NEBRASKA PLATE TYPES - SUMMARY CHRONOLOGICALLY BY INTRODUCTION DATE
(Types researched through 1983, expire 1984)
PLATE TYPE EARLIEST SEEN BEGAN NOTES
Passenger 1915 1915 Ch. 61 P 4/6/1915
Motorcycle 1915 1915 Ch. 61 P 4/6/1915
Dealer 1917 7/1/17 Ch. 65 P 4/19/1917
Lost 1917 1917
Motorcycle Dealer 1949 7/1/17? Ch. 65 P 4/19/1917
Trailer 1919 1919 Ch. 223 P 4/11/1919
Truck 1919 1919 Ch. 223 P 4/11/1919
Sample 1925
Bus 1938 1927 Ch. 152 P 4/25/1927
Farm Truck 1928 1928 Ch. 152 P 4/25/1927
Intercounty/state Bus (1942 chart) 1930
Salesman 1930 1930
Commercial Trailer 1933 1933 Ch. 107 P 5/2/1931
Commercial Truck 1933 1933 Ch. 107 P 5/2/1931
Farm Trailer 1933 1933 Ch. 107 P 5/2/1931
Local Trailer 1933 1933 Ch. 107 P 5/2/1931
Local Truck 1933 1933 Ch. 107 P 5/2/1931
Private Trailer 1933 1933 Ch. 102 P 5/15/1933
Taxi 1933 1933 Ch. 102 P 5/15/1933
In Transit (Cardboard) 7/18/56 Ch. 109 P 3/27/1933
Equalization (1942 chart) 1940? Ch. 80 P 6/8/1939
State Owned 1946 1940
Semi-Trailer (1942 chart) 1942
Non-Resident Comm. Truck 1952 1952
Amateur Radio 1953 1953 Ch. 223 P 5/8/1953
Antique/Historical UND. 1953 Ch. 221 P 4/21/1953
30 Day 1953 1953 (Ch. 212 P 5/19/1953?)
Resident Tow 1954 1953? Ch. 217 P 6/3/1953
Local Bus 1955 1954
U.S. Congressman UND. 1959
Cabin Trailer UND. 1960 Ch. 303 P 5/13/1959
Comm. Truck Half Year 1960 1960 Ch. 283 P 5/12/1959
Prorate Sticker 1960 1960 Ch. 281 P 5/15/1959
Local Comm. Trailer 1962 1961 Ch. 311 P 6/22/1961
Local Comm. Truck 1962 1961 Ch. 311 P 6/22/1961
Transporter 1963 Ch. 309 P 6/22/1961
Agricultural Truck 1964 1963 Ch. 353 P 7/12/1963
Mobile Home 1964 1964 Ch. 356 P 5/26/1963
Repossession (1965 chart) 1965 Ch. 365 P 6/15/1963
Nebraska's Golden Girl 1967 Ch. 385 P 3/22/1967
Prorate Bus 1972 1970?
Prorate Trailer 1970 1970?
Prorate Truck 1970 1970?
Camper Unit Sticker 1975 1971
Government UND. 1972 LB 965 P 5/19/1971
Government Trailer UND. 1972 LB 965 P 5/19/1971
Personalized 1972 1972 LB 376 P 4/16/1971
Handicapped 1973 1973 LB 176 P 3/2/1973
Apportioned Trailer 1975 1975
Apportioned Truck 1975 1975
Snowmobile "FEB 79" LB 230 P 4/2/1977
Tax Exempt "JAN 89" LB 361 P 5/15/1981
Special Mobile Equipment UND. Seen 1983
State Patrol UND. Seen in 1983
Trailer Dealer UND. Seen 1983
Ex-Prisoner of War "JUL 85" 7/10/84 LB 760 P 3/29/1984
PERMITS:
Tonnage Capacity 1933 1933 Ch. 102 P 5/15/1933
Tonnage Exemption 1933 1933 Ch. 102 P 5/15/1933
Itinerant Merchant 1946 1937 Ch. 168 P 4/1/1937
Railway Commission Tlr. 1938 1938 Ch. 142 P 5/4/1937
Railway Commission Truck 1938 1938 Ch. 142 P 5/4/1937
Reciprocity 1942
Unknown Type "D-STILL" 1942
Grain Permit 1948? Ch. 205 P 5/1/1947
State Senator 1951 1951
Press Car 1956
Grain Buyer License 6/30/63 Ch. 403 P 5/9/1957
LETTER KEY: (All other letters/years are Passenger)
B Bus 1927-50 RC Railway Commission 1938-75
C Commercial Truck 1933-39 REC Reciprocity 1972-75
CA-CX Commercial Truck 1940-51 T Truck 1919-32, or
D Dealer 1919-50 Trailer 1919-30 (small)
F Farm Truck 1933-50, or TP Transporter 1963-84
Farm Trailer 1933 (small) TR Trailer 1931-32
L Lost 1917-20, X Farm Trailer 1942-84
Local Truck 1933-50 Y Semi-Trailer 1942
PSC Railway Commission 1976-84 Z Private Trailer 1935-44
R Repossession 1965-84
TAB SUMMARY
1920: Tab - Passenger, Truck, M/C, Lost
Plate - Dealer (verify M/C Dealer, Trailer)
1943: Tab - Passenger, Comm. Truck, Dealer, M/C, Farm Trailer
Plate -
1944: Tab - Passenger, Dealer, Farm Trailer, Farm Truck,
Local Truck, M/C, Railroad Commission
Plate - Comm. Truck
1947: Tab - Passenger, M/C, Comm. Truck, Farm Trailer, Farm Truck, Local Truck
Plate - M/C, Farm Trailer (but these may be new regs. only)
1953: Tab - Passenger, M/C, Am. Radio, Bus, Comm. Trailer, Comm. Truck,
Dealer, Farm Trailer, Farm Truck, Local Truck, 30-Day
Plate - Non-Res. Comm.
1959: Tab - Passenger, Am. Radio, Bus, Comm. Trailer, Comm. Truck,
Dealer, Farm Truck, Non-Res. Comm., 30-Day
Plate - M/C, Farm Trailer
STICKER SUMMARY (All have Black Serial)
1963: White/Red - Passenger, Taxi, 30-Day
White/Blue - Commercial Truck, Interstate Bus
White/Yellow - Bus, Cabin Trailer, Comm. Trailer, Dealer,
Farm Trailer, Farm Truck, Local Bus,
Local Comm. Trailer, Local Comm. Truck,
Local Truck, M/C, M/C Dealer, Resident Tow,
Transporter
1964: White/Green - Passenger, Amateur Radio, Taxi, 30-Day
White/Black - Commercial Truck, Interstate Bus
White/Blue - Agricultural Truck, Bus, Cabin Trailer,
Comm. Trailer, Dealer, Farm Trailer,
Farm Truck, Local Comm. Trailer,
Local Comm. Truck, Local Truck, M/C,
Mobile Home, Transporter
PLATES ORDERED
PASSENGER TRUCK M/C DEALER TRAILER BUS
1921 300,000 S 20,000 S 4,000 S 2,000 S
1922 250,000 P 25,000 P 4,000 P 2,000 P 1,500 S -
1923 250,000 P 25,000 P 2,700 P 6,000 P 800 S -
1924 250,000 P 25,000 P 2,700 P 6,000 P 800 S -
1925 300,000 P 37,000 P 1,650 P 6,000 P 900 S -
1926 310,000 P 37,000 P 1,650 P 6,000 P 900 S -
1927 364,750 P 37,700 P 1,800 P 4,000 P 1,500 S
1928
1929
1930 398,105 P 53,070 P 1,792 P 6,275 S
1931 405,405 P 62,135 P 1,782 P 6,400 P 8,245 S
1932 406,580 P 71,105 P 1,742 P 5,950 P 16,990 S 250 P
1933 382,725 P 64,206 P 1,496 P 4,860 P 20,686 S 150 P
DETAILED NOTES ALPHABETICALLY BY TYPE:
Numbers assumed to begin at #1 unless noted.
Passenger colors unless noted.
1940-41 state capitol building graphic treated as hyphen.
1976-83: All types are Green/White except Red/White for
Apportioned Truck, Comm. Truck Half Year, Government,
Government Trailer and Historical, and Graphic design
for Passenger, Amateur Radio, Handicapped, Personalized
and Repossession.
PASSENGER (See Passenger page)
AGRICULTURAL TRUCK
Ch. 353 P 7/12/1963. Began 1963. Earliest seen 1964. Issued to
not-for-hire trucks engaged in soil or water conservation work,
used for transporting pipes and irrigation equipment.
LEGENDS: No legend, "A" after county code, "TRUCK" top right 1964-84.
FORMATS: 1964 1-A-1 - 9-A-99
1964-84 1 A 1 - 93 A 99
AMATEUR RADIO
Ch. 223 P 5/8/1953 for supplemental plate for $1 extra fee.
Ch. 236 P 4/2/1955 for full-size exclusive plates for $2.50 extra
fee. Ch. 284 P 5/12/1959 reducing extra fee to $1. Extra fee
50c by 1965. Began 1953 on "52" dated base with "5/3" tab.
Registration figures start 1956. Black/White 1952-53 base and tab.
Small size 1952-55, full size 1956-75. Graphic design 1976-84.
1952/53 W0AA - W0ZZZ
1962 K0AAA - K0ZZZ (Verify 1958-61)
1964 WA0AAA - WA0ZZZ (Verify 1963)
(WB0AAA - WB0ZZZ Verify 1973-83)
ANTIQUE/HISTORICAL
Ch. 221 P 4/21/1953. Began 1953. Plates #1 - 3 shown in Fillmore
County News, 11/5/1953, with 8 reported issued. 26 issued by 3/5/1954.
Permanent undated plate issued for $5 fee to vehicles over 40
years old. Expanded to vehicles over 30 years old with LB 677 P
4/1/1971. Type 10 began 9/1/1975.
1953 Type 1 1-NEB - 73-NEB (73 P)
1954? Type 2 123-NEB - 127-NEB (5 P)
1956? Type 3 201 - 294 (94 P)
1962? Type 4 348-NEB - 622-NEB (275 P)
1966? Type 5 823-NEB - 891-NEB (69 P)
1968? Type 6 1012NEB - 1902NEB (891 P)
1970? Type 7 2005-NB - 2899-NB (895 P)
1972? Type 8 2966-NB - 6983-NB (4,018 P)
7-28-75 Type 9 7190-NB - 7424-NB (235 P)
1975 Type 10 7900 - 8744 (845 P)
(Type 11 10036)
Description of Types:
Type 1 - Black/White, "ANTIQUE" bottom, small "NEB", no border, bolt holes
Type 2 - As Type 1, but bolt slots
Type 3 - Black/White, "ANTIQUE" bottom, "NEBRASKA" top, border
Type 4 - Black/White, "ANTIQUE" bottom, full-size "NEB", no map
Type 5 - Black/White FR, "ANTIQUE" bottom, full-size "NEB", map
Type 6 - As Type 5, but no hyphen
Type 7 - As Type 5, but "NB", not "NEB"
Type 8 - Red/White FR, "ANTIQUE" bottom, full-size "NB", map, tall dies
Type 9 - As Type 8, but short dies
Type 10 - Red/White FR, "HISTORICAL" top, "NEBRASKA" bottom, map
(Type 11 - Red/White FR, "NEBRASKA" top, "HISTORICAL" bottom, no map)
APPORTIONED TRAILER
Began 1975. One of 5 states (CO, MN, OR, UT) to join in 1975.
Previously issued Prorate Trailer plates.
Small size, vertical "APP" left, dated "75" 1975.
Reportedly replaced 1976 by new plate with same design.
Full size, Blue/White, "APPORTIONED" top, "NEB. TRAILER" bottom 1978-83.
1975 886 - 16056 (Passenger "12" 1976 sticker seen)
1976?
1978-83 Undated 5426 - 40043 (Passenger "12" stickers 1978-81,
Black/Yellow "DEC-83" sticker 1983)
APPORTIONED TRUCK
Began 1975. One of 5 states (CO, MN, OR, UT) to join in 1975.
Previously issued Prorate Truck plates.
LEGENDS: Vertical "APP" left, "TRUCK" top right, dated "75" 1975-76,
"APPORTIONED" top, "NEB. POWER" bottom 1978-83.
1975-76 Type 1 - Tall dies 123 - 8855 (8,733) (Blue/White "12" 1976 sticker)
Type 2 - Short dies 10214 - 12419 (2,206) (TOTAL 12,297)
1978 Undated Blue/White 11516 - (Passenger "12" 1978 sticker)
1979 Red/White 383 - 14484 (14,102)
1980 Black/White 26506 - 40684 (14,179)
1981 Red/White 50223 - 66682 (16,460)
1982-83 Green/White 75113 - 88375 (13,263) (Black/Yellow square
sticker 1983)
BUS
Ch. 152 P 4/25/1927. Began 1927. Earliest seen 1938.
Issued to buses operating only within county where based.
(Bus plates without county codes are Intercounty Buses.)
LEGENDS: No legend, "B" after county code 1938-50,
vertical "BUS" after county code 1951-84.
FORMATS: 1938-50 1-B1 - 93-B9
1951 A 1 - WH 9
1952-64 1- 1 - 93- 99
1965-68 1 1 - 93 99
1969-84 1 1 - 93 999
CABIN TRAILER
Ch. 303 P 5/13/1959. Began 1960.
Issued to house trailers not used on public highways.
Small size 1960-84. Undated 1960-61, 1964.
LEGENDS: "CABIN/TRAILER" left, "NEBRASKA" bottom center 1960-61,
"CABIN/TRAILER" left, "NEBRASKA 1962" bottom 1962-63,
vertical "C/P" after county code 1964-84.
COLORS: Green/White 1960-61, 1976-84, Black/Gold 1962-63,
Blue/White reflective "House Trailer" sticker 1961?
Black/Yellow paper "House Trailer" sticker 1963,
Passenger colors 1964-75.
(Verify 1961 sticker)
UND. (1960-61) 8115 - 20241 (12,127)
1962-63 1952 - 9317 (7,366)
FORMATS: 1964-68 1- 1 - 9- 9999, 10- 1 - 93- 99
1969-71 1- 1 - 9- 9999, 10- 1 - 93- 999
1972-84 1- 1 - 93- 9999
CAMPER UNIT STICKER
Began 1971. Earliest seen 1975. Sticker mounted directly on camper.
COMMERCIAL TRAILER
Ch. 107 P 5/2/1931 classified all Trailers and Trucks as Commercial,
Farm or Local and established new fees, but law was contested in
mid-1931, resulting in a court injunction, halting implementation.
The law was upheld by the state supreme court 12/9/1932, just in
time to manufacture the 1933 plates. The 1931 law was apparently
intended to take effect in mid-1931, as unissued(?) 1931 truck plates
#19-C2, 19-F6, 5-L45 and trailer plates #54-F 7 and 54-L 5 are known.
(Verify 1931 Commercial Trailer)
Began 1933. Small size 1933, full size 1934-62.
LEGENDS: No legend, "C" after county code 1933,
No legend 1934-55, "C NEB.-TRUCK 56" top 1956-61,
"TRUCK" top right, vertical "COMM" after county code 1962.
"Tr/C" after county code 1934-37,
"Tr" after "C/A" (etc.) weight code 1940, 1942,
"A/Tr" (etc., except F,L) weight code after county code 1941,
"Tr" after weight tab space 1946-59,
"Tr" before weight tab space 1960-62.
Weight classes same as Commercial Truck 1940-63. (Verify 1938-39, 1945, 1963)
Last seen 1962. Last listed in registration figures 1963.
FORMATS: 1933 1-C1 - 93-C99
1934-37, 1949, 1952-62 1- 1 - 93- 99
1951 A 1 - WH 99
COMMERCIAL TRUCK (See Truck page)
Ch. 107 P 5/2/1931. Began 1933.
See note under Commercial Trailer about 1931 plates seen.
COMMERCIAL TRUCK HALF YEAR
Ch. 283 P 5/12/1959. Began 1960. Last seen 1976.
Plate expiring June 30 issued to any commercial truck 12 tons or
more whose annual fee would exceed $210. Regular Commercial
Truck plate issued for second half of year.
After 1976, annual "6M" sticker issued. Singles issued 1960.
Design same as Commercial Truck 1960-72 (no tab slots 1960),
vertical "6MON" instead of "COMM" center 1973-76, regular plate
with Red/White "6M" sticker top left 1966, regular plate with
White/Blue "6 MON" sticker sideways before "COMM" 1972.
Numbering formats same as Commercial Truck. Colors as follows:
1960 Red/White 1969 Green/White or Orange/White
1961 1970 Red/White
1962-64 Black/Light Orange 1971 Orange/White
1963 1972 Red/White
1964 White/Black sticker 1973 Red/White
1965 Red/White 1974 Black/White
1966 Black/White 1975 Green/White
1967 Green/White 1976 Red/White
1968 Blue/White
DEALER
Ch. 65 P 4/19/1917. Began 7/1/1917. (In 1915-17, dealers were issued
a passenger plate for their master plate, then provided their own
cardboard plates for extra plates; a 1916 cardboard plate #89 is known.)
In July 1917, dealers were reissued their former passenger numbers on
Dealer plates; #1636, 4823, 21109, 38351, 69690, 117475, 135014, 138887 seen.
LEGENDS: "DEALER" bottom 1917-18,
no legend 1919-50, "D" prefix 1919-20,
"D" prefix and small "-1" (etc.) suffix 1921,
large "D" with small "1" (etc.) inside after county prefix 1922-35,
"D" after county code 1936, 1938-46,
"D" before number suffix 1948,
small "D" after county code 1949-50,
vertical "DLR" after county code 1951-84.
(Verify 1937, 1947)
All 1919 are Type 1.
New dated White/Dark Blue or Dark Blue/White plate issued 1920.
Singles issued 1957, 1960.
Highest plate set number seen: 1 1921, 2 1923, 9 1927, 10 1930
(Discontinued 1949)
1918 25 - 1646
1919 D84 - D2376
1920 D 55 - D2727
1921 D 992-1 - D1601-1
FORMATS:
1922-23 1D1 - 93D99 1951 A 1 - WH 99
1924-35 1-D1 - 93-D99 1952-64 1- 1 - 93- 999
1936-46 1-D1-1 - 93-D99-1 1964-71 1 1 - 93 999
1948 1-1D1 - 93-99D1 1972-75 1 1 - 9 9999,
1949-50 1-D1 - 9-D999, 10 1 - 93 999
10-D1 - 93-D99
EQUALIZATION
Ch. 80 P 6/8/1939. Earliest seen 1942 chart. Earliest seen 1948.
As of 1942, issued on a quarterly basis to vehicles using a fuel
not subject to motor fuel tax (diesel). As of 1965, issued as
additional plate to local buses using a fuel not subject to motor
fuel tax (diesel). Full size 1942, 1948-49, small size 1965-75.
LEGENDS: "NEBRASKA EQUALIZATION FEE" top, "C/A" (etc.) after county code,
"EXPIRES/12-31/1942" right 1942, 1948, same but no "C/A" 1949,
"EQUALI-/ZATION" left 1965-75.
1948 75 C/W 1 "3-31/1948"
1949 546
1969 206 - 359
EX-PRISONER OF WAR
LB 760 P 3/29/1984. Began 7/10/1984, expire "JUL 85".
FARM TRAILER
Ch. 107 P 5/2/1931. Began 1933.
See note under Commercial Trailer about 1931 plates seen.
From at least 1965 on, issued to all trailers.
Small size 1933, 1942-84, full size 1934-41.
LEGENDS: No legend, "F" after county code 1933,
"Tr/F" after county code 1934-39,
"F/Tr" after county code 1940-41,
"X" after county code 1942-84.
Extra-long plates 1942-44, 1946-61 for 10-X1000+.
Tabs 1943-44, 1947, 1953, Black/Gold dated plate 1959,
Gold/Black dated plate 1961.
1947: Taller dated plate seen #21-X1520 (new regs.?)
FORMATS: 1933 1-F 1 - 93-F999
1934-41 1- 1 - 93- 999
1942-50, 1952-68 1-X 1 - 93-X9999 (except '45 93-X999)
1951 A-X 1 - WH-X9999
1969-84 1-X 1 - 9-X99999, 10-X1 - 93-X9999
1976-84 5/9-X10404
FARM TRUCK (See Truck page)
Ch. 152 P 4/25/1927. Began 1928; first in the U.S. Discontinued
1930. See note under Commercial Trailer about 1931 plates seen.
Rebegan 1933.
GOVERNMENT
Began 1972. Previously issued State Owned plates.
Permanent undated plate issued to city, county and state owned
vehicles. "GOVERNMENT" top.
UND. (1972-76) Type 1 - Tall dies 1 - 21386
Type 2 - Short dies 23029 - 32059 (9,031)
GOVERNMENT TRAILER
Began 1972. Permanent undated plate issued to city, county and
state owned trailers. Small size, "GOV'T" left.
UND. (1972-76) 65 - 4560
HANDICAPPED
LB 176 P 3/2/1973. Began 1973 with dated "73" base.
No legend, wheelchair inside square left. Graphic design 1976-84.
1973-75 Type 1 - Tall dies 1 - 124
Type 2 - Short dies 209 -
1976-84 45 - 1004
INTERCOUNTY/INTERSTATE BUS
Began 1930. Earliest seen 1942 chart. Issued to buses operating in
more than one county. Terminology changed in 1959 annual report from
Intercounty Bus to Interstate Bus. Annual plates 1965-69; passenger
colors. Last seen 1969. Probably replaced by Prorate Bus 1970.
LEGENDS: No legend, "B" prefix 1930-55,
vertical "BUS" prefix 1960-69.
1931: 500 P ordered, #B-101 - B-600. Pairs 1945.
1945 B108 - 1965 1383 - 1523
1954 B-319 - 1966 41 - 344
1955 B-281 - 1967 369 -
1960 -380 - 1968 158 -
1962 144 - 1969 489 -
IN TRANSIT (Cardboard)
Ch. 109 P 3/27/1933. Only seen 7/18/1956.
Repealed by Ch. 312 P 6/19/1961. Replaced by Transporter.
1956: Black/White, "Nebraska In Transit" top, "MELTON-ISSLER/MOTORS" above
"Geneva, Nebraska" bottom, #34 D 50.
"July 18 - 1956 - By Louis F. Issler" handwritten in LL corner.
LOCAL BUS
Began 1954. Earliest seen 1955.
Issued to buses which use a fuel other than gasoline,
operating only within city limits or 6 miles therefrom.
Last seen 1972. Discontinued by 1976; not shown on 1976 chart.
LEGENDS: Vertical "LOCL" followed by vertical "BUS" after county code 1955-72.
FORMATS: 1955-57 1- 1 - 93- 9
1969-72 1 1 - 93 9 (1 172 seen)
LOCAL COMMERCIAL TRAILER
Ch. 311 P 6/22/1961. Began 1961. Earliest seen 1962.
Listed under 1963-64 sticker colors. Not on 1965 chart.
LEGENDS: Vertical "LOCL" before vertical "COMM" before "Tr" after county code,
"TRUCK" top right 1962-64.
FORMATS: 1962-64 1 1 - 93 9
LOCAL COMMERCIAL TRUCK
Ch. 311 P 6/22/1961. Began 1961. Earliest seen 1962.
Issued to commercial trucks over 25 tons operating only within
city limits of city where based, or 5 miles therefrom.
LEGENDS: Vertical "LOCL" before vertical "COMM" after county code,
"TRUCK" top right 1962-84.
FORMATS: 1962-68 1 1 - 93 9
1969-71 1 1 - 9 999, 10 1 - 93 9
1972-84 1 1 - 9 999, 10 1 - 93 99
LOCAL TRAILER
Ch. 107 P 5/2/1931. Began 1933.
See note under Commercial Trailer about 1931 plates seen.
Discontinued 1945; merged with Farm Trailer.
Small size 1933, full size 1934-44.
LEGENDS: No legend, "L" after county code 1933,
"Tr/L" after county code 1934-39,
"L/Tr" after county code 1940-44.
FORMATS: 1933 1-L 1 - 93-L99
1934-44 1- 1 - 93- 99
LOCAL TRUCK (See Truck page)
Ch. 107 P 5/2/1931. Began 1933.
See note under Commercial Trailer about 1931 plates seen.
LOST
Began 1917. Dakota County Herald, 1/11/1917:
"The secretary of state has advised this office as follows: After
January 1st we will require a fee of $1 to be paid for new number to
take the place of the one that has been lost. No number will be
issued until the proper application has been filed in this department
to show that a fee of $1 has been paid. Also, we have had special
plates made for this purpose and all numbers issued to take the place
of ones that have been lost will be marked with the letter "L" before
the numerals."
No legend, "L" prefix 1917-20. Those issued in 1919 were required to
be tabbed in 1920. Last seen 1920. Probably discontinued 1922 when
issuance transferred to County Treasurers.
1917 L527
1918 L195
1919-20 Type 1 L1504 (2,500 ordered)
Type 2 L2900 - L4612 (1,713)
1921 (5,000 ordered)
MOBILE HOME
Ch. 356 P 5/26/1963. Began 1964. Issued to self-propelled
motor homes and cabin trailers used on public highways.
LEGENDS: Vertical "MOBL" followed by vertical "HOME" after county code 1964-84,
slogan top 1964, "TRUCK" top right 1965, no slogan or legend 1966-75.
FORMATS: 1964 1 1 - 1 999
1965-71 1 1 - 1 999, 10 1 - 93 99
1972-84 1 1 - 1 9999, 10 1 - 93 999
MOTORCYCLE (See Motorcycle page)
Ch. 61 P 4/6/1915. Began 1915.
MOTORCYCLE DEALER
Believed to have begun 7/1/1917 with Ch. 65 P 4/19/1917.
Specifically mentioned in 1/31/1919 Lincoln Star news article,
with 32 issued. Earliest seen 1949. "M C DEALER" top 1976-84.
FORMATS: 1949-50, 1952-64 1-MCD1 - 93-MCD9
1951 A-MCD1 - WH-MCD9
1965-75 1-MCD1 - 93-MCD99
1976-84 1-1 - 93-99
NEBRASKA'S GOLDEN GIRL
Ch. 385 P 3/22/1967. Began 1967. None seen.
Miss Nancy Griffin of Atkinson was chosen Centennial queen.
"The Department of Motor Vehicles shall issue, for the year 1967
only, one set of plates to the Nebraska Centennial Commission,
such plates to be used on the motor vehicle provided by the
commission for the person designated Nebraska's Golden Girl, in
lieu of the plate which otherwise would be assigned to such
vehicle. Such plates shall bear the words Nancy, Nebraska's
Golden Girl, in lieu of numbers."
NON-RESIDENT COMMERCIAL TRUCK
Began 1952. Discontinued 1961.
LEGENDS: "NON/RES" and hyphen left, followed by weight tab 1952-56,
same except "C NEB.-TRUCK 57" top 1957-60.
4-digits have wider "NEBRASKA" to fill extra-long size 1952-55.
COLORS: White/Brick Red 1952, White/Black 1953, Passenger colors 1954-60.
1952 195 - 1908 (1,714) 1956 1254 - 2820 (1,567)
1953 814 - 1837 (1,024) 1957 1128 - 1676 (549)
1954 53 - 2688 (2,636) 1958-59 2224 - 3322 (1,099)
1955 1445 - 2414 (970) 1960 1460 - 3221 (1,762)
PERSONALIZED
LB 376 P 4/16/1971. Began 1972.
1-6 letters or numbers allowed for extra fee of $50 initial,
$25 renewal. Graphic design 1976-84.
(1965 pre-personalized #PIMETER seen.)
PRIVATE TRAILER
Ch. 102 P 5/15/1933. Began 1933. (Previously issued Local Trailer plates.)
Small size all years. Discontinued 1945; merged with Farm Trailer.
Some 1940 stamped over 1933-39 "X" Tonnage Exemption plates.
LEGENDS: No legend, "Z" after county code 1933-44.
FORMATS: 1933-35 1-Z 1 - 93-Z99
1936-39 1-Z 1 - 93-Z999
1940-44 1-Z 1 - 9-Z9999, 10-Z 1 - 93-Z99
PRORATE BUS
Earliest seen 1972. May have begun 1970 along with Prorate
Trailer and Truck. Last seen 1974. Discontinued by 1976;
no Apportioned Bus shown on 1976 chart.
LEGENDS: Vertical "PRO" followed by vertical "BUS" left, slogan top 1972-74.
1972-74 5 - 136
PRORATE STICKER
Ch. 281 P 5/15/1959. Began 1960.
Issued to trailers and truck tractors using backing plate.
PRORATE TRAILER
May have begun 1970. Earliest seen dated "70".
Higher numbers have been seen, dated "69", with a "71" sticker;
it's possible a later batch was stamped with the wrong date.
Not on 1969 chart.
Small size, vertical "PRO" left 1970-74.
Discontinued 1975; replaced by Apportioned Trailer.
1970-71 511 - 6822
1969-71 9201 - 13858
1972-74 1811 - 31112
PRORATE TRUCK
May have begun 1970. Earliest seen dated "70".
Vertical "PRO" left, "TRUCK" top right 1970-74.
Discontinued 1975; replaced by Apportioned Truck.
1970-71 3664 - 3703
1972-74 3 - 15355
REPOSSESSION
Ch. 365 P 6/15/1963. Began 1965. Earliest seen 1965 chart.
Earliest seen 1972. Issued to finance companies.
No legend, "R" prefix 1965-84. Graphic design 1976-84.
1972-75 R-46
1976-84
RESIDENT TOW
Ch. 217 P 6/3/1953. Earliest seen 1954.
Issued to state residents towing a second vehicle they own via
the tow-bar method.
Small size, "RES/TOW" left 1954-65.
Last seen on 1965 chart; not shown on 1969 chart.
1954 246
1962-63 308
SALESMAN
Began 1930. Issued to travelling salesman's cars exempt from
paying wheel tax (and displaying tax tag) in Douglas county.
No legend, "0" after county code 1930-32. Last seen 1932.
1930 1-01573 (1,000 P ordered 1930-31, #1-01 - 1-01000)
1932 1-03142 (2,000 P ordered 1932, #1-01 - 1-02000)
SAMPLE
Earliest seen 1925. (Verify 1928)
1925-26, 1929-31, 1933-37, 1939-41, 1945-50 00-000
1927, 1938, 1942 00-0000
1932 000-000
1938, 1954-55, 1958-59 0-0000
1951 EK398A
1952-53 00-0000, 94-1234
1956 0-00000
1957 00-0000
1960-65 94-1234
1966-68 0-A0000
1969-71 94-A123
1972-75 94-A000, A0-0000, 00-000
1976-84 00-000
SEMI-TRAILER
Began 1942. Earliest seen 1942 chart. Registration figures
listed 1942-63, but no plates seen after 1942. Not included
in 1948 types listed in news article.
Small size, no legend, "Y" after county code 1942.
FORMAT: 1942 1-Y 1 - 93-Y999
SNOWMOBILE
LB 230 P 4/2/1977. Earliest seen "FEB 79".
Motorcycle-size plate, Red/White, "SNOWMOBILE" top, "NEBR 76" bottom.
Dated "76" 2499 -
Undated 1821, 4401 - 6555
SPECIAL MOBILE EQUIPMENT
Earliest seen 1983.
Undated, vertical "SME" after county code, "TRUCK" top right.
FORMATS: 1983 1 1 - 93 99
STATE OWNED
Began 1940. Earliest seen 1946. Registration figures listed
1941-42 for Passenger, Commercial Trailer, Commercial Truck,
Motorcycle, Taxi, and in 1942, also Bus and Semi-Trailer.
Discontinued 1972; replaced by Government.
No legend, "00" prefix 1940-48.
1940 1945
1941 1946-47 00T291
1942-44 1948 00-T291
1949 UND. Maroon/Aluminum, "NEBRASKA" inside 1940-41 state
capitol building graphic left, no other legend, #100
1950 UND. Blue/White, 1949 design
1951 UND. White/Black, 1949 design but "STATE CAR" bottom right, #141, T594 - T1070
1952 UND. White/Brick Red, 1951 design, #25 - 524, Tr206
1954 UND. Gold/Black, 1951 design, #7 - 438
1956? UND. Black/White, "NEBRASKA" top, slogan bottom, #00-244, 00-T153
1958? UND. White/Black, 1956 design, #273 - 3300
1960? UND. Red/White, 1956 design, #720 - 3370
1965 UND. Black/White, 1956 design, #843 - 3043
1966 Red/White, passenger design, #230 - 3939
1967? UND. Red/White, 1966 design, #1671
1969 Black/White, passenger design, #4584
STATE PATROL
Seen in 1983. Undated, Red and Blue/White, map outline, badge
upper left, "STATE PATROL" screened top, "NEBRASKA" screened bottom.
UND. (1983) 7 - 434
TAX EXEMPT
LB 361 P 5/14/1981. Earliest seen "JAN 89".
Red/White, "NEBRASKA" top, "TAX EXEMPT" bottom, #310.
(Two passenger plates seen, "JAN 83" and "OCT 84", with
Black/White "TAX/EXEMPT" or "TAX EXEMPT" stickers added.)
TAXI
Chapter 102 P 5/15/1933. Began 1933.
Registration figures listed 1940-71 only.
Last seen 1971, and 1972 chart.
Unknown if 1933-39 numbers are serials or county codes. If the
latter, could be a supplemental plate, which would explain the
lack of registration figures for 1933-39.
Crofton Journal, 1/4/1934: "The Knox consignment included...5
pairs for taxi plates, the latter being somewhat of an innovation
in Nebraska. The taxi plates were first issued last year but were
not available the first of the year."
According to news reports of new plates being delivered to county
courthouses, 5 single taxi plates were assigned to Colfax (43) in
1934, Phelps (37) in 1935, Butler (25) in 1936, and Burt (31) and
Knox (12) in 1938. 25 were assigned to Red Willow (48) in 1937
and Lincoln (15) in 1939. If a "pair" is found, that could
indicate all had the same number. But, pairs are mentioned in
above 1934 article, as well as 6 pairs for York (17) in 1934 and
5 pairs for Otoe (11) in 1936. Even with just 5 assigned per
county, we would expect 465 plates, yet no 3-digit plates have
been seen.
Scottsbluff Daily Star-Herald, 12/15/1934: "Special plates issued
designating the vehicle must be carried on the rear of the taxicab."
Small size 1933-39, full size 1942-72.
LEGENDS: Full-size "TAXI" after numbers 1933-39,
vertical "TAXI" suffix 1942,
vertical "TAXI" after county code 1948-71,
Blue/White "TAXI" sticker in UL corner of passenger plate 1972.
1933 23-TAXI, 25-TAXI
1934 56-TAXI
1938 79-TAXI
1939 89-TAXI
FORMATS: 1942 1-1 - 93-9
1948-50, 1952-61 1- 1 - 93- 9
1951 A 1 - WH 9
1962-64 1- 1 - 93- 99
1965-71 1 1 - 93 99
30-DAY
(Ch. 212 P 5/19/1953?) Began 1953.
Issued to out-of-state residents purchasing a car or truck in Nebraska.
Numbers began at 1 all years. 1953 is tab on 1952 base.
"30/DAY" left 1953-84, followed by hyphen 1953-64.
Some 1972-75 plates have "30/DAY" on White/Blue sticker left (Type 2)
or top (38-B143 pair).
1953 1195 1958-59 2935 1972-75 Type 1 279
1954 2637 1960-61 3487 Type 2 1481 - 1505
1955 2496 1962-64 5654 Type 1a 1551 - 3923
1956 2525 1965 3264 1976-84 Dated 57 - 1996, 2630
1957 2837 1966-68 5333 Undated 2089 - 2091,
1969-71 5164 3375 - 9581
TRAILER
Ch. 223 P 4/11/1919, E immediately. Began 1919.
Discontinued 1933; split into Commercial, Farm or Local Trailer.
Small size 1919, 1922-23, 1928-32, full size reported 1924-27.
LEGENDS: No legend, "T" prefix 1919,
"T" after county code 1922-23, 1928-30,
"TR" after county code 1931-32.
(Verify 1920-21, 1924-27)
1919 T814
FORMATS: 1922-23 1-T 1 - 93-T 9
1928-30 1-T 1 - 93-T999
1931-32 1-TR1 - 93-TR999
TRAILER DEALER
Earliest seen 1983. Small-size plate, vertical "DLR" after
county code, followed by full-size "X". Dated "76" or undated.
FORMATS: 1983 1 X 1 - 93 X 9
TRANSPORTER
Ch. 309 P 6/22/1961. Earliest seen 1963.
Small size, "TP" prefix 1963-84.
Undated, Green/White 1963-64, Red/White 1967, Green/White 1973-74.
1963-64 TP-1109 - TP-2175 1969-71 TP-525 - TP-1560
1966 TP-1048 - TP-1284 1973-74 TP-243 -
1967 TP-303 - 1976-84 TP-2007 - TP-2547
TRUCK (See Truck page)
Ch. 223 P 4/11/1919, E immediately. Began 1919.
Discontinued 1933; split into Commercial, Farm or Local Truck.
U.S. CONGRESSMAN
Began 1959. The Lincoln Star, 4/15/1959, reported supplemental
plates being presented with "NEBRASKA" and "CONGRESSMAN" in
blue, and numbers 1 to 4 in red, on reflective white.
U.S. Senators also received plates, numbers 1 and 2, but legend
not mentioned.
LEGENDS: "NEBRASKA" top, "CONGRESSMAN" bottom 1959-64.
UND. (1959-61) Red and Blue/White FR 4
UND. (1962-64) Green/White 1
PERMITS:
GRAIN BUYER LICENSE
Ch. 403 P 5/9/1957. Reported 1960. Earliest seen 6/30/1963.
Issued by State Railway Commission, later Public Service Commission.
Small size all years.
LEGENDS: "GRAIN BUYER/LICENSE" left, "NEBRASKA EXP-6-30-63" bottom 1963-64, 1970, 1973-75,
"GRAIN/BUYER/EXP-6-30-76" left, "NEB" monogram top center 1976-77, 1980-81.
6-30-63 503 White/Maroon 6-30-73 937 Black/Yellow
6-30-64 495 White/Black? 6-30-74 1464 White/Orange
6-30-65 6-30-75 1278 White/Light Blue
6-30-66 6-30-76 989 Red/Yellow
6-30-67 6-30-77 498 Black/Light Green
6-30-68 6-30-78
6-30-69 6-30-79
6-30-70 200 Red/White 6-30-80 1279 Green/Gold
6-30-71 6-30-81 1117 Black/Orange
6-30-72
GRAIN PERMIT
Ch. 205 P 5/1/1947, E immediately, but registration figures only
listed 1948-51. None seen. Issued to out-of-state grain trucks used
for harvest for $1 fee; valid for 30-day period between July 1 and Oct. 1.
ITINERANT MERCHANT
Ch. 168 P 4/1/1937, E 8/16/1937. Began 1937. Earliest seen 1946.
Issued by Department of Agriculture. Last seen 1976.
Small size all years.
LEGENDS: "ITINERANT/MERCHANT" left, "NEBRASKA-46" bottom 1946, 1949, 1967-68,
same but "NEBRASKA 64" bottom 1964, 1969, 1976.
1946 51 1964 16 Black/Gold
1949 300 1967 15 Black/White
1968 13 Black/Gold
1969 7 Red/Gold
1976 11 Green/White
PRESS CAR
Only seen 1956. Small-size plate, Passenger colors, "PRESS CAR" top,
"1956 NEBR. 88" bottom 1956. (1961 also seen, Gold/Black, "NEWS CAR" top,
"1961 NEBR. BRDCSTR'S ASSN. 33" bottom.)
RAILWAY COMMISSION TRAILER
Ch. 142 P 5/4/1937. Began 1938. Issued by the State Railway
Commission to commercial trailers operating for hire.
Last seen 1938. Probably discontinued 1940; merged with
Railroad Commission Truck.
Full size 1938. No legend, "TR/RC" after county code 1938.
1938 36-TR/RC 8
RAILWAY COMMISSION TRUCK/VEHICLE
Ch. 142 P 5/4/1937. Began 1938. Issued by the State Railway
Commission (became the Public Service Commission 1972) to
commercial trucks (and by 1940, trailers) operating for hire.
Full size 1938-39, small size 1940-84.
Pairs 1938-39, singles 1942, tab 1944. Different dies 1961.
LEGENDS: No legend, "RC" after county code 1938-39,
"RC" prefix 1940-75,
vertical "PSC" prefix 1976-84,
map outline, "R.C. PLATE" 1971 sticker.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1938-40, 1942, 1948, 1954-58, 1963, 1966, 1968-69, 1972-75,
White/Brick Red 1951, Black/Light Orange 1959,
White/Green 1960, White/Black 1961, 1964, White/Red 1962, Red/White 1965,
Green/White 1967, 1976-84, White/Red 1971 sticker, Red/White 1983.
(Verify 1941, 1943-47, 1949-50, 1952-53, 1970)
FORMATS: 1938-39 1-RC1 - 93-RC99
7-figure expected 1938 #11-RC121, 20-RC115, 21-RC109, 36-RC107,
1938 #36-RC116 seen. None expected 1939.
1940 RC-3671 1952-53? 1962 RC-2807
1941 1954 RC-5272 1963 RC-4270
1942-44? (RC) 1955 RC-820 1964 RC-5852
1945 1956 RC-1104 1965 RC-4926
1946-47? 1957 RC-4064 1966 RC-5050
1948 RC-1948 1958 RC-3530 1967 RC-3613
1949 1959 RC-1408 1968 RC-4925
1950 1960 RC-8179 1969-71 RC-8890
1951 RC-1117 1961 RC-5104 1972-75 RC-9944
1976-82 P/S/C-2474 - P/S/C-21736
1983-85 P/S/C-2526 -
RECIPROCITY
Earliest seen 1942. Issued 1942 to out-of-state trucks whose
states require Nebraska trucks to obtain reciprocity plates when
entering their state. Last seen 1975, but 1976 sample seen.
1942 chart shows "99" prefix with no letters, but one 1942 plate
seen has "MC" (Motor Carrier?), resembling Motorcycle.
Small size 1942, 1960-61, 1973-75, full size 1948-49, 1952-53.
LEGENDS: No legend 1942, 1948-49, 1952-53,
"RECIPROCITY/LICENSE" left, "NEBRASKA EXP-12-31-60" bottom 1960-61,
"REC" prefix 1973-75.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1942, 1948-49, 1952-53, 1973-75,
Gold/Blue 1960-61.
1942 99-MC15, 99-123
1948 99-628
1949 99-373
1952-53 99-759
1960-61 23 - 8959 (with 1961 passenger sticker)
1961 10463 - (with 1961 passenger sticker)
1973-75 REC-129 - REC-2292
STATE SENATOR
Began 1951. Only seen 1951. Supplemental plate.
Since 1937, Nebraska's legislature has been unicameral, with all 49
members designated as Senators. Therefore, there is no ""House" or
"Representative" version of this plate.
The Nebraska State Journal, 1/3/1951:
"Tags on License Plates to Help People Spot Their Lawmakers"
"Members of the Nebraska legislature will sport trim little tags
on their license plates identifying them as state senators."
Small size, "STATE/SENATOR" screened left, Black/White, #40.
Also reported in Lincoln Evening Journal 6/28/1959, White/Green.
TONNAGE CAPACITY
Ch. 102 P 5/15/1933. Began 1933.
Supplemental plate issued in pairs to Commercial Trailers and
Trucks to show weight limit. Discontinued 1940-49.
Rebegan 1950-51 only singly for Trailers. Last seen 1951.
Small size 1933-39, 1950-51. C = Capacity. 22,386 ordered 1933.
Passenger colors all years, so 1937 essentially identical to 1935.
LEGENDS: "C-2 1/2 TONS" center 1933-39, "1 1/2 TON" center 1950-51.
Undated, "NEB" right 1933,
undated, county code over "NEB" right resembling a date 1934-37,
dated, "NEBRASKA-38" bottom, county code suffix 1938,
dated, "NEBRASKA-39" top, county code suffix 1939,
dated, "NEB/1950" right 1950, "1951/NEB" right 1951.
Weights 1933-39: 1/2, 1, 1 1/2, 2, 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/2, 4, 4 1/2, 5,
6, 6 1/2, 7, 8, 9, 9 1/2, 10.
Weights 1950-51: 1, 1 1/2, 2 seen.
TONNAGE EXEMPTION
Ch. 102 P 5/15/1933. Began 1933. Discontinued 1940.
Supplemental plate issued singly to Farm and Local Trailers to
show they are exempted from displaying a Tonnage Capacity plate.
Small size, no legend or numbers, large "X" center 1933-39.
Undated, passenger colors all years; therefore there are only 4
identifiable color combinations.
UNKNOWN TYPE "D-STILL"
Only seen 1942, small Trailer/Farm Truck size, #D-STILL.
