06/10/10

Alabama

PASSENGER

Passenger: Beginning with the U.S. bicentennial design, Alabama redesigns the passenger plate for everyone each five years, but sometimes a little longer.

1976 bicentennial base:  This elaborate design was introduced in 1976 to coincide with the U.S. bicentennial.  The state capitol dome is featured in the center with the Alabama flag at the bottom left and the bicentennial flag at the bottom right.  A large blue bar appeared at the bottom of the plate between the flags.  This design remains the only design since 1942 that was not county coded as part of the plate number.  Instead, early issues were given a county sticker that was place at the bottom of the plate on top of the blue bar.  Over the time of this design's issuance, there were three types:

Type I: Open top right stickerwell with " '77" screened
Type II: Square top right stickerwell with " '77" removed
Type III: No stickerwell (motorists were instructed to place the month and year stickers over the flags in the lower corners) and larger plate number dies

1982 plain red/white base:  This design was introduced in 1982 ("83" expiration sticker) and was surprisingly plain, considering it followed an elaborate bicentennial design.  The plate number format was "0A 00000" for single-digit county numbers and "00A 0000" for double-digit county numbers with the county number as the prefix.  The county code numbers can be found at this link for the county code page.

1987 double heart base:  This design was introduced in late 1987 ("88" expiration sticker).  The plate number format was "0AA 0000" for single-digit county numbers and "00AA 000" for double-digit county numbers with the county number as the prefix.  The county code numbers can be found at this link for the county code page.

1992 plain blue/white base:  This design was introduced in 1992 ("93" expiration sticker).  The plate number format was "0AAA000" for single-digit county numbers and "00AAA00" for double-digit county numbers with the county number as the prefix .  The county code numbers can be found at this link for the county code page.

1996 (blue/white) Madison County vg $2.00 (actual plate)

1997 red/white/blue graphic base:  This design was introduced in 1997 ("1997" expiration sticker).  The plate number format was "0AA0000" for single-digit county numbers and "00AA000" for double-digit county numbers with the county number as the prefix .  The county code numbers can be found at this link for the county code page.

1999 (black/red, white, & blue) Calhoun County natural m $2.00 (sample picture)

1999 (black/red, white, & blue) Madison County natural m $2.00 (sample picture)

2002 "Stars Fell On" graphic base:  This design was introduced in 2002 ("2002" expiration sticker).  Across the top of the plate are the words from an old song about Alabama.  The plate number format was "0A0000A" for single-digit county numbers and "00A000A" for double-digit county numbers with the county number as the prefix.  The county code numbers can be found at this link for the Alabama county codes page.

2003 (red/reflective white & blue) Montgomery County natural vg $3.00 "3A6516L" (11068)

2004 (red/reflective white & blue) Mobile County vg $3.00 "2B5226A" (11069)

2004 (red/reflective white & blue) Baldwin County vg $3.00 "5A0926P" (11070)

2004 (red/reflective white & blue) Dallas County vg $3.00 "27A038D" (11065)

2004 (red/reflective white & blue) Lee County vg $3.00 "43B162V" (11066)

2005 (red/reflective white & blue) Baldwin County vg $3.00 "5A4629R" (11071)