The U.S. state of Indiana first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until July 1, 1913, when the state began to issue plates.
Plates are currently issued by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1956.
Passenger baseplates 1913 to 1980 In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Indiana license plate that complied with these standards. ImageFirst issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1913Black serial on yellow porcelain plate; "IND 1913" in yellow on black section at rightnone123451 to approximately 450001914Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "IND 1914" at rightnone123451 to approximately 67000First embossed plate.1915Embossed green serial on pink plate; "IND '15" at rightnone123451 to approximately 970001916Embossed black serial on white plate; "IND '16" at rightnone123451 to 99999A1234A1 to approximately D90001917Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "IND 17" at rightnone123451 to 99999A1234A1 to approximately K20001918Embossed black serial on green plate with border line; "IND 18" at rightnone1234561 to approximately 2230001919Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IND 19" at rightnone1234561 to approximately 2770001920Embossed green serial on cream-colored plate with border line; "IND 20" at rightnone1234561 to approximately 2960001921Embossed black serial on salmon-colored plate with border line; "IND 21" at rightnone1234561 to approximately 3440001922Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IND 22" at rightnone1234561 to approximately 4070001923Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "IND 23" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 499-0001924Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "IND 24" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 562-0001925Embossed maroon serial on tan plate with border line; "IND 25" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 620-0001926Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "IND 26" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 667-0001927Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IND 27" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 707-0001928Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "INDIANA-1928" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 713-000First use of the full state name.1929Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "INDIANA-29" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 743-0001930Embossed orange serial on dark blue plate with border line; "INDIANA-30" at bottomnone123 4561 to approximately 763 0001931Embossed dark blue serial on orange plate with border line; "INDIANA-31" at topnone123 4561 to approximately 761 0001932Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "INDIANA-32" at bottomnone123 4561 to approximately 741 0001933Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "INDIANA–33" at topnone123 4561 to approximately 742 0001934Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "INDIANA–34" at bottomnone123 4561 to approximately 722 0001935Embossed black serial on light blue plate with border line; "INDIANA-35" at topnone123 4561 to approximately 729 0001936Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "INDIANA-36" at bottomnone123 4561 to approximately 779 0001937Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "INDIANA-37" at topnone123 4561 to approximately 835 0001938Embossed maroon serial on cream-colored plate with border line; "INDIANA–38" at bottomnone123 4561 to approximately 857 0001939Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "INDIANA–39" at topnone123 4561 to approximately 849 0001940Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "INDIANA–40" at bottomnone123 4561 to approximately 873 0001941Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "INDIANA–41" at topnone123 4561 to approximately 923 0001942Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "INDIANA–42" at bottomnone123 4561 234 5671 to approximately 1 034 000Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.1944Embossed white serial on black plate; "IND 44" at rightnone1234561 to approximately 8990001945Embossed white serial on brown plate; "INDIANA" and "45" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123 4561 to approximately 894 0001946Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "46" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123 4561 to approximately 901 0001947Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate; "INDIANA" and "47" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123 4561 to approximately 942 0001948Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "48" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123 4561 to 999 999A-12345A-1 to approximately A-270001949Embossed white serial on red plate; "INDIANA" and "49" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123 4561 to 999 999A-123456A-1 to approximately A-1120001950Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "50" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB 1234County-coded1951Embossed black serial on white plate; "INDIANA" and "51" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB 1234County-codedRevalidated for 1952 with yellow tabs, and for 1953 with green tabs, due to metal conservation for the Korean War.1954Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "54" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB 1234County-codedRevalidated for 1955 with red tabs.1956Embossed golden yellow serial on dark blue plate; "IND–56" centered at bottom"DRIVE SAFELY" on golden yellow bar centered at topAB 1234County-coded1957Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate; "IND–57" centered at top"DRIVE SAFELY" on dark blue bar centered at bottomAB 1234County-coded1958Embossed golden yellow serial on dark blue plate; "IND–58" centered at bottom"DRIVE SAFELY" on golden yellow bar centered at topAB 1234County-coded1959Embossed dark blue serial on golden yellow plate; "IND–59" centered at top"LINCOLN YEAR" on dark blue bar centered at bottom AB 1234County-codedCommemorated the 150th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, who lived in Indiana from 1816 to 1830.1960Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "IND–60" centered at bottom"SAFETY PAYS" on white bar centered at topAB 1234County-coded1961Embossed white serial on red plate; "IND–61" centered at top"SAFETY PAYS" on white bar centered at bottomAB 1234County-coded1962Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "IND–62" centered at bottom"SAFETY PAYS" on golden yellow bar centered at topAB 1234County-coded1963Embossed golden yellow serial on blue plate; "1963" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneA1234A1234County-coded1964Embossed reflective white serial on red plate; "INDIANA" and "1964" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone01234001234County-coded1965Embossed reflective white serial on dark green plate; "1965" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone01234001234County-coded1966Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; "IND–66" centered at bottom"150TH YEAR" centered at top01234001234County-codedCommemorated Indiana's 150 years of statehood.1967Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "1967" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone01234001234County-coded1968Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; "INDIANA" and "1968" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone01234001234County-coded1969Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; "1969" and "INDIANA" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone01234001234County-coded1970Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "IND–70" centered at top; month sticker and "71" at bottomnone01234001234County-codedMonthly staggered registration introduced, with the month of expiration determined by the initial letter of the registrant's surname. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1971.1971Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; "71–IND" centered at top; month sticker and "72" at bottomnone01234001234County-codedPlates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1972.1972Embossed green serial on reflective white plate; "IND–72" centered at top; month sticker and "73" at bottomnone01234001234County-codedPlates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1973.1973Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "INDIANA" centered at top; month sticker and "74" at bottomnone01234001234County-codedPlates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1974.1974Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; "INDIANA" centered at top; month sticker and "75" at bottomnone01234001234County-codedPlates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1975.1975Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; "INDIANA" centered at top; month sticker and "76" at bottomnone01234001234County-codedPlates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1976.1976Blue serial on reflective white, red and blue graphic backgroundHeritage State01234001234County-codedFirst graphic plate; commemorated the US Bicentennial. The letter in the serial was moved to the bottom of the plate to accommodate the Minuteman graphic. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1977.1977Green serial on reflective white, green and yellow backgroundnone01234001234County-codedPlates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1978.1978Black serial on reflective white, red and light blue backgroundnone01234001234County-codedIndianapolis 500 race cars in background. This issue is thought by some to be a tribute to Tony Hulman, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, who died in 1977; sample plates, normally numbered 00A0000 in most years, were numbered 00H0000 this year, lending some credence to this belief. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1979.1979Brown serial on reflective white, yellow and brown background1779 George Rogers Clark01234001234County-codedAwarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1979 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Indiana has been so honored. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1980.1980Black serial on reflective white, yellow, orange and red backgroundnone01234001234County-codedFinal single-year passenger plate in the United States. Plates expired from January 31 through June 30, 1981.
1981 to present