Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives 

Red on white, formats G 0000 or G 00000 with Local Govt. legend. 

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.) 

Red on white, format S 00000 with State legend. 

Used March 1975 through April 1980 without stickers.  State government-owned vehicle generally not used for law enforcement purposes. 

Red on white motorcycle plate; sticker box in the lower right corner. 

This base plate was used March 1975 through March 1980.  Valid through March 1976 without stickers, then renewed with year stickers. 
(Sells photo / plate)

Other red on white plates, with sticker box in the 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. 

Black on white with embossed Maryland, formats G 0000 or G 00000 with Local Govt. legend. 

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.) 

Black on white with embossed Maryland, format S 00000 with State legend. 

Used March 1980 through about April 1987 without stickers.  State government-owned vehicle generally not used for law enforcement purposes. 

Black on white motorcycle plate with embossed Md.; sticker box in lower right corner. 

This base plate was issued March 1980 through January 1986.  Valid through March 1981 without stickers, then renewed with year stickers through March 1986, and with month and year stickers through September 1987. 
(Sallmen photo / plate)

Other black on white plates with embossed Maryland, sticker box with lightly embossed border in upper right corner. 

This base plate was issued March-April-May 1980 through early 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 then with month and year stickers on only the rear plate through September 1987. 

Black on dark yellow motorcycle plate with embossed Md.; sticker box in lower right corner. 

This is a State Police motorcycle plate, likely from approximately 1983 or 1984.  (I know, I said I wasn't covering police plates, but you might not have known that this even is a police plate without a little help.)  Sticker box was never used. 
(Cooper photo / plate)

Black on reflective white with screened Maryland, serial formats L/G*00000 or S/G*00000 with graphic shield separator. 

Used February 1986 to present without stickers.  Hologram indicates year of manufacture.  State web site legend appears on plates manufactured since 2005.  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 rescue applications. 
(both plates in actual use)

Black on reflective white with screened 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.  State web site legend appears on recently manufactured plates. 
(NAA*000 – O'Connor photo / plate; SAM*PLE – on display at the Maryland MVA)

Black on reflective white motorcycle plate with screened Maryland, actual serials 00000D, 0000D0, 000D00, or SAMPLE. 

Motorcycle sample plates distributed February 1986 to present without stickers.  Hologram indicates year of manufacture.  State web site legend probably appears on recently manufactured plates. 

Other black on reflective white with screened Maryland, various serial formats with or without graphic shield separator. 

This base plate design has 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.  Plates with no legend were generally made between 1986 and 2005; those with the state web site legend were made since 2005; plates with other legends could be from any time between 1986 and the present. 

Green on white-to-blue fade Treasure the Chesapeake, various serial 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 blue-to-white fade Treasure the Chesapeake, various serial formats with or without graphic bird at left. 

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. 

Black on orange-to-yellow-fade Our Farms, Our Future, various serial 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)

Serial format xx-00-00, with dash, diamond, or colon separators. 

Passenger car.  Some letter combinations were reserved for members of certain organizations.  Some of the more common organizational serial letters include AL, BB, CC, EE, FD, and LC.  Serial AA-00-00 is a sample. 

Serial 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 for hire, CA = commercial ambulance or funeral vehicle, Ex = truck, Gx = trailer, HE = truck for hire.  Letters AE are truly a mystery. 
(Casadonte plate)

Serial format S/R00-00T. 

A special type of trailer.  "S/R" has been 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. 

Government-owned motor vehicle or trailer, most likely not used for law enforcement or fire or rescue purposes and not a school bus. 

Motorcycle plate in serial format 00-00, with dot separator. 

Regular motorcycle plate. 
(Sallmen photo / plate)

Motorcycle plate in serial format D0-00, with dot separator; "D" is smaller than the numeric digits. 

Motorcycle dealer plate. 

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 for Wheaties cereal in 1953. 

Small 1955 plate with serial MG-10-01, 5 inches by 2 1/4 inches. 

This is a toy license plate that was a promotional item for Wheaties cereal in 1954. 

Serial formats xx-00-00, xx-0000, and xx 0000, with dash, diamond, or colon separator(s), or space separator; 3-31 expiration date. 

Passenger car.  Some letter combinations were reserved for members of certain organizations.  Some of the more common organizational serial letters include:  AL, BB, CC, EE, FD, and LC.  Serial letters AA and AB followed by all zeroes are sample plates. 

Serial 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 for hire, CA = commercial ambulance or funeral vehicle, Ex = truck, Gx = trailer, HE and HF = truck for hire.  Letters AE are truly a mystery. 

Various three-letter prefix formats, such as xxx-0, xxx-00, xxx-000, xxx-00x, xxx-0x0, xxx-x00, and xxx0000, with dash, diamond, colon, or space separator, or no separator. 

Organizational member plate; letters indicate organization:  DAV = Disabled American Veterans, VFW = Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

Serial format S/R00-00T. 

A special type of trailer.  "S/R" has been 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; 3-31 expiration date. 

Local (city or county) government-owned passenger car, most likely not used for law enforcement or fire or rescue purposes (there are a few known exceptions to this). 

Embossed large star figure on the left, or small 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 non-passenger vehicle, most likely not used for law enforcement or fire or rescue purposes (there are a few known exceptions to this) and not a school bus.  Plates without the Truck legend were used for both trucks and other non-passenger vehicles through 1967 expirations. 

Other serial formats. 

Probably an amateur radio operator plate.  3-31 expiration date indicates a passenger car; 4-30 expiration date indiciates a truck or other non-passenger vehicle. 

Motorcycle plate with serial formats 00-00, x0-00, 0000, x000, or 000x, with dot or colon separator or no separator; serial letter, if any, is the same size as the numbers. 

1967 plate with a full-sized "D" prefix is a motorcycle dealer plate; possibly also 1965 and 1966 plates.  Serials that are all-numeric or have other serial letters are standard motorcycle plates; letters or lack of letters have no significance.  Plates with a full-sized "D" from 1968 or later are also standard motorcycle plates. 
(Sallmen photos / plates)

Motorcycle plate in formats D0-00 or D000, with dot, colon, or diamond separator or no separator; "D" is smaller than the numeric digits. 

Motorcycle dealer plate. 
(Sallmen photo / plate)

Small plate with 3-31-60 expiration date and serial AM-19-27. 

This is a toy license plate that was a promotional item for Baker's Square chocolate in 1959. 

Serial 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).  The plain "D" dealer plates replaced earlier plates on this base that had either New Car Dealer or Used Car Dealer embossed on the plate. 

Serial format xx 0000. 

Passenger car.  Some letter combinations were reserved for members of certain organizations.  Some of the more common organizational serial letters include:  AL, BB, CC, EE, FD, and LC.  Serial AA 0000 is a sample plate. 

Serial format 0000 xx. 

Non-passenger vehicle; first letter or letters indicate vehicle type as follows:  BA = taxi or limousine for hire, BM = bus; CA = commercial ambulance or funeral vehicle, Dx = truck, Ex = truck; FA, FB, FC = truck tractor; FD = Firemen's Association organizational member plate assigned to a personal truck; FR = PSC freight truck, Gx = trailer, Hx = trailer, Jx = truck; MP = bus. 

Various three-letter prefix formats such as xxx 0, xxx 00, xxx 000, and xxx0000. 

Organizational member 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 number. 

Local (city or county) government-owned passenger car, most likely not used for law enforcement or fire or rescue purposes (there are a few known exceptions to this). 

Four-character serial number, followed by an embossed star figure on the right. 

Local (city or county) government-owned non-passenger vehicle, most likely not used for law enforcement or fire or rescue purposes (there are a few known exceptions to this), and not a school bus.  Serial letters or lack of letters have no significance. 
(Casadonte plate)

Embossed maltese cross containing the letters "F/D" on the left, followed by a five-digit numeric serial. 

These plates were not used on actual firefighting equipment.  They were Firemen's Association organizational member plates issued for personal cars.  These replaced earlier plates on this base that looked like normal passenger car plates and had serial format FD 0000. 

Five-digit numeric serial, followed by an embossed maltese cross containing the letters "F/D" on the right. 

These plates were not used on actual firefighting equipment.  They were Firemen's Association organizational member plates issued for personal trucks.  These replaced earlier plates on this base that looked like normal non-passenger plates and had serial format 0000 FD. 

Other serial formats. 

Probably a vanity plate or an amateur radio operator plate. 

Motorcycle plate with serial formats 0000, x000, 000x, xx00, or 00000. 

Standard motorcycle plates; letters or lack of letters have no significance. 
(Sallmen photo / plate)

Two letter serial formats AL 0, AL 00, AL 000, and xx 0000. 

Letters indicate type:  AL = American Legion organizational member; CA = commercial ambulance or funeral vehicle.  Other letter combinations are probably vanity plates. 

Serial format xxx 000. 

Passenger car.  Vehicles later registered as multi-purpose vehicles (usually passenger vans, SUVs, motor homes, or not-for-hire buses) used passenger car plates through 1980.  Some alpha combinations were reserved for members of certain organizations.  Some of the more common organizational serial letters include: BBx, DAV, EEx, FPx, HGx, KCx, LCx, NGx, RIx, TCx, and VFW.  Serial AAA 000 is a sample plate. 

Other three letter formats xxx 0, xxx 00, xxx0000, and xxx 0000, with or without the legend Truck at the bottom. 

Organizational member plates; letters indicate the 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 a plate issued for a passenger car; Truck legend was used on a plate issued for a personal truck. 
(DAV plate:  Sells photo / 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 used on actual firefighting equipment.  They were Firemen's Association organizational member plates issued for personal vehicles.  No legend at bottom indicates a plate issued for a passenger car; Truck legend was used on a plate issued for a personal truck. 

Other serial formats. 

Probably a vanity plate or an amateur radio operator plate.  No legend at bottom indicates a plate issued for a passenger car; Truck legend was used on a plate issued for a personal truck. 
(Sells photo / plate)

Motorcycle plate in format 00000 or 000000. 

Standard motorcycle plate. 
(Sallmen photo / plate)

Motorcycle plate in other formats; black on white plate only. 

Probably a vanity plate. 

Bicentennial, serial format 000 xxx. 

Extra-cost optional issue plate for passenger cars and multi-purpose vehicles, 1976-1980.  Most serial suffixes were sequentially-issued, but ANG and ART suffixes are organizational member plates.  Serial number 000 AAA is a sample plate.

Bicentennial, other serial formats. 

Probably a vanity plate or an amateur radio operator plate. 

350th Anniversary, serial format 000*xxx. 

Extra-cost optional issue plate for passenger cars, 1984-1987.  Serial number 000*AAA is a sample plate. 

350th Anniversary, serial formats 00000 X and 00000X, with no shield graphic. 

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

350th Anniversary, other serial formats. 

Probably a vanity plate or an amateur radio operator plate. 

Full-sized plate with serial format 00000. 

Eight-year registration fleet trailer plate.  Issued between 1980 and 1985 with unique 1988 through 1993 expiration stickers, always red on white.  Some of these plates had a Trailer legend, but others did not. 

Serial formats 000*000 and 00x*000, with shield separator. 

Truck.  Format 00x*000 was introduced in 1992.  Letter (or lack of letter) has no significance. 

Serial format I00*000, with shield separator. 

Charter bus; this plate type became obsolete in 1988. 
(Doernberg photo / plate)

Serial format 000*00x, with shield separator. 

Letter indicates type of vehicle:  B = taxi or limousine for hire; C = commercial ambulance or funeral vehicle; F = truck tractor; J = van pool; K = farm area truck with limited on-road privileges, and since 2006, a vehicle used on an island with no access to the mainland; P = bus for hire. 
(plate with web site legend in actual use)

Serial formats TT0*000 and 000*0TT, with shield separator. 

Tow truck. 
(plate in actual use)

Serial formats xxx*000 and 0xx*x00, with shield separator. 

Passenger car.  Serials NAA*000 and NAA*001 are sample plates.  Format 0xx*x00 debuted in September 2004.  State web site legend began in February 2005. 

One letter, six number serial formats, with no separator:  000000x, x000000, 000x000, and 00000x0.

Letter indicates type of vehicle:  G = trailer, M = multi-purpose vehicle (usually a passenger van, SUV, motor home, or not-for-hire bus).  Among these formats, trailers use only 000000x; multi-purpose vehicles use all four formats. 

Serial format x/x*00000, with shield separator. 

Letters indicate vehicle use:  D/R = rental car, L/G = local government-owned motor vehicle or trailer, S/G = state government-owned motor 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.) 
(plate with web site legend in actual use)

Serial formats xx00000 and xxx0000 with no separator. 

Organizational member plate; letters indicate the specific organization.  Most also have a legend identifying the organization, but these do not:  BB = Boumi Temple (Shriners), BNA = B'nai B'rith, CCC = Grace Bible Church of North Carroll, DV = Disabled American Veterans, FP = Fraternal Order of Police, FPA = Fraternal Order of Police Associate Members, JWV = Jewish War Veterans, NOW = National Organization for Women, ROJ = Royal Order of Jesters, YG = Yedz Grotto (Masons). 

Serial format 00000xx with no separator. 

Letters indicate type of vehicle:  LM = limousine for hire, TL = trailer, TT = tow truck. 
(both plates in actual use)

Serial format E00000D with no separator. 

Dump truck plate; also issued to cement mixer trucks. 

Other serial formats with no shield separator, and no identifying legend. 

Probably a vanity plate.  However, serial SAMPLE is, obviously, a sample plate. 
(unstickered front plate)

Apportioned plates, serial formats 000*x00 and 000*x/x00, both with shield separator. 

Letter or letters indicate type of vehicle:  E = regular truck, E/D = dump truck, F = truck tractor, G = trailer, P = bus for hire, T/E = tow truck. 
(bus plate in actual use)

Farm plates, format 000*00x/x with shield separator. 

Letters indicate type of vehicle:  F/T = farm truck, T/R = farm-use "big rig" truck tractor. 

Motorcycle plates with serial formats 00000D, 0000D0, 000D00, 000M00, 0D0000, or D00000. 

Standard motorcycle plates; however, motorcycle plates with these actual serial numbers are samples. 

Motorcycle plates with other serial formats. 

Probably a vanity plate.  However, serial SAMPLE is, obviously, a sample plate. 

Treasure the Chesapeake, green on white-to-blue fade, serial 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. 
(O'Connor photo / plate)

Treasure the Chesapeake, green on white-to-blue fade, serial format 0xx*000, with bird separator. 

First generation Chesapeake light truck plate; issued 1990 to 2003 and still in use. 

Treasure the Chesapeake, green on white-to-blue fade, serial format 000*xxx, with bird separator. 

First generation Chesapeake passenger car plate; issued 1990 to 2003 and still in use. 

Treasure the Chesapeake, green on white-to-blue fade, serial format xxx*00x, with bird separator. 

First generation Chesapeake multi-purpose vehicle (usually a passenger van, SUV, motor home, or not-for-hire bus) plate; issued 1990 to 2003 and still in use. 
(unstickered front plate)

Treasure the Chesapeake, green on white-to-blue fade, other serial formats, with no bird separator. 

First generation Chesapeake plates without the bird were used only for handicapped, vanity, and sample plates.  Issued 1990 to 2003 and still in use.  Serial SAMPLE is, obviously, a sample plate. 

Treasure the Chesapeake, black on blue-to-white fade, serial formats 00000B/Y and 00000C/x, with bird graphic at left. 

Second generation Chesapeake passenger car plate, issued 2004 to present.  On this base, passenger car serial formats were issued not only for cars, but also for multi-purpose vehicles, light trucks, and taxis. 

Treasure the Chesapeake, black on blue-to-white fade, serial format 00000G/A, with bird graphic at left. 

Second generation Chesapeake trailer plate, issued 2004 to present. 
(plate in actual use)

Treasure the Chesapeake, black on blue-to-white fade, other serial formats with no stacked letters, with or without the bird graphic at left. 

Second generation Chesapeake plate without stacked serial letters are used only for vanity and sample plates.  The bird graphic is omitted for serials with seven characters and spaces.  Issued 2004 to present.  Serial SAMPLE is, obviously, a sample plate. 
(plate in actual use)

Our Farms, Our Future, serial format A000000, where the first numeric digit is other than a "9". 

Passenger car, issued 2001 to present.  On this base, however, the passenger car serial format is issued not only for cars, but also for multi-purpose vehicles, light trucks, and taxis. 

Our Farms, Our Future, serial format A900000, where the first numeric digit is a "9". 

Trailer, issued 2001 to present. 

Our Farms, Our Future, serial format F/T 00000. 

Farm truck, issued 2001 to present. 
(Ellis photo of plate in actual use)

Our Farms, Our Future, other serial formats. 

Probably a vanity plate, issued 2001 to present.  However, serial SAMPLE is, obviously, a sample plate. 
(plate in actual use)