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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.
- Dec. 27, 2007 - Added candid photo of a recycler (junkyard operator) plate.
- Feb. 23, 2008 - Added a photo of an obsolete 1988 charter bus plate, submitted by David Doernberg.
On this page - Current and Recent Maryland License Plates, Part 2
Introduction
Standard truck plates
Standard passenger-carrying commercial vehicle plates (buses, taxis, limos, etc.)
Standard trailer plates
Special interest plates for trucks, trailers, and taxis
Dealer and other automotive business plates
Miscellanous vehicle type plates (mobile equipment, etc.)
Government-owned vehicle plates
Commercial and government motorcycle plates
Obsolete plate types on the current-style base
General information about stickers, expiration dates, etc.
Serial Format Reference Guide
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).
Regular truck plates are issued to most types and all sizes of trucks and cargo vans, including personal pickup trucks. Special truck types that receive different plates include dump trucks, cement mixer trucks, farm-use trucks, semi-tractor trucks, and tow trucks; these plate types are addressed below. Apportioned truck plates, issued to commercial trucks that cross state lines, are also covered separately below.
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. The web site address was added to the bottom of the plate in 2005 at about serial 23R*000. All of these formats are still in use, although the all-numeric plates are now seen infrequently.
Apportioned straight trucks that don't fit into the dump truck or tow truck categories are issued plates in format 000*E00, the "E" identifies the vehicle class code for trucks. The caption "Apportioned" is screened at the bottom of the plate. Apportioned registrations are partially staggered to expire annually at the end of either January, April, July, or October.
Non-apportioned dump trucks and cement mixers are issued plates in format E00000D, with no legend to identify the vehicle type. The web site was added to the bottom of these plates approximately in late 2005, beginning at about serial number E37000D. Apportioned dump trucks and cement mixers are assigned plates in the rather odd format 000*E/D00, with the letters E and D stacked one above the other, and bearing the legend "Apportioned" at the bottom. Regular dump trucks always expire annually in May, as did older apportioned dump truck registrations; since about 1999 all apportioned plates, including dump trucks, expire in January, April, July, or October.
Both old-school tow trucks that actually tow disabled vehicles, and the new-style flatbed roll-on trucks that transport disabled vehicles are issued tow truck plates. Tow trucks were originally issued plates on the current base with serial format TT0*000. When that format was exhausted, format 000*0TT was introduced. In the summer of 2005, the second format was also used up, and new plates are now issued in format 00000TT. None of these plates have a legend to identify the vehicle type. The web site legend was added to non-apportioned tow truck plates in late 2005, beginning at approximately serial number 00700TT. Apportioned tow trucks receive plates with the odd serial format 000*T/E00, with the letters T and E stacked, and with the legend "Apportioned" along the bottom; not many of these have been issued.
Truck tractors (the front part of a tractor-trailer) were initially all assigned serial format 000*00F, with the last letter always "F", indicating the vehicle class. There is no legend identifying the plate as a semi-tractor plate. Registrations expire annually each April 30. Since 1988 these plates have only been used for non-apportioned truck tractors, of which there are few. Also initially, these plates were issued in pairs, and the month and year stickers went on the rear plate. Apparently neither is the case any longer, truck tractor plates are now issued as single plates and are mounted on the front of the vehicle. The state web site was added to the bottom of non-apportioned semi-tractor plates at roughly serial 300*00F.
Farm-use truck tractors are addressed in the next truck category below.
Apportioned truck tractor plates are in the format 000*F00, where the letter F is constant and identifies the vehicle class. Apportioned plates are also identified with the screened legend "Apportioned" along the bottom of the plate. Apportioned registrations are partially staggered to expire annually at the end of either January, April, July, or October. In the case of truck tractors, single plates are issued and mounted on the front of the vehicle. It's possible that some older truck tractors also have rear plates attatched.
• Regular farm trucks: Farm trucks over 3/4 ton capacity are issued standard plates in format 000*00F/T, where the F and T are stacked one above the other and occupy one space on the plate. Vehicles with these plates are not restricted geographically. The legend "Farm" is screened on the bottom center of the plate. Apparently, farm-use trucks 3/4 ton and under just get regular truck plates. (Regular farm trucks may also obtain the optional "Our Farms, Our Future" plate; the serial format for farm trucks using this base is F/T 00000. An image of one of these plates is shown further down this page.)
• Farm-use truck tractors: Truck tractors (the front part of a tractor-trailer) used for farming purposes are issued standard plates in the format 000*00T/R, with the letters T and R stacked one above the other, and the legend "Farm" screened on the bottom center. Like regular truck tractor plates, these are issued singly and are mounted to the front of the vehicle.
• Farm area trucks: So-called "farm area" trucks are restricted geographically; they may only use public roads within a 10 mile radius of the farm. Farm area plates have the serial format 000*00K, with the K indicating the vehicle class. There is no legend on the plate. These are not used for farm machinery such as farm tractors or combines; rather, these plates are used for farm trucks that only use public roads to get from one field to another, for example.
The format for taxi plates on the standard script "Maryland" base is 000*00B; these plated do not carry a legend indicating the vehicle type. The state web site began appearing at the bottom of standard taxi plates in 2005, at approximately serial number 376-00B, according to an alert plate spotter.
Taxi owners could elect the green-on-white first generation "Treasure the Chesapeake" special interest plates, which were issued to taxis in format B00*000. Taxis are also permitted to obtain the optional "Our Farms, Our Future" or the black-on-blue second generation "Treasure the Chesapeake" plates; however, they share serial formats and ranges with passenger cars, trucks, and multi-purpose vehicles.
Non-funeral limousines for hire were split out from taxis a number of years ago and given their own plates on the standard script "Maryland" base with the format 00000LM.
Not-for-hire buses, such as buses owned by churches, Boy Scout troops, or even airport shuttle buses operated by hotels and rental car companies, are issued multi-purpose vehicle plates, which are addressed at the top of this page. School buses are covered immediately below.
Non-apportioned buses for hire are issued plates with serial format 000*00P, where the letter P is constant and indicates the vehicle class. These plates do not have any legend to identify the vehicle type. Bus plates were finally spotted with the state web site address at the bottom in the fall of 2006, starting at about serial 085-00P. Apportioned for-hire bus plates are issued with serial format 000*P00 (again with the letter P constant), and the screened legend "Apportioned" at the bottom edge. Surprisingly, apportioned bus plates are much more rare than regular bus plates, with only a few hundred apportioned bus plates having been issued in nearly 20 years.
School vehicle plates are only issued to privately-owned school buses (including passenger vans painted as school buses). Typically, these would be operated by or for a private school. The serial format is 000*00H and the screened legend "School Vehicle" is at the bottom center of the plate. School charter plates, with format H00*00C and the screened legend "School Charter" at the bottom, are issued to school buses for hire owned by private bus companies. School buses owned by public school districts are issued standard "L/G" local government plates.
For-hire ambulances, as well as hearses, funeral limousines, and other vehicles used exclusively for funeral- or cemetery-related activity, all receive standard script "Maryland" base plates in format 000*00C. These plates do not carry a legend identifying the vehicle type. Ambulances run by fire departments, rescue squads, and the like, whether paid or volunteer, are issued government-owned vehicle plates.
All types of trailers are registered the same way in Maryland; recreational house or camping trailers, boat trailers, rental trailers, semi-trailers, etc.
Regular trailer plates are issued to nearly all types and sizes of trailers and semi-trailers. Regular trailer plates have had only had one serial format, 000000G, since they were first issued in February 1986. The state web site address was added to the bottom of the plate in 2005 at about serial 854000G.
Trailers may be registered for 8 year periods, although I don't know if there's any criteria that must be met in order to do so. I've only seen these on semi-trailers myself, but I'm told that Baltimore Gas and Electric uses them on all varieties of trailers and non-powered special equipment. Regular trailer base plates in standard format 000000G are issued. These plates are distinguished with unique month and year expiration stickers, which are both always white on red (or white on pink, depending on who you ask). The month sticker is unique in that it spells out the month name (always April) rather than using the month number. Reportedly, 8 year trailer year stickers did not contain serial numbers until the 2007 year sticker. The earliest issues on this base were issued in 1986 and expired in 1994.
In the early days of the apportioned vehicle program, apportioned trailer plates were issued with format 000*G00 and the caption "Apportioned" at the bottom. These were discontinued several years ago, as the apportionment of trailers is no longer required by the program. None have been seen on the road for some time now.
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, 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.
First-generation "Treasure the Chesapeake" light truck plate, first-generation "Treasure the Chesapeake" trailer plate (O'Connor photo and plate), "Our Farms, Our Future" farm truck plate (Ellis photo of plate in use).Green-on-white/blue fade "Treasure the Chesapeake" environmental plates with the blue heron in the middle of the plate were available to new registrants from 1990 to 2004. These plates were issued to several different vehicle types, and each vehicle type used plates with its own distinct serial format. Cars received plates in format 000*xxx, multi-purpose vehicles (usually SUVs or mini-vans) got plates in format xxx*00x. Light trucks were issued plates with format 0xx*000 in this style. Even taxis and trailers could get in the act with plates in format B00*000 and G00*000, respectively. Although no longer issued, these plates remain valid if continuously registered.
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 single serial format, A000000, to cars, MPVs, light trucks, taxis, and trailers; however, trailer plates are limited to the A900000 series. Farm trucks are also eligible to get this plate, and have serial format F/T 00000. On this plate, the stacked letters F/T are screened, while the actual serial numbers are embossed.
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 restrcted to a specific serial number range. Suffix letters C/B, B/Y, and C/A have been issued so far, in that order, to motor vehicles. Trailers receive plates with suffix letters G/A.
Passenger versions of all three of these plates may be seen on the Current and Recent Maryland License Plates, Part 1 page.
Non-motorcycle motor vehicle dealers with 1A prefix (O'Connor photo and plate) and 2A prefix (plate in use); recycler (junkyard operator) with 2R prefix (plate in use)Dealer plates and other automotive-related business plates are not assigned to a specific vehicle, and therefore may be moved from vehicle to vehicle as needed. These plates enable the business to drive otherwise unregistered vehicles on public roads.
All non-motorcycle dealer and automotive business plates have a consistent serial format 0x00000, where the first two characters identify the type of business to which the plate was issued. All such plates have a screened legend at the bottom that also identifies the type of business. The various legends and their associated two character serial prefixes are: Dealer - 1A and 2A, Trailer Dealer - 1C, Recycler - 2R, Finance Company - 3F, and Transporter - 5T. Motorcycle dealer plates have serial format 1B0000.
Dealer plates are used not only by new and used retail vehicle dealers, but also by vehicle manufacturers and distributors. Operators of automotive junkyards are issued "Recycler" plates to facilitate the movement of operable vehicles. Automotive finance companies are issued plates to facilitate the movement of repossessed vehicles. Transporters are either in the business of moving or delivering vehicles, or in a business where moving or delivering vehicles is incidental to the primary activity. A typical application would be for driving freshly-imported vehicles from the docks to a storage lot a short distance away.
The Finance Company plate type has been the subject of speculation that it has become an obsolete type. If so, Finance Company plates were likely replaced with Dealer or Transporter plates; if not, well, it's obviously a rather scarce type. Trailer dealer plates are also infrequently seen.
The regular motor vehicle dealer serial format 1A00000 was issued from 1986 until approximately September 2005 when all possible numbers had been used. Subsequent issues of regular dealer plates are now in format 2A00000. This new format makes little sense, since dealers are considered "Class 1" registrations, and recyclers (junkyard operators) are considered "Class 2" registrations. A "1D" prefix would have been a much better choice, in my opinion.
Special mobile equipment (O'Connor photo and plate); low speed vehicle (Ellis photo of plate in use)• Special mobile equipment: These plates are issued to both motor vehicles and trailers using public roads that really could be considered more tools than transportation, such as cranes, mobile compressors, wood chippers used by tree removal businesses, and the like. Special equipment plates follow the serial format of dealer and automotive business plates, because like them, they are not registered to specific vehicles and can be moved from one vehicle to another, owned by the same business. These plates serial format 4E00000 and the screened legend "Special Mobile Equipment" at the bottom.
• Van pool vehicles: A van pool is sort of a commuter cooperative where the commuters share the cost of a van. Van pool plates are issued 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. Van pool plates are much less common than they once were.
• Low speed vehicles: Low speed vehicle plates were introduced in January 2006. A low speed vehicle is defined as a four-wheeled electric vehicle designed to carry no more than four people, with a maximum speed between 20 and 25 miles per hour, that meets certain federal safety standards. In some other states these are referred to as "neighborhood electric vehicles". The plates make these vehicles street-legal. However, golf carts are explicitly not eligible for low speed vehilce plates, probably because they don't meet the safety standards. Low speed vehicles can be either personal-use or commercial-use vehicles. At least one such vehicle has been spotted in use as a taxi, and wearing low speed vehicle plates rather than taxi plates.
Two full-sized plates are issued, but the serial format is 000R00, with no sheild separator and no spaces between any of the characters. It seems like these were intended to be issued on motorcycle-sized plates, but someone somewhere got their wires crossed. The plate bears the legend "Low Speed Vehicle" along the bottom.
State-owned vehicle plates without and with the web site; State Highway Administration truck/trailer/equipment plate; local government-owned vehicle plates without and with the web site (all plates in actual use)On the script "Maryland" base, government-owned vehicles are usually assigned serials in the format x/x*00000, with state-owned vehicles identified with a stacked "S/G" to the left of the shield graphic, and local government-owned vehicles identified with a stacked "L/G" to the left of the sheild. There is no legend identifying these vehicles as government-owned. Unlike other Maryland plate types, these plates do not carry year or month expiration stickers. There is no distinction between passenger vs. non-passenger vehicles. Many law enforcement and fire and rescue vehicles, and some additional state-owned vehicles use different plates than these, however.
The state web site began appearing at the bottom of local government plates at about serial L/G*75000, and on state government plates at about serial S/G*22700 or S/G*22800. However, the State Highway Administration (SHA) has its own reserved blocks of numbers on the standard state government plates; so far none of these have been spotted with the web site. SHA trucks, trailers, and other equipment get plates in the S/G*80000 range, while SHA passenger vehicles are given plates with serials between S/G*29500 and S/G*29999.
Some vehicles owned by state and local governments are issued distinctive agency-specific plates rather than the generic "S/G" and "L/G" plates. Primarily these vehicles are owned by law enforcement, fire and rescue, and state transportation-related agencies. Like generic government plates, these plates are undated and unstickered and are used indefinitely. However, some of these plates have been periodically redesigned and reissued.
• Maryland State Police: The MSP has had several different plates on the white, script "Maryland" base. Since the late 1990s, however, they've gone retro and are using bright yellow, all-embossed plates that are reminiscent of plates they used up until the early 1980s. The new plates are reflective and have holograms indicating the year the plate was manufactured, while the original yellow plates were painted. Also, the newer plates read "Maryland State Trooper" vs. the previous "Maryland State Police".
• Maryland Transporation Authority Police: This state agency has reflective white plates with the words "Maryland Transportation Authority" across the top of the plate in place of the usual state name, and "Police" along the bottom, with the agency's sheild on the left side of the plate. This agency previously used plates in the same format as currently used by local law enforcement units, with the serial prefix T/A.
• Maryland Natural Resources Police: This state agency uses very unusual yellow on black plates with a yellow border. The state name appears in yellow at the top of the plate in the familiar script font, and the words "Natural Resources Police" are stacked one above another taking up most of the body of the plate. The vehicle unit number is stacked vertically on the far right side of the plate.
• State Fire Marshall's Office: This organization uses standard Maryland plate blanks, with the legend "State Fire Marshall" at the bottom and the agency's logo at the left of the plate. The serial characters are screened, however.
• Local law enforcement agencies: Regardless of the jurisdiction, police vehicle plates from various cities, towns, counties, school districts, local park departments, and community college and state university campuses have the same generic "Police" logo with a large state shield on a yellow background. Sheriff's department plates have an identical logo, but with the word "Sheriff" instead. In each case, the name of the juridiction is screened at the bottom of the plate. Plate serial numbers are in the format x/x 0000. The prefix letters observed more or less statewide include M/G for various smaller city and town police departments, P/P for local park police, C/P for campus police, S/A for various county sheriff's departments, and S/P for school district police. Large police departments in Baltimore city and in suburban counties each have their own unique stacked two-letter serial prefix (such as Montgomery County, which uses an M/C prefix as shown above); lower population counties don't have county police departments. However, many local police agencies have elected to just run the standard "L/G" local government plates on their police vehicles, rather than use these special police or sheriff plates.
• Local fire and rescue agencies: These plates are made on standard Maryland plate blanks, but they are distinctive in that they contain no graphics, and all text on the plates is embossed with red characters, other than the familiar screened, script "Maryland" at the top. The text typically includes the name of the agency and the vehicle unit number, but it can vary considerably in appearance from one agency to the next. In the past, at least one local rescue squad used the standard "L/G" local government plates; I don't know whether this is still the case.
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.
Motorcycle dealer plates are similar to regular motorcycle plates, but with a screened "M/C Dealer" or just "Dealer" at the bottom of the plate, and bearing serial format 1B0000. Both month and year stickers are the same as used on most types of full-sized plates. 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.
• State government motorcycles: I don't know anyone who's actually seen one of these, but I've seen a photo of a generic state government motorcycle plate. If it can be believed, this is the only Maryland motorcycle plate with the same screened Maryland shield found on many full-sized plate types. The serial number consists of a stacked S/G to the left of the shield, and a three-digit number to the right of the sheild. I don't know of any equivalent generic local government motorcycle plates.
• Maryland State Police motorcycles: The MSP has had several different graphic motorcycle plates on the white, script "Maryland" base. Since the late 1990s, however, they've gone retro and are using plain, bright yellow motocycle plates. These look similar to their full-sized bretheren, but they're full screened rather than embossed, and they typically have an MC serial prefix.
• Local law enforcement agency motorcycles: Local police and sheriff's department motorcycles get plates that are basically miniature versions of full-sized local law enforcement plates. They have the same screened Maryland Police or Sheriff shield graphic on the left, and even have the same two letter serial prefixes used on the full-sized plates. However, some law enforcement motorcycle plates have the agency name at the bottom, and some don't.
circa 1985 State Police (Doernberg plate), 1986 350th Anniversary passenger car, 1987 350th Anniversary multi-purpose vehicle, 1988 charter bus (Doernberg photo / plate), 1992 rental car, circa 1986-1996 State Police (O'Connor photo / plate)One Maryland plate that looks like it should be included among the "currrent and recent" is the 350th Anniversary plate. These were optional plates issued only in 1983 and 1984, and the last of them expired in September 1987, the same time as the old all-embossed standard plates. Staggered registrations were introduced in 1986. The 000*xxx serial format used for passenger cars on the 350th Anniversary plate was re-used on first generation Treasure the Chesapeake passenger plates.
A few plate types introduced during the life of the current plates have been discontinued. Among these are plates issued specifically to rental cars in the early 1990s. These were only on the road a few years when they were discontinued; before and since, rental cars are issued regular passenger car plates. "D/R" supposedly stood for "daily rental". Other obsolete plate types include charter bus plates, with serial format I00*000; apportioned trailer plates with serial format 000*G00; and possibly finance company plates with format 3F00000.
The Maryland State Police have had a couple of previous plate types based on the standard Maryland plate design. Current Maryland State Police plates are black on reflective yellow, however. A few local law enforcement agencies also have now-obsolete plates that were based on the standard base plate.
Most plate types that use stickers to indicate the expiration date use the same type and color of stickers. These are addressed on the personal vehicle plate page. Exceptions are noted below.
• 8 year trailer registrations: These have unique white on red (some call it white on pink) month and year stickers. The month stickers are also unique in that they have the name of the month spelled out rather than the month number. As far as I know, the expiration month is always April.
• 5 year fleet registrations: Since these are issued three years earlier than normal 2 year registrations, in some years the colors of fleet year stickers have varied from those of regular year stickers.
• Apportioned vehicles: 2005 year stickers issued to apportioned vehicles were white on green, as opposed to the normal black on white issued to other vehicle types. Otherwise, as far as I know, the same colors have been used for apportioned and non-apportioned vehicles in all other years.
• 8 year trailer registrations: Trailers can be registered for 8 years at a time. I don't know what the criteria to qualify for 8 year registration is, or what the benefits are. Probably it costs less than 8 single-year registrations, but more than one single-year registration. Anyway, these always expire in April.
• 5 year fleet registrations: Not sure about these.
• Apportioned vehicles: Apportioned vehicles are on a semi-staggered schedule, and these can expire in January, April, July, or October. Registrations are for one year.
• Interchangeable plates: These are plates not assigned to a specific vehicle, and include dealer, recycler, finance company, and transporter plates, as well as special mobile equipment plates. Since 1992, these have been staggered and can expire in any month. Prior to then, they always had April expirations. Until 1997 they were registered one year at a time; they're now registered for two year intervals.
• Other vehicles owned by a corporation or organization: If none of the above criteria is applicable, company-owned vehicle registrations are for one year and are not staggered. Company-owned passenger cars, multi-purpose vehicles, motorcycles, historic vehicles, and street rods all expire annually in March. Dump trucks and cement mixer trucks expire in May. All other company-owned vehicle types expire in April.
• Vehicles owned by individuals: These 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.
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. 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.
Many Maryland plate types have no identifying legend, and can only be identified by the serial number format. Here's the cheat sheet you need to identify plate types. Note that this chart does not specifically list the 700-plus types of organizational plates.
Key to Serial Format symbols: * = shield graphic & = blue heron graphic [ ] = other graphic= handicapped wheelchair symbol / = letter preceding slash is stacked above the letter following the slash x = variable serial letter 0 = variable serial number
| Serial Format | Legend | Usage |
| [ ]x/x 000 | none; various | Member of the organization indicated on the graphic and/or legend |
| 000*000 | none | Truck (standard plate; format 1 of 2) |
| 000*00B | none; web site | Taxi (standard plate) |
| 000*00C | none | Ambulance, hearse, or other funeral vehicle |
| 00000D | none (small plate) | Motorcycle (format 1 of 5) |
| 000*00F | none | Truck tractor |
| 000*00H | School Vehicle | Privately-owned school bus not for hire |
| 000*00J | none | Van pool |
| 000*00K | none | Farm-use vehicle restricted to 10 mile radius from farm |
| 000*00L | Historic | Historic vehicle (format 1 of 3) |
| 000*00N | Street Rod | Modified historic vehicle |
| 000*00P | none | Commercial bus, fixed route or charter |
| 00000 X or 00000X | 350th Anniversary | Multi-purpose* (previous optional base last used in 1987) |
| 0000D0 | none (small plate) | Motorcycle (format 2 of 5) |
| 000*0L0 | Historic | Historic vehicle (format 3 of 3) |
| 000D00 | none (small plate) | Motorcycle (format 3 of 5) |
| 000*E00 | Apportioned | Straight truck used in interstate commerce |
| 000*F00 | Apportioned | Truck tractor used in interstate commerce |
| 000*G00 | Apportioned | Trailer used in interstate commerce (discontinued) |
| 000M00 | none; web site (small plate) | Motorcycle (format 4 of 5) |
| 000*P00 | Apportioned | Commercial fixed-route bus in interstate use |
| 000R00 | Low Speed Vehicle | Low speed vehicle (new plate type July 2006; two full-sized plates issued) |
| 00x*000 | none; web site | Truck (standard plate, format 2 of 2) |
| 1B0000 | Dealer; M/C Dealer (small plate) | Motorcycle dealer |
| 0D0000 | web site (small plate) | Motorcycle (format 5 of 5) |
| B00&000 | Treasure the Chesapeake | Taxi (first generation Chesapeake) |
| G00&000 | Treasure the Chesapeake | Trailer (first generation Chesapeake) |
| I00*000 | none | Charter bus (discontinued; merged with commercial bus) |
| L00*000 | Historic | Historic vehicle (format 2 of 3) |
| &0000D/A
| Treasure the Chesapeake | Handicapped (second generation Chesapeake) |
| 0000D/M |
none (small plate) | Handicapped motorcycle |
| 000*0TT | none | Tow truck (format 2 of 3) |
| [ ]0000x/x | none; various (small plate) | Motorcycle riding member of the organization indicated on the graphic and/or legend |
| 1xx&000 | Treasure the Chesapeake | Truck (first generation Chesapeake) |
| [ ]A/A0000 | Anne Arundel Co. | Anne Arundel County police vehicle |
| [ ]B/A0000 | Baltimore Co. | Baltimore County police vehicle |
| [ ]B/C0000 | Baltimore City | City of Baltimore police vehicle |
| [ ]C/P0000 | various | Campus police vehicle from various state universities and community colleges |
| DV0000 |
Disabled Veteran | Handicapped military veteran |
| [ ]H/C0000 | Howard Co. | Howard County police vehicle |
| [ ]M/C0000 | Montgomery Co. | Montgomery County police vehicle |
| [ ]M/G0000 | various | Police vehicle from various cities and towns |
| [ ]P/G0000 | Prince George's Co. | Prince George's County police vehicle |
| [ ]P/P0000 | various | Park police vehicle from various park jurisdictions |
| [ ]S/A0000 | various | Sheriff's department vehicle from various counties and the city of Baltimore |
| [ ]S/P0000 | various | School police vehicle from various school districts |
| [ ]T/A0000 | (uncertain) | Maryland Transportation Authority Police (obsolete design) |
| TT0*000 | none | Tow truck (format 1 of 3) |
| [ ]x/x0000 | none; various | Member of the organization indicated on the graphic and/or legend |
| H00*00C | School Charter | School bus for hire |
| 000*xxx | 350th Anniversary | Passenger car (previous optional base last used in 1987) |
| 000&xxx | Treasure the Chesapeake | Passenger car (first generation Chesapeake) |
| 0xx*x00 | none; web site | Passenger car (standard plate; format 2 of 2) |
| xxx*000 | none | Passenger car (standard plate; format 1 of 2) |
| [ ]x/x/x 000 | none; various | Member of the organization indicated on the graphic and/or legend |
| Axx&00x | Treasure the Chesapeake | Multi-purpose* (first generation Chesapeake) |
| 000000G | none; web site | Trailer (standard plate) |
| 000000M | none | Multi-purpose* (standard plate; format 1 of 4) |
| 00000M0 | web site | Multi-purpose* (standard plate; format 4 of 4) |
| 000M000 | none; web site | Multi-purpose* (standard plate; format 3 of 4) |
| 1A00000 | Dealer | Dealer (format 1 of 2) |
| 1C00000 | Trailer Dealer | Trailer dealer |
| 2A00000 | Dealer | Dealer (format 2 of 2) |
| 2R00000 | Recycler | Issued to junkyard operators for movement of unregistered vehicles |
| 3F00000 | Finance | Issued to vehicle finance companies for movement of repossessed vehicles (possibly discontinued) |
| 4E00000 | Special Mobile Equipment | Mobile equipment, self-propelled or not |
| 5T00000 | Transporter | Issued to automotive-related businesses for movememt of unregistered vehicles |
| A000000 | Our Farms, Our Future | Passenger car, multi-purpose*, truck, taxi (Our Farms; format 1 of 2) |
| A100000 | Our Farms, Our Future | Passenger car, multi-purpose*, truck, taxi (Our Farms; format 2 of 2) |
| A900000 | Our Farms, Our Future | Trailer (Our Farms) |
| M000000 | none | Multi-purpose* (standard plate; format 2 of 4) |
| 00000A/E |
Our Farms, Our Future | Handicapped (Our Farms) |
| &00000B/Y | Treasure the Chesapeake | Passenger car, multi-purpose*, truck, taxi (second generation Chesapeake; format 2 of 4) |
| &00000C/A | Treasure the Chesapeake | Passenger car, multi-purpose*, truck, taxi (second generation Chesapeake; format 3 of 4) |
| &00000C/B | Treasure the Chesapeake | Passenger car, multi-purpose*, truck, taxi (second generation Chesapeake; format 4 of 4) |
| &00000C/C | Treasure the Chesapeake | Passenger car, multi-purpose*, truck, taxi (second generation Chesapeake; format 1 of 4) |
| 000*00F/T | Farm | Farm-use straight truck, not geographically limited (standard plate) |
| &00000G/A | Treasure the Chesapeake | Trailer (second generation Chesapeake) |
| 00000H/C |
none | Handicapped (standard plate; format 1 of 3) |
| 00000H/D |
none | Handicapped (standard plate; format 2 of 3) |
| 00000H/P |
Treasure the Chesapeake | Handicapped (first generation Chesapeake) |
| 00000H/V |
none; web site | Handicapped (standard plate; format 3 of 3) |
| 00000L/D | Historic; Historic M/C (small plate) | Historic motorcycle |
| 00000LM | none | Limousine |
| 00000N/D | Street Rod (small plate) | Modified historic motorcycle |
| 000*00T/R | Farm | Farm-use "big rig" truck tractor; not geographically limited |
| 00000TT | none; web site | Tow truck (format 3 of 3) |
| 000*E/D00 | Apportioned | Dump truck or cement mixer truck used in interstate commerce |
| 000*T/E00 | Apportioned | Tow truck used in interstate commerce |
| D/R*00000 | none | Rental car (discontinued) |
| [F/D]00000 | Firemen's Association | Maryland State Firemen's Association member |
| F/T 00000 | Our Farms, Our Future | Farm-use straight truck, not geographically limited (Our Farms) |
| L/G*00000 | none; web site | Local government vehicle |
| S/G*00000 | none; web site | State government vehicle |
| xx00000 | none; various | Member of the organization indicated by the prefix letters and/or on the legend |
| E00000D | none; web site | Dump truck or cement mixer truck |
| [ ]0000x/x/x | none; various (small plate) | Motorcycle riding member of the organization indicated on the graphic and/or legend |
| xxx0000 | none; various | Member of the organization indicated by the prefix letters and/or on the legend |
| [ ]x/x/x0000 | none; various | Member of the organization indicated on the graphic and/or legend |
| [ ]x/x/x/x 000 | none; various | Member of the organization indicated on the graphic and/or legend |
* Multi-purpose vehicles include all SUVs, passenger vans and mini-vans, motor homes, private buses, and three-wheeled vehicles.
Back to Current and Recent Maryland License Plates, Part 1 - License plates typically issued to personal 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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