Passenger Plates
1939 - 1958
COUNTY CODES 1939
Starting in 1939, plates got smaller, and started using different numbering configurations.
The letters on the left side are still a county code:
| 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 - 1951A/A 000
A/A 00A
A/A 0000 (1951 only)
1939Type 1 - Slots
1939
1939Type 2 - Boltholes
1940
1940
1940
1941
1941
1941
1942
1942
In 1943, validation tabs were used over 1942 plates to conserve metal for the war effort.
1943
1943
1944
1944
1945
1946
1946
1947
1947
1948693PROTOTYPE
1948
1948
1949
1949
1950
1950
1951
1951
1951
Some 1951 plates were issued in the "long" format and numbered A/A 0000.
COUNTY CODES 1952
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:
| 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 | 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 ranges were issued in 1952:
| BA1000-BE9999 = Bergen | LT1000-LT3999 = Ocean
|
| CA1000-CC6999 = Camden | MA1000-MB9999 = Monmouth
|
| EA1000-EH5999 = Essex | UA1000-UB4999 = Union
|
| HA1000-HC9999 = Hudson | ZL1000-ZL5499 = Cumberland
|
| KA1000-KA2999 = Middlesex | ZW1000-ZW3499 = Cape May
|
| LA1000-LB8999 = Mercer |
|
Additional prefixes and numbering patterns were issued between 1953 and 1956.
1952 - 1956A/A 000
A/A 00A
A/A 0A0
A/A A00
A/A 0000
In 1952, new plates were issued with slots for validation tabs.
Most plates had the stacked prefix and 3 additional numbers/letters, but there were some long format A/A 0000 plates issued as well.
Year tabs were issued for the next 4 years, and used through 1956.
1953
1953
1954
1954
1955
1955
1956
1956
1957 - 1958A/A 0000
With the 1957 issue, the standard 6 x 12 size was adopted, and the A/A 0000 numbering became standard. These plates (and the 1952 base, above) were used until 1959, when an entire replate took place.
These 1957-issue plates were undated, and they were validated with windshield stickers.
(The '52 base plates that were still on the road - all dated '56 by now - also used windshield stickers.)
It was also possible to get 1952 numbers re-made on the 1957 base.
