The U.S. state of New Mexico first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1912. , plates are issued by the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department through its Motor Vehicle Division. Only rear plates have been required since 1961.
New Mexico is the only state that specifies "USA" on its license plates, so as to avoid confusion with the country Mexico, which it borders to the southwest.
Passenger baseplates
1912 to 1960 In 1956, the United States, Canada and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first New Mexico license plate that complied with these standards. ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesEmbossed green serial on white plate; diagonal "NM" at rightnone12341 to approximately 21001914Embossed white serial on green plate; vertical "N M 14" at rightnone12341 to approximately 3100First dated plate.1915Embossed white serial on red plate; vertical "N M 15" at rightnone12341 to approximately 47001916Embossed silver serial on dark blue plate; vertical "N M 16" at rightnone12341 to approximately 83001917Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; vertical "N M 17" at rightnone123451 to approximately 145001918Embossed light blue serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "N M 18" at rightnone123451 to approximately 190001919Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; vertical "N M 19" at rightnone123451 to approximately 175001920–23Dark blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "NM" at rightnone123451 to approximately 49000Revalidated for 1921 with red diamond-shaped tabs, for 1922 with silver octagonal tabs, and for 1923 with yellow star-shaped tabs.1924Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "N.M. 1924" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 39-0001925Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "N.M. 1925" centered at bottom; vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" at leftnone123451 to approximately 47000Issued in pairs, for the front and the rear of the vehicle respectively.1926Embossed red serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "NM" and "26" at left and right respectivelynone123451 to approximately 510001927Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "27" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 55-000First use of the full state name and Zia sun symbol.1928Embossed beige serial on dark blue plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "28" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 65-0001929Embossed red serial on light yellow plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "29" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 75-0001930Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "30" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 71-0001931Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "31" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 70-0001932Embossed white serial with Zia sun symbol separator on green plate; "NEW MEX 32" at left"SUNSHINE STATE" at bottom, offset to right12-3451 to approximately 65-0001933Embossed red serial on golden yellow plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "33" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 65-0001934Embossed yellow serial on red plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "34" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 67-0001935Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "35" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 76-0001936Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "36" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 86-0001937Embossed maroon serial on turquoise plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "37" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 91-0001938Embossed black serial on yellow plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "38" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 92-0001939Embossed black serial on orange plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "39" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottomnone12-3451 to approximately 93-0001940Embossed yellow serial on red plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "1540" above and "1940" below; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom"CORONADO CUARTO CENTENNIAL" at top12-3451 to approximately 96-000Commemorated the 400th anniversary of the expedition of Francisco Vázquez de Coronado.1941Embossed red serial on golden yellow plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "41" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top12-3451 to approximately 99-000First use of the "Land of Enchantment" slogan.1942–43Embossed black serial on white plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "42" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top12-3451234561 to approximately 102000Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.1944Embossed white serial on black plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "44" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top12-3451 to approximately 79-0001945Embossed white serial on blue plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "45" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top12-3451 to approximately 88-0001946Embossed red serial on yellow plate; embossed Zia sun symbol at left with "46" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top12-3451 to approximately 94-0001947Embossed yellow serial on maroon plate; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator with "47" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1948Embossed white serial on azure plate; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator with "48" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1949Embossed azure serial on waffle-textured white plate; embossed Zia sun symbol used as separator with "49" in the center; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1950As 1948 base, but with "50" in the center of the Zia sun symbol"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1951As 1949 base, but on smooth metal, and with narrower dies and "51" in the center of the Zia sun symbol"THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1952Embossed red serial with Zia sun symbol separator on white plate; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "52" at top left"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top, offset to right1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1953Embossed white serial with Zia sun symbol separator on red plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "53" at top left"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top, offset to right1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1954Embossed red serial with Zia sun symbol separator on white plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "54" at top left"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top, offset to right1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1955Embossed golden yellow serial with Zia sun symbol separator on maroon plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "55" at top left"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top, offset to right1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1956Embossed white serial with Zia sun symbol separator on maroon plate with border line; "56 NEW MEXICO 56" at bottom"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" centered at top1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1957Embossed green serial with Zia sun symbol separator on white plate with border line; "57 NEW MEXICO 57" at bottom"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" centered at top1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1958Embossed red serial with Zia sun symbol separator on golden yellow plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "58" at bottom right"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top1-12345-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or )One-digit county plates had the slogan centered, while two-digit county plates had the slogan offset to the right. This practice continued through 1971. One-digit county plates additionally had "19" embossed at the bottom left.1959–60Embossed golden yellow serial with Zia sun symbol separator on maroon plate with border line; "NEW MEXICO" centered at bottom; "59" at bottom right"LAND OF ENCHANTMENT" at top1-123452-A1234-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or )One-digit county plates additionally had "19" embossed at the bottom left. One-letter, four-digit serials issued in Bernalillo County after 2-99999 was reached. Revalidated for 1960 with white stickers on maroon tabs.
1961 to present