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Pennsylvania License Plate Images

John McDevitt and Jordan Irazabal

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OFFICIAL PLATES

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PLATE TYPE (first year of issue)

PLATE FORMATTING

REFERENCE INFORMATION

PLATE PHOTOS & NEEDED IMAGES UPDATES PROTOTYPES, SAMPLES & PLATE HISTORY LINK

IS PLATE  VANITY ELIGIBLE?

Emergency Vehicle (~1977)

Plate History

FORMAT 1A: From between EV-30131 and EV-30309 .. On visitPA base, large keystone separator, embossed tag legend. On vehicles that required stickers in the past such as those belonging to private ambulance companies, etc. 


from Dominic Fornato


from Brendan Sherry



from Bruce Bufalini


 

Yes

 

 

FORMAT 1B: ~EV-37100. Same as above withstate map outline in place of sticker well, embossed tag legend. First seen July 2023.

from John McDevitt

     

FORMAT 1A: EV-50000 to ~EV-70999.  On visitPA base, large keystone separator, sticker well upper left, embossed tag legend.  PennDOT notified plate holders in February 2007 that all EV plates would be replaced.  First seen mid-March 2007.

NOTE: Both variants (Format 1 & 2) are being issued concurrently. 

 



From Brendan Sherry


from Ryan Battin


from Ryan Battin


 

 

 

 

 

 

FORMAT 2B: EV + up to 5 characters as a personalized plate


from Nick Santiago


from Steve Noll


from Jeff Lawson

 

 

 

FORMAT 3A: ~EV-71000 .  On visitPA base, large keystone separator, state map outline in place of sticker well, embossed tag legend.  First seen September 2017.

from Nick Santiago




from Bruce Bufalini


EV-73397

from Jaska Börner


Paramedic John Ryan webphoto via Bill Young

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lincoln University (official) (year unknown, was issued on previous base)

Original Format, white or yellow on blue, has never been photographed or collected.  Likely dates from the late 1980 or 1990s, replaced in 1999. L0000U     No

FORMAT 1: L0500U to L0529U, on www base.  Issued in pairs

 

from Jordan Irazabal



from Jordan Irazabal


from Jordan Irazabal

 

 

No

 

 

FORMAT 2: L0570U to L0572U, believed to be on visitPA base. 

No plates spotted or photographed

 

Image needed

 

 

 

FORMAT 3: L0700U on map base.  Plates not in use yet.  Format added 2/24/19.

No plates in use yet

 

 

 

 

Municipal Government Owned (1973) 

Plate History

FORMAT 1: MG-00000 to MG-91999 blue on white, PENNSYLVANIA on top, wide MUNICIPAL font on bottom, 1977-1984 issue, type still in use.

from Klassy Karz



from Matt Ciecka


from Clayton Moore

   

No

 

FORMAT 2: MG-92000 to MG-99999 white on blue PENNSYLVANIA on bottom, wide MUNICIPAL font, addition of sticker well, issued 1984 until c1985-1986.

from Eric Butler


 

 

 

 

FORMAT 3: 00000-MG to unknown point below 24852-MG white on blue, PENNSYLVANIA on bottom, wide MUNICIPAL font.  Issued circa 1985-1986.

from Clayton Moore

 

 

 

FORMAT 4: ~26776-MG to 99999-MG white on blue, PENNSYLVANIA on bottom, narrow MUNICIPAL font.  Issued circa 1986 until 2003.



 

 

 

 

FORMAT 5: MG-0000A to MG-8999, white on blue, PENNSYLVANIA on bottom, narrow MUNICIPAL font, 2003 to present

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



from Jeff Lawson



from Brendan Sherry


from Ryan Battin


from Ryan Battin




from Bruce Bufalini


from Bruce Bufalini

 

 

 

ERROR PLATE: MG prefix transposed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No dash separator.  Other formatting same as above. 

 

 

from Clayton Moore


from pl8s.com


 

 

 

 

FORMAT 6: MG-9000J

On visitPA base. MG screened and stacked on left, 4 digit serial number followed by one letter, embossed,  Letter advances last, PENNSYLVANIA on top, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT on bottom, screened.  This is a new format first seen early February 2017.

from Bill Houser


from Bill Houser


from Steve Ondik


from Ryan Battin


from Steve Noll


from Steve Noll


from Jeff Lawson


from Bill Houser



from Bruce Bufalini


from Richard Ruck via

Bill Young


from Preston Turner


from Jaska Börner


from Bill Young


M/G9999M

from Bill Young


from Bruce Bufalini


from Preston Turner


from Bill Young


Letter O suffix not used

from David Hobbs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image added

8/27

 

 

Municipal Government Owned Motorcycle (1971?)

Plate History

FORMAT 1: 000MG to 999MG, blue on white PENNA on top, MUNICIPAL on bottom.Removed MG000 format from 'current' list.  See Municipal Motorcycle on History Page.

from Allan Cooper

   

No

 

 

FORMAT 2: MG000 to MG999, white on blue PENNA on bottom, MUNICIPAL on top.

from Bruce Bufalini


 

 

 

 

FORMAT 3: MG00A to MG99E

white on blue PENNA on bottom, MUNICIPAL on top.

Type added 9/9/07

 

Plates measures 4½ x 8



from Jaska Börner



 

     

FORMAT 4: MG00G  on visitPA motorcycle base. MG screened and stacked on left, 2 digit serial number followed by one letter, embossed, letter advances last, PENNSYLVANIA on top, MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT MC on bottom, screened.  This is a new format first announced early February 2017.  Plates measures 4" x 7".

Plates in use as of 4/4/2021. Photo needed  

 

Official Use - Commonwealth of Pa Owned (1924)

Plate History

Issued in pairs for passenger vehicles and as singles for commercial, trucks, heavy equip., etc.

FORMAT 1: PA-10000 to PA-29999, blue on reflective white, PENNSYLVANIA on top, OFFICIAL USE on bottom, 1977-1984 issue, type still in use.  Plates issued in pairs to passenger vehicles.


from Tom Firth

 

 

No

FORMAT 2: PA-30000 to PA-55999, blue on reflective white, PENNSYLVANIA on top, OFFICIAL USE on bottom, 1977-1984 issue, type still in use. Single plate issued to commercial vehicles.

from Eric Conner


 

   
FORMAT 3: PA-60000 to PA-99999, reflective white on blue, PENNSYLVANIA on top, OFFICIAL USE on top, sticker well lower left, issued 1985 until early 2009.  Issued to commercial vehicles as single plates.

from Tom Firth



 

   
FORMAT 4: 10000-PA to 41999-PA , reflective white on blue, PENNSYLVANIA on bottom, OFFICIAL USE on top, sticker well lower left, first issue date 1985, to present.  Issued to passenger vehicles in pairs.

from Chuck Harrington


from Chuck Harrington





from Ryan Battin


from Bruce Bufalini



from Bruce Bufalini


from Jordan Irazabal


from Nick Tsilakis


from Bruce Bufalini


from Tom Perri


from Bruce Bufalini


from Bruce Bufalini

 

Read story on this one-of-a-kind sample.

from Norm Ratcliffe 


Unknown

 

FORMAT 5: PA-0000A to PA-1499A, white on blue, PENNSYLVANIA on bottom, OFFICIAL USE on top, 2009 to 2010.  This is a continuation of Format 2.  Issued to commercial vehicles as single plates. Spotted 4/21/09.


from Bill Stephens

   
FORMAT 6: PA-1500A to PA-2697A or above. Note the use of COMMERCIAL  as the plate legend in place of OFFICIAL USE.  These are a variation of the above format.  Plates issued 2011.



from Jordan Irazabal



 

 

 
FORMAT 7: PA-2698A or above to PA-1499B. Note the dropping of the word COMMERCIAL and return to using OFFICIAL USE.



from Jordan Irazabal



PA-1063B

from Jordan Irazabal

 

 

FORMAT 8:

P
A

1500B

 

Truck Official Use.  Added 7/15/2018.

State agencies will have the option of using their own logo in place of the coat of arms shown here.


from Clayton Moore


anonymous



from Brandon Sowers


from Richard Than

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORMAT 9:

42000

P
A

 

Passenger vehicle Official Use

This design will take the place of Format 4 above.  First seen about mid-2021.

State agencies will have the option of using their own logo in place of the coat of arms shown here. 

from Nick Tsilakis


1/16/22

42143P/A

from Bruce Bufalini


from Jay Embee

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Official Use, PennDOT, agency-specific

FORMAT 1:

T0000

P
A

 

Added 7/30/2017.  Department of Transportation Official Use, issued to passenger vehicles.

from John Clark


from Bill Ceravola



from Mike Alfonse


from Brayden Harnish


from Richard Than

 

 

No

FORMAT 1D:

T0000

P
A

 Digital display

PennDOT has begun a pilot project for the use of digital vehicle license plates that allow a license plate’s status to change in real-time. They are in use on several types of PennDOT vehicles including dump trucks, foreman crew cabs, and passenger vehicles in PennDOT’s District 8 (Dauphin County) and District 1 (Erie County); as well as on passenger vehicles and trucks used by PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services.  Info added 7/7/2019

from Bill Ceravola



from Bill Ceravola

 

   

FORMAT 2:

P
A

0000T

 

Department of Transportation Official Use, issued as single plates to commercial truck type vehicles.

from Tiger Joe Sallmen


from Charles Sweitzer




from Bill Young


from Bruce Bufalini


from Bill Young


from Bill Young


from Bill Young

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORMAT 2D:

P
A

0000T

 Digital display

See Format 1D above.  Similar digital plates expected.

Image

needed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Official Use, PA State Police, agency-specific

FORMAT 1:

P
A

0001V

 

Added 2/27/2022.  Pennsylvania State Police Official Use, issued to passenger vehicles/SUVs.  Uses PSP logo.  Tag legend Official Use. 

from Brendan Sherry


from Dave Singer

via Bill Young


from Jay Embee


from PSP Headquarters

 

 

 

No

 

FORMAT 2:

V0000

P
A

 

Added 3/21/2022.  Pennsylvania State Police Official Use, issued to non-passenger vehicles.  Uses PSP logo.  Tag legend Official Use.

No plates in use as of 8/7/22

 

 

 

 

Official Use, PA Turnpike, agency-specific 

FORMAT 1:

U0000

P
A

 

Pennsylvania Turnpike Official Use, non-commercial.

from Tom Castelli





from Matt Ceicka

 

 

No

FORMAT 2:

P
A

0000U

 

Pennsylvania Turnpike Official Use, issued as single plates to commercial truck type vehicles.  First seen 5/2018.

from W. Young


from John Clark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pennsylvania State University (official) (1983 or earlier)

FORMAT 1: A00-01P to between A16-99P and A19-99P.  Has sticker wells in upper left and right corners.


late Jake Eckenrode collection via John Anshant

   

No

 

FORMAT 2: From changeover between A17-99P and A20-00P to A46-07P. Has sticker well in lower left corner, Issued in pairs.




from Tom Perri


front plate


rear plate


from Tom Perri


from Jordan Irazabal

and Tom Perri

 

 

 

This plate is not believed to be an official plate.  It also was probably never issued.  It is likely a novelty or test plate although it is on the Official base.

from eBay

     

UNISSUED FORMAT - An unknown number of these plates were produced but not issued.  A few have found their way into the hands of collectors.

from Clayton Moore

 

 

 

FORMAT 3: Plate revision.  Format 2 plates appear to have ended at A46-07P.  This new series began at A47-00P.  Format added 2/17/19.  Plates added 7/14/2019



from Bruce Bufalini


from Brayden Harnish


from Jaska Börner


from Brayden Harnish


from Brayden Harnish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
         

 

Temple University (official) (1987)

FORMAT 1: T0001U to T0234U, White on red, Temple University across top, Pennsylvania across bottom, sticker well lower left.  Issued in pairs.



from Bill Young



from Jeff_Lawson

 

 

No

 

 

FORMAT 2: T0500U  Plate revision.  Format added 2/24/19.

from Tom  Perri

First

image

9/10

 

 

 

University of Pittsburgh (official) (year unknown)

Plate History

ORIGINAL FORMAT:

Yellow on blue, "U"0000"P" to plate changeover during 9/99. Uses 'title case' on plate legend.  University of Pittsburgh at top, PENNSYLVANIA at bottom, no stickers used, plate is semi-permanent.

 

 

No

FORMAT 1: U0500P to changeover at or before U1000P.  Uses 'title case' on plate legend

 

    No

 

 

FORMAT 2: From changeover at or before U1000P to changeover to Format 3. Uses 'small caps' on plate legend

 

 

 

 

FORMAT 3: From U1100P to U1499P on visitPA base.  Plate legend format same as previous.  Format added 1/22/10.  Issued in pairs.  

from Eric Conner


from Brendan Sherry


from Bruce Bufalini

 

   

FORMAT 4: From U1500P.   Numbers will likely start at the end of the Format 3 series.  New format added 2/24/19.  First image added 5/30/21.

from Bruce Bufalini

 

 

 

 

 

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