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Vehicle registration plates of the United States by year
Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1913 Events of 1914 Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1915

In 1914 Arizona and California joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 37 states and 3 territories that were issuing license plates and 7 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
Alaska No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1921.
American Samoa No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1924.
Arizona First year for state issued plates.
Arkansas
California First year for state issued plates.
Canal Zone
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of
Columbia
Florida State issued plates begin in 1918.
Georgia
Guam No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1916.
Hawai'i No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1922.
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas



Kentucky White serial numbers on black porcelain plate; "K" over "Y" over diamond symbol with a letter "G' in the center all at right; red lines across top and bottom of plate none
Embossed black serial numbers on white base; large "KY" over "1914" at right Issued only to new registrants and those whose plates expired before the end of 1914.
Louisiana No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana Last year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Nebraska Prestate owner provided plate with house numbers on leather None 12345 Last year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Nevada State issued plates begin in 1916.
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Northern Mariana
Islands
No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1944.
Ohio
Oklahoma No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917.
South Dakota
Tennessee Last year for prestate plates. 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 Final year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Vermont
Virginia
Washington Last year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
West Virginia
Wisconsin Embossed black serial on white plate with a vertical "1914" date at left none 12345W 1W to approximately 54000W First year to use embossed metal.
Wyoming The round state seal is missing above the letters "WYO" in this photograph.

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