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Vehicle registration plates of the United States Virgin Islands

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The United States Virgin Islands
Current series
Slogan175th Emancipation
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatABC 123
(coded by island of issuance)
IntroducedMarch 1, 2023 (2023-03-01)[1]
History
First issued1917 (1917)

The U.S. unincorporated territory of the United States Virgin Islands first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1917.

Passenger baseplates

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1917 to 1967

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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 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[2] The U.S. Virgin Islands also adopted these standards in 1956, having issued plates 6 inches in height by 12 inches in width (with non-standard mounting holes) since 1952.[3]

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1929 Off-white on black none 123
123
1932 White on dark blue none 123
123
1933 White on maroon none 123
123
1934 White on dark blue none 123
123
1935 Dark blue on white none 123
123
1936 Yellow on red none 123
123
1937 Yellow on black none 123
123
1938 Black on white none 123
1939 White on maroon none C-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance 'C' was used on St. Croix, and 'T' on St. Thomas and St. John. This practice continued until 1975.
1940 White on black none C-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
1941 Blue on white none C-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
1942–44 White on blue none C-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance Revalidated for 1943 with yellow tabs, and for 1944 with windshield stickers.
1945 White on blue none C-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
1946 Blue on ivory none C-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
1947 Off-white on black none C-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
1948 Blue on ivory none C-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
1949 Silver on black none C-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
1950 Black on yellow none C-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
1951 Black on orange none C-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
1952 Yellow on green Tropical Playground C-123
T-123
Coded by island of issuance
1953 Green on yellow Tropical Playground C-123
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1954 Green on white Tropical Playground C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1955 Red on white Tropical Playground C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1956 Blue on white Tropical Playground C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1957 Blue on yellow Tropical Playground C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1958 Green on white Tropical Playground C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1959 Red on white Tropical Playground C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1960 White on blue Tropical Playground C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1961 Brown on orange Tropical Playground C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1962 Off-white on green Tropical Playground C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1963 White on blue Vacation Adventure C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1964 White on red Vacation Adventure C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1965 Green on yellow Vacation Adventure C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1966 White on black Vacation Adventure C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance
1967 White on blue Vacation Adventure C-1234
T-1234
Coded by island of issuance

1968 to present

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Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1968 White on black American Paradise C-12345
T-12345
Coded by island of issuance Revalidated for 1969 and 1970 with plate stickers.
1969–70 As above, but without "68"
1971–74 White on dark blue American Paradise C-12345
T-12345
Coded by island of issuance Revalidated for 1972, 1973 and 1974 with plate stickers.
1975–77 White on lime green American Paradise C-12345
T-12345
J-123
Coded by island of issuance 'J' code introduced for St. John. Revalidated for 1976 and 1977 with windshield stickers; plates continue to be revalidated in this manner today.
1978–80 Blue on reflective white American Paradise C-12345
T-12345
J-123
Coded by island of issuance Monthly staggered registration introduced 1980.
1981–87 Green on reflective white American Paradise C-12340
T-12340
J-1230
Coded by island of issuance and month of expiration The last digit of the serial corresponded to the expiration month (1 for January, 2 for February and so on up to 0 for October).[4] This practice continued until 2000.
1988–93 Red on reflective white American Paradise C-12340
T-12340
J-1230
Coded by island of issuance and month of expiration
1994–99 Red on reflective white with background image of islands American Paradise C-12340
T-12340
J-1230
Coded by island of issuance and month of expiration Some of these plates had a light blue background.
2000–05 Black on reflective yellow with background image of islands Our Islands, Our Home CAB-123 CAA-001 to
CCD-999
TAB-123 TAA-001 to
TCE-999
JAB-123 JAA-001 to
JAG-500
2006 – April 10, 2016 Black on beach scene graphic America's Caribbean CAB 123 CCE 001 to CET 999
TAB 123 TCF 001 to TEX 999
JAB 123 JAG 501 to JAO 999
April 11, 2016[5] – February 28, 2023 White on blue ocean background with orange island maps Transfer Centennial CAB 123 CEY 001 to CGY 999 Commemorates the 100th anniversary of the transfer of the islands from Denmark to the United States.
TAB 123 TEY 001 to TGX 999
JAB 123 JAQ 001 to JAX 999
March 1, 2023 – present Black embossed with top strip teal, middle strip white, and low strip gold with 175th Emancipation logo in middle 175th Emancipation CAB 123 CGZ 001 to present Commemorates the 175th Emancipation
TAB 123 TGY 001 to present
JAB 123 JAY 001 to present

References

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  1. ^ "2023 Emancipation License Plates". bmv.vi.gov.
  2. ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  3. ^ Kustermann, Michael (March 2012). "United States Virgin Islands 1950s - 1960s". WorldLicensePlates.com. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  4. ^ Tanner, Eric N. "Virgin Islands License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved October 7, 2018. Open access icon
  5. ^ Gilbert, Ernice (April 10, 2016). "About The Controversial Centennial License Plate". The Virgin Islands Consortium. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
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