Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1911

Each of the 50 states of the United States of America plus several of its territories and the District of Columbia issued individual passenger license plates for 1911.[1][2][3][4]

Passenger baseplates

In the table below, a light green background indicates that the owner of the vehicle was required to provide their own license plates. These plates are called "prestate" by most collectors. In the prestate era many states only provided the license plate number on a small disc or on paper, and the owner was required to have their license plate(s) made. These early license plates were created from kits that could be purchased at a hardware store, may have been available from automobile clubs or associations, they were forged by blacksmiths or other tradesmen, or the owner may have made their own plate with whatever materials they had on hand. Prestate plates were made from a variety of materials, but most often were made of leather, steel, or wood.

Legend: Regular state issue plate(s) Prestate era plate(s) No plates issued by state or territory
Image State Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
Alabama Plates were valid from October 1, 1911 to September 30, 1912. See the 1912 entry for these plates. This plate registration system continued through 1975-76.
Alaska No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1921.
American Samoa No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1924.
Arizona No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1914.
Arkansas Black serial on white porcelain plate with border line; vertical "ARK" and "1911" at left and right respectively none 1234 1 to about 1600 First year for state issued plates.
California Black serial on white and many variations none 12345 New plates numbered 30478 to 61784 Plates 1 - 30477 still valid; This plate issued August 1911. State issued plates begin in 1914.
Canal Zone
Colorado No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Connecticut Blue serial number on white porcelain plate none C12345 C1 to about C14000
Delaware White numbers on dark blue porcelain;
"DEL. 1911" at top		 none 1234 1 to about 1500
District of
Columbia		 White numbers on black porcelain plate; "DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA" at top none 12345 Previous issues plus 6273 - 9289[5] Not all were issued with some blocks of numbers possibly reserved for motorcycles[5]
Florida Owner provided white numbers on black plate none 12345 State issued plates begin in 1918.
Georgia Black numbers on bare aluminum base none 12345 1 to about 10000 Rolled edges and individual numbers slide into plate; valid until 1913
Guam No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1916.
Hawai'i No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1922.
Idaho No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Illinois Black on white; vertical "ILL" at right none 12345 1 to about 38269 First year for state issued plates. No year on plates; two plates (pairs) issued for each vehicle.
Indiana State issued plates begin in 1913.
Iowa Embossed white serial number on dark blue plate with border line; "IA 1911" at right none 12345 2001 to about 29900 First year for state issued plates.
Kansas No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.
Kentucky White serial number on black porcelain plate; vertical "KY" at right side with circle containing 'B' below none 1234 1 to about 3200 Two plates (pairs) issued for each vehicle
Louisiana No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Maine White serial number on red porcelain plate; "MAINE" centered at bottom none 12345 1 to about 10050 Manufacturing date code on back of some plates; multiple variations known
Maryland White numbers on black porcelain plate; large "MD" over "1911" at right none' 1234 1000 to about 8050
Massachusetts White serial number on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" at left; vertical "1911" at right none 12345 1 to about 32800 Two plates (pairs) issued for each vehicle
Michigan White serial numbers on black porcelain plate; state seal at top left with "MICH" over "1911" below none 12345 1 to about 27550 Plates ending in the letter "M" are dealer or manufacturer plates; two plates (pairs) issued for each vehicle
Minnesota White serial numbers on dark blue porcelain plate; vertical "MINN" at left and vertical "1911" at right none 12345 1 to about 19550 Two plates (pairs) issued for each vehicle
Mississippi No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1912.
Missouri Embossed unpainted aluminum numbers on yellow plate; "MISSOURI 1911" at bottom none 12345 1 to about 16200 First year for state issued plates. Paint on numbers was buffed off to expose aluminum below
Montana Prestate plates start in 1913. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Nebraska White serial numbers on black background none 12345 1 to about 64000(?) State issued plates begin in 1915. As with most prestate license plates, there is a large variation in the plates created
Nevada Prestate plates start in 1913. State issued plates begin in 1916.
New Hampshire White serial number on green porcelain plate; "N.H." centered at bottom none 1234 1 to about 7250 Manufacturing date code on back of some plates; multiple variations known
New Jersey Red serial number on light gray porcelain plate; "NJ" over riveted state seal over "11" at right none 12345 1 to about 38000
New Mexico Last year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1912.
New York Embossed white serial on maroon plate; vertical "NY" at right none 12345 1 to about 81300 "M" prefix plates are dealer plates
North Carolina White serial numbers on black plate none 1234 1 to about 7000 State issued plates begin in 1913. Black serial numbers on white plates were also authorized
North Dakota Light orange serial number on black plate; vertical "ND" at left and vertical "1911" at right none 1234 1 to about 7000(?) First year for state issued plates.
Northern Mariana
Islands		 No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1944.
Ohio Black serial number on white porcelain plate; vertical "OHIO" at left and vertical "1911" at right none 12345 1 to about 46000
Oklahoma No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.
Oregon Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "ORE" at left and vertical "1911" at right none 1234 1 to about 6200 First year for state issued plates. Two plates (pairs) issued for each vehicle
Pennsylvania Black serial number on yellow porcelain; "PENNA" over aluminum riveted keystone seal over "1911" at left none 12345 1 to about 43900 Beveled edge on higher numbered plates
Puerto Rico No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1912.
Rhode Island White serial numbers on black porcelain plate; "RI" at right none 1234 1 to 7978 Some plates have a seriffed letter "I" in the "RI" state abbreviation
South Carolina No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917.
South Dakota White serial numbers on black background none 12345 State issued plates begin in 1913.
Tennessee Generally white serial numbers on black background, but the reverse coloring is also known to exist none 12345 State issued plates begin in 1915.
Texas White serial numbers on black background none 12345 No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917.
U.S. Virgin Islands No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1917.
Utah Usually white serial numbers on black background none 1234 State issued plates begin in 1915.
Vermont Black serial number on white porcelain plate with border line; large "VT." over smaller "1911" at right none 1234 1 to about 3300 Holes with grommets at the four corners
Virginia White serial number on dark blue porcelain plate; "VA." over long dash symbol over "1911" at right none 1234 1 to about 4000
Washington White serial number on black background; "WN" at left of serial number none 1234 1 to 11897 State issued plates begin in 1915.
West Virginia White serial number on dark blue porcelain plate; large "W" over "VA." over smaller 1910" at right; "LICENSED" centered at top between bolt slots none 1234 1 to about 1700 Grommets at four corner bolt holes
Wisconsin Riveted aluminum serial number on black zinc plate none 12345-W 15212-W to 21983-W Issued only January through July; replaced in 1912.
Riveted aluminum serial number on dark green plate; vertical "1911" at left 1234W 1W to 1287W Issued only for new registrations between August to December 1911
Wyoming No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1913.

See also

References
  1. Fox, Jams K. (1997). License Plates of the United States: A Pictorial History 1903-To the Present. Jerico, New York: Interstate Directory Publishing Company. ISBN 9781886777002.
  2. Minard, Jeff; Stentiford, Tim (2004). A Moving History, 50 Years Of ALPCA. 100 Years Of License Plates. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company. p. 58. ISBN 1-56311-975-7.
  3. Crisler, Bob; Crisler, Chuck, eds. (2007). License Plate Values (7th ed.). King Publishing Company.
  4. Martells, Jack (1980). Antique Automotive Collectibles. Chicago: Contemporary Books, Inc. pp. 128–145. ISBN 0-8092-7205-9.
  5. "District of Columbia Archive". PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
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