Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1956

Each of the 48 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates for 1956.

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces 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, which has been the standard size for North American license plates since. Motorcycles and other specialized vehicles often were issued smaller-sized tags.

Passenger baseplates ImageRegionDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesAlabamaAlaskaAmerican SamoaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaCanal ZoneColoradoConnecticut DelawareDistrict ofColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaGuamHawai'iIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaEmbossed white serial with pelican separator on dark green plate with border line; "19 LOUISIANA 56" at topnone123 4561 001 to about 801 000MaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew Jersey New MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaEmbossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "NORTH CAROLINA 56" at bottom"DRIVE SAFELY" centered at topA-1234AB-1234Serials progressed as follows: A-1 through A-9999, AA-1 through AZ-9999, B-1 through B-9999, BA-1 through BZ-9999, etc. This continued through 1972. Letters G, I, O and Q not used; this practice continued through 1968.North DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinEmbossed green serial on white plate; "EXP" at top left, month of expiration and "55" at top right; slogan at bottomAMERICA'S DAIRYLANDA12-345, AK 1234Coded by month of expiration (A). AK 1234 format used when A12-345 format was exhausted.Wyoming

Non-passenger plates Image (standard)RegionTypeDesign & SloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesWisconsinBusEmbossed orange serial on black plate; "WIS" at top left, "BUS" at top right; "56" at bottom left, quarterly tab at far rightA 12Coded by weight class(A)BX busEmbossed black serial on orange plate; unknown formatBX123BX 1 to unknownFirst year of issue. Issued to privately owned mass transportation vehicles; also named "Urban Bus" platesCanadian reciprocityEmbossed black serial on orange plate; unknown formatCR 12CR 1 to unknownDealerEmbossed red serial on white plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right; "DEALER" at bottomA 1234Dealer number and plate numberNumber is the dealer number, letters increment when a new plate is issued to that specific dealerDisabled veteranUnknown formatFarmEmbossed yellow serial on blue plate; "EXP" at top left, "DEC 55" at top right; "WIS FARM" at bottom123451 to approximately 96000Revalidated for 1956 with white on red tabsHeavy farmEmbossed yellow serial on blue plate; "EXP" at top left, "DEC 55" at top right; "WIS FARM" at bottomA 1234Coded by weight class (A)Revalidated for 1956 with white on red tabsIn transitEmbossed red serial on white plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right; "IN TRANSIT" at bottomAB 12Transporter number and plate numberNumber is the transporter number, letters increment every time a new plate is issued to that specific transporterManufacturerEmbossed red serial on white plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right; "MANUFACTURER" at bottomAB 12Manufacturer number and plate numberNumber is the manufacturer number, letters increment every time a new plat is issued to that specific manufacturerMobile homeEmbossed white serial on green plate; "EXP" at top left, "DEC 55" at top right; "WIS MOBILE HOME" at bottom12341 to approximately 6500Revalidated to 1956 with red on aluminum tabsMotorcycleEmbossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "A WIS 56" at top12341 to approximately 9500Motorcycle sidecarEmbossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "B WIS 56" at top1231 to approximately 100Motorcycle dealerEmbossed red serial on white plate with border line; "WIS 1956" at top, vertical stacked "DLR" at rightAB1, A12Dealer number and plate numberNumber is the dealer number, letters increment every time a new plate is issued to that specific dealerMunicipalEmbossed white serial on blue plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right; "MUNICIPAL" at bottom123451 to approximately 14000Municipal motorcycleEmbossed white serial on blue plate with border line; unknown formatM123M 1 to unknownOfficialEmbossed white serial on blue plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right; "OFFICIAL" at bottom, embossed hollow at left1231 to approximately 700Permit reciprocityEmbossed orange serial on black plate; unknown formatPR123PR 1 to approximately PR 1000First year of issueSchool busEmbossed orange serial on black plate; "WIS" at top left, "SCH" at top right; "56" at bottom left, quarterly tab at far rightA 12Coded by weight class (A)Special-UXEmbossed orange serial on black plate; "EXP" at top left, "JUL 56" at top right; "WIS" at bottomUX 1234UX 1 to approximately UX 1500First known year of issue. Used on vehicles with specific permanently mounted equipment; plate type also called "special mobile equipment"Special-XEmbossed white serial on blue plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right123 X1 X to approximately 200 XState patrolEmbossed black serial on white plate; "STATE" over "PATROL" at left, hollow black star to right of caption; "WISCONSIN" at bottom123Coded by district (1)Tax onlyEmbossed orange serial on black plate; unknown format1231 to unknownTractorEmbossed orange serial on black plate; unknown formatA 123Coded by weight class (A)Light trailerEmbossed white serial on green plate; "EXP" at top left, "DEC 55" at top right; "WIS TRAILER" at bottomA 1234Coded by weight class (A)Revalidated to 1956 with red on aluminum tabs.Insert trailerEmbossed orange serial on black plate; "WIS" at top left, "TRL" at top right; "56" at bottom left, quarterly tab at far rightA 123Coded by weight class (A)Weight classes are E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, R, S, T, V, X, and Y. Also issued to light trailers for hire in the A, B, C, and D weight classes. Commercial semi-trailerEmbossed orange serial on black plate; "EXP" at top left, "JUN 56" at top right; at bottomCS 1234CS 1 to approximately CS 8000Embossed orange serial on black plate; "EXP" at top left, "JUN 56" at top right; "WIS SEMI TRAILER" at bottomPrivate semi-trailerEmbossed orange serial on black plate; "EXP" at top left, "JUN 56" at top right; at bottomPS 1234PS 1 to approximately PS 5000Embossed orange serial on black plate; "EXP" at top left, "JUN 56" at top right; "WIS SEMI TRAILER" at bottomTrailer dealerEmbossed red serial on white plate; "WIS" at top left, "56" at top right; "DEALER" at bottomA 123 TLDealer number and plate numberNumber is the dealer number, letter prefix increments when a new plate is issued to that dealerLight truckEmbossed white serial on green plate; "EXP" at top left, "DEC 55" at top right; "WIS TRUCK" at bottomA12-345Coded by weight class (A). Serials started at A25-001Revalidated for 1956 with black on white tabs. Weight classes are A, B, C, and D.Insert truckEmbossed orange serial on black plate; "WIS" at top left, "TRK" at top right; "56" at bottom left, quarterly tab at far rightA1234Coded by weight class (A)Weight classes are E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, R, S, T, V, X. Also issued to light trucks for hire in the A, B, C, and D weight classes.

Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1956

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