Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1938

Each 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 for 1938.

Passenger baseplates ImageRegionDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesAlabamaRed serial on blue background with embossed "38" in the top right-hand corner.none123–456AAlaskaArizonaArkansasEmbossed gray lettering, designs and border on red background, "ARKANSAS" embossed in winged signage below registration; "38" embossed inside state shape at left.none123–456Californiablack embossed lettering on yellow base1A 23 45unknownCanal ZoneEmbossed white lettering on red backgroundnone12345ColoradoWhite embossed lettering and rims on teal base.none1-1234510-1234County coded registration (1 or 10).ConnecticutDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaEmbossed yellow lettering and border on black background, "19 FLORIDA 38" embossed at top.none12A3456Coded by county and weight classGeorgiaOrange embossed lettering and rims on blue base. "1938" embossed at bottom and "GEORGIA" at top.none123-456AunknownGuamHawai'iEmbossed yellow lettering on black base; "HAWAII 1938" at bottom.none12-345IdahoEmbossed white letters and rims on maroon base. "IDAHO - 1938" at bottom.none1-2345, 12-3456unknownIllinoisEmbossed white lettering on green base; "ILLINOIS 1938" at bottom.none123 456123 4567unknownIndianaMaroon lettering on cream basenone123 456IowaBlack embossed lettering and rims on white base.none1–234512-3456County-coded registration (1 or 12)KansasEmbossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "KAN. '38" embossed in white block letters centered at bottomnone1-1234510-1234100-123Coded by county (1, 10 or 100)KentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsEmbossed white lettering on red base. "MASS 38" at bottom.none123–456Michigannone123456MinnesotanoneA123-456MississippiDark blue with embossed white lettering and rim. "MISS." stamped at top center of plate, "38" at top right. Passenger plates stamped with "A" at top left.none123–456MissouriEmbossed black lettering and rims on white base. "19 MISSOURI 38" at bottom.none123–456unknownMontanaEmbossed black numbers on orange plate with state-shaped border; embossed black buffalo skull used as separator; "MONTANA–38" embossed in black block letters below numbersnone1-123451/0-1234unknownCoded by county of issuance (1 or 1/0)NebraskaSilver embossed block lettering and rims on black base. "NEBRASKA – 38" embossed at bottom.none1-1234510-1234unknownCounty-coded registration (1 or 10)NevadaEmbossed white lettering and rims on blue base. "NEVADA 1938" at bottom.none12-345unknownNew HampshireEmbossed white lettering and rims on dark green base. "NH 38-9" at top.New JerseyEmbossed white lettering on heavy black steel base. "N.J. 38" embossed at top.noneA123456County coded registration (A).New MexicoEmbossed black lettering and Zia design on yellow base plate.none1–234512-3456unknownCounty-coded registration (1 or 12)New YorkYellow-orange embossed lettering on black base"NEW YORK WORLD"S FAIR 1939" embossed across bottom of plate.A-12-341A23-45County-coded registration.North CarolinaYellow base with embossed black lettering. "NORTH CAROLINA 38" embossed at top.none123–456unknownNorth DakotaOhioBlack embossed lettering, rims, and graphics on white base150 Anniv·N·W·Terr·A·1234AB·1231234·A123·ABA·123·BCounty-coded registration. Commemorated the 150th anniversary of the creation of the Northwest Territory, from which the state of Ohio was formed.OklahomaEmbossed black lettering on yellow base. "OKLAHOMA – 1938" at top.none123–456unknownOregonEmbossed black lettering and rims on silver-painted base. "OREGON – 1938" at bottom.none123–456unknownPennsylvaniaBlue embossed lettering on yellow base with blue state outlinenone1234A 12A34unknownRhode IslandEmbossed white letters on black base; "R.I. 1938" embossed at bottom.noneA1234unknownSouth CarolinaEmbossed black numbers on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 38" embossed in black block letters at bottom.noneA-12-345unknownLetter in registration corresponds to weight class.South DakotaEmbossed white letters and rims on blue base. "S. DAK. 1938" at bottom.none1–234512-3456unknownTennesseeEmbossed blue lettering and rims on state-shaped plate. "TENN. 38" at bottom center.none1–23451A-2345unknownCoded by weight.TexasBlack embossed lettering, star separator at center, and rims on white base.none123–456A12-345unknownUtahEmbossed maroon lettering and rims on white base, "UTAH – 1938" at bottom.none12-34550-001 to approximately 174-000VermontEmbossed blue lettering on white base. "19 VERMONT 38" embossed at bottom.none12 435VirginiaEmbossed black numbers on white plate; "VIRGINIA – 1938" embossed in black block letters at bottom.none123–4561 to approximately 388-000 WashingtonEmbossed green numbers on white plate with border line; "1938 WASHINGTON" embossed in green block letters at topnoneA-12345AB-1234County-coded(A or AB)West VirginiaEmbossed yellow numbers on black plate; "W. VA.-37-38" embossed in yellow block letters centered at top.noneWisconsinEmbossed black numbers on silver plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 1938" embossed in black block letters at bottomnone123–4561 to approximately 706-000WyomingEmbossed yellow numbers and Bucking Horse and Rider on navy blue plate with border line; "1938 WYOMING" embossed in yellow block letters at topnone1–234512-3456

Non-passenger plates Image (standard)RegionTypeDesign and sloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesWisconsinDealerEmbossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "WIS DEALER 38" at bottom1234ADealer number and plate numberNumber is the dealer number, letter is the plate number for that dealerFarmEmbossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "37 FARM TR'K 38" at top, vertical "WIS" at left1 to approximately MotorcycleEmbossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "WIS 38" at bottom12341 to approximately 3000MunicipalEmbossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "WISCONSIN 1938" at bottom, embossed hollow star at right12341 to approximately 8300Identifiable with a hollow starTruckEmbossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "37 WIS TRUCK 38" at bottomCoded by weight classWeight classes are A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N

See also

Antique vehicle registration Electronic license plate Motor vehicle registration Vehicle license

References

External links