Vehicle registration plates of Pennsylvania

The U.S. state of Pennsylvania first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1906, when the state began to issue plates.[1]

Pennsylvania

Current series
Slogan	visitPA.com
Size	12 in × 6 in 30 cm × 15 cm
Material	Aluminum
Serial format	ABC-1234
Introduced	June 2017
Availability
Issued by	Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Driver & Vehicle Services
History
First issued	January 1, 1906 (pre-state plates from 1903 to December 31, 1905)

Plates are currently issued by the Driver & Vehicle Services division of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). Only rear plates have been required on standard passenger vehicles since 1952. Most other classes of vehicle also only require rear plates, while front plates are additionally required on passenger vehicles owned by the state, and on vehicles owned by press photographers.[2]

Passenger baseplates

1906 to 1958

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.[3] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Pennsylvania license plate that complied with these standards.

No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection.

Image	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1906	White on blue porcelain; "PENNA 1906" at top or at right (see Notes)	12345	1 to approximately 14000	Plates with serials 1 through 99 had the state abbreviation and year at the right. This practice continued through 1909.[1]
	1907	White on red porcelain; "PENNA 1907" at top or at right	12345	1 to approximately 20000
	1908	Black on yellow porcelain; "PENNA 1908" at top or at right	12345	1 to approximately 25500
	1909	Black on white porcelain; "PENNA 1909" at top or at right	12345	1 to approximately 34500
	1910	White on black porcelain; "PENNA", aluminum keystone and "1910" at left	12345	1 to approximately 33500
	1911	Black on yellow porcelain; "PENNA", aluminum keystone and "1911" at left	12345	1 to approximately 44000
	1912	White on woodgrain-colored porcelain; "PENNA", aluminum keystone and "1912" at left	12345	1 to approximately 60000
	1913	White on green porcelain; "PENNA", aluminum keystone and "1913" at left	12345	1 to approximately 80000
	1914	White on black porcelain; "PENNA", aluminum keystone and "1914" at left	123456	1 to 19999; 40000 to approximately 115000
	1915	White on medium blue porcelain; "PENNA", aluminum keystone and "1915" at left	123456	1 to 19999; 30000 to approximately 164000
	1916	Embossed black on orange; "PENNA", keystone and "1916" at left	123456	1 to 19999; 30000 to approximately 231000	First embossed plate.
	1917	Embossed white on brown; "PENNA", keystone and "1917" at left	123456	1 to approximately 312000
	1918	Embossed white on black; "PENNA", keystone and "1918" at left	123456	1 to approximately 368000
	1919	Embossed red on black; "PENNA", keystone and "1919" at right	123456	1 to approximately 450000
	1920	Embossed white on navy blue; "PENNA 1920" at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 529-000
	1921	Embossed black on golden yellow; "PENNA 1921" at bottom, with keystones on either side	123-456	1 to approximately 634-000
	1922	Embossed brown on cream; "PENNA 1922" at bottom, with keystones on either side	123-456	1 to approximately 765-000
	1923	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue; "PENNA 1923" at bottom, with keystones on either side	123-456	1 to approximately 986-000	Six-digit plates were originally 16 inches in length, but reduced to 15 inches later.
	1924	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow; "PENNA 1924" at bottom, with keystones on either side	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A-12345	A-1 to approximately A-49000
	1925	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue; "1925 PENNA" at bottom, with keystones on either side	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A12-345	A-1 to approximately B58-000
	1926	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with border line; "1926 PENNA" at bottom, with keystones on either side	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A12-345	A-1 to approximately C59-000
	1927	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with border line; "1927 PENNA" at top, with keystones on either side	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A12-345	A-1 to approximately D63-000
	1928	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with border line; "PENNA 1928" at top, with keystones on either side	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A12-345	A-1 to approximately E25-000
	1929	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with border line; "1929 PENNA" at top, with keystones on either side	123-456	1 to 999-999
			A12-345	A-1 to approximately F24-000
	1930	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with border line; "1930 PENNA" at bottom, with keystones on either side	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23		Letters I, O, Q, T, W and X not used in serials; this practice continued until 1974.[4]
	1931	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with border line; "PENNA 1931" at bottom, with keystones on either side	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23
	1932	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with border line; "PENNA 1932" at top, with keystones on either side	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23
	1933	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with border line; "PENNA 1933" or "1933 PENNA" at top, with keystones on either side	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123
	1934	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with border line; "1934 PENNA" at bottom, with keystones on either side	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123
	1935	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with border line; "1935 PENNA" at bottom, with keystones on either side	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23
	1936	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow; "1936 PENNA" at top, with keystones on either side	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23
	1937	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with state-shaped border; "1937 PENNA" at top	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23		Later plates had keystones on either side of the year and state abbreviation.
	1938	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with state-shaped border; "1938 PENNA" at top	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23
	1939–40	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with state-shaped border; "1939 PENNA" at top	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23		Valid until March 31, 1940.
	1940–41	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with state-shaped border; "1940 PENNA" at top	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3
	1941–42	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with state-shaped border; "1941 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-42" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3
	1942–44	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with state-shaped border; "1942 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-43" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3		Revalidated until March 31, 1944 with red tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.
	1944–45	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with state-shaped border; "1944 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-45" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23
	1945–46	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with state-shaped border; "1945 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-46" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23
	1946–47	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with state-shaped border; "1946 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-47" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3
	1947–48	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with state-shaped border; "1947 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-48" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3
	1948–49	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with state-shaped border; "1948 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-49" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3
	1949–50	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with state-shaped border; "1949 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-50" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3 123AB
	1950–51	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with state-shaped border; "1950 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-51" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3 123AB
	1951–52	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with state-shaped border; "1951 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-52" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3 123AB A123B
	1952–53	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with state-shaped border; "1952 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-53" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3 123AB A123B		Only rear plates issued; this practice continues today.
	1953–54	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with state-shaped border; "1953 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-54" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3 123AB A123B
	1954–55	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with state-shaped border; "1954 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-55" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3 123AB A123B A12B3
	1955–56	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with state-shaped border; "1955 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-56" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3 123AB A123B A12B3 A1B23
	1956–57	Embossed golden yellow on navy blue with state-shaped border; "1956 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-57" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3 123AB A123B A12B3 A1B23		Later plates used the thinner serial dies that would be used on most plates of the 1957–58 base. T and W briefly used as overflow letters in serials.[4]
	1957–58	Embossed navy blue on golden yellow with state-shaped border; "1957 PENNA" at top; "EXP. 3-31-58" inside top border	12345 A1234 1A234 12A34 123A4 1234A AB123 1AB23 12AB3 123AB
			123456	100000 to approximately 880000	Narrower serial dies.

1958 to present

Only plates issued since 1999 are currently valid for display.[5]

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1958–60	Yellow on blue with small keystone separator and state-shaped border	none	123-456	100-000 to 999-999	Sticker validation through 1964.
				A12-345	A00-000 to Z99-999
	1960–63			123-45A	000-00A to 999-99Z
	1963–65			1A2-345	0A0-000 to approximately 0H8-000
	1965–66	Blue on yellow with small keystone separator and state-shaped border	none	123-456	100-000 to 999-999	First use of the full state name. Sticker validation through 1970.
				A12-345	A00-000 to Z99-999
				123-45A	000-00A to 999-99Z
	1966–69			1A2-345	0A0-000 to 9Z9-999
	1969–71			12A-345	00A-000 to approximately 62U-000
	1971–73	Yellow on blue with Liberty Bell separator	Bicentennial State '76	123-456	100-000 to 999-999	Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1971 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first time Pennsylvania was so honored. Letters T, W and X added to serials in 1974.[4] Sticker validation through 1976.
				A12-345	A00-000 to Z99-999
				123-45A	000-00A to 999-99Z
				1A2-345	0A0-000 to 9Z9-999
	1973–76			12A-345	00A-000 to 99Z-999
	1976–77			123-A45	000-A00 to approximately 650-H00
	1977–79	Blue on reflective yellow with large keystone separator	Keystone State	123-456	100-000 to 999-999	Monthly staggered registration introduced 1979–80. Sticker validation through 2000.
				A12-345	A00-000 to Z99-999
				123-45A	000-00A to 999-99Z
				1A2-345	0A0-000 to 9Z9-999
	1979–83			ABC-123	AAA-000 to GZZ-999
	1983–87	Reflective yellow on blue with large keystone separator	You've Got a Friend in Pennsylvania	ABC-123	HAA-000 to RZZ-999 ^1	Sticker validation through 2002. Letter U not used in the ABC-1234 serial format (in addition to I, O and Q).[4]
	1987 – August 1991		Keystone State		SAA-000 to ZZZ-999 ^1
	August 1991 – September 1999	As above, but with smaller keystone separator		ABC-1234	AAA-0000 to approximately CEJ-9999 ^1
	September 1999 – December 2004	Dark blue on reflective white with light blue on top and light yellow on bottom	WWW.STATE.PA.US	ABC-1234	DAA-0000 to approximately FYC-9999 ^1	Sticker validation through 2017; plates validated electronically thereafter.[6] Due to be replaced over the next few years.[7]
	December 2004 – June 2017	Dark blue on reflective white with navy blue on top and yellow on bottom	visitPA.com	ABC-1234	GBA-0000 to KLE-9999 ^1	A and E not used as second letter in serials. Sticker validation through 2017; plates validated electronically thereafter.
	June 2017 – present	As above, but with state outline at top left			KLF-0000 to LNW-9643 (as of December 13, 2020)	Validated electronically.

Notes

• 1 Plus remakes of serials issued on previous bases.

Temporary plates

Unlike many states that issue paper or cardboard temporary license plates with a new registration until the permanent registration and plates comes in, Pennsylvania almost always issues the permanent plate right away, with a temporary tag in the rear window indicating the exact date the temporary tag expires, upon which it is removed or when the full-year registration sticker for the plate comes in, whichever comes first. (Some cars do get issued a paper temporary Pennsylvania plate, usually by those who live out-of-state buying a car in Pennsylvania who need the temporary tag until the vehicle title is transferred to the state they live in.) Until April 2000, new plates had a "T" sticker to denote a temporary tag on the plate until the full-year registration came in the mail with the regular registration sticker. Pennsylvania adopted the current system to combat criminals making counterfeit "T" stickers. For plates that already had the "T" stickers but were not issued yet to vehicles at the time of the change, Pennsylvania gave car dealerships and notaries plain white stickers to cover up the "T" tags so that the plates could still be used.

Non-passenger plates

Image	Type	Serial format	Notes
	Antique Historic Car	1 12 123 1234 A123 AB12 12AB
	Antique Motorcycle	1 12 123 A12 1A1 12A AB1 A1B
	Antique Vehicle	A12B
	Apportioned Bus	BN-12345
	Apportioned Truck	AE-12345 AF-12345 AG-12345
	Bus	BA-12345
	Circus-Carnival Truck	B/Z 12345
	Classic Car	12345 C12345
	Classic Motorcycle	C/L 123
	Collectible Motorcycle	CM123
	Collectible Vehicle	CV 1234
	Dealer	H12-345H J12-345J K12-345K	Both letters are the same.
	Dealer - Farm Equipment	FE1234A
	Dealer - Multi Purpose	MP1234A
	Emergency Vehicle	EV-12345	Some plates have "Emergency Vehicles" legend.
	Farm Truck	FM-1234A
	Fire Department	FD-12345	All Fire Department plates have been recalled by PennDOT and replaced with Emergency Vehicle plates. No longer valid.
	Fleet Transporter	FL1234A
	Handicapped	P/D 1234A
	Handicapped Motorcycle	P/D A12B
	Hearing Impaired	HE-12345
	Implement of Husbandry	IMP-1234
	Limousine	LM-12345
	Mass Transit	MT-12345
	Moped	AB123
	Moped Dealer	1234
	Motor Home	HH-12345
	Motorcycle	ABC12 1234A A1234 1AB23	Current serial format introduced mid-2015.
	Motorcycle Dealer	123A
	Municipal Government	MG-12345 12345-MG MG-1234A
	Municipal Motorcycle	MG123 MG12A
	Official Use - Passenger	PA-12345 12345-PA	Front and rear plates required. Serials PA-10000 through PA-29999 issued, followed by 10000-PA onwards.[8]
	Official Use - Commercial	PA-12345 PA-1234A	Only rear plates required. Serials PA-30000 through PA-99999 issued, followed by PA-0000A onwards.[8]
	Omnibus	OB-12345
	Permanent Trailer	PT-1234A PT-123A4	Series reached PT-9999Z in early 2015.
	Repair Towing	RT-12345
	Repossessor	RE-12345
	Salvage Yard	WL-12345
	School Bus	SC-12345
	School Vehicle	SV-12345
	Special Mobile Equipment	SME-123A A123-SME	Used by heavy construction equipment or other utility vehicles that are street-legal but not eligible for Truck or Apportioned plates.
	Street Rod	1234 S/R
	Taxi	TX-12345	First issued in 2012.
	Temporary In-Transit	1234-567	Paper plate, first issued in 2014.
	Trailer	XBC-1234	Sticker validation through 2022, due to the 5 year registration.
	Trailer Dealer	TD-1234A
	Transporter	DT-12345
	Truck	YBC-1234 ZBC-1234	Truck plates began at YAA-0000 in 2000; reached YZZ-9999 in early 2011; new format started with ZBA-0000. 'Y' series plates due to be replaced over the next few years.[7]
	Watercraft Trailer / Dealer	WD12345

Optional plates

Pennsylvania offers many optional "special organizational" and "special fund" license plates.[5] [9] Special fund license plate proceeds are directed to organizations involved with their respective causes.[10]

Image	Type	Serial format	Notes
	4-H Youth Program	4/H 1234
	Air Force Cross	1234 A/C
	Amateur Radio	FCC call sign
	American Legion	A/L 12345	Available for issue to members of the American Legion
	Animal Friends	1234 A/F
	Bronze Star	1234 B/Z
	Bronze Star for Valor	1234 B/V
	Bucknell University	B/U 12345
	Combat Action Badge	0123 C/O
	Combat Action Medal	6123 C/O
	Combat Action Ribbon	4123 C/O
	Combat Infantryman Badge	2123 C/O
	Combat Medical Badge	8123 C/O
	Commonwealth Court	C/C 1
	Congressional Medal of Honor	ABC-CMH	Letters are initials of honoree
	Disabled Veteran	DV-12345
	Distinguished Flying Cross	1234 F/C
	Distinguished Service Cross	2123 S/C
	Emergency Medical Services	EM 1234	Issued to licensed Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics in Pennsylvania.
	Expeditionary Forces	E/F 1234
	Flagship Niagara	F/N 1234 F/N 123A	Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new optional license plate of 1995 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the second time Pennsylvania was so honored. Co-recipient with Texas. No longer issued due to poor visibility, but still valid.
	Fire Fighter	FF 1234	Issued to professional Fire Fighters in Pennsylvania. See VF plate for volunteers.
	Fort Mifflin	12345 F/M
	Geneva College	G/C 12345
	Gold Star Family	G/S/F 1234
	Harleysville Community Fire Co.	12345 H/F
	Harmonville Fire Company No. 1	12345 P/T
	Hartsville Fire Company	12345 H/F
	Heritage Jeep Alliance	12345 H/R
	Korean Defense Service Medal	12345 K/D
	Korean War Veteran	K/V 12345
	Little League Baseball	12345 L/L
	Lincoln University	L1234U
	Motorcycle Vanity	varies
	Mercedes-Benz Club of America	12345 M/B
	National MS Society	12345 M/S
	Merchant Marine	1123 M/M
	National Police Defense Foundation	12345 P/F
	Navy Cross	1123 N/C
	Planned Parenthood of Pennsylvania	12345 P/P
	Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran	12345 E/F
	Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran	12345 I/F
	Passenger Vanity	varies
	Pearl Harbor Survivor	P/H S1234
	Pennsylvania Equine Council	12345 P/E	Available for issue to members of the Pennsylvania Equine Council who have paid their yearly dues for a minimum or 1 year. Application to the PEC available on their website.
	Pennsylvania State University	A12-34P
	Persian Gulf War Veteran	P/G12345
	Philadelphia Flyers Wives Charities	FL12345
	Press Photographer	PP 123	Letters within keystone. Issued to full-time newspaper, newsreel and television photographers. Front and rear plates required.[2]
	Prisoner of War	POW-123
	Purple Heart	P/H 12345
	Retired Legislator	P/A 12345
	Silver Star	1234 S/I
	Slippery Rock University	S/R 1234
	State Representative	HR 123	Letters within keystone.
	State Senator	PA 12	Letters within keystone.
	Steel Worker	S/W 12345
	Superior Court	S/C 12
	Supreme Court	S/U 12
	Temple University	T1234U
	U.S. Air Force Veteran	1234 A/F
	U.S. Army Veteran	1234 A/R
	U.S. Coast Guard Veteran	1234 C/G
	U.S. Congress	U/S C 1
	U.S. Marine Corps Veteran	1234 M/C
	U.S. Military Airborne Units	1234 M/A
	U.S. Navy Veteran	1234 N/A
	U.S. Senate	U/S S 1
	University of Pittsburgh	U1234P
	Veteran	12345 U/S
	Veteran Motorcycle	V1234
	Vietnam War Veteran	V/W 12345
	Villanova University	V/U 12345 12345 V/U
	We The People	U/S 12345	Limited edition plate issued in 1987 only, but still valid with renewal.
	Women in Transition Inc.	12345 W/T
	World War II Veteran	W/W 12345
	Volunteer Firefighter	VF 12345	Issued to volunteer Fire Fighters in Pennsylvania.

External links

• Pennsylvania license plates, 1969–present
• Various types of Pennsylvania license plates from 1906-present
• Official website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Official Pennsylvania tourism site
• License Plates of Pennsylvania

References

1. Taylor, Eric Robert. "Pennsylvania Archive - Part 2". PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
2. "Personal Registration Plates Fact Sheet" (PDF). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. July 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
3. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
4. Tanner, Eric N. "Pennsylvania Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
5. Penndot brochure "License Plates of Pennsylvania" March 2007
6. Murphy, Jan (December 14, 2016). "Pa. drivers say goodbye to vehicle registration stickers; hello to higher fees and new license plate". PennLive. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
7. "Registration Plate Reissuance Frequently Asked Questions". Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
8. McDevitt, John. "Official Plates". PA PL8S. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
9. .
10. "Special Fund Plates". PennDOT Driver & Vehicle Services. Retrieved 2019-09-15.