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Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives |
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Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives |
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My "Pictorial History" pages are intended to be a supplement to the information found in the ALPCA Archives. I am providing additional details and additional photos not found in the archives, and clarifying information when appropriate. When the ALPCA archives cover a subject in great detail, I do not repeat that detail here. 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 I'm missing, please send me an e-mail. There's a link to my e-mail address at the bottom of every page.
- July 15, 2007 - Added a current base "goose egg" style sample motorcycle plate.
- Nov. 16, 2007 - Added candid photo of a 2009 expiration standard motorcycle plate and a Firemen's Association organizational member motorcycle plate.
On this page - Maryland motorcycle plates
Introduction
Maryland motorcycle plates dated 1910-1913
Maryland motorcycle plates dated 1914-1920
Maryland motorcycle plates dated 1921-1937
Maryland motorcycle plates expiring 1939-1953
Maryland motorcycle plates expiring 1954-1970
Maryland motorcycle plates expiring 1971-1987
Maryland motorcycle plates expiring 1987-present
Other plates often mistaken for Maryland motorcycle plates
Related links
From 1938 until present, Maryland license plates have displayed the year of expiration rather than the year of issuance. From 1939 until 1986, all motorcycle plates expired annually on March 31. In some years, the expiration month or month and date were indicated on the plate, at other times only the expiration year was shown.
Maryland motorcycle plates have usually closely resembled their passenger equivalents from the same time period. Since 1972, motorcycle plates have been renewed with the same stickers as passenger plates. Therefore, I shall try not to re-hash information avaialable in the Maryland passenger plate section that is also applicable to motorcycle plates, such as sticker colors. Deviations from passenger plates are noted where applicable.
Please note that this page does not cover official law enforcement motorcycle plates.
Maryland state-issued motorcycle plates were reportedly introduced in 1910, the same year as passenger plates. Most unfortunately, no surviving examples of 1910 Maryland motorcycle plates are known, and no details are available.
During the years 1911, 1912, and 1913, Maryland motorcycle plates were porcelain, were very tall and narrow, and were curved from top to bottom. They were designed to conform to the shape of the rear fender of the vehicle. The 1913 plates were also curved from side to side as well. For all three years, the registration numbers were stacked vertically, one digit above the other. Plate colors matched the passenger plate colors.
| 1910 | - details unknown | ||
| 1911 | - white on black | - porcelain | - MD top, 1911 bottom |
| 1912 | - blue on white | - porcelain | - MD top, 1912 bottom |
| 1913 | - yellow on black | - porcelain | - MD 13 top |
- Motorcycle dealer - Very little is known about these plates, but reportedly they existed as early as 1912.
The 1914 motorcycle plates were still made of porcelain, but took on a more conventional appearance. They were horizontally oriented rather than vertically, and they were no longer curved. Beginning in 1915, motorcycle plates were made of steel, but they remained flat (not embossed) through 1920. Colors matched those of passenger plates.
| 1914 | - white on green | - porcelain | - MD over 14, right |
| 1915 | - white on blue | - flat steel | - MD over 15, right |
| 1916 | - yellow on black | - flat steel | - MD over 16, left |
| 1917 | - green on white | - flat steel | - MD over 17, left |
| 1918 | - white on gray | - flat steel | - MD over 18, left |
| 1919 | - black on white | - flat steel | - MD over 19, left |
| 1920 | - white on red | - flat steel | - MD over 20, left |
- Motorcycle dealer - These plates reportedly existed, but no details are available.
- Motorcycle side car - Side cars were apparently registered separately from the motorcycle to which they were attached. Exact range of years is not known, but includes 1918 through 1924. Plates contained the words "Side Car". See ALPCA Archvies for details.
(1922 and 1931: Joe Sallmen photos and plates; 1927: Tom Smith photo and plate; 1935: John Witt photo and plate)
(Note that the 1922 plate has apparently been repainted, and the 1935 plate is badly discolored; it should be dark blue characters on a white background)Beginning in 1921, Maryland motorcycle plates were embossed and displayed a four-digit year. The abbreviation MD was stacked over the year, either on the left or right side of the plate. Usually the location of these elements alternated from one side to the other each year, but not necessarily. Also beginning in 1921, an embossed dot separator was located between the third and fourth digits from the right, for four-digit serials. Again, colors matched passenger plates. It's evident that sometime during the 1920s, and again during the 1930s, the bolt slots and holes were relocated.
| 1921 | - red on white | - MD over 1921, left | 1930 | - white on green | - MD over 1930, left | |
| 1922 | - white on black | - MD over 1922, right | 1931 | - white on red | - MD over 1931, right | |
| 1923 | - black on yellow | - MD over 1923, right | 1932 | - red on white | - MD over 1932, left | |
| 1924 | - orange on black | - MD over 1924, left | 1933 | - white on dark blue | - MD over 1933, right | |
| 1925 | - white on dark green | - MD over 1925, right | 1934 | - yellow on black | - MD over 1934, left | |
| 1926 | - white on black | - MD over 1926, left | 1935 | - dark blue on white | - MD over 1935, right | |
| 1927 | - black on white | - MD over 1927, right | 1936 | - white on black | - MD over 1936, left | |
| 1928 | - white on medium blue | - MD over 1928, left | 1937 | - black on white | - MD over 1937, left | |
| 1929 | - bright blue on white | - MD over 1929, right | 1938 | - No dated 1938 plate | ||
- Motorcycle dealer - These plates reportedly existed, but no details are available.
- Motorcycle side car - Side cars were apparently registered separately from the motorcycle to which they were attached. Exact range of years is not known, but includes 1918 through 1924. Plates contained the words "Side Car". See ALPCA Archvies for details.
(Joe Sallmen photos and plates)In 1938-1939, Maryland converted from calendar year registration periods to annual registrations that expired each March 31. At the same time, the state began putting the expiration date rather than the issue year on their license plates. For motorcycle plates this practice continued through the 1953 expiration plate. The plate issued at the start of 1938 was valid for 15 months; since it displayed the expiration date of 3-31-39, there were no plates issued with the year 1938 indicated on the plate. During the years when passenger plates were renewed with metal tabs, motorcycle plates continued to be issued annually; however, in these years the motorcycle plate colors sometimes deviated from the passenger plate colors. An embossed dot separator continued to be used on four-digit plates, between the hundreds and thousands digits.
| 1938 | - No dated 1938 plate | 1946 | - silver on black | - MD over 3-31 over 46, left | ||
| 1939 | - white on green | - MD over 3-31 over 39, left | 1947 | - silver on black | - MD over 3-31 over 47, right | |
| 1940 | - green on white | - MD over 3-31 over 40, left | 1948 | - black on silver | - MD over 3-31 over 48, left | |
| 1941 | - white on dark blue | - MD over 3-31 over 41, left | 1949 | - black on silver | - MD over 3-31 over 49, right | |
| 1942 | - black on silver | - MD over 3-31 over 42, left | 1950 | - black on silver | - MD over 3-31 over 50, left | |
| 1943 | - silver on black | - MD over 3-31 over 43, left * | 1951 | - white on black | - MD over 3-31 over 51, right * | |
| 1944 | - black on silver | - MD over 3-31 over 44, left | 1952 | - white on black | - MD over 3-31 over 52, left | |
| 1945 | - silver on black | - MD over 3-31 over 45, left | 1953 | - black on white | - MD over 3-31 over 53, right * | |
- Motorcycle dealer - 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.
(Joe Sallmen photos and plates)Beginning with 1954 expiration plates, the expiration month and day were dropped, although motorcycles continued to expire annually on March 31 of the year indicated on the plate. At the same time, the serial separator was moved to a position between the second and third characters from the right. The plate colors once again consistently corresponded to passenger plate colors each year. However, the serial separator did not correspond to the various separators used on passenger plates during this time. Separators were dropped altogether beginning with the 1965 expiration plate. As far as I know, motorcycle plates always had four-digit serial numbers during this time, and lead zeroes were not used. But in the latter years of this period, the four-digit all-numeric format was exhausted, and formats x000 and 000x were also used. Serial dies were changed for the 1967 expiration plate; this is most evident by comparing the numbers 1, 6, and 9 on late 1960s plates to those of earlier plates. The state and year dies were changed several times during this period.
| 1954 | - yellow on black | - MD over 54, left; dot separator | 1963 | - white on blue | - MD over 63, left; colon separator | |
| 1955 | - black on yellow | - MD over 55, right; dot separator | 1964 | - blue on white | - MD over 64, left; colon separator | |
| 1956 | - burgundy on white | - MD over 56, left; dot separator | 1965 | - white on blue | - MD over 65, left; no separator | |
| 1957 | - dark green on cream | - MD over 57, left; dot separator | 1966 | - black on yellow | - MD over 66, left; no separator | |
| 1958 | - cream on dark green | - MD over 58, left; dot separator | 1967 | - yellow on black | - MD over 67, left; no separator | |
| 1959 | - blue on white | - MD over 59, left; colon separator | 1968 | - blue on white | - MD over 68, left; no separator | |
| 1960 | - white on blue | - MD over 60, left; colon separator | 1969 | - white on blue | - MD over 69, left; no separator | |
| 1961 | - black on light green | - MD over 61, left; colon separator | 1970 | - blue on white | - MD over 70, left; no separator | |
| 1962 | - blue on white | - MD over 62, left; colon separator |
1958, 1959, 1960, and 1968 motorcycle dealers (Joe Sallmen photos and plates)
- Motorcycle dealer - These plates closely resembled regular motorcycle plates. 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.
(Joe Sallmen photos and plates)Similar to passenger cars, beginning in March 1970 motorcycles were issued white on blue base plates with an embossed "71" expiration year in the lower left corner and a sticker box with an embossed border in the lower right corner. Of course, there was only room for the state abbeviation "MD.", which was located at the bottom center. The serial dies were made shorter than in previous years to accommodate these features along the bottom of the plate. The lower bolt holes were also moved inward to provide a place for the renewal sticker to go.
These plates were valid through March 1971 without stickers, and through March 1975 with stickers. Stickers were the same as those used on all other vehicle types. All plates in this period, regardless of when actually issued, contained the embossed "71" in the lower left corner. Serial formats were initially 0000, x000 and 000x, as used in previous years. However, this being a five-year plate, all of these formats were eventually exhausted. Subsequent formats used on this base were xx00, followed by 00000. Lead zeroes were not used on the all-numeric plates, but were used on the alpha-numeric plates.
1976-1980 motorcycles
Undated red on white motorcycle base plates were issued as a general replacement in March 1975, and were valid through March 1976 without stickers and through March 1980 with stickers. The base plate was of the same format as the previous base, except that it did not have an embossed year. Non-motorcycle plates had the state name and sticker box relocated to the top of the plate, but these elements remained on the bottom of motorcycle plates in order to not interfere with the bolt slots. Serial formats were initially 00000, then 000000, with no lead zeroes used. Stickers were the same as other vehicle types.
Undated black on white motorcycle base plates were issued as a general replacement in March 1980. The plate design and the serial formats used were unchanged from the red-on-white base. Unlike other types of plates, motorcycle plates continued to have fully-embossed sticker box borders, and the sticker box and the embossed state abbreviation continued to be located at the bottom of the plate. This base was valid through March 1981 without stickers. Stickers were applied for each annual registration period, through the period ending March 1986. The last natural of this base was issued in January 1986 with a (March) 1986 annual expiration sticker.During 1986-1987, motorcycles went through the same conversion to staggered expirations as did other vehicle types. Plates expiring in March 1986 were renewed for one more registration period, which ended sometime between October 1986 and September 1987, based on the owner's last name. For staggered registrations, month stickers were placed in the lower left corner of the plate. Month and year stickers were the same as were used on other types of vehicles.
Special types of motorcycle plates, 1971-1987
1980 and 1987 motorcycle dealers (Joe Sallmen photos and plates), circa 1983-1984 State Police motorcycle (Allan Cooper photo and plate)
- Motorcycle dealer - 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.
- Historic motorcycle - Only observed beginning with the 1981 base plate. This is a funky-looking plate. It has "MD. HISTORIC" embossed along the top of the plate, and also has the usual embossed sticker box in the lower-right corner. In order for the serial number to fit, it had to be placed to the left of the sticker box. Two- and three-digit numeric serial numbers have been observed. Possibly one-digit serials were also issued.
- Motorcycle vanity plate - Available only beginning with the 1981 base plate. Up to 6 characters were permitted.
- Historic motorcycle vanity plate - Limited to 4 characters, due to the "MD. HISTORIC" legend across the top and the sticker box at the bottom right.
- State Police motorcycle plate - (I know, I said I wasn't covering law enforcement motorcycle plates on this page, but there's nothing on this plate to indicate that it even is a police plate.) Same plate design as standard 1976-1987 motorcycle plates, but colored black on yellow, and with very low serial numbers. Likely issued and used only about 1983-1984. Sticker box was never used.
1987, 1992, and 1993 (Joe Sallmen photos and plates); 1996; 2000 (Jack Chen photo and plate); 2008 M series without web web site legend (plate in actual use); 2008 M and D series with web site legend (Joe Sallmen photos of plates in actual use), 2009 (plate in actual use)Motorcycle plates were modified to correspond with the black on reflective white script "Maryland" plates being issued to other vehicle types. They also received a script, fully spelled "Maryland" screened at the top of the plate. This plate was issued to new registrants beginning in February 1986, and as a general replacement plate during the period October 1986 to September 1987.
On the script "Maryland" base, all-numeric serial numbers were inexplicably given to trucks rather than motorcycles. 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 also conflicted with truck serial numbers. So, for reasons known only to the Maryland MVA, format 000M00 was begun. The "M" presumably stands for motorcycle, but it also makes motorcycle serial numbers very similar to Class M multi-purpose vehicle serial numbers with format 000M000. About July 2006, motorcycle format 000M00 was also used up, and the familiar "D" was brought back in new format 0D0000.
Lead zeroes are used on this base. 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 occurred at approximately serial number 740M00.
Maryland motorcycle plate dimensions are 8 1/2 inches wide by 4 1/2 inches high, which I'm told are different than the dimensions used for motorcycle plates in most every other state. The top bolt slots are each 3/8 inch long, and are 6 1/4 inches apart on center. The bottom bolt holes are round and are 3 3/4 inches apart on center. The vertical distance between the top bolt slots and the bottom bolt holes is 3 1/2 inches on center. Serial number characters are two inches high and one inch wide.
Both month and year stickers are the same as used on passenger vehicles. There are no sticker boxes or sticker wells; unfortunately, there is no place on this plate that the stickers will really fit without trimming them down, or covering all or part of either the screened "Maryland", the serial number, or the bolt slots at the top of the plate. Therefore, registrants have placed their stickers in varying and creative locations on this base plate. Mandatory two-year registration periods for motorcycles owned by individuals were phased in between July 1992 and June 1994.
Three standard historic motorcycle plates and two vanity historic motorcycle plates, with four different plate type legends between them (all are Joe 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 (Andrew Pang photo of plate in actual use); ABATE of Maryland, Inc. organizational motorcycle plate (Joe Sallmen photo of plate in actual use); current sample motorcycle plates, types 3 and 4
- Motorcycle dealer - Similar plate to regular motorcycles, but with a screened "M/C Dealer" or just "Dealer" at the bottom of the plate, and bearing serial format 1B0000.
- 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.- State government motorcycle - This is the only motorcycle plate I've seen with the screened Maryland shield found on many full-sized plate types. 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.
- Sample motorcycle plates - Sample motorcycle plates on the screened "Maryland" base have been observed with actual serial numbers 00000D, 0000D0, 000D00, and SAMPLE.
Toy 1954 Maryland plate
This is a miniature replica of a Maryland license plate issued to a solid tire vehicle. Typically, solid tire vehicles were trucks. Maryland did not issue solid tire motorcycle plates. Reportedly, a license plate collector in the 1960s had these replica plates made, and he gave them to acquaintences to promote his collecting interests.
- Small (6" by 3") white on red 1920 Maryland license plate with serial number 8-609 and the legend "Solid Tire" at the bottom.
The 1954 and 1955 plates were prizes found in cereal boxes (Wheaties, I believe), and the 1960 plate was a promotion available from Baker's Square Chocolate. All are toy replicas of Maryland passenger car plates that were intended for children to display on their bicycles. Because of their small size and realistic appearance, these plates are sometimes mistaken for real motorcycle plates.
- Small (5" by 2 1/4") yellow on black 1954 Maryland license plate with serial number LG-19-53.
- Small (5" by 2 1/4") black on yellow 1955 Maryland license plate with serial number MG-10-01.
- Small white on blue Maryland license plate bearing serial number AM-19-27 and expiration date 3-31-60.
Other Maryland motorcycle plates on the web
The Plate Shack: Maryland Motorcycles
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