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Pennsylvania Plate Coding                               Page updated 10/25/2022                         GO TO CODE TABLE

 

Below is an alpha-numeric table showing prefix and suffix codes.  The data has been collected from many sources, most of which are plate photos, personal observations, plate collections, and information received from other sources.  I don’t claim to be the authoritative source on the subject; in fact I welcome input, suggestions, corrections, etc.  This 'work in progress' will never be complete.  There are always new plates coming out, there are formatting changes as a particular alpha-numeric series is exhausted, and there may be plates listed for which I have no plate code or formatting information.  These show with question marks.

 

The page is arranged with the first two columns listing prefixes and suffixes in alpha-numeric order.  Some of the plate prefixes are fixed.  For example Penn State Alumni plates always begin with P/S.  Some plate prefixes are progressive, such as Passenger plates that started with the DAA series.  It should be noted that not all combinations in a progressive series are used and not all letters are used.  Certain combinations have been omitted for various reasons — may be deemed offensive, may be in use elsewhere, etc.  Certain letters are not regularly used such as I, O, Q, U.  This is not a hard and fast rule, but these letters generally do not appear in a progressive series.  They do however appear in certain code prefixes and suffixes.  For example, the letter I appears on the Commercial Implement of Husbandry plate.  The letter O appears on the Omnibus plate.  As a side note, it may be useful to visit the ‘Plate Highs’ web pages to get a better idea of where the various plate progressions currently stand.

 

Something also needs to be said about the use of dashes and separators.  PA does not use dashes as part of the actual registration number.  They do however use dash separators and various size keystone separators on many plates.  Some even use the large keystone separator such as the Penn State official plate.  The dashes and separators are not a part of the registration number.

 

Certain prefixes may also be found in the suffix position, such as Municipal (MG) plates.  Some plates employ a combination of prefix and suffix such as Commercial Implement of Husbandry which has a CI prefix and an H suffix.  Special organizational / specialty plates normally have a logo, 2 stacked prefix or suffix letters then 5 numbers.  This is not always the case.  A few have 2 stacked prefix letters and only 4 numbers.  With the proliferation of special organization and specialty plates, it has been necessary to extend the plates codes beyond the two letters on many types.  For example Ducks Unlimited uses DU as its prefix.  Then Duquesne University and Drexel University came along all wanting to use DU, so it became necessary to share the prefixes by extending them to 3 characters.  Now Ducks uses DU0, Duquesne uses DU2, and Drexel has DU4.  The NASCAR series employed the use of a three-character alpha-numeric stacked prefixes followed by four numbers.  Motorcycle and Moped dealer tags employ a 4 digit number, then in very small letters across the bottom of the plate are the letters MCD or MPD.  These are prefixes used to designate the plate type even though they are at the bottom of the plate.  A number of plate types do not employ any prefix or suffix codes.  This is not to say that there is no particular format used, only that these plate don't use any alpha prefixes.

 

DCNR plates are also listed at the bottom of the table

 

Pennsylvania Plate Coding

Codes are organized by alpha-numeric format.  The time period covers from the 1999 plate replacement to the present.

# | 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 | DCNR

PennDOT Issued Plates
PREFIX SUFFIX POSITION FORMAT

PLATE STATUS

 PLATE TYPE

IMAGE
3NC   Prefix

3

N
C

0100
Discontinued NASCAR 3 Dale Earnhardt Legacy

43N   Prefix

4

3
N

0100
Discontinued NASCAR 43 Richard Petty Historic

4H   Prefix

4
 H

00000
Active 4-H Youth Program

A P Combination

A00-00P, A0000P

 Active Penn State University (official)

AAA etc.

 

0000A

 

A0000

 

0AA00

Prefix

 

Suffix

 

Prefix

 AAA00,  this is a progressive series of 3 letters followed by 2 numbers, such as DXJ96, next is 0000A with 4 numbers followed by 1 letter, such as 0001A, next  is A0000 with 1 letter followed by 4 numbers such as A0001, next is 0AA00, with 1 number followed by 2 letters followed by 2 numbers, such as 1AF32. Not all letter combinations are used.  Letters advance last. Current series active Motorcycle

A

A

Combination

A00A, this is a progressive series of 1 letter followed by 2 numbers, followed by 1 letter,  such as A00A, then A01A to A99A, then A00B to A99B, etc.,

then 0AA0 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., then 0A00, 00A0, A0AA.

 Active

Antique Vehicle

  AB Suffix

00000

A
B
Active 82nd Airborne Division Assn

AC   Prefix

A
C

00000
Active Allegheny College

  AC Suffix

00000

A
C
Active Air Force Cross

0 - - - - AD Suffix

00000

A
D
Active U.S. Army (Active Duty)

2 - - - - AD Suffix

20000

A
D
Active U.S. Navy (Active Duty)

4 - - - - AD Suffix

40000

A
D
Active U.S. Air Force (Active Duty)

6 - - - - AD Suffix

60000

A
D
Active U.S. Marine Corps (Active Duty)

8 - - - - AD Suffix

80000

A
D
Active U.S. Coast Guard (Active Duty)

9 - - - - AD Suffix

90000

A
D
Active PA National Guard

AE, AF, AG, etc.   Prefix

AE-00000, AF-00000, AG-00000, AH-00000, etc.

 Active Apportioned Truck

AF   Prefix

A
F

0001 -

A
F

0010;

A

F

1000
Believed active but seldom issued U.S. Air Force Reserve

0 - - - - AF Suffix

00000

A
F
Active Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

1 - - - - AF Suffix

10000

A
F
Active Animal Friends

2 - - - - AF Suffix

20000

A
F
Active U.S. Air Force Veteran

AL0   Prefix

A
L

00000
Active American Legion

AL2   Prefix

A
L

20000
Active Albright College

  AL Suffix

00000

A
L
Active Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

AM   Prefix

A
M

00000
Active American Motorcyclist Association

 

AP

Suffix

00000

A
P
Active

Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics

AR   Prefix

A
R

0001 -

A
R

0010;

A

R

1000
Believed active but seldom issued U.S. Army Reserve

0 - - - - AR Suffix

00000

A
R
Never issued AIDS Resource Alliance

1 - - - - AR Suffix

10000

A
R
Active U.S. Army Veteran

AT   Prefix

A
T

00000
Active Appalachian Trail Conservancy

  AT Suffix

00000

A
T
Active Abington Fire Company

AU0   Prefix

A
U

00000
Active Arcadia University

AU2   Prefix

A
U

20000
Active Autism Society of America

0 - - - -

 AU Suffix

00000

A
U
Active AFSCME Council 13

2 - - - -

 AU Suffix

20000

A
U
Active Pennsylvania Auctioneers Association

AV   Prefix

A
V

00000
Active AMVETS 

  AV Suffix

00000

A
V
Active Avondale Fire Company

 

 

AW

Suffix

00000

A
W
Active

Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society

  AX Suffix

00000

A
X
Active U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

BA etc.   Prefix BA000, this is a progressive series of 2 letters followed by 3 numbers, such as BD351.  Not all letter combinations are used. Active Moped 

BA   Prefix BA10000 - BA47999; BA-48000 Active Bus

BC   Prefix

B
C

00000
Active PA Breast Cancer Coalition

0 - - - -

 BC Suffix

00000

B
C
Active Blue Moon Cruisers Rod & Custom Association

1 - - - -

 BC Suffix

10000

B
C
Active Bucks County Community College

0 - - - -

 BF Combination

00000

B
F
Active Berwyn Fire Company

1 - - - -

 BF Combination

10000

B
F
Active Brookhaven Fire Co. No.1

2 - - - -

 BF Combination

20000

B
F
Active Brookline Fire Company

3 - - - -

 BF Combination

30000

B
F
Active Bethlehem Township Volunteer Fire Company

BG   Prefix

B
G

00000
Active

Big Brothers & Big Sisters

BH   Prefix

B
H

00000
Active United Bowhunters of PA 

  BH Suffix

10000

B
H
Active Barren Hill Volunteer Fire Company
BK   Prefix

B
K

00000
Active Share the Road

  BK Suffix

00000

B
K
Active Blue Knights Int'l Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club

  BM Suffix

00000

B
M
Active Intl Brotherhood of Boilermakers

BN   Prefix BN-00000 Active Apportioned Bus

BQ   Prefix

B
Q

00000
Active Barbershopper

BR

  

Prefix

B
R

00000

Active

Blackthorn Rugby Football Club

  BR Suffix

00000

B
R
Pending Big Run Area Volunteer Fire Company

  BS Suffix

00000

B
S
Active Boy Scouts of America

BU0   Prefix

B
U

00000
Active Bloomsburg University

BU2   Prefix

B
U

20000
Active Bucknell University

  BU Suffix

00000

B
U
Active Birdsboro Union Fire Department

  BV Suffix

00000

B
V
Active Bronze Star for Valor

  BW Suffix

00000

B
W
Active Delaware Valley Chapter of the BMW Car Club of America

BZ   Prefix

B
Z

00000
Active Circus-Carnival Truck

  BZ Suffix

00000

B
Z
Active Bronze Star

C  (also see Format)

 

Prefix

10000 or C00000, C prefix is new format since  5-digit number series was exhausted.

 Active

Classic Car

0 - - - -

 CA Combination

00000

C
A
Never issued Community Academy of Philadelphia

1 - - - -

 CA Combination

10000

C
A
Active Cetronia Ambulance Corps

 

 CB Combination

00000

C
B
Active St. Charles Borromeo Seminary

CC   Prefix

C
C

 0
Active Commonwealth Court

0 - - - - CC Combination

00000

C
C
Active Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School

1 - - - - CC Combination

10000

C
C
Active Cedar Crest College

2 - - - - CC Combination

20000

C
C
Active Corvette Club of Delaware Valley

3 - - - -

 CC Combination

30000

C
C
Active Keystone State Corvette Club

4 - - - - CC Combination

40000

C
C
Active Commonwealth Constables Association

0 - - - - CF Suffix

00000

C
F
Active Concordville Fire and Protective Association

1 - - - - CF Suffix

10000

C
F
Active Conshohocken Fire Company No. 2

2 - - - - CF Suffix

20000

C
F
Active ChildFirst Pennsylvania

CG   Prefix

C
G

0001 -

C
G

0010;

C

G

1000
Believed active but seldom issued U.S. Coast Guard Reserve

  CG Suffix

00000

C
G
Active U.S. Coast Guard Veteran

CH   Prefix

C
H

00000
Active Chatham College

0 - - - - CH Suffix

00000

C
H
Active The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

1 - - - - CH Suffix

10000

C
H
Active Citizens Hose Company No. 1

CI - - - -

H

Combination

CI1500H

 Active

Commercial Implement of Husbandry

CL   Prefix

C
L

0000
Active Classic Motorcycle

  CL Suffix

00000

C
L
Active PA Choose Life

  CL Suffix

10000

C
L
Active Associated Alumni of the Central High School

CM

   Prefix

C
M

000
Previously issued, current status uncertain Collectible Motorcycle

CM   Prefix

C
M

00000
Discontinued Carnegie Mellon University

CO   Prefix

C
O

00000
Active PA State Corrections Officers Association

  CO Suffix

00000

C
O
Active Combat Action Badge

  CO Suffix

20000

C
O
Active Combat Infantryman Badge

  CO Suffix

40000

C
O
Active Combat Action Ribbon

  CO Suffix

60000

C
O
Active Combat Action Medal

  CO Suffix

80000

C
O
Active Combat Medical Badge

0 - - - - CP Suffix

00000

C
P
Active Civil Air Patrol

1 - - - - CP Suffix

10000

C
P
Active Cathedral Preparatory School

2 - - - - CP Suffix

20000

C
P
Active Colonial Park Fire Company #1

3 - - - - CP Suffix

30000

C
P
Active

Camp Papillon Animal Shelter

  CS Suffix

00000

C
S
Active American Cancer Society

  CS Suffix

10000

C
S
Active National Ovarian Cancer Coalition

  CS Suffix

20000

C
S
Never issued Communities in Schools Pennsylvania

  CU Suffix

00000

C
U
Active California University

CU0   Prefix

C
U

00000
Active Carpenters Union

CU4   Prefix

C
U

40000
Active Clarion University

CV   Prefix

C
V

 0000
Active Collectible Vehicle

 

CV

Suffix

00000

C
V

 

 Active

Cumberland Valley Corvette Club

DA   Prefix

D
A

000 

Active

Distracted Driving Awareness (Motorcycle)

DA   Prefix

D
A

0000; 

D
A

000A;

D
A

00A0;

D
A

0A00
Discontinued DARE

DA   Prefix

D
A

00000 

Active

Distracted Driving Awareness

DAA etc.     DAA-0000, this is a progressive series of 3 letters followed by 4 numbers, such as DDR-5303.  Not all letter combinations are used. Active Passenger

DC   Prefix

D
C

00000
Active Dickinson College

0 - - - - DC Suffix

00000

D
C
Active PA Chiropractic Association

1 - - - - DC Suffix

10000

D
C
Active Delaware Co Fallen Firefighter & EMS Memorial Com

DD   Prefix

D
D

00000
Discontinued U.S. Armed Forces Retired

DN   Prefix

D
N

00000
Active Organ Donors Save Lives

  DR Suffix

00000

D
R
Active PA State Society Daughters of the American Revolution

  DS Suffix

00000

D
S
Active Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

DT   Prefix DT-05000 Active Transporter

DU0   Prefix

D
U

00000
Active Ducks Unlimited

DU2   Prefix

D
U

20000
Active Duquesne University

DU4   Prefix

D
U

40000
Discontinued Drexel University

  DU Suffix

00000

D
U
Active Pennsylvania DUI Association

  DU Suffix

10000

D
U
Active DeSales University

DV   Prefix

DV-0000; DV-00000;

D
V

28000
Active Disabled Veteran

DV8   Prefix

D
V

80000
Active Severely Disabled Veteran

DW   Prefix

D
W

00000
Active Delta Waterfowl

  DW Suffix

00000

D
W
Active Friends of Drake Well, Inc.

EA   Prefix

E
A

00000
Active Eagle Scout
  EA Suffix

20000

E
A
Active East Allen Twp. Vol. Fire Dept.

0 - - - - EB Suffix

00000

E
B
Active Eastern Berks Fire Department

1 - - - - EB Suffix

00000

E
B
Active East Brandywine Fire Company

EC   Prefix

E
C

00000
Active Elizabethtown College

  EC Suffix

00000

E
C
Active Elizabeth City State Univ Alumni

ED

 

Prefix

00000

E
D

Active

Eddington Fire Company

EF   Prefix

E
F

0000
Active Expeditionary Forces Veteran

EF   Prefix

E
F

00000
Active Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

  EF Suffix

00100

E
F
Active Operation Enduring Freedom

EM   Prefix

E
M

00000
Active Emergency Medical Services

  EP Suffix

00000

E
P
Discontinued Eagles Youth Partnership

ES0   Prefix

E
S

00000
Active East Stroudsburg University

ES2   Prefix

E
S

20000
Active Deborah Grand OES-PHA

  ET Suffix

00000

E
T
Active Exeter Twp Fire Department

EU   Prefix

E
U

00000
Active Edinboro University

  EU Suffix

00000

E
U
Active Eastern University

1 EU Suffix

10000

E
U

 

 Active Eureka Volunteer Fire and Ambulance

EV   Prefix EV-30000; EV-50000 Active Emergency Vehicle

  EY Suffix

00000

E
Y
Active Erie Yacht Club

  FA Suffix

00000

F
A
Active FFA Association

  FB Suffix

00000

F
B
Active Friendship Fire Company of Bressler

0 - - - - FC Suffix

00000

F
C
Active Distinguished Flying Cross

1 - - - -

FC

Suffix

10000

F
C

Active

Pennsylvania Fire Chiefs Association

 

0 - - - - FD Suffix

00000

F
D
Active Monroeville Vol Fire Dept

1 - - - -

 FD Suffix

10000

F
D
Pending Crystal Fire Department

FE - - - - D Combination FE1000D  Active Dealer - Farm Equipment

FF   Prefix

F F

25000

Active Firefighter

FF   Prefix

F F

+ a combination of up to 5(?) letters or numbers

Unknown if new plates are available as vanities Firefighter Vanity

0 - - - - FF Suffix

00000

F
F
Active Flourtown Fire Company

1 - - - - FF Suffix

10000

F
F
Active Friendship Hook, Ladder, Hose & Ambulance

2 - - - - FF Suffix

20000

F
F
Active Lower Frederick Fire Company

FL   Prefix

F
L

00000
Active Flyers Wives Charities

FL - - - - T Combination FL1000T Active Fleet Transporter

FM   Prefix FM-0000A Active Farm Truck

0 - - - - FM Suffix

00000

F
M
Active Franklin & Marshall College

1 - - - - FM Suffix

10000

F
M
Active Fort Mifflin on the Delaware

FN   Prefix

E
N

0000;

F
N

000A
Discontinued Flagship Niagara

  FN Suffix

00000

F
N
Active Fearnots Volunteer Fire Company

FP   Prefix

F
P

00000
Active Fraternal Order Of Police

  FP Suffix

00000

F
P
Active Fraternal Order of Police-Survivor

FR

   Prefix

F
R

0000
Active

Let Freedom Ring - Motorcycle

 

 FR Suffix

00000

F
R
Active

Let Freedom Ring

  FS Suffix

00000

F
S
Active Philadelphia Folksong Society

  FT Suffix

00000

F
T
Active Fairview Township Fire Department
FW   Prefix

F
W

00000
Active Veterans Of Foreign Wars

GB   Prefix

G
B

00000
Active St. Thomas More Alumni Association

  GB Suffix

00000

G
B
Active Pennsylvania Monuments - Gettysburg 1863

GC0   Prefix

G
C

00000
Active Geneva College

GC2   Prefix

G
C

2000
Active Gettysburg College

GC4   Prefix

G
C

40000
Active Grove City College

  GC Suffix

00000

G
C
Active Gettysburg College Orange & Blue Club

0 - - - - GF Suffix

00000

G
F
Active Gladwyne Fire Company

1 - - - - GF Suffix

10000

G
F
Active Gettysburg Fire Department

2 - - - - GF Suffix

20000

G
F
Active Goshen Fire Company

3 - - - - GF Suffix

30000

G
F
Active Gilbertsville Fire & Rescue Company

GH0   Prefix

G
H

00000
Active National Greyhound Adoption Program

GH2   Prefix

G
H

20000
Active Going Home Greyhounds

  GI Suffix

00000

G
I
Active Good Intent Fire Company #1

GM   Prefix

G
M

00000
Active Gwynedd-Mercy College

GP   Prefix

G
P

00000
Active Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix

  GR Suffix

00000

G
R
Active Delaware Valley Golden Retriever Rescue

  GS Suffix

00000

G
S
Active Girl Scouts of the USA

GSF   Prefix

G

S
F

0000
Active Gold Star Family

GT   Prefix

G
T

00000
Active In God We Trust

  GT Suffix

00000

G
T
Active Greenfield Twp VFC of Lackawanna County

GU   Prefix

G
U

00000
Active Gannon University

H - - - -, J - - - - H, J, etc. Combination H00-000H; J00-000J; etc. Active Dealer

0 - - - - HC Suffix

00000

H
C
Active Harcum College

1 - - - -

HC

Suffix

10000

H
C
Active

Hummelstown Chemical Fire Company No. 1

 

HD   Prefix

H
D

00000
Active Harley Owners Group

HE   Prefix HE-30000 Active Hearing Impaired

0 - - - - HF Suffix

00000

H
F
Active Hampden Township Volunteer Fire Co.

1 - - - - HF Suffix

10000

H
F
Active Hartsville Fire Company

2 - - - - HF Suffix

20000

H
F
Active Holy Family University

3 - - - - HF Suffix

30000

H
F
Active Harleysville Community Fire Co.

4 - - - - HF Suffix

40000

H
F
Active Horsham Fire Company No. 1

HG, HH, etc.   Prefix HG-00000; HH-0000; etc. Active Motor Home

  HH Suffix

00000

H
H
Active Pinnacle Health System

  HL Suffix

00000

H
L
Active Reliance Hook and Ladder Co. 1

HR HR Either

HR

1 -

HR

 203;

 1

HR

 - 203

HR
Active State Representative

0 - - - - HR Suffix

00000

H
R
Active Heritage Region Jeep Alliance

1 - - - - HR Suffix

10000

H
R
Active Pittsburgh Harlequins Rugby Football Assoc.

0 - - - - HS Suffix

00000

H
S
Active Christian Homeschool Association of PA

1 - - - - HS Suffix

10000

H
S
Active Action for Animals Humane Society

2 - - - - HS Suffix

20000

H
S
Active Indiana County Humane Society

  HT Suffix

00000

H
T
Active Pennsylvania Hunting Heritage

  HU Suffix

00000

H
U
Active Harrisburg University of Science and Technology

  HV Suffix

00000

H
V
Active Honoring Our Veterans

HV

 

Prefix

H
V

0000
Active

Honoring Our Veterans (Motorcycle)

  IF Suffix

00100

I
F
Active Operation Iraqi Freedom

  IL Suffix

00000

I
L
Active PA Council On Independent Living

IMP   Prefix IMP-5000 Active Implement of Husbandry

IN   Prefix

I
N

00000
Active Indiana University of Pennsylvania

  IR Suffix

00000

I
R
Active Ancient Order of Hibernians

IV   Prefix

I
V

00000
Active Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

JC   Prefix

J
C

00000
Active Juniata College

  JF Suffix

00000

J
F
Active Jefferson Fire Company

JP   Prefix

J
P

00000
Discontinued Blue Mountain Jeep Alliance

KC0   Prefix

K
C

00000
Active Knights of Columbus

KC2   Prefix

K
C

20000
Active Kings College Alumni

  KD Suffix

00000

K
D
Active Korean Defense Service Medal

KE   Prefix

K
E

20000
Active Keystone Elk Country Alliance

 

KH

Suffix

00000

K
H
Active

Kuhl Hose Co. Inc

  KI Suffix

00000

K
I

(none issued)
Active PA District Kiwanis International

  KT Suffix

00000

K
T
Active Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of PA

KU   Prefix

K
U

00000

 
Active Kutztown University

KV   Prefix

K
V

00000
Active Korean War Veteran

LB   Prefix

L
B

00000
Never issued Lancaster Bible College

  LB Suffix

00000

L
B
Active Pennsylvania Resources Council

LC0 - - - -   Prefix

L
C

00000
Active Lafayette College

LC1 - - - -

  

Prefix

L
C

10000
Active

Lung Cancer Alliance

 

0 - - - - LC Suffix

00000

L
C
Active 32° Masonic Learning Centers for Children

1 - - - - LC Suffix

10000

L
C
Active Lycoming College

L - - - - U Combination L0500U Active Lincoln University (Official)

 

LE

Suffix

00000

L
E
Unconfirmed

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

 

0 - - - -

 LF