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Wisconsin started issuing license plates in 1905. Uniquely, Wisconsin used plates made out of zinc or aluminum, but not steel. Wisconsin was one of the first states to issue license plates.

In 1911 a dated base was issued. About 1,200 plates were issued because they were only issued to new registrants from August to December.

Plates were made of flat steel or zinc with aluminum numbers riveted to the plate until 1914. During this time, only the background color would change.

W. Yoder Auction	W. Yoder Auction

In 1914 embossed plates were issued. Between 1914 and 1921 there were a lot of format changes, to the point that plates would almost become unrecognizable to Wisconsin plates. 1914 plates had two variations, one being a narrower date than the other. 1915 plates had a small "W" to indicate Wisconsin, rather than a full-size character. 1916 had "WIS" and a triangle of dots. 1917 had a similar pattern, and 1918 plates were back to the 1915 format, but with a border. In 1920, the border wasn't painted. In 1921, the format finally was used for more than a couple years.

W. Yoder Auction	W. Yoder Auction	W. Yoder Auction
Awful Repaint	W. Yoder Auction	W. Yoder Auction
W. Yoder Auction	"File:Wisconsin 1919 150472.jpg"By JayCarlCooper, From Wikimedia CommonsCC-BY-SA 3.0(original)	W. Yoder Auction
W. Yoder Auction		"WISCONSIN 1922 LICENSE PLATE PAIR"By Jerry "Woody", From FlickrCC-BY-SA 2.0(cropped)

W. Yoder Auction

In 1924 plates gained weight class codes. Initially, the codes were shown as a full size letter, but after just one year, it was changed to a small code, like the "W" in 1915 plates.

W. Yoder Auction
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Weird Spacing W. Yoder Auction	Bad Repaint*
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W. Yoder Auction	W. Yoder Auction	W. Yoder Auction
	Iron Out...*
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	Old Suffix W. Yoder Auction	New Suffix
New Suffix W. Yoder Auction	New Suffix W. Yoder Auction	Old Suffix W. Yoder Auction
New Suffix	New Suffix W. Yoder Auction	W. Yoder Auction
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W. Yoder Auction		W. Yoder Auction

1932 was a big year for passenger license plates, as weight class codes were dropped, the full state name was used for the first time ever, and plates became much taller so that they didn't look like modern European license plates.

			"File:1938 Wisconsin license plate.JPG"By Absecon 49, From Wikimedia CommonsCC-BY-SA 4.0(original)
	"File:Wisconsin 1941 4805.jpg"By JayCarlCooper, From Wikimedia CommonsCC-BY-SA 3.0(original)

In 1942 the first multiyear bases were used. Plates from late 1942 to late 1943 were small license plates, probably around motorcycle-sized plates. They issued every 3 character combinations possible not that far into the series, so they had to extend the size of the license plates. The series was extemded to 4 characters, while there was only a front windshield sticker to indicate a license plate for the front of the vehicle. 1943 base plates were the only tri-color Wisconsin license plates that were non-graphic ever issued. Different tabs were issued depending on what size the plate is; large plates got a vertical tab and small plates got a horizontal tab. Finally, in 1945, plates returned to normal size and were issued in pairs again. Most front plates were sacrificed during WWII, so few pairs of plates exist.

In 1946, Wisconsin became the first state to use all months of the year in their expiration dates, and only the second to use months in expiration dates at all (behind Delaware. Maybe Wisconsin should be the second state.)

	"File:1946 Wisconsin license plate.jpeg"By Absecon 49, From Wikimedia CommonsCC-BY-SA 4.0(original)

In 1953 the state name was abbreviated to "WIS" again. The format of passenger plates was changed yet again; this basic layout would be used until 1968.

E   3

H  2

"File:1954 Wisconsin license plate.jpg"By Absecon 49, From Wikimedia CommonsCC-BY-SA 4.0(original)	"File:Wisconsin 1956 H40-083.jpg"By JayCarlCooper, From Wikimedia CommonsCC-BY-SA 3.0(original)		"File:Wisconsin 1959 L17-595.jpg"By JayCarlCooper, From Wikimedia CommonsCC-BY-SA 3.0(original)	"File:1960 Wisconsin license plate.jpg"By Absecon 49, From Wikimedia CommonsCC-BY-SA 4.0 (original)

In 1961 stickers replaced tabs. A 2-year base was used from 1961 to 1965, and the 1965 base was used for 3 years. During this time, passenger color cycles were quite unique.

	"File:1963 Wisconsin license plate.jpg"By Absecon 49, From Wikimedia CommonsCC-BY-SA 4.0(original)

In 1967 a new reflective base was introduced. It also featured the full state name again. 1968 base plates are often called "butter" plates due to their yellow color. Honestly, I would call them "cheese" plates, since they are yellow and Wisconsin cheese is good. 1973 base plates were red on white, and sticker mania plates tend to be somewhat common in low-number plates, especially 3-number plates. 1980 plates were replaced by 1993.

				"File:Wisconsin 1976 C46-797.jpg"By JayCarlCooper, From Wikimedia CommonsCC-BY-SA 3.0(original)
	"File:1966 Imperial Convertible in Richmond Hill- 4.jpg" By DanTD, From CC-BY- SA 4.0(cropped)

Wisconsin introduced graphic license plates in 1986. Initially, license plates had blue characters on them. However, Illinois had blue on white license plates at that time. Wisconsin changed the color of the characters from blue to red in about a year, starting at BAA-101. Blue character license plates were replaced by 1993, while vanities were validated to 2001.

Red graphic plates were first issued in 1987, starting at the beginning of the B series. Narrow die plates were issued in late 1994, starting at NME-101. Plates were issued until 2000. Plates were replaced gradually between 2000 and 2014. Plates from the B to N series were replaced around 2000-2005, P to T series were replaced in 2009, and U to W series were replaced in 2013.

In 2000 a black series of license plates was produced. They are still used 18 years later.

	"this car came all the way from wisconsin with a duct tape suitcase strapped to the top of it and the back seat filled with crap"By Bradley Gordon, From Flickr CC-BY 2.0(cropped and straightened)				"Untitled"By Madeleine Deaton, From FlickrCC-BY 2.0(cropped)
"Wisconsin 963bma IMAG1424" By George Morris, From Flickr CC-BY-NC 2.0 (cropped)

Temporary

Temporary plates have been issued since at least 2002 though there isn't documentation on them so there could be Temporary plates back to 1905 for all I know

There are two different kinds of temporary plates I've seen within the last week. I don't know the difference between them.

Disabled

Disabled license plates are available for people that are disabled. They provide parking privileges to these people. They have been available since at least the 1960's.

In addition to disabled license plates, there are also disabled cards that are placed inside the car. They are also issued stickers, and they are meant for the card. However, every once in a while someone will stick a disabled sticker on a license plate.

Back to Wisconsin

Created November 1, 2018. Updated September 5, 2019.