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Pennsylvania License Plate Images

John McDevitt and Jordan Irazabal

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ANTIQUE, CLASSIC, COLLECTIBLE, & STREET ROD PLATES

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

PLATE TYPE (first year of issue)

PLATE FORMATTING

REFERENCE INFORMATION

PLATE PHOTOS & NEEDED IMAGES UPDATES SAMPLES AND PROTOTYPES

IS PLATE  VANITY ELIGIBLE?

Antique Historic Car /  Antique Vehicle (1956 to present)

FORMAT 1: 1 to 9999

First issued 1956, type still in use.

Debossed border.

 

Single-digit plate

from Jake Eckenrode

 

from Jake Eckenrode


from Chris Van Zandt

from Chris Van Zandt


2-digit plate


3-digit plates circa 1956

from Devan Ciemiewicz, now Jerry McCoy


4-digit plate

#3889 issued 9/29/69


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Samples

from Bob Connison



 

 

FORMAT 2: A000 to Z999

Debossed border, circa 1970 ~ 1985

 


from Ed Coghill

   

FORMAT 3: 000A to 999Z

Debossed border

 

from Arthur Levine


 

 

 

FORMAT 4: AA00 to BZ99

Debossed border 

 

   

FORMAT 5: CA00 to ZZ99

Embossed white border 

 

 

 

FORMAT 6: 00AA to 99ZZ

Embossed white border

High plate observed: 99ZV

 

   

Antique Vehicle

FORMAT 7: A00A to Z99Z

According to Steve Moskowitz, the holder of plate A00A, the graphic is a 1920 Oldsmobile Model 37 Roadster Applications for an antique tag received after 1/31/05 get the new style plate, or a purple plate holder can replace that plate for $7.50 and a completed MV-44.  All new plates will be in the A00A format - no reissues will be done of existing numbers.  The new series began with A00A.

Note that the characters placement is not always uniform.  On some plates it has been shifted to the right.  Also plate series P00A - P99Z is reserved for Person with Disability Motorcycle plates and would not be duplicated.

Note that some plate holders place an image of their own vehicle over the image on the plate.  In PA the use of the letters I, O, Q and U would not be used in this series until Format 11 is reached in 2016 and I and O are put into the progression.

A00A, click to enlarge

from Jeff Lesher


from Jeff Lesher


from Bill Ceravola

   

FORMAT 8: 0AA0 to 9DZ9

The first alpha-character is the last to advance, the second alpha-character, is next to the last. The progression appears to be 0AA0, 0AA1, then after 9AA9 would come 0AB0, etc.  Format first seen 5/2012

 

 

from Bruce Bufalini


from Ryan Battin

     

FORMAT 9: 0EA0 to between 4FJ6 and 0FL1.  Only difference between Format 8 & 9 is the use of a bolder font on the ANTIQUE VEHICLE legend.  The first alpha-character is the last to advance, the second alpha-character, is next to the last.  Format first seen 7/2013.

from Ryan Battin


from Ryan Battin

 

Comparison of Format 8 & 9 legends from Clayton Moore

 

FORMAT 10: From between 4FJ7 and 0FL2 to 9ZZ9  The car image has been replaced with the words PA ANTIQUE HISTORIC VEHICLE.  Format first seen 8/2013.

from Ryan Battin


from Ryan Battin

   

FORMAT 11: From 0A00 to 8P99.  Letters 'I' and 'O' used in serial number.  Format added 7/17/2016.  Has sticker well.

 

from Jeff Lawson


from Bruce Bufalini


from Ryan Battin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

FORMAT 11A: Personalized, up to 4 characters.

 

from Steve Ondik


     

FORMAT 12: Personalized, up to 4 characters. Without sticker well and without map outline.

  

from Steve Ondik


 

     
Format 13: From 9P00 to 9Z99, excluding the 0W00 series.  Unknown if the U series was used. Format added 11/5/2017.  Without sticker well and with map outline.

 

from Worthpoint


See W-Series below under Format 14


from Ryan Battin

     

Format 13A: Personalized, up to 4 characters. Without sticker well and with map outline.


from Jeff Lesher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Format 14: At this point it appears that all of the W plates, at least up to 8W97, are without the sticker well and without the map outline.

from Bruce Bufalini


from Ryan Battin

     

Format 15: From 00A0

Format added 6/24/2017.  Without sticker well and with map outline.


from Bill Stephens

 

 

 

Format 16: Next series from A0AA.  Format added 3/15/2020.  Without sticker well and with map outline. To current high.


from John McDevitt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fake Plates

The V83H plate appears to have a number from the current Antique Vehicle series, but is on a base that resembles the previous issue Antique Historic Car, with the colors coming from the Collectible (Vehicle) series. The frame is hiding the border.

The T80Z plate appears to have a serial number from the Format 7 series A00A to Z99Z; however these plates were on the visitPA base with the 1920 Olds picture.

Both plates are considered fake.

from Jordan Irazabal


from Bruce Bufalini

     

 

Antique Motorcycle (1967 to present)

Antique Motorcycle plates between 1 and 999 were never issued.  The '12' plate is believed to have been a sample, prototype or test plate. 

The '18' was made at a later date, possibly as a favor.  Note the wide bolt hole spacing indicating that it was not an early plate.

from John Willard


from Michael Wiener

   

Yes as configured in Format 12 below

 

FORMAT 1: A0 to D99

PENNA on top MOTORCYCLE on bottom.  Plates measure 4½" x 8".

Narrow hole spacing

 


from Drewski


from Jeff Lesher


from Sarge/Klassy Karz

 


 

FORMAT 2: E0 to E99

MOTORCYCLE on top, PENNA on bottom.  Narrow hole spacing.

 

from Ned Flynn


 

 

from Dave Lincoln

 

 

FORMAT 3: F0 to G99

PENNA on top, MOTORCYCLE on bottom.  Narrow hole spacing.

 

from Vman


from Jeff Lesher

 

   
FORMAT 4: H0 to between K99 and N99, MOTORCYCLE on top, PENNA on bottom.  Narrow hole spacing.

from Worthpoint


     
FORMAT 5: From between L0 and P0 to Z99  MOTORCYCLE on top, PENNA on bottom.  Wide hole spacing.

from Worthpoint


   

FORMAT 6: 0A to 99Z

MOTORCYCLE on top, PENNA on bottom.  Wide hole spacing.

 

 

 




 

 

 

   

FORMAT 7: 0A0 to 9Z9

MOTORCYCLE on top, PENNA on bottom.  Wide hole spacing.

 

from Clayton Moore


from Devan Ciemiewicz

     

FORMAT 8: AA0 to ZZ9

MOTORCYCLE on top, PENNA on bottom, wide hole spacing, format added 9/11/05

 


 

   

FORMAT 9: A0A to Z9Z

MOTORCYCLE on top, PENNA on bottom, wide hole spacing, format added 7/13/08

 

from Charlie Metz



from Ryan Battin


from Ryan Battin

     

FORMAT 10: A0, A00

After exhausting the A0A to Z9Z series, 0AA was expected.  Instead some older numbers from Format 1 and possibly other old formats were being issued or reissued, but the legends are reversed and the hole spacing is wider on the new plates.  This A45 plate on the right was issued 10/2012.  The formatting is similar to Format 1 which was exhausted many years ago.  This also shows two plates with the same number issued many years apart.  There are also reports of new plates X5 and G8 being newly issued.  All above plates measures 4½ x 8.

from Ryan Battin



from Ryan Battin

 

 

 

   

FORMAT 11: 01000 to 09999

This format and numbering system appears to have been released around 5/2013.  Plate measures 4x7

 

from Cody Raspen



 

 

from Ryan Battin

 

FORMAT 11A: Personalized, up to 5 characters

from Ryan Battin

     

FORMAT 12: 000A0

This format and numbering system first spotted around 5/2021.  Plate measures 4" x 7".  To current high.

from Will Stephens


from Bruce Bufalini

 

 

 

 

Classic Car / Classic Vehicle (1977 to present)

FORMAT 1: 10000 to 19999

PENNSYLVANIA on top and CLASSIC CAR on bottom. 

from Clayton Moore


 

Image added

5/28

 

 Yes as configured on later plates in Format 8A & 9A below

 

FORMAT 2: 20000 to 20999

A brief series of 1000 plates were stamped with conventional dies in place of the 'antique' dies.  PENNSYLVANIA on top and CLASSIC CAR on bottom. 

from Jeff Hinkle


 

 

 

FORMAT 3: 21000 to 39499

At 21000 the plates returned to the antique dies, PENNSYLVANIA on top and CLASSIC CAR on bottom.     

 

     

FORMAT 4: 39500 to 50799?

CLASSIC CAR on top and PENNSYLVANIA on bottom. 

 

   
FORMAT 5: 50800? to 50999 PENNSYLVANIA on top and CLASSIC CAR on bottom.

from Jeff Lawson


 

   

FORMAT 6:  51000 to 99999

CLASSIC CAR on top and PENNSYLVANIA on bottom.  Note the 51746 plate has a permanent validation sticker.  This has not previously been seen on this plate type.

NOTE: Plate 56756 was issued 1/24/97.

from Bruce Bufalini


 

 

 

   

FORMAT 7:  C00000 to C27899

CLASSIC CAR on top and PENNSYLVANIA on bottom, now with C prefix. First seen circa 7/04. 

from Bruce Bufalini



from Tom Firth

     

FORMAT 8 Classic Vehicle C27900 to C40899, visitPA base, PENNSYLVANIA on top, PA CLASSIC VEHICLE on left side, CLASSIC VEHICLE along bottom  First seen circa 11/2013. 

from Ryan Battin


from Bruce Bufalini

 

 

 

 

 
FORMAT 8A: Personalized, up to 5 characters.  The first character is supposed to be a 'C'.  On visitPA base, PENNSYLVANIA on top, PA CLASSIC VEHICLE on left side, CLASSIC VEHICLE, along bottom, still has sticker well.

from Ryan Battin


from Jeff Lawson


from Noel Torchio

     

FORMAT 9: C40900, visitPA base, PENNSYLVANIA on top, PA CLASSIC VEHICLE on left side - now compressed, CLASSIC VEHICLE, along bottom, now with small map outline.  First seen circa 7/2017. To current high.

from Bruce Bufalini


 

 

 

   
FORMAT 9A: Personalized, up to 5 characters.  The first character is supposed to be a 'C'.  On visitPA base, PENNSYLVANIA on top, PA CLASSIC VEHICLE on left side - now compressed, CLASSIC VEHICLE, along bottom, now with small map outline.

from Sarge


from Bruce Bufalini



from Jaska Börner


from Matt Ciecka

     
FAKES: These plates have a number from the Classic Car series, on what appears to be a '77 base, but without sticker wells, using a pre-1971 font, and were seen at a car show.  They are not believed to have been issued by PennDOT.  The plate is considered a fake.  Further research confirms this. 


 

     

 

Classic Motorcycle (1994)

FORMAT 1:

C
L

0000 to

C
L

0199

PENNA legend uses narrow font.  Plate measures 4½ x 8.

 

   

Yes as configured in Format 3 below ($100)

 

FORMAT 2:

C
L

0200 to

C
L

0899?

PENNA legend uses wider font.  Plate measures 4½ x 8.

from Chad Gage


from Ryan Battin

   

FORMAT 3:

C
L

0900?

On visitPA base, only the serial number is embossed, legend reads CLASSIC MC.  Can also be personalized, up to 4 characters with stacked C/L prefix.  First spotted 7/2015.  To current high.

from Bruce Bufalini


from Devan Ciemiewicz

     

FORMAT 3A:

C
L

 0  Personalized

CL prefix stacked on left followed by up to 4 embossed characters.  On visitPA base, PENNSYLVANIA on top, CLASSIC MC on bottom. 

 

     

 

Collectible Motorcycle (2000 to present)

FORMAT 1: CM000 to CM009

Plate measures 4½ x 8

To current high.

 

from Daniel Selin

& Ryan Battin

 


graphic depiction

Yes as configured in Format 2A below

FORMAT 2:

C
M

000

New format as of 4/2014. Plate measures 4 x 7

Unknown if plates are in use yet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORMAT 2A: Personalized, up to 3 characters with stacked C/M prefix.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collectible Vehicle (1996 to present)

FORMAT 1: CV0000 to CV0099

Plates below 0100 were reserved for those who were involved in getting the plate passed into law. Although this plate appears to be authentic, the provenance of this plate is uncertain.

from Michael Wiener

 

Yes as configured in Format 2A below

 

FORMAT 1A: CV0100 to CV1599

See notation under Format 1, above

 

Devan Ciemiewicz


from Tom Firth


from Ryan Battin

   

FORMAT 2: CV1600

New format announced 4/2014, not seen on street until 11/2017.

To current high.

 

from Bill Stephens


 

 

 

 

FORMAT 2A: Personalized, up to 4 characters with CV prefix.

 

 

 

 

FAKE - VENAMUS may be a legitimate vanity letter combination, but it was not issued as a Collectible Vehicle plate.

from Arthur Levine

     
 

 

     

 

Historic Military Vehicle (2019)

FORMAT 1: MV0001

Plate available 2/21/19

Form MV-11M

First image spotted 6/5/21

To current high.

from John McDevitt


from Jim Moini

 

 

 

FORMAT 1A: Personalized, up to 4 characters with MV prefix.

       

 

Historic Military Motorcycle (2019)

FORMAT 1:

M
V

001

Plate available 2/21/19, 4" by 7".

Form MV-11M

 

Image needed

 
 

 

 

FORMAT 2:

M
V

  0

Personalized, up to 3 characters with MV prefix.

 

 

 

 

 

Street Rod (1981 to present)

FORMAT 1:

0001

S
R

  3999

S
R

First issued 1981, type still in use.

Pennsylvania and STREET ROD use a bold font.  The top red stripe is thinner than the bottom one.  Actually the red stripes on the earliest plate don't extend to the right plate border.  It is not known if this is part of the earliest format or something peculiar to this plate.  Some plates have validation stickers.


 

  Available as in Format 4 below

FORMAT 2:

4000

S
R

 - 4999

S
R

Pennsylvania and STREET ROD use a bold font.  Both red stripes are the same thickness but don't extend to the border.  Most plates use validation stickers.

   

FORMAT 3:

5000

S
R

 - 6999

S
R

Pennsylvania and STREET ROD have been changed to a lighter weight font.  The top red stripe is again thinner than the bottom one and extends to the border.  Almost all plates have validation stickers.


 

 

FORMAT 4:

70000

S
R

 

New format added 11/20/16.  On visitPA base with redundant legend, and sticker well. To current high.

from Bill Ceravola


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORMAT 4A: Personalized, up to 4 characters with SR suffix.  Has map outline.

 

from John Anshant

 

 

 

Unknown Format.  Plate serial appears to be from the Street Rod series, but PENNSYLVANIA appears to be embossed.

from Bill Ceravola

 

 

 

 

 

YOM/Vintage (2012 to present)

Act 25, signed into law on 4/12/12, provides for vintage plates a/k/a year of manufacture or YOM registration plates to be displayed in lieu of antique or classic plates. This law was effective 8/10/12. A vintage registration plate is one issued from 1906 to 1975 to be displayed on an antique or classic vehicle with the same corresponding year of manufacture (YOM). Plates will be provided by the vehicle owner.

 

 

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