The U.S. state of North Dakota first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1911.
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 {{convert|6|in|cm}} in height by {{convert|12|in|cm}} in width, with standardized mounting holes.[1] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first North Dakota license plate that complied with these standards.
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|
| 1911 | Golden yellow serial on black flat metal plate; vertical "ND" and "1911" at left and right respectively | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 7000 |
| 1912 | Embossed red serial on white plate; vertical "ND" and "1912" at left and right respectively | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 9000 |
| 1913 | Embossed black serial on tan plate; vertical "ND" and "1913" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 12500 |
| 1914 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; vertical "ND" and "1914" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 17000 |
| 1915 | Embossed black serial on green plate; vertical "ND" and "1915" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 25000 |
| 1916 | Debossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1916" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 41000 |
| 1917 | Debossed black serial on white plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1917" at left and right respectively | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 50-000 | |
| As above, but embossed rather than debossed, and without border line | 12345 | 50001 to approximately 63000 |
| 1918 | Debossed red serial on white plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1918" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 72000 |
| 1919 | Debossed light green serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1919" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 85000 |
| 1920 | Embossed cream serial on green plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1920" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 91000 |
| 1921 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1921" at left and right respectively | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 92000 |
| 1922 | Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1922" at left and right respectively | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 99-000 |
| 1923 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1923" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 110-000 |
| 1924 | Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1924" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 116-000 |
| 1925 | Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1925" at left and right respectively | none | F12-345}} | F1 to approximately F82-000 | Issued on Fords. |
| 12-345 | 1 to approximately 51-000 | Issued on all other vehicles. |
| 1926 | Embossed red serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1926" at left and right respectively | none | F12-345}} | F1 to approximately F85-000 | Issued on Fords. |
| 12-345 | 1 to approximately 56-000 | Issued on all other vehicles. |
| 1927 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1927" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 140-000 |
| 1928 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1928" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 151-000 |
| 1929 | Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1929" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 162-000 |
| 1930 | Embossed green serial on golden yellow plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1930" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 155-000 |
| 1931 | Embossed tan serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1931" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 145-000 |
| 1932 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1932" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 125-000 |
| 1933 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1933" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 149-000 |
| 1934 | Embossed blue serial on orange plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1934" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 155-000 |
| 1935 | Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1935" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 135-000 |
| 1936 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1936" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 140-000 |
| 1937 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1937" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 140-000 |
| 1938 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1938" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 141-000 |
| 1939 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1939" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 142-000 |
| 1940 | 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 |
| 1941 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1941" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 150-000 |
| 1942 | Embossed yellow serial on red plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1942" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 143-000 | Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II. |
| 1943 | As 1942 base, but with vertical "1943" at right | none | 123-456}} | 200-001 to approximately 213-000 | Issued only to new registrants. |
| 1944 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1944" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 135-000 |
| 1945 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1945" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 130-000 |
| 1946 | Embossed red serial on silver plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1946" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 140-000 |
| 1947 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "ND" and "1947" at left and right respectively | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 152-000 |
| 1948 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" centered at top; vertical "1948" at right | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 162-000 | First use of the full state name. Revalidated for 1949 with white tabs. |
| 1949 | As 1948 base, but waffle-textured, and with vertical "1949" at right | none | 123-456}} | 200-001 to approximately 237-000 | Issued only to new registrants. |
| 1950 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" centered at top; vertical "1950" at right | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 194-000 |
| 1951 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" centered at top; vertical "1951" at right | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 196-000 |
| 1952 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" centered at top; vertical "1952" at right | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 192-000 |
| 1953 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" centered at top; vertical "1953" at right | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 198-000 |
| 1954 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 54" at top | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 201-000 |
| 1955 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 55" at top | none | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 209-000 |
| 1956 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 56" at top | "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 208-000 | First 6" x 12" plate, and first use of the "Peace Garden State" slogan. |
| 1957 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 57" at top | "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom | 123-456}} | 1 to approximately 213-000 |
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|
| 1958–61}} | Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA 58" at top | "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 316-000 | Revalidated for 1959 with yellow tabs, for 1960 with orange tabs, and for 1961 with green tabs. |
| 1962–65 | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "N.DAKOTA" at top left and "62" at top right | "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 355-000 | Revalidated for 1963, 1964 and 1965 with stickers. |
| 1966–69 | Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "N.DAKOTA" at top left and "66" at top right | "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 378-000 | Revalidated for 1967, 1968 and 1969 with stickers. |
| 1970–73 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "N.DAKOTA" at top left and "70" at top right | "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 416-000 |
| 1974–79 | Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "N.DAKOTA" at top left and "74" at top right | "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 580-000 |
| 1980–82 | Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "NORTH DAKOTA" centered at top; "80" at top right | "PEACE GARDEN STATE" at bottom | ABC 123 | AAA 000 to AVP 999 | Manufactured in Iowa using that state's serial dies. Issued concurrently with the Theodore Roosevelt base (below) from 1984. |
| 1983–88 | As above, but without "80" | AVR 000 to approximately AZM 999 |
| 1984–88 | Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; blue, white and red graphic featuring Theodore Roosevelt screened at left; "NORTH DAKOTA" screened in blue centered at bottom | "PEACE GARDEN STATE" screened in red centered at top | AB123 | AA000 to approximately KS999 | Manufactured in South Dakota using that state's serial dies. Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1985 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time North Dakota was so honored. Co-recipient with Nevada. |
| 1989–92 | Embossed black serial on light blue, white and light orange gradient plate; long black bar screened below serial with "NORTH DAKOTA" in white in the center, "1889" to the left and "1989" to the right | Short black bar screened above serial with "CENTENNIAL" in white in the center; "PEACE GARDEN STATE" screened in black centered at top | ABC 123 | BAA 000 to approximately CNP 999 |
| 1993 – November 11, 2015 | Embossed black serial on prairie scene with gradient light blue sky, grey mountains and yellow grass; bison at bottom left and three wheat stalks at bottom right; "NORTH DAKOTA" screened in white with heavy black outline, centered below serial | "Discover the Spirit" screened in white centered at top; "PEACE GARDEN STATE" screened in brown centered at bottom | ABC 123 | DAA 000 to approximately KRZ 999 | Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1993 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time North Dakota was so honored. 'F' series of serials reserved for Farm plates; 'I' series not used.[2] |
| November 12, 2015[3] – November 2016 | Screened black serial on badlands scene with light blue, orange and yellow gradient sky, yellow rising sun and brown canyon; bison at bottom right; "NORTH DAKOTA" screened in orange centered above serial, with three wheat stalks on either side | "LEGENDARY" screened in black centered above state name; "PEACE GARDEN STATE" screened in white at bottom left | 123 ABC | 000 AAA to 999 BTP | First general reissue since 1993. |
| November 2016[4] – present | As above, but with state name in larger, thinner font | 000 BTR to 999 CNF (as of April 2, 2019) |
1. ^{{cite magazine |last=Garrish |first=Christopher |date=October 2016 |title=Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size |magazine=Plates |publisher=Automobile License Plate Collectors Association |volume=62 |number=5}}
2. ^{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutlicenseplates.com/athome.asp?State=North%20Dakota |title=North Dakota License Plates |publisher=allaboutlicenseplates.com |accessdate=June 5, 2018}}
3. ^{{cite web|url=http://kfgo.com/news/articles/2015/nov/12/new-sunrise-north-dakota-license-plates-released/ |title=New 'Sunrise' North Dakota license plates released |publisher=KFGO |date=November 12, 2015 |accessdate=December 2, 2015}}
4. ^{{cite news|url=http://www.westfargopioneer.com/news/4231108-nd-makes-slight-change-new-version-license-plates |title=ND makes slight change to new version of license plates |newspaper=West Fargo Pioneer |date=March 8, 2017 |accessdate=July 31, 2017}}