Vehicle registration plates of the United States by year | ||
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Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1910 | Events of 1911 | Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1912 |
In 1911 Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, and Oregon joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 26 states and 2 territories that were issuing license plates and 10 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates. [1] [2] [3] [4]
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 | Plates were valid from October 1, 1911, to September 30, 1912. See the 1912 entry for these plates. This plate registration system continued through 1975–76. | ||||
![]() | 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 | Black serial on white porcelain plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1911" at left and right respectively | none | 1234 | 1 to about 1600 | First year for state issued plates. |
![]() | California | Black serial on white and many variations | none | 12345 | New plates numbered 30478 to 61784 | Plates 1 - 30477 still valid; This plate number was issued during August 1911. State issued plates begin in 1914. |
![]() | Canal Zone | |||||
![]() | Colorado | No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913. | ||||
![]() | Connecticut | Blue serial number on white porcelain plate | none | C12345 | C1 to about C14000 | |
![]() | Delaware | White numbers on dark blue porcelain; "DEL. 1911" at top | none | 1234 | 1 to about 1500 | |
![]() | District of Columbia | White numbers on black porcelain plate; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" at top | none | 12345 | Previous issues plus 6273 - 9289 [5] | Not all were issued with some blocks of numbers possibly reserved for motorcycles [5] |
![]() | Florida | Owner provided white numbers on black plate | none | 12345 | State issued plates begin in 1918. | |
![]() | Georgia | Black numbers on bare aluminum base | none | 12345 | 1 to about 10000 | Rolled edges and individual numbers slide into plate; valid until 1913 |
![]() | 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 | Black on white; vertical "ILL" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to about 38269 | First year for state issued plates. No year on plates; two plates (pairs) issued for each vehicle. |
![]() | Indiana | State issued plates begin in 1913. | ||||
![]() | Iowa | Embossed white serial number on dark blue plate with border line; "IA 1911" at right | none | 12345 | 2001 to about 29900 | First year for state issued plates. |
![]() | Kansas | No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913. | ||||
![]() | Kentucky | White serial number on black porcelain plate; vertical "KY" at right side with circle containing 'B' below | none | 1234 | 1 to about 3200 | Two plates (pairs) issued for each vehicle |
![]() | Louisiana | No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915. | ||||
![]() | Maine | White serial number on red porcelain plate; "MAINE" centered at bottom | none | 12345 | 1 to about 10050 | Manufacturing date code on back of some plates; multiple variations known |
![]() | Maryland | White numbers on black porcelain plate; large "MD" over "1911" at right | none | 1234 | 1000 to about 8050 | |
![]() | Massachusetts | White serial number on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" at left; vertical "1911" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to about 32800 | Two plates (pairs) issued for each vehicle |
![]() | Michigan | White serial numbers on black porcelain plate; state seal at top left with "MICH" over "1911" below | none | 12345 | 1 to about 27550 | Plates ending in the letter "M" are dealer or manufacturer plates; two plates (pairs) issued for each vehicle |
![]() | Minnesota | White serial numbers on dark blue porcelain plate; vertical "MINN" at left and vertical "1911" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to about 19550 | Two plates (pairs) issued for each vehicle |
![]() | Mississippi | No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1912. | ||||
![]() | Missouri | Embossed unpainted aluminum numbers on yellow plate; "MISSOURI 1911" at bottom | none | 12345 | 1 to about 16200 | First year for state issued plates. Paint on numbers was buffed off to expose aluminum below |
![]() | Montana | Prestate plates start in 1913. State issued plates begin in 1915. | ||||
![]() | Nebraska | Prestate owner provided plate with white serial numbers on black background | none | 12345 | 1 to about 64000(?) | State issued plates begin in 1915. As with most prestate license plates, there is a large variation in the plates created |
![]() | Nevada | Prestate plates start in 1913. State issued plates begin in 1916. | ||||
![]() | New Hampshire | White serial number on green porcelain plate; "N.H." centered at bottom | none | 1234 | 1 to about 7250 | Manufacturing date code on back of some plates; multiple variations known |
![]() | New Jersey | Red serial number on light gray porcelain plate; "NJ" over riveted state seal over "11" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to about 38000 | |
![]() | New Mexico | Last year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1912. | ||||
![]() | New York | Embossed white serial on maroon plate; vertical "NY" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to about 81300 | "M" prefix plates are dealer plates |
![]() | North Carolina | White serial numbers on black plate | none | 1234 | 1 to about 7000 | State issued plates begin in 1913. Black serial numbers on white plates were also authorized |
![]() | North Dakota | Light orange serial number on black plate; vertical "ND" at left and vertical "1911" at right | none | 1234 | 1 to about 7000(?) | First year for state issued plates. |
![]() | Northern Mariana Islands | No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1944. | ||||
![]() | Ohio | Black serial number on white porcelain plate; vertical "OHIO" at left and vertical "1911" at right | none | 12345 | 1 to about 46000 | |
![]() | Oklahoma | No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915. | ||||
![]() | Oregon | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "ORE" at left and vertical "1911" at right | none | 1234 | 1 to about 6200 | First year for state issued plates. Two plates (pairs) issued for each vehicle |
![]() | Pennsylvania | Black serial number on yellow porcelain; "PENNA" over aluminum riveted keystone seal over "1911" at left | none | 12345 | 1 to about 43900 | Beveled edge on higher numbered plates |
![]() | Puerto Rico | No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1912. | ||||
![]() | Rhode Island | White serial numbers on black porcelain plate; "RI" at right | none | 1234 | 1 to 7978 | Some plates have a seriffed letter "I" in the "RI" state abbreviation |
![]() | South Carolina | No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917. | ||||
![]() | South Dakota | White serial numbers on black background | none | 12345 | State issued plates begin in 1913. | |
![]() | Tennessee | Generally white serial numbers on black background, but the reverse coloring is also known to exist | none | 12345 | State issued plates begin in 1915. | |
![]() | Texas | White serial numbers on black background | none | 12345 | No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917. | |
![]() | U.S. Virgin Islands | No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1917. | ||||
![]() | Utah | Usually white serial numbers on black background | none | 1234 | State issued plates begin in 1915. | |
![]() | Vermont | Black serial number on white porcelain plate with border line; large "VT." over smaller "1911" at right | none | 1234 | 1 to about 3300 | Holes with grommets at the four corners |
![]() | Virginia | White serial number on dark blue porcelain plate; "VA." over long dash symbol over "1911" at right | none | 1234 | 1 to about 4000 | |
![]() | Washington | White serial number on black background; "WN" at left of serial number | none | 1234 | 1 to 11897 | State issued plates begin in 1915. |
![]() | West Virginia | White serial number on dark blue porcelain plate; large "W" over "VA." over smaller 1910" at right; "LICENSED" centered at top between bolt slots | none | 1234 | 1 to about 1700 | Grommets at four corner bolt holes |
![]() ![]() | Wisconsin | Riveted aluminum serial number on black zinc plate | none | 12345-W | 15212-W to 21983-W | Issued only January through July; replaced in 1912. |
Riveted aluminum serial number on dark green plate; vertical "1911" at left | 1234W | 1W to 1287W | Issued only for new registrations between August and December 1911 | |||
![]() | Wyoming | No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913. |
All of the 48 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates dated for the year 1942, and due to metal conservation for World War II, 1943 and 1944 for most states. In 1942, automobile production in the United States was halted for the duration of World War II, and many automobile factories were converted to munitions or other war-oriented industrial manufacturing purposes until 1946.
Each of the fifty states of the US plus many of its territories and the District of Columbia issued license plates for registered vehicles for the calendar year 1960.
Each of the 50 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates for 1975.
In 1910 the Canal Zone, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, and New York joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 19 states and 2 territories that were issuing license plates and 14 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.
In 1912 Mississippi, New Mexico, and Puerto Rico joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 28 states and 3 territories that were issuing license plates and 9 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.
In 1913 Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina, South Dakota, and Wyoming joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and Montana and Nevada entered the prestate era. There were now 35 states and 3 territories that were issuing license plates and 8 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.
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.
In 1915 Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah, and Washington joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 44 states and 3 territories that were issuing license plates and 2 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.
In 1916 Guam and Nevada joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 45 states and 4 territories that were issuing license plates and 1 other state requiring owners to provide their own license plates.
In 1917 South Carolina, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 47 states and 5 territories that were issuing license plates and 1 other state requiring owners to provide their own license plates.
In 1918 Florida joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 48 states and 5 territories that were issuing license plates. The prestate era ended when Florida began to issue license plates.
At this early point in the history of license plates in the United States of America, none of the 45 states, territories, or the District of Columbia, was issuing its own plates. In this year New York became the first state to require vehicle owners to register their vehicles. The owners of these early New York vehicles had to provide their own license plates with only their initials on them. Plates were often made of metal letters on a thick leather background or on a steel base. This system of using the owners initials lasted until 1903 when a change to using a number provided by the state began.
Massachusetts became the first state to officially issue vehicle license plates in 1903. New York continued to require their residents to register their vehicles with the state, but the owner had to supply their own license plate. Connecticut, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia all began to require vehicle registration with the vehicle owners also supplying their own plate. Each of the other states of the United States of America plus several of its territories did not require or issue license plates during 1903.
In 1904 Rhode Island became the second state, joining Massachusetts, to issue its own license plates, and the states of Iowa and Maryland began to require owners to provide their own license plates.
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 Dakoya, 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.
In 1906 Pennsylvania and Virginia joined the list of those providing license plates to vehicle owners, and the prestate era began in Washington (state). There were now 10 states that were issuing license plates and 17 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.
In 1907 the District of Coumbia joined the list of states providing license plates to vehicle owners, and the prestate era began in Illinois and Missouri. There were now 11 states and territories that were issuing license plates and 18 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.
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.
In 1909 Minnesota joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and North Carolina and Utah entered the prestate era. There were now 15 states and territories that were issuing license plates and 17 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.
At this early point in the history of license plates in the United States of America, none of the 45 states, territories, or the District of Columbia, was issuing its own plates. The state of New York remained the only state that required vehicle owners to register their automobiles. The system of using the owner's initials as the registration number, begun in 1901, remained in effect. This would change in 1903 when a number was assigned to each owner to display on their vehicle. Across the country the increases in the number of automobiles was being noticed, and there were many cities, like Chicago, that had already begun to require their owners to register their vehicles.