Passenger Plates
1939 - 1956
Starting in 1939, plates got smaller, and started using different numbering configurations.
The letters on the left side are still a county code.
COUNTY CODES 1939
| AA-AT = Atlantic | HA-IZ = Hudson | MA-MZ = Monmouth | SK-SU = Somerset | WT-WZ = Hunterdon |
| AU-AZ = Burlington | JA-JZ = Essex | NA-NZ = Union | SV-SZ = Sussex | (YA-YZ = Essex)* |
| BA-BZ = Bergen | KA-KZ = Middlesex | PA-PZ = Passaic | UA-UZ = Union | ZA-ZJ = Gloucester |
| CA-CZ = Camden | LA-LU = Mercer | RA-RZ = Bergen | VA-VZ = Morris | ZK-ZU = Cumberland |
| EA-FZ = Essex | LV-LZ = Ocean | SA-SJ = Salem | WA-WS = Warren | ZV-ZZ = Cape May |
In "T
HE B
ULLETIN A
LMANAC AND Y
EAR B
OOK FOR 1941", the prefixes are listed as:
Atlantic County - AA-AN
Burlington County - AO-AZ
* The YA-YZ prefix for Essex County was
not listed in this almanac, so apparently the YA-YZ prefix was instituted after 1941.
1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | '52 CODES | 1952-1956
1939A/A 000, A/A 00A
1939Essex
Type 1 - Boltholes
1939HudsonDave Zullo
Type 1 - Boltholes
1939HudsonDave Zullo
Type 1 - Boltholes
1939Bergen
Type 2 - Slots
1939Hunterdon
Type 2 - Slots
1940A/A 000, A/A 00A
1940Essex
1940Passaic
1940Morris
1941A/A 000, A/A 00A
1941Atlantic
1941Bergen
1941Bergen
1941Essex
1942A/A 000, A/A 00A
1942Atlantic
1942Camden
1942Camden
1943A/A 000, A/A 00A
In 1943, validation tabs were used over 1942 plates to conserve metal for the war effort.
1943Essex
1943Warren
1943Hunterdon
1944A/A 000, A/A 00A
1944Morris
1944Hunterdon
1944Gloucester
1945A/A 000, A/A 00A
1945Essex
1945Warren
1946A/A 000, A/A 00A
1946Monmouth
1946Warren
1946Warren
1947A/A 000, A/A 00A
1947Essex
1947Union
1947Warren
1948A/A 000, A/A 00A
1948PROTOTYPE693
1948Camden
1948Essex
1949A/A 000, A/A 00A
1949Bergen
1949Hunterdon
1949Essex
1950A/A 000, A/A 00A
1950Union
1950Warren
1950Cape May
1951A/A 000, A/A 00A, A/A 0000
1951Bergen
1951Middlesex
A few counties issued 1951 plates in the "long" format and numbered A/A 0000.
1951Bergen
1951Essex
1951Mercer
1951Cumberland
1951Cape May
From "List of License Plates Assigned to Agencies - 1952" (Division of Motor Vehicles)
These prefixes were for the A/A 000 and A/A 00A series initially issued in 1952.
COUNTY CODES 1952
| AA-AL = Atlantic | HA-IZ = Hudson | MA-MZ = Monmouth | SI-SU = Somerset | WT-WZ = Hunterdon
|
| AM-AZ = Burlington | JA-JZ = Essex | NA-NZ = Union | SV-SZ = Sussex | YA-YN = Passaic
|
| BA-BZ = Bergen | KA-KZ = Middlesex | PA-PZ = Passaic | UA-UZ = Union | ZA-ZK = Gloucester
|
| CA-CZ = Camden | LA-LS = Mercer | RA-RZ = Bergen | VA-VT = Morris
expanded to VZ after 1952 | ZL-ZV = Cumberland
|
| EA-FZ = Essex | LT-LZ = Ocean | SA-SH = Salem | WA-WH = Warren | ZW-ZZ = Cape May
|
Long plates had the county code and 4 digits. These documented ranges were issued in 1952.
Apparently there were additional plates issued beyond the original ranges (and for additional counties) - see the right-hand column below.
| BA1000-BE9999 = Bergen | LT1000-LT3999 = Ocean | Additional Allocations ('53-'56)
|
| CA1000-CC6999 = Camden | MA1000-MB9999 = Monmouth | AM1000 - AM2845 = Burlington
|
| EA1000-EH5999 = Essex | UA1000-UB4999 = Union | HD1000 - HF3818 = Hudson
|
| HA1000-HC9999 = Hudson | ZL1000-ZL5499 = Cumberland | MC1000 - MC2603 = Monmouth
|
| KA1000-KA2999 = Middlesex | ZW1000-ZW3499 = Cape May
|
| LA1000-LB8999 = Mercer
|
Additional prefixes and numbering patterns were issued between 1953 and 1956 (see below).
1952 - 19561952: A/A 000, A/A 00A, A/A 0000
1953-56: A/A 0A0, A/A A00, A/A 0000
In 1952, new plates were issued with slots for validation tabs.
The initial allocation of plates documented for 1952 were A/A 000, then A/A 00A, and finally A/A 0000.
(Thes plates below were issued in 1952 but some have tabs as they were used in later years.)
1952Essex
1952/55Monmouth
1952/56Monmouth
1952Somerset
1952Union
1952/56Morris
1952/56Morris
1952/53Hunterdon
1952Cumberland
These long format plates were also issued as part of the initial 1952 allocation.
1953Bergen
1952Camden
1954Essex
1952Essex
1953Mercer
1952Monmouth
1952Union
1952Cape MayFirst long format plate
issued in Cape May !
From 1953 to 1956, the additional numbering patterns of A/A 0A0 and then A/A A00 were used.
Year tabs were issued for passenger plates for 53, 54, 55, and 56.
1952+Union
1952+Passaic
1954Hudson
1955Hudson
1952+Hudson
1956Gloucester
1952+Cape May
There were also some additional long format A/A 0000 plates issued from 1953 to 1956.
Their numbers are beyond the additional 1952 allocations, and at least one additional county started using long plates (Burlington).
1956Burlington
1952+Hudson
1956Monmouth
