PA PLATES (Current Pennsylvania License Plates)

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Pennsylvania License Plate Images

What's new in the last 30 days?

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Added image of this very unusual PA Turnpike 50th Anniversary special event plate on the far left. This event was from 1990. The sample plate image is from Paul Bagnarol Posted 7/1.

The Knights of Columbus give their plate a colorful makeover. Posted 7/1.

A pair of beautiful commemorative, motorcycle size plates from the 2009 ALPCA Convention recently held in Erie PA. The lighthouse plate image was provided by Chuck Harrington. ALPCA is the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. Posted 6/30.

Another pair of plates from the 2009 ALPCA Convention. The far left plate is another commemorative plate, this one being full size. The other is a porcelain plate made in the likeness of early PA porcelain plates. A number of these plates were given out as first prizes for outstanding plate displays. The '55' denotes the 55th annual convention of ALPCA. Posted 6/30.

You can form your own opinions about this Passenger Vanity plate but it is sporting current and recent stickers. Posted 6/30.

Updated the Format 1, 4-Digit Antique Historic Car plate. Posted 6/30.

Ned Flynn has solved the mystery of the PA State Senator 51 plate. Since PA has 50 senatorial districts, and the numbers on the plates represent the districts, how does a plate above 50 come about? The over-50 plates are for retired senators - before the retired senator plates came out which was earlier this year. The image was provided by Nick Tsilakis. Posted 6/29.

Added this image of a 1951 Governor plate, courtesy of Ned Flynn. This plate would have been used by Governor John S. Fine I have added the names of governors who used the dozen or so governors' plates listed in the Governors Plates Section. Posted 6/27.

Captured these two 'first time' images of Friends of Drake Well Inc. plates. Posted 6/27.

Updated this Format 3 School Vehicle plate with a better image. These are used on van type school vehicles, not on buses. This format was the first group of plates of this type on the visitPA base. Since that time several other plate variations have been identified. Posted 6/22.

Soon the South Newton Twp. Vol. Fire Co. will be getting its own specialty plate. This is another in the ever growing list of PA fire departments/companies with plates. Posted 6/22.

This NASCAR 99 Carl Edwards plate is brand new and was ordered as soon as the 2009 NASCAR order form came out. So I am guessing that it may be the first off the line. What does seem a little strange is the 1101 number. If you look at the image gallery for the NASCAR 99 Carl Edwards plate, you will see that there were three (3) different '99' plates over the years due to different sponsors. Unfortunately I only have prototype images of the first two (2) versions, and sometimes the production plate differ from the prototypes. So based on number progressions with other NASCAR plates, this is my assessment of the progression:

For the 2005 racing season, ^N/9_/90100 series was used (actual image needed);

For the 2006 racing season, ^N/9_/91000 series was used (actual image needed);

For the 2009 racing season, ^N/9_/91100 series will be used;

No plates of this type were offered during the 2007 & 2008 seasons.

Images of these missing formats are most welcome. Posted 6/20.

Here's another plate that raises questions. Obviously it's a State Senator plate, however, it was always my understanding that since PA had 50 senators, each one could register two (2) vehicles with senatorial plates just by reversing the placement of the PA with the senatorial district number. In other words plates from PA1 to PA50 and 1PA to 50PA could be issued. So what is the story behind PA51?

Could this be a third plate for someone who already has two, or a replacement for a lost plate? I don't think PennDOT will do a plate for plate replacement for a lost or stolen plate, so they might issue one with a new number, which would have to be out of range.

This interesting image was provided by Nick Tsilakis. Posted 6/19.

Here are two York College samples with very different formatting. The far left plate has the ^Y/_C designator in the prefix position while the other plate has it in the suffix position. The plate on the near left with the ^Y/_C in the suffix location is the correct format. Posted 6/19.

Note the unusually low serial number of the far left U.S. Air Force Reserve plate. When you consider the fact that the standard series started at ^A/_F1000, it is a departure form the normal format. So what's the deal? In 2000, when the yellow-on-blue series was replaced, those with ^A/_F0001 through ^A/_F0010 had the option of keeping the same number on the new plates, while all others got new plates starting at ^A/_F1000. This opportunity was available to all other low number military reserve plate holders at the time, including National Guard.

This interesting image was provided by Jordan Irazabal. Posted 6/18.

Steve Ondik took these two images of Antique Vehicle plates. Note that some plate holders have placed an image of their own vehicle over the original graphic on the plate. The plate on the far left is also the new current high. In PA the use of the letters O and Q in the first position (or anywhere else) would have been skipped. Posted 6/18.

This nice NASCAR N00 Victory Junction plate was provided by Nick Tsilakis. My previous image had a shadow. This plate represents the Victory Junction Gang Camp, the sponsor of the NASCAR plate series in PA. Posted 6/14.

See any difference between these West Catholic High School sample plates? The plate legend font on the far left plate uses Title Case, while the near left plate uses Small Caps. Also the legend line is at the bolt hole level on the one, and above on the other. I don't believe any production plates used the Title Case font, so I won't list these differences as type variations. Posted 6/14.

PA now issues a Retired Senator plate. The formatting is 000^R/_S with Retired Senator along the bottom. No image available. This will be a companion plate to the Retired Legislator plate. This is the first new plate outside of veterans groups, PD Motorcycle and specialty plates that I am aware of in long time. Posted 6/11.

Added this Keystone State Games 1988 plate image to the Special Events page. Posted 6/10.

Also added another 1988 Northeast Governor Conference plate image. Posted 6/10.

And what image collection would ever be complete without a front plate from the PA Fish Commission? Posted 6/10.

It's been a while since I've added anything to the Special Event page. This picture was actually taken back in February but haven't gotten around to posting it. Kind of self evident but it's a 1967 PA Governor's Inauguration plate. Posted 6/8.

Also added these two PA State Official front plates. Posted 6/8.

See anything wrong with this Telephone Pioneers of America plate? Now compare it to the one below. At first glance it may look like any other until you compare it to a normal plate. I'd call it an error plate. (The ^T/_P prefix belongs in the suffix position.) Posted 6/3.

Recently I've added and/or upgraded a bunch of sample and prototype images. Also I'm adding the 'first year of issue' for each plate type where I have that data.

There is also a project afoot to add a totally new page to this website focusing on plate history. The new page will be an effort to depict the history of some of the plate types that have evolved over the past 25 to 50 years. Watch for more on this. Posted 6/3.

Images and photos are always welcome. Please send to:

John McDevitt, Walnutport, PA

ALPCA #4376