Rick Kretschmer's License Plate Archives

Introduction

Shown on this page is an extensive list of specific license plates that I'd like to add to my collection. 

My want list consists of plates that I know about.  It's always possible that there's a plate that I don't know exists, and therefore is not listed, that fits into some plate category that I collect.  If you know of any such plates, and especially if you have one to trade or sell, feel free to let me know about it. 

In any case, I'd rather trade than buy, if possible.  Please check out my trade box to see if I have anything you can use. 

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Specific license plates wanted to complete some of my runs and sets

I'm now at a point where I several plate runs and sets that are close to being finished, only lacking a small number of plates.  (A "run" is a one-plate-per-year sub-collection, where a "set" is any other sub-collection.)  Anyway, I want to highlight those plates I'm still missing, in the hopes that I can complete some of these in my lifetime. 

My U.S. state and territorial anniversary plate set

Missing anniversaries

• Colorado  –  Both of the two Sesquicentennial 1876-1926 graphic plate designs. 

My 1959 U.S. state and territorial passenger car set

Missing jurisdictions

• American Samoa
• U.S. Virgin Islands

Missing variations

• Puerto Rico  –  Passenger dated 1958-59. 
• U.S. Virgin Islands  –  1957 passenger remade into a 1959 plate. 

My Pennsylvania passenger car run

Missing years

• 2023 issue  –  An unstickered passenger in the upper MCx series to MKA series. 
• 2024 issue  –  An unstickered passenger in the MKB series or higher. 

My Maryland passenger car run

Missing years

• 1910
• 2026 expiration  –  A stickered passenger in the GB series or higher. 

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Summary of license plates wanted, by general category

It's hard to summarize the categories of plates that I'm looking for, because for any given category that I collect, I frequently already have many or most of the specific plates in that category.  But, I'll take a stab at listing general categories of plates where there are many that I'm still wanting. 

• Church bus plates:  These are issued by Arkansas, Indiana, Misssissppi, and Ohio, and were once issued in Alaska where they were called "Sunday School bus" plates.  Also, I'm looking for "charitable vehicle" or other similar plate types that are mostly used on church buses, issued by a few other states such as Illinois and New Mexico. 
• Other church-related license plates pertaining to any Christian church or denomination, or Christianity in general; including Knights of Columbus organizational member or special interest plates, various other church-related organizational member plates (common in Maryland) and church-related special event plates (common in Illinois). 
• Maryland plates of various types and ages:  Especially optional graphics; organizational member plates; motorcycle plates; unusual types; 1950s and earlier types other than passenger car; and 1940s and earlier passenger car plates in very good condition or better. 
• Pennsylvania plates of various types and ages:  Especially optional graphics; organizational member plates; unusual types; 1930s and earlier types other than passenger car; and 1940s and earlier passenger car plates in very good condition or better. 
• Illinois passenger car plates for several years 1911 to 1923, preferably in very good condition or better, and upgrades for many years 1916 to 1951, which must be in at least very good condition. 
• Plates bearing my first name, initials, or ALPCA member number:  Any vanity plate from anywhere with the words RICK, RIX, or ARKAY on it (with or without other letters or numbers); or any plate from anywhere with the number 9652, with or without letters.  A plate that I don't already have with only the letters RK, with or without numbers.  A plate with either plate number RK 9652 or 9652 RK would be perfect! 
• 1977 U.S. non-passenger plates where the year "1977" or "77" is stamped on the plate, and there are no renewal stickers for other years affixed to the plate, from states I don't already have. 
• 1977 U.S. motorcycles valid for or expiring in 1977, with no renewal stickers for other years affixed to the plate, from states I don't already have. 
• Real license plates related to the following universities and professional sports teams:  Drexel University (Dragons), East Carolina University (Pirates), Johns Hopkins University (Blue Jays), University of Maryland (Terrapins or Terps), Missouri Baptist University (Spartans), Penn State University (Nittany Lions), Baltimore Orioles, Carolina Hurricanes, Sacramento Kings, St. Louis Blues, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Redskins.  Can be special interest plates, vanity plates, etc., from any state. 
• Choose Life special interest license plates from states I don't already have. 
• Miniature 1959 or 1960 toy plates from many states. 
• Citizens' Band radio operator license plates from most states.  Not all states issued these, and I don't have a complete list of those that did.  Also, they're not usually identified as such.  The best way to tell is that the plate numbers would be in formats Kxx 0000 or Kxxx 0000, and would be from the 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s.  I already have Minnesota, New Hampshire, and North Carolina. 

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Specific license plates wanted, by jurisdiction

United States

(I do not currently need any plates from Alabama unless they meet one of the general criteria above, or they're free.) 

Alabama

Nothing needed unless it's free. 

Alaska

• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Non-passenger plate with "S" or "SS" serial prefix (issued to Sunday School buses circa 1962-1975); any year besides 1968 and this undated 1970s plate. 
• Exempt plates, navy-on-yellow in color; serial formats are YYx 000 and YZx 000, with or without the space.  I'm specifically looking for the versions without the space separator, or without the Exempt legend, or both; any year, circa early 1980s to present.  I prefer rear plates with expiraiton stickers. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Arizona

• 1973 passenger car base plate with a natural 1977 expiration sticker (no stickers underneath). 

Arkansas

• 1935 passenger car plate in better condition than this one. 
• 1959 passenger car plate in better condition than this one. 
• Church bus plate, any year 1960 to 1967; undated base plate with Arkansas screened in white on wide red band, with proper stickers affixed, or any other design not already shown here. 
• Any plate with either a BSO serial prefix, or with the legend B S & O at the bottom of the plate, preferably properly stickered and actually used, other than this one. 
• Any plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers, and preferably full-sized, if such a thing exists. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 

California

• 1956 passenger car plate with 1959 registration sticker only, in better condition than this one. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• A plate with a large metal expiration tab with the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it. 
• A non-passenger plate with 1977 expiration stickers. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Colorado

• Either or both of the two Sesquicentennial 1876-1926 graphic plates. 
• Any plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers.  I've seen motorcycle-sized plates for press vehicles that would fit the bill. 
• A non-passenger plate with a 1977 expiration sticker, if such a thing exists. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Connecticut

• Undated passenger car plate with 1959 registration tab attached, no stickers, in better condition than this one. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any full-sized plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers, in better condition than this one. 

Delaware

• Passenger car base plate circa 1958, stainless steel, white numbers on a black background, 6" by 12", round bolt holes 7" apart horizontally, preferably with month-day and 1959 expiration tabs, in better condition than this one. 
• Passenger car plate, with a natural 1977 expiration sticker (no stickers underneath) and flat (not riveted) numbers. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any full-sized plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers, if such a thing exists.  Perhaps a surf fishing vehicle permit?
• A non-passenger plate with a 1977 expiration sticker. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 

District of Columbia  (Washington, D.C.)

• A Capital City six-digit passenger car plate with natural September 1986 expiration stickers, in better condition than this one. 
• Graphic fireworks plate with the legend Bicentennial 1791-1991 (not 1776-1976) and serial format 200 xxx, in better condition than this one. 
• D.C.-issued Clergy plate, any year or base other than the script A Capital City base.  See example.  (La Camera photo / plate)
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers, and preferably full-sized, if such a thing exists.  Perhaps an annual special permit plate? 
• A non-passenger plate with a 1977 expiration sticker, in better condition than this one. 

Florida

• 1975 passenger car base with a 1977 expiration sticker, in better condition than this one. 
• Any exempt non-profit plate other than on the current website base; these have an "X" or "68X" serial prefix or an "X" suffix. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers, and preferably full-sized, if such a thing exists. 
• A non-passenger plate with a 1977 expiration sticker. 

Georgia

• 1959 passenger car plate in better condition than this one. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• An upgrade to this graphic peach tree plate with the word "Bacon" screened on the plate.  Any other plate from Bacon County, with the word "Bacon" at the bottom of the plate, excluding the red-on-white 1976 base, the "...on my mind" base, and the current white-background flat plate. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Hawaii

• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 

Idaho

• Any plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Illinois

Years that are underlined and/or clickable are those for which I already have a plate, but want to find one in better condition.  Clicking the year will show you the one I've already got, so you can judge whether yours is better than mine or not.  If the year is underlined but not clickable, I don't have a photo available of the plate in my collection. 

For passenger car plates from 1979 forward, I only want rear plates with a single (natural) expiration sticker. 

• Passenger car plates:  (These had all-numeric plate numbers from 1911 to 1960, except for 1914 and 1915, when the plate numbers could be all-numeric or have a letter followed by numbers.) 
  • Issue years 1911, 1912, 1914, 1915, 1917, 1918, and 1923. 
  • Natural expiration year 2025 (no other sticker underneath). 
  • Upgrades to issue years 1916, 1920, 1924, 1925, 1927, 1928, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1939, 1941, 1951; expiration year 1981 with no other stickers. 
  • A passenger car plate with sticker wells in the upper corners and with only a 1984 expiration sticker. 
  • A passenger car plate with a single sticker well at the bottom center and a 2002 expiration sticker, where the plate number is in the format Y00 0000 with the only space between the third and fourth characters. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Eagle Scout special interest plate.  See example.  (Best photo of plate in actual use) 
• St. Louis Cardinals special interest plate. 
• Special event plates for various church-related events. 
• Special event plates for various Boy Scout-related events. 
• Charitable bus plates; these have the letters "CB" at the end of the plate number:  upgrade to this 1977; upgrade to this biennial 1980-81. 
• Sample plates from 1962 and prior, 1965 to 1972, and 1975.  These usually have all zeroes or a series of dashes in the plate number. 
• Antique vehicle plates from 1973 and prior, 1988-89, and expiring 2004 and later. 
• Dealer plates from 1959 and prior, 1963, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1976, 1977, 1979 to 1983, 1985 to 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1996, 1999, 2001 to 2004, 2006 to 2011, and 2013 to 2016.  Since 1959 these are identified with a stacked D/L prefix.  Especially interested in any from these years with number 2221. 
• State senate or other political plates from 1972 and prior, and 1987 and later. 
• Various other non-passenger types; most types and years. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Indiana

• 1991 special event plate for Christian Church (denomination) 125th anniversary, or any other similar church-related special event plate. 
• Church bus plates dated or stickered 1958 and earlier, 1960 to 1965, 1967 to 1976, 1978, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996 to 1999, 2001 to 2009, and 2011 to present.  Upgrade to this 1959. 

Iowa

• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Kansas

• Dated 1976 passenger car plate, with the "6" in the year "76" rounded at the top, displaying only a 1977 sticker, in better condition than this one. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 

Kentucky

• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Louisiana

• Passenger car plate with embossed years 1974-1975 and a 1977 sticker, in better condition than this one. 
• Any full-sized plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, without also indicating the years 1976 or 1978, in better condition than this one. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Maine

• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers.  A Livestock-Poultry motorcycle-sized plate is one such type. 
• A non-passenger plate with a 1977 expiration sticker. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Maryland

Plates described below that are underlined and/or clickable are those for which I already have a plate, but want to find one in better condition.  Clicking the link will show you the one I've already got, so you can judge whether yours is better than mine or not.  If the plate decription is underlined but not clickable, I don't have a photo available of the plate in my collection.  Plates whose descriptions are enclosed in parentheses are a lower priority for me, as are upgrades to plates I already have. 

Maryland plates dated 1910 to 1953

• Passenger car plates:  (These have all-numeric plate numbers during this period.) 
  • Issue year 1910. 
  • Upgrades to issue years 1911, 1913, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, and 1936; expiration years 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947. 
• Most any non-passenger plate that expired in 1953 or earlier.  These may have a letter or letters in the plate number, or a legend indicating the plate type.  In some cases, they may just have low serial numbers (below 30-000) or high serial numbers (800-000 and higher).  See example.  See another example.
• Most any state-issued government official or political office plate.  These sometimes have a large state shield on the plate. 
• Any sample plate other than 1940, 1943, or 1948.  Passenger samples usually had actual plate number 00-000 during these years; or might have plate number 30-000.  Non-passenger or motorcycle samples would be great, too! 
• Motorcycle plates:  All types and years 1910-1953. 

Maryland plates dated 1954 to 1956

• Upgrade to this 1954 passenger car plate. 
• A 1954-1956 upgrade to this Disabled Veteran plate. 
• Non-passenger plate types with the plate type not stamped on the plate:  These have plate numbers consisting of four numbers followed by two letters.  Any 1954-1956 AE, BA, or CA suffixes.  A 1954-1956 upgrade to this HE or HF suffix. 
• Non-passenger plate types with the plate type indicated on the plate:  Any 1954-1956 upgrades to this Finance Company, this School Bus, and this School Charter.  Most other such types. 
• Any 1954-1956 state-issued government official or political office plate.  These usually have a large, round, full-color state shield on the left side of the plate. 
• Any non-passenger sample plate. 
• Most any motorcycle plate. 

Maryland plates dated 1957 to 1964

• A plate with an amateur radio operator call sign as the plate number, with a 4-30 expiration date.  Typically, these begin with "W3". 
• 1959 expiration organizational member plates with non-standard plate number formats, with prefixes such as DAV or VFW. 
• Non-passenger plate types with the plate type not stamped on the plate:  These have plate numbers consisting of four numbers followed by two letters.  (Any HE or HF suffixes.)  An upgrade to this AE suffix.  Any 1957, 1958, or 1960-1964 upgrade to this Ex suffix. 
• Non-passenger plate types with the plate type indicated on the plate: 
  • Any (Consular Corps), (Executive), (Finance Company), Solid, (State), and Voiture plates. 
  • 1959 Farm Area or Farm Area Only, Farm Tractor, and Finance Company plates. 
  • Upgrade to this 1959 Dump Trk plate. 
  • (Any 1957, 1958, or 1960-1964 Dump Trailer, Transporter, and U/C Dealer.) 
  • Any 1957, 1958, or 1960-1964 upgrade to this School Charter. 
• 1959 plate with a large embossed star and a 4-30 expiration date. 
• Most any state-issued government official or political office plate.  These usually have a large, round, full-color state shield on the left side of the plate. 
• Any non-passenger sample plate. 
• Most any 1957, 1958, or 1960-1964 motorcycle plate. 

Maryland plates dated 1965 to 1970

• (A plate with an amateur radio operator call sign as the plate number.  Typically, these begin with "W3".) 
• Non-passenger plate types with the plate type not stamped on the plate:  These have plate numbers consisting of four numbers followed by two letters.  (Any BA suffix.) 
• Non-passenger plate types with the plate type indicated on the plate:  Any (Charter Bus), (Dump Trailer), (Dump Trk), Dump Truck, (Farm Area), (Farm Tractor), (PSC Bus), (School Charter), Solid, and Voiture.  Upgrades to this (Dealer without prefix letters UC) and this Finance Company. 
• Most any state-issued government official or political office plate.  These usually have a large, round, full-color state shield on the left side of the plate. 
• Any non-passenger sample plate. 
• Most any motorcycle plate, excluding 1968 and 1970 regular motorcycles. 

Maryland plates dated 1971, with or without stickers 1972 to 1975

• Passenger car plates with plate numbers "FL 2565" or "FL 2566".  A long shot, I know. 
• A plate with an amateur radio operator call sign as the plate number; the common version with 1957-74 serial dies.  Typically, these begin with "W3". 
• Non-passenger plate types with the plate type not stamped on the plate:  These have plate numbers consisting of four numbers followed by two letters.  Suffix letters CA, Ex, or FR.  Upgrades to these with BM and PB suffixes. 
• Non-passenger plate types indicated with the text Dump Trailer, Executive, Farm Tractor, Finance Company, MTA, Solid, and Voiture.  An upgrade to this Farm Area plate.  An upgrade to this Used Car Dealer plate.  An upgrade to this School Vehicle plate. 
• Most any state-issued government official or political office plate.  These usually have a large, round, full-color state shield on the left side of the plate. 
• Metal sample plates:  A passenger sample (plate number AA 0000) with 1976 serial dies, or any non-passenger samples (other numbering formats). 
• A regular motorcycle plate with a numbering format other than xx00. 
• A motorcycle dealer plate. 
• Mint condition, unused 1975 year sticker. 

Maryland  red-on-white  plates, undated (1976 and government vehicle plates), or stickered 1977 to 1980

• Passenger car plate with plate number AVV 777.  (That is, letters A-Vee-Vee, not A-Double-U.)  Another long shot, yes, but I once saw these plates in a junkyard in Beltsville, Md., so some collector may have rescued them and brought them into the hobby. 
• Non-passenger plates without identifying legends:  (handicapped plates with plate number formats other than 0000 or 000 x). 
• Various non-passenger plates with the following legends:  (Consul), Dump Trailer, Executive, (Farm Area), (Farm Tk Tr), (Farm Trk), (Mtr Frt), (Tractor), Trl Apr 84, (Van Pool), and Voiture.  (Historic plates with serial format other than 0000 or 0000 x).  A dump truck plate in better condition than this one. 
• Non-standard Historic, MPV, and Truck plates: 
  • Vanity Historic plate. 
  • Any non-standard MPV plate: (handicapped); (vanity); (amateur radio call sign); AL, DAV, VFW, or similar letter prefixes, firefighter, etc. 
  • Truck plate with plate numbers beginning with the letters AL or DAV. 
• Most state-issued government official or political office plates.  These usually have a large, round, full-color state shield on the left side of the plate. 
• Most any metal sample plate other than one with actual plate number AAA 000. 

Maryland painted  black-on-white  plates, undated (1981 and government vehicle plates), or stickered 1982 to 1993

• Non-passenger plates without identifying legends:  (amateur radio call sign); (handicapped with serial formats other than 0000 or x0000). 
• Various non-passenger plate types indicated with the text:  (Charter), (Dealer), Dump Trailer, Executive, (Finance), (Mtr Bus), (Recycler), (Sch Bus), (Sch Char), (Sch Veh), (Spec Equip), Trl Apr 88, (Trl Dlr), and Voiture.  (Historic plates, sequentially-numbered with serial formats other than 0000, x000, or x 000). 
• All-embossed, painted black-on-white plate with serial format 00000, with a white-on-red year sticker dated 1988 through 1993, and either with no plate type legend in better condition than this one, or with a Trailer legend in better condition than this one. 
• Non-standard Historic, MPV, and Truck plates: 
  • Vanity Historic and (Truck) plates. 
  • Non-standard MPV plates:  AL, DAV, ELK, VFW, or similar letter prefixes, firefighter, etc. 
  • (Truck plate with amateur radio operator call sign in better condition than this one.) 
  • Truck plate with plate numbers beginning with the letters AL, DAV, or ELK. 
• Most any state-issued government official or political office plate.  These usually have a large, round, full-color state shield on the left side of the plate. 
• Sample plate other than ones with actual plate number AAA 000 or SAMPLE. 
• Motorcycle plates: 
  • (Motorcycle dealer plate). 
  • Historic motorcycle vanity plate. 

Maryland reflective  black-on-white  plates, dated 1984 (350th Anniversary), undated (front plates and government plates), or stickered 1986 to present

(plate in actual use)

(plate in actual use)

• Passenger car plates: 
  • Natural January 1989 expiration (no year stickers under the 1989; first letter in the plate number should be a "V") in better condition than this one. 
  • 2008 expiration where the second and third characters in the plate number are the letters "CN"; for example, 1CN*A23.  See example.  (plate in actual use)
• Various organizational member plates, military service plates, special event plates, or other optional plates; these usually have a logo or other graphic on the left side of the plate, and/or an identifying legend at the bottom of the plate.  See example.  See another example. 
• Vanity plate with the state web site legend, or the legends Historic or Street Rod at the bottom. 
• Various non-passenger plate types with any of the following legends:  50 Year Historic, 50 Year Street Rod, Low Speed Vehicle, Recycler.  Dealer plate in better condition than this one.  Special Mobile Equipment in better condition than this one.  Farm plates with number format 000*00F/T in better condition than this one, or with number format 000*00T/R.  School Vehicle plate with appropriate month and year stickers. 
• Non-passenger plate with numering format 000*00C without the state web site legend at the bottom. 
• Various non-passenger plate types with no identifying plate type legend, with the following plate number formats:  I00*000, 00000LM, 000*00P.  No legend or state web site legend are both acceptable.  Format 000*0TT with appropriate month and year stickers.  Format 00000TT in better condition than this one. 
• Various non-passenger plate types with the state web site legend, with the following plate number formats:  000*00F, 000*00J, 000*00K, or *00000S/G. 
• Non-passenger plates with plate numbers in formats 000000G, 00000TL, or 000000X with a red or pink sticker bearing the word "April" in better condition than this one. 
• Apportioned plates:  Any with plate number format 000*P00.  Formats 000*E/D00 in better condition than this one, 000*F00 in better condition than this one, and 000*T/E00 in better condition than this one.  Formats 000*E00 and 000*G00 with appropriate month and year stickers. 
• Most any state-issued government official or political office plate.  These usually have a large, round, full-color state shield on the left side of the plate. 
• Full-sized sample plates:  Sample with plate number NAA*000 made of metal.  Any sample with the state web site legend at the bottom of the plate.  Most any organizational member sample plate.  Most any non-passenger sample. 
• Motorcycle plates: 
  • Most non-standard types:  handicapped, organizational member, military service, Dealer, Street Rod, police, etc.  Vanity motorcycle plate with the state website at the bottom of the plate. 
  • Sample motorcycle plates with actual plate numbers 00000D and 0000D0, or with the state web site legend at the bottom of the plate. 

Maryland graphic War of 1812 plates, undated (front plates), or stickered 2010 to present

(Ellis photo of plate in actual use)

• Handicapped vanity full-sized plate. 
• Sample plate with actual plate number 0A/A0000. 
• Motorcycle plates:  Any non-standard type, such as vanity, handicapped, vanity/handicapped, and sample. 

Maryland graphic plates with the state flag along the bottom edge, undated (front plates), or stickered 2016 or later

(plate in actual use)

• Passenger car plate with natural 2026 expiration sticker (no stickers underneath).  Passenger car plate without any expiration stickers. 
• Non-passenger types, including vanity (plate in actual use), handicapped vanity, handicapped motorcycle, and motorcycle vanity. 

Maryland alternate design special interest plates from various years

(plate in actual use)

(Crum photo and plate)

• Bicentennial plates: 
  • Disabled American Veterans or other organizational member plate in better condition than this one. 
  • Most any state-issued government official or political office plate.  These usually have a large, round, full-color state shield on the left side of the plate. 
• 350th Anniversary plates: 
  • Most any state-issued government official or political office plate.  These usually have a large, round, full-color state shield on the left side of the plate. 
• First-generation  green number  Treasure the Chesapeake plates: 
  • A plate with numbering format B00*000 from any year, with or without month and year stickers. 
• Second-generation  black number  Treasure the Chesapeake plates: 
  • Handicapped vanity plate. 
  • Government official plates. 
• Protect the Chesapeake plates: 
  • Handicapped plate. 
  • Vanity plate. 
  • Handicapped vanity plate. 
  • Government official plates. 
• Our Farms, Our Future plates: 
  • Plate in the A900000 series (see example) (plate in actual use). 
  • Vanity plates, both regular and handicapped. 
  • Government official plates. 
• Any 1910 Vintage plate (see example) (Crum photo and plate); these are actually modern plates issued in 2014. 

Maryland alternate design plates used on law enforcement vehicles, fire and rescue apparatus, and other government vehicles, from various years

• Most any state police, local police department, sheriff's department, fire department, volunteer fire company, or rescue squad vehicle plate, regardless of age. 
• Maryland C.M.V. plate.  These were colored white-on-red and were usually motorcycle plates. 
• State Roads Commission plates, either 13 inches or 15 inches long. 
• State Highway Administration plate. 

Other Maryland license plate-related items

• Mint condition, unused month and/or year stickers, from any month or year.  Especially looking for smaller size (1 1/2" by 1") white-on-red month stickers and a 1975 year sticker. 
• Most other kinds of metal, government-issued vehicle plates, such as trailer permit or parking permit plates. 
• Assateague Island plate dated 1977.  These have a plate number with the letters AMSA follwed by a number. 
• Documents from the Maryland DMV or MVA showing various types of plates issued in a given year, or providing other information useful to a license plate historian. 

Massachusetts

• Undated passenger car plate with a natural 1977 expiration sticker in better condition than this one. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate in better condition than this one. 

Michigan

• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• 1957 Boy Scout Jamboree, Valley Forge special event plate. 
• Non-passenger red, white, and blue 1976 base plate, with a small "Y" in the serial number and Nonprofit text at the bottom, or with "Y" inside a diamond regardless of any text at the bottom. 
• Non-passenger plate with a small "Y" in the plate number, on the current Pure Michigan base. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Minnesota

• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Mississippi

• 1959 expiration passenger car plate in better condition than this one. 
• 1960 expiration passenger car plate in better condition than this one. 
• Church bus plates dated 1972 or earlier, 1974, or 1976. 

Missouri

• St. Louis Cardinals graphic plate, without a squiggly line under the state name.  See example.  (plate owner not identified) 
• Eagle Scout graphic plate, with a squiggly line under the state name. 
• Order of the Arrow graphic plate, any base.  (FYI, this is Boy Scout organization specialty plate, not a Native American tribal plate.) 
• Tribe of Mic-O-Say plate, any base.  (FYI, this is Boy Scout organization specialty plate, not a Native American tribal plate.) 

Montana

• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 

Nebraska

• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers, and preferably full-sized, if such a thing exists. 
• A non-passenger plate with a 1977 expiration sticker. 
• Tax Exempt or just Exempt plates from any year, except the embossed black-on-white base from the late 1990s. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Nevada

• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Undated white-on-blue passenger car base plate, with either the year 69 in the upper left corner or with the state name abbreviated Nev; in either case, bearing a 1977 expiration sticker. 
• Eagle Scout specialty plate. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 
• A miniature 1960 toy plate. 

New Hampshire

• 1976 red, white, and blue First for Independence plate. 
• 1975 passenger car base plate with an all-numeric plate number, displaying a 1977 expiration sticker. 

New Jersey

• A circa 1960s passenger car plate with plate number "FCW-693".  Quite a long shot, I know. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• A non-passenger plate with a 1977 expiration sticker. 
• "NF" prefix or suffix non-passenger plates:  a 1960s black-on-straw in better condition than this one, a 1980s straw-on-blue in better condition than this one, any other older, non-reflective bases, and a current reflective design with flat numbers. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

New Mexico

• 1972 red-on-white passenger car base plate with a raised border, displaying a 1977 sticker, in better condition than this one. 
• 1974 red-on-white passenger car base plate displaying a 1977 sticker. 
• Red-on-yellow passenger car plate displaying only a 1977 sticker, similar to this one but preferably in better condition. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate, in better condition than this one. 
• 1976 vanity plate; white embossed characters on red and blue background.  See example.  (Babcock photo / plate)
• 1976 plate with serial number 000*000; red-and-yellow graphics and blue numbers on a white background.  See example.  (Babcock photo / plate)
• "CB" prefix bus plates, 1971 base showing 1972 or 1973 stickers, and any year or base from 1975 to the present. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 

New York

• "DD" series plates, reportedly issued to Doctors of Divinity; blue 1966-73 base in better condition than this one, or any other base. 

North Carolina

• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

North Dakota

• 1977 motorcycle plate. 

Ohio

• 1938 passenger car plate in better condition than this one. 
• Church bus plates, 1949 to 1956, 1958 to 1960, 1962 to 1964, 1966 in better condition than this one, 1967, 1968 in better condition than this one, 1969.  Also church bus plates on the 1803 Ohio Bicentennial 2003 base, on the Beautiful Ohio base, on the "slogans" base, and on the Wright brothers' flyer base. 
• Graphic Eagle Scout plate on the "slogans" base and on the Wright brothers' flyer base. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Oklahoma

• 1959 passenger car plate in better condition than this one. 
• Tax Exempt plate with expiration stickers affixed, any base. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 

Oregon

• Yellow-on-blue passenger car base plate bearing a 1977 expiration sticker. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Dealer, Transporter, or any other full-sized plate with a stamped 1977 date. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 

Pennsylvania

Years that are underlined and/or clickable are those for which I already have a plate, but want to find one in better condition.  Clicking the year will show you the one I've already got, so you can judge whether yours is better than mine or not.  If the year is underlined but not clickable, I don't have a photo available of the plate in my collection. 

Pennsylvania plates dated 1906 to 1923

• Passenger car plates:  (These have no words indicating the plate type, and do not have stars on them.) 
  • 1907 in better condition than this one. 
  • Any 1911 with flat edges.  A 1911 with beveled (curved) edges in better conditon than this one. 
  • 1915 with a blank area on the left side of the plate. 
  • Upgrades to these plates from 1918, 1920, and 1921. 
• Solid tire (truck) plates:  1914 or 1915; 1916.  (These have one or more stars either stamped on a metal band affixed to the plate, or stamped directly on the plate.) 
• Any with the words Commercial, Tractor, Tractor Dealer, or Trailer on the plate. 
• Dealer plates:  Any with plate numbers beginning with the letters "TX".  Any that say Tractor Dealer. 
• Motorcycle plates:  Any. 

Pennsylvania plates dated 1924 to 1933

Note:  1924 to 1933 plates, with a few exceptions, provided no way to distinguish between plate types other than the plate numbering format.  It's fairly complicated to explain which format corresponded to which plate type, so I'll mostly just try to describe the numbering formats I want. 

• Passenger car plates:  (These have all-numeric plate numbers, or plate numbers starting with letters A to F (1924-1929), or plate numbers with five or fewer characters with one letter or two adjacent letters (1930-1933).  There are some exceptions to all of this, however.) 
  • Upgrades to these plates from 1924, 1927, 1928, 1930, 1931, 1933 (year on left). 
• Government official and government vehicle plates: 
  • Consular, Department of Highways, Judiciary, Legislative, National Guard, Official. 
  • 1924 and 1925 plates where the plate number ends with the letter S. 
  • 1928 and 1929 plates where the plate number either starts or ends with the letters J or L. 
• Non-passenger plates: 
  • Plate number starting with the letter E, dated 1924-1927. 
  • Plate number starting with the letter H, dated 1924-1929. 
  • Plate number starting with the letter O, dated 1924-1929, in better condition than this one, and dated 1930-1933, in better condition than this one. 
  • Plate number starting with the letter T and having no other letters, with five or fewer total characters, dated 1930-1933, in better condition than this one. 
  • Plate number starting with the letters TT, dated 1924-1929, in better condition than this one. 
  • Plate number starting with the letters TX, dated 1924-1933. 
  • Plate number containing the letter X in any position, dated 1930-1933. 
  • Plate format 00xx, dated 1930, where the first letter is in the range A to U, in better condition than this one. 
  • Plate format 000xx, dated 1930, where the first letter is in the range A to U, in better condition than this one. 
  • Plate formats 00xx or 000xx, dated 1930, where the first letter is in the range V to Z. 
  • Plate formats 0x00x, 0x0x0, 00x0x, or xZ00x, dated 1931, where the first letter is in the range R to Z. 
  • Plate format xZ0-000, dated 1932 or 1933, where the first letter is in the range R to Z. 
• Motorcycle plates:  Any. 

Pennsylvania plates dated 1934 to 1957

• Passenger car plates:  (These have the state abbreviation Penna, with no text indicating the plate type.) 
  • Upgrades to these plates from 1944, and 1946. 
  • Upgrade to this 1937.  Must have embossed keystones flanking the year and state abbreviation. 
  • Plate number starting with the letters PP from 1956 or 1957. 
• Amateur radio operator plates:  These have a ham radio callsign as the plate number.  Looking for a 1957 or earlier in better condition than this one. 
• Bus plates:  Any with a plate number with the letter O followed by a second letter, regardless of year; any from 1957. 
• Dealer plates:  Upgrade to this 1934; any from 1935-1937; any Used Car Dealer plate; any dated 1946-1957 with a plate number beginning with the letter C. 
• Government official and government vehicle plates:  Judiciary, Legislative, National Guard, Official, Official Use Only. 
• School Bus plates:  Any from 1957. 
• Tractor plates:  Any from 1934 to 1937.  Any with the letters "TX" in the plate number, regardless of year. 
• Truck plates:  1934 with numbering format xx000 in better condition than this one; any 1935-1937 with numbering format x00-00x; any 1956 with a six-character plate number. 
• Small, motorcycle-sized plates: 
  • Any with the letters "MB" on the side, regardless of plate number, dated 1934-1937.  Any with the letters "MB" on the side, regardless of plate number, dated 1938-1949, in better condition than this one. 
  • Any with the letters "MB" or "MBL" on the side, with a plate number beginning with the letter X, regardless of year. 
  • Any with the letters "MC", "MCD", or "COMM MC" on the side. 

Pennsylvania  blue background  plates dated and/or stickered 1958 to 1967

• Passenger car-style plates where the plate number starts with the letters "PP", or which either start or end with the letters "HR" or "PA" or "MC" or "US". 
• Amateur radio operator plates:  These have a ham radio callsign as the plate number. 
• Bus plate in better condition than this one. 
• A Used Car Dealer plate. 
• Official Use plate with a light blue background, in better condition than this one. 
• Press photographer plates, with the letters "PP" inside a keystone. 
• School Bus plate with a four-digit plate number, in better condition than this one. 
• Suburban plates with the letter "Q" in plate number positions 3 or 4, or with fewer than six serial characters, or with the letters "PP", or with ham radio call letters. 
• Motorcycle dealer plates:  These have the letters "MCD" on the side. 

Pennsylvania painted  yellow background  plates, undated (1965), or dated and/or stickered 1966 to 1971

• Passenger car plate with an all-numeric plate number, preferably an undated 1965 plate without any year sticker. 
• Passenger car-style plates where the plate number starts with the letters "FC". 
• Vanity-style plates where the plate number either starts or ends with the letters "HR" or "PA" or "MC" or "US". 
• Plates with the letters "HR", "PA", or "PP" inside a keystone. 
• Amateur radio operator plates:  These have a ham radio callsign as the plate number. 
• Dealer plates:  An undated (1965) dealer plate with a plate number beginning with the letter "C". 
• Government official and government vehicle plates:  Legislator, Senator, or U.S. Congress. 
• Undated (1965) Tractor plate with the letters "TX" in the plate number. 
• Any undated (1965) or stickered 1966-1970 Tractor plate with a numeric plate number in better condition than this one. 
• Motorcycle dealer plates:  These have the letters "MCD" or "DLR" on the side. 

Pennsylvania  blue background  plates dated and/or stickered 1971 to 1977

• Passenger car-style plates where the plate number starts with the letters "FC". 
• Amateur radio operator plates:  These have a ham radio callsign as the plate number. 
• A Dealer plate with the letter E at the beginning and end of the plate number, with either a 1975 or 1976 sticker affixed. 
• Government official and government vehicle plates:  Legislator, Senator, or U.S. Congress plates. 
• Handicapped plates:  These have the letters "HP" inside a cross.  Any. 
• Press photographer plates, with the letters "PP" inside a keystone. 
• Motorcycle Dealer plates:  Any 1971-1974 in better condition than this one; any 1975-1976 in better condition than this one. 

Pennsylvania reflective  yellow background  plates, undated (1977 or 1978), or dated and/or stickered 1972 to 2000

• Passenger car plates: 
  • 1979 with plate number in the very early Axx-000 series, in better condition than this one. 
  • Natural 1981 expiration in better condition than this one. 
• Special interest plates:  Any Fire Fighter vanity plate.  A sequentially-numbered Fire Fighter in better condition than this one. 
• An Auto Manufacturer plate. 
• Amateur radio operator plates:  These have a ham radio callsign as the plate number. 
• Any Apportioned plate with first serial letter B, regardless of base or year. 
• Government official plates:  Foreign Consul, Legislator, Senator, or U.S. Congress. 
• Handicapped plates:  Any with a wheelchair logo and 1975 and/or 1976 stickers. 
• Omnibus plate with sticker(s) 1977 or earlier, in better condition than this one. 
• Omnibus plate with sticker(s) 1978 or later, in better condition than this one. 
• Press photographer plates, with the letters "PP" inside a keystone. 
• Tractor plate in better condition than this one. 
• Truck plate displaying both a 1980 sticker and a May 1982 sticker. 
• Moped Dealer plate:  Any. 
• Motorcycle Dealer plates:  One dated 1977 or 1978; any stickered 1979-2000 in better condition than this one. 

Pennsylvania  blue background  plates stickered 1984 to 2002

(plate owner not identified)

Note:  I'm much more interested in real license plates for all of these types, rather than samples. 

• Special interest and military service plates:  Any plate with an embossed graphic design on the left side of the plate. 
• Any Circus-Carnival Truck, Comm Imp of Husbandry, Dealer-Farm Equip, Dealer-Multi Purpose, Fleet Transporter, Hearing Impaired, Implement of Husbandry, Limousine, Lincoln University, Repossessor, Salvage Yard, School Vehicle, Taxi, Trailer Dealer, Transporter, University of Pittsburgh, Watercraft Trailer Dealer plates. 
• Amateur radio operator plates:  These have a ham radio callsign as the plate number. 
• Apportioned plates:  Any with first serial letter B, regardless of base or year.  Any with serial prefix letters AB in better condition than this one, and AD in better condition than this one. 
• Farm Truck plate in better condition than this one. 
• Government official plates:  Any, such as Representative, Senator, Superior Court, or Supreme Court. 
• Handicapped plates:  Any with the letters "H" and "P" above the wheelchair logo but no other letters in the plate number.  Any with the letters "P" and "D" above the wheelchair logo. 
• Press photographer plates, with the letters "PP" inside or next to a keystone. 
• Rep/Ser Towing plates:  one with with the words Rep/Ser Towing screened (not stamped) onto the plate in better condition than this one; one with Rep/Ser Towing stamped onto the plate and PENNSYLVANIA in all capital letters in better condition than this one. 
• Special Mobile plate with PENNSYLVANIA in all capital letters. 
• Motorcycle plates:  Any vanity plate. 
• Motorcycle Dealer plates:  Any. 

Pennsylvania tri-color (blue, white, yellow bands) plates circa 2000 to present

(plate in actual use)

(plate in actual use)

Note:  I'm much more interested in real license plates for all of these types, rather than samples. 

• Passenger car plates: 
  • 2005 expiration with plate number in the very early Gxx-0000 series, in better condition than this one. 
  • Unstickered plates in the MDx-0000 series or higher. 
• Any plate of any type, other than standard passenger car or trailer, with a screened outline of the state map in the upper left corner. 
• Special interest and military service plates:  Nearly any plate with an embossed or screened graphic design on the plate. 
• Any Circus-Carnival Truck, Comm Imp of Husbandry, Dealer-Farm Equip, Dealer-Multi Purpose, Emergency Vehicle, Farm Truck, Fleet Transporter, Hearing Impaired, Implement of Husbandry, Lincoln University, Mass Transit, Repossessor, School Vehicle, Special Mobile, Taxi, Trailer Dealer, Transporter, University of Pittsburgh, or Watercraft Trailer Dealer plates on either the fade band or solid band bases. 
• Amateur Radio plate on the fade band base.  Bus plate on the fade band base, with an embossed separator between the letters and numbers. 
• Classic Vehicle, Collectible Vehicle, Limousine, Municipal Government, Official Use, Omnibus, Repair Towing, Salvage Yard, School Bus, or Street Rod plates on the solid band base. 
• Antique Vehicle plate on the solid band base, without a graphic image of an antique car.  See example.  (plate in actual use) 
• Apportioned plate either with a plate number starting with the letter B (see example) (plate in actual use)  and/or on the solid band base. 
• Government official plates:  Any, such as Representative, Senator, Commonwealth Court, Superior Court, Supreme Court. 
• Government vehicle plates:  Any, such as Emergency Vehicle, Municipal Government (both full-sized and motorcycle-sized), Official Use (with generic or agency-specific logos), Lincoln University, Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, or Temple University. 
• Vanity plate on either the fade band or solid band bases. 
• Press photographer plates, with the letters "PP" inside a keystone. 
• Motorcycle and moped plates:  Any with numbering format 0xx00.  Any vanity or handicapped plates.  Any with the small letters or words "MCD", "MP", "MPD", Antique MC, Municipal Goverment, or Veteran at the bottom.  Any designed to be mounted vertically. 

Pennsylvania undated and/or non-standard plates from various years

Note:  I'm much more interested in real license plates for all of these types, rather than samples, souvenir plates, reproductions, or blanks. 

• Special interest plates with non-standard designs: 
  • Fully graphic plates depicting a river otter or a train locomotive. 
  • A black D.A.R.E. plate. 
  • A Flagship Niagara graphic plate with the stacked letters "F/N" embossed on the plate. 
• ATV Dealer plate, motorcycle-sized only. 
• White-on-blue Commercial plate with the "PA" before the numbers and a suffix letter. 
• Any Collectible vehicle plate or Street Rod plate. 
• Government vehicle plates: 
  • Any Emergency Vehicle (singular "Vehicle") plate. 
  • Full-sized Municipal plates:  White-on-blue with the letters "MG" before the numbers, and no other letters in the plate number. 
  • Official Use plates:  Any with blue characters on a white background; white-on-blue plates with either the letters "PA" after the numbers, or with the "PA" before the numbers and a suffix letter. 
  • White-on-red Temple University plate. 
• Military service plates:  Any Combat Wounded Veteran, Expeditionary Forces, Korean War Veteran, Medal of Honor, Pearl Harbor Survivor, Persian Gulf War Veteran, Prisoner of War, Vietnam War Veteran, World War II Veteran. 
• Motorcycle plates: 
  • Any Antique, Classic, or Collectible motorcycle plate. 
  • Any Municipal motorcycle plate. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Rhode Island

• 1936 passenger car plate with four or more digits, in better condition than this one. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers, and preferably full-sized, if such a thing exists. 
• A non-passenger plate with a 1977 sticker. 

South Carolina

• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Graphic plate showing three crosses and the web address www.IBELIEVEsc.net. 
• Eagle Scout specialty plate. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 

South Dakota

• 1974 passenger car plate. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Tennessee

• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 

Texas

• 1936 passenger car plate in better condition than this one. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Utah

• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Vermont

• 1977 motorcycle plate.  Probably these are reflective green-on-white, undated, and unstickered. 
• Any plate with a correct 1977 sticker, if such a thing exists. 

Virginia

• 1959 passenger car plate with "A" being the first character of the plate number. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate with a natural expiration in better condition than this one. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 

Washington (state)

• 1939 passenger car plate in better condition than this one. 
• Undated passenger car plate with 1977 expiration stickers (non-natural okay) in better condition than this one. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any full-sized plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Washington, D.C.

(See District of Columbia, above.) 

West Virginia

• 1976 graphic non-passenger plate with yellow state map outlined in light blue, with either no year sticker or with only a red-and-blue-on-white 1976 year sticker affixed. 
• A 1977 motorcycle dealer plate.  These have a plate number with first character "F". 
• Any full-sized plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers, if such a thing exists. 
• Any plate with a correct 1977 sticker, if such a thing exists. 
• A miniature 1959 toy plate. 

Wisconsin

• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 
• A miniature 1960 toy plate. 

Wyoming

• Passenger car plate with a natural 1977 sticker (no 1976 sticker underneath). 
• Any plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers, and preferably full-sized, if such a thing exists. 
• Any plate with the letters RK adjacent in the plate number, with or without numbers, but with no other letters. 

Outlying U.S. territories

American Samoa

• 1959 passenger car plate. 
• Passenger car plate with a 1977 sticker in better condition than this one. 
• Non-passenger plate with a 1977 sticker. 

Canal Zone

• 1959 passenger car plate in better condition than this one. 

Guam

• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers, and preferably full-sized, if such a thing exists. 
• A non-passenger plate with a 1977 sticker. 

Puerto Rico

• Dated 1958-59 passenger car plate. 
• Undated passenger car plate with a 1976-77 sticker in better condition than this one, or with a 1977-78 sticker, or with both, but preferably with no other stickers. 
• 1977 motorcycle plate. 
• Any plate with either the year "77" or "1977" stamped on it, with no other subsequent year stickers, and preferably full-sized, if such a thing exists. 
• A non-passenger plate with a 1976-77 and/or 1977-78 sticker, or with a single year "77" or "1977" sticker, if such a thing exists. 

U.S. Virgin Islands

• 1957 passenger car plate remade into a 1959 plate. 
• 1959 passenger car plate. 

Other countries

Canada

• 1977 passenger car plates from British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Saskatchewan.  Plates can either have the year "77" or "1977" stamped or screened on, or have a "77" or "1977" year sticker affixed, but should have no other year stickers. 

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If you think you've got a plate that I might want

Have license plates you'd just like to just get rid of?

I love getting free license plates!  Free ones don't have to be on my want list or in any particular condition; I'll gladly take whatever you have.  Obviously, totally free plates are the best, but I don't mind paying shipping costs or traveling to pick up free plates, assuming of course that it's worthwhile to do so.  For example, it doesn't make sense for me to reimburse you for the $5 it might cost you to mail me a single plate, or to burn a gallon of gas to pick up a single plate locally, if I don't need it for my own collection and it's only worth $3.  But send me an e-mail and let me know what you have and where you're located, and I'll see if there's any way to make it work for both of us.  I live and work in the greater Raleigh, North Carolina area. 

Want to trade license plates?

I'm always interested in working out a trade if possible.  However, for it to be worthwhile for both of us, you've got to find something in my trade box that you can use, and you also have to have something that I want.  I'm really not interested in trading to acquire plates that aren't on my want list. 

Have one or more plates you'd like to sell?

Mostly, I'm just interested in buying plates that are on my want list.  However, my willingness to buy will vary, depending on the condition and price of the plate, how much money I have in my license plate budget at the time, and how high of a priority acquiring that particular plate is for me.  Please realize that I have a rather limited budget, and so I'm not necessarily able to actually buy some of the more valuable plates listed at any given time.  Nor would I probably be able to buy large numbers of reasonably priced plates all at once.  But if you have something that's on my list that you're willing to part with, try me, I might just be interested. 

Sometimes I will buy a group of plates that includes some plates I want and some that I don't.  Very occassionally, I might buy a group of plates that contains nothing I want for my collection.  In such cases, however, I'll only even considering buying them if I can get them for a very good price. 

Please also read the Face-to-face transactions and Long-distance transactions sections below, as applicable. 

If you have plates that you would like me to help you sell, that's an entirely different conversation.  In that case, please send me an e-mail with specifics.  Let me know the approximate quantity, age, and condition of the plates, and what state(s) they may be mostly from; please also give me a general idea where the plates are presently located. 

Face-to-face transactions

I live and work in the greater Raleigh, North Carolina area.  I also periodically drive to the Baltimore, Maryland area, so if you're located anywhere reasonably between those two cities and aren't in a hurry, we might be able to meet the next time I pass through.  I also usually drive to the St. Louis, Missouri area a couple of times per year, so if you live near there, the same applies.  Or, if you're going to be at a license plate collectors' event in the mid-Atlantic or southeastern U.S., I might also be planning to attend the same event. 

Doing business in person offers some advantages if it's at all practical.  If neither of us have to go too far out of our way, one or both of us can save money by not having to pay for postage, PayPal fees, etc.  There are no worries of plates getting lost or damaged in the mail.  I get to physically see the plates before we finalize the deal, and you can either see the plates you're getting in trade, or get paid in cash.  There's no risk of only one of us holding up our end of the deal.  For these reasons, I'm much more willing to buy from or trade with someone I don't know if we can do it in person. 

Long-distance transactions

I don't buy or trade long distance with just anyone.  Frankly, I'm not going to just mail a check to someone I've never heard of, and hope that they will send me the license plate they say they have. 

In order for me to trade with you or buy from you via mail, you need to be someone I can implicitly trust.  Therefore, you need to be either someone I know personally, a fellow ALPCA member, someone otherwise well-known and respected in the license plate collecting community, or an eBay seller with a nearly perfect feedback percentage.  If the only criteria you meet is that you're an eBay seller, then the transaction would need to be done through eBay. 

If you don't meet any of the critiera above, and you don't live in a place where we could arrange to meet, then it still might not be out of the question.  I do travel to other places besides Baltimore and St. Louis on occasion.  Also, I know people all over the U.S. and in a number of other countries.  If you're reasonably close to one of them, I might be able to have that person handle the transaction on my behalf. 

If we're trading, and the trade is roughly balanced in terms of number of plates, then you pay to mail yours to me, and I'll pay to mail mine to you.  If the trade isn't balanced, then we'll need to work something else out with regard to postage.  If I'm buying from you, I'll pay actual postage plus a reasonable handling charge, if any, for plates I buy.  If at all possible, I prefer cheap and slow shipping over expensive and fast shipping.  For postage calcultion purposes, my zip code is 27527. 

Contact me

If after reading all of this, you still think you've got a plate or a group of plates that I might be interesed in, please contact me via e-mail and let me know what you have in mind.  Please clarify whether you're offering me free plates, want to sell plates to me, want my help in selling your plates, or want to trade plates with me.  If you want to sell me your plates, it would be very helpful if you would indicate how much you're asking for them.  For anything other than free plates, if you possibly can, please attach to the e-mail a digital photo or two of the plates you'd like me to consider.  In any case, please give me a general idea of where you're located – your state, your metropolitan area, or whatever. 

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Page credits

Thanks to those who have directly contributed to the information on this page:  Sergio La Camera, Randy Babcock, Kenneth Best, and Greg Crum. 

La Camera, Babcock, Best, and Crum photographs are presumed to be copyrighted by Sergio La Camera, Randy Babcock, Kenneth Best, and Greg Crum, respectively, and are used with permission. 

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This page last updated November 19, 2024