Special Mobile Equip.   "JUL 56"                                
Disabled                "JUL 62"    4/13/61  Ch. 20 P 4/7/1961
Demonstrator          (1963 chart)           Ch. 175 P 6/22/1961
Finance Company       (1965 chart)           Not on 1963 chart
M/C Manufacturer          1965               Not on 1963 chart

Medal of Honor            UND.      Aug. 70  Ch. 379 P 4/28/1970

Snowmobile (Sticker)                         Ch. 394 P 2/5/1970

Snowmobile Dealer       "AUG 75"             Ch. 394 P 2/5/1970
Distributor               1971               Not on 1970 chart
Prorate (Sticker)         1971       1971
Rental Semi-Trailer       1971       1971?   Not on 1971 chart
Collector Vehicle         UND.       1972    Ch. 299 P by 5/10/1972
M/C Distributor           1973       1973?   Not on 1973 chart
For Hire Automobile     "DEC 73"     1973

Transferable Trailer  (1977 chart)           Reportedly began 7/22/1973
Loaner (LZ)             "JUN 75"     1975    Dated "73"
Driver Education        "JUN 76"    7/1/75   Ch. 200 Pub. 4/30/1974
Driver Education M/C    "JUN 76"    7/1/75   Ch. 200 Pub. 4/30/1974
Electric Vehicle          UND.       1975
In-Trans. Permit(Card.)"07-02-76"    1975
For Hire Trailer          1976       1976
For Hire Truck            1976       1976
Hobbyist                  UND.       1976    Ch. 417 Pub. 6/24/1976
Dual Purpose Vehicle    "JAN 77"     1976    Ch. 136 Pub. 12/22/1975
Motor Home              "MAR 77"     1976
Collector Automobile    "MAY 77"    6/12/76  Ch. 384 Pub. 6/11/1976
Collector M/C             UND.      Jul.77? (1977 chart)
Transferable Trailer  (1977 chart)

Apportioned Trailer   (1979 chart)   1978
Apportioned Truck         1978       1978
Dual Purpose Farm       "JAN 79"     1978    Ch. 29 Pub. 6/29/1977
Motor Home Disabled     "MAR 79"     1978?   Ch. 418 Pub. 5/18/1978
Motor Home Dis. Veteran "MAR 79"     1978?   Ch. 418 Pub. 5/18/1978
Moped                   "APR 79"     1978    Ch. 288 Pub. 5/8/1978
Camping Trailer         "JUN 79"     1978?  (1979 chart)
Special "X" Motor Bus   "DEC 79"  1978 base?(1979 chart)

5-Year Semi-Tlr.(St.) (1979 chart)   1979
Personalized            "JAN 80"    1/1/79   Ch. 129 Pub. 10/31/1977

Personalized Truck      "JAN 80"    1/1/79   Ch. 129 Pub. 10/31/1977
Menominee Nation        "FEB 81"     1980

Menominee Nation Truck  "MAY 81"     1980
Human Service Vehicle   "DEC 80"    Sep.80
Special Designed Veh.   "APR 81"    9/3/80
Ex-Prisoner Of War      "AUG 81"    11/1/80  Ch. 236 Pub. 5/9/1980
State Owned               UND.      1/1/81
Temporary (Cardboard)  "10-9-83"    6/1/82   Ch. 150 Pub. 3/30/1982
Personalized M/C        "APR 86"    8/1/84   Act 126 P 2/21/1984
Personal. DP/DPF/FT/MH  "JAN 86"    10/1/84  Act 270 P 4/20/1984
Disabled T/F/DP/DPF     "    85"    10/1/84  Act 227 P 4/20/1984

Disabled For Hire Truck "DEC 84"
Dis. Vet. T/F/DP/DPF    "DEC 85"    10/1/84

Dis. Vet. For Hire Truck "   88"
National Guard          "AUG 85"    1/14/85  Act 511 P 5/10/1984
Menominee Nation M/C    "AUG 86"

PERMITS:
 
Peddler's License         1919       1911    Ch. 456 P 6/27/1911
Public Service Commission 1932       1932
Motor Carrier Permit    "6-30-41"   7/1/40   Ch. 396 P 8/24/1939
Reciprocity Permit        UND.      1/1/52   Ch. 706 P 7/19/1951
IRP Permit              "FEB 79"     1978?

 

 

LETTER KEY:  (All other letters/years are Passenger)

 

CR  Canadian Reciprocity 1956-65       X   Special X 1954-87 (Suffix)

LZ  Loaner 1976-87                     Z   Special Z 1960-79

PR  Permit Reciprocity 1956-71         ZY  Human Service Vehicle 1980-87

UX  Special Mobile Equipment 1956-77   ZZ  For Hire Automobile 1973-87

 

DETAILED NOTES ALPHABETICALLY BY TYPE:
 
All types start at #1 unless noted.
[ ] = number on DMV chart or registration reel.

 

1942/43:  Windshield sticker (front) - Passenger, Bus Quarterly,

                       Farm Truck, Truck, Truck Quarterly

          Tab (rear) - Passenger, Dealer

          New plate - Bus Quarterly, Cabin, Farm Truck, M/C,

                      Trailer, Trailer Limited, Trailer Quarterly,

                      Truck, Truck Quarterly, Motor Carrier
 
PASSENGER  (See Passenger page)
 
AMATEUR RADIO
Ch. 234 P 5/19/1951.  Began 1951, expire "1 52".  $1 extra fee.
Passenger colors all years.  All expire JAN.

 "1 52"      W9AA -  W9ZZZ
"JAN 62"    K9AAA -  K9ZZZ         (Verify 1956-61)
"JAN 67"   WA9AAA - WA9ZZZ         (Verify 1964-66)
"JAN 79"   WB9AAA - WB9ZZZ, K9AA   (Verify 1974-78)
"JAN 84"   WD9AAA - WD9ZZZ
 
AMERICAN LEGION/40 & 8
Ch. 41 P 4/20/1939, E 4/22/1939 for special plates for American

Legion and 40 & 8 organizations.  Earliest seen 1941, White/Black,
"AMERICAN LEGION" arched top, #47 - 130.
Issued for 23rd National Convention in Milwaukee, 9/14-18/1941.
 
ANTIQUE
Ch. 589 P 8/12/1957, E 8/25/1957.
Permanent undated plates issued to motor vehicles over 40 years
old for $5 one-time fee.  "ANTIQUE" all years.
Reissued with same number at no fee 1979 for reflectorization.
 
      GOLD/PURPLE BASE
1957  Type 1: "__WIS__", tab slots, UL bolt slot  1 -  293  (293)
1960? Type 2: "WIS", tab slots, LL bolt slot    342 -  460  (119)
1962? Type 3: "WIS", tab slots, UL bolt slot    532 -  683  (152)
1964? Type 4: "WIS", no tab slots, UL bolt slot 701 - 1399  (699)
1967? Type 5: "WIS", no slots, UL keyhole slot 1411 - 1993  (583)
1969? Type 6: "WISCONSIN", partial line        2007 - 2618  (612)
      Type 7: "WISCONSIN", full line           2868 - 3453  (586)
      Type 6a                                  3539 - 3991  (453)
1977? Type 7a                                  4051 - 5782(1,732)
 
      GREEN/TAN BASE (Embossed car graphic)
1979  Type 1: Wide dies                           1 - 7069
     (Type 2: Thin dies                        7474)
 
APPORTIONED TRAILER
Began 1978.  Earliest seen 1979 chart.
"APPORTIONED" top, "TRL" LL corner all years.
Expires December 31 annually.  Numbers began at #100001 1978-87.
 
APPORTIONED TRUCK
Began 1978.
"APPORTIONED" top all years.
Expires December 31 annually.  Numbers began at #1 1978-87.
Weight stickers dated 1978-81, undated 1982-87.

Weights H,J,K,L,N,P,Q,R,S,T same as Truck classes.
                                                 TRUCK WEIGHT
                            TRUCK     TRAILER    STICKER
1978-80 (UND.) White/Black  49416     107638
1978 STICKER                                     Black/White
1979 STICKER              (Wt. only)  White/Blue White/Blue
1980 STICKER              (Wt. only)  White/Red  Black/Yellow
1981 Red/Gold                9840     102310     White/Dark Green
1982 White/Dark Green       15437     102378     Yellow/Red
1983 Black/Light Green      16513     105062     Yellow/Blue
1984 Green/White            15932     104809     Yellow/Blue
1985 Black/Orange           14255     107199     Black/Blue
1986 White/Blue             18395     105199     Black/White
1987 Red/White              18573     109105     Dark Blue/White

 
BUS QUARTERLY (INSERT)

Ch. 499 P 10/4/1939, E 10/6/1939.  Earliest seen 1944/45.

Initially only available for 10,000 lbs or more (F - N).
Not issued for city buses 1940.

Issued to Urban and Interurban as of 1947/48.
Letter indicates weight class, same as Truck Quarterly.
 
LEGENDS:  "BUS" 1940/41 - 41/42, 1945/46 - 80, "BUS." 1942/43.
COLORS:  Same as Truck Quarterly through 1967, colors below 1968-87.

        (Verify 1986)

1968-72:  Full line across D 120 - D 152, partial line across D 183.
 
1941/42   D 20

1944/45   D 17
1945/46   E 54
 
1946/47:  Highest registrations listed
         [C  24]   [F 319]   [J 227]   [M  58]
         [D  43]   [G 376]   [K 154]   [N  83]
         [E 207]   [H 297]   [L 104]                (TOTAL 1,892)

 

1947/48   11 C             1965                  N1118

1955       J 1             1966                  N1116
1957      K 19, L 8        1967                  N1189
1960      M 10, N 442      1968-72 Black/Yellow  D 183, H 105, N1401
1962     N 550             1973-78 Red/White     D 158, J 87, K 24, N 406
1963     N 448             1979-85 Black/Yellow  D/A 55, G/A 57, J/A 159
1964     N 555             1987    Red/White     F/A 139, G/A 21, J/A 167

CABIN
Ch. 507 P 10/6/1939.  Began 1940/41.  Issued to house trailers.

Small size plates 1940/41 - 46/47.  "CABIN" all years.
Numbers assumed to have begun at #1 all years, verified 6-1948.
Discontinued 1955; replaced by Mobile Home.

1940/41  White/Blue      997
1941/42  Black/Gray     1880
1942/43  Black/Orange    905
1943/44
1944/45
1945/46  Red/Gray       2398 [3541]     1947 TAB White/Black
6-1948   Yellow/Black   8361            1949 TAB Blue?/White

                                        1950 TAB Black/White

6-1951   White/Red      6935            1952 TAB White/Green

DEC 52   Black/Orange   5023            1953 TAB Black/Yellow

DEC 54   Yellow/Black   6888

CAMPING TRAILER
Earliest seen "JUN 79".
Issued to private camping trailers over 3,000 lbs.
"CAMPING TRAILER" all years.
Numbers probably began at #30001.

 

         BASEPLATES                     STICKERS
JUN 79   30485   White/Light Blue       1980 White/Brown
JUN 81   30318   Black/Orange           1982 White/Red
JUN 83   30392   White/Dark Green       1984(Blue/Orange?)
JUN 85           Red/White              1986 Black/Yellow
JUN 87   30017   White/Dark Blue        1988 Black/Yellow
 
CANADIAN RECIPROCITY (CR)
Began 7/1/1955, expire "JUN(56)".
Issued singly to power units having reciprocity with Alberta,
Manitoba and Saskatchewan (1960), or just Saskatchewan (1963).
No legend or slogan, "CR" prefix all years.

Colors:  Fiscal Year colors 1957-62, Calendar Year colors 1963-65.
Last seen "DEC 65", no longer issued by 1967.  (Verify 1966)
 
JUN(56)  CR 101   Black/Orange      JUN 62
JUN 57   CR 733                     DEC 62  (Sticker?)
JUN 58   CR 106                     DEC 63
JUN 59                              DEC 64  (Sticker?)
JUN 60   CR 532                     DEC 65    CR 99
JUN 61    CR 97                     DEC 66?
 
CITY BUS
Ch. 390 P 6/26/1925.  Began 1926.  Earliest seen 1928.
Still included in 1941 Milwaukee Journal article listing all
plate types on issue.  Discontinued by 1947/48.

 

LEGENDS:  "CITY/BUS" left, "WIS/28" right 1928,

          "WISCONSIN 1940" top, "CITY/BUS" left, "EXP.3-31-40" bottom 1940.

COLORS:  Passenger colors 1928, White/Dark Blue 1940.

 

1928      C 9

3-31-40   1 G
 
COLLECTOR AUTOMOBILE

Ch. 384 Pub. 6/11/1976.  Began 6/12/1976, expire "MAY 77".
Special plate issued to Collector Vehicle registrants desiring
their Collector plate number on their regular vehicle.  Letter
suffix denotes 2nd or more vehicle owned by same registrant.
Passenger colors, "COLLECTOR" top all years.
 
1973-79 BASE "MAY 77"   1 -  3096
1980-87 BASE "MAY 80"   1 - 16646
 
COLLECTOR MOTORCYCLE
May have begun July 1977.  Earliest seen 1977 chart.
Permanent undated plate, Red/Light Blue, "COLL" top.
Numbers began at #9001 - 9999, then A101 - Z999, then 1A101.
 
UND. Large size   9100 - 9999, A101 - F322 (Verify D)

                              (A263 border, A546 no border)
     Small size   G913 - Z999
 
COLLECTOR VEHICLE
Ch. 299 P by 5/10/72.  Permanent undated plate issued to vehicles
at least 20 years old owned by registrant already registering a
regular vehicle.  Letter suffix for 2nd or more vehicles owned by
same registrant (after Z, then A prefix AND A suffix next).

If the owner's first vehicle is a motorcycle, than motorcycle-type

numbers can appear on this plate if registering a second vehicle

that isn't a motorcycle and vice-versa.

Red/Light Blue, "COLLECTOR" top.
 
 Type 1: Groove          1 - 30949   (30,949+)
 Type 2: No groove   32491 - 83277   (50,787+)
(Type 3: Thin dies   83859) 
 
COMMERCIAL SEMI-TRAILER
Earliest seen "JUN 55".  Issued to semi-trailers operated in

Contract or Common carriage.  (Private Semi-Trailer seen "JUN 54".)
After CS 9999 was reached 4/2/1959, 1CS 001 - 1CS 999, 2CS 001
etc. issued.
Discontinued 1987; replaced by Permament Semi-Trailer plate.

 

LEGENDS:  "SEMI-TRAILER" 1956 Type 1, "SEMI TRAILER" 1956 Type 2, 1960-86.

COLORS:  White/Green 1954, Black/Orange 1955, Orange/Black 1956,

         Fiscal Year colors 1957-62, Calendar Year colors 1963-75,

         colors below 1976-86.

 

           COMMERCIAL              PRIVATE

JUN 54                              PS 168

JUN 55       CS 5451                PS 979

JUN 56       CS 4320               PS 4368   6 1/4" x 13 1/2"
             CS 7391 - CS 7554               6" x 12"
JUN 57                             PS 4112
JUN 58       CS 8820               PS 3685
JUN 59
JUN 60       CS 4184               PS 1428   Grooves flanking "EXP"
             1CS 306               PS 6383   No grooves
JUN 61       CS 8087
JUN-DEC 62   3CS 943               PS 5207
DEC 63     C/S  7628             P/S  1298
DEC 64                           P/S  4577
DEC 65     C/S 15535             P/S  2029
DEC 66     C/S 15127             P/S  9535, P/R 16000
1967                             P/S 10079
1968       C/S 15413             P/S 10611
1969       C/S 17914             P/S 11273
1970       C/S  1677             P/S 12159
1971       C/S 19757             P/S  2329
1972-73    C/S 20480             P/S 13102
1974-75    C/S 27094             P/S 18500
 
       BASEPLATES       COMMERCIAL   PRIVATE    STICKERS
1976   Red/White         C/S 27382  P/S 14614   1977 Black/Red
DEC 78 White/Light Blue  C/A 24742  P/A 17798   1979 White/Brown
DEC 80 Black/Orange      C/C 25073  P/C 21599   1981 Yellow/Green
DEC 82 White/Dark Green  C/E 17706  P/E 21886   1983 Blue/Yellow
DEC 84 Red/White (large) C/G 23-249 P/G 22831   1985 Black/Red

      (large prefix)     C/G 26450  P/G 22831   1986 Black/Yellow
      (small prefix)     C/G 29396  P/G 24393
                         C/G 30995  P/G 26612
 
DAIRY PRODUCTS TRUCK

Ch. 320 P 6/26/1953, E 7/1/1953.

Earliest seen "DEC 59" on 1959 chart.  Issued to trucks used
exclusively for dairy products.  Identical to Private Truck
plates with prefixes B, C, or D, but with numbers 5001 to 25000.
Discontinued 1965.

 

DEC 1963-64   C 5067, D 5085
 
DEALER
Ch. 305 P 6/5/1905.  Began 6/24/1905.  Small size plates 1944-46.

Issued singly 1956-57.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, star prefix 1905-31,

          "DEALER" 1932-45, 1947-88,

          "DLR." 1946.  "DEC" added 1958-68, 1979-88.
COLORS:  Passenger colors 1905-42, colors below 1943-57,

         Calendar Year colors 1958-78, colors below 1979-88.
 
1943 TAB Black/Gold        1948 White/Green   1953 White/Red
1944     White/Dark Green  1949 Yellow/Black  1954 White/Blue
1945 TAB Black/Yellow      1950 White/Black   1955 Black/Cream
1946     White/Black       1951 Black/Yellow  1956 Red/White
1947     White/Brown       1952 White/Green   1957 Gold/Dark Blue
 
     BASEPLATES             STICKERS
1979 White/Red         1980 White/Blue
1981 Yellow/Black      1982 Red/White
1983 Black/Gray        1984 Yellow/Blue
1985 Black/Orange      1986 Black/Light Green
1987 Red/White         1988 Black/Light Blue
 
Letter prefix/suffix A - Z, AA - CZ = additional plate set.
All letters used except I and O.  Highest seen:  D 1920, F 1921,
W 1924, AE 1932, AK 1945, AV 1954, BN 1968, CW 1973.
All prefixes/suffixes defaulted to "A" in table for simplicity.
 
1905-11:  $5 for first 4 plates (all with same number), $1 for each additional plate.

1932:     Now only issued to new car dealers.
1947-74:  $25 for first plate, $1 for each additional plate. (Pairs 1947-50)
1977:     $25 for first plate, $2.50 for each additional plate.
1979-87:  $75 for first 2 plates, $5 for each additional plate.
 
1917:   2-3-digits have dash suffix.
1918-19:  2-digits have dash suffix.
1924:  *242A has inverted star, *1659C has normal star.
1967:  3 AH has "WIS DEC 67" top, "DEALER" bottom,
       79 H has "DEALER" top, "WISCONSIN 67" bottom.
1976:  1458 D has partial groove, 2288 J has full groove.
1987-88:  Wide "DEALER", thin "DEALER, or thin "DEALER" no border
 
          DEALER      M/C D.                   DEALER      M/C D.
1905-11   *514-W      (none)         1947      2251 A
1909-11   (none)       ♦ 1W          1948      A 2064
1911                                 1949      A 2438        A1
1912     *1041W       *381W          1950     [A 1700]     [A87]
1913     *1313W                      1951      A 2159
1914     *1054W      *1128W          1952      A 2902       A39
1915     *1479                       1953      A 2902       A14

1916     *1620       *1689           1954      A 2902       A14

1917     *2075                       1955      A 2690       A14
1918     *1260                       1956      A 2902       A14
1919     *1491                       1957      A 2902       A72
1920     *1984A                      1958      2991 A       72A
1921    *1-641A                      1959      2142 A       72A
1922     *1453A                      1960      2597 A       72A
1923     *2377A                      1961      2621 A       72A
1924     *2509A         *2A          1962      2597 A       72A
1925     *2511A                      1963      2900 A       14A
1926     *2676A                      1964      2348 A       72A
1927     *2170A                      1965      2055 A       14A
1928     *3054A                      1966      2273 A      109A
1929     *2290A                      1967      2264 A      369A
1930     *2361A                      1968      3009 A      303A
1931     *2621A                      1969      2264 A      128A
1932      1133 A         1A          1970      2524 A       65A
1933      1549 A                     1971      2524 A      349A
1934      1133 A                     1972      2277 A      167A
1935      1459 A                     1973      2433 A      331A
1936      2219 A                     1974      3068 A      349A
1937      2057 A                     1975      2524 A      291A
1938      1698 A                     1976      2347 A      309A
1939      1978 A                     1977      2525 A      165A
1940      1430 A         5 A         1978      2347 A      100A
1941      2152 A                     1979-80   2999 A      236A
1942      1487 A                     1981-82   2332 A      191A
1943 TAB    --                       1983-84   2347 A      277A
1944      A1689                      1985-86   2370 A      100A
1945 TAB    --                       1987-88   2399 A      266A
1946      A 2215
 
DEMONSTRATOR  (See Table 1)
Ch. 175 P 6/22/1961.  Earliest seen 1963 chart.  Earliest seen 1968.
Issued singly to dealers, distributors and manufacturers to test
trucks, truck-tractors, trailers or semi-trailers.
LEGENDS:  "DEMONSTRATOR" all years.

COLORS:  Dealer colors 1963-88.

1963:  #4001 - 4800 = Trucks and Truck-Tractors
       #4801 - 5000 = Trailers and Semi-Trailers

DISABLED
Ch. 20 P 4/7/1961.

Began 4/13/1961 with "62" sticker on "JUL 61" base.
LEGENDS:  "DISABLED" top all years, slanted "DIS" prefix 1980-87.

COLORS:  Passenger colors all years.

Numbers began at #1001 all years.
Letters began 1985, reportedly at DIS A1.
 
JUL 61-62   DA 1001      JUL 80-87   DIS 9762          LR slot
JUL 63-64                            DIS A863 - C566   No slot
JUL 65-67   DA 1441                  DIS D211 - D713   No line
JUL 68-72   DA 1892
JUL 73-79   DA 3827
 
DISABLED TRUCK/FARM/DUAL PURPOSE VEHICLE/DUAL PURPOSE FARM
Act 227 P 4/20/1984.  Began 10/1/1984.  Earliest seen "    85".
Blue/White, type name top, stepped "DIS" prefix.

 

"    85"   TRUCK               1001 - 1078

"FEB 87"   FARM                4001 - 4003

           DUAL PURPOSE VEH.   5001 -

           DUAL PURPOSE FARM   7001 -

 

Earliest seen "DEC 84".

Yellow/Red, "TRUCK DEC" top, "WISCONSIN 84" bottom, stepped "DIS" prefix, #9002.
 
DISABLED VETERAN
Announcement of applications being accepted for plates 4/6/1949.
Began 1949.  Earliest seen "1 51" on 1950 chart.
LEGENDS:  "DISABLED VETERAN" 1957, "DISABLED-VETERAN" 1967-87,
          stepped "VET" prefix added 1977-87.
COLORS:  Passenger colors all years.
Numbers began at VET 1 1957-87.  New base issued 1977.
 
(JAN)51    [1 DV-000]
 
DEC 57-58   VET 321      DEC 68-72    VET 999, 101 VET - 248 VET,
DEC 59-60   VET 384                   VET1002
DEC 61-62   VET 384      DEC 73-76    VET 999, 101 VET - 781 VET
DEC 63-64   VET 384      DEC 77-79   vet 1725
DEC 65-67   VET 800      DEC 80-87   vet 2283
 
DISABLED VETERAN TRUCK/FARM/DUAL PURPOSE VEH./DUAL PURPOSE FARM
Began 10/1/1984.  Earliest seen "DEC 85".
Blue/White, type name top, stepped "VET" prefix.

 
"DEC 85" TRUCK               1001 - 1006

         FARM                4001 -

         DUAL PURPOSE VEH.   5001 -

         DUAL PURPOSE FARM   7001 -

 

Earliest seen "    88".
 
DISTRIBUTOR  (See Table 1)
Not on 1970 chart.  Earliest seen 1971.
Issued singly to distributors of motor vehicles.
LEGENDS:  "DISTRIBUTOR" all years.

COLORS:  Dealer colors 1971-88.

Letter suffix = Plate number of set.
 
DRIVER EDUCATION

Ch. 200 Pub. 4/30/1974.  Began 1/1/1975 with sticker only.

Plates began 7/1/1975, expire "JUN 76".  Issued singly.
"DRIVER EDUCATION" all years.  (Previously issued Special "X".)
 
UND. "JUN (76)"   A 1001 - A 6480  Black/Red FR, renewed to 1987
 
DRIVER EDUCATION MOTORCYCLE

Ch. 200 Pub 4/30/1974.  Began 1/1/1975 with sticker only.

Plates began 7/1/1975, expire "JUN 76".
"DR EDUC" all years.
 
UND. ("JUN 76"?)  C1001 - C1112  Black/Red  (No space for sticker)
 
DUAL PURPOSE FARM
Ch. 29 Pub. 6/29/1977.  Began 1978, expire "JAN 79".
Trucks <12,000 lbs. used for both farm and non-farm purposes.

LEGENDS:  "DUAL PURPOSE FARM" all years.

COLORS:  White/Light Blue 1979-80, Truck colors 1981-88,

         stickers 1980-87.  (Verify 1985)
Weight codes:  AZ =     1 - 4,500 lbs,

               BZ = 4,501 - 6,000 lbs.,
               CZ = 6,001 - 8,000 lbs.
1979 Errors:
"FEB" instead of "JAN"     AZ 1916 - AZ 2925   (AZ 3405 normal)
"JAN" stamped over "FEB"   BZ 2306 - BZ 4761, CZ 3478 - CZ 3545
 
JAN 79-80           AZ 3405, BZ 5269,           CZ 3545
JAN 81-87           AZ 6024, BZ, BY 8209,       CZ 7226
JAN 88-   Border    AZ 2197, BZ,BY 1654,        CZ 2247
          No border AZ 6512, BY 2914 - 7983,    CZ 5095 - 7510,

                    XZ 1005 - 1087 added for 8,001 - 12,000 lbs.
         (Farm graphic AY 2362 - 2740, BW 4748 - BV 3089, CY 5325 - 8079)
 
DUAL PURPOSE VEHICLE
Ch. 136 Pub. 12/22/1975.  Began 1976, expire "JAN 77".
Issued to trucks with slide-in camper units.
"DUAL PURPOSE VEH" all years.  Sticker colors below.
 
JAN 77-87 BASE   600369 - 633728   Black/Orange, renewed to 1987.

                 636288 -          no slot, undated

                 636579 -          slot, undated
                 638870 - 639093   no slot, dated "80", not "77"?
JAN 88-   BASE   604311 - 624155   Dark Blue/Tan (small leg. D-H)
   "93"          624699 - 625511   large legend (holes U-E)
                (626005 - 631970   Farm graphic)
 
1978 Black/Red        1982 White/Red       1986 Black/Light Green
1979 White/Green      1983 White/Blue      1987 White/Red
1980 White/Brown      1984(Yellow/Blue)
1981 White/Green      1985(Black/Orange)
 
DUPLICATE
Earliest seen 1925.  Discontinued 1943.  (As of 1918, same number reissued.)

LEGENDS:  "DUPLICATE" bottom 1925-27, "DUPL" 1928,

          sideways-up "AUTO" prefix, sideways-up "DUPL" suffix 1929,
          sideways-up "AUTO" prefix, sideways-down "DUPL" suffix 1930,

          stepped "DUPL" prefix 1932-38,

          vertical "DUP" prefix 1939-42.
          Truck:  1931/32 sideways-up "DUPL" center,

                  1938/39 vertical "DUP" prefix, 1939/40 reported.
COLORS:  Colors same as plate being replaced.
 
As of 1940, passenger numbers began at #2001.  Sometime earlier, numbers
had begun at #1 but owners would "lose" plates to get a lower number.
 
       PASSENGER                 NON-PASSENGER
1925   756 B, 229 C
1926   796 B, 310 C, 100 D
1927   879 B                     1927    TRUCK   45 A, 3 E
1928   C 289
1929   B-558                     1929    TRUCK   D 96
1930   C 388, D 217
1931                             1931/32 TRUCK   C 54
1932    2486 - 2866  [3606]      1932    PSC    31549
1933    2531 - 2609  [2958]      1932/33 TRUCK    9 F
1934    2723 -
1935    3000 -                   1935/36 TRUCK    1 G
1936    3447 -
1937    2759 -
1938    2422 - 2615              1938/39 TRUCK   47 F
1939    2984 - 3400             (1939/40 TRUCK reported)
1940    2716 - 3048
1941    2009 - 3356
1942   2 208 -
 
ELECTRIC VEHICLE
Began 1975.  Permanent undated plate issued to electric cars
owned by Board of Vocational, Technical and Adult Education.
"ELECTRIC VEHICLE" screened top.  Discontinued after two years.
 
UND.  VTAE 1 - VTAE 9   Red/White
 
EX-PRISONER OF WAR
Ch. 236 Pub. 5/9/1980.  Began 11/1/1980, expire "AUG 81".
"EX PRISONER OF WAR" all years.
 
"AUG 81"   POW-200 - POW-390   Blue & Red/White
 
FARM TRAILER
Ch. 243 P 6/3/1953.  Earliest seen 1959 chart.
Issued to trailers used exclusively for farm purposes.
No registration required if <8,001 lbs. 1959-77.
LEGENDS:  "FARM TRAILER" all years.

COLORS:  Farm Truck colors 1955-77, colors below 1978-87.
Numbers began at #1001 1963-65, and probably 1959-86.

1959-69:  >8,000 lbs and <12,000 lbs.
1970-77:  >8,000 lbs.
1979-87:  >3,000 lbs., prefixes A/F - H/F, J/F - L/F, N/F.
 
       BASEPLATES                STICKERS
DEC 59      [1086]

DEC 65       1025
DEC 67-69    1243
1970-73      1463
1974-77      1419                1977 Black/Red
DEC 78 White/Light Blue   2157   1979 White/Brown
DEC 80 Black/Orange              1981 Yellow/Green
DEC 82 White/Dark Green          1983 Blue/Yellow
DEC 84 Red/White                 1985 Black/Red
DEC 86 White/Dark Blue           1987 Black/White

 

          A/F   B/F   C/F   D/F   E/F   F/F   G/F   H/F   J/F   K/F   L/F   N/F

DEC 80               3174  3033              1054

DEC 82               3552  1438  1339

DEC 84               4159  3011

DEC 86         1757  3770  3345  1828
 
FARM TRUCK
Ch. 364 P 7/7/1933.  Began 1934/35.  Issued to trucks owned

and operated by farmers and used primarily for farm purposes.

Weight limit 4,000 lbs. empty 1934-39, 11,000 lbs. maximum gross

weight October 1939, 10,000 lbs. with law P 6/16/1943.

Small size plates 1942/43 - 46/47.

Singles with windshield sticker 1942/43 - 43/44, singles 1945/46.
Expiration changed from "DEC 75" to "FEB 77".
Numbers began at 1 all years.
 
LEGENDS:  "FARM TRUCK" 1934/35 - 36/37,

          "FARM TR'K" 1937/38 - 41/42,

          "FARM" 1942/43 - 87.
COLORS:  Truck colors 1934/35 - 38/39, Truck A-D colors 1939/40,

         colors below 1940/41 - 1957, Truck colors 1958-87 except

         1964 sticker (Black/White) and 1979 sticker (White/Green).
 
1940/41   Cream/Brown
1941/42   White/Green
1942/43   Black/White              1943/44 TAB   Black/White
                                   1944/45 TAB   White/Red
1945/46   Black/Orange             1947 TAB      White/Black
6-1948    White/Maroon             1949 TAB      Black/White

                                   1950 TAB      Black/Yellow

6-1951    White/Gray               1952 TAB   White/Red

DEC 52    Black/Silver             1953 TAB   Black/Orange

DEC 54    Maroon/Cream

DEC 55    Yellow/Blue              1956 TAB   White/Red

DEC 57    White/Black
 
1934/35          49-930
1935/36 Type 1   51-142            Long size, horizontal dash
        Type 2   55-251 -          Short size, vertical hyphen
1936/37          53-850
1937/38          48-923
1938/39          55-816
1939/40 Type 1   50-241            Short centered hyphen
        Type 2   51-087 - 57-047   Long high hyphen
1940/41          65-111
1941/42 Type 1   59-842            "FARM TR'K"
        Type 2   61-904 - 64-272   "TR'K FARM"
1942/43          79870
1945/46          74782             Singles issued, unlike Truck.
6/1948  Type 1  104681             Round corners, dated "1948"
        Type 2 105-758 - 108-710   Square corners, dated "1950"
6/1951           93408            (52 Tab)
DEC 52          85-620
DEC 54           76688
DEC 55  Type 1   88039             Long, 6 1/4" x 13 1/2"
        Type 2   91907 - 95729     Short, 6" x 12"
DEC 57           80927
DEC 58           75738
DEC 59           86883
DEC 60           86043
DEC 61           84100
DEC 62           87544
DEC 63-64 Type 1 89154             Tab slots
          Type 2 90889 - 104-163   No tab slots
DEC 65-66       108318
1967-69         130210
1970-73 Type 1  131958             Full groove
        Type 2  133657 - 139183    Partial groove
        Type 1a 140532 - 149809
        Type 3 150 223 - 155 448   Full groove, crude dies
1974-80 Type 1  189664             Full groove
"FEB 79"Type 2  191389 - 208671    Partial groove
        Type 1a 211723 - 213315
1981-87 Type 1  161896             Bolt slot
        Type 2  172827 - 183734    No slot
 
FARM TRUCK (HEAVY)
Ch. 329 P 6/16/1943.  Not on 1947 chart.  Earliest seen "6-1951".
Identical to Farm plates except letter prefix 1951-66.

Calendar Year colors 1967-77.

 

1943-78:  Issued to farm trucks >10,000 lbs., prefixes F +.
         (F,G,H,J,K,L,M,N,R,S as of 1959-78)
1979-88:  Issued to farm trucks >16,000 lbs., prefixes E/A +.

         (E/A, F/A, G/A, H/A, J/A, K/A, L/A, N/A)

         (P/A, Q/A, added FEB 83-84, R/A, S/A, T/A added FEB 87-88)
 
Expiration changed from "DEC 75" to "FEB 77".

1951-57:  Numbers probably began at #1 in each class.
1958-73:  Numbers probably began at #5001 in each class. (Verified 1963)

1974-78:  Numbers probably began at #10-001 in each class.

 

1955:  M 428 is 6" x 12", "TRUCK" instead of "FARM".

1967:  Blue/White. #K 7062 normal, K 7257 has no "WIS"!
1970:  F 5171 has full groove, G 8201 has partial groove.

1974:  M11-752, N11-836, R10-809 - R11-026, S10-138 hyphen, M 12695 - M 12750,

       N 12211 - N 12623, R 11614 - R 11818, S 13005 no hyphen

              F      G      H      J      K      L      M      N      R      S

6-1951-52           698    336           318

DEC 52-53          1839          1153     54
DEC 54       878

DEC 55-56    683   1450            13                  428                     
DEC 57       792   1154            40            61
DEC 58             6875   6564   6361   6331
DEC 59      5878   6923   6451          5692   5144                        5088

DEC 60      6116          6713   5438   5242          5368                     
DEC 61      5791          5262   6514   5488   5604          5371
DEC 62             6765   6086   6435   5238          5588
DEC 63-64   5111   7401   6374   6907   6266   5976

DEC 65-66   5850          6819   6042          6454                            
1967-69     6790   7312          7183   7257   5086   7155
1970-73     6906   8201   7622   6880   7131   7039   7900   7173          5887

 

             E/A   F/A   G/A   H/A  J/A  K/A  L/A  N/A  P/A  Q/A  R/A  S/A  T/A

FEB 79-80   2643  3407  4772  1155        87

FEB 81-82   2705  3188  5372  3097            817

FEB 83-84   1095  3151  3370  2875                            39

FEB 85-86   1609  2517  4837             520  249             10

(short let.)                                                  72

FEB 87-88   2060  2012  3783  2396       113  199        29    4    6         1
 
          BASEPLATES                  STICKERS
FEB 79   White/Light Blue      1980   White/Brown
FEB 81   Black/Orange          1982   Yellow/Green
FEB 83   White/Dark Green      1984   Yellow/Blue
FEB 85   Red/White             1986   Black/Light Green
FEB 87   White/Dark Blue       1988   Black/Yellow
 
FINANCE COMPANY  (See Table 1)
Not on 1963 chart.  Earliest seen 1965 chart.  Issued singly to
finance companies for use on repossessed vehicles.
LEGENDS:  "FINANCE" 1965-67 charts, "FINANCE CO" 1968-86.

COLORS:  Dealer colors 1965-88.
 
5-YEAR SEMI-TRAILER (Sticker)
Began 1979 as an option.  Earliest seen 1979 chart, expire "83".
Regular Commercial, Private or Rental Semi-Trailer plates issued

with 1983 sticker (or 1984 in 1980, etc.).

Red/White "DEC 82" sticker seen on 1978-79 sample plate P/A 000.
Discontinued 1987; stickers had gotten up to "1990" in 1986, even
though all were replaced 1987 by permanent semi-trailer plate.
Sticker colors:
 
1983 White/Orange      1986 Yellow/Blue             1989 Black/Orange
1984 Black/Yellow      1987 Blue/Silver             1990 Black/White
1985 Yellow/Red        1988 Yellow/Light Green
 
FOR HIRE AUTOMOBILE (ZZ)
Began 1973.
Slogan, no legend, Passenger colors, "ZZ" prefix all years.
 
DEC 73-79   ZZ 1001 - ZZ 9716
DEC 80-87   ZZ 1001 - ZZ 2129
 
FOR HIRE TRAILER
Began 1976.  Issued to trailers for hire 3,000 lbs. or less.
All have A prefix, renewed with 4th quarter sticker only.
Only seen 1976-77; same colors and design as For Hire Truck.
"TRAILER" all years.  Discontinued by 1979.
 
FOR HIRE TRUCK
Began 1976.  Issued to trucks for hire 8,000 lbs. or less.
First letter A, B, C or D = weight class.  All renewed with 4th

quarter sticker only.  "TRUCK" all years.
 
       BASEPLATES      A/A    B/A    C/A    STICKERS (all 4Q)
1976   Red/White FR  (A, B, C or D prefix)  1977 White/Red
1978   Black/Yellow FR               2853   1979 Green/Orange
DEC 80 Blue/White               12   2040   1981 Red/Yellow
DEC 82 Red/White        240    672   1986   1983 Blue/Yellow
DEC 84 Yellow/Red       319    873   1961   1985 Black/Light Blue
DEC 86 Green/White             892   2408   1987 Black/Orange

GOVERNOR

Began 1929.

Wisconsin State Journal, 1/12/1929:  "Special automobile license

plates numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 X have been prepared for Governor

Kohler.  That means the governor and his family will use five cars.  

The designation X is said to stand for executive."

 

The Capital Times, 12/20/1930:  "The use of the letter X to be used

only for the plates on the governor's cars was originated two years

ago.  Gov. Kohler was the first executive to get the X-plates."

 

1929:  1 X - 5 X assigned.

1930:  X 1 - X 5 assigned.
1931:  X-1-O assigned to personal car, X-1-E assigned to Executive vehicle.
1936:  #X 1 seen, Passenger colors.
1939:  Photo of Governor's car in Capital Times (Madison)
       9/1/1939, Bronze/Black with * 1 * and slogan.
1940:  Article in Wisconsin State Journal, 2/11/1940, * 1 *,
       Black/Bronze, slogan, made by friends of the Governor but
       criticized for being non-regulation colors.

       Regular #1 assigned to Lt. Governor, #8000 to Governor's personal car.
1941:  * 1 *, (Dark/Light), in photo of Governor's car, slogan.
1949:  * 1 *, "OFFICIAL"
1950:  * 1 *, "OFFICIAL"  White/Black
1963:  * 1 *, "OFFICIAL"
1969?: * 1 *, "OFFICIAL"  full groove
 
HOBBYIST

Ch. 417 Pub. 6/24/1976.  Began 1976.  Permanent undated plate

issued to home-built and reconstructed vehicles at least 20 years

old, owned by registrants already owning a regular registered

vehicle.  Letter suffix denotes 2nd or more vehicle owned by same
registrant.  Yellow/Dark Green, "HOBBYIST" top.
 
 Type 1: Groove        1 -  485   (485+)
 Type 2: No groove   649 - 1095   (447+)
(Type 3: Thin dies  1643)
 
HUMAN SERVICE VEHICLE (ZY)
Began September 1980, expire "DEC 80".
Issued to vehicles transporting handicapped or elderly persons.
Slogan, no legend, Passenger colors, "ZY" prefix all years.
 
"DEC 80"   ZY 1001 - ZY 1705
 
INTERURBAN BUS
Ch. 390 P 6/26/1925.  Began 1926.  Earliest seen 1933.

Reported 12/2/1925 to have vertical "BUS" before weight class

letter left; previously had been issued truck plates.
Still included in 1941 Milwaukee Journal article listing all
plate types on issue.  Discontinued by 1947/48.

 

LEGENDS:  "INT/BUS" left 1933, 1937,

          "WISCONSIN 1940" top, "INT/BUS" left, "EXP.3-31-40" bottom 1940.

COLORS:  Passenger colors 1933, 1937, White/Dark Blue 1940.

 

1933       8 E

1937       9 M, 22 G

3-31-40   14 N
 
IN TRANSIT  [1965-88:  See Table 1]
Ch. 135 P 5/13/1937, E 5/14/1937.  Earliest seen 1938.

(Transit Sample seen 1922 with sideways "TRANSIT" left reading up.)
Pairs 1947-50, singles 1960-87.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "WIS" left, "IN TRANSIT 38" bottom 1938, "IN TRANSIT" 1947-on.

COLORS:  Dealer colors 1950, 1960-88.
 
1938    54 AN
1947   [51 BG]
1950   [AL 52]
 
IN-TRANSIT PERMIT (Cardboard)
Began 1975.  Earliest seen "07-02-76".  Valid for 30 days.
White/Black, "IN-TRANSIT PERMIT", #500001 - 513026.
 
LOANER (LZ)
Began 1975, expire "JUN 75", but base plate dated "73".
Slogan, no legend, Passenger colors, "LZ" prefix all years.
 
"JUN (75)"   LZ 1001 - LZ 1697

"JUN (80)"   LZ 1001 - LZ 1281
 
MANUFACTURER  [1965-88:  See Table 1]
Earliest seen 1947 chart.  Earliest seen 1953.

Pairs 1947-50, singles 1960-87.

LEGENDS:  "MANUFACTURER" all years.

COLORS:  Dealer colors 1950, 1953, 1957, 1959-88.
 
1947  [19 K]            1953    D 3
1950  [B 74]            1957   B 41, C 41
 
MEDAL OF HONOR
Ch. 379 P 4/28/1970.  Began August 1970.
Permanent undated plate, Blue & Red/White.
 
MENOMINEE NATION
Began 1980.  Earliest seen expire "FEB 1981".  Issued to vehicles
owned by residents of Menominee Nation Indian Reservation.
Made in Iowa.  Blue/White.

 

STICKERS:  Blue/White 1981, Red/White 1982-83, 1986,

           Green/White 1984, Black/White 1985, 1987.
 
UND. "FEB 1981" Wide dies   A001 - E999   (No D seen)

     "JUN 1984" Wide dies   1205 - 1258
 
MENOMINEE NATION MOTORCYCLE
Earliest seen "AUG 86".
Made in Iowa.  Blue/White with Red/White sticker.
"MENOMINEE" top, "NATION" bottom 1986.
 
UND. "AUG 86"   233

 

Began 1980.  Earliest seen "MAY 1981".  Blue/White.

Additional Blue/White sticker has "TRUCK/4500", etc.

 

UND. "MAY 1981" Wide dies   T094 - T750

     "APR 1987" Wide dies   R172 - R801

Ch. 563 P 7/14/1953.  Began Jan. 1955, expire "DEC 55".
(Previously issued Cabin Trailer plates.)
Issued to house trailers towed by another vehicle.
LEGENDS:  "MOBILE HOME" all years.

COLORS:  Colors below 1955-56, Calendar year colors 1957-79,

         colors below 1980-88.
Numbers assumed to have begun at #1 1955-79, #10001 1980-88.
Expiration changed from "DEC 75" to "APR 77".

 

STICKER COLORS:  Passenger colors 1981-82, Red/Metallic Gold 1983,

                (Blue/Orange 1984), Red/White 1985,

                (Black/White 1987), Black/Yellow 1988.
                (Verify 1984, 1987)
 
DEC 55    7838          6 1/4" x 13 1/2"         White/Green
          8355 - 9713   6" x 12"
1956 TAB                                         Red/Aluminum
DEC 57           6927
DEC 58        MH 5148 (after MH 9999, 1MH000 format reported)
DEC 59         MH8289
DEC 60         MH8836
DEC 61        MH 9515, MH 077A
DEC 62        MH 9958
DEC 63        MH 9428, M/H 10674
DEC 64      M/H  9900
DEC 65-66   M/H 14007
DEC 67-69   M/H 15626   "WIS DEC 67" top, wide "MOBILE HOME" bottom,
                        UL slot
            M/H 17745   Same, but no slot

            M/H 19442   Same, but short "MOBILE HOME", LR keyhole slot
            M/H 27598 - 28017 "MOBILE HOME" top, "WISCONSIN 67" bottom
1970-73     M/H 27746         Debossed date
            M/H 36613 - 45966 Embossed date
1974-79     M/H 60167
APR 80-85   M/H 67709                            White/Light Blue
APR 86-88   M/H 54342         Groove, slot       Black/Orange
            M/H 55330 - 78867 No groove or slot
 
MOBILE HOME DEALER  [1965-88:  See Table 1]

Ch. 563 P 7/14/1953.  Probably began 1955 along with Motor Home.

Earliest seen "DEC 58".  Issued singly all years.

LEGENDS:  "DEALER" with full-size "MH" before suffix letter.

COLORS:  Dealer colors 1958-88.
 
DEC 58   44 MHB

DEC 60   14 MHA

DEC 64   51 MHH
 
MOPED  (See Motorcycle page)

Ch. 288 Pub. 5/8/1978, E 10/1/1978.  Began 1978, expire "APR 79".
 
MOTORCYCLE  (See Motorcycle page)

Ch. 500 P 6/16/1909.  Began 7/1/1909.
 
MOTORCYCLE DEALER  (See Dealer)
Ch. 500 P 6/16/1909.  Began 7/1/1909.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, diamond prefix 1909-11, star prefix 1909-24,
          vertical "DLR" prefix 1932, 1940,

          vertical "DLR" suffix 1949-50, 1952-88.  "DEC" added 1981-88.
COLORS:  Dealer colors 1912-88.

Fees same as Dealer except no pairs ever issued.
Letter prefix/suffix system same as Dealer.
Highest seen:  B 1920, C 1924, G 1928, CE 1932, CX 1949.
All prefixes/suffixes defaulted to "A" in table for simplicity.
 
MOTORCYCLE DISTRIBUTOR  (See Table 1)
Not on 1973 chart.  Earliest seen 1973.  Numbers may have begun at #40 or 41.
LEGENDS:  Vertical "DIS" suffix all years.

COLORS:  Dealer colors 1973-88.

Letter suffix = Plate number of set.
 
MOTORCYCLE MANUFACTURER  (See Table 1)
Not on 1963 chart.  Earliest seen 1965.  Numbers may have begun at #40 or 41.
LEGENDS:  Vertical "MFG" suffix all years.

COLORS:  Dealer colors 1965-88.
Letter suffix = Plate number of set.
 
MOTORCYCLE WITH SIDECAR  (See Motorcycle page)
Began 1924.  Only issued 1924-31, 1947-57.
 
MOTOR HOME
Began 1976, expire "MAR 77".  Issued to motor homes not towed by
another vehicle.  "MOTOR HOME" all years.  Weight class sticker
at left; codes below.  1979/80 Black/Yellow base renewed through
March 1987 with quarterly stickers.
 
"MAR 79" Type 1:  Dated "79", groove, keyhole slot  10646 - 40859  (30,214)
         Type 2:  Dated "80", groove, no slot       43511 - 46603   (3,093)
"JUN 86" Type 3:  Dated "80", no groove or slot     47184 - 52729   (5,546)
 
MOTOR HOME DISABLED

Ch. 418 Pub. 5/18/1978.  Earliest seen "MAR 79".
Black/Yellow, stepped "DIS" prefix, #149.
 
MOTOR HOME DISABLED VETERAN
Ch. 418 Pub. 5/18/1978.  Earliest seen "MAR 79".
Black/Yellow, stepped "VET" prefix, no weight sticker.
 
MUNICIPAL

Ch. 320 P 6/28/1923.  Began 1924.  Permanent undated plate issued

for $1 fee to City, County and State owned vehicles.

 

Ch. 266 P 6/5/1925, E 6/11/1925, repealed the above law.  Regular

fees applied on newly-registered vehicles other than police, fire

and ambulance vehicles.  Registration figures continue, as the

1924 series was still issued to those vehicles.

 

Ch. 524 P 9/19/1929, E 9/23/1929, for annual plates.  Began 1930.

After 1940, vehicles used in law enforcement not included.

Fee raised to $3 1969.  Issued in pairs 1947, singles 1956-on.

Small size plates 1943, 1946.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend 1924-29, 1931, "M" inside circle center 1930,

          star suffix 1932-40, diamond prefix or suffix 1941-48,
          "OFFICIAL" 1947-48, "MUNICIPAL" 1949-on.
         (Verify 1944-45)

COLORS:  White/Red 1924-29, Passenger colors 1930,

         Reverse colors 1931-42, colors below 1943-57,

         Calendar Year colors 1958-66,
         Black/Yellow 1967-68, Black/Light Blue 1969-87.

 

1962:  "DEC :62:" top right 23-459, "62 : :" top right 25-809.

                     MUNICIPAL                         MUN. M/C
UND. (1924-29)       323 - 3025                        127
1930             33 M 90 - 35 M 83  ("M" in circle)
1931                4082 - 5200
1932               2615* - 5614*
1933               1134* - 5521*
1934                218* - 6034*
1935                752* - 6419*
1936               2264* - 6318*
1937                 67* - 7301*                        90*
1938               1314* - 8306*  [8476*]
1939                 14* - 6899*  [9200*]               14*
1940                 14* - 8807*
1941              ♦3085  -  ♦9282
1942               7309♦ -   8757♦
1943 Black/Orange 10485♦ -  11154♦
1944
1945
1946 White/Black    604♦ -   9168♦
1947 White/Green  ♦2627  - ♦10487                    [♦ 10]
1948 Green/White   2919♦ -   7689♦
1949 Black/Gold     4799 - 11528
1950 White/Black    6364 -[11450](round corners)     [M283]
                   12530 -       (square corners)
1951 Black/Gold      355 - 12208
1952 Gold/Black     2089 - 12423
1953 Black/White  10-207 - 12-168                     M330
1954 Green/Silver   8378 - 14299
1955 White/Black    3344 - 12634
1956 White/Blue     3640 - 13768
1957 Red/Lt. Yellow 6745 - 15862                      M400
1958              M 1939 - M13-479                     M13
DEC 59            M 5112 - M13-598
DEC 60            M 4686 - M14-710                      [M]
DEC 61            10-299 - 23-645
DEC 62              7755 - 25-809
DEC 63             [5001]- 25-059                    [4001]-
DEC 64-66          [5001]- 31-524                    [4001]-
DEC 67-68          [5001]- 34-198                    [4001]- 4546
UND. (1969-87)     [5001]- 64183  (partial line)     [4001]-
 
MUNICIPAL BUS
Began 1/1/1969.  Issued singly to State, County and City owned
buses.  "BUS" 1969-72.  Discontinued and recalled 12/31/72.
 
UND. BASE   MB 1 - MB 3991   Black/Light Blue
 
MUNICIPAL MOTORCYCLE  (See Municipal)

Ch. 320 P 6/28/1923.  Began 1924.  Permanent undated plate issued

for $1 fee to City, County and state owned motorcycles.
Vertical "WIS" right 1924-29.

Colors same as Municipal except new plate 1965?
1967:  #4537 is a regular M/C plate, should be Blue/White.
  
NATIONAL GUARD

Act 511 P 5/10/1984.  Began 1/14/1985, expire "AUG 85".
"GUARD MEMBER" all years.
 
"AUG 85"   10001 - 11812   Blue & Red/White, screened legends

OFFICIAL
Began 1941.  Issued to State, County and City owned vehicles used
in law enforcement.  Issued in pairs 1947, 1953, 1956-on.

LEGENDS:  No legend, star suffix 1941-46,

          "OFFICIAL" with star prefix or suffix 1947-on.
COLORS:  Municipal colors 1941, 1946-on.
 
1941      14 *      1957           * 201
1942-45   14 *      1958           * 600
1946     * 666      DEC 59         * 576
1947    [* 600]     DEC 60         * 717
1948      14 *      DEC 61
1949                DEC 62         * 365
1950     *  57      DEC 63         * 727
1951     * 675      DEC 64-66      *1202
1952     * 136      DEC 67-68        * 2          Blue/White NR
1953     * 528                       * 1 - *1695  Black/Yellow FR
1954                UND. (1969-87)   * 3 - * 202  Partial groove
1955     * 231                     *1190 - *2978  Partial groove
1956     * 201              *1055, *A741 - *B543  Full groove
 
OFFICIAL MOTORCYCLE
Began 1941.  No legend, star suffix 1941, prefix 1947.
Black/Gold 1941.  Discontinued by 1960.
 

1941     45*
1947  [*250]
 
PERMIT RECIPROCITY (PR)
Began 7/1/1955, expire "JUN 56".  Issued singly to out-of-state
vehicles having limited reciprocity with Wisconsin.  Renamed
Prorate 1970.  Discontinued 1972.  (Prorate Stickers began 1971.)
LEGENDS:  No legend or slogan, "PR" or "P/R" prefix all years.

COLORS:  Orange/Black 1956, White/Maroon 1957,

         Calendar Year colors 1959-71.
1956 is 6" x 12".
1962:  PR 1854 has LL slot, PR 940A has UL slot.
Numbers probably began at #1 all years.
 
JUN 56   PR 1509      DEC 61     PR 9417      DEC 67   P/R 20959
JUN 57   PR 3184      DEC 62     PR 940A      DEC 68   P/R 24758

JUN 58                DEC 63   P/R 14161      1969     P/R 28632
JUN 59                DEC 64                  1970     P/R 32988
DEC 59   PR 4784      DEC 65   P/R 19795      1971     P/R 24977
DEC 60   PR 7066      DEC 66   P/R 20712
 
PERSONALIZED

Ch. 129 Pub. 10/31/1977.  Began 1/1/1979, expire "JAN 80".

2-6 characters allowed.

1987 Type 3 #BB 1938 believed to be personalized, not passenger.
 
PERSONALIZED DUAL PURPOSE/DUAL PURPOSE FARM/FARM TRUCK/MOTOR HOME
Act 270 P 4/20/1984.  Began 10/1/1984.  Earliest seen "JAN 86".
2-6 characters allowed.
 
PERSONALIZED MOTORCYCLE

Act 126 P 2/21/1984.  Began 8/1/1984.  Earliest seen "APR 86" on

83-dated base.  1-5 characters allowed.
 
PERSONALIZED TRUCK

Ch. 129 Pub. 10/31/1977.  Began 1/1/1979, expire "JAN 80".

2-6 characters allowed.  Only issued to trucks up to 6,000 lbs. (A-B).
 
PRIVATE SEMI-TRAILER  (See Commercial Semi-Trailer)
Earliest seen "JUN 54".  Issued to semi-trailers used in Private
carriage.  Discontinued 1987; replaced by Permanent Semi-Trailer plate.

 

LEGENDS:  "TRAILER" 1954, "SEMI-TRAILER" 1955-56, "SEMI TRAILER" 1957-86.

COLORS:  Same as Commercial Semi-Trailer all years.
 
PRORATE (Sticker)
Began 1971.  Sticker issued for backing plate to truck tractors

and trailers.  Last seen 1989 chart.  Not on 1990 chart.

RENTAL SEMI-TRAILER
Not on 1971 chart.  Earliest seen 1971.
Issued to semi-trailers in rental company authority.
Plates undated 1971-76 but carry 4th quarter "R" insert sticker.
Numbers began at #50001 1971-79.

COLORS:  Black/White 1971, Black/Orange 1972-73, Black/Lt. Yellow

         1974, Commercial Semi-Trailer colors 1976-87.
Discontinued 1987; replaced by Permanent Semi-Trailer plate.
 
UND. (1971)        51418      DEC 80-81  [R/C    1]
UND. (1972-73)     51214      DEC 82-83
UND. (1974)                   DEC 84-85  [R/G    1]
UND. (1976-77)                DEC 86
UND. DEC (78-79)

SAMPLE
Earliest seen 1922.  (Verify 1924)

1922-23   00-000                   1936-37  0000, 00-000 
1925      0000 B                   1938    0000, 000-000
1926      B 0000                   1939          000-000
1927      0000 A, 000-000 B,       1940 Type 1   000-000
        00-000 C                        Type 2   000 000, 030 350
1928    B 00-000                   1941          000-000, 012-345
1929    00-000 C, 0000 A (& B,D)   1942           00 000
1930      A 0000, C 012-345        1946  1 00000, 5 00000, 9 00000
1931      0000 B, 0000 E           1951        9 000-000
1932        0000, 000 000          1953-79       A00-000 (all are JAN)
1933-35   00-000                   1980-87        SAMPLE (all are JAN)
 
SCHOOL BUS

Earliest seen 1945/46.
Issued to all school buses 1960, 1970-87; issued to school buses
under contract with public schools only 1963-69.  (Private school
buses issued Special-X plates.)  Inspection sticker added 1974

(should 1973 exist since "SB" prefix omitted to make room?).

Expiration changed from "DEC 75" to "JUN 77".

LEGENDS:  Vertical "SCHOOL" before vertical "BUS WIS" left,

          "45/46" top right 1945/46,

          "SCH" 1947/48, 1951/52, 1954-55, "SCHOOL" 1957-72.
COLORS:  Red/White 1945/46, Yellow/Black 1947/48,

         Truck Quarterly colors 1951/52, 1954-55, 1957,

         Truck colors 1958-72, Passenger colors 1973-87.
 
1946/47:  Highest registrations listed
         [B  65]   [D 106]   [F 190]   [H  14]
         [C  47]   [E 232]   [G  55]   [K   3]        (TOTAL 712)

 

1945/46        F 36                   JUN 58       SB 1484
1947/48        83 E, 70 F             JUN 59        SB 609

1949/50        F 93                   JUN 60        SB 264

1951/52       F 187, G 220            JUN 61        SB 575
1954            D 7                   JUN-DEC 62   SB 1786

1955           H 75                   DEC 63       SB 1729

1957          H 566                   DEC 64-66    SB 4442

1967-69     SB 4485          "WIS DEC 67" top, "SCHOOL" bottom
            SB 7158 -  7160  "SCHOOL" top, "WISCONSIN 67" bottom
1970-72     SB 9944         (BS 4438 - BS 4457 are errors)
1973-79       13167          Red/White, partial groove
"JUN 78"      13603 - 15159  Full groove
JUN 1980-87   11365          Black/Yellow, number centered
"JUN 85"      13206 - 13867, Number right-justified

              15194
"JUN 87"  15117,15512,16716  No groove or slot
JUN 1988      10050          Red/White

SNOWMOBILE
Ch. 210 P 6/6/1933, E 6/8/1933.  Registration of snowmobiles

under 3,000 lbs. required for $5 fee, but unknown if special

plates were issued, or just truck plates.  Still included in 1941

Milwaukee Journal article listing all plate types on issue.  Not

on 1947 chart.  Probably refers to large snowmachines for which

plates are known to have been issued in Minnesota, New York,

Manitoba and Quebec.

 

Ch. 394 P 2/5/1970.  3-year registration expire 8/31/1972.

Only a pair of decals issued.

 
SNOWMOBILE DEALER
Ch. 394 P 2/5/1970.  3-year registration expire 8/31/1972.

Earliest seen 1975.  Motorcycle-size plate issued by Department

of Natural Resources.  Legend only on sticker.
 
      BASEPLATES                            STICKERS
UND. (1975-78) Black/Light Green            AUG 1975 Black/Yellow
                D211 - D9444                AUG 1978 White/Red

UND. (1980-86) Black/Orange                 JUN 1980 White/Red
                 Y14 - Y9903                    1981 White/Blue

                                            JUN 1982 White/Orange

                                            JUN 1984 White/Red
                                            JUN 1986 Tan/White
 
SPECIAL DESIGNED VEHICLE
Began 9/3/1980, expire "APRIL 81".  Issued to home-built or
reconstructed vehicles with maximum speed of 35 MPH.
Motorcycle-size plates in #1200 - 1350 block issued with additional
Black/Yellow sticker at left.
 
APRIL 81-82   1205 - 1212   Blue/White  (1351 - 1355 also made but not issued)

APRIL 83-84   1212 -

APRIL 85-86   1207 -
 
SPECIAL MOBILE EQUIPMENT (UX)
Earliest seen "JUL 56".  Pairs seen 1957.

Pairs issued to all vehicles except trailers issued singly 1958.

All vehicles issued singly 1960 on.
Numbers assumed to begin at #1 all years.  Weight class letters

added 1980-87;  E/X - T/X, with E/X issued for all <16,000 lbs.

according to 1980-87 DMV charts, yet D/X seen.

 

LEGENDS:  No legend or slogan, "UX" prefix 1956-77,

          vertical "UX" suffix 1978-79, "SPECIAL-UX" 1980-87.
COLORS:  Orange/Black 1956, Fiscal Year colors 1957-59,

         Calendar Year colors 1964-65, Special "X" colors 1967-87.

 

JUL 56       UX 1133            DEC 63       UX 4704
JUN 57       UX 3744            DEC 64        UX 947
JUN 58       UX 3853            DEC 65-66    UX 5326
JUN 59       UX 3595            1967-69      UX 7563
JUN 60       UX 4213            1970-73      UX 5476
JUN 61       UX 3236            1974-77      UX 8921
JUN-DEC 62   UX 1372            DEC 78-79   5579 U/X

 

            D/X  E/X  F/X  G/X  H/X  J/X  K/X  L/X  N/X  P/X  Q/X  R/X  S/X  T/X

DEC 80-81                                  26        20

DEC 82-83    30 1025                                                81   59

DEC 84-85        220       633       161                            36   22

DEC 86-87        818       785                                      25

 

SPECIAL "X"
Earliest seen 1954.

Issued singly to vehicles and school buses owned and

operated by private schools and colleges.
No legend or slogan, "X" suffix 1954-87.

COLORS:  Municipal colors 1954-57,

         Calendar Year colors 1958-60, 1962-75,

         White/Green 1976 sticker, Black/Red 1977 sticker,

         colors below 1978-87.
Numbers assumed to have begun at #1 X all years.
1979-87 over #50000 X are Special "X" Motor Bus.
 

1954      129X                   DEC 61

1955     142 X                   DEC 62       491 X
1956     198 X                   DEC 63       503 X
1957     248 X                   DEC 64-66   2330 X
1958     419 X                   1967-69     4960 X
DEC 59   170 X                   1970-73    10852 X
DEC 60   445 X                   1974-77     5218 X
 
         BASEPLATES                     STICKERS
1978     1707 X   White/Light Blue      1979   White/Brown
DEC 80   1338 X   Black/Orange          1981   Yellow/Green
DEC 82   1011 X   White/Dark Green      1983   Blue/Yellow
DEC 84    631 X   Red/White             1985   Black/Red
DEC 86    761 X   White/Dark Blue       1987   Black/White
 
SPECIAL "X" MOTOR BUS
Earliest seen "DEC 79".
Identical to Special "X" but numbers begin at #50001X all years.
 
SPECIAL "Z"

Ch. 581 P 8/2/1949 provided for $10 fee for vehicles with

"special uses".  Earliest seen "JUN 60".  Issued singly to

vehicles "as set forth in Wis. M.V.C. 341.26 (4)".
Also described as Special Mobile Equipment on 1963-77 charts.
1964 AAMVA Book:  "Issued to vehicles other than those mentioned

under Special Mobile Equipment being operated empty, transporting

the equipment..."

Numbers assumed to begin at #1 all years.

Weight class letters added 1980-87; A/Z - T/Z.

LEGENDS:  No legend or slogan, "Z" prefix 1960-77,

          "Z" suffix 1978-79, "SPECIAL-Z" 1980-87.
COLORS:  Fiscal Year colors 1960-61,

         Special "X" colors 1963, 1965, 1967-87.
 
JUN 60      Z 40          DEC 65 (66?)
JUN 61     Z 219          1967-69       Z 2823

JUN-DEC 62                1970-73       Z 4518
DEC 63     Z 235          1974-77       Z 4513
DEC 64?                   DEC 78-79     4408 Z

 

            A/Z  B/Z  C/Z  D/Z  E/Z  F/Z  G/Z  H/Z  J/Z  K/Z  L/Z  N/Z  P/Z  Q/Z  R/Z  S/Z  T/Z

DEC 80-81    25   56  326  421  328            193   40  143   75   97    2

DEC 82-83                  533  330            222    2  139    4   81    7    5   15

DEC 84-85    37       519            491             88   93  119   78  101   83

DEC 86-87         41  142            333  484  264  130       159   78   82   84         1

 
STATE NATIONAL GUARD
UND. White/Red #W.N.G.1 pictured in The Milwaukee Journal 1940.

STATE OWNED
Began 1/1/1981.  Permanent undated White/Red plate issued singly.
"STATE OWNED" all years.
 
(1981) Type 1:  Painted border, bolt slot   2508 -  6682  (4,175)
(1984) Type 2:  Painted border, no slot     8893 -  9094    (202)
(1987?)Type 3:  Unpainted border, no slot  10460 - 11048    (589)
      (Type 4:  Thin dies                  11102 - 17127)
 
STATE TRAFFIC PATROL
According to 7/16/1940 Sheboygan Press article, first plates to
be issued soon.  Yellow plates mentioned 8/1/1940 Capital Times.
All are undated.  First digit = District number; Madison - 1,
Eau Claire - 6.
 

A. 1940-55 Black/Yellow "STATE/TRAFFIC/PATROL"