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Vehicle registration plates of the United States by year
Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1907 Events of 1908 Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1909

In 1908 Delaware, New Jersey and Ohio joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 14 states and territories that were issuing license plates and 16 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Passenger baseplates

In the table below, a light green background indicates that the owner of the vehicle was required to provide their own license plates. These plates are called "prestate" by most collectors. In the prestate era many states only provided the license plate number on a small disc or on paper, and the owner was required to have their license plate(s) made. These early license plates were created from kits that could be purchased at a hardware store, may have been available from automobile clubs or associations, they were forged by blacksmiths or other tradesmen, or the owner may have made their own plate with whatever materials they had on hand. Prestate plates were made from a variety of materials, but most often were made of leather, steel, or wood.

Legend: Regular state issue plate(s) Prestate era plate(s) No plates issued by state or territory
Image State Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
Alabama No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Alaska No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1921.
American Samoa No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1924.
Arizona No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1914.
Arkansas No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1911.
California State issued plates begin in 1914.
Canal Zone No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1910.
Colorado No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Connecticut
Delaware First year for state issued plates.
District of
Columbia
Florida State issued plates begin in 1918.
Georgia No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1910.
Guam No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1916.
Hawai'i No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1922.
Idaho No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Illinois State issued plates begin in 1911.
Indiana State issued plates begin in 1913.
Iowa State issued plates begin in 1911.
Kansas No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Kentucky No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1910.
Louisiana No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Maine
Maryland State issued plates begin in 1910.
Massachusetts
Michigan State issued plates begin in 1910.
Minnesota Last year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1909.
Mississippi No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1912.
Missouri State issued plates begin in 1911.
Montana Prestate plates start in 1913. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Nebraska Prestate owner provided plate with house numbers on leather None 12345 State issued plates begin in 1915.
Nevada Prestate plates start in 1913. State issued plates begin in 1916.
New Hampshire
New Jersey First year for state issued plates.
New Mexico State issued plates begin in 1912.
New York State issued plates begin in 1910.
North Carolina Prestate plates start in 1909. State issued plates begin in 1913.
North Dakota No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Northern Mariana
Islands
No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1944.
Ohio First year for state issued plates.
Oklahoma No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Oregon State issued plates begin in 1911.
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1912.
Rhode Island
South Carolina No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917.
South Dakota State issued plates begin in 1913.
Tennessee State issued plates begin in 1915.
Texas No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917.
U.S. Virgin Islands No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1917.
Utah Prestate plates start in 1909. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Vermont
Virginia
Washington State issued plates begin in 1915.
West Virginia
Wisconsin Riveted aluminum serial on black zinc plate none 1234-W 4148-W to 6192-W Issued July 1905 to August 1911; replaced in 1912. Serials issued show plates issued in 1908.
Wyoming No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.

See also

References

  1. ^ Fox, Jams K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. ISBN  9781886777002.
  2. ^ Minard, Jeff; Stentiford, Tim (2004). A Moving History, 50 Years Of ALPCA. 100 Years Of License Plates. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company. p. 58. ISBN  1-56311-975-7.
  3. ^ Crisler, Bob; Crisler, Chuck, eds. (2007). License Plate Values (7th ed.). King Publishing Company.
  4. ^ Martells, Jack (1980). Antique Automotive Collectibles. Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc. pp. 128–145. ISBN  0-8092-7205-9.

External links