Vehicle registration plates of Massachusetts

Last updated
Massachusetts
Massachusetts 2011 license plate.png
Current series
SloganThe Spirit of America
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Introduced1987 (1987) (vanity plates and some non-passenger types; used as standard passenger base from 1993 onwards)
Availability
Issued by Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Registry of Motor Vehicles
History
First issuedSeptember 1, 1903 (1903-09-01), to Frederick Tudor

Massachusetts was the first U.S. state to issue license plates on September 1, 1903, to Frederick Tudor. [1] Plates are currently issued by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).

Contents

On November 12, 2019, Massachusetts became the final state to issue temporary license plates (designated as type PAS, subtype TP), which can be printed at home & put in the RMV sleeve & affixed to the back of the vehicle. Temporary plates are initially good for 20 days but can be renewed once after 17 days if permanent plates haven't arrived yet.

All plates since 1978 are currently valid. Prior to 1993, only rear plates were required; since the first "Spirit of America" plate was issued in 1986, front and rear plates have been required since. As such, the 1978-1993 issues continue to only require the rear plate, while the "Spirit of America" issues since 1986 require front and rear plates.

Passenger baseplates

1903 to 1966

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes. [2] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Massachusetts license plate that complied with these standards.

ImageDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Massachusetts 1903 license plate 911.jpg 1903–07White serial on blue porcelain plate; "MASS. AUTOMOBILE REGISTER" at top123451 to 26207 [1]
Massachusetts license plate 1908.jpg 1908Blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1908" at left and right respectively123451 to approximately 17500First dated plate.
Massachusetts license plate 1909.jpg 1909White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1909" at left and right respectively123451 to approximately 23500
1910 Massachusetts License Plate.jpg 1910Blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1910" at left and right respectively123451 to approximately 29000
12345
1911White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1911" at left and right respectively123451 to approximately 33000
1912 Massachusetts License Plate.jpg 1912Blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1912" at left and right respectively123451 to approximately 41000
Massachusetts Licence Plate 1913.jpg 1913White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1913" at left and right respectively123451 to approximately 54500
1914 Massachusetts License Plate.jpg 1914Blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1914" at left and right respectively123451 to approximately 62000
Massachusetts 1915 License Plate.jpg 1915White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1915" at left and right respectively123451 to approximately 79500
1916 Massachusetts License Plate.jpg 1916Dark blue serial on cream flat metal plate; vertical "MASS" and "1916" at left and right respectively1234561 to approximately 102000
123,456
1917Cream serial on dark blue flat metal plate; "MASS. 1917" centered at bottom123,4561 to approximately 127,000
1918 Massachusetts License Plate.jpg 1918Dark blue serial on cream flat metal plate; "MASS. 1918" centered at bottom123,4561 to approximately 142,000
123,456
1919Cream serial on dark blue flat metal plate; "MASS. 1919" centered at bottom123,4561 to approximately 177,000
Massachusetts license plate 1920, number 198603.jpg 1920Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "MASS. 1920" centered at bottom123,4561 to approximately 219,000First embossed plate.
1921 Massachusetts license plate.jpg 1921Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "MASS. 1921" centered at bottom123,4561 to approximately 260,000
123,456
1922As 1920 base, but with "MASS. 1922" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 321,000
123,456
1923As 1921 base, but with "MASS. 1923" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 402,000
Massachusetts License Plate 1924.JPG 1924Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS. 1924" centered at bottom123,4561 to approximately 473,000
123,456
1925Embossed white serial on black plate; "MASS. — 1925" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 546,000
123,456
1926Embossed white serial on blue plate; "1926 — MASS" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 598,000
1927 Massachusetts license plate.jpg 1927Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS — 1927" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 624,000
Massachusetts license plate 1928.jpg 1928Embossed white serial on green plate; "1928", cod fish graphic and "MASS" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 644,000
1929 Massachusetts License Plate.jpg 1929Embossed white serial on blue plate; "MASS — 1929" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 712,000
1930 Massachusetts license plate.jpg 1930Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "1930 — MASS" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 749,000
123,456
1931Embossed white serial on green plate; "MASS — 1931" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 792,000
123,456
1932As 1930 base, but with "1932 — MASS" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 740,000
123,456
1933As 1931 base, but with "MASS — 1933" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 759,000
123,456
1934As 1930 base, but with "MASS — 1934" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 749,000
Massachusetts 1935 license plate - Number 48,460.jpg 1935As 1931 base, but with "1935 — MASS" at bottom123,4561 to approximately 734,000
123,456
1936Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 36" centered at top123,4561 to approximately 729,000
123,456
1937Embossed white serial on green plate; "37 MASS" centered at top123,4561 to approximately 755,000
1938 Massachusetts license plate.jpg 1938Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 38" centered at bottom123·4561 to approximately 751·000
123·456
1939Embossed white serial on green plate; "39 MASS" centered at bottom123·4561 to approximately 771·000
1940 Massachusetts License Plate.jpg 1940Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 40" centered at top123·4561 to approximately 779·000
1941 Massachusetts license plate.JPG 1941Embossed white serial on green plate; "41 MASS" centered at bottom123·4561 to approximately 852·000
1942 Massachusetts license plate.jpg 1942–44Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 42" centered at bottom123·4561 to approximately 828·000Revalidated for 1943
and 1944 with wind-
shield stickers, due to metal conservation
for World War II.
123·456
As above, but green rather than maroon828·001 to approximately 855·000
Massachusetts 1945 License Plate.jpg 1945Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "45 MASS" at top123·4561 to approximately 799·000
Massachusetts 1946 License Plate.jpg 1946Embossed white serial on black plate; "46 MASS" at bottom123·4561 to approximately 843·000
Massachusetts 1947 License Plate.jpg 1947Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "MASS 47" within embossed white bar centered at top123·4561 to approximately 897·000
1948 Massachusetts license plate.JPG 1948Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "48 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at bottom123·4561 to approximately 948·000
No image
1949–50Embossed white serial on black plate; "49 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at top123·4561 to 999·999Revalidated for 1950
with windshield sticker.
A12·345K, H and J series
1951 Massachusetts License Plate.jpg 1951–52Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 51" within embossed white bar centered at bottom123·4561 to 999·999Revalidated for 1952
with windshield sticker.
A12·345K, H, E and P series
1953 Massachusetts license plate.JPG 1953–54Embossed white serial on black plate; "MASS 53" within embossed white bar centered at top123·4561 to 999·999Revalidated for 1954
with windshield sticker.
1954 Massachusetts vehicle registration sticker.jpg
A12·345K, H, E, P and L series
No image
1955–56Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "55 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at bottom123·4561 to 999·999Revalidated for 1956
with windshield sticker.
A12·345K, H, E, P, L, N and X series
1957 Massachusetts license plate.JPG 1957–58Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MASS 57" within embossed white bar centered at top123·4561 to 999·999First 6" x 12" plate. Revalidated for 1958
with windshield sticker.
A12·345K, H, E, P, L, N, X and U series
1959 Massachusetts license plate.JPG 1959–60Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "59 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at top123·456
A12·345
Revalidated for 1960
with windshield sticker.
Mass 1961 plate.jpg 1961–62Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "MASS 61" within embossed white bar centered at top123·456
A12·345
Revalidated for 1962
with windshield sticker.
1963 Massachusetts license plate.jpg 1963Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "63 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at top123·456
A12·345
Massachusetts 1964 License Plate.jpg 1964–65Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "MASS 64" within embossed white bar centered at top123·456
A12·345
Revalidated for 1965
with windshield sticker.
1966 Massachusetts license plate.JPG 1966Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "66 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at top123·456
A12·345

1967 to present

1966 vanity plate. Serials featuring the names of alcoholic beverages are no longer permitted. Massachusetts 1966 vanity plate naming alcoholic beverages no longer permitted.jpg
1966 vanity plate. Serials featuring the names of alcoholic beverages are no longer permitted.
"Spirit of America" low-number reserve plate. Massachusetts 1988 'reserve' or 'legacy' plate.jpg
"Spirit of America" low-number reserve plate.

Massachusetts implemented a monthly staggered registration system in 1969. Since then, serials on passenger plates have been coded by the month of expiration of the registration, determined by the last number in the serial (1 for January, 2 for February and so on up to 0 for October). From 1969 through 1977, serials with 'X' suffixes were used for November and 'Y' suffixes for December expirations respectively. Registrants are issued plates expiring the last day of the previous month (e.g. a motorist registering a vehicle in June will be issued May plates). If a vehicle is registered in December or January (so that November and December plates would be called for), leftover plates are issued from other months with manufacturing overruns.

In addition to the standard serial formats, Massachusetts also issues "reserve" plates. Reserve plates permit the plate holder to receive the same serial number when new plate styles are issued, or to transfer the serial number to family members. These plates are either all-numeric (1 through 99999) or consist of a single letter followed or preceded by a number (A 1 through Z 9999 and 1 A through 9999 Z). Reserve serials may also be of the forms A (expires on December 31), A#A, A##A, #A#, and #AA#, where # represents any number, and A represents any letter. Low-number reserve plates – now called "Lottery Plates" by the RMV – are of the forms A, #, ##, ###, ####, A #, A ##, # A, and ## A only. When a registrant cancels a low-number reserve registration, the number is placed in an annual lottery. [3] Registration for the lottery generally begins each June, and the drawing must be held by September 15. Prior to the institution of this annual lottery[ when? ], low-number reserve plates were issued only to well-connected individuals, and it is widely believed that drivers with low registration numbers were given preferential treatment by law enforcement. The annual lottery was instituted in response to complaints about the politics behind the issuance of low-number registrations.[ citation needed ] As with standard registration plates, the final digit on low-number reserve plates indicates the month of expiration.

Two-year registrations are mandatory, with the exception of vehicles initially registered during December or January. Vanity plates and motorcycle plates must be renewed annually. All apportioned plate registrations expire on June 30, all trailer and "Spirit of America" vanity plate registrations expire on November 30, and all motorcycle, commercial, and single letter "Spirit of America" plate registrations expire on December 31.

Currently, the Livery plate is the only common license plate in Massachusetts that is allowed to have more than six characters in its serials. All Livery plate serials start with the letters "LV", even if not stamped.

Because the RMV utilizes "Plate Type" to describe the type of registration, it is theoretically possible to have two plates issued with seemingly the same serial. Some of the plate types, and their three-letter codes, are listed below:

  • PAN - Passenger: Normal
  • PAR - Passenger: Reserved
  • PAS - Passenger: Specialty (Antique, Veteran, Environmental, Sports, Spay & Neuter, Breast Cancer, United We Stand, etc.)
  • PAV - Passenger: Vanity
  • PAY - Passenger: Year of Manufacture (Antique plate with year stamped; AN gets added to the beginning of plate number on registration)
  • CON - Commercial: Normal (plates starting SR are for snow removal; HR for Hearse)
  • COR - Commercial: Reserved
  • COV - Commercial: Vanity
  • MCN - Motorcycle: Normal
  • MCR - Motorcycle: Reserved
  • MCS - Motorcycle: Specialty
  • MCV - Motorcycle: Vanity
  • AHN - Camper: Normal
  • AHR - Camper: Reserved
  • AHV - Camper: Vanity
  • AMN - Ambulance: Normal (includes Animal Ambulance)
  • AMR - Ambulance: Reserved
  • LVN - Livery: Normal
  • LVR - Livery: Reserved
  • LVV - Livery: Vanity
  • SPN - School Pupil: Normal
  • TAN - Taxi: Normal
  • TAR - Taxi: Reserved
  • TRN - Trailer: Normal (not used on Camper trailers)
  • TRR - Trailer: Reserved
  • VPN - Van Pool: Normal
  • SBN - School Bus: Normal
  • SBR - School Bus: Reserved
  • BUN - Bus: Normal
  • BUR - Bus: Reserved
  • BUV - Bus: Vanity
ImageDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1968 Massachusetts License Plate.jpg 1967–68Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MASSACHUSETTS" centered at top123·456100·001 to 999·999Revalidated with windshield stickers through the end of 1969, then coded by month of expiration (see above) and revalidated with plate stickers.
A12·345E10·001 to Y99·999
1969–71123·45ACoded by month of expirationRevalidated with plate stickers. All plates replaced 1972–73.
Mass Plate Red on White V329.jpg 1972–78Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MASSACHUSETTS" centered at bottom1A·2345
12A·340
123·456
A12·345
123·45A
Coded by month of expiration12A·340 serial format used only on plates expiring in October. [4] Issued in alternating weeks from 1977, following the introduction of the green-on-white base (below), until supplies were exhausted. Replaced 1982–83.
Massachusetts license plate, 1977-1993 series with 2005 sticker.png 1977–93Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MASSACHUSETTS" centered at top123·ABC100·AAA to 999·VZZ (see right)Only rear plates issued (except for reserved and non-passenger plates). On all plates, the last digit corresponded to the month of expiration, with November and December expirations discontinued except on non-passenger plates and on red-and-white plates until 1980–81. All-numeric plates were generally issued to holders of the same serials on the red-on-white base. Still currently revalidated.
1983–93123·456100·000 to 999·999 (see right)

Massachusetts 2011 license plate.png
1993–presentEmbossed red serial on reflective white plate; "Massachusetts" and "The Spirit of America" screened in blue centered at top and bottom respectively123·ABC999·ZZZ to 100·WAA (reverse issue)This base was first issued in 1987 for vanity plates and some non-passenger types, before becoming the standard passenger base in 1993. On all standard passenger plates, the last digit corresponds to the month of expiration. Letters Q and U never used. Letters I and O used in 123·ABC and 1234 AB formats (IA-IZ, OA-OZ were skipped)
1234 AB1000 AA to 9999 AA, then 1000 AB through 9999 AZ and so on through 9999 ZZ (January issued only through 9991 TZ, February issued only through 9992 YZ) [5]
12A B3410A A00 to 99A A09, then 10A B00 through 99A Z09, then 10B A00 through 99Z Z09 and so on through 99Z Z99 (May issued only through 99Z Z85, June issued only through 99Z Z86)
123 AB4111 AA0 to 999 AA9, then 111 AB0 through 999 AZ9 and so on through 999 ZZ9 (October issued only through 999 NZ0 to avoid confusion with previous 123·ABO format)
1AB 2341AA 110 to 9ZZ 999
1ABC 23As of September 25, 2024:
  • 1AAA 11 to 5VLZ 91
  • 1AAA 12 to 3RLZ 92
  • 1AAA 13 to at least 4MLY 43
  • 1AAA 14 to at least 5VPH 74
  • 1AAA 15 to at least 5GLH 55
  • 1AAA 16 to 4TZZ 96
  • 1AAA 17 to at least 6FXH 97
  • 1AAA 18 to at least 6KSC 98
  • 1AAA 29 to 6SYJ 99
  • 1AAA 10 to 9RZZ 90 (9SAA 10 to 9ZZZ 90 were not used and October was moved on to the below formats in November 2018)
12A 34011A 100 to 99Z 990 (October only)
123 A40111 A10 to 479 Z90 (October only)

Current passenger baseplates

Currently, both the 1977 green-on-white base and the 1987 "Spirit" base are valid for registration. On the 1977 base, only rear plates were issued for most types (except for Reserved, Commercial and Taxi, for which front plates were also issued and must also be displayed today), whereas on the current "Spirit" base, both front and rear plates are issued. Registrants with 1977 plates have the option of replacing these with "Spirit" plates at no charge (though a different number will be used); however, most choose to keep their 1977 plates as a point of pride. In many cases, the 1977 plates are worn and illegible; legally per M.G.L. Chapter 90, a car with an illegible plate (regardless of age or color) must fail the state's annually required vehicle safety inspection. This is a safety fail, which under Massachusetts law prohibits operation of the vehicle until the issue is corrected.

ImageFirst year of issueDescriptionSerials previously issuedCurrent serial formatNotes

Massachusetts 2011 license plate.png
1987Red on reflective white base with screened state name and slogan in blueCoded with n by month of expiration (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October):
  • 123·45n
  • 12n·ABC
  • 123n AB
  • 12A B3n
  • 123 ABn
  • 1AB 23n
  • 1ABC 20 (October expirations, although other months are currently following)
  • 12A 340 (October expirations only, although other months might follow)
Coded with n by month of expiration (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October):
  • 1ABC 2n (January through September expirations)
  • 123 A40 (October expirations only, although other months might follow)
Letters Q and U never used. Letters I and O used in 123·ABC and 1234 AB formats (IA-IZ, OA-OZ were skipped)

Reserved plates

ImageFirst year of issueDescriptionSerial formatsNotes
MA-Base-Plate.jpg

V92 LowDigit Mass Plate.jpg
1987Low-number reserve: Red on reflective white base with screened state name and slogan in blueCoded with n by month of expiration (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October):
  • A (expires on December 31).
  • n
  • 1n
  • 12n
  • 123n
  • 1234n*
  • A n**
  • A 1n**
  • A 12n*
  • A 123n*
  • n A***
  • 1n A***
  • 12n A*
  • 123n A*
  • AnB*
  • A1nB*
  • 1An*
  • 1ABn*
* No longer available via lottery. [6]

** No longer uses the letter O. [6]

*** Never used the letter O. [6]

Vanity plates

ImageFirst year of issueDesignSerial formatsNotes
Massachusetts sample license plate, 1987.png 1987Red on reflective white base with screened state name and slogan in blue
  • AB
  • AB 1
  • AB 12
  • AB 123
  • AB 1234
  • ABC
  • ABC 1
  • ABC 12
  • ABC 123
  • ABCD
  • ABCD 1
  • ABCD 12
  • ABCDE
  • ABCDE 1
  • ABCDEF
All "Spirit of America" vanity plates expire on November 30. The letters I, O, Q, and U can only be used as part of a word that is clearly defined and correctly spelled.

Non-passenger plates

ImageTypeDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
License plates of Massachusetts 1842.jpg Commercial1987–1991As "Spirit of America" base, but with embossed "COMMERCIAL" in place of slogan123·4561 to 999·999All Commercial plates expire on December 31.
1991–1993A 1234
A12·345
A 1000 to C99·999
1993–2007As above, but with embossed "DEC" at top leftD 1000 to approximately M63·800
2007–2019As above, but with "DEC" screened rather than embossedM63·801 to approximately V44·000
2019–presentAs above, but with "COMMERCIAL" screened rather than embossedV44·001 to at least Y13·040 (as of June 11, 2024)
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Trailer1987–2004As "Spirit of America" base, but with embossed "TRAILER" in place of slogan123·4561 to 999·999All Trailer plates expire on November 30.
2004–2008A 1234A 1000 to Z 9999
2008–2021A12·345A10·000 to approximately F99·999
2021–2024TZ 12345TZ 10000 to TZ 99999
2024-presentTZ 1234ATZ 1000A to at least TZ 3809B (as of May 23, 2024)
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Apportioned1987–2018As "Spirit of America" base, but with screened "APPORTIONED" in place of slogan1234510000 to 99999All Apportioned plates expire on June 30.
2018–20211234 A1000 A to 9999 B
2021–present1AB 23C1AA 10A to 1AK 45C (as of May 23, 2024)

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References

  1. 1 2 "History of the Plate". Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  2. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  3. 2011 Low Plate Lottery Announcement
  4. Tanner, Eric N. "Massachusetts License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  5. Sage, Kit; Tanner, Eric. "licenseplates.cc Massachusetts highs page" . Retrieved June 24, 2009.
  6. 1 2 3 "Passenger Plates Booklet" (PDF). massDOT Registry of Motor Vehicles Division. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. July 2014. Retrieved 7 October 2022.