The U.S. state of Iowa first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1904. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1911, when the state began to issue plates.
Plates are currently issued by the Iowa Department of Transportation through its Motor Vehicle Division. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.
Passenger baseplates Prestate ImageDates issuedDescriptionSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1904 to 1910 (prestate)Riveted metal numbers on black leather plate, "IA" riveted on right123451 to approximately 13000
1911 to 1971 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 Iowa license plate that complied with these standards. ImageDates issuedDescriptionSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1911Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IA 1911" at rightnone123452001 to approximately 300001912Embossed white serial on black plate; "IA 1912" at rightnone123451001 to approximately 460001913Embossed black serial on white plate; "IA 1913" at rightnone123453001 to approximately 750001914Embossed white serial on black plate; "IA 1914" at rightnone1234566001 to approximately 1120001915Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "IA 1915" at rightnone1234567001 to approximately 152000Embossed beige serial on dark olive green plate; "IA" and dash at rightnone1234561 to approximately 341000 Intentionally used for three years straight.1919Embossed white serial on brown plate; "IA 19" at rightnone1234561 to approximately 3620001920Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; "IA 20" at rightnone1234561 to approximately 4380001921Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "IA 21" at rightnone1234561 to approximately 4410001922Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "IA 22" at rightnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)First use of county codes.1923Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "IA 23" at rightnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1924Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IA 24" at rightnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1925Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; "IA 25" at rightnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1926Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "IA 26" at rightnone1-1234510-1234Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1927Embossed orange serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IA 27" at rightnoneA-123451-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (A, 1 or 10)1928Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "IA 28" at rightnoneA-123451-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (A, 1 or 10)1929Embossed black serial on green plate with border line; vertical "IOWA" and "1929" at rightTruck plates have a vertical "TRUCK" instead of the dashA-123451-123410-1234Coded by county of issuance (A, 1 or 10)First use of the full state name.1930Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IOWA-1930" centered at bottomnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1931Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA-1931" centered at bottomnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1932Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "IOWA-1932" centered at bottomnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1933Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IOWA-1933" centered at topnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1934Embossed yellow serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IOWA-1934" centered at bottomnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1935Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IOWA-1935" centered at topnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1936Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA-1936" centered at bottomnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1937Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "1937-IOWA" centered at bottomnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1938Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA-1938" centered at topnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1939Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IOWA-1939" centered at bottomnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1940Embossed dark blue serial on orange plate with border line; "IOWA-1940" centered at topnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1941Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA-1941" centered at bottomnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1942–44Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IOWA-1942" centered at topnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)Revalidated for 1943 and 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.1945Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA-1945" centered at topnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)Only rear plates issued due to ongoing metal conservation; a windshield sticker was carried at the front of the vehicle.1946Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IOWA-1946" centered at topnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1947–48Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "1947-IOWA" centered at topnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)Revalidated for 1948 with silver tabs.1949Embossed white serial on waffle-textured black plate with border line; "IOWA-1949" centered at topnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1950–51Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "19" at top left and "50" at top rightnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)Revalidated for 1951 with silver tabs.1952Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "19" at top left and "52" at top rightnone1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1953–55Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "19" at top left and "53" at top right"THE CORN STATE" centered at bottom1-1234510-12345Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)First use of a slogan of any kind, with the state's unofficial nickname chosen over the official nickname of "The Hawkeye State". Revalidated for 1954 and 1955 with silver tabs.1956–57Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "19" at top left and "56" at top rightnone1-12341-A1231-1A2310-123410-A12310-1A2377-12A377-123A77-AB121-0001 to approximately 99-99991-A000 to approx. 99-Z999 (212,762 plates were issued in 20 counties)1-0A00 to approx. 99-9Z99 (76,955 in 6 counties)77-00A0 to 77-99Z9 (20,000 in Polk county)77-000A to 77-999Z (20,000 in Polk county)77-AA00 to 77-FC79 (10,280 in Polk County)First 6" x 12" plate. I, M, O, Q, W and Y not used in lettered serial formats. Revalidated for 1957 with silver tabs. Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)1958Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "58" at top rightnone-12345-12345Coded by county of issuance ( or )1959Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "59" at top rightnone 12345 12345Coded by county of issuance ( or )1960Embossed black serial on light gray plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "60" at top rightnone1 12345 123456Coded by county of issuance (1 or )1961As 1959 base, but with "61" at top rightnone1 12345 123456Coded by county of issuance (1 or )1962As 1960 base, but with "62" at top rightnone1 12345 123456Coded by county of issuance (1 or )1963Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "63" at top rightnone1 12345 123456Coded by county of issuance (1 or )1964Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "64" at top rightnone1-12345 123456Coded by county of issuance (1 or )1965Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "65" at top rightnone1-12345 123456Coded by county of issuance (1 or )1966Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "66" at top rightnone1-12345 123456Coded by county of issuance (1 or )1967Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "67" at top rightnone1-12345 123456Coded by county of issuance (1 or )1968Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "68" at top rightnone1-12345 123456Coded by county of issuance (1 or )1969As 1967 base, but with "69" at top rightnone1-12345 123456Coded by county of issuance (1 or )1970As 1968 base, but with "70" at top rightnone1-12345 123456Coded by county of issuance (1 or )1971As 1967 base, but with "71" at top rightnone1-12345 123456Coded by county of issuance (1 or )
1972 to present