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As with Idaho, the introduction of flats has changed the registration characters from blue to black. The state map graphic separating the numbers and letters is still blue. The font being used closely matches the dies from the embossed plates.

Rob Wood reports passenger plates have JAN screened, but other months use a sticker placed over it. Guy Peterson reports a white month sticker with blue lettering. Nick Jankovich advises that some of the new B series plates were issued with the blue on white month stickers, while the A series plates continued to use the original white on blue.

Minnesota.com is now appearing in place of the regular state name.

Stickers
11 - black on red
12 - black on yellow
Type Plate Notes Reporter
Passenger 925 JAK NEW The letters I, O, and Q are not used. O and Q were used at one time, but not recently.

Standard plates are now flat and have reverted to a 000-AAA pattern. The B series appeared before the A series because B series plates were sent to registrants who initiated orders through the mail and over the Internet. The A series began to appear for over the counter sales as each office ran out of embossed plates. Our thanks to Jeremy DeMai for this information!

Low reverse series - 004 AAA 2011-03-10 Nick Jankovich

B series high - 093-BZX

After the A series was exhausted, the C series began for over the counter sales, then the D and E series were used. The F series was skipped. Now the G series is in use.

In the previous alpha-numeric format, upon reaching PGR 999, the PGS series was skipped, so the next series started at PGT 001. From then on, the letter S was not used in any position. According to the state, this was because their telephone voice activation system was having difficulty understanding when the letter S was spoken over the phone. The state initially skipped the entire S series and went from RZZ 999 to TAA 001. After VZZ 999 the W series was skipped and went to XAA 001. The reason for this is because they were concerned that the W series would look too much like the DUI plates (locally called "W"hiskey plates). Whiskey plates use a WA0000 format, and they always start with W. After XZZ 999 was reached, the state apparently fixed the problem with their telephone system, and jumped back to the S series. It is unclear if the S was used in the second or third positions prior to this. The Y series was skipped because the state thought they would look too much like truck plates. Truck plates have a Y/A A0000 format, and the top letter of the stack is always Y. Apparently, the Z series was made, but the DMV isn't going to issue them. Management wants to keep them for testing, whatever that means.
Minnesota is on a 7 year replacement cycle, so plates must be replaced upon reaching 7 years of age. Therefore, the lowest alpha-numeric plates still in use are in the Mxx series. The current low for Pass. plates is BDL-830 reported by Nick Jankovich on 2011-08-15.
Nick Jankovich
1/29/12
Non-passenger Plates
Apportioned PAK0916 Flat, weight sticker on right
There are two different Apportioned issues. One starts at PAK0000, and the other starts at PRY0000. The difference between them is unknown.
PRY series high: PRY9963 		Nick Jankovich
3/26/11
Bus BY80867 Flat, graphic
Rob Wood reports that Metro Transit buses do not have license plates. 		Nick Jankovich
10/25/11
Classic Motorcycle MD0990 Flat
White background, black serial with "classic motorcycle" on the bottom. 		Guy Peterson
8/07/11
Collector 323353 This series started in 1974 at 600-000 and went through the 700-000 range. Now it is starting over in the 300-000 range to prevent duplication with Tax Exempt plates in the 800-000 to 900-000 range.
The new flat version does not have a hyphen between the numbers. 		Nick Jankovich
6/24/11
Dealer D 55318 Flat, all white with black numerals. Also, a small black border around the edge. D99999 was reached, numbers restarted at D00001.
Note: Our high for Dealer jumped from D 05211 to D 55318, so there may be a difference in the series, possibly starting at the 50000 break, but this is just a guess. 		Nick Jankovich
2/22/11
Dealer In Transit IT43968 Flat Nick Jankovich
8/15/11
Farm Trailer
F
T
18659 		Embossed Guy Peterson
9/21/11
Farm Truck TLD5824 Farm plates are now flat with graphics. Gone is the green serial. "Farm Truck" on the bottom. Guy Peterson
3/22/10
Fleet AB2503 Fleet plates are now flat on the graphic base and are used by companies such as Qwest, Comcast, UPS, and several other large companies. Some nnn FLF fleet (embossed) registration plates from several years ago may still be in circulation. Nick Jankovich
7/11/11
Handicapped 5869HM Handicapped symbol is embossed to the left of the numbers. Letters are no longer stacked on the new flat plates. Nick Jankovich
1/04/12
Limousine LM4110 Nick Jankovich
12/19/11
Moped 36671MP Flat, graphic Guy Peterson
9/05/09
Motorcycle 83137MG New style flat graphic plate. Lake and trees on top. "Motorcycle" on bottom. Month (always Feb.) screened in blue. Alpha suffix is no longer stacked. Nick Jankovich
8/06/11
Recreational Trailer RU36189 Now flat, non stacked prefix with "Recreational Trailer" on the bottom. Nick Jankovich
10/19/11
School Bus SB80497 Flat, new graphic design Nick Jankovich
10/28/11
Semi-Trailer 6334STJ Used to be in the 1234 S/T A format, with S/T stacked. Now unstacked, all in one line the same size. Nick Jankovich
1/25/12
Special Registration WH7498 Flat
Black on white, "Minnesota" on top, "10,000 Lakes" on bottom.
Special Registration Plates (WX, Impounded, or "Whiskey" Plates)
These plates are issued to allow a licensed driver to operate a motor vehicle when the original license plates have been impounded by court order or through administrative action.
Nick Jankovich has observed that this type appears to be going backwards since the most recent he has seen were in the WJ series. Both the WJ and WK series are flat, but the earlier WL and WM series were embossed.
There is now a Motorcycle version of this plate with the same look as the automobile plates, white background with black serial, no graphics.
Motorcycle: WC0983 		Nick Jankovich
10/28/11
State Vehicle ET-nnnn Rob Wood advises that there is no high to report because certain series are allocated to certain agencies. ET is allocated to MnDOT, for example. Rob Wood
6/18/11
Tax Exempt 936376 Same flat style as the new Dealers, including the thin border. Nick Jankovich
11/06/11
Trailer 8235CTH Flat
Nick Jankovich also reports 1911CLT, which must be a different type of Trailer plate, but we don't know the difference yet. 		Nick Jankovich
11/08/10
Transporter DRW66920 Same flat style as the new Dealers, including the thin border.
Also known as "Drive Away In-Transit" 		Nick Jankovich
11/02/11
Truck YBG2153 Flat plate on graphic base. Still has weight sticker but no stacked characters. Previous type was non-graphic embossed with stacked letters.
Y/B Annnn followed Y/A Z9999 on the previous type.

Here is a unique type...Commercial Concrete Pumper and Street Sweeper. This plate is flat and according to the DMV site - "The plate for vehicles registered under this subdivision is a distinctive powder blue." High: YZA0364 		Nick Jankovich
10/19/11
Van Pool VP2819 Now on the flat graphic base. Guy Peterson
9/13/11
Volunteer Ambulance 283MJ Nick Jankovich
11/02/11
Specialty Plates
Afghan War Veteran ZW625 Nick Jankovich
11/28/11
Colleges/Universities ZT854 Several schools are using this series in the same format and letter blocks. So far, St. Olaf College, Bemidji State University, and St. Cloud State University have been spotted in this type.
The University of Minnesota has its own format and series. 		Nick Jankovich
8/22/11
Combat Wounded Veteran CW4021 Flat

CWV Handicapped: ZS67 2011-09-20 Nick Jankovich 		Nick Jankovich
10/14/11
Critical Habitat - Chickadee 4AX 605 Guy Peterson photographed 4LN 001 on this type, but it is unknown why it was issued since the rest are in the A- series. Nick Jankovich
9/14/11
Critical Habitat - Deer 6AZ 421 This is the latest version with a new numbering format.
An interim issue of Critical Habitat deer was flat and changed to a 123JA format.
Guy Peterson reports an old style flat Deer plate - 1AC 627. The low he has seen on the previous flat version was NZ911, and a high flat of 350JA.

Older Critical Habitat deer plates appear in the A, D, G, and N series (AA 123 format) in the old embossed format with the deer on the left side. Other specialty plates appear in the 2 letter/3 number format. The B series is used on specialty plates such as Veteran, Firefighters, and other service-oriented plates. Jeremy DeMai reports that the Z series is starting to appear on some Veteran plates, so it is possible that the B series has been exhausted and the Z series is now being used for specialty plates of that type. The C and U series were used on University plates. The E series was skipped, probably because it is used on exempt plates. Exempt plates are used in the 2 letter/4 number format, so there is a possibility that the E series could still appear on special plates in the 2 letter/3number format. The H series was used for disabled plates, but only with a stacked suffix. It is unknown why the F series has not been used, but probably due to avoid potentially offensive combinations. 		Guy Peterson
1/22/12
Critical Habitat - Fishermen 3AZ 998 Handicapped high - 01ZG Nick Jankovich
11/06/11
Critical Habitat - Ladyslipper 5AX nnn Handicapped high - 28ZH Nick Jankovich
10/20/11
Critical Habitat - Loon 2BX 899 Critical Habitat loon plates are flat and have appeared in the J, K, L, M, P, R, T, and V series in the screened format with the loon on the left side on the previous base. The S series was skipped. New Loon plates are in the 1AB 234 format.
Nick Jankovich
10/24/11
Ex-POW
P
O
W
1388 		Ex-POW embossed at bottom of plate, "P/O/W" before numbers is stacked on angle, (not directly across or down) Eric Sivertsen
12/16/09
Firefighter 617ML Flat
The red Minnesota firefighters' crest is on the plate, to the left of the plate number. Professional and Volunteer Firefigters have the same plates.
Firefighter - Truck - F126 (Only 4 characters to allow room for a weight sticker on the right) 		Nick Jankovich
11/02/11
Gold Star 206GS Parents with children killed in action Nick Jankovich
10/24/11
Gulf War Veteran GW3714 Flat Nick Jankovich
3/31/11
GWOT Veteran ZV050 Global War On Terror Nick Jankovich
10/19/11
Iraq War Veteran 085ND Nick Jankovich
6/30/11
National Guard NG6732 Flat
"Always Ready" at bottom center. 		Nick Jankovich
11/10/11
Proud To Be A Veteran 234PB This is an optional that isn't for a specific conflict or service branch. American flag on left side. Nick Jankovich
1/19/12
Remembering Victims of Impaired Drivers SG608 Nick Jankovich
6/24/11
Sesquicentennial SP401 Flat
Red, white, blue, with black screened characters
David R. Wilson advises that according to the MN Statehood Sesquicentennial Final Report (and other news items) with photo, the first Sesqui plate was SQ001. 		Guy Peterson
9/21/10
Support Our Troops 859CD The current high in the B series seems to be a newly issued plate and it has the revised design with the red stripe in the center removed for better visibility, but it is unknown why B series are being issued now unless some existing plates are being replaced with the newer design.
The C series was skipped originally and the D series features a slight revision in the design that was supposed to make the plates easier to read, but word is that it didn't help much. Now the C series is being issued.
Jeff Nelson reports that a second revision of the design removed the middle red stripe of the flag, making the plates much more legible.
Guy Peterson reports one of these in the nnnZA series on a 1 ton truck with a weight sticker.
Support Our Troops - Handicapped: 50ZB 2010-02-12 Nick Jankovich
Support Our Troops - Motorcycle: 03171MT 2011-07-21 Nick Jankovich
Nick also reports seeing a POLICE plate in the Support Our Troops format. 		Nick Jankovich
11/10/11
University of Minnesota 747ME Nick Jankovich
8/02/11
Vietnam Veteran 3344VV Nick Jankovich
12/02/11
World War II Vet
W
W
I
I 7884 		"Soldier" figure on the left and full size WWII prefix. Other graphic WWII plates have a "medal" on the left. These plates can be remade with the same number. The same applies to Vietnam Vet plates.
Note: The current high is on the previous blue on white base, not the newest base. WW is above II before the serial number.
Handicapped - ZT17
Willie C. Brock, Jr.
1/09/12