Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1940

Vehicle registration plates of the United States by year
Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1939 Events of 1940 Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1941

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 1940.[1][2][3][4]

Passenger baseplates

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Passenger  Car  Plates
Image Region Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
  Alabama
  Alaska
  American Samoa
  Arizona
  Arkansas
  California
  Canal Zone
  Colorado
  Connecticut
  Delaware
  District of
Columbia
  Florida
  Georgia
  Guam
  Hawai'i
  Idaho
  Illinois
  Indiana
  Iowa
  Kansas Embossed white serial with border line on black plate ; "KANSAS '40" centered at bottom none 1-1234
12-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 12)
  Kentucky
  Louisiana
  Maine
  Maryland
  Massachusetts
  Michigan
  Minnesota
  Mississippi
  Missouri
  Montana
  Nebraska Orange on turquoise with State Capitol graphic; "NEBRASKA 40" at bottom none 1-12345
10-1234
Coded by county of issuance (1 or 10)
  Nevada
  New Hampshire
  New Jersey
  New Mexico
  New York
  North Carolina
  North Dakota Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1940" at left and right respectively none 123-456 1 to approximately 147-000
  Northern Mariana
Islands
  Ohio
  Oklahoma
  Oregon
  Pennsylvania
  Puerto Rico
  Rhode Island
  South Carolina
  South Dakota
  Tennessee
  Texas
  Utah
  Vermont
  Virginia
  Washington
  West Virginia
  Wisconsin
  Wyoming Sample plate shown.

Non-passenger plates

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Non-passenger  Plates  
Image (standard) Region Type Design & Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
  Wisconsin City Bus Embossed red serial on white plate; "CITY" over "BUS" at left, "WISCONSIN 1940" at top, "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom 1 A Coded by weight class
  Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "CITY" over "BUS" at left, "WISCONSIN 1940" at top, "EXP. 3-31-40" at bottom It is unknown what this plate was used for, other than it is a city bus plate type.
  Dealer Embossed red serial on white plate; "WIS DEALER 1940" at top, "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom 1234A Dealer number and plate number Number is the dealer number, letter is the plate number for that dealer
  Farm Embossed blue serial on yellow plate; "39 FARM TR'K 40" at top, vertical "WIS" at left 12-345 1 to approximately 58-000
  Interurban bus Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "INT" over "BUS" at left, "WISCONSIN 1940" at top, "EXP. 3-31-40" at bottom 12 A Coded by weight class
  Motorcycle Embossed red serial on white plate; "1940 WIS" at top 1234 1 to approximately 3200
  Municipal Embossed white serial on red plate; "WISCONSIN 1940" at top, "AMERICA'S DAIRYLAND" at bottom; embossed hollow star at right. 1234 1 to approximately 8800 Identifiable with a hollow star
  Trailer Embossed blue serial on yellow plate; "39 WIS TRAILER 40" at top 1234 A Coded by weight class Weight classes are same as truck. It is unknown if heavy trailers received green plates like heavy trucks did.
  Embossed yellow serial on blue plate; "WIS TRAILER" at top, "EXP. 3-31-40" at bottom 12 A Weight classes are F, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N. It is unknown what this plate was used for, other than it was used on trailers.
  Truck Embossed blue serial on yellow plate; "39 WIS TRUCK 40" at top 12-345 A Coded by weight class Weight classes are A, B, C, and D
  Embossed white serial on green plate; "39 WIS TRUCK 40" at top Weight classes are E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N.
  Embossed yellow serial on blue plate; "WIS TRUCK" at top, "EXP. 3-31-40" at bottom 12 A Weight classes are F, G, H, J, K, L, M, and N. It is unknown what this plate was used for, other than it was a truck plate type.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Fox, Jams K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. ISBN 9781886777002.
  2. ^ Minard, Jeff; Stentiford, Tim (2004). A Moving History, 50 Years Of ALPCA. 100 Years Of License Plates. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company. p. 58. ISBN 1-56311-975-7.
  3. ^ Crisler, Bob; Crisler, Chuck, eds. (2007). License Plate Values (7th ed.). King Publishing Company.
  4. ^ Martells, Jack (1980). Antique Automotive Collectibles. Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc. pp. 128–145. ISBN 0-8092-7205-9.
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