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Wisconsin license plate designs

When WisDOT replaces license plates

State law requires the periodic replacement of license plates at the time of registration renewal. Your registration renewal notice will inform you if your plates will be replaced. You will receive plates with a different plate number, unless you have personalized plates. After you receive your new plates, the old plates are no longer valid and should be destroyed and recycled.

If your plates have been lost, stolen or damaged, you may apply for replacement plates.

Auto and light truck plate changes

Wisconsin's current license plate design for autos and light trucks debuted in the summer of 2000. The plates are being phased in over a multi-year period as new registrations are issued and as customers request replacement plates. The previous plate (issued from 1987-2000) was similar to the current plate, with these changes:

• The black plate numbers are easier to read than the previous red numbers, which makes it easier for law enforcement officials to enforce traffic safety laws.

• Auto plates have numbers listed first and letters second (i.e. 101-AAA).

• "Wisconsin" and "America's Dairyland" are both now larger and red, instead of dark blue.

The graphic design in the upper right of the plate symbolizes nature, the farming industry and diverse recreational opportunities in Wisconsin.

Disabled veteran license plate changes

Starting with August 2009 registration renewals, customers will receive plates with a new design to replace their disabled veteran license plates. The new design is similar to the red, white and blue military group design, except it displays "Disabled Veteran" at the bottom and has the International Symbol of Access (wheelchair) that authorizes disabled parking privileges when the disabled veteran is present. The "VET" prefix was eliminated from disabled veteran plates and replaced with a 'V' suffix. Personalized disabled veteran plates may now have up to six characters.

Heavy truck, tractor, trailer, farm trailer and heavy farm truck plate changes

Beginning with December 2008 registration renewals, customers with truck plates at 10,000 lbs. gross weight and over, trailers at 4,500 lbs. and over, and all truck tractors will receive new plates. WisDOT will replace the current turquoise plates with a gray plate and black lettering. Customers will continue to have valid turquoise plates on their vehicle until their next renewal.

Bus plates (school bus, urban mass transportation)

Bus plates, including school bus and urban mass transportation vehicles, will receive new plates upon renewing this year. All bus plates have the same basic design as auto and light truck plates but have a 'B' suffix.

Driver education

WisDOT began issuing regular design auto plates to driver education vehicles beginning in 2005 (see auto plate design above). Old design driver education plates are still valid if the registration is current. The certificate of registration identifies the vehicle for use as driver education (DEV) with an expiration of December 2013.

For more information about license plates:

• E-mail bur-veh-services.dmv@dot.state.wi.us
• Call: (608) 266-1466

If you e-mail us about a specific vehicle, you will need to provide us with the license plate number or the vehicle identification number.

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Questions about the content of this page:
Bureau of Vehicle Services, bur-veh-services.dmv@dot.state.wi.us
Last modified: June 24, 2009