The U.S. state of Texas first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own license plates for display, with serial numbers assigned by their county of residence, until the state began to issue plates in 1917.
, plates are manufactured at the Wynne Unit in Huntsville, Texas, and are issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV). Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles, trailers and antique vehicles.
Passenger baseplates 1917 to 1974 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 first Texas license plate that complied with these standards was a modification of the 1955 plate, introduced towards the end of that year.
ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesEmbossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "TEX" at rightnone1234561 to approximately 767000Validated for 1917, 1918 and 1919 with round seals, and for 1920, 1921 and 1922 with rectangular seals.1923–24Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate with border line; vertical "TEXAS" at both left and rightnone123-4561 to approximately 999-999Validated for 1924 with rectangular seals.1925Embossed white serial with star separator on maroon plate with border line; vertical "TEXAS" and "1925" at left and right respectivelynone123-4561 to approximately 935–000First dated plate.1926Embossed black serial with star separator on gray plate with border line; vertical "TEX-26" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 997–0001927Embossed white serial with star separator on green plate with border line; vertical "1927" and "TEXAS" at left and right respectivelynone123-4561 to999-999A12-345A00-000 to approximately A69-0001928Embossed white serial with star separator on dark brown plate with border line; vertical "TEX-28" at right; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at leftnone123-4561 to approximately 1–114–0001929Embossed orange serial with star separator on black plate with border line; "TEXAS–1929" centered at bottom; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at leftnone123-4561-234-5671 to approximately 1–195–0001930Embossed dark blue serial with star separator on golden yellow plate with border line; "TEXAS–1930" centered at top; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at leftnone123-4561-234-5671 to approximately 1–358–0001931Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate with border line; vertical "TEX" and "31" at rightnone1-23451 to 9–9999A1-2345A0-0000 to approximately P5-00001932Embossed white serial with star separator on green plate with border line; "TEXAS–1932" centered at bottomnone123-4561 to 999-999Only letters A, F, K, N, V and Y used in the A12-345 serial format. This practice continued through 1944.A12-345A00-000 to approximately V19-0001933Embossed orange serial with star separator on white plate with border line; "TEXAS–1933" centered at topnone123-4561 to 999-999A12-345A00-000 to approximately F90-0001934Embossed black serial with star separator on orange plate with border line; "TEXAS – 1934" centered at bottomnone123-4561 to 999-999A12-345A00-000 to approximately F35-0001935Embossed white serial with star separator on maroon plate with border line; "TEXAS–1935" centered at topnone123-4561 to 999-999A12-345A00-000 to approximately F64-0001936Embossed dark blue serial on lemon yellow plate with border line; vertical "TEX" used as separator; "19" at bottom left and "36" at bottom right"CENTENNIAL" centered at bottom123-4561 to 999-999Commemorated the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Republic of Texas.A12-345A00-000 to approximately K31-0001937Embossed ivory serial with star separator on black plate with border line; "TEXAS–1937" centered at topnone123-4561 to 999-999A12-345A00-000 to approximately K83-0001938Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate with border line; "TEXAS–1938" centered at bottomnone123-4561 to 999-999A12-345A00-000 to approximately K88-0001939Embossed dark purple serial with star separator on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS 1939" at topnone123-4561 to 999-999A12-345A00-000 to approximately N18-0001940Embossed dark purple serial with star separator on white plate; "19 TEXAS 40" at topnone123-4561 to 999-999A12-345A00-000 to approximately V06-0001941Embossed golden yellow serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS 1941" at topnone123-4561 to 999-999A12-345A00-000 to approximately V70-0001942–44Embossed black serial with star separator on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-42" at bottomnone123-4561 to 999-999Revalidated for 1943 with black tabs, and for 1944 with green tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.A12-345A00-000 to approximately Y79-0001945Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-45" at top, offset to rightnone123410 to approximately 40001946Embossed cream serial on black plate; "TEXAS-46" at top, offset to rightnone123410 to approximately 70001947Embossed white serial on black plate; "TEXAS-47" at bottom, offset to rightnone123410 to approximately 70001948Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "TEXAS-48" at top, offset to rightnone123410 to approximately 70001949Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-49" at bottom, offset to rightnone123410 to approximately 80001950Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "TEXAS-50" at top, offset to rightnone123410 to 9999;10 to approximately 30001951Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "TEXAS-51" at top, offset to rightnone123410 to 9999;10 to approximately 80001952As 1950 base, but with "TEXAS 52" at topnone123410 to approximately 20001953As 1951 base, but with "TEXAS 53" at topnone123410 to approximately 40001954As 1950 base, but with "TEXAS 54" at topnone123410 to approximately 90001955As 1951 base, but with "TEXAS 55" at topnone123410 to approximately 9999As above, but to 6" x 12" size, and with "TEXAS 55" centered at topAB1234RF10 to approximately SD30001956Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "TEXAS 56" centered at topnoneAB1234AA10 to approximately SV60001957Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "TEXAS 57" centered at topnoneAB-1234AA-10 to approximately UR-30001958Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS 58" centered at topnoneAB-1234AA-10 to approximately TT-60001959As 1957 base, but with "TEXAS 59" centered at topnoneAB-1234AA-10 to approximately UK-30001960As 1958 base, but with "TEXAS 60" centered at topnoneAB-1234AA-10 to approximately UN-70001961Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "TEXAS" centered at top; "61" at top rightnoneAB-1234AA-10 to approximately UY-90001962Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS" centered at top; "62" at top rightnoneAB-1234AA-10 to approximately VZ-40001963Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "TEXAS" and "1963" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB-1234AA-10 to approximately WS-70001964Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS" and "1964" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB-1234AA-10 to approximately YT-10001965Embossed black serial on white plate; "19 TEXAS 65" at topnoneABC 123BBB 10 to approximately PHG 999Vowels and Q not used in serials; this practice continued through 1974.1966Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "19 TEXAS 66" at topnoneABC-123BBB-10 to approximately PYK-9991967Embossed black serial with star separator on white plate; "19 TEXAS 67" at topnoneABC-123BBB-10 to approximately RKN-9991968Embossed white serial with star separator on black plate; "TEXAS" centered at top; "68" at bottom left and bottom right"HEMISFAIR" centered at bottomABC-123BBB-10 to approximately RSM-9991969Embossed black serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 69" at topnoneABC-123BBB-10 to approximately RWV-9991970Embossed blue serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 70" at topnoneABC-123BBB-10 to approximately SDN-9991971Embossed black serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "TEXAS 71" at top, offset to rightnoneABC-123BBB-10 to approximately SWD-9991972Embossed green serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 72" at topnoneABC-123BBB-10 to approximately TKK-9991973Embossed black serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 73" at topnoneABC-123BBB-10 to approximately VDD-9991974Embossed red serial with star separator on reflective white plate; "19 TEXAS 74" at topnoneABC-123BBB-10 to approximately VMG-999
1975 to present