Colors and County Codes

Plate Colors By Year

The chart below shows the colors used on Alabama passenger plates from the first state-issued plates in 1912 up to the last yearly issue of 1976. Beginning in 1977 Alabama began using multi-year base plates which were re-validated each year with a sticker. Originally these multi-year base plates were to be used for a period of five years, but with the introduction of the "Stars Fell on Alabama" base in January of 2002, the state decided to go to a seven year cycle in an attempt to save money. As of this writing, it is yet to be seen if the state will stick to this plan.

The colors listed here are given with the color of the numbers and letters first and the color of the background second. Please note that the colors listed in this chart are for passenger plates. In many cases, the non-passenger plates were the same color as the passenger plates but like everything, there are exceptions. Some noted exceptions are the dealer plates beginning in the late 1960's and the National Guard plates.

Also noted in this chart is whether the plates for a particular year were issued in singles or pairs.

Pre-State Plates

(All of these were issued as single plates)

Birmingham Mobile Montgomery

1909 White on Blue 1909 Black on Green 1909 White on Green

1910 Black on White 1910 White on Black 1910 None of these have ever been found.

1911 White on Blue 1911 White on Black 1911 None of these have ever been found.

State-Issued Plates

1912	White on Blue	Pair
1913	Black on Orange	Pair
1914	Black on White	Pair
1915	White on Green	Pair
1916	Black on Yellow	Single
1917	Red on White	Single
1918	Blue on Gray	Single
1919	White on Green	Single
1920	Black on White	Single
1921	Red on White	Single
1922	Black on Yellow	Single
1923	White on Blue	Single
1924	Brown on Tan	Single
1925	White on Maroon	Single
1926	White on Green	Single
1927	White on Black	Single
1928	Black on Yellow	Single
1929	Yellow on Black	Single
1930	White on Red	Single
1931	Yellow on Green	Single
1932	White on Black	Single
1933	White on Blue	Single
1934	Black on Yellow	Single
1935	White on Green	Single
1936	Red on White	Single
1937	Purple on White	Pair
1938	Red on Blue	Pair
1939	Black on Silver	Pair
1940	Yellow on Black	Pair
1941	Black on Yellow	Pair
1942	Yellow on Black	Pair
1943	Black on Red & White Background	Sticker
1944	Black on Yellow	Single
1945	Yellow on Black	Single
1946	White on Black	Pair
1947	Black on Silver	Pair
1948	Yellow on Black	Single
1949	Black on Yellow	Pair
1950	Yellow on Black	Pair

1951	Black on Yellow	Pair
1952	White on Blue	Single
1953	Blue on White	Single
1954	White on Blue	Pair
1955	White on Green	Pair
1956	Black on Yellow	Pair
1957	Yellow on Black	Pair
1958	White on Blue	Pair
1959	Blue on White	Pair
1960	White on Blue	Pair
1961	White on Black	Pair
1962	White on Green	Pair
1963	White on Blue	Single
1964	White on Red	Single
1965	Orange on Blue	Single
1966	White on Black	Single
1967	Yellow on Blue	Single
1968	White on Red	Single
1969	Green on White	Single
1970	Blue on White	Single
1971	Black on Yellow	Single
1972	Black on Green	Single
1973	Red on White	Single
1974	Black on White	Single
1975	Black on Yellow	Single
1976	Blue on White	Single
1977	'77 was screened onto the plate.	Single
1978	White on Blue	Sticker
1979	Black on White	Sticker
1980	Black on Yellow	Sticker
1981	White on Red	Sticker
1982	White on Blue	Sticker
1983	White on Red	Sticker
1984	Red on White	Sticker
1985	White on Red	Sticker
1986	Blue on White	Sticker
1987	Red on White	Sticker
1988	White on Blue	Sticker
1989	Red on White	Sticker

1990	White on Red	Sticker
1991	Blue on White	Sticker
1992	White on Blue	Sticker
1993	Red on White	Sticker
1994	White on Red	Sticker
1995	Blue on White	Sticker
1996	Black on Yellow	Sticker
1997	White on Blue	Sticker
1998	White on Red	Sticker
1999	Blue on White	Sticker
2000	White on Blue	Sticker
2001	Black on Pink	Sticker
2002	White on Black	Sticker
2003	White on Red	Sticker
2004	Blue on White	Sticker
2005	Black on White	Sticker
2006	Green on White	Sticker
2007	White on Light Blue	Sticker
2008	Black on Yellow	Sticker
2009		Sticker
2010		Sticker