Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives

Introduction

From 1906 until 1979, Pennsylvania license plates displayed the year of issuance.  However, plates and/or stickers dated from 1941 until 1979 actually expired on March 31 of the following year.  The last non-staggered registrations bore a 1979 sticker, which actually expired on March 31, 1980.  Staggered registrations were first issued in October 1979, and first expired at the end of September, 1980. Staggered registration stickers have the expiration month and year printed on the stickers rather than the issue year. 

Pennsylvania has consistently issued single passenger plates since 1952.  All Pennsylvania license plates, excluding motorcycle plates, since those with 1956 issue dates have been 6 inches high by 12 inches wide. 

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.  Please note that all plates shown that are credited to another person are plates that I am still seeking for my own collection. 

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Pennsylvania passenger car and station wagon plates, 1958-1964

Passenger car plates, 1958-1964

Other serial formats not shown above (Lybarger photo / plate) All-numeric, four-digit serial (not shown) Four-character serial with letter in position 1 (not shown) Four-character serial with letter in position 4 (not shown) Four-character serial with letters in positions 1 and 2 Four-character serial with letters in positions 3 and 4 (not shown) All-numeric, five-digit serial (not shown) Five-character serial with letter in position 1 (not shown) Five-character serial with letter in position 5 (not shown) Five-character serial with letters in positions 4 and 5 (not shown) All-numeric, six-digit serial (not shown)

The dated 1958 passenger plate was Pennsylvania's first multi-year base plate, other than the 1942 plate whose life was extended for one year due to metal shortages during World War II.  The plates issued in 1958 included a tab slot next to the embossed year, which was shortened to just "58".  It's obvious that the intent was to cover the year on the plate with a metal tab in subsequent years.  However, these plates were instead renewed in 1959 and subsequent years with a sticker, making Pennsylvania among the first few states to use registration stickers on license plates.  The state name abbreviation was shortened to "Pa" and centered; the shortened year "58" was positioned under the upper right bolt hole.  The correct placement of the renewal sticker was under the upper left bolt hole, although there was no sticker well or box to indicate this.  All 1958-1964 plates carried the embossed year "58" regardless of the actual year of issuance.  The tab slot was removed from new issues of the base plate beginning approximately with V-prefixed plates in late 1959. 

Serials with four or five characters, which had either no letters, one letter at the beginning or end of the serial, or two adjacent letters at the beginning or end of the serial, were all issued in 1958, as were serials with six numeric digits.  These formats had all been used previously.  However, serials with two non-adjacent letters had been discontinued for 1957, and alpha-numeric serial plates with numbers on both sides of the letter(s) were now discontinued for 1958.  Six-character formats now had a keystone separator between the third and fourth characters.  Got all that?  In other words, continuing serial formats included 0000, x000, 000x, xx00, 00xx, 00000, x0000, 0000x, xx000, 000xx, and 000-000. 

A few new serial formats were introduced during the seven-year life of this base.  These proved to be more common than any of the continuing formats.  Fairly early in 1958, a new format x00-000 made its debut.  Later, when all combinations of letters and numbers were issued in this format, formats 000-00x and then 0x0-000 were subsequently used. 

1959 passenger renewal sticker

1959 passenger new registration sticker

Pennsylvania employed an unusual sticker serial numbering system from 1959 to about 1974 that has confused many collectors.  Renewal stickers have a seven-digit numeric serial number, which is rather unremarkable.  However, year stickers used for newly-issued plates always have the serial number "PA0000".  These are not sample stickers placed on regular plates.  Knowing this can aid the collector in identifying a natural plate merely from a photograph, without having to physically inspect the plate to see whether other stickers are hiding under the top sticker.  (Of course, incorrect stickers that have been subsequently applied could still be a problem.) 

Station wagon plates, 1960-1964

During the years 1960 to 1964, Pennsylvania issued license plates to station wagons and other similar passenger vehicles (which today we would call SUVs and mini-vans) that were distinct from normal passenger car plates.  These plates are embossed with the legend Pa Suburban 60 across the top.  "Pa" of course is the state abbreviation, and "60" is the first year of issuance.  "Suburban" does not mean the vehicle owner lived in the suburbs, nor does it mean that the vehicle it was assigned to was necessarily a Chevy Suburban.  Rather, "suburban" is an archaic term for station wagon. 

(Incidentally, this is where the Chevy Suburban got its name.  Originally, "Chevy suburban" just simply meant "Chevy station wagon", but gradually as people stopped using the term "suburban" in the generic sense, it came to be used as an actual model name.  But I digress.) 

Other serial formats not shown above (Lybarger photo / plate) Various formats with fewer than six characters, Q in various positions Six-character serial with Q in position 2 (not shown) Six-character serial with Q in position 3 (not shown) Six-character serial with Q in position 4 (not shown) Six-character serial with Q in position 1 and a variable letter in position 3 (not shown)

Suburban license plate serial number formats always included the letter "Q" as the first letter, although its position varied.  Initially, plates had the letter Q and up to five numbers, with the Q initally in position 1, then positions 2 through 6 in order (as opposed to passenger plates which had a letter in postion 1, then 6, then 2).  When thsee formats were exhausted, the letter Q was returned to position 1, followed by a second adjacent letter.  This additional format was also exhausted, and then a split format was begun, with the Q in position 1 and another letter in position 3. 

No stickers were used in 1960, since the year was already embossed on the plate.  The embossed year "60" was found on all suburban plates issued 1960 through 1964.  Stickers for 1961 throuh 1964 were of different colors than regular passenger stickers or truck stickers; they were placed in the upper left corner, the only flat place on the plate with enough room. 

For some unknown reason, a good number of suburban plates have 1964 stickers with serial number PA0000 placed over top of 1963 stickers.  Stickers with this serial number ordinarily indicate a new registration, so you should not see them placed over top of other stickers.  I'm guessing someone at the DMV got carried away and applied 1963 stickers to too many plates, and those that weren't issued in 1963 then had a 1964 sticker applied over the 1963 sticker before they were issued.  I've never seen an older-issue (pre-1963) suburban plate with a 1964 sticker with serial PA0000. 

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Pennsylvania passenger car plates, 1965-1970

Other serial formats not shown above (plate previously in my trade box) All-numeric serial Letter in serial position 1 (not shown)

All 1958-1964 passenger car and station wagon plates were replaced during a general reissue in 1965.  Suburban plates were discontinued and station wagons again received regular passenger car plates.  The 1965 base plate was undated and was valid during its first year without stickers; it was then renewed with stickers through 1970.  It again featured the state map outline border, this time with dark blue characters on a dark yellow background.  For the first time in Pennsylvania license plate history, the state name was spelled out in full.  Correct sticker placement was again in the upper left corner, although there were no aids such as sticker wells or boxes to guide the motorist with sticker location. 

Serial formats were similar to the 1958 base, except that plates with fewer than six characters were not issued as standard plates.  First, all-numeric, six-digit plates were issued, followed in order by serials with a letter in position 1, position 6, position 2, and position 3.  Vanity plates were introduced in 1965, although the serial numbers could not exceed five characters and were required to contain both letters and numbers, and words were not allowed.  Motorists who wanted to keep their five-character or fewer serial numbers from the previous base were allowed to do so by ordering them as vanity plates. 

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Pennsylvania passenger car plates, 1971-1976

The next Pennsylvania passenger car plate general reissue was in 1971.  Anticipating that they would be used through 1976, these plates bore the legend Bicentennial State '76 along the bottom, and featured a large embossed Liberty Bell graphic separator in the center.  (The Liberty Bell is located in Philadelphia, by the way.)  The serial number dies were made narrower in order to accommodate the Liberty Bell graphic; these dies remain in use through the present day.  The full state name appeared again at the top center, and for the first time, there were sticker wells located in the upper left and upper right corners.  On early issues, the left sticker well contained an etched "71", no doubt necessary since the only other year indicated on the plate was the embossed '76.  The state map outline border was history; this was the first passenger car plate since 1936, 35 years prior, not to have this feature. 

Other serial formats not shown above (plates previously in my trade box) All-numeric serial Letter in serial position 6

Serial formats followed the same pattern as on the 1965 base, except that it became necessary to also use the fourth serial position for the letter.  Therefore, the sequence of serial formats was 000*000, x00*000, 000*00x, 0x0*000, 00x*000, and finally 000*x00.  (The asterisk indicates the position of the Liberty Bell separator.) 

On this base, even-year registration stickers were blue on white and were placed in the right well; odd-year stickers were red on white and went in the left well.  Beginning in 1973, most plates displayed two stickers at any given time; the plates pictured above are naturals and therefore have only one sticker.  1974 was apparently the last year for the special new registration sticker with serial "PA0000".  Beginning in 1975 and continuing through 2000, newly issued plates had a sticker with a large "T" (for temporary), which was then supposed to be overlaid with an actual year sticker with a normal serial number for the initial registration year.  Therefore, finding natural plates during this timeframe is a little tricky, because there will almost always be the "T" sticker under the first year sticker. 

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Pennsylvania passenger car plates, 1977-2002

Passenger car plates, 1977-2000

The general reissue of March 1977 swept away the Bicentennial plates that had become so "last year".  Keeping with tradition, the next base plate had dark blue letters on a dark yellow background.  At the center of the plate was a large, embossed keystone outline; the legend at the bottom proclaimed Keystone State for the first time.  At the top of the plate were the state name and the two sticker wells in the upper corners.  This time, there was no etched date in either well, nor was there any embossed date on this plate.  The plate was used for its first year without stickers, and in subsequent years with stickers. 

Again, probably at least initially, even-year stickers were supposed to go in the upper right corner, and the odd-year stickers in the upper left corner.  But sticker placement became problematic to new registrants, because on this base the temporary "T" sticker was consistently placed in the upper right corner during manufacture.  Motorists therefore usually placed their first expiration sticker over top of the "T" sticker, regardless of whether it was an even or odd year, and then proceeded to apply subsequent expiration stickers in alternating sticker wells. 

Other serial formats not shown above (plate previously in my trade box) All-numeric serial (not shown) Letter in serial position 6

There were a few significant changes in Pennsylvania license plate issuance during the time this yellow base was issued.  Upon reaching serial 9Z9*999 in approximately August or September 1979, the long-running one-letter serial format was discontinued, and new plates began to be issued in the xxx*000 format that was widely used across the U.S. at the time.  A small number of early Axx*000 series plates were issued with 1979 registration stickers.  Staggered registration was introduced in October 1979, with the earliest stickers indicating a September 1980 expiration, since Pennsylvania initially registers vehicles for 12 inclusive months.  When the 1979 annual stickers all expired at the end of March 1980, renewals were issued with staggered expiration dates ranging between September 1980 and August 1981. 

The blue-on-yellow base continued to be issued to new registrants until approximately late 1983, with natural 1984 expirations.  In late 1983, a new base was introduced; however, existing stocks of the old base continued to be issued simultaneously with the new base until they were depleted, and the yellow bases continued to be renewed for another 15 years.  After the March 1977 reissue, Pennsylvania did not have another general reissue until late 1999.  By 1999, these 1977 bases had become pretty awful looking, and they were replaced as quickly as the tri-color base plates became available, without even waiting for the old yellow plates to expire one last time. 

1979 sticker (passengers expired March 1980)

1980 passenger sticker (Sept. - Dec. only)

1981 sticker (January - December)

1982 sticker, type 1 (January - August)

1982 sticker, type 2 (September - December)

Staggered registration stickers contain both the expiration month and year on a single sticker.  All stickers for a given year have the same colors.  For some reason, the 1980 stickers (which were dated September-December only), all 1981 stickers, and the January-August 1982 stickers featured the expiration month in large prominent letters, while the expiration year was so small you had to be inches away to read it.  At a distance, these stickers looked like month stickers only. 

This scheme was not well thought-out for a couple of reasons.  An example of one problem: if a motorist already had 1978 and 1979 year stickers, then received a staggered January 1981 expiration and dutifully placed the January 1981 sticker over the 1979 sticker in the left well, it then appeared that the plate expired in January 1978 rather than January 1981.  A second problem: The 1980 and 1982 stickers had the same color scheme, and two stickers were displayed on the plate at a time. Therefore, beginning in September 1981 when the September 1982 expiration renewal stickers were issued, there would be no way to distinguish between a plate with 1980 and 1981 stickers, and one with 1981 and 1982 stickers, except from inches away. 

Before this second problem actually occurred, the state realized what would happen, and beginning with the September 1982 sticker, the format was changed to display a large numeric month and two-digit year.  This sticker format continues unchanged to the present day. 

Passenger car plates, 1984-2002

About mid-1983, a new base plate was introduced, but even though six-plus years had elapsed since the last general reissue, this new base was issued to new registrants only.  This plate was dark yellow on dark blue, of course, and this time the keystone separator was solid rather than just an outline as was used on the previous base.  The most notable feature was the use of the state's then-current tourism slogan, with the words You've Got a Friend in across the top of the plate, and continuing with Pennsylvania centered at the bottom.  This entire slogan, including the state name, was embossed using mixed-case letters.  The use of embossed lower-case letters is fairly rare in license plate history.  Anyway, this base plate had only a single sticker well in the lower left corner, with just an empty spot in the lower right corner.  The intent was of course for motorists to only display a single sticker in the well, but many of them continued the practice of the previous two bases by placing alternating year stickers in the two corners.  The serial format continued to be xxx*000, beginning in the HAA series. 

This base was somewhat controversial and unpopular due to the slogan, and it was short-lived.  Some people considered the phrase to be gramatically incorrect.  One account states that the Quakers, a Pennsylvania-based Christian denomination formally known as the Society of Friends, found the slogan to be patronizing.  The serial range got up to the late Rxx series (though I don't know whether RZZ*999 was actually reached) in late 1987 when it was replaced. 

Passenger car plates, 1988-2002

In late 1987, the tourism slogan used for the previous four years was summarily dismissed, and the legend Keystone State made its reappearance.  The legend and the state name also inexplicably reverted back to all upper-case letters.  Otherwise, these plates were identical visually to the previous "Friend" base.  The legend was placed at the top of the plate, and the state name and single sticker well were at the bottom.  Once again, this plate was issued to new registrants only, and the bases introduced in 1977 and 1983 continued to be valid with appropriate stickers.  The serial format remained xxx*000, and started in the SAA series on this base. 

During 1991, serial ZZZ*999 was reached, exhausing the format.  A new serial format xxx-0000 was begun, starting in the AAA series.  These were the first 7-character standard passenger car plates ever issued by Pennsylvania.  Adding the seventh character necessitated shrinking the keystone separator back to the size used from 1958 to 1970.  The serial numbers reached the early Cxx series, specifically to the CEE series by one account, when this base stopped being issued in June 2000. 

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Pennsylvania passenger car plates, 2000-present

Passenger car plates, 2000-present

Sometime during the late 1990s, it dawned on Pennsylvania officials that the state could not go on forever without a plate reissue of some kind.  Some of the yellow plates were over twenty years old, and since in Pennsylvania the plate stays with the owner and not the vehicle, there were a significant number of these still on the road.  After two decades of use, many of them had become pretty ratty looking and even unreadable. 

The decision was made to replace all plates, both the yellow and the blue bases, with a new design.  The yellow plates were replaced first, on an accelerated basis between September 1999 and February 2000.  Yellow plates with January expirations were replaced first, and those with December expirations were replaced last, as quickly as the new plates could be made.  Serials on this new base began in the DAA series; the last of the tri-colored plates that replaced old yellow plates were issued in the DDN series and originally had a December 2000 expiration sticker. 

According to information provided by the state, the blue plates were then replaced over a two-year period between July 2000 and June 2002, as they came up for renewal.  Blue plates registered in even-numbered zip codes were scheduled to be replaced between July 2000 and June 2001, and those registered in odd-numbered zip codes between July 2001 and June 2002.  However, it's reported by one license plate collector who's a Pennsylvania resident that this deadline was later exteneded to August 2002.  I'm not clear about why this would have been necessary.  The new plate was issued to all new registrants beginning July 2000, with the earliest expiration date of June 2001.  The remainder of the DDN series not issued as yellow-base replacements were issued this way. 

This plate has the familiar sticker well to the left of the state name, both of which were moved back to the top of the plate.  However, it's not unusual for collectors to come across plates on this base with no stickers.  There are two reasons for this.  One is that the old "T" (for "temporary") stickers introduced in 1975 were no longer placed on the plate pending the arrival of a real sticker.  Instead, the bare plate was issued along with a temporary window sticker.  Second, is that residents of Philadelphia were initially required to display "real" (not temporary) window stickers to indicate their plates were valid rather than plate stickers.  This was done because theft of plate stickers was apparently a problem that was both significant and primarily limited to Philadelphia for some reason.  Apparently some Philadelphia residents did not like being singled out with different stickers, and so for a while they were given the option of receiving a plate sticker or a window sticker.  Reportedly, Philadelphia window registration stickers were discontinued in December 2003. 

Serial formats and dies continued from the previous base, with the serial numbers starting in the DAA series.  Other than the serial number and the keystone separator, the remainder of the plate is screened.  This base was the first Pennsylvania standard passenger car plate to ever have more than two colors, and the first to have any screened elements.  It also has the distinction of being the first license plate anywhere in the United States (and perhaps in the world) to display a web address, www.state.pa.us, which is the address of the state government's home page. 

The highest observed letter sequence on this base is FYC.  Some very late Fxx series plates were issued with natural early 2006 expiration stickers on this base before the existing stock was used up.  The latest reported natural 2006 expiration on this base is April.  This base plate continues to be renewed with stickers. 

In an apparent reaction to the late-1970s yellow plates having been on the road for over twenty years, state law was revised to require plates to be replaced after ten years of use.  This meant that these tri-color fade plates would have been due for replacement beginning in late 2009.  However, in November 2008, the law was again revised to eliminate the requirement to replace plates solely because of their age.  This was passed as a cost-saving measure, justified, I'm sure, due to the worsening economy and projected state budget shortfalls.  Now, instead, individual plates will be replaced free of charge if they're determined to be illegible by a law enforcement officer or a certified inspection mechanic.  So, gradually, one at a time, these tri-color fade plates will be removed from the road, but they will not disappear completely anytime soon. 

Passenger car plates, 2005-present

In late December 2004, Pennsylvania began issuing a modified version of the blue/white/yellow tri-color license plate.  In Pennsylvania, the initial registration period is for 12 months inclusive; for example, a plate registered in December 2004 would expire at the end of November 2005.  Therefore, the earliest issues of this new base had late 2005 expirations. 

This new plate differs from the previous base in several subtle, but noticeable ways.  The blue and yellow bands no longer fade to white gradually, but rather have distinct boundaries; the blue band is now navy blue rather than light blue; and the fonts used for the word "Pennsylvania" and for the web site address have been revised.  The size of the keystone separator has been enlarged slightly.  Perhaps most significantly, the web site address itself has been changed to visitPA.com.  This site proclaims itself to be the official tourism web site for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  The new plate design is not a replacement for the previous tri-color fade design.  Rather, it's a "mid-course adjustment" to the tri-colored base, and is being used concurrently. 

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Back to History of Pennsylvania passenger car plates dated 1906 to 1957

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Page credits

Thanks to those who have directly contributed to the information on this page:  Bill Stephens, Ron Butler, Sal Dodd, and Ed Lybarger. 

Lybarger photographs © copyright by Ed Lybarger.  All rights reserved.  Used with permission. 
Butler photographs are presumed to be copyrighted by Ron Butler and are used with permission. 

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This page last updated March 8, 2010