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Trucks

Wisconsin truck license plates are very complicated. In fact, I'd say that truck license plates are probably one of the most complicated license plate categories on this entire website.

This section will include the following plate types:

• Truck
• Disabled Truck
• Disabled Veteran Truck
• Insert Truck
• Light Truck For Hire
• Farm
• Heavy Farm Truck
• Motor Home
• Disabled Motor Home
• Disabled Veteran Motor Home
• Dual Purpose Farm
• Dual Purpose Vehicle
• Disabled Dual Purpose Vehicle
• PSC permits

Click on an image to view the full size image, download the image, etc. (coming soon). Click on a serial number to see where the number came from and when the number was added.

Truck

Truck plates were first issued in 1918. Unlike passenger plates, these plates used a "WIS" rather than the "W" for 1918 and 1919. Except for 1918 and 1919, these plates were identical to Passenger plates until 1930.

Serial ranges:

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When weight class codes were introduced in 1923, Truck plates also gained weight class codes. Unlike passenger plates, truck plates have weight class codes to this day. Since the law requiring weight class codes was put into effect in July 1923, a few hundred truck plates dated 1923 with weight class codes were issued.

Serial ranges:

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In 1930, truck plates switched to a July-June cycle, and they also were significantly different than passenger plates. While passenger plates dropped weight class codes in 1932, truck plates kept them. Truck plates still had the small plates half a year after passenger plates used larger plates. They still use weight classes for all trucks. And unlike passenger plates, these plates used "WIS" until 1967.

Somewhere between 1927 and 1934 weight classes shifted and weight classes beyond F were added. Until 1940, plates beyond the D weight class were the same as regular truck plates, and in 1940 plates were a different color.

Serial Ranges:

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In 1935, weight codes shifted. Even though the A weight class was the same weight, A weight class plates became rare. One possible explanation is the introduction of farm truck license plates, and maybe the majority of A weight class truck license plates were on farm vehicles. I don't know. It's just a suggestion.

Serial Ranges:

Switch to Expected Ranges Switch to Confirmed Ranges Show Expected Starts

Base Weight	Variation	A 3,000	B 4,500	C 6,000	D 8,000	E 10,000	F 12,000	G 14,000	H 16,000	J 18,000	K 20,000	L 22,000	M 24,000	N 36,000
34 35		1-845 A 4-153 A	302 B 12-334 B	4-393 C 13-364 C	3-124 D 17-011 D
35 36		8-792 A	660 B 9-660 B	3-900 C 10-298 C	14-193 D	4-638 E
36 37		912 A 7174 A	3827 B 15-441B	192 C 14-607C	9854 D 19-650D	5804 E
37 38		104 A 5325 A	5440 B 6748 B	371 C 8749 C	124 D 16-990 D		4648 F
38 39		5 A 7489 A	1180 B 24-711B	663 C	17-517D	2284 E 7426 E			1166 H
39 40		3089 A 6655 A	4924 B 21-448B	618 C		4137 E	1330 F		1026 H

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In 1941, truck plates beyond the D weight class were split off into insert truck license plates. Small plates were issued in 1943 and 1944 to save metal during WWII.

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In 1952 plates switched to a December expiration month. This expiration month was kept until the late 70s.

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"Wisconsin truck" by Ross Day, From Flickr,
CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0 (original)

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In 1966 Wisconsin issued its first reflectorized license plates. Truck license plates were one of the first to get reflectorized.

In 1969 another series of reflective license plates were issued. These plates are notable for having many different variations, as well as having a unique black on teal color scheme. Some plates had a partial length groove, others had a full length groove. Some used regular dies, others used one-set "crude" dies, where a single set of dies would be stamped on the license plates into another material such as rubber. They also had overflow series, which was a double letter series (such as AA, BB, CC, DD).

In 1973 more reflective black on yellow truck plates were issued. They are a very complicated type of license plate. They overflowed beyond the overflow series for multiple series. CC overflowed into CA, BB overflowed into BC, and AA overflowed into AB. Registrations changed to January in 1976. There were no 1976 stickers since the registration expired in December 1975. In 1978, weight classes changed completely, and older plates had a major problem with weight class accuracy. The D weight class was then issued as insert truck plates at that time, and A weight class truck plates became much more common at that point. However, the issue with the accuracy of weight classes was an issue, so for 1979, there were two different colors of stickers for 1979. Later stickers were all white on light blue, which told the weight class on it. All 1980 stickers had the weight class on it.

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In 1980, blue on light gray license plates were issued. During this time they used two-letter plates at all times. In 1984 they staggered registrations, which ended up getting plates two different types of stickers. Late variations of borderless license plates were issued, as well as variations with shorter letters than the old plates. The oldest plates had an embossed "JAN" at the top right corner. Some of the newest license plates had blue backs, which were produced on blanks meant for 1986 insert truck license plates.

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In 1987 a blue on gold plate series was issued. Some earlier plates had painted backs. Some plates had normal letters, some had rounded letters, some had square letters, and some had narrow letters. All stickers are the same as passenger stickers.

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In 1994 graphic plates were introduced. These plates were only issued to new registrants, and continued where the gold series left off. Blue and gold plates were replaced around the early 2000s, while the graphic plates were replaced around 2009.

"FNTASTC"By Clint ChilcottCC-BY-NC 2.0(cropped)

In 2000 Wisconsin started issuing black on white graphic plates. These plates were all numeric and had room for 1 million plates to be issued. In just 4 years the whole numeric series was used up, and in 2004 plates had two letters and four numbers. The plates were issued from AA to AV and from DG on. The letter series in between was skipped to avoid confusion with temporary plates. Q was used in the F, G, and J series.

"WISCONSIN 2006 B TRUCK plate" by Jerry "Woody",
From FlickrCC-BY-SA 2.0(original)

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"WisconsON, WisconsOFF" by Rhys A. From Flickr
CC-BY 2.0(cropped)

Disabled Truck

Disabled truck license plates were a relatively short-lived type; they only are known to exist between 1981 and 1998.

Cody James Corbett

Disabled Veteran Truck

Disabled veteran truck plates are truck plates for disabled veterans.

Disabled Veteran Light Truck For Hire

I joked about this series of truck plates existing. I was writing a section on disabled dual purpose vehicle license plates, and I said, "At this point I'm starting to wonder if there are disabled veteran light truck for hire plates because there are so many types of disabled plates." At the meet Cody James Corbett listed off a bunch of disabled plate types, and of all the types I would never expect, disabled veteran light truck for hire plates were in the list.

I know of that strange 1991 disabled veteran truck plate that had the colors of light truck for hire plates. That might be a disabled veteran light truck for hire plate.

Serial Ranges:

Insert Truck

Insert truck license plates were named insert truck plates because of the large metal inserts that originally validated the plate. These plates were first issued in 1940, giving the option of quarterly or even monthly validation.

An early version of insert truck plates was normal truck plates that, in 1939, had a different color scheme than regular truck plates, which was white on green.

Pre-sticker plate weight codes are generally unknown, and I had to make inferences; Andrew Turnbull claims that there are XF plates in insert truck plates, but I wouldn't think there would be XF plates or I would have seen them by now. The confirmed weights are D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, T. So, the information here could be incorrect. The codes for 1941 are definite (I think), but there is an information gap between 1942 and 1946. The weight tables don't show 1942-7, so there has to be inferences and incomplete data there. To mix things up more, there are plates that have different serial formats, and it is unknown which came first for 1942 or what is really going on. 1948 is most likely the last letter came first, and the first letter was an overflow series, but that doesn't explain why they only has been one single overflow plate confirmed, when there should be about 5,000 of them. Insert plates are confusing, and it will take a lot of time to figure out what is what, and to figure out serial ranges to report on. It will take a lot of research to find plates.

Between 1946 and 1948, the weight classes shifted.

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"Wisconsin truck(heavy)" by Ross Day, From Flickr,
CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0 (original)

"Wisconsin insert tabs" by Ross Day,
From Flickr, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 (cropped)

Alex

Stickers were first used in 1963, replacing tabs. They were reissued annually until 1972, then were reissued biannually until 1994. Monthly validation also came around this time, with the earliest monthly validation sticker being from April 1966. The month codes were APR in 1966, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, O, N, D from 1968-1977, and all months had the same sticker color.

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In 1978, weight codes shifted, and D weight class plates were now insert truck plates while weight classes beyond T were eliminated. Before 1978, the weight classes were E to H, J to N, R to T, V, X, XA-XF, and after 1978 the weight classes were D to H, J to N, P to T. Before 1978 only one non-XA-XF weight class used stacked letters at all, which was an overflow series for the E weight class. After 1978 ALL weight classes used stacked letters, even very rare weight classes for types like S weight class tractor that didn't even reach 300 plates.

There are two distinct types of dies used for the letter "A" between 1978 and 1987, one with thinner lines and a larger opening on the letter and one with thicker dies with a small opening in the letter. It appears that other letters also had slightly varied dies though it's hard to tell the difference since the difference in thickness is subtle.

Front license plate stickers were eliminated in 1986. Before 1986 plates without stickers were rare but now plates without stickers are very common.

Letters were shortened in the 1988 series, and the 1992 series showed both square dies and round dies. The 1992 series was the last time that plate numbers were reused again. It appears that, like 1974 heavy farm plates and serial formats, the dies were reserved for certain weight classes. (if you don't get the reference I've only observed a dashless serial from the M weight class on and I've only observed a dash serial number to the M weight class.)

* indicates a year I had to guess since there wasn't a specific die set stated with the serial range data.

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Unknown

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In 1994, a base of insert truck license plates was issued. It would be used until 2008, with a few plates being validated to 2009. These plates picked up where the 1992 series left off. While they did end up continuing on from the 1992 series, it appears that in 1994 the series skipped a letter; NA became NB, where it continues to sit to this day. 1994 series insert truck plates have 3 different die styles, the first being the wide die plates that used the old number dies, the second being a narrow current die set with a rounded truck caption and narrow letter prefixes, and the last being the most common wide prefix narrow number plates.

Serial formats would start at 1, and in 1992 the X series would have started at XA 1. the 1992 series didn't reach the end of the XA series, yet 1994 series started somewhere around XB2000 (I'm suspecting XB 1). I believe the first series was skipped even if a series didn't reach the end of an alpha series. LA plates aren't very common, and to this day only 11,000 plates have been issued in the last 25 years. The series should have taken 2 decades to go through just 10,000 plates, the amount of registrations needed to increment to LB, yet only 1,000 plates should exist mathmatically speaking (it took 20 years to increment 10,000 plates, so it would be around 500 plates per year. 1992 plates were issued for 2 years. I'd estimate there are probably between 2,000 and 5,000 L series plates in the 1992 series, accounting for re-registrations.) The new series now starts at 10001, and even when the L series reached 9999, Wisconsin skipped LB10000.

Serial ranges from Ebay, Andrew Turnbull, and my collection.

Wide Dies 3 Digit Nick

Wide Dies 4 Digit GN

Narrow Prefix/Dies 3 Digit GN

Narrow Prefix/Dies 4 Digit GN

Narrow Dies 4 Digit Chris

Narrow Dies 5 Digit GN

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Chris (3/97)

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Gb

In 2008, a new series of license plates was issued. These plates picked up where the 1994 series left off. These plates are still issued to this day.

Serial ranges from Andrew Turnbull, Ebay, the roads, and the DMV license plate search. To see previous edits of the serial ranges, hovering over the ranges will bring up a title of previous edits and when they were added.

* Seen at glance, last three numbers were not seen
** The full number is written down somewhere, but I do not have it right now

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Light Truck For Hire

Light truck for hire license plates have been issued since insert truck license plates were first issued. Aside from reflective backgrounds and light truck replacement cycles, they were identical to insert truck license plates until 1978.

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"Wisconsin quarterly tabs" by Ross Day, From Flickr,
CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0 (cropped)

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Between 1978 and 1994, insert truck plates had different color cycles than light truck for hire plates.

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In 1994, insert truck plates had the same color cycles as light truck for hire plates. Light truck for hire plates were discontinued in 2004.

Farm

Farm plates have been issued since at least the 1930s. They had unique color schemes until 1958.

"Wisconsin farm" by Ross Day, From Flickr, CC-BY-NC-SA 2.0 (original)

"Wisconsin" by megankhines, From FlickrCC-BY-SA
2.0(cropped)

Hannah

In 1958 farm plates had the same color schemes as truck plates, except for 1964 stickers.

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In 1967 plates were reflectorized and featured a "WISCONSIN" rather than a "WIS".

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"WISCONSIN 1987 FARM TRUCK plate"By Jerry "Woody",
From FlickrCC-BY-SA 2.0(original)

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Around 1994 graphic plates were issued. About 100,000 were made with the wide dies. These plates were validated every two years, and this cycle continues to this day.

Around 130000F-140000F the new graphic base was issued, but the red dies stayed the same. In 2008, a new base of farm plates with the black dies was issued, starting at 200001F. All plates before the current base have been replaced.

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Heavy Farm Truck

Heavy farm truck plates were identical to regular farm truck plates, despite the addition of a weight class code into the serial, until 1967. Plates were nearly identical until 1978. Plates have always had a non-reflective background.

Serial Ranges:

Since 1978, heavy farm trucks have adhered to the colors and replacement cycles of insert truck license plates. Since 1992, all heavy farm truck license plates have started at 30001, to avoid confusion with farm trailer plates. According to the DOT website, heavy farm truck plates are issued to farm trucks over 12,000 lbs, which would be the E weight class.

Serial Ranges:

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Motor Home

Motor Home plates are issued to motor RVs. They have been issued since 1979.

On a side note, I was not expecting to have to track so many number ranges.

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Disabled Motor Home

A rare type of Motor Home plate.

Disabled Veteran Motor Home

A rare type of Disabled Motor Home plate.

Dual Purpose Farm

Dual purpose farm plates were issued from 1978 to 2004. They were used on farm trucks that were also used for non-farm purposes. The first letter is the weight class code, and the second letter appears to have started at "Z" but it overflowed to letters before it. Plates back to the 1988 issue were validated until 2009, with a few still in use beyond 2009.

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Disabled Dual Purpose Farm

As Cody James Corbett put it, "For this plate to be issued someone would have to be disabled, own a farm, and have a truck for farm and non-farm use."

Dual Purpose Vehicle

Dual purpose vehicle plates were issued from 1977 to 2004. They were used for trucks with camper trailers on them.

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Disabled Dual Purpose Vehicle

At this point I'm starting to wonder if there are disabled veteran light truck for hire plates because there are so many types of disabled plates. Disabled Dual Purpose vehicle plates are disabled plates for dual purpose vehicles.

PSC Permits

PSC permits were issued to various trucks primarily in the 1930s. The most common variation is one that says "NOT FOR HIRE" or has no letters, though there are many different suffix letters.

In 1932 and 1933 there were many variations that were uncaptioned, making it hard to tell the difference with plates without paint.

In 1940, the plates were labeled under the MVD.

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"WISCONSIN 1935--- NOT FOR HIRE PSC
SUPPLEMENTAL TRUCK PLATE"By Jerry "Woody",
From FlickrCC-BY-SA 2.0(original)

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For Hire Lessor

A related type to PSC permit is For Hire Lessor. For Hire Lessor plates, like PSC/MVD plates, were supplementary plates that went with truck plates.

Back to Wisconsin

Created October 18, 2018. Updated December 15, 2020.