Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1989

All of the 50 constituent states of the United States and several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates for the year 1989.

Passenger baseplates ImageRegionDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesAlabamaBlue embossed digits on reflective white; red stylized "Alabama" at bottom center; two red hearts in upper corners, with two thin red lines at top of plate."HEART OF DIXIE" in plain wide red letters centered between red lines at top0AB 123400AB 123Coded by county of issuance (0 or 00)AlaskaEmbossed blue numbers on reflective golden yellow plate; screened state flag in the center between letters and digits; "ALASKA" screened in blue serifed letters centered at top; indented top corners for revalidation stickers"The Last Frontier" screened in blue serifed letters centered at bottom.ABC 123 BAA 100 to DJX 999American SamoaBlack letters on white background, image of palm tree at left."MOTU O FIAFIAGA" centered at top1234ArizonaEmbossed reflective white numbers on maroon plate with border line; embossed white saguaro cactus used as separator; "ARIZONA" centered at top."GRAND CANYON STATE" centered at bottomABC-123AAA-001 to approximately NXG-200Front and rear plates issued until around the ETT series (1989); rear plates only thereafter. Still currently revalidated.ArkansasEmbossed blue numbers on reflective white plate; red band screened at top containing "Arkansas" in white in the center"The Natural State" screened in red centered at bottom ABC 123 POR 001 to approximately ZWO 999CaliforniaBlue numbers on reflective white background with embossed state name, "CALIFORNIA", in redNone1ABC1232GQA000 to 3FMG999ColoradoEmbossed white on reflective green; mountains at topNoneABC-123County-codedConnecticutEmbossed reflective (glass-beaded) white numbers on blue plate with border line, "CONNECTICUT" centered at bottom, and embossed state shape in top left corner"CONSTITUTION STATE" at bottom123·ABC1100·EVY to 999·NZMSerials with L as the first letter were reserved for optional Preserve the Sound plates.DelawareScreened gold numbers on reflective dark blue plate with gold border; "DELAWARE" centered at bottom"THE FIRST STATE" centered at top123456 4 to 9999991-2Several variations of the font used for the serial exist. Some replacement plates have riveted numbers.District of ColumbiaEmbossed blue numbers on reflective white plate; screened district flag used as separator; screened red stripes above and below numbers; "Washington, D.C." screened in blue centered at bottom; debossed sticker boxes in bottom corners"A Capital City" screened in blue centered at top123-456 925-001 to 999-999; 010-001 to 501-750Plates with all-numeric serials validated until April 2016. Slogan changed in 1991 in honor of the district's bicentennial.FloridaEmbossed red numbers on reflective white plate; green state map screened to left of center behind numbers; "FLORIDA" centered at topCounty name centered at bottomABC 12DExclusively from AAA 00A to approximately JUQ 99Z; intermittently from JUR 00A to approximately KGW 99ZEarly plates used a lighter shade of green for the state map, while some plates manufactured during 1988 featured a smaller-size state name. Letter O not used in serials (this practice continues today); 'M' series reserved for dealers and 'Y' and 'Z' series for rental vehicles. Replaced from 1992 through 1996 as part of five-year plate replacement cycle.GeorgiaEmbossed green on reflective white; screened "19 GEORGIA 83" at topCounty name on sticker centered at bottomABC 123AAA 001 to approximately WCW 999Vanity plates featured the "Peach State" slogan in place of the county-name sticker.GuamGreen on reflective white with green map graphic in center with two latte stones"HAFA ADAI" centered at topABC 123AAA 001 to approximately AFN 999HawaiiBrown on reflective white; "HAWAII" centered at top; orange warrior head image screened in background; "81" screened in top right corner"ALOHA STATE" centered at bottomABC 123County-coded (see right)Honolulu County used A, B, C and D as the first letter; Hawaii County used H; Maui County used M; Kauai County used K.IdahoEmbossed green numbers on white plate; screened green lines above and below numbers; screened green Sawtooth Mountains graphic on top line at the right; "IDAHO" screened in green to left of graphic, with the 'A' resembling a mountain peak"Famous Potatoes" centered at bottom 12345 12345 A1234 123456 Coded by county of issuance ( or )Top line cut off at the left, allowing for taller county-code characters. This plate replaced all 1974–87 plates; serials in each county thus restarted from 1.IllinoisDark blue on reflective white with light and dark blue stripes; state name screened in dark blue at top left"Land of Lincoln" at top right corner123 456AB 1234Reissues of 1979–82 serialsIndianaBlue serial on reflective blue, white and gold background"Back Home Again" centered at top01234001234County-coded Small white-on-blue county name sticker in bottom right corner. Plates were valid through October 31, 1990.IowaEmbossed reflective white numbers on blue plate with border line; "IOWA" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively; "86" at top rightCounty name centered at bottomABC 123LAA 000 to YZZ 999Non-resident plates discontinued.KansasEmbossed dark blue digits on white plate; brown stalk of wheat screened in the center; pale yellow band screened across top containing stylized "KANSAS" in the center and three dark blue stripes on either sideNoneABC 123 AAA 000 to approximately DVD 999 KentuckyEmbossed blue numbers on white plate; twin spires of Churchill Downs racetrack screened in blue at the top and a mare and foal screened in light blue in the center; "Kentucky" screened in blue serifed letters centered between spires; county name on blue sticker between state name and numbers"Bluegrass State" centered at bottomABC 123TAA 000 to ZZZ 999; AAA 000 to approximately EBP 999Mare and foal based on the photograph The Soul of a Horse, taken by Peter Thomann. The base was withdrawn when Thomann threatened to sue for copyright infringement.LouisianaEmbossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate, screened dark blue graphics of mother pelicans with chicks at top corners, "LoUiSiAna" screened in red and dark blue (the 'U', 'S', and 'A' in dark blue) centered at bottom"SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE" screened in red centered at top123A456Letter corresponds to State Police troop area of issueMaineEmbossed navy blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; red American lobster screened behind numbers, offset to right; "MAINE" screened in wide red block letters centered at top"Vacationland" centered at bottom12345 A1 P to 99999 ZMarylandEmbossed black numbers on white plate; shield with the design of the Maryland state flag screened in the center; "Maryland" screened in black centered at topNoneABC 123NAA 001 to ZZZ 999MassachusettsEmbossed green numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MASSACHUSETTS" centered at topNone123·456 100·000 to 999·999 (see right)Only rear plates issued (except for reserved and non-passenger plates). On all plates, the last digit corresponded to the month of expiration, with November and December expirations discontinued except on non-passenger plates and on red-and-white plates until 1980–81. All-numeric plates were generally issued to holders of the same serials on the red-on-white base. Still currently revalidated.Red characters on reflective white plate; "MASSACHUSETTS" in blue centered at topThe Spirit of AmericaMichiganEmbossed reflective (glass-beaded) white numbers on blue plate; "MICHIGAN" centered at top"GREAT LAKES" centered at bottom123 ABC000 AAA to 999 ZZZAll variants of this base revalidated with stickers until 2007. Letters I and O not used in serials; this practice continues today.MinnesotaEmbossed blue numbers on reflective graphic plate featuring a lake scene with pale blue and white water, pale blue sky, green island and trees, and a small green canoe; "Minnesota" screened in blue centered at top"EXPLORE" screened in blue to left of state name, giving "Explore Minnesota"; "10,000 lakes" screened in blue centered at bottom123-ABC; state icon used as dash001-AAA to approximately 999-HZKReplaced all 1977–87 plates.MississippiEmbossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate; "MISSISSIPPI" screened in red stylized serifed letters centered at top; county name embossed in dark blue block letters centered at bottomCounty name centered at bottom1ABC123 1AAA001 to approximately 1FNJ999Narrow dies reintroduced. The initial '1' indicated the passenger class of vehicles. Letters I, O, Q and U and number 666 not used in serials.MissouriEmbossed reflective (glass-beaded) white numbers on maroon plate with border line; "MISSOURI" centered at top; month of expiration at top left "SHOW-ME STATE" centered at bottomAAB 123First letter corresponds to month of expirationMontanaEmbossed sky blue numbers on reflective white plate with screened red state-shaped border; red "76 Bicentennial" logo and sky blue buffalo skull screened at top left and bottom left corners respectively; red band screened above numbers containing "MONTANA" in white block letters; screened sky blue "'76" in bottom right corner "BIG SKY" screened in sky blue block letters centered at bottom 1·12345610·12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)A straight-line die was originally used for the number '1', before being replaced by a serifed version.NebraskaRed on reflective white with yellow, orange and red sunset graphic at top None1-A12341-AB12310-A12310-AB12-A1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)NevadaEmbossed blue numbers on white and silver graphic plate with a mountain scene featuring a Bighorn sheep; "NEVADA" screened in blue serifed letters centered at top "THE SILVER STATE" screened in blue serifed letters centered at bottom 123·ABC 001·BAA to approximately 999·LDEAwarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1985 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Nevada has been so honored. Co-recipient with North Dakota.New HampshireEmbossed forest green numbers on reflective white plate; "NEW HAMPSHIRE" screened in dark green centered at top, with a graphic of the Old Man of the Mountain in a circle between the two words"LIVE FREE OR DIE" screened in dark green sans serif text centered at bottomABC-123AAA-001 to approximately DEX-500New JerseyEmbossed buff lettering on medium blue plate, non-reflective, "NEW JERSEY" embossed in plain block letters centered at top"GARDEN STATE" embossed in plain block letters centered at bottomABC-12D; New Jersey state icon used as dashAAA-10A to HZZ-99Z2, 3, 5Between ETC and EXB the NJ map separator got changed, this happened again between GED and GML.New MexicoEmbossed red numbers on yellow plate; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator; "New Mexico USA" screened in red centered below numbers; stamped indentation at top center for county-name sticker"Land of Enchantment" centered at bottomABC-123KAK-001 to approximately LKL-999New YorkEmbossed dark blue numbers on reflective white plate, with red stripe at top and bottom; "NEW YORK" in plain serifed block font centered at top; red outlined Statue of Liberty screen printed in center (or at left on vanity plates)NoneCounty-codedValidated with windshield decal.North CarolinaBlue on reflective white with light blue Wright Flyer graphic"First in Flight" screened at topABC-1234ANA-1001 to approximately WTF-1975A through M not used as second letters in serials (so AZZ was followed by BNA, BZZ was followed by CNA and so on); this practice continued until ZZZ-9999 was issued in 2010. OBX started to be issued in 1999 as a special series for Dare County, and continues to be issued as such today.North DakotaEmbossed black numbers on light blue, white and light orange gradient plate; long black bar screened below numbers with "NORTH DAKOT