The U.S. state of Arkansas first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1911. Prior to 1911, plates were issued by cities.
, plates are issued by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration. Only rear plates have been required since 1944.
Passenger baseplates 1911 to 1967 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 Arkansas license plate that fully complied with these standards: the 1947 (dated 1948), 1952 (dated 1953) and 1955 (dated 1956) issues were all 6 inches in height by 12 inches in width, but had non-standard mounting holes.
ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1911Black serial on white porcelain plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1911" at left and right respectivelynone12341 to approximately 16001912White serial on black porcelain plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1912" at left and right respectivelynone12341 to approximately 25001913Yellow serial on green porcelain plate; vertical "ARK" and "1913" at left and right respectivelynone12341 to approximately 36001914Embossed black serial on white plate; vertical "ARK" and "1914" at left and right respectivelynone12341 to approximately 5200The 1914 plate is quite rare, as motorists had to turn in the plate in order to get the 1915 renewal plate. 1915Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; vertical "ARK" and "1915" at left and right respectivelynone12341 to approximately 80001916Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1916" at left and right respectivelynone123451 to approximately 155001917Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1917" at left and right respectivelynone123451 to approximately 270001918Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1918" at left and right respectivelynone123451 to approximately 410001919Embossed light green serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1919" at left and right respectivelynone123451 to approximately 440001920Embossed dark blue serial on light blue plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1920" at left and right respectivelynone123451 to approximately 590001921Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1921" at left and right respectivelynone123451 to approximately 710001922Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1922" at left and right respectivelynone12-3451 to approximately 77-0001923Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1923" at left and right respectivelynone123-4561924Embossed dark blue serial on gray plate with border line; "ARK" within state outline and "24" at rightnone123-4561925Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "ARK" within state outline and "25" at rightnone123-4561926Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "ARK 26" at rightnone123-4561927Embossed yellow serial on green plate with border line; "ARK 27" at rightnone123-4561928Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" used as separator; "ARK 28" at leftnone123-4561 to approximately 177-0001929Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" used as separator; "ARK 29" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 225-0001930Embossed yellow serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" used as separator; "30 ARK" at leftnone123-4561 to approximately 208-0001931Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" used as separator; "ARK 31" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 189-0001932Embossed slanted gold serial on black plate with border line; slanted "ARK 32" centered at topnone123-4561 to approximately 170-0001933Embossed green serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1933" at left and right respectivelynone123-4561934Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; vertical "1934" and "ARK" at left and right respectivelynone123-4561 to approximately 178-0001935Embossed dark blue serial on light yellow plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1935" at left and right respectively"CENTENNIAL" and "CELEBRATION 36" centered at top and bottom respectively123-4561 to approximately 173-000Commemorated Arkansas' 100 years of statehood.1936Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; vertical "1936" used as separator; "ARKANSAS" centered at topnone123-4561 to approximately 179-000First use of the full state name.1937Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; vertical "37" used as separator; "ARKANSAS" centered at topnone123-4561 to approximately 183-0001938Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "ARKANSAS" within winged graphic centered at bottom; "38" within state outline at leftnone123-4561 to approximately 177-0001939Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "39" used as separator; "ARKANSAS" centered at topnone123-4561 to approximately 187-0001940Embossed red serial on silver plate with border line; "ARK 1940" and "EXPIRES 12-31-40" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123-4561 to200-000;300-001 to approximately 301-0001941Embossed green serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "41" used as separator; "ARKANSAS" centered at top"OPPORTUNITY LAND" centered at bottom123-4561 to200-000;300-001 to approximately 334-000Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "1942" and "ARKANSAS" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123-4561 to200-000;300-001 to approximately 390-000Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.1944White serial on black fiberboard plate; "19 ARK. 44" centered at topnone123-4561 to approximately 224-000Manufactured on fiberboard due to ongoing metal conservation for World War II.1945Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "19 ARK. 45" centered at topnone123-4561 to approximately 218-0001946Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "19 ARK. 46" centered at topnone123-4561 to approximately 222-0001947Embossed red serial on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "19 ARKANSAS 47" at topnone123-4561 to approximately 245-0001948–49Embossed black serial on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1948" centered at top"OPPORTUNITY LAND" centered at bottom123-4561 to approximately 345-000Revalidated for 1949 with aluminum tabs.1950Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1950" centered at top at bottom123-4561 to approximately 374-0001951Embossed dark green serial on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1951" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom123-4561 to approximately 375-0001952Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1952" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom123-4561 to approximately 380-0001953Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1953" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom123-4561 to approximately 394-0001954Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1954" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom123-4561 to approximately 393-0001955Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1955" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom123-4561 to approximately 399-0001956Embossed black serial on pale green plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1956" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom123-4561 to approximately 422-0001957Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 1957" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1958Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 58" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1959Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 59" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1960Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 60" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1961Embossed red serial on gray plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 61" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1962Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 62" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1963Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 63" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom1-12345610-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1964Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 64" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom1-12345610-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1965Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 65" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom1-12345610-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1966Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 66" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom1-12345610-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1967Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS 67" centered at top"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottom1-12345610-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
1968 to present ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1968–74Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "ARKANSAS" centered at topnoneABC 123AAA 001 to EEW 999Letter Q not used in serials, and U and V not used from 1973 onwards.1975–77"LAND OF OPPORTUNITY" at bottomEEX 001 to GEC 9991978–88Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "Arkansas" screened in blue centered at top"Land of Opportunity" screened in blue centered at bottomABC 123 POP 9991989 –May1996Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; red band screened at top containing "Arkansas" in white in the center"The Natural State" screened in red centered at bottomABC 123POR 001 to ZZZ 999May1996 – February 2006Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "Arkansas" screened in dark blue centered at top"The Natural State" screened in dark blue centered at bottom123 ABC001 AAA to 999 KPFMarch 2006 – April2021Embossed black serial on reflective gradient sky blue and white plate; diamond graphic screened in the center; "Arkansas" screened in dark red centered at top"The Natural State" screened in dark red centered at bottom123 ABC001 KPG to 999 ZZZLetters U and V added back to serials in 2015. April 2021 – presentABC 12DAAA 01A to BJA 95D
Non-passenger plates