Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives 

After an absense of nearly two decades, license plates specifically intended for state-owned vehicles apparently made their return around 1956 or so.  These Official Use Only plates had dark yellow features, including a large keystone, on a unique light blue background, never used for this or any other Pennsylvania plate type before or since.  As far as I know, all of these plates had that standard 12 inch by 6 inch dimensions introduced in 1956, but the first version had thick serial dies otherwise last used in 1956.  The second version, shown at left, used dies introduced in mid-year 1957.  Both versions used the thick border state map die also used on version 1 dated 1956 plates and on 1965-1970 special number passenger car plates. 

There were two versions of state government plates similar to other non-passenger plates used from 1965 to 1971.  The first version somewhat resembled 1967-1970 dealer and motor vehicle business plates.  This version introduced the PA serial prefix letters, followed by a four-digit serial number.  I've heard that plate number PA-9999 was reached and then a second format with a four-digit number followed by suffix letters PA was issued; however, I've never seen one of these. 

The second version with the distorted state map outline and the sticker box in the lower left corner resembled various 1968-1971 non-passenger plate types such as commercial (truck), bus, and trailer plates.  This version had five-digit serial numbers, and a shortened version of the plate type legend that simply read Official Use. 

Every example I've seen of the other plate types with the distorted state map either are early versions with the debossed year "68" in the sticker box, or later versions with nothing in the sticker box.  I was surprised when I acquired this distorted map state government plate, which has an etched "71" in the sticker box, visible from the rear of the plate.  I supposed this indicates that the subsequent blue-background base wasn't introduced until 1972 or later. 

I don't know whether the version 1 plates were replaced with the version 2 plates, or whether both versions were used simultaneously.  At least some of the version 2 plates used the same black-on-red "permanent" stickers as were used on fire department vehicle plates. 

"Official Use" state government vehicles

State government plates continued with the PA-00000 numbering format and the Official Use designation.  I'm not aware of there being any state government motorcycle plates. 

Municipal government vehicles (full-sized plates)

Apparently starting approximately in 1972, Pennsylvania introduced a new plate type for municipal government vehicles.  These plates used numbering format MG-00000 and had the text Municipal across the top.  Municipal plates were issued to most or all types of vehicles owned by counties, cities, towns, villages, boroughs, townships, school districts, etc., with the major exception of fire department vehicles, which already had their own type, described further down this page.  I don't know what type of plate non-fire, municipal-owned vehciles were issued prior to they introduction of this plate type.  I believe they were issued regular car, truck, bus, trailer, etc. plates. 

Municipal government motorcycles

Municipal motorcycle plates were introduced in the mid-1970s, in 1974 according to one report.  Most typically, these were used on police motorcycles.  Municipal motorcycle plates have always been 4 1/2 inches by 8 inches and have the state map outline.  First-generation plates from the mid-1970s had the text Municipal at the top and Penna at the bottom, and used serial format MG000. 

"Official Use" state government vehicles

State government plates again used the the PA-00000 numbering format and the Official Use designation.  These continued to be used at least, through 2021, though in later years they were only rarely seen.  These were issued singly and were used for all types of state-owned vehicles.  I'm not aware of there being any state government motorcycle plates. 

Municipal government vehicles (full-sized plates)

Municipal government plates again used numbering format MG-00000.  Although rarely seen in later yesrs, these remained valid for use through at least 2021. 

Municipal government motorcycles

Municipal motorcycle plates issue between about 1978 and 1984 were colored navy-on-reflective-white and had the legends Penna at the top and Municipal at the bottom.  Initially, the serial format was MG000, and then later was 000MG.  At some point, the plates with format MG000 were replaced; however, those with format 000MG remained in use for many decades. 

"Official Use" and so-called "Commerical" state government vehicles

State government plates start to get a bit complicated on this base.  All of them used either prefix or suffix letters PA. 

State government plates issued to trucks, trailers, etc. continued the PA-00000 numbering format from the previous, white-background base, with numbering starting in the mid PA-50000 series, above the highest number issued on that base.  These plates had the text Official Use at the top, and were issued as single plates.  Plate number PA-99999 was issued in about 2009, necessitating an additional format, described below. 

State government plates issued to cars were assigned a different format 00000-PA.  These also said Official Use at the top, but were issued in pairs and displayed on both the front and back of vehicles. 

In 2009, after plate number PA-99999 was issued, new state government trucks, trailers, etc. were issued plates with a new format PA-0000x.  The suffix letter advances after all the numeric digits.  These were also issued as single plates.  Most of these had the text Official Use at the top. 

However, about a thousand plates issued in 2010 and 2011, with plate numbers ranging from PA-1500A to PA-2499A, instead had the text Commercial at the top.  This is rather baffling, as there no indication other than the "PA" serial prefix and plate colors that these are government vehicle plates; in fact, the term "commercial" implied just the opposite, that the vehicle was being used for commerce, that is, by a for-profit business entity of some kind.  I think the state's intent was to identify that the plates were intended for non-passenger state vehicles.  Before trucks became popular for personal use, they were often refered to as "commercial vehicles" regardless of their actual usage.  Today, however, the term "commercial vehicle" is taken more literally, and is commonly understood to mean a vehicle of any type used in a for-profit enterprise. 

Pennsylvania quickly reconsidered its use of this confusing designation on its state government-owned vehicle plates, because in 2011, the legend Official Use resumed being used on newly-issued plates of this type.  However, the Commercial plates were not recalled and remained in use. 

Municipal government vehicles (full-sized plates)

Municipal government plates initially continued with numbering format MG-00000, picking up where the previous base left off, at about plate number MG-92000.  The text Municipal was moved back to the top of the plate, using the same wide dies as previous bases.  The same numbering formats are issued to all vehicles getting municipal plates without regard to the vehicle type.  That is, with the obvious exception of motorcycles.  Municipal plates are only issued as singles. 

After MG-99999 was issued, the numering format flipped to 00000-MG.  The wide Municipal dies continued briefly, but were soon replaced with narrow, harder-to-read dies for reasons unknown. 

About 2003, the second format was also exhausted, and a third numbering format MG-0000x was introduced.  The same narrow dies were used for the plate type legend at the top.  The suffix letter advanced after all of the numeric digits. 

Municipal government motorcycles

Municipal motorcycle plates on this base have the legends Municipal at the top and Penna at the bottom.  The serial format was initially again MG000; however, this format was exhausted in about 2007, and a new format MG00x was introduced and issued for the remaining life of this base, up to the MG00E series.  Blue-background municipal motorcycle plates continued to be 4-1/2 inches by 8 inches in size and have the state map outline. 

Apparently in 1968, Pennsylvania began issuing distinct plates to firefighting apparatus.  Other than the colors, and the Fire Dept. legend at the top, these plates were of the same design as various non-passenger plate types introduced in 1968 with a wildly distorted state map outline.  Numbering format was always FD-00000.  Like most such plates, the plate shown at left has a debossed "68" in the sticker well under the undated Permanent sticker.  Probably later issues don't have the debossed "68".  Late issues have a dash separator rather than the keystone separator on the plate shown. 

I believe these plates were issued to all firefighting apparatus and vehicles, whether owned by cities, towns, or other municipalities, or by non-profit volunteer fire companies.  I believe they were also issued to ambulances and rescue apparatus owned by same, but not to commercial ambulances.  Unlike other 1968-era plate types, Fire Department plates continued to be issued and used well beyond the early 1970s; by one account, they were issued all the way to the mid 1980s.  I'm guessing they stopped issuing them when either the white-background or, more likely in my opinion, red-background Emergency Vehicle plates (described below) made their debut.  Those Fire Department plates still in use were finally replaced with tri-color, solid band Emergency Vehicle plates, also described below, in 2007. 

Initially, emergency vehicle plates were made with a reflective white background and no sticker wells, similar to the late 1970s / early 1980s municipal and "official use" plates, but with embossed features painted red instead of blue.  The state name was at the top of the plate, and the text Emergency Vehicle ran the entire width of the plate along the bottom edge.  Numbering format was EV-00000, and numbering apparently began at EV-10000. 

Subsequently, probably in the mid-1980s or so, the colors were reversed on newly-issued emergency vehicle plates, to white features on a painted red background.  At the same time, the state name was moved to the bottom of the plate and the plate type text Emergency Vehicle was moved to the top.  Numbering continued from the previous version, starting in about the middle of the EV-10000 series.  Early issues were non-reflective and had no sticker well, but a short time later, the white areas were made reflective using glass beading, and the plates sprouted a sticker well in the lower left corner. 

Emergency vehicle plates numbered in the mid EV-20000 series inexplicably had the plate type text modified to the plural Emergency Vehicles, but those numbered in the upper EV-20000 series reverted back to the singular.  Numbering got up into the very low EV-30000 series before this design was discontinued in 2007. 

Most emergency vehicle plates were used without expiration stickers.  I believe those that were were used without stickers were issued to municipal fire departments; those that had stickers were issued to private, commercial ambulance companies.  I'm not sure whether non-profit volunteer fire companies would have had expiration stickers on their plates.  Sticker usage on these plates seems to be inconsistent and may have changed over the years. 

In 2007, Pennsylvania began issuing emergency vehicle plates on the standard tri-color, solid band base.  These plates differed from all other solid band plates in that the embossed characters were printed with red ink, rather than dark blue ink.  These plates have the embossed text Emergency Vehicle across the bottom of the plate, and always use prefix letters "EV" in the plate number.  With the introduction of this plate type, all of the various red-on-white and white-on-red fire department and emergency vehicle plates were then replaced. 

There are two distinct subtypes of emergency vehicle plates on the solid band base.  Those issued to commercial, for-profit ambulances are issued plates in the EV-30000 series; these used normal expiration stickers through 2017, after which stickers were discontinued for all plates.  Emergency vehicle plates issued to municipal or non-profit fire or rescue organizations are issued plates in the EV-50000 series and higher, and only sometimes used expiration stickers.  If I were to guess, I'd say that non-profits were required to display expiration stickers, while municipal governments are not.  However, I haven't seen enough of these in use to have much confidence in that theory. 

You would think that Penn State, which is regarded as Pennsylvania's flagship state university, would be fully state-owned and state-controlled, but it's not.  It was founded as a private institution in 1855, but began to be treated as state-related in 1863, though that legal term did not exist then.  It wasn't until 1989 that legislation officially made Penn State a state-related school.  Penn State's main campus is located in the town of State College in the north-central part of the state. 

Penn State university-owned vehicle plates were reportedly introduced in the early 1980s and were colored white-on-blue, like the subsequent generic government plates that came out in the mid-1980.  These are the school colors, of course.  They had the text Pennsylvania across the top and State University across the bottom, leaving it somewhat ambiguous whether these plates are specifically for Penn State University vehicles (which they are), or for state university vehicles in general.  Numbering format was A00*00P, with the prefix and suffix letters both constant, and the asterisk representing a large, hollow, embossed keystone similar to that used on 1977-1984 yellow passenger car plates.  The first version of this plate had two sticker wells in the upper corners, implying that it was issued during the era of the yellow plates.  The second version had a single sticker well in the lower left corner, like the blue plates of the mid-to-late 1980s and 1990s, but these continued to be issued and used until about 2019.  The sticker wells were not actually used.  These plates were issued in pairs. 

In about 2019, Penn State University vehicle plate transitioned to the current "Visa card" design.  The numbering format continued unchaged, starting at about A4700P.  There is no longer any kind of separator between the characters.  The bottom of the plate now reads Pennsylvania State University.  These are reported to be issued as single plates.