The History Of Vehicle License Plates That You Should Know

Originally, vehicle license plates were a way for authorities to quickly identify the vehicle owner. When vehicle registration systems were first introduced in the late 19th century, vehicle registration numbers were not part of a license plate. Each vehicle was only identified by a system of letters and numbers that indicated the location where it was registered.

In 1891, New York became the first state to require vehicle owners to register their vehicle and display a vehicle registration number. The vehicle registration numbers were made of porcelain, which would make it difficult to alter vehicle registration details. These numbers were displayed on front and back of the vehicle.

In 1901, New York changed its vehicle registration system so that vehicle license plates consisted of one to four numbers and one to four letters.

In 1903, Massachusetts introduced vehicle license plates that were similar to the New York vehicle registration plate. The vehicle license plates consisted of three letters and three numbers. Each vehicle was assigned a different plate number for each letter in its vehicle registration location code.

For example: A vehicle registered in Boston was given vehicle license plate number ABC-123, while vehicle registered in Springfield was given vehicle registration plate number SBA-234.

Vehicle license plates became common across the United States during the 1910s. Vehicle owners were required to attach the vehicle registration number to the vehicle’s exterior, so vehicle license plates became a helpful way to identify vehicles when vehicle registration numbers weren’t visible.

During the 1920s vehicle license plates became an important part of vehicle identification. The vehicle license plate number helped authorities identify stolen vehicles, illegal vehicles on the road and vehicle owners who hadn’t paid vehicle registration fees.

Vehicle registration laws changed during the 1930s to make vehicle license plates larger and easier to read. Number and letter vehicle registration numbers also changed. States introduced vehicle license plates that displayed one to three letters and four to six numbers.

In 1956, Alabama developed the first staggered vehicle license plate system.

Vehicle owners were issued vehicle license plates with two different expiration dates: A vehicle registered in January was given a vehicle license plate with an expiration date in December while vehicle registered in February was given vehicle license plate with an expiration date in January.

Many other states adapted a staggered vehicle registration system, so that vehicle owners would change their vehicle license plates twice a year.

In 1966, Arizona introduced the first non-reflective vehicle license plate for lower light conditions and better viewing angles. Soon after Arizona, other states also introduced vehicle license plates that didn’t reflect vehicle headlights.

In the 1970s, vehicle owners were required to display their vehicle registration number on both front and rear vehicle license plates.

During the 1980s vehicle registration laws changed again. Vehicle owners were issued vehicle license plate stickers that showed when a vehicle’s registration was due for renewal, instead of vehicle license plates that displayed vehicle registration numbers on vehicle exterior.

In 2000, vehicle owners were given the option to personalize their vehicle license plate. The vehicle owner can choose a combination of up to seven letters and/or numbers for vehicle license plates.

See also: the invention of the traffic lights
See also: The history of how coffee discovered

How to identify license plates

Vehicle license plates are issued by states
Vehicle registration numbers are used to identify vehicle owners
Vehicle registration numbers help authorities convict vehicle thieves and illegal vehicle operators
Vehicle license plate stickers show when vehicle registrations are due for renewal. They don’t display vehicle registration numbers on exterior of vehicles.
Vehicle license plates consist of up to three letters and four numbers.
Vehicle owners can choose a combination of up to seven letters and/or numbers for vehicle license plates.
Vehicle license plates are issued annually
Vehicle registration laws changed during the 1930s, to make vehicle license plates larger and easier to read. number and letter vehicle registration numbers also changed. States introduced vehicle license plates that displayed one to three letters and four to six numbers.
During the 1980s vehicle owners were required to display vehicle registration numbers on both front and rear vehicle license plates.
In 2000, vehicle owners were given the option to personalize their vehicle license plate. They can choose a combination of up to seven letters and/or numbers for their vehicle license plates.

How vehicle license plates help authorities identify vehicle owners

Vehicle registration numbers help authorities convict vehicle thieves and illegal vehicle operators.

Vehicle license plate stickers are given to vehicle owners instead of vehicle license plates that display vehicle registration numbers on vehicle exterior. Vehicle owners are required to show vehicle registration numbers on both front and rear vehicle license plates.

During the 1980s vehicle registration laws changed again. Vehicle owners were issued vehicle license plate stickers that showed vehicle registration expiration dates instead of vehicle license plates that displayed vehicle registration numbers.

Vehicle owners were also given the option to personalize vehicle license plates. they could choose a combination of up to seven letters and/or numbers for vehicle license plates.

Vehicle registration laws changed again during the 2000s. Vehicle owners were required to display vehicle registration numbers on both front and rear vehicle license plates, but vehicle owners are now being given vehicle license plates that can be personalized with up to seven letters and/or numbers.

Vehicle owners were also required to display vehicle registration stickers on vehicle exteriors. These vehicle registration stickers show vehicle registrations are due for renewal, instead of displaying vehicle registration numbers.

Vehicle license plates help authorities identify vehicle owners through vehicle registration numbers. The vehicle owner’s vehicle registration number is recorded and vehicle details are displayed on vehicle license plates.

Vehicle owners receive vehicle license plate stickers that show vehicle registrations are due for renewal, instead of displaying vehicle license plate numbers. Vehicle owners also have the option to personalize their vehicle license plates with up to seven letters and/or numbers.