Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1942

All of the 48 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates dated for the year 1942, and due to metal conservation for World War II, 1943 and 1944 for most states. In 1942, automobile production in the United States was halted for the duration of World War II, and many automobile factories were converted to munitions or other war-oriented industrial manufacturing purposes until 1946.

Most states conserved metal for World War II in some way. Many states stopped issuing front plates, while other states such as Illinois issued license plates made out of soybean fiberboard. Most states either issued plates intended to be revalidated with metal tabs or revalidated license plates with tabs. Some other states, such as Wisconsin, used small plates.

Passenger baseplates ImageRegionDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesAlabamaEmbossed yellow lettering and on black base. "ALABAMA 1942" under registration at bottom center.none12A 345unknownCoded by county of issuance: 0A1-23400A1-234AlaskaEmbossed black lettering on white base. "ALASKA 1942" embossed at bottom.none1234ArizonaEmbossed black lettering on white base with rounded corners. "ARIZONA 42" embossed at top."GRAND CANYON STATE" at bottom center.ArkansasEmbossed orange lettering and rims on black base. "1942" embossed at top; "ARKANSAS" embossed at bottom center.none123–456unknownCaliforniaEmbossed yellow lettering on black base. "19 CALIFORNIA 41" embossed at top.none1A 23 4512 A 345unknownEmbossed black-on-yellow "19 CALIFORNIA 42" renewal tabs to cover top lettering issued for wartime metal shortages.Canal ZoneEmbossed white lettering on navy base. "1942" embossed at top; "CANAL ZONE" at bottom.none12345ColoradoEmbossed white lettering and rims on maroon base. "19 COLORADO 42" embossed at top.none1-1234512-1234unknownCounty-coded registrationConnecticutEmbossed white numbers on maroon plate; "CONN. 1933" embossed in white characters at bottom.none1234A123A/B123unknownIssued in blocks by branch office. DelawareTwo types: (1) Black porcelain-painted enamel on steel with painted white numbers. Renewal tabs for date and year inserted through slots at top right and left.or (2) Embossed orange numbers on blue base.none12-345District of ColumbiaEmbossed yellow lettering and rims on black base. "DIST. OF COLUMBIA" or "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" embossed at bottom; "EX 3-31-42" at top.none123412-345123–456FloridaEmbossed orange lettering and border on royaL blue background. "19 FLORIDA 42" embossed at top.none12A3456unknownCounty- and weight-class-codedGeorgiaEmbossed white registration and embossed orange lettering and rims on navy blue plate.noneA12-345This may be the only 1942 passenger issue with different colors for different embossed lettering.GuamHawai'iEmbossed white lettering on black base. "HAWAII 1942" embossed at bottom.noneA1234IdahoEmbossed black lettering on white base.IllinoisEmbossed golden yellow lettering on black base plate. "ILLINOIS 1942" embossed at bottom.none123 456unknownIndianaDark blue lettering embossed on golden yellow base.none123–456unknownIowaEmbossed white lettering on navy base. "IOWA – 1942" at top.none1–234512-3456County-codedKansasEmbossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "KANSAS '42" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom; painted sunflower logos at bottom corners.none1-1234510-12345100–123unknownCounty-coded registrationKentuckyBlack base with white embossed lettering and border. County name at bottom.none12345unknownLouisianaEmbossed white lettering and rims on red base. Pelican logo separator embossed near center.none12-345123–456MaineEmbossed black numbers on beige plate with border line; "MAINE 1942" embossed in black block letters centered above numbers."VACATIONLAND" embossed in black block letters centered below numbers12-345123–4561 to approximately 177-000MarylandEmbossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "MARYLAND" embossed in black block letters centered at top; "3–31" embossed in top left corner and "1942" in top right corner."DRIVE CAREFULLY" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom.12-345123–45630-000 to approximately 647-000MassachusettsEmbossed white numbers on red plate or on dark green plate. "MASS – 42" embossed at bottom.none12-345123–456MichiganEmbossed white lettering on dark green base. "MICHIGAN" embossed at top and "42" at bottom.noneAB-12-34County-coded (AB).MinnesotaEmbossed red lettering and rims on white base. "MINNESOTA 1942" embossed at bottom.12-345123–456unknownMississippiBlue with embossed yellow lettering and rim. The county name was stamped at the top left of the license plate, The letters "MISS" were arranged vertically between the "123" and "456" parts of the registration number.none123–456unknownIssued in blocks by county.MissouriEmbossed black lettering and rims on white base. "MISSOURI 1942" embossed at bottom.none12-345123–456MontanaEmbossed white numbers on black plate with state-shaped border; "MONTANA–42" embossed in white block letters below numbersnone1-1234510-1234NebraskaEmbossed red lettering on white base. "NEBRASKA 42" embossed at bottom.none1–234512-3456County-coded (12 or 1)NevadaEmbossed white lettering and rims on blue base. "NEVADA 1942" embossed at bottom.none123–456New HampshireEmbossed green lettering and rims on white base.Embossed forest green numbers on white plate with border line.New JerseyEmbossed golden yellow numbers on black base. "N.J. 1942" embossed at bottom.noneAB 123County-coded (AB)New MexicoEmbossed black lettering on white base. "NEW MEXICO" embossed at bottom with Zia sun symbol with two-letter year embossed at left."LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" embossed at top.1–23412-345County-coded (1 or 12)New YorkEmbossed golden yellow lettering on black base. "NY 42" embossed at top center.none1A23-45 (and other formats)County-coded.North CarolinaYellow base with embossed black lettering. "NORTH CAROLINA 42" at bottom.none123–456unknownNorth DakotaEmbossed yellow lettering and rims on red plate. "ND" embossed vertically to left and "1942" vertically at right.none12-345123–456OhioEmbossed forest green lettering on white plate. "OHIO 1942" embossed at bottom.none123-AB12345A-123-BAB-123County-coded in blocksOklahomaEmbossed black lettering and rims on white plate. "OKLAHOMA 1942" at top.1–234512-3456County-coded (1 or 12).OregonEmbossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "OREGON" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom; "19" embossed in bottom left corner and "42" in bottom right cornernone123–4561 to approximately 495-000PennsylvaniaBlue lettering on yellow base with blue state map outline. "1942 PENNA" embossed at top center.noneA1234AB123Rhode IslandEmbossed white lettering and rims on black base. "R.I. 42" embossed at bottom center.none1234 A1234South CarolinaEmbossed golden yellow lettering on jet-black base. "SOUTH CAROLINA 42" embossed at top.noneA-1A-12A-123A-1234Coded by weight class (A).South DakotaJet-black lettering embossed on golden yellow base. "SOUTH DAKOTA 1942" embossed at top.none1-1234512-12345County-coded (1 or 12)TennesseeJet-black lettering and rims embossed on state-shaped base.TexasBlack embossed lettering on gold base.none123–456A12-345UtahBlack on white, "UTAH" at left under "42.""CENTER SCENIC AMERICA" embossed at bottom.A1234unknownVermontNavy lettering embossed on white base. "19 VERMONT 42" embossed at bottom.none1–234 12-345VirginiaEmbossed black lettering on white base. "VIRGINIA 1942" embossed at top.none123–456WashingtonEmbossed green lettering on white base. "WASHINGTON 1942" embossed at bottom.noneA-12345West VirginiaEmbossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "W. VA. EXP.-6-30-42" embossed in yellow block letters at bottomnone123–4561 to approximately 349-000WisconsinEmbossed golden yellow numbers on black plate; "19 WISCONSIN 42" at bottom "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at top123 4561 to approximately 775 000Corners were rounded and plates were revalidated for 1943 with white tabs, for 1944 with green tabs, and for 1945 with white tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II. Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "WIS" embossed at bottom left, embossed yellow oval with debossed black "1942" at bottom rightnoneA12, A1B, AB1, ABC, 12A, 1A2, 1ABA00 to 9ZZIssued from late 1942 to late 1943 for World War II metal conservation; revalidated to 1945. Every possible combination of 3 characters was exhausted.WyomingEmbossed black numbers and Bucking Horse and Rider on white plate with border line; "1942 WYOMING" embossed in black block letters at topnone1–12342-A12310-1234County coded (1 or 10)

Non-passenger plates Image (standard)RegionTypeDesign and sloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesWisconsinBusEmbossed yellow serial on black plate; "WIS" over "BUS" at top left, "41" over "42" at top right; quarterly tab at top between caption and yearA 12Coded by weight classWeight classes are same as truck/heavy truckCabinEmbossed black serial on gray plate with border line; "41 CABIN 42" at top, "WISCONSIN" at bottom12341 to approximately 1900DealerEmbossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "19 WIS DEALER 42" at top, "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom1234 ADealer number and plate numberNumber is the dealer number, letter is the plate number for that dealerFarmEmbossed white serial on green plate with border line; "41 FARM TR'K 42" at top, vertical "WIS" at left123451 to approximately 65000Some later plates had a "TR'K FARM" captionMotorcycleEmbossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "WIS 1942" at bottom12341 to approximately 3000MunicipalEmbossed black serial on golden yellow plate; unknown format1234Unknown to approximately 8900Identifiable by a hollow diamondOfficialUnknown format or colors1231 to unknownIdentifiable by a hollow star.Light Private TrailerEmbossed black serial on gray plate; "41 WIS TRAILER 42" at bottom, "NOT FOR HIRE" at topA1234Coded by weight classWeight classes same as truck.Heavy TrailerEmbossed yellow serial on black plate; "WIS" over "T-L" at top left, "41" over "42" at top right; quarterly tab at top between caption and yearA 12Coded by weight classWeight classes same as heavy truck. Issued to all commercial trailers, and issued to private trailers above the D weight class.TruckEmbossed black serial on gray plate; "41 WIS TRUCK 42" at bottom, "NOT FOR HIRE" at top12-345ACoded by weight classSerials start at 25-001A. Weight classes are A, B, C, and D. Heavy TruckEmbossed yellow serial on black plate; "WIS" over "TRK" at top left, "41" over "42" at top right; quarterly tab at top between caption and yearA 1234Coded by weight classWeight classes are E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N. Light commercial trucks received identical plates in the A, B, C, and D weight classes.

See also

Antique vehicle registration Electronic license plate Motor vehicle registration Vehicle license

References

External links