2009 Iowa Code
Title 8 - Transportation
Subtitle 2 - Vehicles
CHAPTER 321 - MOTOR VEHICLES AND LAW OF THE ROAD
321.166 - VEHICLE PLATE SPECIFICATIONS.

        321.166  VEHICLE PLATE SPECIFICATIONS.
         Vehicle registration plates shall conform to the following
      specifications:
         1.  Registration plates shall be of metal and of a size not to
      exceed six inches by twelve inches, except that the size of plates
      issued for use on motorized bicycles, motorcycles, motorcycle
      trailers, and trailers with an empty weight of two thousand pounds or
      less shall be established by the department.
         Trailers with empty weights of two thousand pounds or less may,
      upon request, be licensed with regular-sized license plates.
         2.  Every registration plate or pair of plates shall display a
      registration plate number which shall consist of alphabetical or
      numerical characters or a combination thereof and the name of this
      state, which may be abbreviated.  Every registration plate issued by
      the county treasurer shall display the name of the county, including
      any plate issued pursuant to section 321.34, except Pearl Harbor and
      purple heart registration plates issued prior to January 1, 1997;
      registration plates issued pursuant to section 321.34, subsection 13,
      paragraph "d"; and collegiate, fire fighter, and medal of honor
      registration plates.  Special truck registration plates shall display
      the word "special".  The department may adopt rules to implement
      this subsection.
         3.  The registration plate number shall be displayed in characters
      which shall not exceed a height of four inches nor a stroke width
      exceeding five-eighths of an inch.  Special plates issued to dealers
      shall display the alphabetical character "D", which shall be of the
      same size as the characters in the registration plate.  The
      registration plate number issued for motorized bicycles, motorcycles,
      trailers with an empty weight of two thousand pounds or less, and
      motorcycle trailers shall be a size prescribed by the department.
         4.  The registration plate number, except on motorized bicycle,
      motorcycle, motorcycle trailer, and trailers with an empty weight of
      two thousand pounds or less shall be of sufficient size to be
      readable from a distance of one hundred feet during daylight.
         5.  There shall be a marked contrast between the color of the
      registration plates and the data which is required to be displayed on
      the registration plates.  When a new series of registration plates is
      issued to replace a current series, the new registration plates shall
      be of a distinctively different color from the series which is
      replaced, except for collegiate registration plates issued under
      section 321.34, subsection 7 or 7A.
         6.  Registration plates issued to a disabled veteran under the
      provisions of section 321.105 shall display the alphabetical
      characters "DV" which shall precede the registration plate number.
      The plates may also display a persons with disabilities parking
      sticker if issued to the disabled veteran by the department under
      section 321L.2.
         7.  The year and month of expiration of registration, which may be
      abbreviated, shall be displayed on vehicle registration plates issued
      by the county treasurer.  A distinctive emblem or validation sticker
      may be prescribed by the department to designate the year and month
      of expiration.  The year and month of expiration shall not be
      required to be displayed on plates issued under section 321.19.
         8.  The owner of a trailer with an empty weight of two thousand
      pounds or less shall receive registration plates for the trailer
      smaller than plates regularly issued for automobiles pursuant to
      rules adopted by the department in accordance with this section
      unless the owner requests regular-sized plates.
         9.  Special registration plates issued pursuant to section 321.34,
      other than gold star, medal of honor, collegiate, fire fighter, and
      natural resources registration plates, shall be consistent with the
      design and color of regular registration plates but shall provide a
      space on a portion of the plate for the purpose of allowing the
      placement of a distinguishing processed emblem.  Special registration
      plates shall also comply with the requirements for regular
      registration plates as provided in this section to the extent the
      requirements are consistent with the section authorizing a particular
      special vehicle registration plate.
         10.  If the department reissues a new registration plate design
      for a special registration plate under section 321.34, all persons
      who have purchased or obtained the special registration plates shall
      not be required to pay the issuance fee.  

         Section History: Early Form

         [S13, § 1571-m12, -m13; C24, 27, 31, 35, § 4978; C39, § 5001.19,
      5001.20, 5012.04; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, §
      321.35, 321.36, 321.166; C79, 81, § 321.166] 

         Section History: Recent Form

         82 Acts, ch 1032, § 3, 4; 82 Acts, ch 1062, § 28, 29, 36, 38; 83
      Acts, ch 24, § 7, 12; 86 Acts, ch 1225, § 2; 88 Acts, ch 1215, § 11;
      89 Acts, ch 247, § 5; 92 Acts, ch 1026, § 1; 94 Acts, ch 1028, §1--4;
      95 Acts, ch 118, § 20, 40; 96 Acts, ch 1088, § 5, 6; 96 Acts, ch
      1152, § 7, 8; 96 Acts, ch 1171, § 3; 96 Acts, ch 1219, § 25; 97 Acts,
      ch 70, §4; 97 Acts, ch 104, § 14, 15; 99 Acts, ch 13, §10, 29; 2007
      Acts, ch 184, §6, 7; 2008 Acts, ch 1124, §7; 2009 Acts, ch 130, §25,
      26
         Referred to in § 321L.1