(Types researched through 1987)

 

PLATE TYPE            EARLIEST SEEN  BEGAN   NOTES
Passenger                 1911       7/1/11  Ch. 6 P 3/17/1911
Motorcycle                1911       7/1/11  Ch. 6 P 3/17/1911
Dealer                    1917       1917    Ch. 156 P 3/12/1917

M/C Dealer                1946       1917    Ch. 156 P 3/12/1917
(Highway Commission                          1920 reported)
Sample                    1920

Official/Tax Exempt       1924
Duplicate                 1925               Regs. begin 1917

Commercial Trailer        1939       1932    Ch. 186 P 3/12/1931

Commercial Truck          1932       1932    Ch. 186 P 3/12/1931
Side Car                             1932    Ch. 186 P 3/12/1931
Intercity Bus             1934       1934?   Regs. begin 1934
Interstate Bus            1939       1934?   Regs. begin 1934
Intracity Bus             1939       1934?   Regs. begin 1934
Taxi                      1939       1934?   Regs. begin 1934
Private Trailer           1937       1936    Regs. begin 1936

Mandan Indians            1937

State Patrol              1939?                                 
City Truck                1943       1942?   Ch. 194 P 3/20/1941

Class A Truck             1942       1942?   Ch. 194 P 3/20/1941
Farm Truck                1942       1942?   Ch. 194 P 3/20/1941
House Car/Trailer     (1946 chart)   1942?   Ch. 194 P 3/20/1941

Official Truck        (1946 chart)                              
Bus                       1950       1948?
Amateur Radio             1951       1951    Ch. 235 3/1/1951
Disabled Veteran          1952       1952    Ch. 240 P 2/28/1951
In Transit                1959       1955    Ch. 247 P 3/11/1955
Prorate                   1957       1957    Ch. 254 P 3/7/1957
Governor                  1958
Mobile Home               1958               Ch. 250 P 3/8/1955
Pioneer                   UND.       1958    Ch. 252 P 3/9/1957

Demonstrator              1959       1959    Ch. 289 P 3/17/1959

Manufacturer              1961       1959    Ch. 282 P 3/17/1959
Heavy Farm Truck          1961       1960?   Ch. 289 P 3/17/1959
Official Motorcycle       1961

Official Trailer          1961
Prorate Sticker           1961       1961
Combine                   1962               Rep. began 1957
Personalized              1966       1963    Ch. 269 P 3/9/1963
Mobile Home Dealer    (1964 chart)           Ch. 250 P 3/8/1955
Official Mobile Home  (1964 chart)

Septic Pump               1964
Postmaster                1966       1966
Personalized Truck        1968               1966 base

Travel Trailer          "AUG-71"    July'69  Ch. 354 P 3/29/1969
Snowmobile (Decal)       6-30-71    10/15/69 Ch. 362 P 3/29/1969

Snowmobile Dealer (Decal)6-30-71    10/15/69 Ch. 362 P 3/29/1969 
Truck Time                1970               Rep. began 1966
Prorate Truck             1971               Reported 1970
Prorate Trailer           1972               Rep. began 1972
Reciprocity Truck         1973               Reported 1970-79
Semi-Trailer Dealer       1977       1977    Ch. 370 P 4/19/1977

Rental Trailer            "83"       1978    Ch. 334 P 3/18/1977

Pioneer M/C               UND.       1980?

Apportioned Power         1981       1981    Ch. 429 P 3/21/1979

Apportioned Trailer       1981       1981    Ch. 429 P 3/21/1979

Former Prisoner of War    1981      7/15/81  Ch. 382 P 4/8/1981

Handicapped               1982               Ch. 408 P 3/3/1979

All-Terrain Veh. (Decal)            7/1/85   Ch. 452 P 3/31/1985

ATV Dealer (Decal)      12-31-86    7/1/85   Ch. 452 P 3/31/1985

Fleet                     "91"       1986    Ch. 423 P 3/31/1985

Apportioned Remote        UND.       1987?

 

PERMITS:

 

Ton Fee                   1952       1952    Law P 1951

 

 

LETTER/NUMBER KEY:

 

A,B Truck 1947-51                   N   Dealer New 1974-87

C   Commercial Truck 1932-75        P   Private Trailer 1980-87

D   Dealer 1917-62,                 PS  Commercial Truck 1980-87

    Motorcycle Dealer 1964-74       RT  Rental Trailer 1984-89

DD  Demonstrator 1980-87            SD  Semi-Trailer Dealer 1980-87

DV  Disabled Veteran 1980-87        T   Truck 1937, 1954-61

DX  In Transit 1980-87              TF  Ton Fee 1980-81

F   Heavy Farm Truck 1961-69        U   Dealer Used 1964-87

FR  Manufacturer 1980-87            W   Wholesale Dealer 1979

M   Motorcycle 1980-87              WD  Wholesale Dealer 1980-83

MC  Motorcycle Dealer 1980-87       X   In Transit 1980-87

MH  Mobile Home Dealer 1980-87      X,Y,Z Truck 1946

MFG Manufacturer 1961-76            4   Dealer New 1963-71
 
 
AMOUNTS ORDERED:
 
      PASSENGER   TRUCK    M/C   DEALER  M/C D.  DUP.  TLR.  SAMPLE

1918    75,000   (none)

1919    75,000   (none)   1,500   1,500   100

1920    91,000   (none)
1921   100,000   (none)
1922    \        (none)
1923     \       (none)
1924      \      (none)
1925       \120,000/        700
1926        128,000         400

1927   165,000   15,000     500
1928        180,000         400
1929   160,000   20,000     400   3,000
1930        190,000         200   3,000          400
1931       /190,000\        200   2,000          400
1932   170,000   27,000     200   2,000          400   1,000   200

1933   150,000   25,000     200   1,972          300     500   100
 
1937   132,000   27,000
 
 
DETAILED NOTES BY TYPE:
 
Numbers assumed to begin at #1 unless noted.
[ ] = number shown on chart.  Numbers in bold are highest ordered.
Passenger colors unless noted; all are fully reflective 1973 on.
 
1933:  White/Green - Passenger, Dealer, Official, Sample, Side Car
       Green/White - Commercial Trailer, Commercial Truck, Truck

1937:  All types Green/White.
1946:  All types Red/Silver except Commercial Truck, Official Truck and Truck Black/Silver.
1962:  All annual full-size types have state name spelled out.
1964:  All annual full-size types have abbreviation "N.DAKOTA".
1974:  Passenger numbers assigned.  1 = Governor, 2 - 3 = U.S. Senators,

       4 = U.S. Representative, 5 = House Majority Leader, 6 = Lt. Governor, 7 = Secretary of State.

 

1943:  W/S Sticker - Passenger, City Truck, Class A Truck, Farm Truck, House Trailer, Tax Exempt

       Plate       - Commercial Truck, Dealer, Duplicate, M/C

 

1949:  Tab   - Passenger, Class A Truck, Farm Truck

       Plate - Dealer, M/C, Official, Private Trailer

 

1959-61:  Tab -   Passenger, Amateur Radio, Bus, Dealer (1959),

                  Disabled Veteran, Official, Sample, Truck

          Plate - All other types
 
PASSENGER  (See Passenger page)

 

Ch. 452 P 3/31/1985, E 7/1/1985.

2-year registration to start with expire 12/31/1986.

 

Ch. 452 P 3/31/1985, E 7/1/1985.

2-year registration to start with expire 12/31/1986, seen.

 
AMATEUR RADIO
Ch. 235 P 3/1/1951.  Began 1951.  "Provides holders of amateur

radio licenses may pay fee of $1 when getting their auto tags

and get additional tags carrying their stations call letters."

Supplemental plates probably continued through 1957, as

registration figures began 1958.  As of 1964, only a rear plate

issued.  New baseplates issued on passenger plate schedule 1958-87.
 
1951     W0AA -  W0ZZZ
1958    K0AAA -  K0ZZZ
1966   WA0AAA - WA0ZZZ   (Verify 1963-65)
1974   WB0AAA - WB0ZZZ   (Verify 1973)

 

Ch. 429 P 3/21/1979.  Began 1981.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "APP" left, "PR" prefix 1981-87.

Unknown why two color schemes were issued in 1984-85.

 

Earliest seen 1987.  Issued to out-of-state Apportioned vehicles.

Also reportedly preceded by Reciprocity Truck series.

Undated, vertical "APP" left, "R" prefix, Blue/White, #R134.

 

Ch. 429 P 3/21/1979.  Began 1981.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "APP" left, "PT" prefix 1981-87.

 

                           POWER               TRAILER

1981    Red/White     PR 288 - PR4424      PT3695 - PT3763

1982-83 Black/White   PR 959 - PR6070      PT4003 - PT6986

1984-85 Black/White   PR 287 - PR4614

        Red/White     PR5536 - PR7165      PT 385 - PT7274

1986-87 Blue/White    PR3309 - PR5432      PT1315 - PT5802
 
BUS
Earliest seen 1950.  Issued to interstate buses.  Probably

consolidated from Intercity, Interstate and Intracity Bus 1948.

Discontinued 1974; replaced by passenger.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "BUS" left 1950, small "BUS" prefix 1958-65.
 
1950      34
1958-61   51
1962-65  [59]
 
CITY TRUCK  (See Truck page)

Ch. 194 P 3/20/1941.  Reported 1942.  Earliest seen 1943.

Discontinued 1952; replaced by Truck.

Issued to "city trucks, to be used in cities or villages or

within two miles thereof," according to 1943 DMV brochure.
 
CLASS A TRUCK  (See Truck page)

Ch. 194 P 3/20/1941.  Earliest seen 1942.

Discontinued 1952; replaced by Truck.
 
COMBINE
Earliest seen 1962.  Reportedly began 1957, discontinued 1970.
Issued singly to custom combiners (threshers) when operated on or
across public highways.  As of 1971, Ton Fee plate issued with a

combine sticker.

Small-size plate, "COMBINE" top 1962-69 (on sticker 1962).
 
1962   1563   Black/Yellow            1966   1869   Yellow/Black
1963   1998   Black/Red               1967   2433   Black/Yellow
1964   2238   Yellow/Green            1968   2188   Yellow/Black
1965   2573   Black/Yellow            1969    113   Black/Yellow
 
COMMERCIAL TRAILER
Ch. 186 P 3/12/1931.  Began 1932.  Earliest seen 1939.

May have been discontinued for a while, as registration figures

ended with 1941 and re-began 1960.  Full-size plate 1958-87.

 

Ch. 289 P 3/17/1959 "The fee for a trailer identification plate

for all privately owned trailers shall be two dollars; for all

trailers which are offered for lease or rent to the public, five

dollars; and for all commercial trailers, ten dollars."

Split into "V" and "X" series at least in 1961-73, the Roman

numerals for the $5 rental utility trailer rate and the $10 semi-

trailer rate!
 
LEGENDS:  Stepped "TRAILER" prefix 1939,

          "COM./TRAILER" left 1958-72 (with small "V" or "X" prefix 1961-72),

          vertical "COMM" followed by vertical "TRLR" 1973-75 (with small "V" or "X" prefix 1973),

          vertical "TRLR" left 1976-87.
COLORS:  White/Black 1958, Black/White 1959, 1980-87,

         Red/White 1974, Green/White 1975-79.

 

1939    237

 

1958   1082
1959   1166
 
       COM. TRAILER "V"              COM. TRAILER "X"

1960

1961   2191   Black/White
1962    588   White/Black
1963   1122   White/Black
1964  [1437]  White/Black             [65]  Black/White
1965   1150   Black/White
1966    883   White/Black
1967    849   Black/White
1968    476   White/Black
1969    510   Black/White
1970    853   White/Black
1971    914   Black/White             390   White/Black
1972   1000   White/Black            2000   Black/White
1973    944   Black/White             919   White/Black

 

ALL TRAILERS:  1974       1-503

               1975        1230, 3-424

               1976-79   14-786 - 35-801

 

               1980-87    T 323 - T35061  (34,739)  Dated

               (1982)    T40188 - T49140   (8,953)  Undated, sticker box

               (1986)    T55390 - T63095   (7,706)  Undated, no box
 
COMMERCIAL TRUCK
Ch. 186 P 3/12/1931.  Began 1932.

Issued for additional $25 fee to vehicles used for commercial

purposes, and all trucks hauling for hire.  Trucks operating

within 2 miles of a city or village not required to pay

additional fee.  After 1958?, reportedly issued by Public

Service Commission to regulated commercial carriers.
Full-size plate 1932-57, small-size plate 1958-87.

1,000 P ordered 1933.  1943 overstamped on 1942 Truck plate.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, "C" suffix 1932, "C" prefix 1935-57,
          no legend, large "C" left 1958-75,

          "ND (  ) 76" top, "COMMERCIAL" bottom 1976-79,

          no legend, "PS" prefix 1980-87.
 
COLORS:  Truck colors 1932, 1935-36,

         Passenger colors 1937, 1939-57, 1975-87,
         Dark Blue/White 1958, 1960?, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1972,

         White/Dark Blue 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1973,

         Black/Yellow 1962, White/Black 1967, 1969, 1971,
         Red/White 1974.

         (Verify 1933-34, 1938, 1960)
 
1932   2-350C           1947   C1-089            1962      C 799
1933                    1948    C-893            1963      C 954
1934                    1949                     1964     C 1405
1935   C-148            1950    C-359            1965      C 875
1936   C-360            1951    C-523            1966     C 1409
1937                    1952                     1967      C 677
1938                    1953    C-519            1968     C 1158
1939   C-336            1954   C 1090            1969     C 1294
1940                    1955                     1970     C 1537
1941   C-553            1956    C-446            1971      C 863
1942   C-115            1957    C-571            1972     C 1600
1943   C-418            1958    C 168            1973      C 957
1944   C-333            1959    C 478            1974      C 106
1945                    1960    C 320            1975      C 106
1946                    1961     C 33            1976-79   2-461

 

1980-87   PS 160 - PS 2430   Dated

 (86)     PS6198 -           Undated
 
DEALER
Ch. 156 P 3/12/1917.  Began 1917.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, "D" prefix 1917-62.
COLORS:  Reverse colors 1917, 1930-32, 1943,

         Passenger colors 1918, 1933, 1935-42, 1944, 1947-48, 1950-59,
         Maroon/Gray 1928, White/Maroon 1929, Black/Silver 1949,

         Blue/White 1960, White/Blue 1961, Black/White 1962.
        (Verify 1919-27, 1934, 1945-46, 1963 U)
1960:  D 11 non-reflective, D 335 reflective.
 
1917    D-832            1932     D96            1947      D-377
1918    D 468            1933    D393            1948      D-151
1919                     1934                    1949      D-836
1920                     1935    D-54            1950      D-350
1921                     1936   D-160            1951      D-533
1922                     1937   D-537            1952        D 9
1923                     1938   D-569            1953        D 9
1924                     1939   D-577            1954      D 779
1925                     1940   D-306            1955      D 704
1926                     1941   D-579            1956        D-9
1927                     1942   D-160            1957        D-9
1928    D 498            1943   D-302            1958-59   D-726
1929    D 674            1944   D-372            1960      D 696
1930   D2-913            1945                    1961      D 608
1931                     1946                    1962      D 499
 
Bismarck Tribune 12/31/1927:  "Something new next year will be

dealers' plates which motor car dealers can use on new cars which

are being used for demonstration purposes only.  These will be a

taupe color with red numerals."  (Demonstrator first seen 1963.)

 

Bismarck Tribune 2/3/1928:  "The principal reason advanced for the

large decrease [in passenger car registrations so far] this year is

that under the old law North Dakota automobile dealers registered

new cars as soon as they received them from the factory, and the

license plates were transferred to the buyers with the cars, while

under the new law the dealers do not register new cars immediately

but use dealers' license plates on them until they are sold.  The

buyers then apply to the registrar for license plates."
 
Dealer split into New Car Dealer and Used Car Dealer 1963.

524 issued in 1964.

NEW CAR:   No legend, "4" prefix 1963-71,

           "DEALER" left, "N" prefix 1972-73,

           no legend, "N" prefix 1974-87.
           Numbers began at 1 all years.
USED CAR:  No legend, "U" prefix 1964-71, 1974-87,

           "DEALER" left, "U" prefix 1972-73.

           Numbers began above New Car Dealer block all years, possibly at 501?
 
          NEW CAR DEALER            USED CAR DEALER
1963      4 385   White/Blue
1964      4 102   Black/White       U 561 -[U 665]  Black/Yellow
1965      4 409   White/Dark Blue   U 561 -         Yellow/Black
1966      4 425   White/Red         U 561 -         Black/Yellow
1967      4 403   Black/White       U 561 - U 603   Green/White
1968      4 403   White/Dark Blue   U 561 - U 602   White/Green
1969      4 373   Dark Blue/White   U 561 - U 631   White/Brown
1970      4 403   White/Dark Blue   U 566 - U 680   Red/Gray
1971      4 412   Dark Blue/White   U 561 - U 669   White/Lt.Blue
1972      N 358   White/Dark Blue   U 516 - U 656   White/Green
1973      N 412   Dark Blue/White   U 561 - U 637   Green/White
1974-76   N-586   Green/White       U-601 - U-701   Green/White
1977-79   N-453   Green/White       U-557 - U-705   Green/White

1980-82   N 323   Black/White       U 778 - U 820   Black/White

1983-84   N 183   Black/White       U 694 - U 828   Black/White

UND.      N 675   Black/White       U 784 - U 836   Black/White

1985-87   N 432   Roose. graphic    U 555 - U 885   Roose. graphic
 
DEMONSTRATOR

Ch. 289 P 3/17/1959.  Began 1959.

(See Dealer for 1928 mention of demonstration plates.)
Issued to dealers for use on vehicles being test-driven only
within 12 1/2 miles of dealership (later expanded to 50 miles).
Small-size plate 1963-87.  551 issued in 1964.

LEGENDS:  "DEMONSTRATOR" top 1963, 1965, 1968-75,
          "ND (  ) 76" top, "DEMONSTRATOR" bottom 1976-79,

          no legend, "DD" prefix 1980-87.

COLORS:  White/Black 1959, 1963-65, 1970, 1972,

         Black/White 1968-69, 1971, 1973, 1980-84,

         Red/White 1974, 1986, Green/White 1975-79,

         Blue/White 1985, 1987.
 

1959   D  55      1967              1975    D 384      1982   DD 664

1960              1968   D 412      1976    D-384      1983    DD 29

1961              1969    D 84      1977     D-24      1984   DD 625

1962              1970    D 84      1978    D-791      1985   DD 625
1963   D 496      1971   D 582      1979    D-849,     1986   DD 625
1964              1972   D 106              U-827      1987    DD 18
1965   D 251      1973   D 412      1980   DD 550
1966              1974   D 604      1981   DD 625

 
DISABLED VETERAN
Ch. 240 P 2/28/1951.  Began 1952.  (Registration figures began 1949,
but 1949-51 refer to free passenger plates.)

LEGENDS:  Vertical "DAV" left 1952-87, "DV" prefix 1980-87.
COLORS:  White & Yellow/Dark Blue 1952-57, passenger colors 1958-87.

Numbers probably began at 100 1952-57, 1 1970-73, 7 1974-79

(to avoid confusion with elected state officials #1 - 6).
 
1952   204      1958-61 Type 1 - 2 tab slots, no clearcoat   154
1953   184              Type 2 - 1 tab slot, clearcoat       257 - 259
1954   195      1962-65                                     [239]
1955   230      1966-69                                      211
1956   121      1970-73                                       48
1957   183      1974-79 Type 1 - N.D. dies                   107
                        Type 2 - Ark. dies                   207 - 219

 

1980-87   DV 139   ("DAV" left)

          DV 223   (no "DAV" left)
 
DUPLICATE
Earliest seen 1925.  Registration figures begin 1917 (Official
Duplicate 1933, Motorcycle Duplicate 1934).
Not issued 1948; 3 plates all #9-361 seen.

Same serial as original passenger plate 1958-69.  Discontinued 1970.

LEGENDS:  "DUPLICATE" top, smaller numbers 1925, 1927, 1929-30, 1933,
          "DUPLI/CATE" prefix 1934-38, 1941-43, 1946-47,

          vertical "DUP" left 1951 (?), 1954, 1956-57, 1962-69,

          vertical "DUP" right 1953, 

          vertical "DUP" in place of hyphen 1958.
 
1925    43      1933            1941    11      1950?

1926            1934   130      1942    84      1951?

1927   478      1935    26      1943   749      1952?

1928            1936    39      1944            1953   133
1929   261      1937            1945            1954   161
1930   345      1938   191      1946   247      1955

1931            1939            1947   562      1956   181 

1932            1940            1948 (none)     1957   615

Earliest non-passenger types seen:  Truck 1933, Motorcycle 1954,

Mobile Home 1958, Ton Fee 1961, (Commercial reported 1933).

1933:  20 P Commercial, 10 P Official ordered.

 

Post-1970 seen:
1974/76 New Car Dealer, embossed "N-", screened #34
1976 Motorcycle Dealer, embossed "D-", screened #134
1976 Mobile Home Dealer, embossed "D", screened #99
 
FARM TRUCK  (See Truck page)

Ch. 194 P 3/20/1941.  Earliest seen 1942.

Discontinued 1952; replaced by Truck.

 

Ch. 423 P 3/31/1985.  Began 1986, expire "91".

6-year plate issued to trucks with fleets of 100 or more vehicles.

1991 Blue/White, 1980-87 dies, vertical "FLEET" left, #F00953 seen.

 

Ch. 382 P 4/8/1981.  Began 7/15/1981.

"PRISONER OF WAR" top in Red band, "NORTH DAKOTA/PEACE GARDEN STATE"

bottom in Blue band, #POW 1 - POW 198, Polyvend dies.

All screened except serial.  126 issued as of 4/30/1982.

GOVERNOR
Earliest seen 1958.  (John E. Davis was Governor 1957-60.)

Governor was issued passenger #1 at least in 1928, 1939, 1948-51,

1954 and 1956, but not 1931-32 as he didn't want it.

LEGENDS:  Vertical slanted "OFCL" embossed left,
          "GOVERNOR/JOHN E.DAVIS" screened right 1958, no legend,
          2 vertical stars flanking number 1968-69, 1974, 1987.
COLORS:  Black/White FR 1958, passenger colors 1968-69, 1974, 1987.
 
1958      1            1974   1
1968-69   1            1987   1

 

Ch. 408 P 3/3/1979.  Earliest seen 1982.

No legend, wheelchair left.

 

UND. ("82")   H0266 - H1035  (770)  (sticker box)

              H2320 - H2900  (581)  (no box)
 
HEAVY FARM TRUCK

Ch. 289 P 3/17/1959.  Registration figures began 1960.

Earliest seen 1961.  Issued to tandem axle farm trucks 24,000 -

40,000 lbs. (later 57,000 lbs.).  Discontinued 1970, but a 1976

Black/Yellow sticker on Truck plate reported to be farm truck.

LEGENDS:  No legend, "F" prefix 1961, 1964, 1967-69.
COLORS:  White/Black 1961, 1967-69, Black/White 1964.
 
1961        F 213*
1964       [F 353*]
1967-69   F 2-234
 
(HIGHWAY COMMISSION
 1920 #HC-32 reported.)
 
HOUSE CAR/HOUSE TRAILER

Ch. 194 P 3/20/1941.  Registration figures began 1942.

Earliest seen 1946 chart.
Issued singly 1964, issued in pairs 1966-73.
 
LEGENDS:  Reported with "HOUSE-CAR" top, "NORTH-DAKOTA" bottom, vertical "42" right 1942-45.

          "HOUSE TRAILER" top, "NORTH-DAKOTA" bottom, vertical "46" right 1946-47,
          "HOUSE/TRAILER" left 1954-56 (reported 1952-57),
          vertical "HOUSE" left 1964-79.
 
COLORS:  Black/Yellow 1964, 1966, 1968,

         Yellow/Black 1965, 1967, 1969, Red/White 1970-79.

        (Verify 1957-63)
 
1947    388      1964  [178*]    1968        341

1954   1417      1965   219*     1969        495
1955    200      1966   306*     1970-73   1-336
1956   1524      1967   245      1974-79   3-434

 
INTERCITY BUS
Registration figures listed 1934-47.  Earliest seen 1934.
"INTER/CITY/BUS" left 1934, 1939, 1946.
 
1934   34
1939   65
 
INTERSTATE BUS
Registration figures listed 1934-70.  Earliest seen 1939.
"INTER/STATE/BUS" left 1939, 1946.
 
1939   5
 
INTRACITY BUS
Registration figures listed 1934-47.  Earliest seen 1939.
"INTRA/CITY/BUS" left 1939, 1946.
 
1939   46*
 
IN TRANSIT
Ch. 247 P 3/11/1955, E immediately.  Began 1955.

Earliest seen 1959.  Issued to dealers for use on unlicensed

vehicles being transported to or from dealerships.

Small-size plate 1959-87.
 
LEGENDS:  "IN TRANSIT" top 1959, 1967, 1970-73 (with large "D" left 1959-71 if Dealer),

          "INTRANSIT" top 1974-75,

          "ND (  ) 76" top, "IN TRANSIT" bottom 1976-79,

          no legend, "X" or "DX" prefix 1980-87.
 
       IN TRANSIT COMMERCIAL    IN TRANSIT DEALER "D"
1959                             D 410          Black/White

1964           White/Black                      Black/White

 

1967                             D 445          White/Black

1970     673   White/Black       D 558          Black/White
1971       5  (Dark/Light)       D 607          White/Black
1972      10   White/Black       D 656          Black/White
1973                             D 186          Black/White

1974                             D 661          Red/White
1975      7   Green/White        D 186          Green/White
1976     254   Green/White       D-186          Green/White
1977                             D-570          Green/White
1978                             D-355          Green/White
1979     330   Green/White       D-804, U-827   Green/White

1980                            DX 186          Black/White

1981                            DX 186          Black/White

1982   X 270   Black/White      DX 186          Black/White

1983                            DX 439          Black/White

1984    X 97   Black/White      DX 885          Black/White

1985    X 97   Blue/White       DX 930          Blue/White

1986    X 99   Black/White      DX 410          Red/White

1987    X 77   Blue/White       DX 872          Blue/White
 
MANDAN INDIANS
Earliest seen 1937.  Last seen 1941.  Possibly issued for

special events at the El Zagal Shrine in Fargo, ND.

No bolt holes 1937, holes only on bottom 1940-41, suggesting

supplemental plates.  Undated base has no holes, 6 1/4" x 13 1/2".

 

LEGENDS:  "MANDAN INDIANS" top, "EL-ZAGAL TEMPLE" bottom, vertical "ND" left,

          vertical "1937" right, shrine emblem prefix, indian headress suffix 1937,

         "MANDAN INDIANS" top, "EL ZAGAL TEMPLE" bottom, vertical "ND" left,

          vertical "40" right, shrine emblem prefix, indian headress suffix 1940-41,

          "EL ZAGAL'S" top, "MANDAN INDIANS" bottom, vertical "ND" left,

          shrine emblem prefix, indian headress suffix Undated base.

COLORS:  Dark Green and Red/Yellow 1937, 1941, Undated base,

         Dark Green and Red/White 1940.

 

1937   75 -

1940   42 - 99

1941   30 - 99

UND.   77 -

 
MANUFACTURER
Ch. 282 P 3/17/1959.  Began 1959.  Earliest seen 1961.

LEGENDS:  No legend, "MFG" left 1961, 1964, 1970-71, 1973-76,

          no legend, "FR" prefix 1980-87.

COLORS:  Black/White 1959, 1961, 1971?, 1973, 1980-84,

         White/Black 1964, 1970, 1972, Red/White 1974,

         Green/White 1975-76, Roosevelt graphic 1985-87.
 
1961   MFG 65      1972   MFG 51 - MFG 71      1976     MFG 180
1964  [MFG 58]     1973   MFG 61               1980-81   FR 102
1970   MFG-65      1974   MFG-65               1983       FR 16

1971   MFG-74      1975   MFG 56               1985-87    FR 13
 
MOBILE HOME
Ch. 250 P 3/8/1955.  Earliest seen 1958.
Reflective 1960.  Issued singly 1964.

Introduction of Travel Trailer in mid-1969 seems to have diminished

Mobile Home registrations.  1974 seen with 1975 and 1976 stickers.

Reportedly discontinued 1980; replaced by Trailer plates.

LEGENDS:  "MOBILE/HOME" left 1958-75.
COLORS:  Green/White 1958-60, even years 1962-72, 1975,
         White/Green odd years 1961-73, Red/White 1974.
        (Verify 1976-79)
 
1958   3249            1965   2143            1972      700
1959   2932            1966   2000            1973      529
1960   1242            1967   2831*           1974      497
1961   1296            1968   2887*           1975      572
1962   2107            1969   3158*           1976
1963   2579            1970    924*           1977-79
1964  [1966]           1971    740
 
MOBILE HOME DEALER

Ch. 250 P 3/8/1955.  Earliest seen 1964 chart.

Issued singly 1964.

LEGENDS:  "MOBILE/HOME" left, "D" prefix 1964,
          "D" left, "MOBILE/HOME" center 1969, 1971-73, 1975-79,

          no legend, "MH" prefix 1980-87.
COLORS:  Green/White 1964, 1972-73, 1976-77,

         White/Green 1969, 1971, Black/White 1980-84,

         Roosevelt graphic 1985-87.
 
1964  [D 11]           1973      D 45            1980-82    MH 23
1969   D 50            1975      D 32            1983-84   MH 123

1971   D 93            1976      D 18            UND.       MH 93

1972   D 74            1977-79   D 99            1985-87    MH 44
 
MOTORCYCLE  (See Motorcycle page)

Ch. 6 P 3/17/1911.  Began 7/1/1911.
 
MOTORCYCLE DEALER

Ch. 156 P 3/12/1917.  Began 1917.  None seen.

Bismarck Tribune 1/12/1918 reported that "nine motorcycle dealers'

tags" were issued in 1917.

"100 pairs of motorcycle dealers' tags" listed in 1919 plate order.

 

Ch. 179 P 3/7/1927.  Rebegan 1928.  Earliest seen 1946.

 

LEGENDS:  No legend, "D" prefix 1946-47,

          large "D" left 1960-61, 1964-67, 1969-71, 1973-74,

          "ND (  ) 76" top, "MOTORCYCLE" bottom, "D" prefix 1976-79,

          no legend, "MC" prefix 1980-87.
COLORS:  Passenger colors 1946-47,

         Motorcycle colors 1964, 1966-67, 1969, 1974, 1976-79,

         White/Black 1970, Red/White 1971,

         Blue/White 1972, 1985, Black/White 1973, 1980-84.

        (Verify 1948-63, 1965, 1968, 1972, 1975)
 
1946    D28      1966    D 4      1973       D 87      1980-82   MC 138
1947    D 4      1967   D 39      1974       D 65      1982       MC 49
1960    D 8      1969   D 73      1976       D-10      1983-84   MC 138
1961   D 19      1970   D 62      1977-78   D-122      UND.      MC 111

1964  [D 46]     1971   D 74      1979       D-29      1985       MC 43

1965   D 15

OFFICIAL/TAX EXEMPT
Earliest seen 1924.  Issued to state, county and municipal owned
vehicles.  500 P ordered 1933.  Numbers began at #2 in 1948-49, #10 in 1950.
 
LEGENDS:  "TAX EXEMPT" top, smaller numbers 1924-25,

          "OFFICIAL" top, smaller numbers 1933,

          vertical slanted "OFFICIAL" left 1934, 1936, 1946-47,

          "NORTH DAKOTA" top, "TAX EXEMPT" bottom 1937, 1939-40,

          "TAX-EXEMPT" top, "NORTH-DAKOTA" bottom, vertical "41" right 1941, 1944,

          vertical "OFCL" left 1948-50, UND. (1951-52, 1953), 1980-87,

          vertical slanted "OFCL" left 1954-79.

COLORS:  Yellow/Gray 1927, Black/Silver 1949, Passenger colors all other years.

 

1941:  #71, 711 have 1939 design, 953 - 956 has 1944 design.
 

1924     102      1950           1-602
1925     301      UND. (1951-52) 1-936   White/Black
1933     254      UND. (1953)    1-005   White/Green
1934     288      1954             230
1936     201      1955           1-562, 1841
1937     844*     1956           1-841
1939     570      1957            1841
1940     561      1958-61        9-579  (1 0-000 format also rep.)
1941     956*     1962-65        9-262
1944     786      1966-69        7-480
1947   1-067      1970-73       11-767
1948     791

1949     865

 

1974-79    8-321            N.D. dies
          10-887 - 12-561   Arkansas dies

 

1980-87     G 12 - G11724
 
OFFICIAL MOBILE HOME
Earliest seen 1964 chart.  Issued singly 1964.

LEGENDS:  Vertical slanted "OFCL" left, "MOBILE/HOME" center 1964, 1971.
COLORS:  White/Green? 1971, Green/White 1972.
 
1964  [52]
1971    1

1972    5
 
OFFICIAL MOTORCYCLE
Earliest seen 1961.

 

LEGENDS:  Vertical "OFL" left, "MOTORCYCLE" top 1961, 1964, 1968-69, 1971-73, 1975.
COLORS:  Motorcycle colors 1961, 1964, 1968-69, 1971-73, 1975.
 
1961   44        1965             1969   13        1973      13
1962             1966             1970             1974
1963             1967             1971   31        1975      48
1964   [9]       1968   25        1972   55        1976-79
 
OFFICIAL TRAILER
Earliest seen 1961.  Issued singly 1964.

LEGENDS:  "OFFICIAL/TRAILER" left 1961, 1964, 1968, 1971-72.
COLORS:  Green/White 1961, White/Green 1964, 1968, 1972, Black?/White 1971.
 

1961   10        1971    1
1964   [4]       1972   26
1968    1
 
OFFICIAL TRUCK
Only seen 1946 chart; identical to Official except truck colors.
Not listed 1964.
 
PERSONALIZED

Ch. 269 P 3/9/1963.  Began 1963 on 1962 base.  Earliest seen 1966.
$100 extra fee for 4-year period, counting retroactively to 1962.

In 1964, only 8 were issued, 5 to Bismarck businessman Harold Schafer.

For 1966, 21 issued at the $100 rate, with 8 to Mr. Schafer.
Sometime after 1965, extra fee reduced to $25 annually.
No limit on number of letters, and ampersand allowed.
1-6 characters embossed, 7+ screened.
Longest messsage reportedly was "NORTH DAKOTA/DAIRY PRINCESS".

For 1966, limited to 10 characters, or 11 if a space included.
1970-73 last seen with screened characters (up to at least 9).
 
PERSONALIZED TRUCK
Earliest seen 1968 (1966 base).
 
PIONEER
Ch. 252 P 3/9/1957.  Began 1958.  Permanent plates issued for $10

fee to vehicles at least 40 years old.