![]() |
|
![]() |
This page covers the history of Pennsylvania license plates used by vehicle dealers and other automotive-related businesses. Latest noteworthy updates to this page
|
|
From 1906 to 1909, Pennsylvania license plates indicated that the driver, not the vehicle, was licensed, so there was only a single plate type during those years. Beginning in 1910, license plates were assigned to specific vehicles, and during 1910-1919 the VIN number was actually enscribed on most plates. This practice made dealer plates necessary, because dealer plates by nature are not vehicle-specific. So, Pennsylvania dealer plates were introduced in 1910 and were that state's first non-passenger plate type. That's where this page begins.
From 1910 until 1980, Pennsylvania dealer plates and/or stickers nearly always indicated the registration year. However, beginning with plates dated 1941, the registration year no longer coincided with the calendar year. Plates dated from 1941 through 1957 showed the exact expiration date in addition to the registration year. Since 1981, stickers have indicated the expiration month and year.
Generally, Pennsylvania dealer plates have followed the same color scheme, dimensions, and other characteristics of passenger car plates. Because this information is covered in detail on the Pennsylvania passenger car plate history pages, on this page I'll just point out when there were deviations from passenger car plates.
My "Pictorial History" pages are intended to be a supplement to the information found in the ALPCA Archives. I am providing additional details and additional photos not found in the archives, and clarifying information when appropriate. When the ALPCA archives cover a subject in great detail, I do not repeat that detail here. I sincerely hope that you find this information useful.
If you find an error or have additional information, or can provide a plate or a photo of a plate that I'm missing, please send me an e-mail. There's a link to my e-mail address at the bottom of every page. Please note that all plates shown that are credited to another person, or that are photos of plates in actual use, are plates that I am still seeking for my own collection.
Beginning in 1930, for all types of plates, Pennyslvania tried hard to limit plate serial numbers to five characters or fewer in an apparant attempt to save money by keeping the plate lengths to a maximum of 12 inches. This meant introducing new serial formats that had more letters and letters in a variety of positions. Dealer plates and most other non-passenger plate types had no identifying legend during these years.
![]() possible 1930 dealer (Morrison photo / plate) ![]() possible 1931 dealer (Burr photo / plate) ![]() 1931 mystery plate, possibly either a truck or dealer plate |
Regular dealersI, like most people familiar with old Pennsylvania license plates, had once automatically assumed that 1930-1933 dealer plates were identified by the presence of the letter "X" in the serial number, and due to the now-shorter plate numbers, the "X" could be in any position. Well, I've actually seen them in serial positions 1 through 4, but not position 5. The 1930 and 1931 plates shown at left, are perfect examples of what I assumed were dealer plates. Then I saw a report by another plate historian that indicated that dealer plates, like truck plates, used serial formats 00xx and 000xx in 1930. In the case of dealer plates, the first of the two letters was supposedly could be either an "X" or a "Y", while the second letter was variable. I've also seen 1931 plates in format 000xx where the first letter is an "A" or "B", and I don't know what those are – I'm guessing either truck or dealer plates, but I just don't know. I'm not yet convinced that 1930 and 1931 "X" plates are not in fact dealer plates, based on just this one report which runs counter to convetional wisdom. I'm not aware of the letter "X" being used for any other type of plate through 1970. However, assuming this report regarding 1930 dealer plates is in fact correct, that leaves the obvious question of what type of plate are the 1930 and 1931 "X" plates, if not dealer plates? Passenger car plates, perhaps, but who knows? To resolve this question, further provenance is needed, such as a registration card for a 1930 or 1931 "X" plate, or a list of 1930 or 1931 plate types and corresponding numbering formats from the Pennsylvania motor vehicle department. Same thing with 1932 and 1933 plates, just to be sure. I'd say that 1932 and 1933 "X" plates are more likely to be dealer plates, since there is no other mystery numbering format in those years that could have been used instead. Stay tuned. |
Tractor dealersTractor dealer plates were distinguishable only by the "TX" serial prefix during these years. |
|
Motorcycle dealersLike full-sized regular dealer plates, motorcycle dealer plates were identified with a letter "X" serial prefix. They were not otherwise identified. |
|
Motorboat dealersMotorboats were issued metal plates similar to license plates between 1931 and 1963. Through 1954, they were quite different looking than any land-based vehilce plates. Motorboat dealer plates have been reported as early as 1933; I don't know whether they were also issued in 1931 or 1932. Motorboat dealer plates were distinguished from regular motorboat plates only by their "X" serial prefix. Motorboat plates are covered in more detail on the Pennsylvania motorcycle plates page. |
Starting in 1934, nearly all types of plates other than passenger car plates gained an identifying legend of some kind, making it much easier to identify obscure plate types.
![]() |
Regular dealersFor 1934, and continuing to the present, dealer plates bore a legend that clearly identified them as such. The legend was yy#Dealer#Pa in 1934, 1936, and 1937, and on 1935 "shorty" plates with fewer than five serial characters, with the # symbol indicating the position of embossed keystones, and the "yy" indicating the two-digit issue year. Full-sized 1935 plates with five serial characters bore legend # yy Dealer Pa #. Serial formats in 1934 did not use the "X" letter code; instead, they could be all-numeric or have a variable serial letter. However, the "X" retuned in 1935, and could be in variable positions. Although 1937 passenger car plates were issued with a state map outline, dealer plates continued in the plain style for one additional year. |
Tractor dealersApparently tractor dealer plates looked similar to trailer plates, with a vertical state abbreviation and year, but with the legend Trailer Dlr across either the top or bottom of the plate. I'm guessing that the 1934 plate didn't have the "TX" serial prefix, but the 1935-1937 plates did. |
|
Motorcycle dealersMotorcycle dealer plates lost the "X" in the serial number, permanently, and now instead were identified by the stacked letters "M/C/D". The stacked letters were stacked vertically on the right side of the plate in 1934 and 1935, and on the left side in 1936 and 1937. On the opposite side of the plate, the two-digit year and the state abbreviation Pa were each stacked vertically. |
|
Motorboat dealersMotorboat dealer plates had an "X" serial prefix, but otherwise looked just like regular motorboat plates, and both were quite different looking from any land-based vehilce plates. Motorboat plates are covered in more detail on the Pennsylvania motorcycle plates page. |
Starting in 1938, dealer plates bore the state map outline that was introduced on passenger plates in 1937. Like other plate types, the registration period was changed from the calendar year to end on March 31 of the year following the year indicated on the plate, beginning with the 1941 plate. Starting with this plate, the actual expiration date was added in very small characters along the top edge of the plate.
![]() 1940 dealer |
1938-1945 regular dealers and 1946-1957 miscellaneous dealers (X in serial)Through 1945, there continued to be only one dealer plate type, which used the "X" letter code in the serial number. (That is, if you don't consider tractor dealers, motorcycle dealers, or motorboat dealers.) 1943 renewal tabs used to extend the life of the 1942 dealer plates also had an "X" serial prefix that identified them as dealer tabs. Additional dealer plate types for new and used car dealers were introduced in 1946, but the unspecified or generic dealer plate type with the "X" in the serial also continued to be issued. A 1965 state document refers to these "X" plates as "miscellaneous dealer" plates. I believe these were issued to what would later be called motor vehicle businesses rather than actual dealers. Serial formats remained unchanged on these plates, with a maximum of five characters through 1956, including the letter "X" which could be in a variety of positions. In 1957, dealer plates went to using six serial characters, using only serial format X00000 for miscellaneous dealer plates. |
![]() 1954 new car dealer ![]() 1956 new car dealer version 2 (1957 dies) (Burr photo / plate) |
1946-1957 new and used car dealers (A and B prefixes)At least two new dealer plate types, for new car dealers and used car dealers, were introduced in 1946. New car dealer plates bore the legend New Car Dl'r and used the letter "A" consistently in serial position one, while used car dealers said Used Car Dl'r and used the letter "B" consistently in serial position one. Through 1956, both plate types had one additional variable letter in the serial and used both serial formats x000x and x00x0. In 1957, these plate types went to using six serial characters, using only serial format x0000x. The 1956 new car dealer plate shown at left had its plate number stamped with what are called 1957 dies. 1957 die characters are the same width as the previous 1934 dies, but the width of the strokes are thinner. They're called 1957 dies because they were used to stamp all types of 1957 plates with five or fewer characters in the plate number. Most instances of 1957 dies being used on 1956 plates are late-issue, high-numbered passenger car plates, but I also know of two truck plates and this one dealer plate. I don't know if 1957 dies were only used on new car dealer plates, or also on other dealer plate types as well. Ironically, since 1957 dealer plate numbers all had six characters, they were stamped with what are called 1958 serial dies. |
1946?-1957 transit dealers (C prefix)The earliest year I'm aware of this obscure plate type actually being issued is 1957, and it was issued through 1965. These had a generic Dealer legend and were issued in small numbers. Serial format was C0000x in 1957, and almost certainly the second letter was always an "A". I've also now seen a 1952 test plate that was stamped with plate number C123A and the legend Dealer, which makes me now think this type might have been around since 1946, when the "A" and "B" prefixed dealer plates began. I had been under the impression that the split-alpha passenger car plate serial formats that debuted in 1951 had started with serial C000A, but perhaps not, since that format was apparently already in use. On the other hand, Pennsylvania did issue the same plate number for various plate types in other instances, so passenger car plates and transit dealer plates might have shared the format, or, possibly, split-alpha passenger car plates actually began at C000B or D000A. A 1965 state document refers to this plate type as being for "transit dealers", but I have no idea what exactly that means. It sounds like these might be bus dealer plates, but I can't imagine why bus dealers would need their own plate type when there was no truck dealer plate type. A more likely possibility is that these plates were used for unregistered vehicles "in transit", such as being driven between factory and showroom. |
|
![]() 1952 tractor dealer (Burr photo / plate) |
Tractor dealersThis is not a common plate type, and I've only seen two tractor dealer plates from this time period, dated 1952 and 1955. They both bore the legend Tractor but don't say anything about being a dealer plate. They were identifiable as dealer plates only by the serial format TX000. I can only assume that other 1938-1957 tractor dealer plates have similar characteristics. |
Motorcycle dealersMotorcycle dealer plates continued to be distinguished from regular motorcycle plates with the stacked letters "M/C/D" on the right side of the plate. Serials were always all-numeric. |
|
![]() 1956 motorboat dealer (plate owner not known) |
Motorboat dealersBeginning in 1955, motorboat plates began to strongly resemble motorcycle plates, and used the same state map design and expiration date embossed along the top edge as did motorcycle plates. However, in most years, motorboat plate colors were completely different than Pennsylvania license plates used on land vehicles. Motorboat dealer plates were distinguished from reglar motorboat plates only by having an "X" serial prefix. Motorboat plates are covered in more detail on the Pennsylvania motorcycle plates page. |
Multi-year dealer base plates were issued in 1958 and again in 1962. Single-year dealer plates were issued in 1964. All three of these plates were yellow on blue and had the two-digit year embossed on the plate, consistent with other plate types of this period. Early issue 1958 base plates had a tab slot next to the stamped year, which was never used since stickers were instead used to validate these plates in subsequent years.
In the years that new base plates weren't issued, 1959-1961 and 1963, renewal stickers were applied in the upper left corner of the plate. Sticker colors were the same as those used on passenger car plates. The exact expiration date was no longer indicated on the plate, nor on the sticker.
![]() 1959 miscellaneous dealer |
Miscellaneous dealers (X prefix)The miscellaneous or generic dealer plate type continued to be issued. I believe these were issued to what would later be called motor vehicle businesses rather than actual dealers. During these years, serial numbers were consistently six characters, with the letter "X" consistently in position one and a dash between the third and fourth characters. In other words, the serial format was X00-000. |
![]() 1963 new car dealer |
New and used car dealers (A and B prefixes)New car dealer plates continued to bear the legend New Car Dl'r and used the letter "A" in serial position one, while used car dealers said Used Car Dl'r and used the letter "B" in serial position one. During these years, the serial format was x00-00x for both of these plate types. The suffix letter was variable. |
![]() 1958 transit dealer |
Transit dealers (C prefix)These had a generic Dealer legend and were issued in small numbers. Serial format was C00-00x beginning in 1958. Again, I don't really know what a "transit dealer" was. |
![]() 1964 tractor dealer |
Tractor dealers1958 plates issued to dealers of farm-type tractors bore the legend Pa Tractor but didn't say anything about being dealer plates. They were identifiable as dealer plates only by the serial format TX0-000. New tractor dealer plates were issued in 1962 and 1964 like other dealer plate types. |
Motorcycle dealersThe stacked letters "M/C/D" continued to be placed on the right side, and serial numbers continued to be all-numeric throughout this period. Like full-sized dealer plates, motorcycle dealer plates were issued in 1958, 1962, and 1964 with an embossed two-digit year stacked vertically in the lower left corner of the plate. Early-issue 1958 base plates had tab slots on either side of the year, which were never used for their intended purpose. These base plates were validated with stickers in the intervening years; sticker colors were the same as passenger car plates, and the stickers were affixed to a blank space above the embosssed year. |
|
![]() 1958 motorboat dealer (plate owner not known) |
Motorboat dealersMotorboat plates continued to strongly resemble motorcycle plates, but in most years had different colors than were ever used on motorcycle plates. Motorboat dealer plates had an "X" serial prefix, but otherwise looked just like regular motorboat plates. 1963 was the last year for these. Motorboat plates are covered in more detail on the Pennsylvania motorcycle plates page. |
Between 1965 and 1970, dealer plates and motor vehicle business plates were reissued annually. Like passenger car, motorcycle, and tractor plates, and unlike most other plate types, dealer and motor vehicle business plates switched to an undated blue-on-yellow map base in 1965. However, the embossed date returned again for 1966.
Pennsylvania continued with annually-issued plates dealer and motor vehicle business plates during these years. Like the plate types such as passenger cars that received new base plates in 1971, dealer and motor vehicle business plates other than motorcycle dealers abandoned the state map border and went to a plain yellow-on-blue design.
From 1971 to 1974, new plates were issued each year, with the embossed four-digit year following the plate type legend. In 1975 and 1976, the plates were undated, and stickers were used to indicate the registration year. However, I've never seen a dealer or M.V. business plate with both 1975 and 1976 stickers affixed, which leads me to believe that new plates were issued in 1976. The stickers on these plate types all seem to have serial number PA0000.
![]() 1972 new car dealer ![]() 1976 used car dealer |
New and used car dealersNew and used car dealer plates continued with the "A" and "B" serial prefixes, respectively, but went to a seven-character serial format x00-000x where the suffix letters were always the same as the prefix letters. In other words, new car dealer plates always used serial format A00-000A and used car dealer plates always used format B00-000B. Both types used the legend Dealer and so cannot be distinguished except for the serial letters.
|
|
![]() 1973 motor vehicle business ![]() 1976 motor vehicle business |
Motor vehicle businessesThe motor vehicle business plate type serial format was changed similarly to those of new and used car dealers. Motor vehicle business plates therefore used a C00-000C serial format during these years. The plate type legend continued to be M.V. Business. |
|
![]() 1972 tractor dealer ![]() 1976 tractor dealer |
Tractor dealersTractor dealer plates went to a D00-000D serial format and used a Dealer legend. Other than the serial letters, they looked just like new and used car dealer plates. |
|
![]() 1972 trailer dealer |
Trailer dealersTrailer dealer plates were apparently a new dealer type probably introduced in 1971, or, obviously, no later than 1972. Serial format was E00-000E. I don't know what type of plate a trailer dealer would have used before this. |
|
![]() 1973 motorcycle dealer ![]() 1976 motorcycle dealer |
Motorcycle dealers1971 motorcycle dealer plates continued to have a state map border, the stacked letters "D/L/R" along the right edge, and all-numeric serials. The 1971 through 1974 plates had an embossed, veritcal two-digit year in the lower left corner, and were reissued annually. Like other dealer plate types, an undated base plate was issued in 1975, with a 1975 sticker affixed. I believe that these weren't renewed with a subsequent sticker in 1976, but rather a new undated plate with a 1976 sticker was issued. |
|
![]() 1974 snowmobile dealer |
1974 snowmobile dealersMetal registration plates for snowmobile dealers were only issued for one year, 1974. These resembled motorcycle dealer plates, but were colored white on navy and had the legend Snowmobile at the top. Snowmobile dealer plates are covered in more detail on the Pennsylvania motorcycle plates page. |
Pennsylvania continued with annually-issued plates dealer and motor vehicle business plates in 1977 and 1978. Beginning in 1979, undated dealer base plates were issued and validated with stickers. I've encountered many more of these plates bearing only a 1979 sticker than would seem likely, including several shown below. This leads me to suspect that possibly the 1979 stickered plates were replaced with new plates in 1980, similar to what was apparently done in 1975 and 1976. In any case, undated blue-on-yellow dealer and motor vehicle business plates were issued between 1979 and about 1983. At least some types were used through 2000, despite major changes in dealer and motor vehicle business plates that were made in about 1983. All yellow plates were replaced with tri-color fade band plates between September 1999 and January 2000, regardless of the expiration date on the registration sticker.
Pennsylvania issued most yellow-on-blue base plates between about late 1983 through June 2000; these could be renewed through June 2002. Dealer and motor vehicle business plates didn't follow this schedule precisely; they might have switched to the blue plates later than 1983, and blue dealer plates were replaced sooner than other blue plates.
At the time that the color change from yellow to blue was made, and possibly afterward as well, Pennsylvania made significant changes to how they categorized dealer and automotive business plates. Various dealer plate types were merged into a generic dealer type, while the motor vehicle business plate type was split into several new types. These changes are quite confusing, especially to someone like me who didn't live in Pennsylvania. It may be that some of these new types were introduced some time after the blue base was introduced. However, despite all the changes, the previous-base yellow dealer and motor vehicle business plate could continue to be used through January 2000.
All blue dealer plate types were replaced with tri-color fade band plates between September 1999 and January 2000, regardless of the expiration date on the registration sticker. I believe, but am not certain, that the various motor vehicle business types on the blue base were also replaced on the same accelerated schedule.
Tri-color plates with blue and yellow bands that fade to white were first introduced in 1999 with 2000 expirations. They replaced the older bases that were in use at the time. All yellow plates were replaced with tri-color fade plates on an accelerated schedule, as were all dealer plate types on the blue base. I believe, but am not certain, that the various motor vehicle business types on the blue base were also replaced on the same accelerated schedule.
Tri-color plates with solid navy and yellow bands were introduced probably in 2005 for dealers, and later for the various automotive business types, as existing stock of the earlier fade plates were used up. The original tri-color fade plate style continues to be used and renewed, however.
All dealer and motor vehicle business plate types continued from the previous blue base, and their serial formats and numbering for the most part continued as well, with serial numbers on the the fade base starting at a point higher than the highest serial numbers used on the blue base. Plate type legends are consistently found at the bottom edge of both the fade band and solid band base plates.
In October 2022, Pennsylvania began issuing graphic plates to dealers and other automotive-related businesses. These resemble graphic special-interest plates on the Visa card (tri-color band) base. On the left side of the plate, they have a yellow rectangle with a line drawing of a vehicle. The vehicle shown varies, depending on the plate type. Apparently they're using up inventory of the old, non-graphic plates before introducing the new plates, and so only a few types have hit the streets so far. More details as I get them.
Related pages on this site |
Elsewhere on the web |
Thanks to those who have directly contributed to the information on this page: Brandon Sowers, Kelly Brewer, John McDevitt, Ed Burr, Brad Morrison, Clayton Moore, Jordan Irazabal, and Shawn Bergan.
Sowers, Brewer, McDevitt, Burr, Morrison, Moore, Irazabal, and Bergan photos are presumed to be copyrighted by Brandon Sowers, Kelly Brewer, John McDevitt, Ed Burr, Brad Morrison, Clayton Moore, Jordan Irazabal, and Shawn Bergan, respectively, and are used with permission. Francis, McDevitt, and Lutz plates are from the collections of Jeff Francis, John McDevitt, and George Lutz, respectively.
This page is![]() W3C valid |