The U.S. state of Minnesota first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1909, when the state began to issue plates. , plates are issued by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety through its Driver and Vehicle Services Division. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates

1909 to 1954

1955 to present

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 in in height by 12 in in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1954 (dated 1955) issue was the first Minnesota license plate that complied with these standards. Since 1989, Minnesota law has required license plates to be replaced every seven years, due to deterioration of the reflective material.

Optional plates

Non-passenger plates