A Pictorial History of Maryland License Plates
Non-Emergency Government-Owned Vehicle and Government Official Plates, 1920s to Present

Government-owned vehicles, not agency-specific

You might think of these plates as standard-issue, generic, or default Maryland government-owned vehicle plates. These are issued to vehicles belonging to government bodies, departments, etc., that for various reasons do not have their own special plates. There are basically two flavors of standard government plates, one for state-owned vehicles, and the other for vehicles owned by cities, towns, counties, school districts, regional multi-county agencies, or other local government bodies.

1953 and prior government-owned vehicles, not agency-specific

I am unaware of any there being any generic Maryland government-owned vehicle plates issued prior to the 1954 expiration plates. This does not mean that they don't exist; I just have no knowledge or information about them. There were a number of specific government agency vehicle plates issued during this time; these are covered further down this page. Otherwise, I don't know what types of plates were issued to government-owned vehicles that were not assigned to one of these agencies.

1954-1970 government-owned vehicles, not agency-specific
Generic government-owned vehicle plates were replaced annually just like non-government plates during this era. They used the same color schemes and same expiration dates as other annual plate types. Serial formats were 00-00 (through 1964 expirations) and 0000 (1965 expirations forward). Separators on 1964 and earlier plates could be dashes, diamonds, or colons. Lead zeroes were not used; plate numbers started at 1001.

The expiration date was the key to determining whether a particular plate was assigned to a passenger or non-passenger vehicle. As was the practice for non-government plates, a 3-31 expiration date indicated that the plate was registered to a car, SUV, passenger van, or similar vehicle, while a 4-30 expiration date was used for trucks, trailers, and other non-passenger vehicles. I don't know which expiration date would have applied for a government-owned bus.

For 1968 to 1970 expirations, plates issued to government-owned trucks carried the legend "Truck" on the lower left portion of the plate. Before and after these years, trucks were not explicitly identified.

• State-owned vehicles: These generic state government plates contained the word "State" displayed horizontally on the left center portion of the plate, followed by a four digit serial number located in the center and right center portion.

I'm not certain when these "State" plates were first issued, but I don't think I've personally come across any with expiration dates before 1962. Others have reported "State" plates as early as 1961 expirations, and I'm under the impression they began with 1954 expirations. However, if "State" plates did indeed debut in the early 1960s, then I would guess that both state and local government vehicles were issued plates with a large embossed star, covered immediatly below, prior to then.

• Local government-owned vehicles: License plates issued to vehicles owned by cities, counties, etc., were distinctive in that they bore a large embossed star on the left center portion of the plate, in the same position as the word "State" appeared on state-owned vehicle plates. The star did not imply that the vehicle was registered to a sheriff's department or police department vehicle. In fact, it was just the opposite - these plates were usually issued to local government vehicles excluding those used for law enforcement or fire and rescue organizations. Most local law enforcement, fire department, and rescue squad vehicles bore undated plates that looked nothing like standard Maryland license plates; these are addressed below. However, it's very likely that a few municipalities did choose to use star plates for police or rescue squad applications during these years, although I have no specifics.

I've seen star plates with expirations as early as 1955; I believe these were first issued with 1954 expirations. What types of plates local-government owned vehicles might have been issued prior to 1953, I just don't have any information.

Serial formats and expiration dates on local government plates were just like those on state-owned vehicle plates, and local government plates issued to trucks also carried the legend "Truck", under a smaller star, on 1968 to 1970 expiration plates. School buses owned by school districts or other local government bodies were issued school bus plates, not local government plates, during these years.

1971-1975 government-owned vehicles, not agency-specific
• State-owned vehicles: During this time, state-owned vehicle plates were renewed with year stickers the same as privately-owned vehicle plates. Again, the word "State" appeared horizontally on the main portion of the plate. But since these plates did not contain specific expiration dates, the location of the word "State" was varied to distinguish between passenger and non-passenger state-owned vehicles. State-owned passenger plates carried the word "State" on the left, before the serial number; non-passenger plates carried "State" to the right, after the serial number. The serial formats in both cases was 0000 and began at 1001. The "Truck" legend used on 1968-1970 expiration plates issued to trucks was eliminated.

• Local government-owned vehicles: Once again, local government plates were just like generic state government plates in every respect, except that they bore an embossed star figure rather than the word "State". Star on the left was for a passenger vehicle; star on the right was a non-passenger vehicle. Again, these star plates were generally not used for local police, fire department, or rescue squad vehicles, but there were some known exceptions to this rule. Specifically, the Laurel Police Department and the Laurel Rescue Squad used regular local government star plates. Public school buses, which were owned by county and Baltimore city governments, were issued school bus plates during these years. The "Truck" legend used on 1968-1970 plates was eliminated.

The ALPCA archive incorrectly states that 1971 base plates with a C000 serial format and a star suffix, such as the one shown at left, are local government ambulance or hearse or coroner vehicle plates. The archivist inferred that there was some significance to the "C" in the serial number. There is no such significance. I personally saw alpha prefix local government 1971 base plates in use, in my case on school district maintenance trucks at my high school. They only appeared very late in the life of this five year plate. Once plate 9999 was issued, the state simply began using alpha prefix characters, starting with A001, or possibly A101. The plate pictured has a natural 1975 expiration.

1975-1987 government-owned vehicles, not agency-specific
Most government-owned vehicles used serial format x 00000, with state government plates assigned the letter "S" and bearing the word "State" at the bottom of the plate, and local government plates assigned the letter "G" and displaying the words "Local Govt." at the bottom. Plates issued to the City of Baltimore had a distinct format G 0000, but also carried the legend "Local Govt." at the bottom. Maryland realized the folly of annually renewing government plates with year stickers, and so, unlike private vehicle plates, these plates were not issued renewal stickers. and in fact did not even have sticker boxes. However, they were used as long as the corresponding private vehicle base plates were used - 1975 to 1980 on the red and white base, and 1980 to 1987 on the black and white base. With these plates, Maryland also abandoned their practice of issuing different plates for passenger and non-passenger government vehicles.

As far as I know, most government-owned vehicles (excluding most law enforcement and fire and rescue vehicles), were now issued standard government vehicle plates. School buses, Baltimore transit buses (which were state-owned), and State Highway Administration (SHA) vehicles all were issued standard government plates, athough Baltimore buses and SHA vehicles were issued plates in agency-specific S 50000 and S 80000 series, respectively.

In most cases, law enforcement and fire and rescue vehicles continued to carry distinctive plates. There were, however, a few known exceptions to this rule. For example, police vehicles in Baltimore, Laurel, and Takoma Park bore generic local government plates, as did vehicles belonging to the Laurel Rescue Squad.

1986-present government-owned vehicles, not agency specific
On the script "Maryland" base, government-owned vehicles are 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. Again, State Highway Administration plates appear to be generic state government plates, but are identifiable by their serial numbers being in the upper S/G*29000 range (passenger cars) and S/G*80000 range (trucks, trailers, and equipment), both higher upper than truly generic state plates. However, Baltimore transit buses do not have a distinct serial number range on this base.

Like other Maryland plate types that previously did not have a legend along the bottom edge, both state government and local government plates issued since 2005 now bear the state's web site address, www.maryland.gov, at the bottom of the plate.

Most law enforcement and fire and rescue vehicles use agency-specific plates, although there are occasional exceptions.

State Roads Commission / State Highway Administration

The State Roads Commission (SRC) was established in 1908 to construct, improve, and maintain a statewide system of improved roads and highways. In 1971, the commission was absorbed into the newly-formed state Department of Transportation (DOT), and its responsibilities were largely turned over to the new State Highway Administration (SHA) unit within the Maryland DOT.

State Roads Commission / State Highway Administration, 1975 and prior
State Roads Commission and State Highway Administration vehicles had distinctive, undated plates for many decades. As far as I know these plates were always red on white through 1975. They also always had the agency name spelled out in full on the plate. I don't know when they were first issued, but all older SRC plates I can remember seeing are 15 inches long, such as the examples shown at left. One would think they were made in 1936 or earlier, when non-government plates were all 15 inches long. I'm guessing that these may have continued to be made after 1936 on the leftover 1936 plate blanks, but regardless were probably used for many years after 1936. Since non-government plates in 1936 and prior had small bolt holes in the corners, I'm guessing that the 15 inch SRC plates with corner bolt holes are older than those without.

Otherwise, State Roads Commission plates are probably best dated by comparing their features to dated regular plates. Twelve inch long SRC plates would have been made and used between 1956 and 1971. They can be further dated by comparing plate design variations to corresponding design changes on regular, dated Maryland license plates.

• Long bolt slots: Regular Maryland plates with expiration dates between 1957 and 1964 had long bolt slots, so it's likely that SRC plates with long bolt slots were manufactured between 1956 and 1963. However, these plates could have been used through 1971.
• Short bolt slots: Regular Maryland plates with expiration dates between 1965 and 1970 had short bolt slots, so it's likely that SRC plates with short bolt slots were manufactured between 1964 and 1969. However, these plates could have been used through 1971.
• Round bolt holes: Regular Maryland plates with expiration dates beginning in 1971 had round bolt holes, so probably SRC plates with round bolt holes were manufactured and used only between 1970 and 1971.

SHA plates are known with either the words "State Highway Adm." and "State Hwy. Adm." embossed on the plate. Which came first is unknown, but both would probably have been made and used between 1971 and 1975 only.

State Highway Administration, 1975 to present
Since 1975, the SHA has not used plates that clearly identify the agency, but rather has used standard-looking generic state government plates. However, these state government plates can still be identified as being assigned to SHA vehicles by their serial numbers. SHA-specific serial numbers were in the S 80000 range from 1975 to 1987, and similarly in the S/G*80000 range from 1986 to present. Truly generic state government plates have not had serials anywhere near that high in either case. At least in the case of the current plates, the 80000 series plates are issued to trucks, trailers, and equipment; SHA passenger cars have their own distinct block of numbers between about S/G*29500 and S/G*29999. These also fall outside the range of any other state government plates issued to date. Unlike the truly generic plates, SHA-specific plates have not yet been observed with the state web site address along the bottom edge.

At least one SHA facility (La Plata) currently uses what appear to be its old 1980-1987 license plates as parking space markers for its various pieces of equipement. The numeric part of the old plate identifying the parking space matches the numeric part of the current plate attached to the vehicle assigned to that parking space. What's odd is that the parking space markers I saw all had sticker boxes in the upper right corner, just like non-government plates of the time. But I've never seen an actual government license plate from that time period with a sticker box. Therefore, it's entirely possible that these parking space markers were either made specifically for that purpose, or were errors, and in either case were never actually used as license plates.

Other state agencies

Office of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles / Department of Motor Vehicles
Maryland's motor vehicle agency was known as the Office of the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles from 1910 to 1943, the Department of Motor Vehicles from 1943 to 1971, and the Motor Vehicle Administration (part of the Department of Transportation) from 1971 to present.

Prior to the establishment of the Maryland State Police as a separate entity, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles had under his authority a unit known as the State Police Force. The State Police Force consisted of motorcycle officers who patrolled the state's highways from 1921 until it was replaced by the Maryland State Police in 1935. The undated plates used on these motorcycles were colored white on red, and the body of the plate consisted of the letters "C.M.V." followed by a distinguishing number. Some know examples have no other identification, while others have embossed at the top and bottom of the plate "Maryland" and "State Police", respectively.

I know of at least two different undated Maryland plates with the stacked words "Dept. Motor Vehicles" on the left side. Both have the state name along the top edge and "Drive Safely" along the bottom edge. Serial numbers of up to three digits are on the right body of the plate. One such plate is colored silver on black, while the other is black on yellow. Both have long bolt slots top and bottom. The black plate also has small bolt holes in each corner. If I were to guess, I'd say that the black plate was made in the 1943-1947 period, and the yellow plate appears to have been made between 1956 and 1963. It's unknown how long either of these plates were used or what purpose DMV vehicles might have served.

Metropolitan Transit Authority / Mass Transit Administration
The Baltimore Transit Company, a private company operating city buses in the Baltimore area, was taken over by the state on April 30, 1970. Plates for Baltimore city buses were issued on the 1971 expiration base during April 1970. They bore the letters "MTA" stacked on the left followed by a four-digit numeric serial, as they had for serveral years. "MTA" referred to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the state agency that had previously regulated, and now owned and operated Baltimore city buses. Therefore, it could be debated whether dated 1971 MTA base plates should be considered to be commercial bus plates or state government plates. I say they're state government plates. Later during the life of this base, the Metropolitan Transit Authority's name was changed to the Mass Transit Administration, thus avoiding any need to change the MTA acronym.

During the 1975 and 1980 statewide reissues, MTA vehicles were issued what appeared to be generic state government plates. However, MTA vehicles were issued plates in a distinct serial range in the S 50000 series, much higher than truly generic state government plates. On the current shield base first issued in 1986, MTA vehicles apparently do not have any distinct serial range.

("MTA" prefix plates with 1965-1970 expirations were not issued to government-owned vehicles, but rather to buses owned by the Baltimore Transit Company, a private company, which were subject to regulation by the state Metropolitan Transit Authority.)

State Aviation Administration
The State Aviation Administration took over the operation of Baltimore-Washington International Airport (then known as Friendship Airport) from the City of Baltimore in 1972. Overnight, the SAA grew from three employees to over 300. Presumably, the SAA also acquired a number of motor vehicles as part of this transaction, or possibly shortly afterward. For no apparent reason, these vehicles were issued 1971 base plates with the letters "SAA" rather than generic "State" plates. The letters "SAA" ran diagonally downhill on the left side of the plate, and four digit serials were used, starting at 1001. These were renewed annually with stickers just as generic government plates were during these years. I've seen a couple of examples of SAA plates, but they all have very low serial numbers, so this plate was apparently produced in small quantities. Presumably, SAA vehicles were issued generic red on white state government plates during the 1975 statewide reissue.