NUMBERING AND COLORS
The tables below attempt to list all of the numbering sequences and colors of Mexican plates from 1992 back to the first national standard issue in 1933.
Before 2000, the plate type is not printed anywhere on the plates themselves, so knowing the number sequences can help identify those unknown types.
Numbering becomes complex after 2000 - please refer to the number blocks pages for details.
Legend: A=any letter; 0=any number; X=state code (can be stacked like X/X); Underlined = that specific letter
When I use the term "Commercial" it refers to the Mexican equivalent of "Public Service" (Servicio Publico).
Before 2000, the plate type is not printed anywhere on the plates themselves, so knowing the number sequences can help identify those unknown types.
Numbering becomes complex after 2000 - please refer to the number blocks pages for details.
Legend: A=any letter; 0=any number; X=state code (can be stacked like X/X); Underlined = that specific letter
When I use the term "Commercial" it refers to the Mexican equivalent of "Public Service" (Servicio Publico).
STANDARD TYPES
| Year | Size (mm) | Passenger | Truck | Taxi | Commercial Bus | Commercial Truck | Commercial Trailer | Private Bus | Private Trailer | Dealer | Antique Auto (1992-) | Handicapped (1998-) | Motorcycle (standardized 1992) 2017- | Graphics 300 x 150 | Plates all have random graphics and colors. Requirements/standards changed as of 2017 - see this page for the 2017 changes.
| 2013- | Graphics 300 x 150 | Plates all have random graphics and colors. Numbering changed as of 2013 - see this page for the 2013 number blocks.
| 2002- | Graphics 300 x 150 | Plates all have random graphics and colors. See this page for the number blocks.
| 1998-2001 | Graphics 300 x 150 | AAA0000 | 000AAA (DF) AA00000 | 0000AA (DF) 0000AAA | A00000 (DF) 000000A | 0000000 (DF) 0AAA000 | A000000 | 0AAA00 | 0AA0000 | 0AA000 | 0AA00 (DF) AA00 | AA000 (DF) 000AA | A000A | 00000 (DF) 0000A (DF) 1992 Base | 300 x 150 | AAA0000 | 000AAA (DF) AA00000 | 0000AA (DF)
0000AAA | 000000 (DF) L00000 (DF) S00000 (DF)
000000A | 000000 (DF)
0AAA000 | 000000 (DF)
A000000 | 000000 (DF) 0AAA00 | 0AA0000 | 0AA000 | AA00 | AA000 (DF) -- | numeric | A000A | Year | Size (mm) | Passenger | Truck | Taxi | Commercial | Bus Commercial | Truck Commercial | Trailer Private | Bus Private | Trailer Dealer | SPF
| 1986 Base | 300 x 150 | AAA000 | 000AAA (DF) AA0000 | 0000AA (DF)
00 AAA | 000000 (DF)
00000 A | 000000 (DF)
AAA 00 | 000000 (DF)
A 00000 | 000000 (DF) AAA 0 | AA 000 | A 0000 (DF) AA 00 | 000AA
| 1984/85 | 300 x 150 | AAA000 | 000AAA (DF) AA0000 | 0000AA (DF) 00 AAA | 00000 (DF) 00000 A | 000000 (DF) AAA 00 | 000000 (DF) A 00000 | 000000 (DF) AAA 0 | AA 000 | AA 00 | 000AA
| 1982/83 | 300 x 150 | AAA000 | 000AAA (DF) AA0000 | 0000AA (DF) 00 AAA | 00000 (DF) 00000 A | 000000 (DF) AAA 00 | 000000 (DF) A 00000 | 000000 (DF) AAA 0 | AA 000 | AA 00 | A0000
| 1980/81 | 300 x 150 | AAA000 | 000AAA (DF) AA0000 | 0000AA (DF) 00 AAA | 00000 (DF) 00000 A | 000000 (DF) AAA 00 | 000000 (DF) A 00000 | 000000 (DF) AAA 0 | AA 000 | AA 00 | A0000
| 1978/79 | 300 x 150 | AAA000 | 000AAA (DF) AA0000 | 0000AA (DF) 00 AAA | 00000 (DF) 00000 A | 000000 (DF) AAA 00 | 000000 (DF) A 00000 | 000000 (DF) AAA 0 | AA 000 | AA 00 | A0000
| 1976/77 | 300 x 150 | AAA000 | 000AAA (DF) AA0000 | 0000AA (DF) 00 AAA | 00000 (DF) 00000 A | 000000 (DF) AAA 00 | 000000 (DF) A 00000 | 000000 (DF) AAA 0 | AA 000 | AA 00 | A0000
| 1974/75 | 300 x 150 | AAA000 | 000AAA (DF) AA0000 | 0000AA (DF) 00 AAA | 00000 (DF) 00000 A | 000000 (DF) AAA 00 | 000000 (DF) A 00000 | 000000 (DF) AAA 0 | AA 000 | AA 00 | A0000
| 1972/73 | 300 x 150 | AAA-000 | 000-AAA (DF) AA-0000 | 0000-AA (DF)
00-AAA | 00000 (DF)
00000-A | 20000+ (DF)
AAA-00 | 100000+ (DF)
A-00000 | 30000+ (DF) AAA-0 | AA-000 | AA-00 | A0000
| 1970/71 | 300 x 150 | 00-AAA | AAA-00 (DF) AA-000 | 000-AA
A-0000 | 00-000 (DF)
0A-000 | 70-001+ (DF) 0000-A | 60-001+ (DF) 000-A0 | 95-001+ (DF) A-000 | 000-A AA-00 | 00-AA 0-AAA | 0A-00 | 00-A0 1968/69 | 300 x 150 | AA000 | AA0000 000AA (DF) 000ZA (QR & BCS) A/A0000 |
0000A | 000-A 00-000 (DF) 00-00 (DF)
0000J | 000-J 30001+ (DF)
0000S | 000-S 60001+ (DF)
0000R | 000-R 80001+ (DF) A-000 (?) | R/A0000 (?) | AA-00 | A-000 A0000
| 1966/67 | 300 x 150 | AA000 | 000AA A/A0000 |
00000 (DF) | 000-a 0000a (a = A-K)
50000+ (DF) | 000-a 0000a (a = L-U)
0000X |
90001+ (DF) | 000-R 0000R A-000 | R/A0000 | 00-AA | A0000
| With the 1964/65 series and earlier, all plates shared the same numbering. | Plates can have up to 5 numerals (6 if there is no prefix/suffix). X0-00-00 can also be X00-00, X0-00, etc., and 00-00-00 can also be 0-00-00, 00-00, etc. There was no distinction between some types - bus/taxi (alquiler/for hire) and truck/trailer (camion/truck) were grouped together. The way to tell the difference was by colors - see the table below. From 1960 to 1965, private trailers and commercial (for hire) trailers used different plates. Private trailers had the same colors as passenger plates, and commercial trailers used camion plates. Both trailer types used a REMOLQUE legend instead of the state name. From 1962 to 1965, dealer plates sometimes used DEMOSTRACION in place of the state name. Year | Size (mm) | Passenger | Particular Bus/Taxi [For Hire] | Alquiler Truck/Commercial Trailer | Camion Private Trailer | Remolque Particular Dealer | Demostración SPF
| 1964/65 | 300 x 150 | X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 (DF) X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 1962/63 | 305 x 152 | 0-00-00X | 00-00-00 (DF) 00-00-0X | 00-00-00 00-00-0X | 00-00-00 00-00-0X | 00-00-00 00-00-0X | 00-00-00 00-00-0X | 00-00-00 1960/61 | 305 x 152 | X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 (DF) X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 X0-00-00 | 00-00-00
With the 1958/59 series and earlier, all trailers used truck/trailer (camion) plates.
| Year | Size (mm) | Passenger | Particular Bus/Taxi [For Hire] | Alquiler Truck/Trailer | Camion Dealer | Demostración SPF
| 1958/59 | 305 x 152 | 00-00-00 | 00-00-00 | 00-00-00 | 00-00-00 | 00-00-00
| 1956/57 | 305 x 152 | 00-00-00 | 00-00-00 | 00-00-00 | 00-00-00 | 00-00-00
| 1954/55 | 350 x 150 | 0-00-00 | 0-00-00 | 0-00-00 | 00-00 | 0-00-00
| 1953 | 350 x 150 | X00-000 | 00-000 (DF) 00-000 | X00-000 | 00-000 (DF) =0000= | 00-000
| 1952 | 350 x 160 | X00-000 | 00-000 (DF) 00-000 | X00-000 | 00-000 (DF) =0000= | 00-000
| 1951 | 310 x 160 | X00-000 | 00-000 (DF) 00-000 | X00-000 | 00-000 (DF) =0000= | 00-000
| 1950 | 310 x 160 | X00-000 | 00-000 (DF) 00-000 | X00-000 | 00-000 (DF) =0000= | 00-000
| Before 1950, there was no category for trucks (camiones). | All plates were classified as private (passenger), hire (truck, trailer, bus, and taxi), dealer, or federal public service (SPF). Year | Size (mm) | ~ = approx Passenger | Particular Truck/Trailer/Bus/Taxi [For Hire] | Alquiler Dealer | Demostración SPF
| 1949 | 280 x 120 | X00-000 | 00-000 | =0000= | 00000
| 1948 | 280 x 120 | X00-000 | 00-000 | =0000= | 00-00
| 1947 | 280 x 120 | X00-000 | 00-000 | =0000= | 00-00
| 1946 | 280 x 140 | X00-00 | 00-000 | =0000= | 00-00
| 1945 | 280 x 140 | X00-00 | 00-000 | =0000= | 00-00
| 1944 | ~280x140~ | X00-00 | 00-000 | =0000= | (unknown)
| 1943 | ~275x145~ | X00-00 | 00-000 | (unknown) | (unknown)
| 1942 | 300 x 150 | X00-00 | 00-000 | =0000= | (unknown)
| 1941 | 300 x 150 | X00-00 | 00-000 | =0000= | 00-00
| 1940 | 330 x 170 | X00-00 | 00-000 | =0000= | 00-00
| 1939 | 330 x 170 | 00-000 | 0-000A 00-000 | (unknown) | (unknown)
| 1938 | ~345x200~ | 00-000 | 0-000 | (unknown) | (unknown)
| 1937 | ~345x200~ | 00-000 | 00-000 | (unknown) | (unknown)
| 1936 | | 000-000 | 000-000 | (unknown) | (unknown)
| 1935 | | 000-000 | 000-000 | (unknown) | (unknown)
| 1934 | | tab on '33 plate | tab on 33 'plate | tab? (unknown) | (unknown)
| 1933 | | 00-000 | 00-000 | (unknown) | (unknown)
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SPECIAL TYPES
| Year | Diplomatic | Consular | Traslado/Transfer (Transporte Nacional) | Traslado/Transfer (Transporte Internacional) | DF Provisional | (SPF) Servicio Fronterizo | (SET) Servicio Turismo 1992 BASE | 00 AA | 00 AA | 0000 aA (a=X-Z) | (unknown) | (unknown) | | (unknown)
| 1986 BASE | 00 AA | 00 AA | 000 VAA | (unknown) | (unknown) | | 000 AA
| 1984/85 | 00 AA | 00 AA | 000 WAA | (unknown) | (unknown) | | 000 ZA
| 1982/83 | 00 AA | 00 AA | A 000 | (unknown) | (unknown) | | 0 AA (cars) | AA 0 (buses) 1980/81 | 00 AA | 00 AA | A 000 | (unknown) | (unknown) | | 0 AA (cars) | AA 0 (buses) 1978/79 | AAA | AAA | A 000 | (unknown) | (unknown) | | 0 AA (cars) | AA 0 (buses) 1976/77 | AAA | AAA | A 00 | 00 A | (unknown) | F 000 | 0 AA (cars) | AA 0 (buses) 1974/75 | AAA | AAA | A 00 | 00 A | (unknown) | F 000 | 0 AA (cars) | AA 0 (buses) 1972/73 | AAA | AAA | A-00 | 00-A | (unknown) | F-000 | 0-AA (cars) | AA-0 (buses) 1970/71 | AAA | AAA | 00a-00 (a=A-W) | 00Z-00 | (unknown) | 00X-00 | 00Y-00
| 1968/69 | 00-AA | 00-AA | A0000 | A0000 | 00-AA | F0000
| 1966/67 | 00-AA | AA-00 | A0000 | A0000 | 00-AA | F0000
| 1964/65 | 00-00 D | 00-00 C | 0-00-00 (paper) | 0-00-00 (paper) | 0-00-00 (paper) | 0-00-00
| 1962/63 | D 00-00 | C 00-00 | 0-00-00 (paper) | 0-00-00 (paper) | 0-00-00 (paper) | 0-00-00
| 1960/61 | X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 X0-00-00 | 00-00-00 0-00-00 (paper) | | 0-00-00 (paper)
| 1958/59 | 00-00-00 | 00-00-00 | 0-00-00 (paper) | | 0-00-00 (paper)
| 1956/57 | 00-00-00 | 00-00-00 | 0-00-00 (paper)
| 1954/55 | 0-00-00 | 0-00-00 | 0-00-00 (paper)
| 1953 | X00-000 | 00-000 X00-000 | 00-000 00-000 (paper)
| 1952 | X00-000 | 00-000 X00-000 | 00-000 00-000 (paper)
| 1951 | X00-000 | 00-000 X00-000 | 00-000 1950 | X00-000 | 00-000 X00-000 | 00-000 |
FRONTERIZA PLATES
| Year | Passenger | Private Truck/Bus/Trailer | Commercial Taxi/Truck/Bus/Trailer 2013- | New Numbering A00-NAA-1 | ZAA-000-A | A-000-ZAA
| 2001- | Gen 2 Graphics 000-AAA-0 | BAA-00-00 (BC) ZAA-00-00 | BA-00-000 (BC) 00-00-ZAA
| 1998-2001 | Gen 1 Graphics 000AAA0 | ZAA0000 | 0000ZAA
| 1992 BASE | 000AAA0 | ZAA0000 | 0000ZAA
| 1986 BASE | 000ZAA (W,X,Y,Z used as initial letter)
| 1984/85 | 000ZAA (X,Y,Z used as initial letter)
| 1982/83 | 000ZAA (X,Y,Z used as initial letter)
| 1980/81 | 000ZAA (X,Y,Z used as initial letter)
| 1978/79 | 000ZAA (X,Y,Z used as initial letter)
| 1976/77 | 000ZAA (Y,Z used as initial letter)
| 1974/75 | 000ZAA (Y,Z used as initial letter)
| 1972/73 | 0000-A (private) | 00-AA (commercial)
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