Ask A Trooper: Tab colors run on a scheduled rotation

Published 6:30 am Wednesday, October 28, 2020

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By Troy Christianson

Question: I’m trying to figure out if 2019 license tab stickers were blue?  I can’t find anyplace online that documents the sticker color by year. I know there is a rotation because 2020 is green and 2021 is red.

Answer: The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) use five colors for registration stickers: red, gold, blue, white and green. DVS chose those colors with the intention that they will be easily visible and recognizable for law enforcement.  The license plate tab sticker color for 2019 was white.  Future tab colors will be 2021-red, 2022-gold, 2023-blue, 2024-white and 2025-green.  Under Minnesota law, license plates must display the expiration month in the lower left corner of each plate and the year of expiration in the lower right corner.

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You can avoid a ticket — and a crash — if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and always drive sober.  Help us drive Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths.

If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester MN 55901-5848.  (Or reach him at, Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us)