06/26/10

Texas

PASSENGER

The following design began in 1975 and had a debossed "75" in the right stickerwell.  Later issues had the "75" removed from the stickerwell.  This design also began with a star plate number separator, then later went to a Texas outline separator.

1975 ("75" base, w/ "75") (black/reflective white) star separator vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1975 ("75" base, w/o "75") (black/reflective white) g $2.00 (actual plate)

1979 ("75" base, w/ "75") (black/reflective white) star separator vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1979 ("75" base, w/ "75") (black/reflective white) vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1979 ("75" base, w/o "75") (black/reflective white) vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1979 ("75" base, w/o "75") (black/reflective white) vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1979 ("75" base, w/o "75") (black/reflective white) vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1979 ("75" base, w/o "75") (black/reflective white) vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1980 ("75" base, w/o "75") (black/reflective white) vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1980 ("75" base, w/o "75") (black/reflective white) vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1981 ("75" base, w/ "75") (black/reflective white) vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1985 ("75" base, w/o "75") (black/reflective white) vg $7.50 (actual plate)

1988 ("75" base, w/ "75") (black/reflective white) star separator g $2.00 (actual plate)

1986 "SESQUICENTENNIAL" base:  This design began in 1986 and recognized the 150th anniversary of independence.  This design is found with the "SESQUICENTENNIAL" both above and below the plate number.

Smog emission controls: Beginning with the 1987 expiration sticker, Texas began a smog emissions program in the Dallas/Ft. Worth and El Paso areas.  "Emissions" stickers had a bar above the year on the sticker (a bar above and below in later years).  The last expiration sticker was issued in 1993 ("94" sticker).  After that to the present, the state issued yearly windshield decals.

"Big Red" Texas base:  This design began following the 1986 sesquicentennial base and is called "Big Red" because of the big red "TEXAS" across the top of the plate.

1987 (blue & red/reflective white) (non-emissions) natural vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1989 (blue & red/reflective white) (non-emissions) natural vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1990 (blue & red/reflective white) (emissions) natural vg $3.00

1992 (blue & red/reflective white) (emissions) vg $3.00 (actual plate)

ns (blue & red/reflective white) vg $2.00 (actual plate)

ns (blue & red/reflective white) vg $2.00 (actual plate)

Flag left base:  This design began with the flag to the left of "TEXAS" and had a plate number format of "AAA 00A".  Texas discontinued issuing renewal stickers for the plate after 1993 (the 1994 sticker being the final year on the stickers).  The state instead issued yearly windshield decals.

1991 (blue/white) (emissions) natural vg $3.00 (actual plate)

1994 (blue/white) (non-emissions) vg $2.00 (actual plate)

ns (blue/white) vg $2.00

Flag right base:  When the plate number for the "flag left" design reached "ZZZ 99Z", the flag was moved to the right of "TEXAS" and began with a "A00 AAA" plate number format.

1999 "A00 AAA" shuttle base:  This design continued the plate number sequence where the "flag right" base left off.

2004 "000 AAA" shuttle base:  This design continued the plate number sequence where the "flag right" base left off.

(blue/reflective white & blue) vg $2.00

2005 "000 AAA" modified shuttle design base:  This previous shuttle design was modified with slight changes to the design.  An American flag was added to the side of the shuttle craft, seven brighter stars now appear above the shuttle, the horse and rider were reduced in size, the bush to the right of the horse and rider was redesigned, and the state silhouette in the center of the plate now was a Texas flag instead of solid red.  My understanding is that the seven brighter stars represented the seven astronauts who died aboard the Columbia shuttle when it burnt up upon reentry over Texas skies, but I have not heard any confirmation of that tribute.  The plate numbers continued the sequence where the previous shuttle design left off.

2007 "AAA 000" modified shuttle design base:  When the 2005 design base reached "999 ZZZ", the numbers and letters were flipped around.  The design is the same as the "000 AAA" base.

2009 sky/clouds base:  This design brings a completely flat passenger plate for the first time.  The design is largely a partly cloudy sky with a mountain range in the distance at the bottom.  Red and blue streaks are in the top left corner of the plate with a white star over the streaks.  The state began a new seven-digit plate number format "BB0 B000", again skipping vowels.

(black/reflective multicolored) m $3.00 (actual plate)

(black/reflective multicolored) m $3.00 (actual plate)

(black/reflective multicolored) m $3.00 (actual plate)