GENERAL DISPLAYS Highs Page | Antique, Classic, etc. | Bus, Limo, Taxi, etc. | Dealer & MV Business | Misc. Plates | Official Plates | Political Plates | Veterans Plates SPECIALTY & SPECIAL ORG. College, University, etc. | Fire, EMS & Police | Fraternal, Non-Profit, etc. | NASCAR | Special Fund Plates | Pending/Proposed Plates UNUSUAL & UNIQUE PLATES Governor Plates | Mystery, Oddballs, etc. | Special Event Plates | Front Plates | Group Displays | Older plates in use REFERENCE Old Documents | Legislation | Plate Codes | Plate Hist A-F | Plate Hist G-M | Plate Hist N-Z | Plate Hist Pass 1 | Plate Hist Pass 2 | Plate Hist Trk | Plate Hist Spec Org | Stickers | Links ARCHIVED HOME PAGES BY YEAR 2022 | 2021 | Older Archives |
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
PLATE TYPE (first year of issue) PLATE FORMATTING REFERENCE INFORMATION |
PLATE PHOTOS & NEEDED IMAGES | UPDATES | SAMPLES AND PROTOTYPES | IS PLATE VANITY ELIGIBLE? | |||||
Conserve Wild Resources - Eastern Hellbender (available 7/1/2023) | |||||||||
This plate will be issued concurrently with the Conserve Wild Resources - Otter below. | |||||||||
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from John Clark |
Image added 8/6 |
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Yes |
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Stacked R/C prefix then up to 5 characters. |
Conserve Wild Resources - Otter (2/1999 to 10/2017, only small graphic currently available) | |||||||||
UNKNOWN FORMAT: The R/C000 is an unknown plate format. The R/C0000 plate next to FORMAT 1 is believed to be the first plate issued as I confirmed this with the owner. Efforts to get an explanation from PennDOT were futile. Both plates to the right are the same, except the images were taken a few years apart, one has an 06 validation sticker and the other an 09 sticker. |
from Nick Tsilakis |
This low number formatting not available to the public
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NOTE: Plate shown on right is the first one issued. It is not a sample. |
from Jeff Lawson |
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Personalized plates available as in Format 5 plates below |
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from Steve Ondik
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from Steve Ondik
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This series first spotted on 6/16/05. The full canvas version of this plate was discontinued in 10/2017, to be replaced with the small 3" by 3" canvas as used on the vanities. |
from Tom Perri & Colin M. |
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FORMAT 5: Personalized, up to 5 characters with stacked R/C prefix It appears that the family of plates version is intended for personalized plates, at least for now. Type added 11/2/14 |
from Nick Tsilakis |
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Yes | ||||||
Graphic has been scaled back to the small photo previously used for vanities. Stacked R/C prefix then 5 digits. Format added 11/12/17 |
from Brandon Sowers from John Clark |
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Graphic has been scaled back to the small photo previously used for vanities. Stacked R/C prefix then up to 5 characters. |
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Conserve Wild Resources - Saw Whet Owl (11/1993 to 2/2000, can be revalidated) | |||||||||
This was the first special fund plate issued by PA, starting in November 1993. It was discontinued on February 7, 2000 but is still eligible for renewal. Replaced by River Otter plate below. | |||||||||
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from Steve Ondik
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from Paul Bagnarol |
Plate no longer available | ||||||
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![]() from Harry Falco, Jr |
DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) (9/1996 to 6/6/14) |
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DARE blank, plate is missing the debossed edge and sticker well. Also missing the embossed features including the D/A prefix, serial number and state name.
DARE Sample, plate is missing PENNSYLVANIA along bottom. |
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DARE blank from Devan Ciemiewicz Sample missing PENNSYLVANIA from Devan Ciemiewicz |
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from Andrew Pang from Glen Pomygalski |
Plate no longer available |
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from Bruce Bufalini |
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from Eric Butler |
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UNKNOWN FORMAT: Coding seems to be a part of the Format 3 DARE plates, other features, except color, are dissimilar. |
from Jordan Irazabal & Tom Perri |
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First seen in mid-April 2005. |
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Unveiled 10/26/05. Redesigned plate on visitPA base, flat screened prefix and tag line. Note, as of 6/6/2014, DARE plates are no longer available. |
from Nick Tsilakis from Steve Ondik |
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Distracted Driving Awareness (2019) | |||||||
Type added 2/24/2019. Form MV-918. Proceeds from this plate shall be used exclusively to advance public education and outreach on the dangers posed by distracted driving. |
from Brandon Sowers from John Clark |
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Yes |
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FORMAT 2: Also available as vanity D/A+up to 5 characters.
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from Jordan Irazabal |
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Distracted Driving Awareness (Motorcycle) (2019) | |||||||
Motorcycle edition. Type added 2/24/2019. Form MV-918. |
from Tim Martin |
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Yes |
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FORMAT 2: Also available as vanity D/A+up to 3 characters. |
from Bradley Woodring |
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Flagship Niagara (11/1995 to 2/1997, can be revalidated) |
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This plate type is no longer issued due to visibility problems, but is still eligible for renewal. | |||||||||
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from Tom Perri from Harry Falco, Jr from Steve Ondik |
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from Jason DeCasere Courtesy of plates.newyorktelephone.net |
Plate no longer available |
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from Tom Perri |
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UNKNOWN FORMAT: These plates do not match any standard formatting since it has 5 digits after the F/N. They are not believed to be issued plates. |
from Jerry McCoy |
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Gettysburg 1863 — Pennsylvania Monuments (2014) | ||||||||
Type added 11/2/2014 |
from Tom Perri and Jordan Irazabal from Bruce Sakson |
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MVLS Conceptual drawing |
Yes | ||||
FORMAT 2: Personalized, up to 5 characters with stacked G/B suffix |
www.civilwardance.org from Kyle Kuser |
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FORMAT 3: Personalized, up to 5 characters with stacked G/B suffix, now without sticker well. Posted 2/10/19. |
from Bill Ceravola |
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FORMAT 4: Personalized, up to 5 characters with stacked G/B suffix, now with map outline. Posted 1/23/22. |
![]() from John Kerestes |
Honoring Our Veterans (11/2012 to present) Funds from the sale of this plate benefits the Veterans Trust Fund. |
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Numbers below 100 are considered reserve issue. This plate benefits the Veterans Trust Fund. |
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Yes
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General issue Type added 11/25/12 |
from Steve Ondik from Ryan Battin |
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Without sticker well. Variation added 5/30/21. |
from Zach Taylor |
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FORMAT 2: Personalized, up to 5 characters with stacked H/V suffix |
anonymous from W. Young |
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FORMAT 3: Personalized, up to 5 characters with stacked H/V suffix, with map outline. |
from John Clark |
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Honoring Our Veterans (Motorcycle) (10/6/2015 to present) | |||||||||
Numbers below 100 are considered reserve issue. This plate benefits the Veterans Trust Fund. |
Image needed |
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Yes |
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Type added 10/11/15 |
from Jordan Irazabal from Ian Emmett |
Image added 8/6 |
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Honoring Our Women Veterans (2019) | ||||||||
Reserve issue, type added 2/24/2019. Numbers below 100 are considered reserve issue. This plate benefits the Veterans Trust Fund. |
Image needed |
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Early prototype Later prototype |
Yes |
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Form MV-914.
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from Brandan Sowers from Bruce Bufalini |
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Yes
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FORMAT 2: Also available as vanity up to 5 characters + W/V suffix. |
from Drew Steitz from Bruce Bufalini |
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Let Freedom Ring - 250 Years, (Semiquincentennial registration plate)(10/29/2020 to 2026)
See new Let Freedom Ring History Section |
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House Bill 1170, was passed and signed into law as Act 48 of 2020. The act took effect on October 29, 2020, and paved the way for the creation of a Semiquincentennial registration plate, similar to the Bicentennial Plate, with the phrase “Let Freedom Ring - 250 years”, for issue up through 2026. For use on a passenger car or a truck with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds or a motor home. Twenty-five dollars from every plate sold will benefit the Pennsylvania Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial. See below for Motorcycle. Link to PennDOT Bulletin 20-21. Application Form MV-919. |
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First image added 11/1/20. |
from Matt Ciecka from Bruce Sakson |
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Yes
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FORMAT 2: Also available as vanity up to 5 characters + F/R suffix. |
from Bill Koneski |
Let Freedom Ring - 250 Years, Motorcycle, (Semiquincentennial registration plate) (10/29/2020 to 2026)
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See description of this plate above. |
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from Devan Ciemiewicz from John Fedorchak |
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Prototype of M/C plate |
Yes
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FORMAT 2: Also available as vanity up to 4 characters + F/R prefix. |
Pollinator Habitat / (Pollinator Conservation) (2023) |
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Type available 3/3/23. To support the Pollinator Habitat Conservation Program Fund. Plate may be used only on a passenger car, motor home, trailer or truck with a registered gross weight of not more than 14,000 pounds. Form MV-911 (3-23) |
from Bruce Sakson from John Clark |
Image added 8/27
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Yes
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FORMAT 2: Also available as vanity up to 5 characters + P/C prefix. |
from Matt Ciecka |
Image added 8/27 |
Preserve Our Heritage - Railroad (December 1998 to present) | |||||||||
Preserve Our Heritage blank, plate is missing the debossed edge and sticker well. Also missing the embossed features including the serial number and state name.
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Preserve Our Heritage blank plate from Devan Ciemiewicz |
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from Ralph Lindken
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No |
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from Steve Ondik |
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from Bruce Bufalini from Steve Ondik |
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Format added 6/17/2012 |
from Jordan Irazabal & Tom Perri from Jordan Irazabal |
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Personalized registration plates not available |
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Save Wild Animals - Bengal Tiger & cub (1996 to 4/2013) Support Your Zoo - Tiger (4/2013 to present) Pa Zoological Council |
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UNKNOWN FORMAT - This vanity plate appears to be something made up as a favor. The plate has no validation sticker and was front mounted. |
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No
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This plate type became available April 10, 1996, and was discontinued April 3, 2013. It was replaced by the Support Your Zoo plate on April 22, 2013.
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from Nick Tsilakis |
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from Bruce Bufalini |
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Redesigned plate on visitPA base, flat screened prefix, new plate legend, P/Z is now in the suffix position, available 4/22/13. Appears to be a 2-tiered system of plates from 00001 to 00100. |
from Tom Perri |
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Yes
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from Bruce Sakson from Tiger Joe Sallmen |
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FORMAT 6V: Personalized, up to 5 characters with stacked P/Z suffix |
from Ryan Battin |
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FORMAT 7V: Personalized, up to 5 characters with stacked P/Z suffix. With map outline. |
from Bill Houser |
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Share The Road (2016) | |||||||||
Type added 8/8/16. Reserve issue. Act 36 created the “Share the Road” registration plate, with proceeds maintaining PennDOT's central office position of Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator and funding highway bicycle signage. Cost of the plate is $40, also available as a vanity. |
from Arthur Levine |
Image added 7/23 |
Early prototype Final prototype |
Yes
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Standard issue. Initial issue began around B/K00100. BK00501 to BK00800 still have sticker well. |
from Bruce Sakson |
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Up to 5 characters, with sticker well. |
from Nick Tsilakis |
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Up to 5 characters, with sticker well. |
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Up to 5 characters, with sticker well. |
from Matt Ciecka from Jordan Irazabal |
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