Vehicle registration plates of Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
The U.S. state of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...

first issued vehicle registration plate
Vehicle registration plate
A vehicle registration plate is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the vehicle within the issuing region's database...

s in 1906. Until 1979, the embossed date or sticker on the plate represented the date of issue, as opposed to the rest of North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

, where it represented the date of expiry. Beginning in 1956, the plates, except those for motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...

s, were standardized throughout North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

 to a size of 6 by 12 inches, with universal placement of mounting holes. In Pennsylvania, only rear license plates are used.

Passenger baseplates 1930 to present

Image First issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1930 Blue embossed lettering and border on yellow base none 12B34 State name abbreviated "PENNA." Keystone logos on either side of date and state name.
1956 Yellow on blue with yellow state outline none 1AB23
1957 Blue on yellow with yellow state outline none 1AB23
1958 Yellow embossed lettering and infill around state border on blue base none 12345
123-456
A12-345
123-45A
1A2-345
Keystone logo in center of lettering. Sticker validation through 1964.
1965 Blue on yellow with blue state outline none
123-456
A12-345
123-45A
1A2-345
12A-345
000-001 to 999-999
A00-000 to Z99-999
000-00A to 999-99Z
0A0-000 to 9Z9-999
00A-000 to ?
1971 Yellow on blue Bicentennial State '76 123-456
A12-345
123-45A
1A2-345
12A-345
123-A45
000-001 to 999-999
A00-001 to Z99-999
000-00A to 999-99Z
0A0-000 to 9Z9-999
00A-000 to (middle nnn-Hxx series)
Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1971 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association
Automobile License Plate Collectors Association
The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association is the largest such organization in the world. Founded in Rumney Depot, New Hampshire, United States, in 1953 and holding its first meeting in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1954, its members have come from all 50 U.S...

, the only time Pennsylvania was so honored to date.


1977 Blue on reflective yellow Keystone State 123-456
A12-345
123-45A
1A2-345
ABC-123
000-001 to 999-999
A00-000 to Z99-999
000-00A to 999-99Z
0A0-000 to ?
AAA-000 to GZZ-999 (changeover to ABC-123 format occurred in 1980)
1983 Reflective yellow on blue You've Got a Friend in ABC-123 HAA-000 to RZZ-999

1986 Reflective yellow on blue Keystone State ABC-123
ABC-1234
SAA-000 to ZZZ-999
AAA-0000 to Cxx-nnnn series - high approximately CEJ-nnnn.
1999 Dark blue on reflective white WWW.STATE.PA.US ABC-1234 DAA-1000 to approximately FYC-9994
2004 Dark blue on reflective white visitPA.com ABC-1234 GBA series to present

History

In 1958, the state issued its first plate intentionally valid for multiple years, as the 1942 issue was revalidated with metal tabs due to wartime
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 materiel restrictions. It was on this base plate that between 1960 and 1964 that special number plates for station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...

s as well as passenger truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...

s such as the International Harvester
International Harvester
International Harvester Company was a United States agricultural machinery, construction equipment, vehicle, commercial truck, and household and commercial products manufacturer. In 1902, J.P...

 Travelall
Travelall
The Travelall was an early full-size truck-based wagon / SUV. It was similar in concept to the Chevy Suburban, and made by International Harvester from 1953 until 1975.-History:...

, were issued classed as "Suburban," as was the practice in other states such as New York and Delaware.

1965 marked the issuance of a new base plate superseding the one first issued in 1958. There were no separate class of plate for station wagons on this base plate. This also was the final plate issued by the state that featured the outline of the state. These plates were valid until their replacement in 1971.

The commemoration of the bicentennial
United States Bicentennial
The United States Bicentennial was a series of celebrations and observances during the mid-1970s that paid tribute to the historical events leading up to the creation of the United States as an independent republic...

 of the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...

 was marked with the issuance of the 1971 base plate five years ahead of the actual event. The yellow on blue plates featured a representation of a broken bell in place of a dash in the centre of the plate with and embossed "BICENTENNIAL STATE ‘76" on the bottom, which caused a bit of confusion as to the actual expiry of the plate.

Beginning in 1977, a new base plate was issued, superseding the previous one. It was blue on yellow with a keystone
Keystone (architecture)
A keystone is the wedge-shaped stone piece at the apex of a masonry vault or arch, which is the final piece placed during construction and locks all the stones into position, allowing the arch to bear weight. This makes a keystone very important structurally...

 used as a dash and "KEYSTONE STATE" replacing the anniversary motto on the previous issue. During the issue of this base, PennDOT changed from a March 31 expiration for all passenger cars to a staggered registration as the 1979 stickers expired in March 1980, which resulted in as few as 6 months registration (September 1980) to as much as 18 months (September 1981), and the fee was prorated for the actual length of the registration period. Unlike previous plates, these used reflective Scotchlite sheeting. These plates, when used over time, saw the yellow paint fade away.

Mid-1983 marked the introduction of a controversial plate, as it used a tourism slogan with implied religious ties to the Society of Friends, more commonly known as the Quakers. The slogan on the yellow on blue plates was "You've Got a Friend in Pennsylvania." Issuance of these plates was quickly dispatched with once Bob Casey, Sr. took office and replaced them with ones saying "KEYSTONE STATE" as well as the old "Pennsylvania" font (this dating back from the 1977-1983 plates); however, the plates were not recalled. These plates used a "filled in" keystone as opposed to the "hollow" keystone on the 1977-1983 plates. These yellow on blue bases plate also were reflective, however it was the embossed areas that were. This was done using glass beads in the paint as opposed to the Scotchlite sheeting of the previous base plate. In 1991, a fourth digit was added after the plates reached ZZZ-999, resetting itself to AAA-0000 and saw the use of a smaller keystone to make room for the extra digit. The keystone was recycled from both the 1958-1964 and the 1965-1971 plates as a divider.

In 1999, a new base plate was issued replacing all plates issued from 1977 onwards, starting with replacing the 1977-83 yellow base, then progressing through vanity plates, then blue 1983-2002 plates by ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...

, starting with towns whose ZIP Codes ending in an even number (such as 18974) then towns whose ZIP codes end in an odd number (such as 17003). The last plates that were to be phased out carried an 8-02 expiration, with the exception of the limited-issue "We the People" 1987 plate, which continues to be valid with registration renewal. However, a very small number of blue-base plates somehow escaped PennDOT replacement and continue to be used with renewal.

The plates were similar to those issued by other states in their use of a gradient fade background (in this case blue on top, white in the center, and yellow on the bottom). The state placed its governmental website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...

 in place of a slogan, making the state the first government of any kind to issue license plates with a web address on the plate. This baseplate also used reflective sheeting.

At the time, the Pennsylvania General Assembly
Pennsylvania General Assembly
The Pennsylvania General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The legislature convenes in the State Capitol building in Harrisburg. In colonial times , the legislature was known as the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly. Since the Constitution of 1776, written by...

 passed legislation requiring that a statewide replate be undertaken every 10 years because the previous base license plates had been on the road as much as 22 years, and had deteriorated to the point of being unreadable. Due to the recession at the end of the first decade of the 21st century, that law was repealed in 2008 just in time to avoid the 2009 replate in order to save money.

In 2004, the base plate was tweaked by eliminating the gradient fade, changing the typeface used on the state name and slogan and switching from the state's official website to the state tourism website. A slightly larger, more defined keystone was introduced at that time. A slight change to some of the letters in the plate number, such as "B", "P" and "R", was made which made the letters slightly more narrow and the serifs more pronounced.

As of 2008, the old "Pennsylvania" type font used from 1965-1999 (except for the 1983-1986 "Friend" years) is still used on specialty plates such as emergency vehicles and classic cars.

All passenger types issued from 1999 onwards are valid for display in Pennsylvania.

Notes
  • 1 Plus remakes of serials issued on previous bases

Non-passenger and optional types

Image Type Serial format Notes
Amateur Radio call sign
Antique Historic Car
Antique car
In the United States, an antique car is generally defined as a car over 45 years of age, this being the definition used by the Antique Automobile Club of America. However, the legal definition for the purpose of antique vehicle registration varies widely. The antique car era includes the veteran...

1
12
123
1234
A123
AB12
12AB
Antique Motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...

1
12
123
A12
1A1
12A
AB1
A1B
Antique Vehicle A12B
Apportioned
International Registration Plan
The International Registration Plan is a registration reciprocity agreement among the contiguous United States and Canadian provinces which provides payment of registration fees on the basis of total distance operated in all jurisdictions...

 Bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...

BN-12345
Apportioned Truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...

AE (or) AF-12345
Bus BA-12345
Circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...

-Carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...

 Truck
B12345
Z
Classic Car 12345, C12345
Classic Motorcycle C/L 123
Collectible Motorcycle CM123
Collectible Vehicle CV 1234
Commonwealth Court C/C 1
Congressional Medal of Honor ABC-CMH Letters are initials of honoree
Dealer H (or) J12-345H (or) J Both letters are same. "K" series plates expected by end of 2011.
Dealer - Farm Equipment FE1234A
Dealer - Multi Purpose MP1234A
Disabled Veteran DV-12345
Emergency Vehicle EV-12345 Some plates have "Emergency Vehicles" legend.
Expeditionary Forces E/F 1234
Farm Truck FT-1234A
Fire Department FD-12345 All Fire Department plates have been recalled by PennDOT and replaced with Emergency Vehicle plates. No longer valid.
Fleet Transporter FL1234A
Flagship Niagara
USS Niagara (1813)
The US Brig Niagara or the Flagship Niagara, is a wooden-hulled brig that served as the relief flagship for Oliver Hazard Perry in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. It is one of last remaining ships from the War of 1812. The Niagara is usually docked behind the Erie Maritime Museum in...

2
F/N 1234
F/N 123A
Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new optional license plate of 1995 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association
Automobile License Plate Collectors Association
The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association is the largest such organization in the world. Founded in Rumney Depot, New Hampshire, United States, in 1953 and holding its first meeting in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1954, its members have come from all 50 U.S...

, the second time Pennsylvania was so honored. Co-recipient with Texas
Vehicle registration plates of Texas
The U.S. state of Texas first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1917.-Passenger baseplates 1995 to present:-External links:*...

. No longer issued due to poor visibility, but is still valid.
Gold Star Family G/S/F 1234
Handicapped P/D 1234A
Handicapped Motorcycle P/D A12B
Hearing Impaired HE-12345
Implement of Husbandry IMP-1234
Korean Defense Service Medal 12345 K/D
Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...

 Veteran
K/V 12345
Limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....

LM-12345
Lincoln University
Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Lincoln University is the United States' first degree-granting historically black university. It is located near the town of Oxford in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. The university also hosts a Center for Graduate Studies in the City of Philadelphia. Lincoln University provides...

L1234U
Mass Transit MT-12345
Moped
Moped
Mopeds are a type of low-powered motorcycle designed to provide economical and relatively safe transport with minimal licensing requirements.Mopeds were once all equipped with bicycle-like pedals , but moped has been increasingly applied by governments to vehicles without pedals, based on their...

AB123
Moped Dealer 1234
Motor Home HA-12345
Motorcycle ABC12
12ABC
Motorcycle Dealer 123A
Motorcycle Vanity
Vanity plate
A vanity plate or personalized plate , prestige plate, private number plate, or personalised registration or custom plate or personalised plate is a special type of vehicle registration plate on an automobile or other vehicle...

varies
Municipal Government MG-12345
12345-MG
MG-1234A
Municipal Motorcycle MG123
MG 12A
National MS Society 12345 M/S
Official Use PA-12345
12345-PA
PA-1234A
Omnibus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...

OB-12345
Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran 12345 E/F
Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran 12345 I/F
Passenger Vanity
Vanity plate
A vanity plate or personalized plate , prestige plate, private number plate, or personalised registration or custom plate or personalised plate is a special type of vehicle registration plate on an automobile or other vehicle...

varies
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor, known to Hawaiians as Puuloa, is a lagoon harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, west of Honolulu. Much of the harbor and surrounding lands is a United States Navy deep-water naval base. It is also the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet...

 Survivor
P/H S1234
Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...

A12-34P
Permanent Trailer PT-1234A
Persian Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

 Veteran
P/G 12345
Press photographer PP 123
Prisoner of War
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...

POW-123
Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...

P/H 12345
Repair Towing RT-12345
Repossessor RE-12345
Retired Legislator P/A 12345
Salvage Yard WL-12345
School Bus
School bus
A school bus is a type of bus designed and manufactured for student transport: carrying children and teenagers to and from school and school events...

SC-12345
School Vehicle SV-12345
Special Mobile Equipment SME-123A
State Representative H/R 123
State Senator P/A 12
Steel Worker S/W 12345
Street Rod 1234 S/R
Superior Court S/C 12
Supreme Court S/U 12
Taxi
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...

TX-12345
Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...

T1234U
Temporary In-transit 1234-567
Trailer XAB-1234
Trailer Dealer TD-1234A
Transporter DT-12345

Truck YAB-1234, ZBC-1234 Truck plates started with YAA-0000, reached YZZ-9999 in early 2011, new format started with ZBA-0000.
U.S. Congress U/S C 1
U.S. Senate U/S S 1
University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...

U1234P
Veteran 12345 U/S
Veteran Motorcycle V1234
Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...

 Veteran
V/W 12345
Watercraft Trailer / Dealer WD12345
We The People2 U/S 12345 Limited edition issued in 1987 only, but still valid with renewal.
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

Veteran
W/W 12345


2No longer issued, but remain active for drivers who had the plates before they were dropped.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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