Nevada License Plates

The dry weather in Nevada has preserved many of the older license plates for historians and collectors to review. In 1913, a small dashboard disc was issued with a special number –the vehicle owner was required to provide license plates to match. The State of Nevada first issued license plates in 1916. This was a yellow on green undated license plate. In 1917, Nevada issued a dated silver on blue flat or non-embossed license plate. Flat license plates were issued from 1917 through 1922. In 1923, an embossed license plate was issued and this manufacturing continues except for a few years where license plate numbers were de-bossed. Today, the Nevada license plate is digitally printed and the result is flat with just the border embossed.

The June 1964 date strip commemorated 100 years of Nevada statehood with the legend: 1864 – NEVADA – 1964 above the word CENTENNIAL. In 1987 graphic base introduced the slogan THE SILVER STATE along the bottom of the plate and was valid through 1993.  Nevada’s first screened graphic license plate showed a rugged mountain range scene from desert terrain to snowcapped peaks, complete with a mountain goat. Reflective sheeting was first introduced in 1967, Blue on Reflective White.

Nevada is a haven for car collectors. The dry desert weather is ideal for preserving older cars. Major auto museums are located in the Imperial Palace Hotel, The Mall at Caesar’s Palace and the Ferrari/Maserati dealership in the Wynn Resort. The SEMA Show, known as largest annual auto aftermarket show in the world, is hosted by Las Vegas each year in the fall.  

Many California retirees and migrants have ignited the car collector hobby in Nevada, here are some Nevada car shows: