Iowa license plates

Try a plate

Type any Iowa registration — valid plates render below, on their real designs.

Try the API

Everything on this page — formats, validity, colours, the renders themselves — is one request away.

GET /v1/plates/us-ia/match?plate=…

GET /v1/plates/us-ia/match?plate=GQM854

{ "plate": "GQM854",
  "valid": true, "exact": true,
  "matches": [{ "id": "us-ia-standard",
    "render_url": "…svg?serial=GQM854" }] }

the default series issued to private road vehicles

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

~2026 → today documented from 2026 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, bus

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

~2026 → today documented from 2026 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

~2026 → today documented from 2026 — the format is likely older issued for: truck

optional-design programs on standard serials (US state programs)

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

~2026 → today documented from 2026 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, motorcycle

In the sample, L stands for any letter and 9 for any digit.

~2026 → today documented from 2026 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, motorcycle

trade/garage plates bound to a business, not a vehicle

In the sample, 9 for any digit; the other characters are fixed.

~2026 → today documented from 2026 — the format is likely older issued for: car, van, truck, motorcycle, trailer