PENNSYLVANIA PLATE TYPES - SUMMARY CHRONOLOGICALLY BY INTRODUCTION DATE
(Types researched through 1983)
PLATE TYPE EARLIEST SEEN BEGAN NOTES
Passenger 1906 1906 Act 159 P 4/19/1905
Dealer 1910 1910 Act 174 P 4/27/1909
Motorcycle 1914 1914 Act 385 P 7/7/1913
Solid Tire Vehicle 1914 1914 Act 385 P 7/7/1913
Tractor 1914 1914 Act 385 P 7/7/1913
Trailer 1914 1914 Act 385 P 7/7/1913
Tractor Dealer 1916 1916? Act 410 P 6/8/1915
Commercial/Truck 1920 1920 Act 283 P 6/30/1919
Motor Bicycle 1920 1920 Act 283 P 6/30/1919
Motorcycle Dealer 1923 1920 Act 283 P 6/30/1919
Bus 1924 1924 Act 296 P 6/14/1923
Official 1924 1924
Sample 1924
Omnibus 1926 Act 160 P 4/27/1925
Governor 1929 Reported in 1927
Judiciary 1928 1928
Legislative 1928 1928
Consular 1929
National Guard 1930 1930
Department of Highways 1931
Motor Boat 1931 7/1/31 Act 121 P 5/28/1931
Motor Boat Dealer 1934 1934 Act 275 P 5/31/1933
Motor Boat State Owned 1934 Act 275 P 5/31/1933
Commercial M/C 1938 1938 Act 447 P 6/29/1937
Temporary (Cardboard) 1946 1946 Act 129 P 4/25/1945
Transit Dealer 1954 1952 sample seen
Legislator/Senator 1956 Reported in 1955
Amateur Radio 1956 1956 Act 13 P 5/3/1956
Antique Historic Vehicle UND. 1956 Act 384 P 3/14/1956
Press Photographer 1956 1956 Act 316 P 2/10/1956
School Bus 1956 1956 Act 629 P 5/31/1956
U.S. Congressman/Senator 1958 Reported 1955
Suburban 1960 1960 Act 445 P 10/14/1959
Suburban Amateur Radio 1960 1960
Suburban Press Photog. 1960 1960
Special Event 1962
Foreign Consul 1963
Personalized 1965 1965
Handicapped Person 1966 1966 Act 353 P 11/10/1965
Motor Vehicle Business 1966 1966 Act 179 P 8/17/1965
Antique M/C UND. 1967
Fire Department 1968 1968
Snowmobile (Decal) Act 75 P 8/12/1971
Trailer Dealer 1972 1972 Act 177 P 1/10/1972
Municipal UND. 1973
Municipal M/C UND. 1973
Snowmobile Dealer 1974 1974
Classic Car UND. 7/12/77
Disabled Veteran 1977 1977 Act 192 P 7/9/1976
Emergency Vehicle UND. 1977? Seen 1978
Farm Truck 1977 1977 Act 149 P 12/16/1975
House Car 1978 1977?
Mass Transit 1995 1977?
Moped 1978 1977?
Moped Dealer 1978 1977?
Taxi 1979 1977?
Auto Manufacturer 1979 1979
Former Prisoner of War "2-83" 1982 Act 82 P 7/10/1981
Street Rod "6-84" 1982-83? Act 82 P 7/10/1981
Fire Fighter "9-83" 5/14/83 No legislation
Apportioned Bus "5-97" 6/1/83
Apportioned Truck "5-85" 6/1/83
Medal of Honor "9-84" 9/26/83 Act 197 P 11/23/1982
State University UND. 1983?
PERMITS:
Liquid Fuels Permit 1937 1937 Act 307 P 6/2/1937
Civil Defense UND. 1954
Sign Permit UND. 1972 Act 160 P 12/15/1971
LETTER PREFIX KEY: (All other letters/years are passenger)
E Tractor 1924-27 R-W, Y-Z Truck 1924-33
H Omnibus 1926-29 RZ-ZZ Truck 1932-33
HP Handicapped Person 1966-75 T (1 - 9999) Trailer 1930-33
HR Legislator 1955-66 TE Tractor 1928-33
L Legislative 1928-29 TT Trailer 1924-29
MC U.S. Congressman 1958-83 TX Tractor Dealer 1924-30
O Bus 1924-33 US, USS U.S. Senator 1958-83
PA Senator 1955-66 X Dealer 1924-33
PP Press Photographer 1956-83
DETAILED NOTES ALPHABETICALLY BY TYPE:
Passenger colors unless noted.
I,O,Q,T,W,X assumed omitted unless noted.
Known initial orders in [ ].
1933: All types normal design unless noted.
1943: Tab assumed issued for all types except Boat (new plate).
PASSENGER (See Passenger page)
AMATEUR RADIO
Act 13 P 5/3/1956. Began 1956. $3 annual extra fee.
1971-76: Very few have Liberty Bell.
1956 W3AA - W3ZZZ
1962 K3AAA - K3ZZZ (Verify 1961)
1968 WA3AAA - WA3ZZZ
(WB3AAA - WB3ZZZ Verify 1977-79)
ANTIQUE HISTORIC VEHICLE
Act 384 P 3/14/1956. Began 1956. Permanent undated White/Purple
plate issued to vehicles over 25 years old for $12.50 one-time
fee. "PA./ANTIQUE/HISTORIC/CAR" left.
No I,O,Q used on 1-letter series. (K088 issued 1970, L806 in 1971)
No I,O,Q,U used on 2-letter series.
1956 Type 1 1 - 9999 (0 listed by 1971) (9,999)
1964 Type 1a A000 - Z999 (T510 issued 7/16/1974) (23,000)
Type 1b 000A - 999Z (Verify X,Z) (23,000)
Type 1c AA00 - BY00 (4,201)
Type 2 CA65 - ZZ99 (43,935)
Type 2a 00AA - 99ZV (47,998)
(TOTAL 152,398)
Description of Types:
Type 1 - Debossed border (60,200)
Type 2 - Embossed border (91,733)
ANTIQUE MOTORCYCLE
Began July 1967. #1 issued "last week" according to 7/5/1967 article.
Permanent undated White/Purple, "PENNA" top, "MOTORCYCLE" bottom,
vertical "ANTIQUE" left. 1971: A0 - Z99 assigned.
Type 1 - "PENNA" at top, close holes A5 - D45, F23 - G18
Type 2 - "PENNA" at bottom, close holes E18 - E34, H47 - K14
Type 3 - "PENNA" bottom, far holes P13 - Y91, 38G, 7W3
9/11/05 CR2, JE6, LA3
7/13/08 A0A, G2F, P9L, S2Y, T0S
APPORTIONED BUS
Began 6/1/1983. Earliest seen "5-97". All expire May.
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "APPORTIONED" bottom, "BL" prefix.
"5-97" BL-10132 -
APPORTIONED TRUCK
Began 6/1/1983. Earliest seen "5-87". All expire May.
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "APPORTIONED" bottom, "AA" prefix.
1985 sticker also has "APPORTIONED" legend.
"5-85" AA-20741 - AA-96358 (75,618)
(Gold/Dark Blue AB-02770)
AUTO MANUFACTURER
Began 1979. "PENNSYLVANIA" top, "AUTO MANUFACTURER" bottom.
Sticker colors 1979 same as passenger.
Serial block taken from New Car Dealer.
1979 A38-893A - A38-953A (61)
BUS
Act 296 P 6/14/1923. Began 1924. Issued to buses and taxis.
LEGENDS: No legend, full-size "O" prefix 1924-26,
no legend, smaller "O" prefix 1927-33,
"34+BUS+PA" bottom 1934,
"35+BUS+PA" bottom 1935 1-3-digits,
"+ 35 BUS PA +" bottom 1935 4-digits,
"36+BUS+PA" top 1936-57,
"PA BUS 58" top 1958-67,
"BUS" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1968-77,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "BUS" bottom 1978-83.
(Verify 1979)
1934-56 FORMATS: O1 - O9999, OA000 - OD999 (added 1946)
1957 FORMAT: O10000 - O99999
1924 O5164 1936 O5216 1948 OC641 (12,641)
1925 O4-736 1937 O5153 1949 O8347
1926 O6-875 1938 O6218* 1950 OB721 (11,721)
1927 O3-588 1939 O1411 1951 O9901
1928 O1-882 1940 O714 1952 O2690
1929 O3-460 1941 O5741 1953 OB788 (11,788)
1930 O9053* 1942 O8060 1954 OD024 (13,024*)
1931 O6275 1943 TAB O 7589 1955 OB205 (11,205)
1932 O5821 1944 O7917 1956 OC813 (12,813*)
1933 O3581 1945 O8868 1957 O22746 (12,747*)
1934 5783 1946 OA629 (10,629*)
1935 [O6000*] 1947 OC079 (12,079)
1958-63 Tab slot O10-000 - O26-606 (16,607)
No slot O30-378 - (TOTAL 20,379)
1964-67 O10-000 - O27-715 (17,716)
1968-71 BA-10000 - BA-28897 (18,898)
1972-77 BA-10000 - BA-32405 (22,406)
1978-83 BA-10000 - BA-34482 (24,483)
(Gold/Dark Blue BA-36157)
Sticker colors: 1959, 1961, 1963 White/Blue (B prefix 1959-63)
1960, 1962 White/Red
1965-77 (Truck colors)
CLASSIC CAR
Began 7/12/1977. Undated, Purple/White, "PENNSYLVANIA" top,
"CLASSIC CAR" bottom 1977-83.
1977-83 Square dies 10000 - 19894 (9,895)
Round dies 20233 - 20932 (700)
Square dies 21367 - 38122 (16,756) (TOTAL 28,123)
(Legends reversed 39533)
COMMERCIAL/TRUCK (See Truck page)
Act 283 P 6/30/1919. Began 1920.
COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLE
Act 447 P 6/29/1937. Began 1938. $5 fee. Discontinued 1950.
"COMM/M C/PA38" left 1938-49. 1943 tab same as Motorcycle.
(Fee reduced to $4 1950, eliminating need for separate type.)
1938 474 1941 251 1944 261 1947 756
1939 631 1942 601 1945 85 1948 675
1940 551 1943 TAB (M/C) 1946 2 1949 102
CONSULAR (See National Guard)
Earliest known 1929; earliest in the U.S.
Same design as Official but "CONSULAR" bottom 1930-35.
(Verify 1929, 1932-33)
Numbers began at 10 1930-35.
Discontinued 1936; rebegan by 1963 as Foreign Consul.
DEALER (1946-83: See Table 1)
Act 174 P 4/27/1909, E 1/1/1910. Began 1910.
LEGENDS: "PENNA/1910/DEALER" left 1910-18, right 1919,
"PENNA DEALER 1920" bottom 1920-23,
no legend, full-size "X" prefix 1924-26,
no legend, smaller "X" prefix 1927-29,
no legend, smaller "X" in any position 1930-33,
"34+DEALER+PA" bottom 1934-35,
"36+DEALER+PA" top 1936-57,
"PA DEALER 58" top 1958-64, "PA DEALER" top 1965.
1930-33, 1935-56 FORMATS: X1 - X9999, 0X - 9X999, 00X - 99X99,
000X - 999X9 (added 1938)
1934 FORMATS: 1 - 9999, (A?), A1 - Z999 (R expected)
1957 FORMAT: X10000 - X99999
1958-65 FORMAT: X00-000 - X99-999
1912: X11 - X750 full-size "X", X916 - X3648 smaller "X".
1913: X1959, X2425 re-fired over 1912, X3042 pair new.
1920-23: All are 6" x 16".
1926: X21-142 full-size "X", X26-986 smaller "X".
1910 2807 1930 99X84 (29,984)
1911 X3868 1931 17X82 (21,782)
1912 X3759* 1932 89X93 (28,993)
1913 X3373 1933 58X1 (20,581)
1914 X3460 1934 P311 (23,311)
1915 X5093* 1935 [29X99] [22,999]
1916 X6600 70X50 (27,050*)
1917 X8788 1936 90X22 (29,022)
1918 X7550 1937 12X5 (20,125)
1919 X9895 1938 583X (30,583)
1920 X13-925* 1939 61X54 (26,154)
1921 X12-622 1940 159X9 (31,599)
1922 [X17-000*] 1941 531X5 (35,315)
1923 X13-792 1942 399X8 (33,998)
1924 X20-404 1943 TAB X15946
1925 X24-100 1944 9X189 (19,189*)
1926 X26-986 1945 8X921 (18,921)
1927 X24-270
1928 X25-233
1929 X22-266
NEW CAR/USED CAR DEALER
Act 129 P and E 4/25/1945; Dealer split into New Car Dealer,
Used Car Dealer and Miscellaneous Dealer. Began 1946.
Miscellaneous Dealer continued the old legends and formats above,
discontinued 1966; replaced by Motor Vehicle Business.
It appears that 1958 plates were renewed in 1959, and that new
plates were issued in 1960 (dated "58" without tab slots),
renewed in 1961. No 1958 slotted plates have been found with
1960 or 1961 stickers, nor unslotted plates with 1959 stickers.
Low and high numbers have been seen in both types.
Sticker colors all types 1959-76 same as passenger.
LEGENDS: "46 NEW CAR DL'R PA" (or "USED") top 1946-57,
"PA NEW CAR DL'R 58" (or "USED") top 1958-64,
"PA NEW CAR DL'R" (or "USED") top 1965,
"PA DEALER 1966" top 1966,
"PENNSYLVANIA/DEALER 1967" top 1967-70,
"DEALER 1971" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1971-74,
"DEALER" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1975-76,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "DEALER 1977" bottom 1977-78,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "DEALER" bottom 1979-83.
1956: Type 1 - 1956 dies 25X19 , A91P0, B679A
Type 2 - 1957 dies 37X40 - 43X02, A49R2
NEW CAR DEALER USED CAR DEALER
1946-56 FORMATS: A000A - A999Z, B000A - B999Z
(1947) A00A0 - A99Z9
1957 FORMATS: A0000A - A9999D B0000A - B9999B
1958-70 FORMATS: A00-00A - A99-99E B00-00A - B99-99C
1971-83 FORMATS: A10-000A - A99-999A B10-000B - B99-999B
MISC. NEW CAR USED CAR TRANSIT/ TRACTOR M/C
TABLE 1 DEALER DEALER DEALER M.V.BUS. DEALER DLR
1946 3X387 A449N B353A 234
1947 5X073 A68C3 B637B 367
1948 5X828 A80D1 B053D 725
1949 2X658 A06J1 B627A 459
1950 6X034 A16K6 B559A TX219 326
1951 6X349 A55H7 B626A 234
1952 6X181 A67H2 B155C (C123A) TX251 234
1953 6X549 A31L0 B439F TX370 188
1954 3X611 A33L0 B347G C629A TX010 402
1955 9X996 A61M5 B141H C722A TX015 170
1956 43X02 A49R2 B690D 329
1957 X31731 A0298D B8658A 111
1958-59ts X27-456 A63-49D B31-50B C10-14A TX0-949 665
1960-61ns X37-265 A27-56E B55-11B C11-11A TX0-616 849
1962-63 X43-150 A23-00E B77-64B C11-95A TX0-889 1411
1964 X40-024 A05-05E B26-82B C03-38A TX0-609 594
1965* X43-114 A22-20D B42-02B C13-23A TX0-500 571
1966 (to M.V. A53-75E B93-14C C97-37D TX-0591 1375
1967 Business) A62-54E B90-76B C10-80B TX-0275 1008
1968 - A18-82E B73-18C C20-49C TX-1091 1951
1969 - A02-65E B04-93C C11-33C TX-1750 2003
1970 - A15-24E B01-14C C09-25C TX-1524 1965
1971 TLR.DLR. A48-830A B34-776B C32-080C D11-765D 2201
1972 E11-431E A55-013A B36-453B C35-159C D12-297D 2000
1973 E10-400E A58-578A B36-032B C33-508C D12-234D 2697
1974 A54-017A B38-615B C35-547C D12-682D 2924
1975* E10-686E A56-277A B40-373B C27-075C D12-205D 2844
1976* A57-907A B40-635B C32-909C D12-427D 2157
1977 E10-518E A59-301A B42-081B C33-986C D12-712D 2280
1978 E10-091E A57-700A B58-054B C45-452C D12-093D 2480
1979-83* E11-197E A94-363A B69-831B C49-093C D17-298D 6916
Next base E13-159E A96-591A B74-832B none D21-657D 7046
*Undated
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS
Earliest seen 1931. (Not on 1930 order.) Discontinued 1936.
Same design as Official but "DEPT OF HWYS" bottom 1931-35.
(Verify 1932, 1934)
1931 10
1932
1933 2
1934
1935 [5]
DISABLED VETERAN
Act 192 P 7/9/1976. Began 1977. Dark Blue/White 1977-83.
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "DISABLED VETERAN" bottom 1977-83.
Separate series for severely disabled veterans may have begun
about 1981 at #DV-40000.
1977-83 DV-1023 - DV-23626 (22,604)
(Reversed legends DV-25067)
"JUL 82" DV-41518 - DV-41983 (466)
EMERGENCY VEHICLE
Reportedly began 1977. Seen 1978. Undated, Red/White,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "EMERGENCY VEHICLE" bottom.
1977-83 EV-10000 - EV-14783 (4,784)
(White/Red EV-15824)
FARM TRUCK
Act 149 P 12/16/1975. Began 1977, using "77" Truck sticker.
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "FARM TRUCK" bottom 1977-83.
1977-83 FM-10000 - FM-47110 (37,111)
(Gold/Dark Blue FM-48650)
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Began 1968. White/Red 1968-83.
"FIRE DEPT." top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1968-83.
1968-83 Keystone hyphen FD-10000 - FD-27747 (17,748)
Plain hyphen FD-28181 - FD-28772 (592)(TOTAL 18,773)
FIRE FIGHTER
No legislation. Began 4/15/1983. Earliest seen "9-83".
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "FIRE FIGHTER" bottom, "FF" inside maltese cross
outline left. Also available in personalized.
"9-83" FF 00003 - FF 15073 (15,071)
FOREIGN CONSUL
Earliest seen 1963 on 1958 base.
(1957 #FC760 seen but status uncertain.)
No legend, "FC" prefix 1963-76, "PENNSYLVANIA" top,
"FOREIGN CONSUL" bottom 1977-83.
1977 base reportedly issued 1975. 1963-70 began at #FC1000.
1958-63 No slot FC1-030 - FC1-100
1965-70 FC-1000 - FC-1092
1971-76 FC-10000 - FC-10128
1977-83 FC-10000 - FC-10151 (1976 and 1977 stickers)
FORMER PRISONER OF WAR
Act 82 P 7/10/1981, E immediately.
Began mid-January 1982. Earliest seen "2-83".
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "PRISONER OF WAR" bottom, keystone center,
legends and border Dark Blue/White, serial and keystone Red/White.
"2-83" POW-001 - POW-999,
001-POW - 879-POW (1,878) Sticker boxes top
(POW-A21 Sticker box bottom left)
GOVERNOR
Reported in 1927. Earliest seen 1929. (Governor was assigned
passenger #1 from 1912 through at least 1928, and also #1-S in 1924-25.)
The Evening News (Harrisburg), January 18, 1927:
"The Governor, accompanied by State Senator William H. Earnest, of
this city, left the stand for a ride around the route of parade. It
was 12:28 when the speech ended. They entered a dark gray Lincoln,
bearing license tag No. 1, and the single word 'Governor' below it."
1923: Gov. Pinchot had #1, 11, 111 and 1111.
1928: Passenger #1, Official #1 (Former Gov. Pinchot kept #11).
1935: Passenger #1, Official #1, Governor #1, State Seal no serial.
1936: Passenger #44705, 44726, 44739, Official #31-897.
LEGENDS: Vertical "PENNA" left, vertical "1930" right,
"GOVERNOR" bottom, keystones flanking shield 1930,
vertical "1931" left, vertical "PENNA" right,
"GOVERNOR" bottom, keystones flanking shield or serial 1931, 1934,
vertical "PENNA" left, vertical "1944" right 1944, 1946-48, 1963.
"GOVERNOR", #1: 1929, 1931, 1936, 1965-70, 1971-76, 1977-83.
"GOVERNOR", no number, state seal only: 1930-32, 1934, 1936, 1939, 1945. (Began 1930)
No legend or number, state seal only: 1941, 1944-54, 1956-58, 1962-64.
No legend or state seal, #1: 1958 (no slot).
HANDICAPPED PERSON
Act 353 P 11/10/1965. Began 1966.
No legend, "HP" inside box with notched corners left 1966-76,
"H P" above wheelchair left 1977-83.
Renewals in 1976 received old number on new base.
1966-70 HP-1000 - HP-9238
1971-75 HP 10000 - HP 14853
1975-83 H P 50037 - H P 86042
(Gold/Dark Blue H P 92186)
HOUSE CAR
Earliest seen 1978.
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "HOUSE CAR" bottom 1977-83.
1977-83 HC-10000 - HC-99157 (89,158)
(Gold/Dark Blue HD-11448)
JUDICIARY (See National Guard)
Began 1928; first in the U.S. Apparently replated in mid-1929
to show type name. Discontinued 1936.
LEGENDS: No legend, smaller "J" suffix 1928-29, same design as
Official but "JUDICIARY" bottom 1929-35.
LEGISLATIVE (See National Guard)
Began 1928; first in the U.S. Apparently replated in mid-1929
to show type name. Discontinued 1936.
LEGENDS: No legend, smaller "L" prefix 1928-29, same design as
Official but "LEGISLATIVE" bottom 1929-35.
LEGISLATOR/SENATOR
Reported in 1955. Earliest seen 1956.
HR = House of Representatives, PA = Senator.
Pennsylvania had 208 State Representatives in 1953 and 203 in
2015, and has had 50 State Senators since 1875.
Plates with suffixes issued to legislator's second car.
Tyrone Daily Herald, 3/24/1955:
"The 210 House members have automobile license plates numbered
consecutively from HR-1 for the House of Representatives...The
50 Senators start theirs off with PA-1 for Pennsylvania Assembly."
LEGENDS: No legend, "HR" or "PA" prefix or suffix 1955-66,
"PENNSYLVANIA/LEGISLATOR" or "PENNSYLVANIA/SENATOR" top,
"HR" or "PA" inside keystone prefix or suffix 1966-70,
"LEGISLATOR" or "SENATOR" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom,
"HR" or "PA" inside keystone prefix or suffix 1971-76,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "LEGISLATOR" or "SENATOR" bottom,
"HR" or "PA" inside keystone prefix or suffix 1977-83.
Legislator assigned: 225 1958, 250 in prefix and suffix 1966;
203 in prefix and suffix 1971.
Senator assigned: 50 1958, 50 in prefix and suffix 1966, 1971.
(1958-60 #PA57 may be retired senator?)
1956 HR38 - HR224
1957 HR1 - HR224, PA2
1958-64 Tab slot HR116 - HR206, 23HR - 513HR, PA57, 6PA - 25PA
1965-66 Plain HR-8 - HR-199, 180-HR, PA-20 - PA-35, 18-PA
1966-70 Keystone HR 1 - HR 106, PA 1 - PA 25
1971-76 HR 1 - HR 161, 1 HR - 180 HR, PA 1 - PA 33, 27 PA
1977-83 HR 39, PA 44, 19 PA
MASS TRANSIT
Earliest seen 1995.
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "MASS TRANSIT" bottom 1977-83.
1977-83 M/T 10000 - M/T 17924 (7,925)
(Gold/Dark Blue M/T 18878)
MEDAL OF HONOR
Act 197 P 11/23/1982, E 1/22/1983. Began 9/26/1983.
Earliest seen "9-84". "PENNSYLVANIA" top, "MEDAL OF HONOR" bottom,
White/Light Blue with Gold medal surrounded by 13 white stars.
Issued initially to 9 medalists: James Burt, David Dolby,
Leonard A. Funk, Jr., Charles Kelly, Alton Knappenberger,
Robert Laws, Walter J. Marm, Gino J. Merli and William Shomo.
"9-84" LAF MOH, WJM MOH, GJM MOH seen
MOPED
Earliest seen 1978. Reportedly began Summer 1977.
Same design as Motorcycle, but "MOPED" bottom.
1978-83 AA000 - AZ999, 000AA - 670BW (58,671)
MOPED DEALER
Earliest seen 1978.
Same design as Motorcycle Dealer, but "MOPED" bottom.
1978 1037
1979-83 1101 - 2317 (1,217)
MOTORCYCLE (See Motorcycle page)
Act 385 P 7/7/1913. Began 1914.
MOTORCYCLE DEALER (1946-83: See Dealer)
Act 283 P 6/30/1919. Began 1920. Earliest seen 1923.
1943 tab same as Motorcycle.
LEGENDS: No legend, "X" prefix 1923-25, 1927-33,
vertical "MCD" right 1934-35, 1938-42, 1944-66, left 1936-37,
vertical "DLR" right 1967-83.
(Verify 1920-22, 1926)
1966-67 began at 1, 1971 began at 1000.
Sticker colors 1959-76 same as passenger.
1933: X11 - X44 have "33/PA" right, X199 has "33/PA" left.
1920 1927 X109 1934 132 1941 37
1921 1928 X255 1935 [200] 1942 265
1922 [X500*] 1929 X206 1936 184 1943 TAB (M/C)
1923 X214 1930 [X249] 1937 250 1944 22
1924 X41 1931 X212 1938 217 1945 4
1925 X-185 1932 X204 1939 19
1926 1933 X199 1940 105
MOTOR BICYCLE
Act 283 P 6/30/1919. Began 1920. Discontinued 1950.
1943 tab same as Motorcycle. D prefix seen 1948-49 (not M/C!).
(1920-49 fee was $2 while Motorcycle fee was $3. Fees for both
raised to $4 in 1950, eliminating the need for separate type.)
1933: O 1 has "33/PA" right, 0 33 has "33/PA" left.
LEGENDS: No legend, "O" prefix 1920-33,
vertical "MB" right 1934-35, 1938-49, left 1936-37.
(1955-63 M/B = Motorboat)
KNOWN REGISTRATION FIGURES:
1924 (6/30) 275 (+ 14,598 M/C)
1927 106 (+ 14,267 M/C)
1939 (5/31) 436 (nearly double 1938; + 8,270 M/C)
1942-43 (3,000 produced + 16,000 M/C)
1946 4,319
1947 11,266
1948 (12/31) 15,899 (+ 15,178 M/C)
1920 O806 1930 [O149] 1940 170
1921 O677 1931 O 37 1941 1030
1922 [O1700*] 1932 1942 2615
1923 O165 1933 O 58 1943 TAB (M/C)
1924 O76 1934 36 1944 1822
1925 1935 [50] 1945 1977
1926 1936 1 1946 4436*
1927 O 2 1937 139 1947 A699 (10,699)
1928 1938 1948 G643 (16,643)
1929 1939 515 1949 F358 (15,358)
MOTOR BOAT
Act 121 P 5/28/1931, E 7/1/1931. Issued by Board of Fish
Commissioners 1931-33; Fish Commission 1934-63.
Term changed 1936 from 1/1 to 12/31 to 6/1 to 5/31, extending
the 1935 year to 5/31/36. 1938-63 terms were 4/1 to 3/31.
Discontinued 1964 by Act 400 P 8/14/1963, E 2/1/1964; replaced by
permanent owner-supplied boat numbers in PA 0000 AA format, and
annual 3" x 3" registration decal, starting "31 March/1965".
Pairs all years. Numbers began at 1 all years.
5,200 produced 1943, 80,000 ordered 1958.
LEGENDS: Vertical "MBL" left, vertical "PA31" right 1931-33,
vertical "MBL" left, vertical "PENNA" right 1934-36 undated,
"PENNA 1937" top, vertical "MBL" left 1937-54,
"EXP. 3-31-56" top, "PENNA" bottom, vertical "MB 55" right, map design 1955-63.
1947: 5-digits longer than 1-4-digits.
1953: Type 1 - Embossed steel 2 - 7399
Type 2 - Flat fiberboard 8952 - 37072
1954: Type 1 - Unpainted border 4 - 39164
Type 2 - Painted border 41355 - 42690
MOTOR BOAT MOTOR BOAT DEALER
1931 Black/Gold 1786 -
1932 Black/White 2214 -
1933 White/Brick Red 2089 -
1934-36 Black/White 3343 X20
1937 White/Red 3456
1938 White/Dark Blue 4171
1939 White/Green 5368 X35
1940 Black/White 6252
1941 Gold/Red 7378
1942 White/Dark Blue 6779 X15
1943 Black/Gold 2657
1944 Red/White 5554
1945 White/Red 6624 X16
1946 Dark Blue/White 9951 X44
1947 White/Dark Blue 14759 X78
1948 Gold/Green 19592 X136
1949 Gold/Red 22301 X144
1950 Red/White 23727 X283
1951 White/Dark Blue 27000
1952 Dark Blue/Gold 33213 X74
1953 White/Green 37072 X 87
1954 White/Dark Blue 42690 X123
1955 White/Red 42598 X122
1956 White/Dark Green 49819 X77
1957 White/Dark Blue 62082
1958 White/Red 71785 X3
1959 Dark Blue/Gold 75220 X155
1960 Black/White 68579 X168
1961 Gold/Dark Blue 85288 X60
1962 White/Purple 75225
1963 White/Red 75363 X163
MOTOR BOAT DEALER
Act 275 P 5/31/1933, E 1/1/1934. Began 1934. Discontinued 1964.
Colors and legends same as Motorboat all years. Fiberboard 1953.
MOTOR BOAT STATE OWNED
Act 275 P 5/31/1933, E 1/1/1934. Began 1934. None seen.
Section 6: "Special license and license plates shall be issued
free of charge by the Department of Revenue for State owned and
operated motor boats."
MOTOR VEHICLE BUSINESS (See Dealer)
Act 179 P 8/17/1965. Began 1966. Previously issued
Miscellaneous Dealer or Transit Dealer plates.
Many 1966 were stickered for 1967 due to overproduction.
Last seen "6-85".
LEGENDS: "PA MV BUSINESS 1966" top 1966,
"PENNSYLVANIA/M.V.BUSINESS 1967" top 1967-70,
"M.V.BUSINESS 1971" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1971-74,
"M.V.BUSINESS" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1975-76,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "M.V.BUSINESS 1977" bottom 1977-78,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "M.V.BUSINESS" bottom 1979-83.
1966-70 FORMAT: C00-00A - C99-99D
1971-83 FORMAT: C10-000C - C99-999C
MUNICIPAL
Began 1973. Previously (since 1920), regular plates issued for free.
(In 1933, issued about 11,000 free plates in passenger series with
F prefix and F in 2nd position; in 1958, issued passenger series 1000Z - 9999Z.)
LEGENDS: "MUNICIPAL" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1973-76,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "MUNICIPAL" bottom 1977-83.
UND. (1973-76) Gold/Dark Blue MG-10000 - MG-50560 (40,561)
UND. (1977-83) Dark Blue/White MG-10000 - MG-91974 (81,975)
(White/Dark Blue MG-92369)
MUNICIPAL MOTORCYCLE
Began 1973.
LEGENDS: "MUNICIPAL" top, "PENNA" bottom 1973-76,
"PENNA" top, "MUNICIPAL" bottom 1977-83.
UND. (1973-76) Gold/Dark Blue MG145 - MG272 (128)
UND. (1977-83) Dark Blue/White MG777, 876MG
NATIONAL GUARD
Began 1930. Discontinued 1936; rebegan c.1984.
Same design as Official but "NAT'L GUARD" bottom 1930-35.
TABLE 2 OFFICIAL JUDICIARY LEGISLATIVE CONSULAR NAT'L. GUARD
1924 411-S - - - -
1925 22-S - - - -
1926 517 - - - -
1927 873 - - - -
1928 973 123J L242 -
1929 587 183J, 132 L121, 139 58 -
1930 [1100] [300] [500] [100] [1000]
1415
1931 971 238 328 71 583
1932 899 238 260 138
1933 1415 270 334 21 879
1934 994 238 245 35 876
1935 [1600] [300] [400] [100] [1000]
OFFICIAL
Began 1924. Altoona Mirror, 12/13/1923: "The numerals
on state-owned cars are followed by the letter 'S'."
Previously (since 1920), regular plates issued for free.
LEGENDS: No legend, full-size "S" suffix 1924-25,
vertical "PENNA" left, vertical "1926" right, "+ OFFICIAL +" bottom 1926,
vertical "PENNA" left, vertical "1927" right, "OFFICIAL" bottom,
keystones flanking number 1927-30, 1932-33,
vertical "1931" left, vertical "PENNA" right, "OFFICIAL" bottom,
keystones flanking number 1931, 1934-35,
vertical "+PA" left, vertical "+36" right, "OFFICIAL USE ONLY" bottom 1936,
"PA OFFICIAL 37" top 1937-38.
1930-35: Numbers over 1000 have no right keystone.
1930: 1415 has "4" with no extending cross bar at right.
1936 31-056 - 31-830 (31-001 - 32-000 assigned)
1937 31194 -
1938 31880 - 32518 (31001 - 32000 assigned)
Not issued 1939-55; passenger plates generally still in the 31000
to 34000 series issued.
Rebegan 1956; medium blue used purposely to avoid conflict with
passenger plates. "STATE CAR" sticker added 1975.
LEGENDS: "PENNSYLVANIA/OFFICIAL USE ONLY" top 1956-67,
"OFFICIAL USE" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1968-75,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "OFFICIAL USE" bottom 1976-83.
UNDATED BASES 1956-83: (Except debossed "68")
A. 1956 1000 - 3290 (Gold/Medium Blue, 1956 dies, 3999?)
(58) 4322 - 9090 (Gold/Medium Blue, 1958 dies)
B. 1965 PA-1000 - PA-9857 (Dark Blue/Gold)
(1000-PA - 9999-PA also assigned?)
1968 PA-10000 - PA-21221 (Dark Blue/Gold)
C. 1971 PA-10000 - PA-37159 (Gold/Dark Blue)
D. 1976 PA-10000 - PA-51131 (Dark Blue/White)
(White/Dark Blue PA-57316)
OMNIBUS
Act 160 P 4/27/1925. Reported 6/30/1925. Earliest seen 1926.
Issued to vehicles carrying passengers for hire but not required
to have a certificate of public convenience.
Act 403 P 5/1/1929 requiring certificate for all vehicles for
hire, effectively ending this type in 1929. Discontinued 1930.
Rebegan 1975.
LEGENDS: No legend, full-size "H" prefix 1926,
no legend, smaller "H" prefix 1927-29,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "OMNIBUS" bottom 1975-83.
Sticker colors 1975-76 same as truck.
1926 H1-621* 1928 H531
1927 H648 1929 H1-001
1975-83 OB-10000 - OB-24604 (Dark Blue/Gold)
(Gold/Dark Blue OB-26298)
PERSONALIZED
Began 1965. Formats AAA-1 - ZZZ-99 and 1-AAA - 99-ZZZ allowed
for $10 extra one-time fee. Exception allowed for commercial
radio and television stations; #WHLM seen. DGE-476 seen 1976.
Formats expanded to 7 figures 1977.
PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER
Act 316 P 2/10/1956. Began 1956. Issued in pairs.
Issued plates from regular "PP" passenger series 1956;
"PP" prefix became exclusive for press photographers in 1957.
1966-70 stickers have a "PP" prefix. (Verify 1968, 1972-73)
LEGENDS: No legend, "PP" prefix 1956-63,
tiny "PENNSYLVANIA" inside top margin, "PP" inside keystone left 1964-70,
"PENNSYLVANIA" bottom, "PP" inside keystone left 1971-76,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "PP" inside keystone left 1977-83.
1956 PP10 - PP321
1957 PP10 - PP125
1958-63 Tab slot PP10 - PP464
1964 PP 10 - PP 254 (sticker on undated base)
1965-70 PP 10 - PP 306 (400 highest listed on chart)
1971-76 PP 10 - PP 359 (400 highest listed on chart)
1977-83 PP 10 - PP 333
SAMPLE
Earliest seen 1924. (Verify 1944)
1952 seen in both sizes.
1924-30 000 1958-64 PA0-000
1927-29 000-000 1965-70 SAM-PLE, PA00
1931-56 PA00 1971-76 SAM-PLE, 000-000
1932 00000 1977-83 SAM-PLE, 000-000
1943 TAB 000000
1951-53, 1955-57 PA000
SCHOOL BUS
Act 629 P 5/31/1956, E 6/10/1956. Probably began 7/1/1956.
(1955 law extended expiration date to 6/30/1955 for school buses
which were registered with Truck plates expiring 5/31/1955.)
Registration year 7/1 to 6/30 1956-73.
Act 102 P 11/2/1973 changing registration year to 8/1 to 7/31.
LEGENDS: "EXP.6-30-57/PA. SCHOOL BUS" top, stepped "1956" left 1956-57,
"PA SCHOOL BUS 58" top 1958-67,
"SCHOOL BUS" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1968-83.
Sticker colors (and "C" prefix 1959-63) same as truck 1959-79.
(Verify 1961)
1956 1000 - 7486 (6,487)
1957 1000 - 7733 (6,734)
1958-63 Tab slot 1000 - 8391 (7,392)
(60) Tab slot 9234 - (Widely spaced)
(61) No slot 11477 - 14949 (3,473)
1964-67 1000 - 16296 (15,297)
1968-71 SA-10000 - SA-28724 (18,725)
1972-77 SA-10000 - SA-41301 (31,302) (Dark Blue/Gold)
1978-83 SB-10000 - SB-24728 (14,729)
(Gold/Dark Blue SB-25751)
SNOWMOBILE (Decal)
Act 75 P 8/12/1971, E 9/11/1971. None seen. Not yet placed
into effect as of January 1972.
SNOWMOBILE DEALER
Began 1974. Discontinued 1975; replaced by vehicle decals.
Issued in pairs.
LEGENDS: "SNOWMOBILE" top, "PENNA" bottom, vertical "74"
lower left, vertical "DLR" right 1974.
1974 0029 - 2291 (2,263) White/Dark Blue
SOLID TIRE VEHICLE (See Truck page)
Act 385 P 7/7/1913. Began 1914. Discontinued 1920.
SPECIAL EVENT
Earliest seen 1962.
A. Governors' Conference 1962, Gold/Dark Blue, embossed map,
"PENNSYLVANIA 1962" screened top, "GOVERNORS' CONFERENCE"
screened center, no serial.
B. Governor's Inauguration 1963, issued every four years.
1963 94 Gold/Dark Blue
1967 88 Red & Dark Blue/White, shield
1971 42 Dark Blue/Gold, shield (#01 also seen)
1975 57 Gold/Dark Blue
1979 37 Dark Blue/Gold, shield
(No numbered 1983 issue known)
1987 034 Gold/Dark Blue, flanking keystones
STATE UNIVERSITY
Began 1983? Permanent undated base.
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "STATE UNIVERSITY" bottom, keystone center,
White/Blue.
UND. A00-01P - A16-49P (1,649) Sticker boxes top
(A20-96P Sticker box bottom left)
STREET ROD
Act 82 P 7/10/1981, E immediately. To be available 11/1982,
225 issued by 9/11/1983. Earliest seen "6-84".
Full graphic, "Pennsylvania" top, car graphic above "STREET/ROD" left,
thick stripes bottom, all Red/White except serial Dark Blue/White.
"6-84" 0012 S/R - 3035 S/R (3,024)
(thin stripes 4016 S/R)
SUBURBAN
Act 445 P 10/14/1959. Began 1960. Issued to station wagons.
Discontinued 1965; replaced by passenger plates.
LEGENDS: "PA SUBURBAN 60" top 1960-64.
Sticker colors: Green/Yellow 1961, Gold/Green 1962, 1964,
Orange/Black 1963 (no serial prefix all years)
1960 Q000 - 999Q (4,000) (Verify 000Q)
1960 Q0000 - 9999Q (50,000)
1960 Q00-000 - Q99-999 (100,000)
1960 0Q0-000 - 9Q9-999 (100,000)
1960 00Q-000 - 99Q-999 (100,000)
1960 000-Q00 - 999-Q99 (100,000)
1961 000-0Q0 - 999-9Q9 (100,000)
1962 000-00Q - 999-99Q (100,000)
1963 QA0-000 - QZ9-999 (200,000) (No I,O,QQ,T,W,X used)
1964 Q0A-000 - Q6C-318 (26,319)
(TOTAL 880,319)
SUBURBAN AMATEUR RADIO
Began 1960. "PA SUBURBAN 60" top 1960-64. Discontinued 1965.
1960 W3AA - W3ZZZ, K3AAA - K3ZZZ
SUBURBAN PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER
Began 1960. "PA SUBURBAN 60" top 1960-64. Discontinued 1965.
1960 PP10 - PP109
TAXI
Earliest seen 1979. "PENNSYLVANIA" top, "TAXI" bottom 1977-83.
1977-83 TX-10000 - TX-24023 (14,024)
(Gold/Dark Blue TX-25944)
TEMPORARY (Cardboard)
Act 129 P 4/25/1945. Began 4/1/1946.
Issued for distribution by new and used car dealers.
Valid for 20 days from issuance; changed to 30 days between
8/24/1963 and 10/2/1963. No I,O,Q,T,W,X used.
Discontinued 7/22/1974; replaced by "T" sticker on metal plates.
1946 Type 1: "T-PENNA-T" 100-001 - 994-535 (894,535)
1952 Type 2: "T PENNA T" A24-113 - V57-262 (1,733,150)
1957 Type 3: "T PA T" Y03-966 - Z75-375 (171,410)
1958 Type 3a 0B4-338 - 9Y7-124 (Verify A,R,Z)
1964 Type 3b 000-001 - 999-999 (999,999)
1966 Type 3c A00-001 - J02-990 (802,982)
1967 Type 4: New font J28-632 - L85-986 (257,355)
(J27-841 invert)
1968 Type 5: "TEMPORARY" 2nd line T000-001 - T999-999 (999,999)
1970 Type 5a T000-01A - T425-93F (542,588)
1971 Type 6: "TEMPORARY" top line T285-15G - T970-80S (Verify M)
1972 Type 6a 117-015 - 130-269 (13,255)
0696-744 - 3589-397 (2,892,654)
TRACTOR
Act 385 P 7/7/1913. Began 1914. Discontinued 1984.
Issued to traction engines, in pairs 1914-15, singly 1916-83.
Single plate to go on front.
Act 410 P 6/8/1915 repealed the 1913 law and established two classes starting mid-1915:
Class 1 = Used for agricultural or road grading purposes only ($5 fee).
Class 2 = Used for freight or hauling on public roads ($20 fee).
Uncertain how long the two classes continued; still listed in 1926 registration figures.
1917 Assignments: Class 1 - E1 - E2799 (2,799)
Class 2 - E3450 - E3475 (26)
LEGENDS: "PENNA/1914/TRACTOR" left 1914-18, right 1919,
"PENNA TRACTOR 1920" bottom 1920-23,
no legend, full-size "E" prefix 1924-26,
no legend, smaller "E" prefix 1927,
no legend, smaller "TE" prefix 1928-33,
vertical "1934" left, vertical "PENNA" right,
"+TRACTOR+" bottom 1934-35, vertical "PENNA" left,
vertical "1936" right, "+TRACTOR+" top 1936-37,
"38+TRACTOR+PA" top 1938-57,
"PA TRACTOR 58" top 1958-64,
"PA TRACTOR" top 1965-70,
"TRACTOR" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1971-76,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "TRACTOR" bottom 1977-83.
Sticker colors 1959-79 same as passenger, no prefix.
1920-23: All plates 6" x 16".
1930-33: All plates 6" x 15". (Verify lower 1928, 1932)
1934-36 FORMAT: 1 - 9999
1937-56 FORMATS: 0001 - 9999,
A000 - Z999 (added 1942)
1957 FORMAT: 100000 - 199999
1914 E1047 1929 TE5-237 1944 9503
1915 E2184 1930 [TE5-299] 1945 B572 (11,572)
1916 E2421 1931 TE3-066 1946 B434 (11,434)
1917 E2798 1932 TE4-747 1947 J372 (18,372)
1918 E3066 1933 TE4-621 1948 M944 (21,944)
1919 E3019 1934 5261 1949 P196 (23,196)
1920 E2-320 1935 [4699], 5204 1950 K505 (19,505)
1921 E4-163 1936 4843 1951 S896 (25,896)
1922 [E4-500] 1937 3859 1952 S387 (25,387)
1923 E4-304 1938 6960 1953 R736 (24,736)
1924 E1886 1939 7341 1954 U521 (26,521)
1925 E3084 1940 8437 1955 U609 (26,609)
1926 E4-552 1941 9997 1956 V847 (27,847)
1927 E4-199 1942 C424 (12,424) 1957 125080 (25,081)
1928 TE4-060 1943 TAB TR9453
1958-64 Tab slot 100-000 - 131-021 (31,022)
(60) No slot 132-679 - 150-023 (17,345) (TOTAL 50,024)
1965-70 100-000 - 138-828 (38,829)
1971-76 TR-10000 - TR-50998 (40,999)
1977-83 TR-10000 - TR-39456 (29,457)
TRACTOR DEALER (1946-83: See Dealer)
Act 410 P 6/8/1915. May have begun 1916, although other aspects of
this law went into effect during 1915, as no effective date given.
It is possible regular Dealer plates were issued starting in mid-1915
in a higher number series, since X5093 seen, yet there were only 4,834
registrations. There were 12 Tractor Dealer registrations in 1915.
1915 law required the word "DEALER" and the letter "X" on plates, so
regular Dealer plates could have sufficed for 1915.
Also issued to trailer dealers 1916-70.
LEGENDS: "PENNA/1916/DEALER" left 1916-18, right 1919,
"PENNA/1922" left, "TRACTOR DEALER" bottom 1922,
no legend, "TX" prefix 1924-26, 1928, 1930,
vertical "1935" left, vertical "PENNA" right, "TRACTOR DLR"
bottom, keystones flanking number 1935,
"50+TRACTOR+PA" top 1950, 1952-55,
"PA TRACTOR 58" top 1958-64,
"PA TRACTOR" top 1965, "PA DEALER 1966" top 1966,
"PENNSYLVANIA/DEALER 1967" top 1967-70,
"DEALER 1971" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1971-74,
"DEALER" top,"PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1975-76,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "DEALER 1977" bottom 1977-78,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "DEALER" bottom 1979-83.
(Verify 1920-21, 1923, 1927, 1929, 1931-34, 1936-49, 1951,
1956-57)
1920-23: All plates 6" x 16".
Sticker colors 1959-76 same as passenger.
1955 began at TX000, 1958-70 began at TX0000, 1971-83 began at
D10-000D.
1916 TX2 1924 TX24 1932 1940
1917 TX12 1925 TX-26 1933 1941
1918 TX104 1926 TX-60 1934 1942
1919 TX181 1927 1935 [29] 1943 TAB
1920 1928 TX-72 1936 1944
1921 1929 1937 1945
1922 [TX500*] 1930 [TX149] 1938
1923 1931 1939
TRAILER
Act 385 P 7/7/1913. Began 1914.
Issued in pairs 1914-15, singly 1916-83.
Act 410 P 6/8/1915, repealing the 1913 law.
Like Tractors, Trailers issued in two classes starting in mid-1915 also,
but no number division is known, or separate recording of registrations.
Class 1 - Under 10,000 lbs. ($3 fee).
Class 2 - 10,000 - 24,000 lbs. ($5 fee).
LEGENDS: "PENNA/1914/TRAILER" left 1914-18, right 1919,
"PENNA TRAILER 1921" bottom 1921-22,
no legend, full-size "TT" prefix 1924-26,
no legend, smaller "TT" prefix 1927-29,
no legend, smaller "T" prefix with 1-4-digits 1930-33,
vertical "1934" left, vertical "PENNA" right,
"+TRAILER+" bottom 1934-35, vertical "PENNA" left,
vertical "1936" right, "+TRAILER+" top 1936-37,
"38+TRAILER+PA" top 1938-57,
"PA TRAILER 58" top 1958-67,
"TRAILER" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1968-77,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "TRAILER" bottom 1978-83.
(Verify 1920, 1923)
1934-37 FORMATS: 1 - 9999, (A?), A1 - Z999 (Verify 1937 <1000)
1938-56 FORMATS: 0001 - 9999, A000 - Z999,
0A00 - 9Z99 (added 1941, expected 1939-40)
00A0 - 99Z9 (added 1945)
000A - 999Z (added 1947)
10000 - 99999 (added 1951)
1957 FORMAT: 100000 - 299999
1917: T494 is short, T715 is long (16").
1920-23: All plates 6" x 16".
1926: TT1-338 - TT2-511 have full-size "TT",
TT2-837 - TT3-042 have smaller "TT".
1928: All plates 6" x 15". (Verify 1926-27, 1929)
1952: Type 1 - 0001 - 56Z9 (69,569)
Type 2 - 11403 - 17744 (6,342)
1914 T75 1929 TT4-820 1943 TAB 25000T
1915 T83 1930 T5824 1944 2K02 (39,202)
1916 T427 1931 T5777 1945 85A4 (50,854)
1917 T715 1932 T6968 1946 55Y4 (68,555)
1918 T1316 1933 T3778 1947 869D (73,869)
1919 T1123 1934 B924 (11,924) 1948 400M (81,400)
1920 1935 [8999] 1949 512P (83,512)
1921 T800 L42 (20,042) 1950 878Y (88,878)
1922 [T1-500*] 1936 M809 (21,809) 1951 14635 (94,635)
1923 1937 R585 (24,585) 1952 17744 (97,744)
1924 TT2-012 1938 U333 (26,333) 1953 27940 (107,940)
1925 TT2-554 1939 U104 (26,104) 1954 32598 (112,598)
1926 TT3-042 1940 Y690 (28,690) 1955 42427 (122,427)
1927 TT3-454 1941 0H72 (37,072) 1956 36227 (116,227)
1928 TT3-186 1942 4S84 (45,484) 1957 212485 (112,486)
1958-63 Tab slot 100-000 - 274-210 (174,211)
(60) No slot 277-145 - 406-504 (129,360)(TOTAL 306,505)
1964-67 100-000 - 397-704 (297,705)
1968-71 TA-10000 - TF-75903 (425,904) (Verify TB)
1972-77 TA-10000 - TK-65448 (865,449)
1978-83 TA-10000 - TK-53573 (853,574)
(Gold/Dark Blue TL-10169)
Sticker colors: 1959, 1961, 1963 White/Green
(T prefix 1960, 1962 Gold/Dark Blue
1959-63) 1965-79 (Same as Truck)
TRAILER DEALER (See Dealer)
Act 177 P 1/10/1972. Began 1972.
(Previously issued Tractor Dealer plates.)
LEGENDS: "DEALER 1972" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1972-73,
"DEALER" top, "PENNSYLVANIA" bottom 1975,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "DEALER 1977" bottom 1977-78,
"PENNSYLVANIA" top, "DEALER" bottom 1979-83.
(Verify 1974, 1976)
1973-83 FORMAT: E10-000E - E99-999E
TRANSIT DEALER (See Dealer)
Earliest seen 1954. 1952 Sample #C123A seen.
(1951 A000A passenger format began at D000A, supporting
evidence that C000A was already reserved for use.)
Discontinued 1966; replaced by Motor Vehicle Business.
LEGENDS: "52+DEALER+PA" top 1952, 1954-55,
"PA DEALER 58" top 1958-64, "PA DEALER" top 1965.
(Verify 1953, 1956-57)
1958-65 FORMAT: C00-00A - C99-99A
U.S. CONGRESSMAN/SENATOR
Earliest seen 1958. Reported 1955.
MC = U.S. Representative, USS or US = U.S. Senator.
Pennsylvania has had the following numbers of U.S.
Representatives: 1913-32 36, 1933-42 34, 1943-52 33, 1953-62 30,
1963-72 27, 1973-82 25, 1983-92 23, 1993-2002 21, 2003-12 19,
2013-22 18, 2023-32 17. Pennsylvania has always had 2 U.S. Senators.
40 assigned in 1958. Reserved for assignment:
1966 MC-1 - MC-50, 1-MC - 50-MC, USS-1 - USS-2, 1-USS - 2-USS,
1971 MC-1 - MC-50, 1-MC - 50-MC, US-1 - US-2, 1-US - 2-US.
LEGENDS: No legend, "MC", "USS" or "US" prefix/suffix all years.
1958 MC27, 25MC
1965-70 MC-20, US-2, US 4, USS-4, U/S C 4
1971-76 MC-2, US-1
PERMITS:
CIVIL DEFENSE
Began 1954. Supplemental front plate issued by the State Office
of Civil Defense to vehicles used in civil defense and training.
Still issued as of 2/24/1977.
Number prefix 1 to 67 is county code in alphabetical order.
"SC" prefix only for State Council members.
About 50,000 issued in 1954. Known assignments:
Adams Co. #1-1 - 1-50, Carbon Co. #13-1 - 13-200,
Clearfield Co. #17-1 - 17-200, Lancaster Co. #36-1 - 36-500.
4" x 9 1/2", "+PENNA+" top, "CIVIL DEFENSE" bottom all years.
UND. (1954) Dark Blue/Gold (steel) Formats 1-1 - 67-9999
UND. (1966) Gold/Dark Blue (alum.) Formats 01-001 - 67-9999
LIQUID FUELS PERMIT
Act 307 P 6/2/1937, E 7/1/1937. Began 1937; license year 7/1 - 6/30.
Motorcycle-size permit plate to be displayed on gasoline pumps.
Repealed by Act 131 P 5/26/1939, effective immediately.
"P. OR O." stands for "Pump or Outlet". Discontinued 1939.
LEGENDS: "PA./LIQUID/FUELS/P. OR O./PERMIT/'37" left 1937,
"PA./LIQUID/FUELS/P. OR O./PERMIT/'38-'39" left 1938/39.
Entire legend center-justified with numbers.
1937 2795 - 83594 Dark Blue/Gold
1938-39 6396 - 76379 Gold/Dark Blue
SIGN PERMIT
Act 160 P 12/15/1971, E immediately. The Outdoor Advertising Control
Act required permits from the Department of Transportation for signs
and billboards. Section 7 states: "An annual permit shall be required
for each outdoor advertising device...A tag indicating that a permit
has been duly issued shall be affixed to the device or structure by
the department." May have begun 1972.
Undated, motorcycle-size, White/Blue, "PENNA" top, vertical "ADP"
right, #100 - 1038 seen.
