Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1903

Massachusetts became the first state to officially issue vehicle license plates in 1903.[1][2] 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.[3][4] 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.[5][6][7][8]

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
Image State Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
Alabama No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1912.
[[Vehicle registration plates of Alaska|Alaska]] No prestate plates. Territory 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 No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1911.
California Prestate plates start in 1905. State issued plates begin in 1914.
Canal Zone No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1910.
Colorado No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Connecticut First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1905.[9]
Delaware Prestate plates start in 1905. State issued plates begin in 1908.
District of
Columbia		 First year for prestate plates. District issued plates begin in 1907.[10]
Florida Prestate plates start in 1905. State issued plates begin in 1918.
Georgia No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1910.
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 Prestate plates start in 1907. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Indiana Prestate plates start in 1905. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Iowa Prestate plates start in 1904. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Kansas No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Kentucky No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1910.
Louisiana No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Maine No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1905.
Maryland Prestate plates start in 1904. State issued plates begin in 1910.
Massachusetts White numbers on dark blue porcelain background none 1234
1
to
3241
 First state to issue license plates.[11]
Michigan Prestate plates start in 1905. State issued plates begin in 1910.
Minnesota First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1909.[12] Photo shows the first Minnesota license plate. This was either made by the vehicle owner or he had it made.
Mississippi No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1912.
Missouri Prestate plates start in 1907. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Montana Prestate plates start in 1913. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Nebraska No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Nevada Prestate plates start in 1913. State issued plates begin in 1916.
New Hampshire No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1905.
New Jersey First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1908.[13]
New Mexico Prestate plates start in 1905. State issued plates begin in 1912.
New York Prestate plates started in 1901 State issued plates begin in 1910.[14]
North Carolina Prestate plates start in 1909. State issued plates begin in 1913.
North Dakota No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Northern Mariana
Islands		 No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1944.
Ohio No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1908.
Oklahoma No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Oregon Prestate plates start in 1905. State issued plates begin in 1911.
Pennsylvania First year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1906.[15]
Puerto Rico No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1912.
Rhode Island No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1904.
South Carolina No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917.
South Dakota Prestate plates start in 1905. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Tennessee Prestate plates start in 1905. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Texas No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917.
U.S. Virgin Islands No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917.
Utah Prestate plates start in 1909. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Vermont No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1905.
Virginia No prestate plates.State issued plates begin in 1906.
Washington Prestate plates start in 1906. State issued plates begin in 1915.
West Virginia No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1905.
Wisconsin No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1905.
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. p. 53. 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. 51. ISBN 1-56311-975-7.
  3. Fox, James K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. p. 23, 27, 57, 71, 87. ISBN 9781886777002.
  4. Dragon, Rich (February 2013). "The Nation's Capitol, District of Columbia". Plates. Vol. 59 no. 1. Rumney Depot, New Hampshire: Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. pp. 6–7.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. Crisler, Bob; Crisler, Chuck, eds. (2007). License Plate Values (7th ed.). King Publishing Company.
  8. Martells, Jack (1980). Antique Automotive Collectibles. Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc. pp. 128–145. ISBN 0-8092-7205-9.
  9. Fox, James K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. p. 23. ISBN 9781886777002.
  10. Fox, James K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. p. 27. ISBN 9781886777002.
  11. Fox, James K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. p. 53. ISBN 9781886777002.
  12. Fox, James K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. p. 57. ISBN 9781886777002.
  13. Fox, James K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. p. 71. ISBN 9781886777002.
  14. Fox, James K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. p. 75. ISBN 9781886777002.
  15. Fox, James K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. p. 87. ISBN 9781886777002.
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