| red on white, format G 0000 or G 00000 with "Local Govt" at bottom |
 |
Used March 1975 through April 1980 without stickers. Local (city or county) government-owned vehicle,
generally not used for law enforcement or fire or rescue purposes. (There were a few known exceptions to
this.) Format G 0000 was reserved for the City of Baltimore. |
| red on white, format S 00000 with "State" at bottom |
 |
Used March 1975 through April 1980 without stickers. State government-owned vehicle not used
for law enforcement purposes. |
| red on white motorcycle plate, sticker box in lower right corner |
 |
This base plate was used March 1975 through March 1980. Valid through March 1976 without stickers.
Renewed with year stickers. Unstickered early serials would have been in use 1975-1976; unstickered late serials in
unused condition are probably 1980 leftovers.
(Mike Sells photo and plate) |
| other red on white, sticker box in upper right corner |

 |
This base plate was used March-April-May 1975 through March-April-May 1980. Valid through March-April-May
1976 without stickers. (Month determined by vehicle class.) Renewed with year stickers front and back. Unstickered
early serials would have been in use 1975-1976; unstickered late serials in unused condition are probably 1980
leftovers. |
| black on white, embossed "Maryland", format G 0000 or G 00000 with "Local Govt" at bottom |
 |
Used March 1980 through about April 1987 without stickers. Local (city or county) government-owned vehicle
generally not used for law enforcement or fire or rescue purposes. (There were a few known exceptions to
this.) Format G 0000 was reserved for the City of Baltimore. |
| black on white, embossed "Maryland", format S 00000 with "State" at bottom |
 |
Used March 1980 through about April 1987 without stickers. State government-owned vehicle not
used for law enforcement purposes. |
| black on white motorcycle plate, embossed "Md.", sticker box in lower right corner |
 |
This base plate was issued March 1980 through January 1986. Valid through March 1981 without stickers.
Renewed with year stickers through March 1986, and with month and year stickers through September 1987. Unstickered early
serials would have been in use 1980-1981; unstickered late serials in unused condition are probably 1986 leftovers.
(Joe Sallmen photo and plate)
|
| other black on white, embossed "Maryland", sticker box with lightly embossed border in upper right corner |

 |
This base plate was issued March-April-May 1980 through January 1986. Valid through March-April-May 1981
without stickers. (Month determined by vehicle class.) Renewed with year stickers front and back through March-April-May
1986, and with month and year stickers on rear only through September 1987. Unstickered early serials, and passenger
serials in series HNA through HNE, would have been in use 1980-1981; unstickered late serials other than series HNA
through HNE, in unused condition, are probably 1986 leftovers. |
| black on dark yellow motorcycle plate, embossed "Md.", sticker box in lower right corner |
 |
This is a State Police motorcycle plate, likely from approximately 1983 or 1984. Sticker box was never
used. (I know, I said I wasn't covering police plates, but you might not have even known that this is a police
plate without a little help.)
(Allan Cooper photo and plate) |
| black on reflective white, script "Maryland", format L/G*00000 or S/G*00000 with graphic shield
separator |

 |
Used February 1986 to present without stickers. Hologram indicates year of manufacture. L/G plates are
for local government vehicles; S/G plates are for state government vehicles, in both cases generally not for
law enforcement or fire or rescuse applications.
(Both plates in actual use) |
| black on reflective white, script "Maryland", actual serials NAA*000, NAA*001, or SAM*PLE with
graphic shield separator, or SAMPLE without graphic shield separator |
 |
Sample plates distributed February 1986 to present without stickers. Hologram indicates year of
manufacture.
(Tim O'Connor photo and plate) |
| black on reflective white motorcycle plate, script "Maryland", actual serials 00000D, 0000D0, 000D00,
or SAMPLE |
 |
Motorcycle sample plates distributed February 1986 to present without stickers. Hologram indicates year of
manufacture. |
| other black on reflective white, script "Maryland", various formats with or without graphic shield separator |

 |
These types of plates have been issued February 1986 to present. Rear plates always have stickers
indicating month and year of expiration. Unstickered plates are front plates. Hologram indicates year of
manufacture. |
| green on white-to-blue fade "Treasure the Chesapeake", various formats with or without graphic bird in center |
 |
These first generation Chesapeake plates were issued approximately early 1990 to late 2003 and are still in
use. Rear plates always have stickers indicating month and year of expiration. Unstickered plates are front
plates. However, serials SAM*PLE and SAMPLE are, obviously, sample plates. Hologram indicates
year of manufacture. |
| black on orange-to-yellow-fade "Our Farms, Our Future", various formats |
 |
These plates have been issued early 2001 to present. Rear plates always have stickers indicating month and
year of expiration. Unstickered plates are front plates. However, serial SAMPLE is, obviously, a sample
plate. Hologram indicates year of manufacture.
(Plate in actual use) |
| black on blue-to-white fade "Treasure the Chesapeake", various formats with or without graphic bird at left |
photo unavailable |
Second generation Chesapeake plates have been issued January 2004 to present. Rear plates always have
stickers indicating month and year of expiration. Unstickered plates are front plates. However, serial
SAMPLE is, obviously, a sample plate. Hologram indicates year of manufacture. |
| Format xx-00-00, with dash, diamond, or colon separators |
 |
Passenger vehicle. Some letter combinations reserved for members of certain organizations. These
letters are known to be organizational plates: AL, BB, CC, EE, FD, LC. Serial AA-00-00 is a sample.
|
| Format 00-00-xx, with dash, diamond, or colon separators |
 |
Non-passenger vehicle; first letter or letters indicate vehicle type as follows: BA = taxi or limousine,
CA = ambulance or funeral vehicle, Ex = truck; Gx = trailer, HE = truck for hire
(Paul Casadonte plate) |
| Format S/R00-00T |
photo unavailable |
Special type of trailer plate. "S/R" reported to stand for "Shuttle Relay", "Special Rate", or "State Roads"; exact
meaning or use is unknown. "T" stands for trailer. Similar plates with "TRAC" instead of "T" are a special type of
truck tractor plate. |
| Embossed star figure on the left, followed by a four-character serial number in format 00-00 |
photo unavailable |
Local (city or county) government-owned vehicle or trailer most likely not used for law
enforcement or fire or rescue purposes and not a school bus. |
| Motorcycle plate in format 00-00, with dot separator |
 |
Standard-issue motorcycle plate.
(Joe Sallmen photo and plate) |
| Motorcycle plate in format D0-00
with dot separator; "D" is smaller than the numeric digits |
photo unavailable |
Motorcycle dealer |
| Small 1954 plate with serial LG-19-53, 5 inches by 2 1/4 inches |
 |
This is a toy license plate that was a promotional item found in boxes of Wheaties cereal in 1953. |
| Small 1955 plate with serial MG-10-01, 5 inches by 2 1/4 inches |
photo unavailable |
This is a toy license plate that was a promotional item found in boxes of Wheaties cereal in 1954. |
| Formats xx-00-00, xx-0000, and xx 0000, with dash, diamond, or colon separator(s) or space
separator; 3-31 expiration date |

 |
Passenger vehicle. Some letter combinations reserved for members of certain organizations.
These letters are known to be organizational plates: AL, BB, CC, EE, FD, LC. Letters AA or AB with all zeroes are
samples. |
| Formats 00-00-xx, 0000-xx, and 0000 xx, with dash, diamond, or colon separator(s) or space
separator; 4-30 expiration date |

 |
Non-passenger vehicle; first letter or letters indicate vehicle type as follows: BA = taxi or limousine,
CA = ambulance or funeral vehicle, Ex = truck, FD = Firefighter organizational plate assigned to a personal truck, Gx =
trailer, HE or HF = truck for hire |
| Various three-letter prefix formats, such as xxx-00, xxx-000, xxx 000, xxx-00x,
xxx-0x0, xxx-x00, or xxx0000, with dash, diamond, colon, or space separator, or no separator |

 |
Organizational plate; letters indicate organization: DAV = Disabled American Veterans, VFW = Veterans of
Foreign Wars |
| Format S/R00-00T |
 |
Special type of trailer plate. "S/R" reported to stand for "Shuttle Relay", "Special Rate", or "State Roads"; exact
meaning or use is unknown. "T" stands for trailer. Similar plate with "TRAC" instead of "T" is a special type of
truck tractor plate.
(Tim O'Connor photo and plate) |
| Embossed star figure on the left, followed by a four-character serial number; 3-31 expiration date |
 |
Local (city or county) government-owned passenger car, most likely not used for law enforcement
or fire or rescue purposes. |
| Embossed star figure on the left, or star figure over the word Truck on the left,
followed by a four-character serial; 4-30 expiration date in either case. |

 |
Local (city or county) government-owned truck (or possibly bus, trailer, etc. if the plate doesn't say
"truck"), most likely not used for law enforcement or fire or rescue purposes and not a school
bus.
(1963: David Doernberg photo and plate) |
| Other formats |
 |
Probably an amateur radio operator plate |
| Motorcycle plate in format 00-00, x0-00, 0000, x000, or 000x, with dot or colon
separator or no separator; letter, if any, is same size as numbers. |

 |
Standard-issue motorcycle plate formats. Full-sized letters or lack of letters have no significance.
(Joe Sallmen photos and plates) |
| Motorcycle plate in format D0-00 or D000, with dot or colon separator or no separator; "D" is smaller
than the numeric digits. |
 |
Motorcycle dealer
(Joe Sallmen photo and plate) |
| Small plate with 3-31-60 expiration date and serial AM-19-27 |
photo unavailable |
This was a toy license plate found in boxes of Baker's Square chocolate. |
| Format x 00000 |
 |
Automotive business interchangeable plate; letter indicates business type as follows: D = motor vehicle dealer,
W = automotive wrecker (not a tow truck, but rather issued to a junkyard operator to allow them to move driveable
unregistered vehicles) These plain "D" dealer plates replaced earlier plates on this base that had either "New Car
Dealer" or "Used Car Dealer" embossed on the plate. Likely the wrecker plate was introduced at this same time and
was spun off from either "Used Car Dealer" or "Transporter" plates. |
| Format xx 0000 |

 |
Passenger vehicle. Some alpha combinations reserved for members of certain organizations. These
letters are known to be organizational plates: AL, BB, CC, EE, FD, HG, LC, RI. Serial AA 0000 is a sample.
|
| Format 0000 xx |

 |
Non-passenger vehicle; first letter or letters indicate vehicle type as follows: BA = taxi or limousine,
BM = bus; CA = ambulance or funeral vehicle, Dx = truck, Ex = truck; Fx (except FD or FR) = truck tractor; FD = Firefighter
organizational plate assigned to a personal truck, FR = PSC freight truck, Gx = trailer, Hx = trailer, Jx = truck; MP = bus.
Regarding BM and MP prefixes on bus plates, one is for a charter bus, the other is for a long-distance bus for hire, but
I don't know which is which. |
| Three-letter formats such as xxx 0, xxx 00, xxx 000 or xxx0000 |
 |
Organizational plate; letters indicate organization: DAV = Disabled American Veterans, VFW = Veterans of
Foreign Wars. Other letter combinations are probably vanity plates. |
| Embossed star figure on the left, followed by a four-character serial |
 |
Local (city or county) government-owned passenger vehicle generally not used for law
enforcement or fire or rescue purposes (there are a few known exceptions) and not for school buses.
|
| Four-character serial, followed by embossed star figure on the right |
 |
Local (city or county) government-owned truck, trailer, etc. generally not used for law
enforcement or fire or rescue purposes (there are a few known exceptions) and not for school buses. Serial
letters or lack of letters have no significance.
(Paul Casadonte plate) |
| Embossed maltese cross containing the letters "F/D" on the left, followed by a five-digit numeric serial |
 |
These plates were not not used on actual firefighting equipment. They were organizational
plates issued to firefighters for their personal cars. These replaced earlier firefighter organizational
plates on this base that looked like normal passenger plates and had serial format FD 0000. |
| Five-digit numeric serial, followed by embossed maltese cross containing the letters "F/D" on the right |
 |
These plates were not not used on actual firefighting equipment. They were organizational
plates issued to firefighters for their personal trucks. These replaced earlier firefighter organizational plates on this
base that looked like normal non-passenger plates and had serial format 0000 FD. |
| Other formats |
 |
Probably a vanity plate or an amateur radio operator plate. |
| Motorcycle plate in formats 0000, x000, 000x, xx00, or 00000 |
 |
These are all standard-issue motorcycle plate formats. Letters or lack of letters have no significance.
(Joe Sallmen photo and plate) |
| Format AL 0, AL 00, AL 000, or xx 0000 |
 |
Letters indicate type: AL = American Legion organizational plate, CA = ambulance or funeral vehicle. Other letter combinations are probably vanity plates.
|
| Format xxx 000 |

 |
Private passenger cars 1976-1987; multi-purpose vehicles (usually passenger vans, SUVs, or motor homes)
1976-1980 only. Some alpha combinations reserved for members of certain organizations. These letters are known to be
organizational plates: BBx, DAV, EEx, FPx, HGx, KCx, LCx, MPx, RIx, RXx, TCx, VFW. Serial AAA 000 is a sample.
|
| Formats xxx 0, xxx 00, xxx0000, or xxx 0000 |

 |
Organizational plate; letters indicate organization: DAV = Disabled American Veterans, ELK = Elks Lodge,
VFW = Veterans of Foreign Wars. Other letter combinations are probably vanity plates. No legend at bottom
indicates plate issued to a personal car; "Truck" legend was used
for plate issued to a personal truck.
(DAV plate: Mike Sells photo and plate) |
| Embossed maltese cross containing the letters "F/D" on the left, followed by a five-digit numeric serial,
with or without the legend "Truck" at the bottom |

 |
These plates were not not used on actual firefighting equipment. They were organizational
plates issued to firefighters for their personal vehicles. No legend at bottom indicates plate issued to a personal car;
"Truck" legend was used for plate issued to a personal truck.
(Truck plate: Mike Sells photo and plate) |
| Bicentennial, format 000 xxx |
 |
Extra-cost optional issue plate for passenger cars and multi-purpose vehicles, 1976-1980. Serial 000 AAA
is a sample. |
| 350th Anniversary, format 000*xxx |
 |
Extra-cost optional issue plate for passenger cars, 1984-1987. Serial 000*AAA is a sample.
|
| 350th Anniversary, formats 00000 X or 00000X, with no shield graphic |

 |
Extra-cost optional issue plate for multi-purpose vehicles (usually passenger vans, SUVs, or motor homes),
1984-1987. |
| Other formats |

 |
Probably a vanity plate or an amateur radio operator plate
(Mike Sells photos and plates) |
| Motorcycle plate in format 00000 or 000000 |
 |
Standard-issue motorcycle plate.
(Joe Sallmen photo and plate) |
| Motorcycle plate in other formats, black on white plate only. |
photo unavailable |
Probably a vanity plate. |
| Formats 000*000 and 00x*000 with shield separator |

 |
Truck. Letter (or lack of letter) has no significance. |
| Format I00*000 with shield separator |
 |
Charter bus; discontinued plate type
(David Doernberg photo and plate) |
| Format 000*00x with shield separator |

 |
Letter indicates type of vehicle: B = taxi or limousine, C = ambulance or funeral vehicle, F = truck tractor,
J = van pool, K = farm area truck with limited on-road privileges, P = bus for hire
(Taxi plate in actual use) |
| Format TT0*000 and 000*0TT with shield separator |
photo unavailable |
Tow truck |
| Formats xxx*000 and 0xx*x00 with shield separator |

 |
Private passenger car. Serials NAA*000 and NAA*001 are sample plates. Format 0xx*x00
debuted in September 2004. |
| Formats 000000x, x000000, 000x000, and 00000x0 with no shield separator |

 |
Letter indicates type of vehicle: G = trailer, M = multi-purpose vehicle (usually a passenger van, SUV, or
motor home). Trailers use only format 000000x; multi-purpose vehicles use all four formats. |
| Format x/x*00000 with shield separator |
 |
Letters indicate vehicle use: D/R = rental car, L/G = local government-owned vehicle or trailer, S/G =
state government-owned vehicle or trailer. Rental cars used stickers on rear plates; government vehicles do not. These
government plates are generally not used on law enforcement or fire or rescue vehicles. (There are a few
known exceptions to this.) |
| Formats xx00000 and xxx0000 with no shield separator |
 |
Organizational plate; letters indicate the specific organization. BB = Boumi Temple (Shriners), DV = Disabled American
Veterans, FP = Fraternal Order of Police |
| Format 00000xx with no shield separator |
photo unavailable |
Letters indicate type of vehicle: LM = limousine, TT = tow truck |
| Format E00000D with no shield separator |
photo unavailable |
Dump truck plate; also issued to cement mixer trucks |
| Other formats, with no shield separator |
 |
Probably a vanity plate. However, serial SAMPLE is, obviously, a sample plate.
(undated front plate) |
| Apportioned plates, format 000*x00 or 000*x/x00 with shield separator |
 |
Letter or letters indicate type of vehcile: E = regular truck, E/D = dump truck, F = truck tractor, G =
trailer, P = bus for hire, T/E = tow truck
(Plate in actual use) |
| Farm plates, format 000*00x/x with shield separator |
photo unavailable |
Letters indicate type of vehicle: F/T = farm truck, T/R = farm-use "big rig" truck tractor |
| Motorcycle plate in format 00000D, 0000D0, 000D00, 000M00, or 0D0000 |
 |
Standard-issue motorcycle plate; however, motorcycle plates with these actual serial numbers are samples. |
| Motorcycle plate in other formats |
photo unavailable |
Probably a vanity plate. However, serial SAMPLE is, obviously, a sample plate. |
| Green on white-to-blue fade, format x00*000 with bird separator |
 |
First generation Chesapeake non-passenger plate; issued 1990 to 2003 and still in use. Letter indicates
type of vehicle: B = taxi, G = trailer.
(Tim O'Connor photo and plate) |
| Green on white-to-blue fade, format 0xx*000 with bird separator |
 |
First generation Chesapeake light truck plate; issued 1990 to 2003 and still in use. |
| Green on white-to-blue fade, format 000*xxx with bird separator |
 |
First generation Chesapeake passenger car plate; issued 1990 to 2003 and still in use. |
| Green on white-to-blue fade, format xxx*00x with bird separator |
 |
First generation Chesapeake multi-purpose vehicle (usually a passenger van, SUV, or motor home) plate;
issued 1990 to 2003 and still in use.
(undated front plate) |
| Green on white-to-blue fade, other formats, with no bird separator |
 |
First generation Chesapeake plate without the bird was used only for handicapped and vanity plates.
Issued 1990 to 2003 and still in use. However, serial SAMPLE is, obviously, a sample plate.
(Plate in actual use) |
| Black on blue-to-white fade, formats 00000B/Y, 00000C/A, 00000C/B, and 00000C/C with
bird graphic at left |
 |
Second generation Chesapeake plate, issued 2004 to present. Passenger serial suffixes, but issued to cars
as well as multi-purpose vehicles, light trucks, and taxis.
(Plate in actual use) |
| Black on blue-to-white fade, format 00000G/A with bird graphic at left |
photo unavailable |
Second generation Chesapeake plate, issued 2004 to present. Trailer serial suffix. |
| Black on blue-to-white fade, other formats with no stacked letters, with or without bird graphic at left |
 |
Second generation Chesapeake plate, issued 2004 to present. Probably a vanity plate. However, serial SAMPLE
is, obviously, a sample plate.
(Plate in actual use) |