A Pictorial History of Maryland License Plates
Bus, Taxi, and Other Passenger Carrying, Commercial Use Vehicle Plates Dated 1915 to Present

Commercial buses

I define commerical buses as non-government buses that charge fares or that are otherwise available for hire by the general public. School buses, including those that can be hired, are covered in a separate category below. Privately-owned buses, such as buses owned by churches or Boy Scout troops, as well as buses owned by businesses for which there is no charge to ride on, such as rental car company and hotel shuttle buses, are not considered commercial buses and are not registered as buses by the state. These types of buses were issued passenger car plates until 1979, and have been issued multi-purpose vehicle plates since 1979.

1910s-1953 commercial buses
Little is known with certainty about Maryland bus plates from this era. It's been reported that early bus plates from late 1910s and 1920s bore either an "A" or "B" on a circular disk riveted to the plate, or embossed on the plate itself, possibly with a circle around the letter.

Zone bus plates were introduced on the 1942 expiration base. From then until 1953, these plates were identified with a small "Z" prefix. Zone buses were city-type transit buses that operated on fixed routes in a limited geographic area. Back then, several private bus companies provided public transportation in and around Baltimore.

Apparently, charter bus plates were also introduced on the 1942 base; these had a stacked "P/B" prefix.

It's believed that at least some bus plate types between 1942 and 1953, and possibly also earlier, might only be identified by very low serial numbers on othewise unremarkable plates.

1954-1970 commercial buses
There were several types of buses for hire, each with the vehicle type identified vertically on the left and right edges of the plate. Each of these vehicles types carried serial numbers in format 00-00 (1954-1964) or 0000 (1965-1970), without lead zeroes.

Commercial bus vehicle types were "PSC Bus" (intercity buses traveling fixed routes, such as Greyhounds), "Charter Bus" (intercity buses for hire, such as those operated by various small tour businesses), and "PSC Zone" and "MTA" (both issued to city-type transit buses operated by private companies that were limited to a certain geographic area). At the time, it was common for one or more private for-profit companies to provide public bus service to a city. PSC stood for Public Service Commission, the state agency that regulated certain types of for-hire transportation. MTA stood for the Metropolitan Transit Authority, another state agency.

PSC Zone plates were issued through 1965 expirations, and then were apparently discontinued. MTA plates were introduced beginning with 1965 expirations. Presumably then, the regulation of city transit buses was transfered from the PSC to the MTA sometime during the life of the 1965 expiration plate, in 1964 or early 1965, and so one plate type replaced the other. During this period, Baltimore area transit buses were operated by the Baltimore Transit Company, a private company.

1971-1975 commercial buses
On the 1971 base, PSC and charter bus plates no longer carried text identification of the vehicle type. As far as I can tell, formerly identified PSC Bus vehicles were assigned plates with serial format 0000 BM, and formerly identified charter buses were given plates with serial format 0000 PB. Or perhaps the other way around. Anyone out there know for sure which was which?

The Baltimore Transit Company, the one remaining private company operating city buses in the Baltimore area, was taken over by the state on April 30, 1970, which happened to coincide with the expiration date of the dated 1970 plate. Plates for Baltimore city buses were issued on the 1971 expiration base during April 1970. They again bore the letters "MTA" stacked on the left followed by a four-digit numeric serial, as they had for serveral years. "MTA" referred to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the state agency that had previously regulated, and now owned and operated Baltimore-area transit buses. Therefore, it's a matter of debate whether dated 1971 MTA plates should be considered commercial bus plates or state government vehicle plates. I say they're government plates. Later during the life of this base, the Metropolitan Transit Authority changed its name to the Mass Transit Administration, so the MTA acronym "worked" regardless.

1976-1987 commercial buses
The 1976 and 1981 non-passenger bases generally carried a legend at the bottom identifying the vehicle type, avoiding some of the mystery of the 1971 base bus plates. Intercity fixed-route buses (formerly identified PSC buses) were issued plates in format MP 0000, with the legend "Mtr Bus" at the bottom center. This somewhat cryptic abbreviation "Mtr" seems to be a shortend form of "motor". But "motor bus" seems unnecessary, since of course there is no "non-motor bus" plate category. It turns out that "Mtr" is more correctly translated as an abbreviation for the phrase "motor carrier", which is a term that means a commercial vehicle that carries freight or passengers for hire. So the distinction is actually being made between a motor carrier bus and a motor carrier freight truck, which is another plate category. Anyway, a "motor carrier bus" was a fixed-route intercity bus like a Greyhound or Trailways bus. Charter buses were assigned plates with the format CH 0000 and the legend "Charter". Baltimore-area transit buses were given standard state government plates beginning with the 1976 base.

1987-present commercial buses
Non-school commercial buses lost their identifying legends on the sheild base. Initially, format 000*00P was used for fixed-route buses and I00*000 was used for charter buses. (This was one of the very few rare instances where standard-issue, sequentially numbered Maryland plates ever carried the letter "I" in the serial.) However, in 1988, charter buses were merged with fixed-route buses into class P, and the I series plates were recalled and discontinued.

Also in 1988, apportioned plates made their debut, and apportioned bus plates were issued with serial format 000*P00 and the screened legend "Apportioned" at the bottom edge. Apportioned bus plates are issued only to fixed-route buses that cross state lines. Charter buses that cross state lines are explicitly exempt from apportionment. The vast majority of buses licensed in Maryland are charter buses, and therefore apportioned bus plates are infrequently seen - only a few hundred have been issued in nearly 20 years. Apportioned year stickers for 2005 were white on green rather than black on white used for most other plates.

Recently issued non-apportioned bus plates now display the state web site addresss www.maryland.gov along the bottom edge of the plate. This feature was added at roughly serial number 085*00P.

School buses

1948-1953 school buses
Distinct plates for school buses first appeared on the dated 1948 base, which was actually issued in March 1947 and indicated the initial expiration year. This base was renewed with tabs through March 1951, at which time the dated April 1952 base was introduced. It was renewed with a tab through April 1953. I don't know what kind of plates school buses would have used prior to 1947.

There were two types of plates issued to school buses: "School Bus" plates were used on school buses traveling fixed routes, such as those operated by or for a private school or a public school district. "School Charter" plates were issued to school buses for hire, operated by private bus companies. In other words, these were charter buses configured as school buses.

The first word ("School") ran vertically down the left edge of the plate; the second word of the plate type ran vertically down the right edge of the plate. Serial format was 0-000 on both bases.

Plate numbers observed - School Bus 1948 base: 2-182; School Bus 1952 base: 7-411

1954-1970 school buses
School bus plate types were "School Bus" (school buses traveling fixed routes, such as those operated by or for a private school or a public school district) and "School Charter" (school buses for hire, operated by private bus companies). On both plate types, "School" ran vertically down the left edge of the plate; the second word of the plate type ran vertically down the right edge of the plate. Each of these plates carried serial numbers in format 00-00 (1954-1964) or 0000 (1965-1970), without lead zeroes.

At the time, school buses operated by public school districts wore school bus plates, not local government plates. It was not uncommon to see school buses operated by private bus companies to be simultaneously sporting both school bus and school charter plates. Presumably, the same bus could then be used for both kinds of use.

1971-1975 school buses
School bus vehicle types were again identified with text on the plate. Plates on the 1971 base carried the legends "School Bus" or "School Charter" horizontally with one word above the other, on the left portion of the plate, followed by a serial number in format 0000 without lead zeroes. Local government-owned school buses continued to be issued school bus plates, not local government plates.

1976-1987 school buses and school vehicles
Local government owned school buses were given standard local government plates, rather than school bus plates, beginning with the 1976 base. From this point forward, school bus plates were issued only to school buses operated by private schools or private bus companies. The serial format was HB 0000, and the legend was "Sch Bus". School charter bus plates had serial format HS 0000 and the legend "Sch Char".

A new type of school vehicle plate was split out from the school bus category; this type was simply called "school vehicle". These new plates were issued to passenger vans that were painted dark yellow and marked as school buses; format was HV 0000, and the legend was "Sch Veh". Only actual buses continued with "Sch Bus" plates.

1987-present school vehicles
Privately-owned school buses and school vans were merged back into a single category on this base, with the serial format 000*00H and the screened legend "School Vehicle" at the bottom center of the plate. The vast majority of these plates are issued to actual school buses. School charter buses retain their separate plates, with format H00*00C and the screened legend "School Charter".

Passenger vehicles for hire: taxis, limousines, ambulances, and hearses

1915-1953 passenger vehicles for hire
• For Hire: This is the most well-documented type of passenger vehicle for hire during this period. Introduced in 1915 and issued continually through April 1953, this plate type consistently had an "H" prefix or suffix and no identifying legend. On 1915 to 1917 plates, the H is full-sized, afterwards, it's smaller than the numbers on the plate. This type was issued to taxis and probably also other vehicle types such as limousines for hire.

Plate numbers observed - 1917: H12-329; 1919: 10-216H; 1920: 17-416H; 1921: 16-609H; 1924: H11-604; 1934: H13-130; 1948 base: H16-757

The following plate types might or might not be for passenger vehicles for hire. Information about these Maryland license plate types from this period is scant and contradictory.

• F prefix: I had never seen or heard of this plate type, until I saw a pair of 1940 expiration plates on eBay. I still know next to nothing about them - what other years they were issued, or what type of vehicles they were used on. Obviously, they did not have any identifying legend. One source indicates they were also issued on the 1942 base, and were for funeral limousines.

Plate numbers observed - 1940: F28-509

• F/H prefix: Plates with a stacked "F/H" prefix and no identifying legend were issued on the 1942, 1945, and 1948 bases, and possibly the 1952 base as well. Their purpose has been variously reported as "For Hire" (which seems redundant with the H series "For Hire" plates), "Funeral for Hire", and "Funeral Hearse". (Heck, why not "Funeral Home"?) If indeed this plate was issued to funeral vehicles, it may have been replaced during the life of the 1948 base, or on the 1952 base, with the "C" prefix plate, discussed immediately below.

Plate numbers observed - 1948 base: F/H12-162

• C prefix: Plates with a small "C" prefix are reported to have been issued on the 1948 and 1952 bases, although I've only seen them on the 1952 base myself. These have been variously reported to be for commercial vehicles or for ambulances and hearses. Since 1954, private ambulances and hearses have always had the letter "C" in the serial number, but whether these vehicles were identified this way prior to 1954 is rather doubtful in my mind, because no other class of vehicle used 1954-era letter codes prior to 1954. Instead, I believe these "C" plates may have been issued to commercial vehicles for hire, the same as the well-documented "C/H" prefix plates. I discuss these plates in a bit more detail in the 1948-1953 section of the History of Maryland Truck Plates page.

Plate numbers observed - 1952 base: C28-389, C28-458, C28-488, C28-653

1954-1975 passenger vehicles for hire
Taxis, limousines, private ambulances, hearses, and other funeral or cemetery vehicles, like several other classes of non-passenger vehicles, were assigned the serial formats 00-00-xx (1954-1964), 0000-xx (1965-1969), and 0000 xx (1970-1975). Separators could be dashes, diamonds, or colons through 1969. Taxis and limousines for hire were Class B vehicles and always used the letters "BA" as a serial suffix. Private ambulances, hearses, limousines used exclusively for funerals, and other funeral or cemetery vehicles were all Class C vehicles and always used the letters "CA" as a serial suffix.

By "private" ambulance, I mean an ambulance owned by a privately-owned ambulance business, as opposed to a "public" ambulance owned by a city or county fire department, or by a volunteer fire company or rescue squad. Public ambulances were issued undated white-on-red or red-on-white plate with the name of the owning organization (such as a fire department) embossed on the plates. These are described and shown on my History of Maryland Government Plates page.

As with most non-passenger vehicle plates, the expiration date (stamped on the plate 1957-1970) was 4-30 rather than 3-31 used for standard passenger cars. Note that 1971-1975 plates in serial format 0000 BM are not taxi plates, but rather are bus plates.

1976-1987 passenger vehciles for hire
• Taxis and limousines for hire: These vehicles received plates in the format BA 0000, with the legend "Hire" embossed at the bottom center of the plate.

• Private ambulances and funeral vehicles: Ambulances owned by private businesses, hearses, limousines used exclusively for funerals, and other funeral and cemetery vehicles received plates in the format CA 0000, with no legend indicating the vehicle type.

1987-present passenger vehicles for hire
• Taxis: The format for taxi plates on the standard script "Maryland" base is 000*00B. Taxi owners could also elect the green on white "Treasure the Chesapeake" special interest base, which is no longer issued but can still be renewed; taxi plates were issued on this base with serial format B00*000. Neither base carries a legend indicating the vehicle type. The state web site was added to the bottom of standard taxi plates in 2005, beginning with serial number 375-00B.

Taxis are also permitted to obtain the optional "Our Farms, Our Future" and current black on blue "Treasure the Chesapeake" special interest plates; however, they share serial formats and ranges with passenger cars, trucks, and multi-purpose vehicles, so there are no distinct taxi versions of these plates.

• Private ambulances and funeral vehicles: Ambulances owned by private businesses, hearses, limousines used exclusively for funerals, and other funeral and cemetery vehicles all receive standard script "Maryland" base plates in format 000*00C. These plates have never carried a legend identifying the vehicle type. The state web site address now appears on this plate type beginning at about serial 064-00C or 065-00C.

• Limousines for hire: Non-funeral limousines for hire were split out from taxis and given their own vehicle class Q in 1997. However, much to Dave Nicholson's disappointment, Maryland doesn't like to use the letter Q on their plates, so limousines get plates on the standard script "Maryland" base with the format 00000LM. There's no legend identifying the plate type on these either. The state web site address was added beginning at about serial 03500LM.

Rental cars

1971-1975 rental cars ???
The ALPCA archives report that rental cars were assigned a reserved passenger plate serial format Jx 0000 on the 1971 base. I don't know whether there is any truth to this, but I can tell you that my parents owned two private passenger cars with dated 1971 plates in the J series - one with prefix JK issued about January 1971 and the other with prefix JW issued about April 1971. These were issued in sequence after Hx series plates and before Kx series plates. So, at the least, a 1971 Jx series plate is definitely not always a rental car. Possibly it never is.

1991-1995 rental cars
For a few years in the 1990s, rental cars were issued their own distinct plates on the screened "Maryland" base. The serial format was D/R*00000. Reportedly, "DR" stood for "daily rental". The only other types of plates using a x/x*00000 format on this base are plates issued to government-owned vehicles. Unlike government vehicles, however, rental cars had month and year expiration stickers on the rear plate. The expiration month was always March. Before and after this time, rental cars carried normal passenger car plates. By the end of March 1995, this plate type was off the road, although there may be some examples that were five year fleet registrations and had later-year expiration stickers. This plate was used for cars and probably multi-purpose vehicles only; rental trucks always bore standard truck plates.

Car pool and van pool vehicles

1937-19?? limited transit vehicles
This plate type was sort of an early eqivalent to a van pool plate, for vehicles used by people who drove their fellow employees to work for compensation. It was first issued in 1937 and continued into the 1940s, although I'm uncertain as to how long. Limited transit plates are identified with an "L" prefix and "T" suffix.

1976-1987 van pool vehicles
A van pool is sort of a commuter cooperative where the commuters share the cost of a van. Van pool plates were introduced on the red on white base, although I'm not certain in what year. On both the 1976-1980 red-on-white base and the 1981-1987 black on white base, the serial format was VP 0000 and the plates bore the embossed legend "Van Pool" at the bottom center. These plates were invariably found on giant 15-passenger full-sized vans. These vans would have been issued regular multi-purpose vehicle plates had they not been used for van pool duty.

1987-present van pool vehicles
Van pool plates are issued on the script "Maryland" base with serial numbers in format 000*00J, with the letter J identifying the vehicle class. These plates do not contain a legend to identify the vehicle type, nor have there been any reported sightings of this plate type displaying the state web site address.