The U.S. state of Maryland offers a large number of non-passenger and special vehicle registration plates. [1] Each type uses a two-, three-, or four-letter prefix (for cars, multi-purpose vehicles, and light trucks) or suffix (for motorcycles). Organizational plates may be displayed on passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles, and trucks weighing 10,000 pounds and less, and some types are also available for use on motorcycles. On plates displaying a logo at left, the prefix or suffix is displayed vertically, while on plates that do not display a logo, the prefix is displayed horizontally. Logo plates have a $25 one time fee, while non-logo plates have a $15 one time fee, [2] unless the plate is issued to a vehicle belonging to a member of a volunteer fire department or a Disabled American Veteran.
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Type | Prefix | Notes |
---|---|---|
AMVETS Department of Maryland | AV | |
ABATE of Maryland, Inc. | MRO | |
ABATE of Maryland, Inc. – motorcycle | MRO suffix | |
Accokeek Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. | AK | |
Air Conditioning Contractors of America | AIR | |
Air Force 459th Airlift Wing | AF | |
Air Force Association | AFA | Non-logo |
Alexandria Firefighters, Inc. | ALX | |
Ali Ghan Temple | AG | |
All American Chapter Harley Owners Group | HOG | |
All American Chapter Harley Owners Group – motorcycle | HO suffix | |
Allegany Community College | CC | |
Allegany High School Alumni Association | AC | |
Allen A. M. E. Church, Baltimore | AM | |
Allen Volunteer Fire Company | AVF | |
Almas Temple A.A.O.N.M.S. | AT | |
Alpha Kappa Alpha | AKA | |
Alpha Phi Alpha | AX | |
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300 | ATU | |
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 | LTU | |
American Cancer Society | RFL | |
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL–CIO | AU | |
American Indian Society of Washington, D.C. | AIS | |
American Legion Auxiliary Department of Maryland, Inc. | ALA | |
American Legion Riders | ALR | |
American Legion Riders (motorcycle) | ALR suffix | |
American Massage therapy Association Maryland Chapter | AMT | |
American Red Cross | ARC | |
American Sewing Guild | ASG | |
American University | AUE | |
American Whitewater Affiliation | AW | |
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonary | SR | |
Ancient Order of Hibernians in America, Inc. | AO | |
Annapolis Professional Firefighters Local 1926 | AFD | |
Annapolis Triathlon Club | ATC | |
Annapolis Woodworkers Guild | AWG | |
Annapolis Yacht Club | AYC | |
Annapolis, Maryland Chapter Harley Owners Group | AH | |
Annapolis, Maryland Chapter Harley Owners Group – motorcycle | AH suffix | |
Anne Arundel Alarmers Association | AAA | |
Anne Arundel County Professional Firefighters Local 1563 | AP | |
Anne Arundel County Professional Fire Fighters Local 1563 – motorcycle | AP suffix | |
Anne Arundel County Retired Fire Fighters Association | RFF | |
Antietam Fire Company | AFC | |
Arcadia Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. | AV | |
Archdiocesan Holy Name Union | HN | |
Archeological Society of Maryland, Inc. | AS | |
Arizona State University Alumni Association | AZ | |
Armenian Association of Greater Baltimore | AAB | |
Army Reserve | ARO | Non-logo |
Arundel Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. | VS | |
Auctioneers Association of Maryland | BID | Autism Speaks |
Aussie Rescue and Placement Helpline, Inc. | RSQ | |
Type | Prefix | Notes |
---|---|---|
B & O Railroad Museum | BO | |
Baltimore 4 Wheelers, Inc. | BW | |
Baltimore American Indian Center, Inc. | AI | |
Baltimore Area Alumni Association, Inc. of Alpha Phi Omega fraternity | MS | |
Baltimore Bicycling Club, Inc. | BBC | Non-logo |
Baltimore Blues Society | BBS | |
Baltimore City College Alumni Association, Inc. | BCC | |
Baltimore City Community College | BCO | Non-logo |
Baltimore City Fire Department | BFS | |
Baltimore City Fire Fighters Local No. 734 | FL | |
Baltimore City Fire Fighters Local No. 734 – motorcycle | FL suffix | |
Baltimore City Fire Officers – motorcycle | FO suffix | |
Baltimore County Fire Department Chief Officers Association, Inc. | FX | |
Baltimore County Fire Fighters Association Local No. 1311 | CF | |
Baltimore County Fire Fighters Association Local No. 1311 – motorcycle | CF suffix | |
Baltimore County Retired Fire Officers and Fire Fighters | RS | |
Baltimore Duckpin Bowlers Association | BD | |
Baltimore Fire Officers Association | FO | |
Baltimore Kickers, Inc. | KX | |
Baltimore Metro Chapter of the Harley Owners Group, Inc. | HD | |
Baltimore Metro Chapter of the Harley Owners Group, Inc. – motorcycle | HD suffix | |
Baltimore Polytechnic Institute Alumni Association | BPI | |
Baltimore Professional Duckpin Association | BPD | Non-logo |
Baltimore Retired Police Benevolent Association | BRP | |
Baltimore Ski Club, Inc. | SKI | |
Baltimore Streetcar Museum, Inc. | BSM | |
Baltimore Symphony Associates | BSO | |
Baltimore Teachers Union | BTU | |
Baltimore Tuskegee Alumni Association | TU | |
Baltimore Washington Conference of United Methodist Men | BWC | |
Baltimore Yacht Club | BYC | |
Bay District Volunteer Fire Department | BD | |
Bel Air Corvette Club | BAC | |
Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. | VFC | |
Bel Alton Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. | BA | |
Benedict Volunteer Fire Department & Rescue Squad, Inc. | BFR | |
Berlin Fire Company, Inc. | BF | |
Berwyn Heights Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc. | TS | |
Birds of Prey the Chamber of Baltimore Ravens Nest, Inc. | BOP | |
Bishop Episcopal Diocese of Easton | EC | |
Bishop Walsh School | BWS | |
Bishopville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. | BV | |
Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc. | BFD | |
Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Inc. | BK | |
Blue Knights International Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club, Inc. – motorcycle | BK suffix | |
Blue Star Mothers | MBS | |
BMW Bikers of Metropolitan Washington | BMR suffix | |
BMW (Car) Owners' Club | BMW | |
Boonsboro Athletic Boosters, Inc. | BHS | |
Boumi Temple A.A.O.N.M.S. | BB | |
Bowie State University Alumni | BSU | |
Bowie Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Inc. | RF | |
Box 414 Association, Inc. | BX | |
Boy Scouts of America | BSA | |
Boys' Latin School of Maryland, Inc. | BL | |
Brandywine Volunteer Fire Department | BVF | |
Bread of Life Tabernacle | BOL | |
Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue, Inc. | BVA | |
Bryans Road Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad | BR | |
Bryn Mawr School | BMS | |
Building Industries Foundation | HBA | |
Burtonsville Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. | BM | |
Bush River Yacht Club | BRY | |
Type | Prefix | Notes |
---|---|---|
Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation | HOF | |
Calvary Chapel Church of God | COG | |
Calvert Advance Life Support | PM | |
Calvert Hall College Alumni Association | CH | |
Calvert Marine Museum Society, Inc. | CMM | |
Carolina Alumni Association University of South Carolina | USC | |
Caroline County Life Support Services, Inc. | ES | |
Carroll Christian Schools | CCS | |
Carroll County Public Schools | QS | |
Carroll Hospital Center | CHC | |
Carroll Manor Fire Company, Inc. | CMF | |
Carver Alumni Association | CT | |
Catholic Daughters of the Americas | CDA | Non-logo |
Catholic University of America | CUA | Non-logo |
Catonsville High Alumni Association | CS | |
Cecil County Des | EM | |
Charles County Dive Rescue | DR | |
Charles County Mobil Intensive Care Unit | MI | |
Charles County Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. | LR | |
Chesapeake Bay Power Boat Association | CPB | |
Chesapeake Heritage Conservancy | SML | |
Chesapeake Yacht Club, Inc. | CY | |
Chief Petty Officers Association | CPO | |
Choose Life of Maryland, Inc. | CLM | |
Church Creek Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. | CK | |
Church of God Delmarva - DC | JC | |
City Union of Baltimore | CUB | Non-logo |
Civil Air Patrol MD Wing | CAP | Non-logo |
Clemson Alumni Association | TGR | |
Clinton Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. | CL | |
Cobb Island Volunteer Fire Department and EMS, Inc. | CI | |
Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School | COL | |
College of Notre Dame of Maryland | CND | Non-logo |
Columbia Ski Club | CO | |
Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service | PHS | Non-logo |
Communication Workers of America | CWA | |
Community Fire Company of Millington | MFC | |
Community Fire Company of Rising Sun Inc. | RM | |
Community Mediation Maryland | CMC | |
Community Volunteer Fire Department Bowleys Quarters and Vicinity, Inc. | BQ | |
Concerns of Police Survivors | CPS | |
Coppin State Alumni Association | CSU | |
Cordova Volunteer Firemen's Association, Inc. | TA | |
Corinthian Yacht Club | CYC | |
Cornell Club of Maryland | CU | |
Corvette Club of America | CCA | |
Corvette Club of Annapolis | VA | |
Council of Baltimore Ravens | RR | |
Country Pride Dancers | CWD | Non-logo |
Crabtowne Skiers, Inc. | CSI | |
Cresaptown Volunteer Fire Department | CFR | |
Crescent Yacht Club | CRE | |
CSX Employees Service Club of Baltimore | CSX | Non-logo |
Cure Autism Now | CAN |
Type | Prefix | Notes |
---|---|---|
David Taylor Model Basin | DT | Non-logo |
Davis & Elkins College | DE | |
Deacons Conference of Baltimore and Vicinity, Inc. | DCA | |
Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. | GC | |
Delmar Fire Department | DFD | |
Delta Sigma Theta sorority | DST | |
DeMatha Catholic High School | DM | |
Dentsville Volunteer EMS & Auxiliary Inc. | DVE | |
Department of Maryland American Ex-Prisoners of War, Inc. | POW | |
DFC Jason C. Schwenz Foundation, Inc. | JCS | |
Disabled American Veterans | DAV | Non-logo |
Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary | DVA | |
District of Columbia Air National Guard | DCG | |
Down-N-Dirty Motorcycle Club – motorcycle | DND suffix | |
Drexel University Alumni | DU | Non-logo |
Dundalk Power Squadron | DS | |
Dundalk Renaissance Corporation | DUN | |
Duquesne University Alumni Association | DU | |
Type | Prefix | Notes |
---|---|---|
Glen Echo Volunteer Fire Department | GE | |
Type | Prefix | Notes |
---|---|---|
Maryland Geocaching Society | MGS | |
Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad | MRS |
Type | Prefix | Notes |
---|---|---|
Notre Dame Alumni Association | ND | |
Type | Prefix | Notes |
---|---|---|
Penn State Alumni Association | PSU | Non-logo |
Prince George's County Tricentennial | PG | |
Port of Baltimore | PORT |
Type | Prefix | Notes |
---|---|---|
Seneca Valley High School | WIN |
A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate or license plate, is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. All countries require registration plates for road vehicles such as cars, trucks, and motorcycles. Whether they are required for other vehicles, such as bicycles, boats, or tractors, may vary by jurisdiction. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric ID that uniquely identifies the vehicle or vehicle owner within the issuing region's vehicle register. In some countries, the identifier is unique within the entire country, while in others it is unique within a state or province. Whether the identifier is associated with a vehicle or a person also varies by issuing agency. There are also electronic license plates.
Vehicle size classes are series of ratings assigned to different segments of automotive vehicles for the purposes of vehicle emissions control and fuel economy calculation. Various methods are used to classify vehicles; in North America, passenger vehicles are classified by total interior capacity while trucks are classified by gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Vehicle segments in the European Union use linear measurements to describe size. Asian vehicle classifications are a combination of dimensions and engine displacement.
Vehicle registration plates in Hong Kong are managed by the Transport Department of Hong Kong. The physical number plates are not provided by the government but are made to order by garages. The vehicle registration system in Hong Kong is independent from that of Mainland China and Macau.
Vehicle license plates in the Philippines are issued and regulated by the, a government agency under the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
In the United States, vehicle registration plates, known as license plates, are issued by a department of motor vehicles, an agency of the state or territorial government, or in the case of the District of Columbia, the district government. Some Native American tribes also issue plates. The U.S. federal government issues plates only for its own vehicle fleet and for vehicles owned by foreign diplomats. Until the 1980s, diplomatic plates were issued by the state in which the consulate or embassy was located.
Vehicle registration plates in Singapore are administered by the Land Transport Authority. All vehicles in Singapore are required to display front and back plates bearing its registration number. Purchasers of vehicles have the option to bid for a vehicle registration number or get a vehicle registration number automatically assigned. Vehicle registration numbers can be retained on new or old vehicles owned by the same person. Vehicle owners are also able to replace and bid for a new registration number for existing vehicles.
The registration plates of cars in Norway are maintained by the Norwegian Ministry of Transport and Communications. As in most countries, cars are identified only by number plates read visually. Each plate is a legal document that both identifies the vehicle and permits its use, and shall be returned to the registration authority when the vehicle is no longer in use.
Malaysian registration plates are displayed at the front and rear of all private and commercial motorised vehicles in Malaysia, as required by law. The issuing of the number plates is regulated and administered by the Malaysian Road Transport Department or JPJ.
In South Korea, the Surface Transportation Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOCT) oversees the design and issue of license plates for motor vehicles. The abbreviation for South Korea is ROK.
The U.S. state of Indiana first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until July 1, 1913, when the state began to issue plates.
Since Ukraine's independence in 1991, the country has used four main systems of vehicle registration plates.
Thailand's vehicle registration plates are issued by the Department of Land Transport (DLT) of the Ministry of Transport. They must be displayed on all motorized road vehicles, as required by the Motor Vehicle Act, B.E. 2522 and the Land Transport Act, B.E. 2522. The plates vary in design, colors and dimensions according to the type of vehicle, but usually display a registration number and the vehicle's province of registration. Specifications are given in Ministry of Transport regulations. Current style started in 1975 for most vehicle types, but with small changes in 1997, and 1997 for motorcycles.
Vehicle registration plates of Canada, also known as licence plates, are issued by provincial or territorial government agencies. Registration plates in Canada are typically attached to motor vehicles or trailers for official identification purposes. Some Canadian registration plates have unique designs, shapes, and slogans related to the issuing jurisdiction. For example, registration plates issued in the Northwest Territories are shaped like a polar bear. In Alberta, registration plates typically display the words "Wild Rose Country."
The U.S. state of Maryland first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1904. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1910, when the state began to issue plates.
The U.S. state of Missouri first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1911, when the state began to issue plates.
The Canadian province of Ontario first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants provided their own licence plates for display until 1911, when the province began to issue plates. Plates are currently issued by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO). The location of plates is specified by the Highway Traffic Act and Regulation 628 under the Act.
The U.S. state of California first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1914, when the state began to issue plates. Plates are currently issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
The vehicle registration plates of Cyprus are composed of three letters and three digits. A simple incremental numbering system is used; numbers run from 001 to 999 per letter sequence (alphabetic), so that, for example, the plate to be issued after MAA 999 would be MAB 001. However, registrants may be allowed to choose a number from available numbers in the extant letter sequence.
The Australian state of Tasmania requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current regular issue plates are to the standard Australian dimensions of 372 mm (14.6 in) in length by 134 mm (5.3 in) in height, and use standard Australian serial dies.
The Australian state of New South Wales requires its residents to register their motor vehicles and display vehicle registration plates. Current regular issue plates are to the standard Australian dimensions of 372 mm (14.6 in) in length by 134 mm (5.3 in) in height, and use standard Australian serial dies.