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Vehicle registration plates of Kentucky 
Summary
The U.S. state of Kentucky first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1910. Plates are currently issued by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet through its Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing. Only rear plates have been required since 1944.
| Current series | |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Bluegrass State In God We Trust (alternative since 2011) |
| Size | 12 in × 6 in 30 cm × 15 cm |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Serial format | ABC 123 |
| Introduced | September 21, 2020 |
| Availability | |
| Issued by | Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing |
| History | |
| First issued | March 23, 1910 |
Passenger baseplates edit
1910 to 1974 edit
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 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[1] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Kentucky license plate that complied with these standards.
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1910–11 | White serial on black porcelain plate; vertical "KY" at right, above circle containing 'B' | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 3200 | Front and rear plates issued; this practice continued through 1943. |
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1911–12 | White serial on black porcelain plate; vertical "KY" at right, above circle containing 'L' | none | 1234 | 4001 to approximately 8300 | |
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1912–13 | White serial on black porcelain plate; white horizontal stripes at top and bottom; vertical "KY" at right, above square containing 'M' | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 8000 | |
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1913–14 | White serial on black porcelain plate; red horizontal stripes at top and bottom; vertical "KY" at right, above diamond containing red 'G' | none | 12345 | 10001 to approximately 19000 | |
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1914 | Embossed black serial on white plate; "KY 1914" at right | none | 12345 | 20001 to approximately 26400 | First dated and embossed plate. Issued only from June through December 1914. |
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1915 | Embossed red serial on white plate; "KY 1915" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 19500 | |
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1916 | Embossed white serial on blue plate; "KY 1916" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 29500 | |
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1917 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "KY. 1917" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 47500 | |
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1918 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "KY. 1918" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 64000 | |
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1919 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KY. 1919" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 81000 | |
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1920 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "KY. 1920" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 96000 | |
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1921 | Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "KY. 1921" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 157000 | |
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1922 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "KY. 1922" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 167000 | |
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1923 | Embossed blue serial on gray plate with border line; "KY. 1923" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 185000 | |
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1924 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "KY 1924" at right | none | 123456 | ||
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1925 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KENTUCKY·1925" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | First use of the full state name. | |
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1926 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "KENTUCKY·1926" centered at bottom | none | 123-456 | ||
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1927 | Embossed white serial on blue plate. Plate divided into four sections, each surrounded by border lines, with "KY", county name and "27" in top section and serial numbers in bottom left and bottom right sections | none | 12 34 12 345 |
Began at 1 in each county | First state-issued passenger plate in the U.S. to feature the name of the county of issuance. |
|
1928 | Embossed white serial on green plate. Plate divided into four sections, each surrounded by border lines, with "KY. 28" in bottom center section, county name in top section and serial numbers in bottom left and bottom right sections | none | 12 34 12 345 |
Began at 1 in each county | |
 
|
1929 | Pair of plates with blue base with white embossed lettering and border. Front: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 29" with county name at bottom. Serial numbers in center separated by "FRONT" in small letters in middle. Rear: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 29" with "FOR" in center of plate between serial numbers and "PROGRESS" emblazoned at bottom. |
"FOR PROGRESS" on rear plates (see left) | 123-456 | 1 to 850-000 (see right) | A block of serials was assigned to each county in alphabetical order; this practice continued through 1936.[2] |
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1930 | Pair of plates, each with white base with red embossed lettering and border. Front: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 30" with county name at bottom and serial numbers in center. Rear: top of plate emblazoned with "19 KENTUCKY 30" with serial in center of plate and "FOR PROGRESS" emblazoned at bottom. |
"FOR PROGRESS" on rear plates (see left) | 123-456 | 1 to 850-000 | |
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1931 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "19 KENTUCKY 31" (on front plates) or "KY", county name and "31" (on rear plates) at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 850-000 | |
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1932 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "19 KENTUCKY 32" (on front plates) or "KY", county name and "32" (on rear plates) at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 850-000 | |
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1933 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KY", county name and "33" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 850-000 | |
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1934 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "KY", county name and "34" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to 850-000 | |
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1935 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "KY", county name and "35" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 850-000 | |
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1936 | Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "KY", county name and "36" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to 850-000 | |
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1937 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'37" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1938 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'38" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1939 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'39" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1940 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'40" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1941 | Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'41" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1942–43 | Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'42" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 |
Issued in blocks by county | Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
|
1944–45 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'44" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 |
Issued in blocks by county | Only rear plates issued; this practice continues today. Revalidated for 1945 with windshield stickers. |
|
1946–47 | Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "KENTUCKY-'46" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | Revalidated for 1947 with windshield stickers. |
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1948 | Embossed orange serial on unpainted aluminum plate; "KENTUCKY-'48" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | |
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1949 | Embossed black serial on waffle-textured silver plate; "KENTUCKY-'49" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | |
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1950 | Embossed white serial on waffle-textured green plate; "KENTUCKY-'50" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | none | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | |
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1951–52 | Embossed black serial on silver plate; county name centered at bottom | "TOUR KENTUCKY-'51" centered at top | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | Revalidated for 1952 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for the Korean War. |
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1953 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; county name centered at bottom | "TOUR KENTUCKY-'53" centered at top | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | |
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1954 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; county name centered at bottom | "TOUR KENTUCKY-'54" centered at top | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | |
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1955 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; county name centered at bottom | "TOUR KENTUCKY-'55" centered at top | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | |
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1956 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "19" at top left and "56" at top right; county name centered at bottom | "TOUR KENTUCKY" centered at top | 123-456 | Issued in blocks by county | |
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1957 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "19" at top left and "57" at top right; county name centered at bottom | "TOUR KENTUCKY" centered at top | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | One-letter, five-digit serials introduced in counties that had exhausted their all-numeric allocations. |
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1958 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "19 KENTUCKY 58" at top; county name centered at bottom | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1959 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "19 KENTUCKY 59" at top; county name centered at bottom | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1960 | As 1958 base, but with "60" at top right | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1961 | As 1959 base, but with "61" at top right | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1962 | As 1958 base, but with "62" at top right; border line added on later plates | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1963 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "19 KENTUCKY 63" at top; county name centered at bottom | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1964 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "19 KENTUCKY 64" at top; county name centered at bottom | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1965 | As 1963 base, but with "65" at top right | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1966 | As 1964 base, but with "66" at top right | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1967 | As 1963 base, but with "67" at top right | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1968 | As 1964 base, but with "68" at top right | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1969 | As 1963 base, but with "69" at top right | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1970 | As 1964 base, but with "70" at top right | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1971 | As 1963 base, but with "71" at top right | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1972 | As 1964 base, but with "72" at top right | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1973 | As 1963 base, but with "73" at top right | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county | |
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1974 | As 1964 base, but with "74" at top right | none | 123-456 A12-345 |
Issued in blocks by county |
1975 to present edit
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1975–77 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "19 KENTUCKY 75" at top; county name centered at bottom | none | ABC-123 | Issued in blocks by county | Revalidated for 1976 and 1977 with stickers. Letters I, O, Q and U not used in serials; this practice continues today.[2] |
|
1977–83 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "KY" at top left and top right; debossed box for expiration sticker centered at top; county-name sticker centered at bottom | none | ABC-123 | AAA-000 to approximately GFZ-999 | Monthly staggered registration introduced. |
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1983–88 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name centered at top and bottom respectively | none | ABC-123 | JAA-000 to approximately RNV-999 | |
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1988–97 | Embossed blue serial on white plate; twin spires of Churchill Downs racetrack screened in blue at the top and a mare and foal screened in light blue in the center; "Kentucky" screened in blue centered between spires; county name on blue sticker between state name and serial | "Bluegrass State" screened in blue centered at bottom | ABC 123 | TAA 000 to ZZZ 999; AAA 000 to approximately EBP 999 | Mare and foal based on the photo The Soul of a Horse, taken by Peter Thomann. The base was withdrawn when Thomann threatened to sue for copyright infringement. |
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1997 | Embossed blue serial on white plate; "KENTUCKY" and county name embossed in blue centered at top and bottom respectively | none | ABC-123 | EBR-000 to approximately FAE-999 | Interim plates based on truck plates of the time, with county name in place of weight class. |
| January 1998 – November 2002 | Embossed blue serial on graphic plate with light blue sky, white state-shaped cloud and green rolling hills; "Kentucky" screened in black centered at top; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered at bottom | "BLUEGRASS STATE" screened in black centered below state name | 123 ABC | 000 AAA to approximately 700 HYJ | ||
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November 2002 – January 2003 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "KENTUCKY" embossed in dark blue centered at top; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered at bottom | none | 123 ABC | 701 HYJ to 999 HZZ | Interim plates manufactured when stocks of cloud plates ran out before the smiling sun base (below) was introduced. |
| January 2003 – July 31, 2005 |
Embossed dark blue serial on graphic plate with blue, white and red gradient sky, green rolling hills, and an anthropomorphic rising yellow sun with a red smile; "KENTUCKY" screened in white centered above serial; county name on green sticker in debossed box centered at bottom | "The Bluegrass State" and "It's that friendly." screened in blue above and below state name respectively | 123 ABC | 000 JAA to approximately 999 PSX | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2003 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Kentucky has been so honored. Despite the honor, the plates were widely derided and defaced by residents.[3] | |
|
August 1, 2005[4] – June 2008 |
Embossed dark blue serial on white and light blue gradient plate; state icon screened in the center; screened blue and red Kentucky Tourism logo centered above serial; county name on blue sticker in debossed box centered at bottom | "BLUEGRASS STATE" and "UNBRIDLED SPIRIT" screened above and below Kentucky Tourism logo respectively | 123 ABC | 000 AAA to approximately 900 JCB | |
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June 2008 – late 2019 | 901 JCB to 999 ZZZ | Narrower serial dies. 'S' series not used in the 123 ABC format. | |||
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late 2019 – September 2020 | ABC 123 | AAA 000 to ATE 999; BAA 000 to approximately BCD 999 | |||
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January 2011 – September 2020 | As above, but with smaller Kentucky Tourism logo | As above, plus "In God We Trust" screened in blue centered between logo and serial | 123 ABC ABC 123 |
Taken from standard allocation | No-cost alternative plate; first issues were in the LRG series of the 123 ABC format. |
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September 2020 –August 2021 | Flat, digitally printed dark blue serial on white and light blue gradient plate; state icon screened on the left; screened blue "KENTUCKY" centered above serial, with "BLUEGRASS STATE" screened above that in smaller font; county name on blue sticker in box centered at bottom; serial is not separated in middle, as with past designs | ABC123 | ATF000 to AZZ999; BCE000 to approximately CBS999 | ||
| August 2021 present | A1B234 | A0A000 to J3P768 (From licenseplates.cc, or The High Road on Jan 17, 2023)[2] | ||||
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September 2020 – Present | As above, but with county sticker box moved down slightly | As above, plus "IN GOD WE TRUST" screened in blue centered above county sticker | ABC123 | Taken from standard allocation |
Special plates edit
| Image | Type | Dates issued | Description | Serial format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Nature's Finest" | |||||
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Nature's Finest – Viceroy butterfly | Custom plate featuring a large viceroy butterfly on the left and a smaller one of the right. On the top is the familiar Kentucky Tourism logo and on the bottom are the words "Nature's Finest." | |||
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Nature's Finest – Wren | 12345 | |||
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Nature's Finest - Cumberland Falls | Custom plate featuring the Cumberland Falls, a state park in Corbin, Kentucky. On the top is the familiar Kentucky Tourism logo and on the bottom are the words "Nature's Finest." | Discontinued | ||
| "Share The Road" | |||||
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Share The Road | Custom plate featuring two bicyclists and a runner on a blue background. A portion of proceeds goes to promote safety and education for both cyclists and pedestrians in the Commonwealth. | |||
Non-passenger plates edit
| Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Motorcycle | 2003–09 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "KENTUCKY" and "MOTORCYCLE" centered at top and bottom respectively | 1234A | 0000A to 9999Z | |
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|
2009– present |
AB123 | AA000 to JV001 (as of October 23, 2020) |
Government/Official plates edit
| Image | Type | Design | Serial Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official Government Units or Emergency Ambulances | Embossed black serial on white background. "Kentucky" screened at center top and "OFFICIAL" screen at center bottom. A black-and-white seal of the Commonwealth of Kentucky resides at the left side. | A1234 | Local agencies may occasionally cover the Commonwealth seal with a sticker of their own organization's logo/seal. | |
| Congressional | ||||
| Judiciary | ||||
| State Senator | ||||
| State Representative |
External links edit
- Kentucky license plates 1969-present
References edit
- ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
- ^ a b c Tanner, Eric N. "Kentucky License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
- ^ "Kentucky Frowns on Smiley License Plates". NBC News. July 16, 2005. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
- ^ "Governor Ernie Fletcher unveils new Unbridled Spirit license plate". Kentucky.gov. July 19, 2005. Retrieved January 10, 2015.