Vehicle registration plates of South Carolina

The U.S. state of South Carolina first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1917. As of 2023, plates are issued by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1975.

South Carolina
Current series
SloganWhile I Breathe, I Hope
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatABC 123
IntroducedFebruary 2016 (2016-02)
Availability
Issued bySouth Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
History
First issuedJuly 1, 1917 (1917-07-01)

Passenger baseplates

1917 to 1975

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 South Carolina license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1917 Embossed black serial on light yellow plate; "SC 17" at right none 12345 5001 to approximately 41000
1918 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "SC 18" at left none 12345 5001 to approximately 61000
1919 Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "S.C. 1919" centered at bottom none 12-345 5-001 to approximately 73-000
1920 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "S.C. 1920" centered at bottom none 12-345 5-001 to approximately 98-000
1921 Embossed red serial on black plate with border line; "S.C. 1921" centered at bottom none A12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
1922 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "SC 22" at right none A12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
1923 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "SC 23" at right none A12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
1924 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "24" and "SC" monogram at right none A123-456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1925 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "SC" monogram and "25" at right none A123-456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1926 Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "SC" at right, with letters separated by embossed Sabal palmetto containing debossed "26" none A123-456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1927 Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "SC" at right, with letters separated by embossed Sabal palmetto containing debossed "27" none A123-456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1928 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 1928" at bottom none A123-456 Letter corresponds to weight class First use of the full state name.
1929 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 1929" at bottom none A-12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
1930 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 1930" at bottom Vertical "IODINE" at right A-12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class The slogan referred to the high amounts of iodine found in South Carolina's produce. Similar slogans were used through 1933.
1931 Embossed green serial on gray plate with border line; "S.C.", slogan and "31" at bottom "THE IODINE STATE" between state abbreviation and year A-12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
1932 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "S.C.", slogan and "32" at top "THE IODINE STATE" between state abbreviation and year A-12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
January – October 1933 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "SC 33" at right "THE IODINE PRODUCTS STATE" at bottom A-12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
November 1933 –
April
1934		 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "SC · EXPIRES APR 30 · 34" at top none A-12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
May – October 1934 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "SC · EXPIRES OCT 31 · 34" at bottom none A-12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
November 1934 –
April
1935		 Embossed white serial on black plate; "SC · APRIL 30 · 35" at top none A-12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
May – October 1935 Embossed black serial on white plate; "SC · OCTOBER 31 · 35" at bottom none A-12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
November 1935 –
April
1936		 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "SC · APRIL 30 · 36" at top none A-12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
May – October 1936 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "SC · OCTOBER 31 · 36" at bottom none A-12-345 Letter corresponds to weight class
November 1936 – October 1937 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "SC · OCTOBER 31 · 37" at bottom none A·12·345 Letter corresponds to weight class
1937–38 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 38" at bottom none A·12·345 Letter corresponds to weight class
1938–39 Embossed black serial on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 39" at bottom none A·12·345 Letter corresponds to weight class
1939–40 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "SC · OCTOBER 31 · 40" at bottom none A·12·345 Letter corresponds to weight class
1940–41 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 41" at bottom none A·12·345 Letter corresponds to weight class
1941–42 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 42" at top none A·12·345 Letter corresponds to weight class
1942–44 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 43" at bottom none A·12·345 Letter corresponds to weight class Revalidated for 1944 with green tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1945 Embossed yellow serial on green plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 45" at top none A·12·345 Letter corresponds to weight class
1946 Embossed silver serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 46" at bottom none A·123·456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1947 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 47" at top none A·123·456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1948 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 48" at bottom none A·123·456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1949 Embossed white serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 49" at top none A·123·456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1950 Embossed black serial on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 50" at bottom none A·123·456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1951 Embossed white serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 51" at top none A·123·456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1952 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 52" at bottom none A·123·456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1953 Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 53" at top none A·123·456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1954 Embossed white serial on black plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 54" at bottom none A·123·456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1955 Embossed black serial on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 55" at top none A·123·456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1956 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 56" at bottom none A-123456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1957 Embossed white serial on blue plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 57" at top none A-123456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1958 Embossed blue serial on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 58" at bottom none A-123456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1959 Embossed white serial on blue plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 59" at top none A-123456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1960 Embossed blue serial on white plate; "SOUTH CAROLINA 60" at bottom none A-123456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1961 Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 61" at top none A-123456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1962 Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 62" at bottom none A-123456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1963 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 63" at top none A-123456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1964 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 64" at bottom none A-123456
AB-1234		 First letter corresponds to weight class Two-letter serial format introduced for each weight class, though the one-letter format continued to be used.
1965 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 65" at top none A-123456
AB-1234		 First letter corresponds to weight class
1966 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA 66" at bottom none A 123456
AB 1234		 First letter corresponds to weight class
1967 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" and "1967" centered at top and bottom respectively none A 123456
AB 1234		 First letter corresponds to weight class
1968 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" and "AUTO" centered at top and bottom respectively; "19" at bottom left and "68" at bottom right none A 123456 Letter corresponds to weight class
1969 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" and "1969" centered at top and bottom respectively none A 123456
AB 1234		 First letter corresponds to weight class
1970 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top "300 YEARS" centered at bottom, with "1670" to the left and "1970" to the right A 123456
AB 1234		 First letter corresponds to weight class Commemorated the 300th anniversary of the settlement of South Carolina.
1971 Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1971" centered at bottom none A 123456
AB 1234		 First letter corresponds to weight class
1972 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1972" centered at bottom none ABC 123 AAA 101 to approximately TOW 250 For each three-letter series, only the numbers 101–250 were issued. This practice continued through 1975.
1973 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1973" centered at bottom none ABC 123 AAA 101 to approximately VEP 250
1974 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1974" centered at bottom none ABC 123 AAA 101 to approximately WJC 250
1975 Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top and "1975" centered at bottom none ABC 123 AAA 101 to approximately WRC 250

1976 to present
Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1976 – December 1979 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; red Sabal palmetto and blue cannon screened in the center; "1775" and "1783" screened in blue on either side of cannon; red band screened at bottom containing "SOUTH CAROLINA" in white in the center "1776 Bicentennial 1976" screened in blue at top ABC 123 AAA 101 to WZZ 400; AAA 401 to WZZ 500 Commemorated both the US Bicentennial and the Revolutionary War. Numbers 101–400 issued for each three-letter series first, followed by 401–500 from 1978.
January 1980 – December 1984 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; white state seal on pale blue state shape screened in the center; "South Carolina" screened in blue centered at bottom none ABC 123 AAA 101 to YZZ 500 Numbers 101–500 issued for each three-letter series.
January 1985 – December 1989 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; pale blue Sabal palmetto screened in the center; "SOUTH CAROLINA" screened in red at top none ABC 123 AAA 501 to ZZZ 999 Numbers 501–900 issued for each three-letter series, with 901–999 added in 1988.
January 1990 – December 1997 Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; Carolina wren on yellow jessamine vine screened at top; "SOUTH CAROLINA" screened in brown centered at bottom none ABC 123 AAA 101 to YZZ 500; AAA 501 to YZZ 900 Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1990 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time South Carolina has been so honored. Numbers 101–500 issued for each three-letter series first, followed by 501–900 from mid-1991.
January 1998 – October 2007 Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; light blue mountain graphic screened at top and sides and Sabal palmetto in the center; "South Carolina" screened in light blue centered at bottom "Smiling Faces. Beautiful Places." screened in black at top 123 ABC 101 AAA to approximately 900 XBJ Numbers 101–900 issued for each three-letter series, with 901–999 added in late 2007 at the XCR series. Letters I, O and Q not used, and U used only from 2002 onwards, beginning with the NKU series.[2]
October 2007[3] – June
2008		 As above, but with serial screened rather than embossed 101 XBK to approximately 999 XXM
July
2008 – January 2016		 Screened black serial on multicolored sunset background with state flag motif at center TRAVEL2SC.COM ABC 123 AAA 101 to approximately LZC 999 Letter O not used in serials; this practice continues today.
February 2016 – present Screened black serial on white and blue background with state flag motif at center While I Breathe, I Hope. ABC 123 LZD 101 to XLC 557 (as of October 13, 2023)[4]
October 2023-present 123 ABC 101 AAA to 733 AAD (as of October 19, 2023)

Optional plates
Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
February 2003 – October 2007 Embossed black serial on light blue and white gradient plate; national and state flags on gold flagpole screened in the center; "South Carolina" screened in blue centered at bottom "IN GOD WE TRUST" screened in gold centered at top, with gradient gold stripe below 123 4AB 100 1AA to approximately 400 0DT No cost.
October 2007 – December 2015 As above, but with serial screened rather than embossed 400 1DT to approximately 999 9HQ
January 2016 – present Screened black serial on white plate; national and state flags on gold flagpole screened at left; "South Carolina" screened in black centered at bottom "IN GOD WE TRUST" screened in black centered at top, with blue stripe above and red stripe below 1234AB 1001HR to 8008RR (as of September 18, 2023)[4]

Non-passenger plates
Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Dealer January 2016 – present Screened black serial on reflective white plate; "South Carolina" screened at bottom; "Dealer" screened at top with blue stripe above and red stripe below X123456 X622001 to X681169 (as of November 9, 2022) Issued annually from 2008 to 2015. X123456 serial format used during this period, with the first digit after the 'X' corresponding to the last digit of the year of expiration (9 for 2008, 0 for 2009 and so on up to 6 for 2015). Serials on the current plate continue from where those on the 2015 plate left off.
Disabled January 2010 – present Screened black serial on reflective graphic plate with Sabal palmetto against a light blue and white gradient sky; "SOUTH CAROLINA" screened at bottom and International Symbol of Access at left 123456W 1001W to 305568W (as of July 22, 2023)
Motorcycle 1995–2000 Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" at top Z12345 Z10001 to Z99999 Serials ZA0001 through ZA9999 and Z/A10001 through Z/A99999 reserved for antique motorcycles.
2000–07 ZB1234 ZB0001 to ZZ9999
2007–08 As above, but with state name and letters in serial screened rather than embossed Z/B12345 Z/B10001 to approximately Z/B40000
2008 –
April 2015		 As above, but with all elements screened Z/B40001 to Z/C99999
May 2015 – present Screened black serial on reflective white plate; "South Carolina" screened at top with blue stripe above and red stripe below Z/D10001 to Z/G72412 (as of February 16, 2022)
Truck 1996–2008 Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "SOUTH CAROLINA" and "TRUCK" at top and bottom respectively P123456 P100001 to approximately P393500
2008 –
April 2015		 As above, but with elements screened rather than embossed P393501 to approximately P500000
May 2015 – present Screened black serial on reflective white plate; "South Carolina" screened at bottom; "Property Carrying" screened at top with blue stripe above and red stripe below P500001 to present

Special plates
Image Type Dates issued Design Text Serial format Serials issued Notes
Manufacturers' Plate Screened black serial on white plate Motor Vehicle Manufacturer AB 1234 AA0001 to MA2314 (as of January 2019)

References
  1. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  2. Tanner, Eric N. "South Carolina Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  3. Turnbull, Andrew. "March of the Flats". The Andrew Turnbull Network. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
  4. "South Carolina License Plates". www.licenseplates.cc. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
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