Mexico

Mexican plates were issued federally from the 1940’s until 1995. Plates were the same for all states, the only difference between each state was the abbreviated state name at the bottom. All except the DF had identical serial formats, and each state allotted a block of numbers. In 1995, Guanajuato became the first state to issue its own unique plate by adding a graphic to the 1992 base, followed later that year by Zacatecas. State-unique graphics did not appear nationwide until 1998. The first "generation" of graphics lasted for 3 years, and were essentially built upon the 1992 base in that they retained the same dies and serial format. In 2001, the format changed slightly, smaller dies were implemented, and the graphics became more complex. This second format is still in use today.

Mexico issues fronterizo (or frontera, meaning border) registrations to vehicles imported from the United States and operated within the "border zone." The border zone includes the area within about 20 miles of the US border, most of the state of Sonora, and the entire states of Baja California and Baja California Sur. People registering under this type pay reduced import fees and are restricted from traveling to the interior of the country similar to foreign registrations. A number of different types including passenger, truck, taxi, and more are eligible for fronterizo registrations. Nuevo León does not issue fronterizo registrations despite having a small border with the US.