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The U.S. state of Louisiana first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1915.[1]As of 2024, plates are issued by the Public Safety Services division of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, through the division's Office of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1952.
In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[2] The 1954 (dated 1955) issue was the first Louisiana license plate that complied with these standards.
Optional plates do not use leading zeros in their serials.
From 1964 until 1993, Louisiana State Police troop area codes were used as part of the serial on the plate, invariably in the center of the serial. From 1993 until 1996, stickers were used to show the troop. This was done to give some idea of where the plates were issued. However, registrants who applied via the mail got plates with the "X" code, which was used for Baton Rouge.