Bahamas - General Information

Records indicate that motor vehicles in the Bahamas were registerered as early as 1914, although plates were undated and therefore difficult to label as to age. Most of the very early types were porcelain over steel, in white on black, eventually with the words NASSAU and BAHAMAS somewhere on the plate. Islands other than Nassau had plates known as "Out Island" issues, almost always with white numbers on a green background.

Currently there are 19 different islands in the Bahamas issuing their own distinctive license plates. The last design plate that I have personally seen is a blue on yellow non-descript series plate, very similar to the first issue 1976 plate, but a much higher quality tag, with sharply embossed, squared off characters. The plates have the island name across the top, and BAHAMAS across the bottom.

The following individual islands of the Bahamas are currently issuing plates, and unless otherwise indicated, have been issuing plates since 1976 - you can tap on each island's name to go directly to the page for each specific island:

There are also a few standard issue plates in existence, that may or may not be standard issues from family islands:

In addition, there are some family islands and towns which have issued special OUT ISLANDS pre-1976 vintage license plates. All are white on green, usually hand made, hand painted plates, with an abbreviated prefix indicating the family island. Most OUT ISLAND license plates are of a simple serial number on a white/green plate, with the legend BAHAMAS and OUT ISLANDS:

Finally, the following types are known to have been in use at one time, or are still currently in use:

1914 through the 1950's - White on black porcelain plates of various designs. Very early issues had a narrow died serial number, centered on a black plate with white, with a narrow white border, with no islands name or legends at all. This was followed by a similar plate, with NASSAU BAHAMAS across the bottom or top. Later issues had NASSAU and BAHAMAS either together, or split between the top and bottom, in varying combinations and styles of dies and legends. White on green OUT ISLANDS porcelain plates are known, with OUT ISLANDS across the bottom, and BAHAMAS across the top, with wide die numbers.

1950's through 1975 - White on black British style hand painted, or attached characters on steel or aluminum plates. Some had N or NP prefixes, others had small NASSAU and BAHAMAS stickers on the plates. All sorts of designs are known, from sloppy numbers painted directly on cars, to fancy British style long plates with ornate numbers. OUT ISLAND issues are known for most family islands and towns, including some incredibly sloppy hand painted plates, and plates with backward letters and numbers and other illegible scripts.

1976 - Blue on yellow, with BAHAMAS and the island name, T prefix for trucks, motorcycles had half sized plates. These plates were American made plates, with neatly embossed and painted characters, usually with the back of the plate also painted yellow.

1977 - Black on green, with IT'S BETTER IN THE BAHAMAS and the island name, T prefix for trucks, motorcycles had half sized plates.

1978 - Red on cream, with BAHAMAS and the island name, T prefix for trucks, motorcycles had half sized plates.

1979 - Date sticker on 1978 plate.

1980 - Date sticker on 1978 plate.

1981 - Blue on yellow, with BAHAMAS and the island name, T prefix for trucks, motorcycles had half sized plates. These plates were similar to the 1976 first issues, but were made in the Bahamas, and had poor embossing, with sloppily painted numbers and island names. Some were red/cream 1978 issues that were painted over. Most had unpainted aluminum backs.

1982 - Date sticker on 1981 plate.

1983 - Green on white, with BAHAMAS and the island name, T prefix for trucks, motorcycles had half sized plates.

1984 - Date sticker on 1983 plate.

1985 - Date sticker on 1983 plate.

1986 - Date sticker on 1983 plate.

1987 - Some stickered 1983 plates, most had black on yellow plates, with BAHAMAS and the island name, T prefix for trucks, motorcycles had half sized plates.

1988 - Date sticker on 1987 plate.

1989 - Date sticker on 1987 plate.

1990 - White on green, with BAHAMAS and the island name, T prefix for trucks, motorcycles had half sized plates.

1991 - Date sticker on 1990 plate.

1992 - Blue on yellow with black legends, with BAHAMAS and 1492-1992 and crest. T prefix for trucks, motorcycles had half sized plates.

1993 - Blue on yellow, unknown if Landfall plates continued, probably stickered, or a standard blue/yellow base was used. T prefix for trucks, half sized plates for motorcycles.

1994 - Blue on yellow, unknown if Landfall plates continued, probably stickered, or a standard blue/yellow base was used. T prefix for trucks, half sized plates for motorcycles.

1995 - Blue on yellow, unknown if Landfall plates continued, probably stickered, or a standard blue/yellow base was used. T prefix for trucks, half sized plates for motorcycles.

1996 - Blue on yellow issues, non-descript, with date stickers.

1997 - Blue on yellow issues, non-descript, with date stickers.

NON PASSENGER PLATES

There are also various plates with NASSAU BAHAMAS and/or NASSAU SPEED WEEKS, in dated and undated formats. Usually white on black, embossed but sometimes porcelain, the use is thought to be related to the promotion of auto races held in Nassau in the 1950's and 1960's.

There is also a black on white plate known with BAHAMAS and 800 FRIENDLY ISLANDS across the bottom, with a six digit number. The use of this plate is unknown.

My old Bahamas site may still be active, and there are are photos there. Check it out here!

Do you have any interesting Bahamas license plates to sell or trade? Contact me - I'm interested! I'll pay WELL or trade for the special Bahamas license plates I need! - Email Drew the Editor.

CHECK OUT MY CHECKLIST.... It lists all the plates in my Bahamas collection, as well as all of my duplicate Bahamas plates. Thanks! Drewski

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