GENERAL DISPLAYS Highs Page | Antique, Classic, etc. | Bus, Limo, Taxi, etc. | Dealer & MV Business | Misc. Plates | Official Plates | Political Plates | Veterans Plates SPECIALTY & SPECIAL ORG. College, University, etc. | Fire, EMS & Police | Fraternal, Non-Profit, etc. | NASCAR | Special Fund Plates | Pending/Proposed Plates UNUSUAL & UNIQUE PLATES Governor Plates | Mystery, Oddballs, etc. | Special Event Plates | Front Plates | Group Displays | Older plates in use REFERENCE Old Documents | Legislation | Plate Codes | Plate Hist A-F | Plate Hist G-M | Plate Hist N-Z | Plate Hist Pass 1 | Plate Hist Pass 2 | Plate Hist Trk | Plate Hist Spec Org | Stickers | Links ARCHIVED HOME PAGES BY YEAR 2022 | 2021 | Older Archives |
|
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
|
||||
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 Bruce Bufalini from Jeff Lesher |
Image added 8/13
Image added 9/17
|
|
|
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
|
|
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 from Bruce Bufalini |
Image added 8/13 |
||
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) | |||||||||
PENNA legend uses narrow font. Plate measures 4½ x 8. |
|
Yes as configured in Format 3 below ($100)
|
|||||||
PENNA legend uses wider font. Plate measures 4½ x 8. |
from Chad Gage from Ryan Battin |
![]() |
|||||||
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 |
||||||||
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 | |||
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) |
|||||||
Plate available 2/21/19, 4" by 7". Form MV-11M |
Image needed |
|
|||||
Personalized, up to 3 characters with MV prefix. |
|
|
|
|
Street Rod (1981 to present) |
|||||||||
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 | ||||||
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. |
![]() |
||||||||
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. |
|
|
![]() |
||||||
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.
|
|