Vehicle registration plates of Iowa
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
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 at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 issue was the first Iowa license plate that complied with these standards.| Image | Dates issued | Description | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| 1911 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IA 1911" at right | none | 12345 | 2001 to approximately 30000 | ||
| 1912 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "IA 1912" at right | none | 12345 | 3001 to approximately 46000 | ||
| 1913 | Embossed black serial on white plate; "IA 1913" at right | none | 12345 | 3001 to approximately 75000 | ||
| 1914 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "IA 1914" at right | none | 123456 | 6001 to approximately 112000 | ||
| 1915 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "IA 1915" at right | none | 123456 | 7001 to approximately 152000 | ||
| Embossed beige serial on dark olive green plate; "IA" and dash at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 341000 | |||
| 1919 | Embossed white serial on brown plate; "IA 19" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 362000 | ||
| 1920 | Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; "IA 20" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 438000 | ||
| 1921 | Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "IA 21" at right | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 441000 | ||
| 1922 | Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "IA 22" at right | none | 1-12345 10-1234 | Coded by county of issuance | First use of county codes. | |
| 1923 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "IA 23" at right | none | 1-12345 10-1234 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1924 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IA 24" at right | none | 1-12345 10-1234 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1925 | Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; "IA 25" at right | none | 1-12345 10-1234 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1926 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "IA 26" at right | none | 1-12345 10-1234 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1927 | Embossed orange serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IA 27" at right | none | A-12345 1-1234 10-1234 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1928 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "IA 28" at right | none | A-12345 1-1234 10-1234 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1929 | Embossed black serial on green plate with border line; vertical "IOWA" and "1929" at right | none | A-12345 1-1234 10-1234 | Coded by county of issuance | First use of the full state name. | |
| 1930 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IOWA-1930" centered at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1931 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA-1931" centered at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1932 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "IOWA-1932" centered at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1933 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IOWA-1933" centered at top | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1934 | Embossed yellow serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IOWA-1934" centered at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1935 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IOWA-1935" centered at top | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1936 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA-1936" centered at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1937 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "1937-IOWA" centered at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1938 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA-1938" centered at top | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1939 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IOWA-1939" centered at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1940 | Embossed dark blue serial on orange plate with border line; "IOWA-1940" centered at top | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1941 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA-1941" centered at bottom | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1942–44 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IOWA-1942" centered at top | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | Revalidated for 1943 and 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II. | |
| 1945 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA-1945" centered at top | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | Only rear plates issued due to ongoing metal conservation; a windshield sticker was carried at the front of the vehicle. | |
| 1946 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IOWA-1946" centered at top | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1947–48 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "1947-IOWA" centered at top | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | Revalidated for 1948 with silver tabs. | |
| 1949 | Embossed white serial on waffle-textured black plate with border line; "IOWA-1949" centered at top | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1950–51 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "19" at top left and "50" at top right | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | Revalidated for 1951 with silver tabs. | |
| 1952 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "19" at top left and "52" at top right | none | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1953–55 | Embossed 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 bottom | 1-12345 10-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | 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. | |
| 1956–57 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "19" at top left and "56" at top right | none | 1-1234 1-A123 1-1A23 10-1234 10-A123 10-1A23 | Coded by county of issuance | First 6" x 12" plate. I, M, O, Q, W and Y not used in lettered serial formats. Revalidated for 1957 with silver tabs. | |
| 1958 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "58" at top right | none | 1-12345 1/0-12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1959 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "59" at top right | none | 1 12345 1/0 12345 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1960 | Embossed black serial on light gray plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "60" at top right | none | 1 12345 1/0 123456 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1961 | As 1959 base, but with "61" at top right | none | 1 12345 1/0 123456 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1962 | As 1960 base, but with "62" at top right | none | 1 12345 1/0 123456 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1963 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "63" at top right | none | 1 12345 1/0 123456 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1964 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "64" at top right | none | 1-12345 1/0 123456 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1965 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "65" at top right | none | 1-12345 1/0 123456 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1966 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "66" at top right | none | 1-12345 1/0 123456 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1967 | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "67" at top right | none | 1-12345 1/0 123456 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1968 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "IOWA" centered at top; "68" at top right | none | 1-12345 1/0 123456 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1969 | As 1967 base, but with "69" at top right | none | 1-12345 1/0 123456 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1970 | As 1968 base, but with "70" at top right | none | 1-12345 1/0 123456 | Coded by county of issuance | ||
| 1971 | As 1967 base, but with "71" at top right | none | 1-12345 1/0 123456 | Coded by county of issuance |
1972 to present
County coding
Current non-passenger and optional plates
Non-passenger plates
Optional plates
Iowa offers its motorists a number of optional issue designs that are available upon the payment of an additional fee.Plates of all types other than the university types are available for both automobiles and motorcycles, the latter using a smaller overall plate size. University Plates are the only plates not colored the same as the standard issue plate, the color scheme is a yellow base, with the university's main sports team color on both the numbers, and a header denoting the school.
| Image | Type | First issued | Serial format | Notes |
| Air Force Cross | Must present military form DD-214 showing receipt of medal to be issued. Issuance is strictly regulated by the Iowa Department of Transportation, and the Iowa Department of Veterans' Affairs. | |||
| Airman's Medal | Must present military form DD-214 showing receipt of medal to be issued. Plate issuance is strictly regulated by the Iowa Department of Transportation, and the Iowa Department of Veterans' Affairs. | |||
| Breast Cancer Awareness | 123BA | |||
| Bronze Star | Must present military form DD-214 showing receipt of medal to be issued. As with all plates denoting high issue military medals, the issuance of this plate is strictly regulated by the Iowa Department of Transportation, and the Iowa Department of Veterans' Affairs. | |||
| Cattlemen Care | CA123 123CA 123CI | |||
| Congressional Medal of Honor—Air Force | Plate number is medal issuance number | plate is light blue on white, with the words "Medal of Honor" in place of county name. Plate is issued by the state Veterans Administration. | ||
| Congressional Medal of Honor—Army | Plate number is medal issuance number | county name replaced with the words "Medal of Honor." Plate is light blue on white. Plate is issued by state Veterans Administration. Must provide Military form DD-214 showing receipt of medal, as well as a copy of the medal certificate. Medal of Honor plates issued for all branches of service are strictly regulated. | ||
| Congressional Medal of Honor—Navy | Plate number is medal issuance number | county name replaced with the words "Medal of Honor." Plate is light blue on white. Plate is issued by state Veterans Administration | ||
| Distinguished Service Cross | DSC123 DSC1234 | Must present military form DD-214 showing receipt of medal to be issued | ||
| Education | Must show NEA membership card and hold credentials as a schoolteacher to be issued. | |||
| Emergency Medical Services | 123EM 123EN | You need your signature and your director's signature notarized proving that you are indeed a member of a paid or volunteer EMS service in Iowa | ||
| Masons | Must provide membership in an area Freemasons Lodge to be issued this plate | |||
| Ex-Prisoner of War | POW123 POW1234 | Must present military form DD-214 showing receipt of the POW medal before issuance. | ||
| Firefighter | FF123 123FF FD123 123FD 1234F F1234 | Must have Firefighter's Identification before issuance. Plate is red on white, with nationally recognized firefighter's insignia in far left side, and reads "Firefighter," in place of county name. | ||
| God Bless America | US123 123US 123UA 123UD 123UE 123UK 123UP 123UQ 123UR 123UT | |||
| Gold Star Mothers/Wives | Must have proof of membership within Gold Star Mother's, or Gold Star Wives in order to be issued this plate | |||
| Iowa Heritage | ||||
| Iowa State University | ISU1234 | |||
| Legion of Merit | Must present military form DD-214 showing receipt of medal to be issued. | |||
| Love Our Kids | K1234 | |||
| Motorcycle Rider | ||||
| National Guard | N1234 | Must have Military Identification denoting member of National Guard in order to be issued this plate. | ||
| Natural Resources – Bald eagle | AB 123 | |||
| Natural Resources – Goldfinch/wild rose | AB123 AB 123 | |||
| Natural Resources – Pheasant | AB 123 | |||
| Navy and Marine Corps Medal | Must present military form DD-214 showing receipt of medal to be issued. | |||
| Navy Cross | NC123 NC1234 | Must present military form DD-214 showing receipt of medal to be issued. | ||
| Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness | U1234 1234U | Must provide proof as an organ, or tissue donor, to be issued this plate | ||
| Pearl Harbor Survivor | Must have proof to be issued this plate. Proof would consist of Military form DD-214, denoting that applicant was stationed on any one of the eight Battleships moored at Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941, or any smaller vessel that was documented to be at Pearl Harbor during the attack. In place of county name, the plate reads "Pearl Harbor Survivor". Can have ship's hull number placed as plate number for no extra charge, provided the sequence is not already taken by another motorist. | |||
| Persons with Disabilities | C1234 1234C J1234 1234J Y1234 1234Y 1234Z, Z1234 | Must have proof of disability, as well as the signature of a board certified doctor before plate is issued. Nobody can be issued this plate without the approval of the Iowa Department of Transportation. The plate is marked with the universal handicapped symbol on the far left hand side, with the serial number following, the one letter four number combination can either be with the letter first, or last in sequence. | ||
| Purple Heart | P1234 | Must present military form DD-214 showing receipt of medal to be issued | ||
| Retired Air Force | R1234 | Must present Military Identification Card denoting retirement to be issued. | ||
| Retired Army | R1234 | Must have military identification card denoting retirement to be issued | ||
| Retired Coast Guard | R1234 | Must present Coast Guard identification card showing retirement to be issued | ||
| Retired Marines | R1234 | Must have military identification card denoting retirement to be issued | ||
| Retired Navy | R1234 | Must have military identification card denoting retirement to be issued | ||
| Share the Road | SR123 123SU | |||
| Shriners | ZA123 ZB123 | Must present a Shriners membership card to be issued | ||
| Silver Star | Must present military form DD-214 showing receipt of medal to be issued | |||
| Soldier's Medal | Must present military form DD-214 showing receipt of medal to be issued | |||
| University of Iowa | UI 1234 | |||
| University of Northern Iowa | UNI1234 | |||
| Veteran | V1234 | Plate appears as standard plate, with an American flag to the far left, with the word "Veteran" above, plate is issued by the state Veteran's Administration, all applying must have copy of Military form DD-214 denoting Honorable Discharge in order to receive the Veterans plate. | ||
| Police Department | 1234567 | Plate is white on dark blue, with a police officer's badge from the corresponding city on the left side, along with a seven digit number, and at the bottom, the City Police Department of issuance. These are issued only by the local police departments within the state, and placed on marked units only upon receipt of vehicle. They are illegal to be displayed by non-police officers. |