. appear, signifying
it as a duplicate plate."
LEGENDS: Vertical "DUP" in place of hyphen after county code 1932-74,
"DUPLICATE" screened bottom 1971-74 8-digits,
"DUPLICATE" screened or embossed bottom 1975-78,
"Duplicate" overstamped on sticker in black 1973-78, 1980, 1984, red 1982.
(Verify 1936, 1938-39, 1943-46, stickers 1974, 1981, 1983)
Non-Passenger DUP seen: Truck 1940, Trailer 1947, M/C 1974,
Official County 1976 base, New/Used Truck Dealer 1977.
EX-PRISONER OF WAR
Ch. 1094 P 5/20/1980, E 1/1/1981. Began 1981.
Earliest seen 1983 sticker on White/Green 1979 base.
Law E 12/1/1984 for "EX PRISONER OF WAR" plates; drawing planned
2/17/1985 for #POW 001.
1981 "83" Type 1: "PRISONER OF WAR" bottom, U 0059 - U 0290
1982? "MAY 85" Type 2: "PRISONER OF WAR" bottom, POW 684 - POW 990
1984? "NOV 85" Type 3: "EX PRISONER OF WAR" bottom, POW 810 - POW 835
FARM TRAILER
Ch. 134 P 4/19/1937. (1937-39 seen with just "TRAILER" but not in regular
Trailer format or colors, so may be Farm Trailer.)
Earliest listed 1939. Earliest seen 1940.
Issued to Farm Trailers of any weight 1939, 3,000 lbs. or less 1940.
Discontinued 1971.
SIZES: (4 3/4" x 10" 1937-39) Full size 1940-42, 1945, small size 1943-44, 1946-70.
LEGENDS: (Vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1937" right, "TRAILER" bottom 1937-39)
Vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1940" right, "FARM/TRAILER" bottom 1940-42, 1945,
"IOWA 1943" top, "FARM TRAILER" bottom 1943-44, 1946-48,
"FARM TRAILER" top, "IOWA 1949" bottom 1949-66,
"FARM-MKT. TRL." top, "IOWA 1967" bottom 1967-70.
COLORS: (Black?/Red 1937, Yellow/White 1938, White/Black? 1939)
Black/Orange 1940, Orange/Black 1941,
Passenger colors 1942, 1945-47, 1949-50, 1967-70,
Black/White 1943, 1948, White/Black 1944,
Truck colors 1951-64, White/Red 1965, Red/White 1966.
County-coded numbering system same as Truck 1941-42,
1947-70, including 1956-57 without leading zeroes.
(1937 3120 -
1938 14 - 15881
1939 138 - 23462)
1940 562 - 59653 1944 9578 - 68835
1941-42 (County coded) 1945 2825 - 67094
1943 1965 - 69019 1946 4153 - 76042
FORT DES MOINES
Earliest listed 1925 with 150 ordered. None seen.
Discontinued 1927.
HANDICAPPED
Ch. 1094 P 5/20/1980, E 1/1/1981. Began 1981.
White/Light Blue, "IOWA 81" top, wheelchair left, #A001 - W427.
(Verify A,D,I,J,M,O,P,Q,T,V)
ITINERANT
Ch. 209 P 5/16/1939, E 7/4/1939. 1939 described. Earliest seen 1940.
Issued to itinerant merchants (travelling salesmen); issued only from Des Moines.
Unknown if supplemental or not. Classes as follows:
A = Iowa-registered vehicle limited to 50-mile radius of residence, no fee.
(Effective 7/5/1941: Issued by county treasurers, $1 fee.)
B = Iowa-registered vehicle beyond 50-mile radius of residence with load <2,500 lbs., $2 fee.
C = Iowa-registered vehicle beyond 50-mile radius of residence with load >2,500 lbs., $2 fee, $250 surety bond.
(Bond increased to $500 7/5/1941)
D = Out-of-state vehicle with load 1,000 lbs. or less, $10 fee.
E = Out-of-state vehicle with load of >1,000 to 2,500 lbs., $25 fee.
H = Out-of-state vehicle with load of >2,500 to 3,000 lbs., $25 fee, $250 surety bond.
(Bond increased to $500 7/5/1941)
J = Out-of-state vehicle with load of >3,000 lbs., $40 fee, $250 surety bond.
(Bond increased to $500 7/5/1941)
LEGENDS: Vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1940" right,
"ITINERANT/CLASS A" bottom 1940-42, "ITINERANT" 1966.
COLORS: (Orange and Purple reported in 1939), Gold/Black 1940,
White/Maroon 1941, White/Green 1942, White/Red 1965, Red/White 1966.
Issued singly 1966. Last listed 1966.
1940 1182
1941 (County coded)
1942 (County coded)
LIMITED USE (DEALER)
Earliest seen 1979 chart. Issued to insurers and lenders.
LEGENDS: "IOWA 79" top, "LIMITED USE" bottom 1979.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1979.
1979 [D-5000 - D-5999]
MOBILE HOME
Ch. 108 P 4/12/1961, E 7/4/1961, penalty after 8/1/1961.
Began 1961.
LEGENDS: "MOBILE HOME" bottom 1961-74,
"MOBILE ( ) HOME" bottom late 1974, 1975-78,
no legend, "JA" to "JZ" prefix 1979-84.
Undated 1972-74, some 1975-78 bases.
COLORS: Truck colors 1961-65, Red/White 1966, Passenger colors 1967-84.
STICKERS JUNE 30 DEC. 31
1972 White/Green Gray/White BS
1973 White/Red BS Red/White BS
1974, 1976, 1977 White/Blue BS Blue/White BS
1975 Black/White BS White/Black BS
1978 Black/Green BS (Passenger sticker)
1979 Black/White BS (Dated plate)
1980 White/Blue BS (Passenger sticker)
1981 (Passenger sticker)
1982 (Passenger sticker)
County-coded numbering system same as Passenger 1961-74, Truck 1975-78.
1975-78 1/ JA0001 - 9/9 JV8000 (JA-JZ assigned)
1979-84 JA 0000 - JL 4023 (JA-JZ assigned)
MOBILE HOME HALF YEAR
Law effective 1/1/1964. Began 1964. Discontinued 1972;
replaced by June 30 stickers on regular Mobile Home plates.
LEGENDS: "JJ MOBILE HOME" bottom 1964-65, vertical "EXP"
before "6/30/66" after county code 1966-71.
COLORS: Truck Half Year colors 1964-65, 1967-71, White/Red 1966.
County-coded numbering system same as Passenger 1964-71.
MOPED
Earliest seen 1980. Blue/White "MB" sticker added to lower left
corner of Motorcycle plate 1980-84.
MOTORCYCLE (See Motorcycle page)
Ch. 72 P 4/17/1911. Began 7/1/1911.
MOTORCYCLE DEALER
Began 1913. Samples seen 1936. Earliest seen 1942.
Issued in pairs 1913-16. Ordered: 1913-16 - 100, 1923 and 1925 - 25.
No legend all years.
COLORS: Same as Dealer and New Car Dealer all years except 1964
Used Car Dealer colors. (Verify 1965)
Suffix number seen 1955; suffix number system same as New/Used
Car Dealer 1963-77. Suffix numbers embossed 1974 for single
digits, on vertical sticker 1974 for two digits, 1975, 1977,
1983-84 all digits. Highest suffixes seen: 2 1955, 19 1974.
1936 D000, U/D000
1942 D-8
1945 D-12
1953 D-41 1961 1969 1977 D-2706
1954 1962 D-17 1970 D-143 1978
1955 D-2 1963 D-32 1971 D-11 1979
1956 D-16 1964 D-115 1972 D-1 1980?
1957 1965 1973 D-358 1981?
1958 1966 D-238 1974 D-2300 1982?
1959 1967 D-167 1975 D-2714 1983 D-1049
1960 1968 D-149 1976 D-2794 1984 D-2494
USED MOTORCYCLE DEALER: Began 1922. None seen except Sample 1936.
Ch. 159 P 4/8/1921 split type into Motorcycle Dealer and Used
Motorcycle Dealer from 1922 to at leat 1923; not listed 1925.
Ordered: 1923 - 10.
NATIONAL GUARD
Ch. 1094 P 5/20/1980, E 1/1/1981. Began 1981.
Earliest seen "MAY 85" on 1979 base.
White/Green, "NATIONAL GUARD" bottom, #X 0450 - X 0520.
NON-RESIDENT
Ch. 275 P 4/21/1919. Began 1920. Earliest seen 1922.
Discontinued 1985.
LEGENDS: No legend 1920-74. Passenger plates #367601 - 368100 issued 1920,
"0" prefix 1922, "00" prefix 1923-57,
"0/0" prefix 1958-74, HNA-HNZ series 1975-85.
1964: Also issued in Mobile Home (and Half Year), Motorcycle,
Semi-Trailer (X-Y), Trailer, Travel Trailer, Truck
(and Half Year) and Truck Tractor (and Half Year).
NON-RESIDENT IN TRANSIT
Ch. 134 P 4/19/1937. Reported 1941. Earliest seen 1947.
Discontinued 1979. Valid 30 days from date of issue.
LEGENDS: Vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1947" right,
"NON-RES./TRANSIT" bottom 1947-55 (slots at UR on some 1953),
"NON-RES. TRANSIT" bottom 1956-77, "TRANSIT" bottom 1978.
COLORS: Truck colors 1947-65, 1967-77,
White/Red 1966, Green/White 1978.
County-coded numbering system same as Passenger 1947-72.
1973 L/A 0001 - L/B 2158 (LA-LB assigned)
1974 L/A 0001 - L/A 7446
1975 1/ LA0001 - 9/7 LB7354
1976 1/ LA0001 - 7/1 LA9422
1977 1/ LA0001 - 7/7 LB0597
1978 1/ LA0001 - 8/2 LB3015
OFFICIAL
Ch. 275 P 4/21/1919. Began 1920.
Issued to all vehicles in partial or full service to U.S.,
state, county or municipal government, regardless of
ownership 1920-21. Issued only to U.S., state, county and
municipal-owned vehicles 1922-40, thus a decline in
registrations in 1922.
LEGENDS: "OFFICIAL" top, taller plate 1920,
"OFFICIAL" top, shorter number dies 1921-24, 1928,
"IOWA-OFFICIAL-1932" bottom 1932, 1934, 1936, 1941,
"IOWA-OFFICIAL-1933" top 1933, 1935, 1937, 1940, 1942, 1946,
"IOWA-OFFICIAL-1947" top, "CITY/OWNED", etc., right 1947-51 (tab slots 1951),
vertical "IOWA" left, "OFFICIAL CITY" top 1952 base,
"IOWA" top, "OFFICIAL CITY" bottom 1957-79.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1920-24, 1926, 1928, 1932-33, 1935-37, 1940-41, 1945, 1949-50,
Black/White 1947-48, Yellow/Blue 1951,
Black/White 1952-75 bases, Black/Light Blue 1976-79 base.
9/10/1920: Numbers reported in 1100 series.
Ordered: 1923 - 2,000, 1925 - 2,500, 1929 - 5,800.
Split into Federal, State, County, City and School 1947.
1950: Waffle aluminum.
1952: Undated base; pairs, unlike all other types.
#1 - 25 also assigned to State Officials.
#A7552, A-9678 have no tab slots, A-8483 has UR tab slots,
A-9416 has LR tab slots.
1957: Undated "OFFICIAL IOWA" top, "NON PROFIT" bottom, #19009, short dies.
1976: New undated base; mentioned in news as being issued as of 12/13/1975,
with changeover to be completed by 3/14/1976.
1920 456 1929 1938
1921 1238 1930 1939
1922 1-679 1931 1940 [7214]
1923 1881 1932 3554 1941 4826
1924 1499 1933 3554 1942 6644
1925 1934 75 1943
1926 2184 1935 4535 1944 (dated reported)
1927 1936 3672 1945 4291
1928 2857 1937 4565 1946 3785
STATE COUNTY CITY SCHOOL
1947
1948 6775 -
A494 - A633 -
1949 207 - 414 4458 - B526 - 8638, A119
1950 1629 - 4791 - 5708 - 8310 8598 - 9257, B151 - B793
1951 568 - 2932 - 2935 5959 - 6929 9473 -
B840 -
1952 [301 - 3300] [10001 - 13000] [20001 - 23600] [30001 - 33400]
1 - 3985 6609 - 7401 8906 - 9858 11208 - 15318
A7552, A-8483
A-9416 A8955, A-9678
1957? [1121]- 1213 4096 - 5338 478 - 645, 2343
6436 - 6776 6663, 7287 1851 - 2385 8442 - 8683
H864, H5209 [A4619], A4826 11503 - 11891 - 11904
13674 - 13836 13614 -
B8543 - B10925 16146 - 19025
1976 1 - 9100 40000 - 48816 20000 - 35515 50000 - 61218
T 262
OFFICIAL MOTORCYCLE
Ch. 275 P 4/21/1919. Began 1920. Earliest seen 1926.
9/10/1920: Numbers 25-27 reported in news article.
1923: 100 ordered.
1976-80: Numbers assigned to State, County, City and School
District in same blocks as Official, possibly higher
end of each series.
LEGENDS: "OFFICIAL" bottom 1926, 1936, 1941, "MOTORCYCLE" top,
"IOWA OFF." bottom UND. (1957-79) bases.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1926, 1936, 1938, 1941,
Black/Light Blue UND. (1976-79) base.
1926 16 UND. (1957?-75) [132]
1936 000 UND. (1976-79) 19042, 49000
1938 30
1941 76
OFFICIAL NON-PROFIT FIRE TRUCK
Earliest seen 1979 chart. Permanent undated plate, Black/White,
"IOWA" embossed top, "OFFICIAL NON PROFIT FIRE TRUCK" screened
bottom, #50010. Numbers 50000 - 51000 assigned.
OFFICIAL SHERIFF
Ch. 103 P 6/30/1977, E 1/1/1979. Earliest seen 1979 chart.
Permanent undated plate, Yellow/Green, "OFFICIAL" top, 7-pointed
star left, "IOWA SHERIFF" bottom, #S30-6, S70-1, S99-6.
OFFICIAL STATE DOT
Earliest seen 1980 chart. Issued to Department of Transportation
Enforcement vehicle with officer's badge number.
Permanent undated plate, Black/Light Blue, "IOWA" top,
"OFFICIAL STATE" bottom, screened star left and right, #T 18.
PERSONALIZED
Ch. 174 P 3/18/1975. Began 7/1/1975.
2-6 characters allowed for $25 annual extra fee. Also allowed
on Mobile Homes. Annual plates 1975-76; undated late 1978.
By 1979, issued to any type of vehicle, $25 fee became an
initial fee only, with renewals $5, plates no longer annual.
PERSONALIZED MOTORCYCLE
May have begun 7/1/1975 along with Personalized.
Earliest seen 1977-78, no county, #WASTED.
PRIVATE SCHOOL BUS
Ch. 199 P 6/6/1969, E 1/1/1970. Began 1970. Permanent undated
Black/White, "IOWA" top, "PRIVATE SCHOOL BUS" bottom, #1 - 1600 seen.
PRORATE STICKER
Began 1960, effective 12/1/1959. Member of both Midwest Compact
and Uniform Prorate Compact 1960-62. Stickers issued for backing
plate 1960-80 to go on Truck Tractors and Trailers.
RECIPROCITY SEMI-TRAILER (X-Y)
Ch. 250 P 2/26/1959. Began 1960. Earliest seen 1962.
Discontinued 1978; replaced by Apportioned.
X = Gross weight of 6-12 tons, Y = Gross weight of 13-20 tons.
Legends and colors same as Semi-Trailer (X-Y). No county prefix.
RECIPROCITY TRAILER
Ch. 250 P 2/26/1959. Earliest listed 1963 chart.
Probably began 1960 along with other Reciprocity types.
Discontinued 1978; replaced by Apportioned.
Legends and colors same as Trailer. No county prefix.
RECIPROCITY TRUCK
Ch. 250 P 2/26/1959. Began 1960. Earliest seen 1962.
Discontinued 1978; replaced by Apportioned.
Legends and colors same as Truck. No county prefix.
RECIPROCITY TRUCK HALF YEAR
Began 1961. Earliest seen 1963.
Discontinued 1978; replaced by Apportioned Half Year.
Legends and colors same as Truck Half Year. No county prefix.
RECIPROCITY TRUCK TRACTOR
Ch. 250 P 2/26/1959. Began 1960. Earliest seen 1962.
Discontinued 1978; replaced by Apportioned.
Legends and colors same as Truck Tractor. No county prefix.
RECIPROCITY TRUCK TRACTOR HALF YEAR
Began 1961. Earliest seen 1963.
Discontinued 1978; replaced by Apportioned Half Year. Legends
and colors same as Truck Tractor Half Year. No county prefix.
RECIPROCITY: TRUCK TRUCK- T-TRACTOR SEMI- SEMI-
TRUCK HALF YEAR TRACTOR HALF YEAR TRAILER TLR. X TLR. Y
1960 (none) (none)
1961 A2875
1962 A259 A2626 A3360
1963 [A1077] [A521] A5032 A2354 [A34] [A52] [A12969]
1964 A5194 A8944
1965 A963 A946 A11313
1966 A1114 A2079 A12038
1967 A7434
1968 A5602 A14190
1969 A224 A629 A12205
1970 A5102 A14139
1971 A6800
1972 A8781 A15080
ASSIGN. (RA) (RB) (RC-RF) (RG-RJ) (RK) (RL) (RM-RS)
1973 R/D 0595 R/L 0099 R/N 1919
1974 R/A 0007 R/B 0220 R/D 2104 R/K 0016 R/N 6972
1975 RA 2849 RC6153 RG6813 RM9310
1976 RD 1429 RG 6427 RN 6870
1977 RA 0818 RC 5055 RG 3881 RL 0197 RP 0429
RESTRICTED
Earliest seen 1973.
LEGENDS: "IOWA 73" top, "RESTRICTED" bottom 1973-74, 1979-80.
COLORS: Truck colors 1973-74, 1979-80.
1973 X/X 0004 (XX assigned)
1974 XX0006
1979-80 XX 0014
SAMPLE
Earliest seen 1924.
1924, 1926-42, 1945-52, 1956-57 00-0000
1925 000-000
1930-33, 1953-55 00-00000
1934 00-000
1958 0/0-0, 0/0-0000
1959, 1964 0/0 000, 0/0 0000
1960-62, 1965, 1968-70 0/0 0000
1963 0/0 000
1966 0/0 0000, 0/0 00000
1967 0/0 00000
1971 "71" in UR corner 0/0 00000
"IOWA 71" between holes 0/0 000
1972-74 0/0 000
1975-76 Large "SAMPLE" bottom 0/0 AAA000 (bolt holes)
1976 Large "SAMPLE" bottom 0/0 AAA000 (bolt slots)
1977-78 Small "SAMPLE" bottom 0/0 ABC123 (bolt slots)
1979-84 Debossed, no legend SAM-PLE
Debossed "POLK" bottom SAM PLE
Embossed "MITCHELL" bottom SAM PLE
Embossed "POTTAWATOMIE" bottom SAM PLE
SEMI-TRAILER (X-Y)
Ch. 135 P 5/25/1939. Began 1940.
Discontinued 1979; merged with Trailer.
X = Gross weight of 6-12 tons, Y = Gross weight of 13-20 tons.
LEGENDS: Vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1940" right, "GR. WT. X" bottom 1940, 1942,
vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1950" right, "TRAILER/GR. WT. X" bottom 1950, 1952, 1954-55,
"TRAILER GR.WT. X" bottom 1956-62,
"SEMI-TRL.GR.WT. X" bottom 1963-76.
COLORS: Dark Blue/White 1940, White/Green 1942,
Passenger colors 1950, 1952, 1956, 1967-71,
Truck colors 1954-55, 1957, 1959-65, 1972, 1974, 1976-77,
Yellow/Black 1958, White/Black 1966.
(Verify 1941, 1943-49, 1951, 1953, 1978)
County-coded numbering system same as Truck 1950-72.
X Y
1940 1366 - 4081 - 4097
1942 861 -
(GU-GV assigned) (GW-GY assigned)
1973 G/U 0001 - G/V 0214 G/W 0001 - G/Y 0159
1974 G/U 0001 - G/V 0758 G/W 0001 - G/X 3258
1975 1/ GU0001 - 0/0 GV1975 1/ GW0001 -
1976 1/ GU0001 - 5/7 GU9274 1/ GW0001 - 5/1 GW9301,
GY 2106 - GY 2736
1977 1/ GU0001 - 2/0 GU3958 1/ GW0001 - 8/ GW1504
1978 1/ GU0001 - 1/ GW0001 -
SEMI-TRAILER (X-Y) HALF YEAR
Ch. 135 P 5/25/1939. Began 1940. Last seen 1951.
X = Gross weight of 6-12 tons, Y = Gross weight of 13-20 tons.
No class X issued 1944.
LEGENDS: Vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1940" right, "JAN. JULY/GR. WT. X" bottom 1940, 1942,
vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1948" right, "TRAILER/JAN. Y JUNE" bottom 1948, 1951.
COLORS: Orange/Black 1940, White/Black 1942, 1948, White/Maroon 1951.
X Y
1940 [9012]- 4041 -
1942 76 3102
1948 77-0495
1951 5-014
SPECIAL
Began 1932. Issued to trailers <1,000 lbs. for no fee, mailed from
Des Moines 1932-38, by county treasurers 1939. Discontinued 1940.
Full size 1932-35, smaller size (probably 4 3/4" x 10") 1936-39.
LEGENDS: "IOWA-SPECIAL-1932" bottom 1932, 1934, top 1933, 1935,
vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1936" right, "SPECIAL" bottom 1936-39.
1932 699 - 21954 Black/Orange
1933 1305 - 36647 White/Green
1934 978 - 36256 White/Black
1935 598 - 42233 Green/White
1936 3889 - 54355 White/Green
1937 94 - 52577 Maroon/White
1938 983 - 52587 White/Maroon
1939 564 - 67292 Maroon/Yellow
SPECIAL FARM TRUCK
Ch. 103 P 6/30/1977, E 1/1/1979. Began 1979.
LEGENDS: "SPECIAL" bottom 1979-84.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1979-84.
1979-84 SA 0000 - SL 0182 (100,183) (SA-SN assigned)
SPECIAL FARM TRUCK HALF YEAR
Ch. 103 P 6/30/1977, E 1/1/1979. Began 1979.
Discontinued 1980; replaced by half-year stickers on regular
Special Farm Truck plates (verify).
LEGENDS: "EXP 6-30 SPECIAL" bottom 1979.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1979.
1979 SP 0000 - SU 4048 (44,049) (SP-SZ assigned)
SPECIAL MOBILE EQUIPMENT
Began 4/9/1942. Issued singly 1966-68, 1979-80.
Mount Pleasant News, 7/14/1952: "Another action of the [state
executive] council, also at the request of the department of public
safety, was to approve issuance of permanent mobile equipment plates.
The plates now are issued every year for no fee."
It is possible issuance was later stopped altogether, although still issued
as of 8/4/1959. Ch. 207 P 4/26/1963 provided for annual plates again.
LEGENDS: Vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1942" right,
"SPECIAL-MOBILE" over "EQUIPMENT" bottom 1942, 1945, 1949, 1952,
with tab slots 1951, same but no date or tab slots UND. (1953-55)
"SPEC.MOBILE EQUIP." bottom, short dies UND. (1956-63), 1965-78,
"SME" bottom 1979-84.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1942, 1945, 1949-50, 1967-84,
Truck colors 1951-52, Black/White UND. (1953-63),
White/Black 1964, White/Red 1965, Red/White 1966.
(Verify 1943-44, 1946-48, 1963-64)
1942 1 1948 1963? 1968 30307
1943 1949 1259 1964 487 1969 43395
1944 1950 1695 1965 9193 1970 14523
1945 548 1951 1957 1966 7888 1971 33389
1946 1952 2107 1967 26150 1972-74 49486
1947
UND. (1953-55) 2099 - 4168
UND. (1956-63?) 6430 - 9067
1975-78 LF1589 - LK9144, LM 9931 - LN 4382
1979-84 LF 0000 - LP 1771 (LF-LZ assigned)
STATE PATROL
Began 1941; 1941 photo shows 1940 Official plate being replaced by
1941 State Patrol. Plates show officer's badge number all years.
As of Saturday, 6/19/1948, new reflective plates being issued
"this weekend", the back having 2 red stars and the front having 2 white stars.
Ames Daily Tribune, 11/28/1940:
"An innovation will be the plates for the highway patrol. A large
star emblazoned with white reflectors will occupy the left half of
the front plates on patrol cars, and a similar star with red
reflectors will adorn the rear plates."
LEGENDS: Vertical "OFF" left, vertical "1941" right, "IOWA/PATROL"
bottom right, star left 1941-42, 1945-46, "IOWA/PATROL"
bottom center, stars left and right undated 1948-56,
"IOWA" top, "HIGHWAY PATROL" bottom, stars left and right,
all screened except number post-1956, later issues had
"STATE PATROL" bottom instead.
COLORS: Dark/Light 1941, Light/Dark 1942, Passenger colors 1945-46,
Black/Yellow FR with Blue stars (front) or Red stars (back)
undated bases, later issues had red stars on all plates, c.1978.
Small etched number in UL or LR corner: 1 = Front, 2 = Back,
3 = Extra.
1941 39 1945 45
1942 72 1946 25
UND. (Pre-1956) 31 - 273 "IOWA - PATROL"
UND. (Post-1956) 272 - 319 "IOWA - HIGHWAY PATROL", ND dies
525 - 526 "AUXILIARY - HIGHWAY PATROL", same
24 - 396 "IOWA - STATE PATROL"
Auxiliary series issued 9/3/1965 to expanded police force to
assist with patrolling highways over Labor Day weekend as part of
an emergency measure declared by Governor; also used for Memorial
Day, Independence Day and Labor Day weekends in 1966.
TRAILER
Ch. 275 P 4/21/1919. Began 1920. Earliest seen 1931.
Issued to all trailers 1920-21. Trailers <1/2 ton exempt from
fees 1922-39, thus a decline in registrations in 1922.
Ordered: 1922 - 1,000, 1923 - 300, 1925 - 200.
Smaller plates in a vertical design 1937-39 are probably Farm Trailer.
Possibly not issued 1944-45; issued Trailer 4,000 Lbs. instead?
SIZES: Full size 1931-32, 1934-36, 1940-42, 1946-84,
smaller size 1938-39, small size 1943, tab 1948.
LEGENDS: "IOWA-TRAILER-1931" bottom 1931-32, 1934, 1936, 1941,
"IOWA-TRAILER-1933" top 1933, 1935, 1940, 1942, 1946-47, 1949-55 (short dies 1955),
"IOWA 1943" top, "TRAILER" bottom 1943, "TRAILER" bottom 1956-77, 1979-84,
no legend 1978. Waffle aluminum 1950-51.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1931-32, 1934-36, 1938-42, 1946-50, 1979-84,
Black/White 1943, Truck colors 1951-64, 1967-77, Blue/White 1965,
Red/White 1966, Green/White 1978.
(Verify 1920-30, 1933, 1937-39, 1944-45)
1931 3520 1937 1943 4125 A
1932 4570 1938
1933 3649 1939
1934 5516 1940 3451 - [6976]
1935 1429 1941 3100
1936 5570 1942 2279
County-coded numbering system same as Truck 1946-72, except
Polk exceeded 7/7 9999; late die type 1971 #7/7 10800 seen.
(Expected 1969-70)
1973 F/L 0001 - G/E 7899 (FL-GT assigned)
1974 F/L 0001 - G/B 2442
1975 1/ FL0001 - 8/2 GE9328
1976 1/ FL0001 - 8/2 GF1943, GK 1534, 4/1 GK2446
1977 1/ FL0001 - 8/8 GG5241
1978 1/ FL0001 - 9/4 GN7618, 0/0 GR3466 - GR3506, 7/5 GS8561
1979-84 UA 0000 - WU 5571 (UA-WZ assigned)
TRAILER 1,000/2,000 LBS.
Ch. 135 P 5/25/1939. Began 1940. Discontinued 1946.
SIZES: Full size 1940-42, 1945, small size 1943-44.
LEGENDS: Vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1940" right,
"TRAILER/MAX-1000 LB." bottom 1940, 1942, 1945,
"IOWA 1943" top, "1000 LB. MAX" bottom 1943-44.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1940-42, 1945,
Black/White 1943, White/Black 1944.
1,000 LBS. 2,000 LBS. 4,000 LBS.
1940 1232 - 26870 30859 - 56905
1941-42 (county system) (county system)
1943 3335 - 22610 33651 - 35494
1944 3872 - 21963 33214 - 35744 40368 -
1945 315 - 21688 2116 - 5895 2048 -
TRAILER 4,000 LBS.
Earliest seen 1944. Discontinued 1946.
Possibly issued only in 1944-45 instead of Trailer, since none seen.
SIZES: Same as Trailer 1,000/2,000 lbs. 1944-45.
LEGENDS: Same as Trailer 1,000/2,000 lbs. 1944-45.
COLORS: Same as Trailer 1,000/2,000 Lbs. 1944-45.
TRAILER DEALER
Not listed in 1964 AAMVA Book. Earliest seen 1964.
LEGENDS: "TRAILER" bottom 1964-84, "64 IOWA" top 1964, 1966, 1968-70,
"IOWA 71" top 1971-76, 1979-84.
COLORS: New Car Dealer or Dealer colors all years.
(Number suffix stickers Black/White 1982, Blue/White 1983, Red/White 1984.)
Suffix number system same as New/Used Car Dealer.
Highest suffixes seen: 22 1973, 32 1975.
1964 D-2041 - 1973 D-1166 - D-2296
1965 1974 D-2062 -
1966 D-1494 - 1975 D-1166 - D-1549
1967 1976 D-665 - D-2503
1968 D-2219 - 1977-78
1969 D-184 - 1979-82 D-604 - D-1549 [D-4000 - D-4999]
1970 D-184 - 1983 D-604 - D-7117
1971 D-184 - 1984 D-604 -
1972 D-184 - D-1537
TRANSPORTER
Ch. 134 P 4/19/1937. Earliest seen 1948.
"TRANSPORTER" reported 1954 in both full and half year colors.
LEGENDS: "TRAN" left, "1948-IOWA" bottom 1948,
no legend, "T" prefix 1979-80, 1984.
COLORS: Black/White 1948, Dealer colors 1979-80, 1984.
1948 15
1979-80 T-1-2
1984 T-2 (Red/White number suffix sticker)
TRAVEL TRAILER
Law E 1/1/1964. Began 1964.
LEGENDS: "TRAVEL TRAILER" bottom all years.
COLORS: Black/White 1964-65, White/Black 1966,
Passenger colors 1967-71, Truck colors 1972-84.
1971: Two die types same as passenger.
County-coded numbering system same as Passenger 1964-72.
1973 H/A 0001 - H/N 0220, B/B 4200 (HA-HZ assigned)
1974 H/A 0001 - H/H 8749
1975 1/ HA0001 - 9/9 HP1175
1976 1/ HA0001 - 9/2 HN0292
1977-78 1/ HA0001 - 9/1 HM8055, 7/5 HP3599
1979-84 MA 0000 - MW 0010 (MA-MZ assigned)
TRUCK (See Truck page)
Began 1921.
TRUCK DEALER
Reported 1960. Not listed in 1964 AAMVA Book.
Earliest seen 1964. Discontinued 1979; merged with Dealer.
LEGENDS: "NEW TRK" or "USED TRK" bottom 1964-69,
"NEW TRUCK" or "USED TRUCK" bottom 1970-78,
"64 IOWA" top 1964-65, 1967-70, "IOWA 71" top 1971-78.
COLORS: Colors same as New or Used Car Dealer all years.
Numbers began at D-1 in both types all years.
Dealers selling both new and used trucks could get the same number
on both (and on New/Used Car Dealer plates if applicable), therefore,
numbers not tracked on this type.
Suffix number system same as New/Used Car Dealer.
Highest suffixes seen: New Truck 6 1964, 11 1965, 15 1966, 20 1969,
Used Truck 9 1964, 13 1968, 20 1973, 23 1974, 53 1977.
TRUCK HALF YEAR
Ch. 135 P 5/25/1939. Began 1940. Discontinued 1980; replaced by
half-year stickers on regular Truck plates (verify).
No class A or B issued 1944-45.
Upon issuance of 1948 plate, owners of 1947 full-year plates were
requested to keep them for revalidation with "48" tabs on 7/1/1948.
1961 identical to Truck except for colors.
Starting 1954, to at least 1964, limited to trucks whose annual fee is over $70.
LEGENDS: Vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1940" right,
"JAN.-TRUCK-JULY" bottom 1940 front, 1941-42 all,
"(A) IOWA (40)" top 1940 rear, vertical "IOWA" left,
vertical "1945" right, "JAN. JUNE/COMMERCIAL" bottom 1945-55,
"JAN. COMM. JUNE" bottom 1956-60,
"TRK" bottom 1961, "JJ TRK" bottom 1962-66,
"EXP.6-30 TRK" bottom left 1967-74, "EXP.6-30 TRUCK" bottom 1975-77,
"EXP 6-30 TRUCK" bottom 1979. 1954 has tab slots.
COLORS: 1940 White/Black 1946 Black/White
1941 Black/Yellow 1947 White/Black
1942 White/Green 1948 White/Black
1943 W/S Black/Green & White 1949 White/Green
1944 W/S Black/Lt. Blue & White 1950 Black/Yellow
1945 White/Black (Maroon?) 1951 White/Maroon
1952, 1954, 1956, 1958, 1960, 1962 Yellow/Black
1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963 Black/Yellow
1964 Orange/Black
1965 White/Red
1966 White/Dark Blue
1967, 1969, 1971 Orange/White
1968, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1976 Green/White
1973, 1975, 1977 Blue/White
1979 White/Green
1978 STICKER Black/Green
County-coded numbering formats 1940-72. 1945 #7-212 seen.
1948-58: 1-01 - 99-09999
1959-60: 1-01 - 9-09999, 1/0 - 01 - 9/9 - 09999
1961-72: 1 1 - 9 9999, 1/0 1 - 9/9 9999
1973 E/J 0001 - E/P 6317 (EJ-FE assigned)
1974 E/J 0001 - E/S 4176
1975 1/ EJ0001 - 9/7 ET0712
1976 1/ EJ0001 - 7/5 EP3665
1977 1/ EJ0001 - 7/6 EP7065
1979 HA 0000 - HF 4172 (HA-HR assigned)
TRUCK TRACTOR
Ch. 134 P 4/19/1937. Began 1938.
Pairs 1938-40, singles 1960-84.
Lock-strip plate on front 1938-40, unlike Truck.
LEGENDS: Vertical "TT" after county prefix, front has "(A) IOWA (38)" top,
rear has "IOWA-TRACTOR-1938" bottom 1938-40,
vertical "TT" after county prefix, "IOWA-TRACTOR-1942" top 1942,
"TRACTOR" bottom 1961-84.
COLORS: Maroon/White with White/Black strip 1938,
Dark Blue/White 1940, White/Green 1942,
Truck colors 1961-84. Sticker 1978.
(Verify 1939, 1941)
For 1940 weight classes, see Truck Tractor Weight Class plates in Permit section.
County-coded numbering formats 1938-72, same as Truck 1961-72.
1938 #33-1114, 1940 #70-1601 seen (above Truck high).
Not issued 1944-59; issued Commercial windshield stickers or plates
instead (which is why "Truck" was changed to "Commercial").
Resumed 1960 as low-numbered Commercial plates only, due to change
from pairs to singles. The 1960 Commercial plates were all made in
pairs before the law was changed requiring singles for truck tractors.
Some 30,000 mates were reportedly destroyed before issue.
Known truck tractor blocks reserved 1960:
Adams 2-1 - 2-30 (10 registered)
Black Hawk 7-1 - 7-500 (271 registered)
Butler 12-1 - 12-50 (36 registered)
Johnson 52-1 - 52-175 (91 registered)
Shelby 83-1 - 83-90 (63 registered)
1973 F/F 0001 - F/G 2867 (FF-FH assigned)
1974 F/F 0001 - F/H 0394
1975 1/ FF0001 - 7/7 FG3922
1976 1/ FF0001 - 7/9 FG5651
1977-78 1/ FF0001 - 5/7 FF9547, FH 0352 - FH 0354
1979-84 KA 0000 - KD 1083 (KA-KH assigned)
TRUCK TRACTOR HALF YEAR
Ch. 135 P 5/25/1939. Began 1940.
Not issued 1943-59; issued Commercial Half Year windshield stickers
or plates instead.
Could same system of issuance as Truck Tractor have been used
for 1960 (lowest numbers of Truck Half Year)?
1961 identical to Truck Tractor except for colors.
By 1964, limited to vehicles whose annual fee is $90 or higher.
Issued singly 1979. Discontinued 1980; replaced by half-year
stickers on regular Tractor plates (verify).
LEGENDS: Front has vertical "TT" after county prefix,
"(A) IOWA (40)" top, rear has vertical "IOWA" left,
vertical "1940" right, "JAN. T - T JULY" bottom 1940,
all 1942 same as 1940 front,
"TRACTOR" bottom 1961, "JJ TRACTOR" bottom 1962-66,
"EXP.6-30 TT" bottom left 1967-73,
"EXP.6-30 TRACTOR" bottom 1977-79.
COLORS: Orange/Black 1940, Black/White 1942,
Truck Half Year colors 1961-73, 1977,
Black/Green STICKER 1978, White/Green 1979.
(Verify 1941, 1974-76)
County-coded numbering formats 1940-72. 1940 #70-1601 seen
(above Truck high). Numbering same as Truck Half Year 1961-72.
1973 F/J 0001 - F/J 7118 (FJ-FK assigned)
1974
1975
1976
1977 1/ FJ0001 - 7/1 FJ9029
1979 KJ 0000 - KN 8523 (KJ-KZ assigned)
URBAN TRANSIT BUS
Ch. 208 P 4/5/1963. Began 1963/64, "EXP 6/30/64".
LEGENDS: "URBAN TRANSIT BUS" bottom 1963/64, 1967, 1975, 1978,
"URBAN TRANS BUS" bottom 1979,
vertical "EXP" before "6/30/64" left, "IOWA" top 1963/64,
vertical "EXP" before "6/30/68" left, "IOWA 67" top 1967, 1969, 1975,
vertical "X/6/30/79" left, "IOWA 78" top 1978-79.
COLORS: White/Black 1965-66, Passenger colors 1967-68, 1978-79,
Red/White 1975.
1963/64 (6/30/64) 364 1975 (6/30/76) L/D 0033
1967 (6/30/68) 69 1978 (6/30/79) LD0085
1969 (6/30/69) 14 1979 (6/30/80) LD0049
1973 (LD assigned)
WELL DRILL
Ch. 79 P 4/20/1933. Sample seen 1936. Earliest seen 1955. Discontinued 1979.
Provided for a reduced $10 rate for well-drilling equipment when mounted upon a
trailer of 10,000 lbs. or less.
LEGENDS: "IOWA W D 1936" bottom 1936,
vertical "IOWA" left, vertical "1955", "W D" bottom, short number dies 1955,
"W D" bottom 1962-63, "W.D." bottom 1969, 1973-76.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1936, 1969,
Truck colors 1955, 1962, 1964, 1973-76, White/Red 1965,
Red/White 1966.
1936 0000
1955 17 1973 L/E 0134
1962 32 1974 L/E 0272
1963 [61] 1975 LE0230
1969 167 1976 LE 0034
PERMITS:
AD PERMIT
Ch. 1068 P 3/29/1972, E 7/1/1972. Sign permits issued by the
State Highway Commission, mandatory by 8/1/1972.
Undated, small size, Black/White, "IOWA AD PERMIT" top,
#5 14, 60 32, 64 77, 68 30 seen. Prefix number believed to be county code.
GRAIN DEALER
Earliest seen 6-30-74. Probably not issued yet 1969, as bill
(HF688) introduced in House 3/27/1969 "providing for licensing
and bonding of grain dealers." Small size all years.
LEGENDS: "GRAIN DEALER" top, "IA.EXP.6-30-74" bottom 1974-77, 1980-83.
6-30-74 2541 - Black/White
6-30-75 0657 - 4597 Black/Yellow
6-30-76 1803 - 2999 Red/White
6-30-77 0698 - 4051 Black/Yellow
6-30-78
6-30-79
6-30-80 0890 - 2928 White/Green
6-30-81 2414 - Black/Yellow
6-30-82 0503 - 3768 Green/White
6-30-83 1215 - 2973 Black/Yellow
MVF TRANSPORT
Ch. 56 P 3/9/1934, E 4/1/1934. Supplemental permanent undated
permit plates issued to Motor Vehicle Fuel delivery trucks for $1
per pair. All are White/Black, except E. is Black/White, fully reflective.
#10246 found bolted to Kansas and Missouri 1943 truck plates.
A. #6298 - 8257, "MVF-TRANSPORT" top, "IOWA" left, tall 1930-54 dies, 5 1/2" x 10 3/4".
B. #10246 - 15432, "MVF-TRANSPORT" top, "IA" left, tall 1930-54 dies, 5 1/2" x 10 1/2", steel.
C. #16294 - 17136, same as B. but waffle aluminum, c. 1948-49.
B1.#18588 - 22538, same as B.
D. #25257 - 28224, "IOWA ( )" top, "MVF TRANSPORT" bottom, 1956-57 dies, 6" x 12".
E. #31899 - , "IOWA" top center, "MVF TRANSPORT" bottom, truck dies, 6" x 12", 1973-78 era
with bolt holes.
TRAILER WEIGHT CLASS
Probably began 1929 along with Truck Weight Class.
Earliest seen 1931. Small supplemental plate issued 1931-40 to
show weight limit allowed; none have state name or abbreviation.
Used only with regular Trailer plate as of 1940.
1931-40 CLASS PLATES
LEGENDS: Vertical "TRAILER" left, "CLASS-A" center, "IOWA-1931" bottom 1931-32,
vertical "TRAILER" left, "IOWA-1933" top, "CLASS E" center, "MAX/LOAD 12499#" bottom 1933-39,
"CLASS/1940" left, "A" right 1940.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1931-39, White/Black 1940.
Weight classes 1931-35:
A - 2,499 LBS. C - ?
Weight classes 1936-39:
A - 2,499 LBS. C - 7,499 LBS. E - 12,499 LBS. H - 14,999 LBS.
B - 4,999 LBS. D - F -
Weight classes 1940:
A - 2 TONS C - 6 TONS E - 10 TONS J - 14 TONS
B - 4 TONS D - 8 TONS H - 12 TONS
TRUCK WEIGHT CLASS
Began mid-1929. Earliest seen 1929. Law effective 5/1/1929 but
plates didn't arrive until 8/3/1929 (Adams Co.). Small
supplemental plate issued 1929-35, 1941-42 to show weight limit
allowed; none have state name or abbreviation. To be displayed
on front of trucks. No fee unless truck is to carry a load above
its rated load capacity.
1929-35 CLASS PLATES
LEGENDS: "CLASS/1929" left, "A" right 1929-32,
"1933/CLASS A" top, "MAX.LD. 2500#" bottom 1933-35.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1939-35.
Weight classes 1929-30:
A - 1 TON E - 3 TONS L - 5 TONS
B - 1 1/2 TONS H - 3 1/2 TONS M - 5 1/2 TONS
C - 2 TONS J - 4 TONS O - 6 TONS
D - 2 1/2 TONS K - 4 1/2 TONS
Weight classes 1931-35:
A - 2,500 LBS. E - 7,500 LBS. L - 12,500 LBS.
B - 3,750 LBS. H - 8,750 LBS. O - 15,000 LBS.
C - 5,000 LBS. J - 10,000 LBS.
D - 6,250 LBS. K - 11,250 LBS.
1936-40 LOCKING PLATE STRIPS (Rear only)
Weight classes 1936-39: Same as 1931-35 above.
Weight classes 1940-50 (S,T,U added later, by 1950):
A - 3 TONS H 9 TONS N 14 TONS (Added by 1950)
B - 5 TONS J 10 TONS O 15 TONS S 18 TONS
C - 6 TONS K 11 TONS P 16 TONS T 19 TONS
D - 7 TONS L 12 TONS R 17 TONS U 20 TONS
E - 8 TONS M 13 TONS
1941-42 CLASS PLATES
Legends same as 1933-35. Passenger colors.
Weight classes same as 1940 above.
1943-44 WINDSHIELD STICKERS
Weight class shown on regular truck windshield stickers.
Weight classes same as 1940 above.
1945-58 WINDSHIELD STICKERS
Weight class shown on separate annual windshield sticker.
For 1947, about 170,000 stickers were ordered in approximately 30
weight classes. For 1954, 120,016 stickers were ordered in 31
weight classes. Class A (3 tons) was discontinued 1953.
COLORS: 1945 Black/Yellow & White
1946, 1950, 1954 Black/Red & White
1947, 1951, 1955 Black/Yellow & White
1948, 1952 Black/Green & White
1949, 1953 Black/Buff & White
1956 Black/Light Green & White
1957 Black/Yellow & White
1958 Black/Pink & White
1959
There was no weight class identification whatsoever.
1960-74 PLATE STICKERS
Weight class stickers "4 TONS" to "35 TONS" placed on front and
rear truck plates. Trucks under 4 tons required no stickers.
Special Truck version seen 1970-74 for 10 and 12 tons.
COLORS: Black/White, NR 1960-70 and FR 1971-74,
Black/Gold "SPEC. TRK" 1970-73, "SPECIAL TRUCK" 1974.
SIZES: 1 1/4" x 3" 1960, 4" x 3" 1961-70, 3" x 2" 1971-74.
TRUCK TRACTOR WEIGHT CLASS
Probably began 1938 along with Truck Tractor. Locking plate
strips for front plates only (not rear) listed 1940.
Weight classes 1940:
A - 6 TONS D - 12 TONS J - 15 TONS M - 18 TONS
B - 8 TONS E - 13 TONS K - 16 TONS N - 19 TONS
C - 10 TONS H - 14 TONS L - 17 TONS O - 20 TONS
UNKNOWN TYPE IHC
Undated, motorcycle size, Black/White, "IHC/BIN" left, #1125.
Iowa Highway Commission, but what type? (Agency became the Iowa DOT in 1975.)
