The U.S. state of New York was the first to require its residents to register their motor vehicles, in 1901. Registrants provided their own license plates for display, featuring their initials until 1903 and numbers thereafter, until the state began to issue plates in 1910.

Plates are currently issued by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (NYSDMV). Front and rear plates are required on all vehicles except for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates 1910 to 1965 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 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first New York license plate that complied with these standards. ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1910Riveted white serial on dark blue plate; vertical "NY" at rightnone123451 to 999; 3000 to approximately 61000Serials 1000 through 2999 reserved for dealers; this practice continued through 1913.1911Embossed white serial on maroon plate; vertical "NY" at rightnone123451 to 999; 3000 to approximately 850001912White serial on red porcelain plate; vertical "NY" at rightnone1234561 to 999; 3000 to approximately 1060001913Embossed white serial on purple plate; "NY 1913" at rightnone123451 to 999; 3000 to 99999First dated plate.A1234A1 to approximately E20001914Embossed white serial on brown plate; "NY 1914" at leftnone123451 to 5999; 8000 to 99999Serials 6000 through 7999 reserved for dealers.A1234A1 to approximately F50001915Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "NY 1915" at rightnone123451 to 999; 3000 to 99999Serials 1000 through 2999 reserved for dealers (as from 1910 to 1913). Letters A, B, D, E, F, H, K, R, S, V, X and Y used in the A1234 serial format.A1234A1 to approximately Y30001916Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "N.Y. 1916" centered at bottomnone123-456A12-345B12-345Coded by districtAll-numeric serials issued in New York City district; 'A' series in Albany district (eastern upstate New York); and 'B' series in Buffalo district (western upstate New York). This happened again in 1917.1917Embossed white serial on dark olive green plate with border line; "N.Y. 1917" centered at bottomnone123-456A123-456B123-456Coded by district1918Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "N.Y. 1918" centered at topnone123-456Single series of all-numeric serials used for all classes of vehicles, with blocks allocated to passenger vehicles in each of the three districts (above). This practice continued through 1921.1919Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "N.Y. 1919" centered at topnone123-4561920Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; "N.Y. 1920" centered at bottomnone123-4561921Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "N.Y. 1921" centered at bottomnone123-4561922Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "N.Y. 1922" centered at bottomnone123-456Issued in blocks by county1923Embossed white serial on purple plate with border line; "N.Y. 1923" centered at topnone123-4561-234-567Issued in blocks by county1924Embossed white serial on gray plate with border line; "N.Y. 1924" centered at bottomnone123-4561-234-567Issued in blocks by county1925Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "N.Y. 1925" centered at topnone1A·12-34County-codedFirst use of county codes.1926Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "N.Y. 1926" centered at bottomnone1A·12-34County-coded1927Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "NY 27" centered at topnone1A-12-34A-12-34County-coded1928Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NY 28" centered at bottomnone1A-12-34A-12-34County-coded1929Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NY·29" centered at bottomnone 12-34 12-34County-coded1930Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NY 30" centered at topnoneA 12-341A12-34County-coded1931Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NY 31" centered at bottomnoneA-12-341A12-34County-coded1932Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NY 32" centered at topnoneA-12-341A12-34County-coded1933Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NY 33" centered at topnoneA-12-341A12-34County-coded1934Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NY 34" centered at bottomnoneA-12-341A12-34County-coded1935Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NY 35" centered at bottomnoneA-12-341A12-34County-coded1936Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NY 36" centered at topnoneA-12-341A12-34County-coded1937Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NY 37" centered at topnoneA-12-341A12-34County-coded1938Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NY 38" centered at top"NEW YORK WORLD"S FAIR 1939" at bottomA-12-341A12-34County-codedFirst base to feature the full state name.1939Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate"NEW YORK WORLD"S FAIR 1939" at topA-12-341A12-34AB-123County-coded1940Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate"NEW YORK WORLD"S FAIR 1940" at bottomA-12-341A12-34AB-123County-coded1941Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NY 41" centered at bottomnoneA-12-341A12-34AB-123County-codedEmbossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NY 42" centered at topnoneA-12-341A12-34AB12-34County-codedOnly rear plates issued due to metal conservation for World War II. Revalidated for 1943 with golden yellow tabs.1944Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NY 44" centered at topnoneA-12-341A12-34AB12-34County-codedRestamped and repainted 1942 plates.1945Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NY 45" centered at topnoneA-12-341A12-34AB12-34County-coded1946Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NY 46" centered at bottomnoneA-12-341A12-34AB12-34County-coded1947Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NY 47" centered at bottomnoneA-12-341A12-34AB12-34County-coded1948–49Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NY 48" centered at topnoneA-12-341A12-34AB12-34County-codedRevalidated for 1949 with black tabs.1950Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NY 50" centered at topnoneA-12-341A12-34AB12-34County-coded 1951–52Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NY", slogan and "51" at bottom"THE EMPIRE STATE" between state abbreviation and yearA-12-341A12-34AB12-34County-codedRevalidated for 1952 with black tabs.1953–54Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NY", slogan and "53" at bottom"THE EMPIRE STATE" between state abbreviation and yearA-12-341A12-34AB12-34County-codedRevalidated for 1954 with golden yellow tabs.1955–56Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NY", slogan and "55" at top"THE EMPIRE STATE" between state abbreviation and yearA-12-341A12-34AB12-34County-codedRevalidated for 1956 with black tabs.1957Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "NY", slogan and "57" at bottom"EMPIRE STATE" between state abbreviation and yearA-1234AB-12341234-A1234-AB1A-1234County-codedFirst 6" x 12" plate.1958–59Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "NY", slogan and "58" at bottom"EMPIRE STATE" between state abbreviation and yearA-1234AB-12341234-A1234-AB1A-1234County-codedRevalidated for 1959 with black tabs.1960–61As 1957 base, but with "60" at bottom right"EMPIRE STATE" as on 1957 baseA-1234AB-12341234-A1234-AB1A-1234County-codedRevalidated for 1961 with golden yellow tabs.1962–63As 1958–59 base, but with "62" at bottom right"EMPIRE STATE" as on 1958–59 baseA-1234AB-12341234-A1234-AB1A-1234County-codedRevalidated for 1963 with black tabs.1964–65Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NY", slogan and "64" at bottom"WORLD'S FAIR" between state abbreviation and yearA-1234AB-12341234-A1234-AB1A-1234County-codedRevalidated for 1965 with red stickers placed at far right.

1966 to present ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1966–72Embossed orange serial on blue plate; border lines around plate and around registration sticker spot at bottom right; "NEW YORK" centered at bottomnoneA-1234AB-12341234-A1234-AB1A-1234County-codedSome later plates use the 1973 serial dies; all revalidated with stickers.1973–80Embossed dark blue serial on reflective orange plate; border lines around plate and around registration sticker spot at bottom right; "NEW YORK" centered at bottomnone12-ABC123-ABC1County-codedNumbers 51 through 999 were used on the 12-ABC and 123-ABC serial formats. Narrower dies introduced 1979 to accommodate 1234-ABC format. All plates revalidated with windshield decals; plate stickers never used despite sticker box. (Except on Trailer plates)1980 – June 30, 19861000-AAA to approximately 9999-BUR;1000-TAA to approximately 9999-TCSJuly 1, 1986 – December 2000Liberty plates. Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate, with red stripes at top and bottom; red Statue of Liberty graphic screened in center (or at left on vanity plates); "NEW YORK" screened in dark blue centered at topnoneABC 1231AB 2342County-codedValidated with windshield decal.A1B 234A12 3BCAB1 23C2A2A 100 to Y9Z 999;A10 0AA to Z99 9ZZ;AA1 00A to GS9 99E January 2001 – March 31, 2010Empire State plates. Embossed dark blue serial with state-shaped separator on reflective white plate with blue bars above and below; upper blue bar has the words "NEW YORK" in white with dark blue outline, over a skyline of Niagara Falls, the Adirondack Mountains, and New York City, with sky above all"THE EMPIRE STATE" screened in white on lower blue barABC-12343AAA-1000 to EYH-2999Validated with windshield decal. Letters I, O and Q not used in serials. AAA-1000 through ABZ-9999 reserved for Transit Permit; EYH-3000 through EZZ-9999 may be issued on custom plates. TWY series used by New York State Thruway Authority.April 1, 2010 – May 2020Empire Gold plates. Embossed dark blue serial with state-shaped separator on golden yellow plate, with small blue bar at bottom with thin blue stripe above and curved larger blue bar at top with thin blue stripe below, with orange "NEW YORK" curving to edges of top bar"EMPIRE STATE" screened in dark blue centered at bottomABC-12344FAA-1000 to JSF-9999Validated with windshield decal. JTA-3000 through JZZ-9999 may be issued on custom plates. June 2020 – presentExcelsior plates. Dark blue serial with state-shaped separator on white plate; images of Niagara Falls and New York City skyline at bottom; "NEW YORK" in dark blue centered at top with gold and blue stripes on either side"EXCELSIOR" in gold, with blue outline, centered at bottomABC-12346KAA-1000 to KCH-9999;7KDA-1000 to MHT-1800(as of July 24, 2026)5Plate design chosen by online vote.

Notes on serials

1. Plus remakes of 1966–72 serials, issued upon request. 2. Plus remakes of 1966–72 and 1973–86 serials, issued upon request. 3. Plus remakes of Liberty serials, issued upon request. 4. Plus remakes of Liberty and Empire State serials, issued upon request. 5. This is the highest serial reserved by the NYSDMV. 6. Plus remakes of Liberty, Empire State and Empire Gold serials, issued upon request. 7. These were originally recalled as being too reflective but have been reprinted and reissued.

Passenger baseplate variations 1973–1986: Blue on orange The letter series on the original run of 1973 orange plates were allocated by county and were determined by a number of factors such as geographical names or features found in any said county. The entire 1973–74 allocation list is displayed below.