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Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives |
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Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives |
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This page illustrates some of the various types of license plates currently or recently seen on the streets of Maryland. There are also many additional types of Maryland license plates, some issued in very small numbers, that do not appear on this page. As I find them, I will add their images to this page.
Please note that, although a good number of the plates shown on this page are from my personal collection, I've shown plates from a variety of sources. Several plates shown belong to other collectors; some of these I photographed and some were photographed by their owners. The plates shown with bolts attaching them to vehicles are photographs of plates in actual use. Primarily, these are photos I've taken; some may have been photographed by others. Any photograph that I didn't take, and any plate that isn't from my collection, is indicated with appropriate credits. All photographs taken by others are used with permission. Oh, and if you're wondering what that arc of light is on some of the candid shots, it's just a reflection from my camera. I get this when I have to shoot towards the sun due to the position of the vehicle. (Remember when cameras were black and didn't reflect light?)
I sincerely hope that you find this information useful. If you find an error or have additional information, or can provide a plate, or a photo of a plate that is not shown, please send me an e-mail. There's a link to my e-mail address at the bottom of every page.
Move your mouse over each image to see a description of that plate. Click on any image to see a larger version.
- Sept. 8, 2007 - Added old format 2006 passenger plate. Replaced candid photos of a 2008 passenger car plate and an MPV plate with the web site legend, with photos of plates I've acquired for my collection. Replaced 2003, new format 2006, and 2007 with web site legend passenger plates.
- Sept. 17, 2007 - Added current Fraternal Order of Police DC Lodge and Maryland Association of Realtors graphic plates. Added several candid photos of current organizational member graphic plates in actual use.
- Oct. 14, 2007 - Obtained better candid photos of a 2008 passenger plate with square New Jersey serial dies and a 2009 passenger plate. Added candid photos of a 2008 MPV plate with New Jersey dies and a 00000M0 format 2009 MPV plate.
- Jan. 4, 2008 - Replaced candid 2006 MPV plate photo with a photo of a 2005 MPV plate I've added to my collection. Added candid photos of a Mount St. Joseph High School Alumni Association member plate, a Northwestern University Alumni Association member plate, an International Association of Fire Fighters member plate, a Southwest Asia Service Medal recipient plate, a Purple Heart medal recipient plate, a 2009 expiration standard motorcycle plate, and a Firemen's Association member motorycycle plate. Replaced candid photo of a Firemen's Association member car plate.
On this page - Current and Recent Maryland License Plates, Part 1
Introduction
Standard-issue passenger car plates
Standard-issue multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) plates (SUVs, mini-vans, motor homes, etc.)
Standard-issue light truck plates
Special interest plates for passenger cars, MPVs, and light trucks
Organizational and military-related plates
Government official plates
Antique vehicle plates
Vanity and amateur radio operator plates
Handicapped person plates and placards
Motorcycle plates
Temporary cardboard plates
General information about stickers, expiration dates, etc.
Related links
The black on white bases with the screened, script "Maryland" have been in continuous use since February 1986, and aside from a few graphic special interest plates, are the only valid Maryland plates since October 1, 1987. According to the state, these plates are considered to be permanent, and so there are apprarently no plans for a replate in our lifetimes. In most instances, plates are issued in pairs, and month and year expiration stickers are applied only to the rear plate.
Since July 1992, vehicles owned by individuals are normally registered for two years at a time, although there are some situations where individuals are given one year registrations. Registration ends on the last day of the same month it began; for example, a two-year registration that began on July 10, 2005 would expire on July 31, 2007. Company-owned vehicles are registered for one year at a time, and usually expire on March 31 (passenger cars, MPVs, motorcycles, historic vehicles, street rods), April 30 (most all other vehicle types), or May 31 (dump trucks and cement mixer trucks).
Standard-issue passenger car plates are issued to regular cars and station wagons only. They are not issued to mini-vans, SUVs, pickup trucks, motor homes, buses, or anything else that commonly receives passenger plates in other states. All mini-vans and SUVs getting standard-issue plates are instead issued multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) plates, which are addressed further down this page.
Passenger plates with serial format xxx*000, issued 1986-2004
Standard passenger plates with 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006 expirationsMaryland passenger plates were issued with serial format xxx*000 from February 1986 until September 2004 when the format was finally used up. This format probably began at NAB*001 and reached ZZZ*999 in the fall of 1992. The N series was chosen as the starting point so as not to conflict with the previous base that would still on the road through September 1987, which had been issued in the A through K series. Serial numbers NAA*000 and NAA*001 were used as sample plates; otherwise, triple zero serial numbers are not issued. Letters I, O, Q, and U are not used. In the fall of 1992, the serials rolled over to AAB*001, according to one report, and kept going until MZZ*999 was issued in September 2004. After the 1986-1987 replate was completed, this format went through about one letter series per year.
Passenger plates with serial format 0xx*x00, issued 2004-present
Standard passenger plates with 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 expirations (2009 plate in actual use)In September 2004, a second serial format 0xx*x00 was introduced; this should last the state for probably a good 15 to 20 years before it runs out of combinations. In this new format, the first digit before the letters is never a zero, and letters I, O, Q, and U are still avoided. This format began at approximately 1AA*A01; all numbers change before the first letter changes. For example, after plate 1AA*A99 would come 2AA*A01, and after 9AA*A99 would come 1AA*B01. In February 2005, at about plate number 1AL*A01, the state government web site address, www.maryland.gov, was added to the bottom edge of the plate.
Passenger plates with New Jersey serial dies, issued November 2006 - January 2007
Standard passenger unstickered front plate and 2008 plate with New Jersey serial dies (plates in actual use)Maryland passenger plates began to be seen with New Jersey-style serial dies in November 2006. New Jersey die characters are much more squared-off than the rounded Maryland die characters. The word is that Maryland had New Jersey stamp out 30,000 pairs of plates for them, due to the Maryland plate manufacturing facility at the state prison in Jessup being shut down for three weeks due to inmate unrest. Passenger plates with New Jersey dies were issued with serial numbers between approximately 1CN*A01 and 9CN*Z99. Maryland dies reappeared in December 2006 at about serial number 1CP*A01, but New Jersey die plates continued to be issued into January 2007.
Multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) plates are issued to a variety of vehicle types. They're issued to all SUVs and mini-vans, so these plates are nearly as common as passenger car plates and more common than truck plates. MPV plates are also issued to full-sized passenger vans, motor homes, and not-for-hire buses, regardless of whether the vehicle is driven for personal use or commercial use. Surprisingly, three-wheeled vehicles also get MPV plates.
Several serial formats have been used, but they all involve six numeric digits and the letter "M". The initial serial format issued from 1986 until about the late 1990s was 000000M; the second format, issued from about the late 1990s through about 2002, was M000000. The third format, issued from about 2002 until the spring of 2007, was 000M000. In January 2005, MPV plates were the first plate type to be issued with the www.maryland.gov web site address added to the bottom of the plate, beginning at about serial 480M000. The fourth and current format, first issued in April 2007, is 00000M0. All of these serial formats are still in use.
MPV plates with New Jersey serial dies, issued October 2006 - December 2007
Standard 2008 multi-purpose vehicle plate with New Jersey serial dies (plate in actual use)MPV plates were also the first plate type to be seen with New Jersey-style serial dies in October 2006. Apparently 15,000 pairs of MPV plates were made in New Jersey, with serial numbers in the range approximately between 895M000 and 909M999. The Maryland serial dies resumed in November 2006 at about serial 910M000, but New Jersey die plates continued to be issued into December.
Personal light trucks such as pickup trucks are issued these regular truck plates, along with most types and all sizes of commercial straight trucks and cargo vans. Special truck types that receive different plates are covered on the Maryland Current Commercial Vehicle plate page.
Regular truck plates were first issued in February 1986 in serial format 000*000, beginning at about serial 300*000 to avoid conflicting with motorcycle serial numbers from the previous base still in use. Serial 999*999 was reached after only a couple of years, and the format rolled over to approximately serial 000*001 and continued until 299*999 was reached in about the spring of 1992. A second format 00x*000 was then begun, which is still being issued today. With this format, all numbers change before the letter changes. Both of these formats are still in use, although the all-numeric plates are now seen infrequently. The web site address was added to the bottom of the plate in 2005 at about serial 23R*000.
Maryland only offers two true special interest plates that are available to anyone, directly through the Motor Vehicle Administration - the well known "Treasure the Chesapeake" and "Our Farms, Our Future" plates. These plates are of a completely different design than the standard-issue plates. While these plates are used to raise money for specific organizations, unlike organizational plates (covered below), the MVA collects the money from the registrant and distributes it to the groups after the plates are issued. No actual affiliation with any organization is necessary.
(All of these plate styles are also available to handicapped motorists and with vanity registration numbers. These are covered in the handicapped and vanity plate sections further down this page.)
First-generation "Treasure the Chesapeake" plates: passenger car, multi-purpose vehicle (unstickered front plate), light truckFor many years, the only alternative to the standard black-on-white plates was the green-on-white/blue fade "Treasure the Chesapeake" environmental plate with the blue heron in the middle of the plate. This plate was available to new registrants from 1990 to 2004. Cars, MPVs, light trucks, taxis, and trailers were all eligible for this plate, and different serial formats were issued for each vehicle type. Cars received plates in format 000*xxx, MPVs got plates in format Axx-00x, and light trucks up to 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight got format 1xx*000. Taxis and trailers were issued plates in format x00-000. Although no longer issued, these plates remain valid if continuously registered.
"Our Farms, Our Future" non-farm motor vehicle plate (Bedall plate), second-generation "Treasure the Chesapeake" motor vehicle plate (plate in actual use).In early 2001, a second optional plate was offered, a loud black-on-orange/yellow fade "Our Farms, Our Future" agricultural plate. This plate is issued in a common serial format, A000000, shared by cars, MPVs, light trucks, taxis, and trailers; however, trailer plates are limited to the A900000 series. Farm trucks can also get this plate in a different serial format, F/T 00000.
In January 2005, a redesigned and more modern-looking "Treasure the Chesapeake" plate made its debut, with a black-on-blue/white fade color scheme, and a full color blue heron at the left of the plate. Once again, cars, MPVs, light trucks, taxis, and trailers all share a single serial format 00000x/x, with trailer plates restricted to a specific serial number range. Suffix letters C/B, B/Y, C/A, and C/C have been issued so far, in that order, to motor vehicles. Trailers receive plates with suffix letters G/A.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300 (unstickered front plate), Classified Employees Association (unstickered front plate), Concerns of Police Survivors, Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company, Elks Association, Firemen's Association, Baltimore City Fire Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police D.C. Lodge (unstickered front plate), Fraternal Order of Police Maryland Lodge, Hiram Grand Lodge (Masons), Teamsters Union, Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association, Law Enforcement Officers, La Leche League, Marking the Millennium (unstickered front plate; actual organization name unknown), James M. Bryan, Jr. Building Dreams for Youth Foundation ("Maryland's Eastern Shore"), Mount St. Joseph High School Alumni Association, Northwestern University Alumni Association, Porsche Club of America (unstickered front plate), Police Dispatchers, Partnership for Animal Welfare ("Spay and Neuter"), International Association of Fire Fighters ("Professional Firefighters"), Penn State Alumni Association, Association of Realtors (year sticker removed), Anne Arundel County Reserve Officers, Frank J. Battaglia Signal 13 Foundation, St. Mary's College Alumni Association, Saltwater Sportfishermen's Association, Turkey Point Light Station (unstickered front plate), University of Maryland Alumni Association, University of North Carolina Alumni Association (unstickered front plate), Veterans of Foreign Wars (unstickered front plate)
Notice the low serial number on the Signal 13 Foundation plate!
Fraternal Order of Police D.C. Lodge, Association of Realtors, and Turkey Point Light Station plates are from my personal collection.
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1300, Porsche Club of America, and Teamsters Union photos and plates are from the collection of and courtesy of Xavier Hadjadj. All other plates pictured above are "candid" photos of plates in actual use.
Beginning in the early 1990s, graphic organizational plates began to appear, for old as well as new organizations. At about the same time, Maryland apparently loosened the requirements for organizations to obtain their own plates, and it seems that every obscure organization or cause or interest group in the world is now able to get their own Maryland plate. The current rule is that an organization only needs 25 members (presumably with vehicles registered in Maryland) to qualify. Lots of individual fire stations and church congregations and labor union locals now offer their own specific organizational plates. The number of different groups with their own plates now number well over 700. Shown above is a representative sampling of available graphic plates.
The formats of graphic organizational plates generally follow the pattern of a screened image of the organization's logo on the left side of the plate, followed by two or three stacked letters (which are considered part of the serial), uniquely identifying the organization, followed by a three or four digit serial number. Formats x/x 0000 and x/x/x 0000 are commonly used; format x/x 000 less so. Generally, format x/x/x 000 is not used because these serials would conflict with those of regular passenger plates, but there are a few organizations that do have this format because they use at least one serial letter not issued on standard plates (I, O, Q, or U). In at least one case, format x/x/x/x 000 is used. Usually, the name of the group is screened along the bottom edge of the plate. Firemen's Association plates continue the [F/D] 00000 format first used in the early 1970s.
Some of the plates pictured above may at first glance appear to be special interest plates; for example, the "Maryland's Eastern Shore" and "Spay and Neuter" plates. But they are indeed all organizational. The distribution of organizational plates are actually controlled by the organizations themselves, using whatever criteria they want. Some groups only offer their special plates to their members or employees. Some charitable groups will authorize the issuance of plates to people who have first made a donation directly to the group. In the case of the Eastern Shore plate above, this plate is controlled by the James M. Bryan, Jr. Building Dreams for Youth Foundation. Apparently this charitable group realized that perhaps not many people would want to pay for the privilege of displaying plates with the organization's name and logo, and that they could raise more money by offering a more appealing design that doesn't identify the group itself.
The best source of detailed information about current Maryland organizational plates is the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration's web site. The section covering current organizational and military-related plates contains a comprehensive listing of all available plates, and for each one, shows the name of the organization and a digital image of that group's plate. However, please note that the MVA site provides no information about obsolete non-graphic organizational plates that were previously issued on the script "Maryland" base. Also, although the information is generally accurate, I have spotted a few errors.
For the first five years or so of the script "Maryland" base plate (starting in 1986), nearly all organizational plates were non-graphic. In the early 1990s, the state began issuing graphic organizational plates for those groups who requested them. Most did. Many holders of non-graphic organizational plates traded them for the fancier variety as they became available.
Today, a small number of groups have stuck with the non-graphic plates. Possible reasons include the additional anomynity the non-graphic plates provide, the organization not having a suitable logo or other graphic design, and economics, as the graphic plates cost more to register. Non-graphic organizational plates have serial formats xx00000 or xxx0000, with the letters uniquely identifying the organization. The name of the organization is usually screened on the bottom center of the plate, but some groups choose not to identify themselves with a legend on the plate, espeically on the non-graphic plates. These tend to be ethnic-based or police-related groups, who want their members to be able to recognize each other on the road, but do not want their vehicles to become targets for individuals who had something against their group.
The plates pictured above are older non-graphic organizational plates, and these groups now offer graphic plates to their members. But current non-graphic organizational plates look the same, just with different legends and serial prefixes.
Southwest Asia Service Medal recipient, Honorably Discharged Veteran (candid photos of plates in actual use)Maryland also issues various graphic military-related plates to military verterans and medal recipients. These look just like graphic organizational plates; the main difference is how you qualify to get a set. No organizational membership is required; you just have to be able to show that you qualify for the specific plates you want based on your military service record.
Special plates issued to Maryland state officials and to members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland all carry a large ornate round Maryland state seal emblem (not the little shield separator on current standard issue plates) on the left center portion of the plates.
According to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, a few state officials are issued plates with the title of their office in the portion of the plate where normally a serial number would be placed. These plates bear no serial number; only the title of the political office. State officials entitled to such plates include the Adjutant General, Attorney General, Comptroller, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, President (of the State Senate), Secretary of State, and Speaker (of the House of Delegates).
Certain office holders in the city of Baltimore also receive special plates. These plates have a graphic City of Baltimore emblem on the left center, the title of the office holder in the remaining center portion of the plate. The plates have no serial number. Known city office holders receiving these plates are Mayor, President (of the) City Council, and Solicitor.
For members of state and national legislative bodies, the large, round state seal is affixed to the left portion of the plate. To the right of this, in the remainder of the main body of the plate, is an embossed name of the legislative body, with a relatively small number identifying the legislative district below. Office holders with more than one vehicle are issued plates with an alphabetic suffix following the district number for their additional vehicle(s). U.S. Senators are issued plates with either the number 1 or 2; the more senior Senator receives the number 1 plate. The text on these plates may read House of Delegates, (state) Senate, US Congress, or US Senate.
I think it's rather likely that at least some of the above plates are no longer actually used in today's security-obsessed world, however.
Historic vehicle, serial formats 1 and 3 (format 3 plate in actual use); street rod (unstickered front plate)To qualify for historic plates, a vehicle must generally be over 25 years and in basically stock condition, and must be driven infrequently. Historic plates were initially assigned serial format 000*00L, with the "L" indicating the vehicle class, and with the screened legend "Historic" at the bottom of the plate. This format was eventually used up, and a second format L00*000 was introduced. This second format was exhausted in late 2005; now a third format 000*0L0 is being issued. Historic plates may also be issued with vanity registration numbers.
Street rods are heavily modified or customized vehicles; vehicles receiving street rod plates must also be over 25 years old and driven infrequently. Street rod plates have serial format 000*00N, with the "N" indicating the vehicle class, and with the screened legend "Street Rod" displayed along the bottom of the plate.
(Plate 541 2ND is from my personal collection. All others shown are plates in actual use.)Vanity plates are available for cars, light trucks, and multi-purpose vehicles on the standard-issue base, as well as the "Treasure the Chesapeake", and "Our Farms, Our Future" bases. The maximum number of characters is seven. The shield logo is omitted on all vanities on standard bases, and the blue heron graphic was omitted on all green-on-white first generation Chesapeake vanity plates, regardless of the number or spacing of characters on the plate. On the black-on-blue second generation Chesapeake plate, the bird graphic is to the far left rather than centered; vanity plates on this base with six or fewer characters contain the bird graphic; those with seven characters have the bird omitted from the plate.
Vanity plates are also available on historic vehicle plates, standard motorcycle plates, and historic motorcycle plates.
Amateur radio operator plates are issued with the serial number that matches the radio operator's call sign, up to seven characters. They differ from vanity plates in that they carry the screened legend "Amateur Radio Operator" at the bottom center. Amateur radio plates are available for passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles, and trucks up to 1 ton capacity. The same style plates are issued to all of these vehicle types.
Early issue standard handicapped; recent issue standard handicapped (plate in use); disabled veteran (plate in use); Our Farms special interest handicapped (unstickered front plate in use); second generation Chesapeake special interest handicapped (plate in use)
Long-term handicapped windshield placardHandicapped persons have the option of obtaining either handicapped license plates, or standard plates with a long-term handicapped placard to be hung from the vehicle's inside rear view mirror.
Standard handicapped plates on the standard script "Maryland" base are issued with the wheelchair graphic at the far left, in serial format 00000x/x, where the letters may be H/C, H/D, or H/V. Presumably the letter H stands for handicapped; apparently the variable second letter has no hidden meaning. There is no distinction between handicapped car vs. truck or multi-purpose vehicle plates. H/C series and early H/D series have a screened wheelchair graphic and alpha suffix; beginning at about 36000H/D, and continuing into the H/V series, these elements are embossed. The state's web site address began appearing on standard handicapped plates in 2005 at approximatly serial number 69000H/V.
Disabled veterans (veterans who are truly handicapped, not necessarily members of the Disabled American Veterans organization) are issued plates with the wheelchair graphic at far left, followed by a serial number in format DV0000. These plates carry the screened legend "Disabled Veteran" at the bottom. These plates are free of charge to the registrant.
Non-veteran handicapped plates were also available on the discontinued green on white "Treasure the Chesapeake" base, and are available on the current optional "Our Farms, Our Future" and black on blue "Treasure the Chesapeake" bases. On the green on white Chesapeake base, the plate featured the wheelchair grapic on the left, followed by a serial in format 00000H/P; the screened bird graphic was omitted. On the Farm base, again the wheelchair graphic is at the left, followed by serial format 00000A/E. The handicapped format for the new blue on black Chesapeake plate is 0000D/A, with the screened bird graphic in its normal position on the left edge of the plate, and the wheelchair graphic to the right of the stacked "D/A". I have no idea what the letters A/E or D/A signify, if anything.
Maryland motorcycle plate dimensions are 4 1/2 inches high by 8 1/2 inches wide, which are different than the 4 inch by 7 inch dimensions used for motorcycle plates in every other state. Both month and year stickers are the same as used on passenger vehicles. Unfortunately, there is no place on this plate that the stickers will fit without covering all or part of either the state name, the serial number, or the bolt slots in the upper corners. Therefore, registrants have placed their stickers in varying and creative locations on this plate.
Standard motorcycle plates in various serial formats: 1996; 2000 (Chen photo / plate); 2008 M series without web web site legend (plate in actual use); 2008 M and D series with web site legend (Sallmen photos of plates in actual use); 2009 (plate in actual use)Motorcycle serial formats were initially 00000D, with the "D" indicating Maryland's vehicle class code for motorcycles. This format was quickly exhausted, and formats 0000D0 and 000D00 followed and were also exhausted. Format 00D000 could not be used because it conflicted with truck serial numbers. So, for reasons known only to the Maryland MVA, format 000M00 was begun. The "M" presumably stands for motorcycle. About July 2006, motorcycle format 000M00 was also used up, and the familiar "D" was brought back in new format 0D0000. The six characters fill the motorcycle plate, leaving no room for the shield separator used on full-sized six character plates.
Beginning some time in 2005, the state's web address www.maryland.gov was added to the bottom edge of regular motorcycle plates. Reportedly this was added at approximately serial number 740M00.
Three standard historic motorcycle plates and two vanity historic motorcycle plates, with four different plate type legends between them (all are Sallmen photos of plates in actual use); Firemen's Association organizational motorcycle plate (plate in actual use); Harley Owners Group Fort Washington Chapter organizational motorcycle plate (Pang photo of plate in actual use); ABATE of Maryland, Inc. organizational motorcycle plate (Sallmen photo of plate in actual use)• Handicapped motorcyclist - This is a fairly obscure plate type, as most people qualifying for handicapped plates probably are not physically able to ride a motorcycle. In any event, for those who are, the motorcycle plates they are issued display the familiar wheelchair graphic to the far left, followed by serial format 0000D/M.
• Historic motorcycle - Similar plate to regular motorcycles, but with a screened "Historic" or "Historic M/C" at the bottom of the plate, and bearing serial format 00000L/D. (Class L indicates a historic vehicle, and class D indicates a motorcycle.)
• Street rod motorcycle - Similar to a historic motorcycle plate, but with screened "Street Rod" at the bottom. Serial format is 00000N/D. (Class N indicates a street rod; class D indicates a motorcycle.)
• Motorcycle vanity plate - Up to 6 characters are permitted.
• Historic motorcycle vanity plate - Up to 6 characters permitted on this base; "Historic" or "Historic M/C" legend screened at the bottom.
• Street Rod motorcycle vanity plate - I don't know for certain that these exist, but if they do they would be similar to the historic motorcycle vanity plates.
• Organizational motorcycle plates - A number of groups have arranged for Maryland to issue organizational motorcycle plates to their members. These plates have a screened image of the organization's logo on the left side of the plate, and the organization's name screened at the bottom edge of the plate. Serial numbers are in the formats 0000x/x or 0000x/x/x, with the stacked letters unique to each organization. Known organizations with motorcycle plates include the various chapters of the Harley Owners Group (each with their own suffix), various other motorcycle clubs, the state organization and various locals of the International Association of Fire Fighters union (again, each with their own suffix), the Maryland State Firemen's Association, the state lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the Vietnams Veterans of America. There very likely are, or will soon be, other such groups as well.
These cardboard plates are issued by car dealers to their customers who have purchased vehicles and are not transfering the plate from another vehicle. These plates provide time for the DMV to mail the vehicle owner their new permanent metal plate and registration papers.
Month stickers can be white on red, or white on green, and include the month number as well as the word "Maryland" running down the left side. "Maryland" on the month sticker can be either black or white. The red month stickers are intended for the standard black on white plates, and the green ones were meant for the first generation Chesapeake plates. Both colors of month stickers can be found on all types of Maryland personal vehicle plates, however. If you look closely at the various month stickers on this page, you'll notice that they also did not use a consistent font for the month number.However, eight-year trailer registrations have unique white on red (some call it white on pink) month stickers that have the name of the month spelled out rather than the month number. As far as I know, the expiration month is always April.
Maryland has had a recent fixation for the color green on its year stickers. Out of the last ten sticker years, seven have been either green on white or white on green. Most, but not necessarily all, year stickers for a given year are in the same color. In recent years, one- and two-year registrations have been issued different color stickers than were issued for that same expiration year for five-year fleet vehicle registrations. For example, 2005 expiration year stickers issued in 2000 were blue on white, but most 2005 expiration year stickers issued in 2003 and 2004 (the vast majority of vehicles) were black on white. I say "most", because for some mysterious reason, apportioned vehicles received 2005 expiration stickers in yet a third color, white on green. And, eight-year trailer registrations always get white on red (some people say it's actually white on pink) year stickers, regardless of the year.
Current and recent year "regular" sticker colors are as follows:
| 2000 | - green on white sticker | 2004 | - green on white sticker | 2008 | - green on white sticker | ||
| 2001 | - blue on white sticker | 2005 | - black on white sticker | 2009 | - white on green sticker | ||
| 2002 | - white on green sticker | 2006 | - green on white sticker | ||||
| 2003 | - white on blue sticker | 2007 | - white on green sticker |
Vehicles owned by individuals have staggered expiration dates and can expire in any month. Normally, two year registrations are mandatory. Exceptions are made in some cases, such as economic hardship, or if you have at least a year remaining on a registration of a different class vehicle, and you're transfering the unused portion to the new vehicle.
Most types of vehicles owned by a corporation or organization are registered for one year and expiraiton dates are not staggered. Company-owned passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles, motorcycles, historic vehicles, and street rods all expire annually in March. Typically, dump trucks and cement mixer trucks expire in May, and other company-owned vehicle types expire in April.
Plates always expire at 11:59 pm on the last day of the month indicated. For staggered registrations, the expiration month is the same as the month the vehicle was initially registered. In other words, a vehicle registered on June 10, 2006 would have its first registration period expire on June 30, 2008. For non-staggered registrations, the first registration period would not exceed the specified number of years, plus a partial month if applicable. So, for example, the first registration period for a one-year non-staggered registration could be as little as one month, and as long as 13 months minus one day.
Change of vehicle ownership When a registered vehicle is sold or disposed of, the plates do not stay with the vehicle. The plates can remain with the owner and be transfered to a replacement vehicle. Otherwise, the plates must be returned to the MVA.
Continue to Current and Recent Maryland License Plates, Part 2 - License plates typically issued to commercial and government-owned vehicles
Other related pages on this site
Current and Recent North Carolina License Plates, Part 1 - License plates typically issued to personal vehicles
Current and Recent North Carolina License Plates, Part 2 - License plates typically issued to commercial and government-owned vehicles
Elsewhere on the web - Current and Recent Maryland License Plates
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration
Highs from Maryland (highest observed licence plate serial numbers, by plate type)
Andrew Pang's License Plates - Maryland License Plates section
The Plate Shack - Maryland section by Marc Welby
The Plate Shack Y2K+ License Plates - Page 1 Page 2 by Mike Sells
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