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The U.S. state of Pennsylvania first issued vehicle registration plates 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, where it represented the date of expiration. Currently in Pennsylvania, only rear license plates are used for all types except press photographer and official use.

Passenger baseplates 1906 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Pennsylvania license plate that complied with these standards.

Only plates issued since 1999 are currently eligible for display.

Image	First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1913	White lettering on green background painted on porcelain-covered steel base	none	123456		State name abbreviated "PENNA." Keystone manufacturer's seal on left side between PENNA and date.
	1914	White lettering on navy background painted on porcelain-covered steel base	none	123456		State name abbreviated "PENNA." Keystone manufacturer's seal on left side between PENNA and date.
	1916	Black on orange	none	12345		State name abbreviated "PENNA." Keystone logo on left side between PENNA and date.
	1917	White on brown	none	12345		State name abbreviated "PENNA." Keystone logo on left side between PENNA and date.
	1924	Dark blue on orange	none	123-456		State name abbreviated "PENNA." Keystone logos on either side of date and state name.
	1929	Orange on dark blue	none	123-456		State name abbreviated "PENNA." Keystone logos on either side of date and state name.
	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.
	1933	Yellow lettering embossed on navy background with yellow embossed border.	none	A1234		State name abbreviated "PENNA." Keystone logos on either side of date and state name at top.
	1934	Dark blue on yellow	none	12A34, AB12, etc.		State name abbreviated "PENNA." Keystone logos on either side of date and state name.
	1938	Dark blue on yellow	none	12A34		State name abbreviated "PENNA." Serial surrounded by the shape of the state of Pennsylvania.
	1943	1942 plate with black-on-red renewal tag attached via one of the screw holes due to wartime steel shortages.	none	A1234		Renewal tag black embossed lettering inside embossed keystone logo. Reads "43" and "3-31-44" for expiration date.
	1951	Blue on yellow with yellow state outline	none	1AB23
	1954	Yellow on blue with yellow state outline	none	1AB23
	1955	Blue on yellow with yellow state outline	none	1AB23
	1956	Yellow on blue with yellow state outline	none	1AB23
	1957	Blue on yellow with yellow state outline	none	1AB23, 123456
	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, 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 9Z9-999 AAA-000 to GZZ-999 (changeover to ABC-123 format occurred in October 1979)
	1983	Reflective yellow on blue	You've Got a Friend in Pennsylvania	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-#### series - high approximately CEJ-####.
	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-0000 to present

Notes

• 1 Plus remakes of serials issued on previous bases

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 materiel restrictions. It was on this base plate that between 1960 and 1964 that special number plates for station wagons as well as passenger trucks such as the International Harvester Travelall, 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 March 1971 (it was then illegal to display the 1971 base until March 15, 1971, and illegal to display the 1965 base after March 31, 1971).

The commemoration of the bicentennial of the American Revolution 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 the Liberty Bell in place of a dash in the center of the plate with an 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 an outline of a keystone used as a dash and "KEYSTONE STATE" replacing the anniversary motto on the previous issue. During the issue of this base, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation 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" dies (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, 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 the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation 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 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 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 Great 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 the dies of 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 dies used from 1965-1999 (except for the 1983-1986 "Friend" years) is still used on specialty plates such as emergency vehicles.

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

Temporary plates

Unlike many states that issue paper or cardboard temporary license plates with a new registration until the permanent registration and plates comes in, Pennsylvania almost always issues the permanent plate right away, with a temporary tag in the rear window indicating the exact date the temporary tag expires, upon which it is removed or when the full-year registration sticker for the plate comes in, whichever comes first. (Some cars do get issued a paper temporary Pennsylvania plate, usually by those who live out-of-state buying a car in Pennsylvania who need the temporary tag until the vehicle title is transferred to the state they live in.) Until April 2000, new plates had a "T" sticker to denote a temporary tag on the plate until the full-year registration came in the mail with the regular registration sticker. Pennsylvania adopted the current system to combat criminals making counterfeit "T" stickers. For plates that already had the "T" stickers but were not issued yet to vehicles at the time of the change, Pennsylvania gave car dealerships and notaries plain white stickers to cover up the "T" tags so that the plates could still be used.

Non-passenger types

Image	Type	Serial format	Notes
	Antique Historic Car	1 12 123 1234 A123 AB12 12AB
	Antique Motorcycle	1 12 123 A12 1A1 12A AB1 A1B
	Antique Vehicle	A12B
	Apportioned Bus	BN-12345
	Apportioned Truck	AE (or) AF-12345
	Bus	BA-12345
	Circus-Carnival Truck	12345 Z
	Classic Car	12345, C12345
	Classic Motorcycle	C/L 123
	Collectible Motorcycle	CM123
	Collectible Vehicle	CV 1234
	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
	Emergency Vehicle	EV-12345	Some plates have "Emergency Vehicles" legend.
	Farm Truck	FT-1234A
	Fire Department	FD-12345	All Fire Department plates have been recalled by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and replaced with Emergency Vehicle plates. No longer valid.
	Fleet Transporter	FL1234A
	Handicapped	P/D 1234A
	Handicapped Motorcycle	P/D A12B
	Hearing Impaired	HE-12345
	Implement of Husbandry	IMP-1234
	Limousine	LM-12345
	Mass Transit	MT-12345
	Moped	AB123
	Moped Dealer	1234
	Motor Home	HA-12345
	Motorcycle	ABC12 12ABC
	Motorcycle Dealer	123A
	Municipal Government	MG-12345 12345-MG MG-1234A
	Municipal Motorcycle	MG123 MG 12A
	Official Use	PA-12345 12345-PA PA-1234A
	Omnibus	OB-12345
	Permanent Trailer	PT-1234A
	Persian Gulf War Veteran	P/G 12345
	Repair Towing	RT-12345
	Repossessor	RE-12345
	Salvage Yard	WL-12345
	School Bus	SC-12345
	School Vehicle	SV-12345
	Special Mobile Equipment	SME-123A
	Street Rod	1234 S/R
	Taxi	TX-12345
	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.
	Watercraft Trailer / Dealer	WD12345

Optional types

Pennsylvania offers dozens of optional "special organizational" license plates.

Image	Type	Serial format	Notes
	Amateur Radio	call sign
	Bucknell University	B/U-12345
	Commonwealth Court	C/C 1
	Congressional Medal of Honor	ABC-CMH	Letters are initials of honoree
	Disabled Veteran	DV-12345
	Expeditionary Forces	E/F 1234
	Flagship Niagara	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, the second time Pennsylvania was so honored. Co-recipient with Texas. No longer issued due to poor visibility, but is still valid.
	Fort Mifflin	12345 F/M
	Geneva College	G/C-12345
	Gold Star Family	G/S/F 1234
	Harleysville Community Fire Co.	12345H/F
	Harmonville Fire Company No. 1	12345P/T
	Hartsville Fire Company	12345H/F
	Heritage Jeep Alliance	12345H/R
	Kutztown University	K/U 12345
	Korean Defense Service Medal	12345 K/D
	Korean War Veteran	K/V 12345
	Lehigh University Alumni	12345 L/U
	Little League Baseball	12345L/L
	Lincoln University	L1234U
	Motorcycle Vanity	varies
	Mercedes Benz Club of America	12345 M/B
	National MS Society	12345 M/S
	National Police Defense Foundation	12345 P/F
	New York Press	12345NYP	Issued only to those with proper press credentials
	New York Yankees Foundation	Y/F 12345
	Operation Enduring Freedom Veteran	12345 E/F
	Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran	12345 I/F
	Passenger Vanity	varies
	Pearl Harbor Survivor	P/H S1234
	Pennsylvania State University	A12-34P
	Persian Gulf War Veteran	P/G 12345
	Planned Parenthood of Pennsylvania	12345 P/P
	Press photographer	PP 123	Issued only to those with proper press credentials
	Prisoner of War	POW-123
	Purple Heart	P/H 12345
	Retired Legislator	P/A 12345
	State Representative	H/R 123
	State Senator	P/A 12
	Steel Worker	S/W 12345
	Superior Court	S/C 12
	Supreme Court	S/U 12
	Temple University	T1234U
	U.S. Congress	U/S C 1
	U.S. Senate	U/S S 1
	University of Pittsburgh	U1234P
	Veteran	12345 U/S
	Veteran Motorcycle	V1234
	Vietnam War Veteran	V/W 12345
	We The People	U/S 12345	Limited edition issued in 1987 only, but still valid with renewal.
	Women in Transition Inc.	12345 W/T
	World War II Veteran	W/W 12345

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

External links

• PennDOT - Registration Plates
• PennDOT - Vanity Plates
• Pennsylvania license plates 1969-present
• Various types of Pennsylvania license plates from 1906-present
• Official website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• Official Pennsylvania tourism site
• License Plates of Pennsylvania

References

1. ^ Penndot brochure "License Plates of Pennsylvania" March 2007
2. .
3. Penndot brochure "License Plates of Pennsylvania" April 2012
4. http://www.plateshack.com/y2k/Pennsylvania5/pennsylvania5.htm

• Vehicle registration plates of the United States
• Pennsylvania transportation-related lists
• Transportation in Pennsylvania
• 1906 introductions
• 1906 in transport