Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1905

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Vehicle registration plates of the United States by year
Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1904 Events of 1905 Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1906

In 1905 the states of Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and West Virginia all began to issue their own license plates. The prestate era of plates began in the states of California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee. This year saw the most changes during the prestate era. Eight states were now issuing plates and another 17 required their owners to provide their own plates. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

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
ImageStateDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Alabama No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Alaska No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1921.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg American Samoa No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1924.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Arizona No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1914.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Arkansas No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg California First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1914.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Canal Zone No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1910.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Colorado No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Connecticut First year for state issued plates.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Delaware First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1908.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg District of
Columbia
District issued plates begin in 1907.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Florida First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1918.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Georgia No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1910.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Guam No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1916.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Hawai'i No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1922.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Idaho No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Illinois Prestate plates start in 1907. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Indiana First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Iowa State issued plates begin in 1911.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Kansas No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Kentucky No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1910.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Louisiana No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Maine First year for state issued plates.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Maryland State issued plates begin in 1910.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Massachusetts
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Michigan First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1910.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Minnesota State issued plates begin in 1909.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Mississippi No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1912.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Missouri Prestate plates start in 1907. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Montana Prestate plates start in 1913. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Nebraska leather license plate 1905.jpg Nebraska Prestate plate provided by owner with house number mounted on leatherNone1234First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Nevada Prestate plates start in 1913. State issued plates begin in 1916.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg New Hampshire First year for state issued plates.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg New Jersey State issued plates begin in 1908.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg New Mexico First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1912.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg New York State issued plates begin in 1910.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg North Carolina Prestate plates start in 1909. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg North Dakota No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Northern Mariana
Islands
No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1944.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Ohio No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1908.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Oklahoma No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Oregon First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Pennsylvania State issued plates begin in 1906.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Puerto Rico No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1912.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Rhode Island
Blank License Plate Shape.svg South Carolina No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg South Dakota First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Tennessee First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Texas No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg U.S. Virgin Islands No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1917.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Utah Prestate plates start in 1909. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Vermont First year for state issued plates.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Virginia No prestate plates.State issued plates begin in 1906.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg Washington Prestate plates start in 1906. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg West Virginia First year for state issued plates.
Wisconsin 1905 license plate.jpg Wisconsin Riveted aluminum serial on black zinc platenone1234-W1-W to 1492-WFirst year for state issued plates. Photo shows the 32nd license plate issued in the state. Serial ranges shown are plates issued in 1905.
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 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.