A Pictorial History of Maryland License Plates
Dealer and Other Automotive Business Plates Dated 1910 to Present

Dealers (including vehicle manufacturers and distributors)

Vehicle manufacturers and distributors do not get specific plates in Maryland; instead, they are issued the same dealer plates as retail vehicle dealers.

1910-1914 dealers
• Non-motorcycle motor vehicle dealers: Dealer plates have been issued from 1910, the very first year that Maryland issued license plates of any type. Unlike the 1910 passenger plates, however, 1910 dealer plates were made of porcelain, as were the 1911-1914 dealer plates. The word "Dealer" was displayed on the plates, to the right of the serial and under the state abbreviaton and year. Some dealer plates had an "A" prefix, but the meaning of this is not known.

Plate numbers observed - 1910: 95; 1911: 91, 93, 122, 370; 1912: 165, 307, 398, A83; 1913: 79, 320, 459, 654; 1914: 391, 431, 481, 492

• Motorcycle dealers: Very little is known about these plates, but reportedly they existed as early as 1912.

1915-1920 dealers
• Non-motorcycle motor vehicle dealers: For 1915, like other plate types, dealer plates switched to embossed steel plates. These plates bore the legend "Dealer" along the top edge in 1915, 1916, 1917, and 1919, and along the bottom edge in 1918 and 1920. These were 7 inches tall rather than 6 inches to accommodate the legend. Some dealer plates had an "A" prefix, but the meaning of this is not known.

Plate numbers observed - 1915: 788; 1916: 895; 1917: 2-064; 1918: 3-106; 1920: 1-022

• Motorcycle dealers: These plates reportedly existed, but no details are available.

1921 dealers
• Non-motorcycle motor vehicle dealers: In 1921 only, dealer plates were identified with a "D" serial suffix.

Plate numbers observed - 1921: - 7-669D

• Motorcycle dealers: These plates reportedly existed, but no details are available.

1922-1937 dealers
• Non-motorcycle motor vehicle dealers: From 1922 on, the word "Dealer" was embossed vertically along either the left or right sides of the plate. Separate plates for used car dealers began in 1931 or possibly earlier, with the letters "UC" either stacked left or flanking the serial number.

• Motorcycle dealers: These plates reportedly existed, but no details are available.

1939-1953 dealers
There were no dated 1938 Maryland plates; in 1938 Maryland converted from calendar year registrations to a March 31 expiration date for all plate types. Plates issued in 1938 were valid for 15 months and indicated a 3-31-39 expiration date. All Maryland plates from this point forward show the expiration year rather than the issue year. Beginning with 1952 expirations, dealer plates and most other non-passenger plate types switched from March 31 to April 30 expiration dates.

• Non-motorcycle motor vehicle dealers: Dealer plates continue to be identified with a vertical"Dealer" legend, located along the left edge for new car dealers, and along the right edge for used car delears. Used car dealer plates were additionally identified with a stacked "U/C" prefix.

Plate numbers observed - 1939: 4-261, "Dealer" vertical left; 1942 base: 4-102, "Dealer" vertical left; 1948 base: 4-036, 6-629, both with "U/C" left, "Dealer" vertical right; 1952 base: 7-152, "Dealer" vertical left

• Motorcycle dealers: These plates resembled regular motorcycle plates, but the serial number consisted of a small "D" prefix, followed by one- or two-digit number. Obviously produced in small quantities.

Plate numbers observed - 1944: D19

1954-1970 dealers

• Non-motorcycle motor vehicle dealers: The serial formats for motor vehicle dealer plates were 00-00 and x0-00 during 1954-1964, and 0000 and x000 during 1965-1970. The word "Dealer" ran vertically down the right side of the plate for both new and used dealer plates, and these plates expired annually on April 30. Used vehicle dealer plates carried the stacked letters "U/C" down the left side of the plate; new vehicle dealer plates had no corresponding designation. Probably manufacturers and distributers were issued the version without the U/C used car designation. Dealer plates were issued in pairs until some time in the 1960s; since then, they have only been issued as singles.

• Motorcycle dealers: These plates closely resembled regular motorcycle plates. There's no distinction made between new and used motorcycle dealers. You can see that at least in the case of the 1958 dealer plate, the state abbreviation and expiration year were on the opposite side of the plate than they were on regular motorcycle plates, and the separator character went between the small "D" prefix and the first digit. I assume that earlier years had the same characteristics. From 1959 through at least 1964, the state name and year stayed on the same side as regular plates, the serial consisted of an even smaller "D" prefix followed by a three-digit number, with the separator between the second and third characters. Note, however, that the 1960 plate uses a diamond separator character, the same as on full-sized plates of that year, but different from the colon used on regular 1960 motorcycle plates. I can't tell you which separator characters were used in other years.

I don't know for sure what 1965 and 1966 motorcycle dealer plates look like. Probably the separator was dropped like on other plates. By then, regular motorcycle plates exhausted the all-numeric format and were issued with a full-sized letter in either the prefix or suffix position. I've seen full-sized "D" prefixes and suffixes as well as other letters. I've never seen a 1965-1967 plate with a small "D". Joe Sallmen tells me that 1967 motorcycle dealer plates do have a full-sized "D" - he's got one, along with the registration card indicating that it's a dealer plate. So it's entirely possible that 1965 and 1966 motorcycle dealer plates also had a full-sized "D", but it would be impossible to know for sure without a registration card to go with the plate.

Starting with the 1968 plate, to once again clearly distingush dealer plates from regular plates, the legend "DLR", stacked vertically, was embossed on the left center portion of the plate, just to the right of the state abbreviation and year. A three-digit serial number occupied the right half of the plate. This format continued through 1970.

• Trailer dealers: I've seen examples of trailer dealer plates in the later years of this period but not the earlier years. These plates bore the legend "Trailer Dealer" horizontally on the left center portion of the plate with the words stacked vertically. The serial format was 0000. I don't know what type of plates trailer dealers were issued before this plate type was introduced - I would guess the same plates as motor vehicle dealers.

1971-1975 dealers

• Motor vehicle dealers: Originally, motor vehcile dealer plates carried either the legend "New Car Dealer" or "Used Car Dealer", displayed horizontally on the left center portion of the plate with each word stacked above the other. The serial formats were 0000 and x000. Apparently these plates were used regardless of the types of motor vehicles the dealer actually sold - car, truck, or otherwise. Partway through the life of this base, both of these types of dealer plates were recalled and replaced with plates in the format D 00000. These new plates contained no legend, and there was no longer a distinction between new and used dealer plates.

• Motorcycle dealers: Motorcycle dealers used the same base plates and stickers as regular motorcycles. However, motorcycle dealer plates contained a small, embossed, horizontal "DLR" on the left body of the plate, followed by a serial in formats 000 or 0000. There's no distinction made between new and used motorcycle dealers.

• Trailer dealers: Trailer dealer plates carried the legend "Trailer Dealer" displayed horizontally on the left center portion of the plate with the words stacked vertically. The serial format was 0000. Apparently these plates were not recalled as the new and used car dealer plates were.

1976-1987 dealers
When staggered expirations were introduced in Maryland in 1986-1987 for many plate types, dealer plates continued with April 30 expiration dates. However, beginning with the 1987 expirations, they were also issued an April month sticker.

• Motor vehicle dealers: Motor vehicle dealers continued with the serial format D 00000 on the red on white and black on white embossed bases. The legend "Dealer" was embossed at the bottom of the plate.

• Motorcycle dealers: Motorcycle dealers used the same base plates and stickers as regular motorcycles. However, motorcycle dealer plates contained a small, embossed, horizontal "DLR" on the left body of the plate, followed by a serial in formats 000 or 0000. There's no distinction made between new and used motorcycle dealers.

• Trailer dealers: Serial format was R 0000, and the legend "Trl Dlr" was embossed at the bottom of the plate.

1987-present dealers
All full-sized dealer and automotive business plates on the screened "Maryland" base 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. Motorcycle plates can only accommodate six serial characters, so these get a slightly different format. Dealer plates switched from April expirations to staggered expirations in 1992; the first staggered registration period ranged from November 1992 to October 1993. Month assignment was, and continues to be, based on company name. Until 1997 these plates were registered one year at a time; they're now registered for two year intervals.

• Motor vehicle dealers: The regular motor vehicle dealer plate has the legend Dealer at the bottom of the plate. The serial format 1A00000 was used from 1986 (with 1987 expiration dates) until approximately September 2005 (2006 expiration dates) when all possible numbers had been issued. 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. Dealer plates were all prefixed with 1A (regular vehicle dealers), 1B (motorcycle dealers), or 1C (trailer dealers). It would have made a lot more sense to me to have gone to format 1D00000 for regular dealer plates. But the Maryland MVA refuses to consult me before making these kinds of decisions!

• Motorcycle dealers: These 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.

• Trailer dealers: These are identified with the legend "Trailer Dealer and serial format 1C00000.

Other automotive businesses

Specific plates are issued to several additional types of automotive-related businesses that have a need to drive unregistered vehicles. Like dealer plates, all of these plate types are interchangeable, meaning that they are not registred to a specific vehicle, and so can be readily switched from one vehicle to another. The notes pertaining to expriation dates in the dealer plate section above also apply to these other automotive business plates.

1942-1953 automotive businesses
• Auto Repairers and Auto Wreckers: I don't know much about these two plate types, except that they were supposedly introduced on the 1948 base and also issued on the 1952 base. Today, auto repairers would get transporter plates, but apparently in the 1940s there was a distinction made between businesses whose primary purpose was to drive unregistered vehicles, versus businesses for which driving unregistered vehciles was secondary. The usage of "Auto Repairer" plates should be obvious; most likely "Auto Wrecker" plates were issued to junkyard operators. The latter plate type reappeared in the 1970s as first "Wrecker" and then "Recycler" plates. I've never seen or heard of a Wrecker plate issued between the mid-1950s and mid-1970s, so I don't know what type of plates junkyard operators were issued during these years - my guess would be used car delaer plates.

• Transporters: "Trans-" over "Porter" was displayed horizontally on the left portion of the plate. These plates were used to move or deliver unregistered vehicles. This type of plate was made on the 1945 and subsequent bases; I'm assuming the 1942 base also.

Plate numbers observed - 1945 base: - 256

1954-1970 automotive businesses

• Finance companies: Automotive finance companies were issued these plates to facilitate the movement of repossessed vehicles. The words "Finance Company" were stacked one above the other on the left side of the plate, with a numeric serial number on the right side. The examples I've seen have had two or three digit numeric serials. The earliest I've seen was a 1955 plate; I'm assuming 1954 plates were also issued, if not earlier.

• Transporters: 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. These plates allowed them to drive otherwise unregistered vehicles on the street rather than have to load them onto a truck or trailer. A typical application would be for driving freshly-imported vehicles from the docks to a storage lot a short distance away. These plates displayed horizontally "Trans-" stacked above "Porter" on the left center portion of the plate, followed by serial in format 000 and probably 0000. Horizontal legends were fairly rare during these years.

1971-1975 automotive businesses

• Finance companies: Automotive finance company plates continued in the same format with "Finance" over "Company" on the left side of the plate, with a numeric serial number on the right.

• Transporters: Transporter plates continued to display horizontally "Trans-" stacked above "Porter" on the left center portion of the plate, followed by serial in format 0000.

• Wreckers: I found this plate in June 2007, and it was the first time I had ever seen or heard of a "W" prefix 1971 base. I obtained it from a Maryland plate collector who explained that wrecker plates were actually reintroduced on the 1971 base, rather than the 1976 base as I had previously thought. In Maryland plate terminology, a "wrecker" is not a tow truck, but rather an automotive junkyard operator. (Think: car crusher.) These plates were used to enable the junkyard operator to drive operable, unregistered vehicles. My guess is that these were introduced midway through the life of this base, at the same time as the "D" prefix dealer plates. Probably auto junkyards were issued either used car dealer or transporter plates prior to the "W" prefix plates. No doubt serials began at W 10001 on this base.

1976-1987 automotive businesses

• Finance companies: Serial format was F 0000, and the plates carried the legend "Finance" at the bottom center.

• Transporters: Serial format was T 0000, which was not to be confused with the T 00000 format issued to farm trucks. Transporter plates carried the legend "Trans" at the bottom of the plate.

• Wreckers and recyclers: Operators of automotive junkyards were issued these plates to facilitate the movement of operable vehicles. The recycler plates had nothing to do with recycling aluminum cans or newspapers, and "wrecker" did not refer to a tow truck. Serial format was W 0000; on the red and white base some plates carried the embossed legend "Wrecker" and others carried "Recycler" at the bottom. There was no distinction between the two; the term to describe a junkyard operator simply was changed during the life of this base. Apparently "Recycler" sounded more politically correct than "Wrecker". The highest Wrecker plate number I've seen is W 2759; the lowest Recycler plate on the red and white base I've seen is W 4353. On the black and white base, only the legend "Recycler" was used.

1987-present automotive businesses
All dealer and automotive business plates on the screened "Maryland" base 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 automotive business legends and their associated two character serial prefixes are: Recycler - 2R, Finance Company - 3F, and Transporter - 5T.

There's some doubt about whether Finance Company plates are still issued or used. Maryland resident and plate spotter Jeff Ellis reports that he hasn't seen one in over ten years.

Tow Trucks

Note that 1976-1980 plates with the legend "Wrecker" are not tow truck plates, but rather are plates issued to automotive junkyard operators to use on driveable vehicles. They're covered above in the Other Automotive Businesses section above.

1984-1987 tow trucks

Tow trucks had been issued regular truck plates until 1983, then their regular truck plates were recalled and replaced with plates with format 0000 TT and bearing the legend "Tow Truck". Probably format TT 0000 was avoided just in case farm truck tractor plates ever got past serial TT 999. The 1984 expiration plate shown is a natural first-year issue.

1987-present tow trucks

Tow trucks were originally issued plates on current base with serial format TT0*000. When that format was exhausted, then format 000*0TT was begun. In the summer of 2005, the second format also became history, and new plates are now issued in format 00000TT. Until late 2005, these plates in their various formats had no legend identifying the vehicle type or otherwise. Then the state web site legend www.maryland.gov was added, beginning at approximately serial number 01000TT.

Apportioned tow trucks receive plates with the rather odd serial format 000*T/E00, with the letters T and E stacked. These have the legend "Apportioned" at the bottom. Apportioned year stickers for 2005 were white on green rather than black on white used for most other plates.

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.