Vehicle registration plates of Massachusetts

Massachusetts was the first U.S. state to issue license plates, on September 1, 1903.[1] Plates are currently issued by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).

Massachusetts
Current series
SloganThe Spirit of America
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Introduced1987 (1987) (vanity plates and some non-passenger types; used as standard passenger base from 1993 onwards)
Availability
Issued byMassachusetts Department of Transportation, Registry of Motor Vehicles
History
First issuedSeptember 1, 1903 (1903-09-01)

All plates since 1978 are currently valid. Prior to 1993, only rear plates were required; since the first "Spirit of America" plate was issued in 1986, front and rear plates have been required since. As such, the 1978-1993 issues continue to only require the rear plate, while the "Spirit of America" issues since 1986 require front and rear plates.

Passenger baseplates

1903 to 1966

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[2] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Massachusetts license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
1903–07 White serial on blue porcelain plate; "MASS. AUTOMOBILE REGISTER" at top 12345 1 to 26207[1]
1908 Blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1908" at left and right respectively 12345 1 to approximately 17500 First dated plate.
1909 White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1909" at left and right respectively 12345 1 to approximately 23500
1910 Blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1910" at left and right respectively 12345 1 to approximately 29000
1911 White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1911" at left and right respectively 12345 1 to approximately 33000
1912 Blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1912" at left and right respectively 12345 1 to approximately 41000
1913 White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1913" at left and right respectively 12345 1 to approximately 54500
1914 Blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1914" at left and right respectively 12345 1 to approximately 62000
1915 White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1915" at left and right respectively 12345 1 to approximately 79500
1916 Dark blue serial on cream flat metal plate; vertical "MASS" and "1916" at left and right respectively 123456 1 to approximately 102000
1917 Cream serial on dark blue flat metal plate; "MASS. 1917" centered at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 127,000
1918 Dark blue serial on cream flat metal plate; "MASS. 1918" centered at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 142,000
1919 Cream serial on dark blue flat metal plate; "MASS. 1919" centered at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 177,000
1920 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "MASS. 1920" centered at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 219,000 First embossed plate.
1921 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "MASS. 1921" centered at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 260,000
1922 As 1920 base, but with "MASS. 1922" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 321,000
1923 As 1921 base, but with "MASS. 1923" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 402,000
1924 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS. 1924" centered at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 473,000
1925 Embossed white serial on black plate; "MASS. — 1925" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 546,000
1926 Embossed white serial on blue plate; "1926 — MASS" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 598,000
1927 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS — 1927" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 624,000
1928 Embossed white serial on green plate; "1928", cod fish graphic and "MASS" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 644,000
1929 Embossed white serial on blue plate; "MASS — 1929" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 712,000
1930 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "1930 — MASS" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 749,000
1931 Embossed white serial on green plate; "MASS — 1931" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 792,000
1932 As 1930 base, but with "1932 — MASS" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 740,000
1933 As 1931 base, but with "MASS — 1933" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 759,000
1934 As 1930 base, but with "MASS — 1934" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 749,000
1935 As 1931 base, but with "1935 — MASS" at bottom 123,456 1 to approximately 734,000
1936 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 36" centered at top 123,456 1 to approximately 729,000
1937 Embossed white serial on green plate; "37 MASS" centered at top 123,456 1 to approximately 755,000
1938 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 38" centered at bottom 123·456 1 to approximately 751·000
1939 Embossed white serial on green plate; "39 MASS" centered at bottom 123·456 1 to approximately 771·000
1940 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 40" centered at top 123·456 1 to approximately 779·000
1941 Embossed white serial on green plate; "41 MASS" centered at bottom 123·456 1 to approximately 852·000
1942–44 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 42" centered at bottom 123·456 1 to approximately 828·000 Revalidated for 1943
and 1944 with wind-
shield stickers, due to metal conservation
for World War II.
As above, but green rather than maroon 828·001 to approximately 855·000
1945 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "45 MASS" at top 123·456 1 to approximately 799·000
1946 Embossed white serial on black plate; "46 MASS" at bottom 123·456 1 to approximately 843·000
1947 Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "MASS 47" within embossed white bar centered at top 123·456 1 to approximately 897·000
1948 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "48 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at bottom 123·456 1 to approximately 948·000
1949–50 Embossed white serial on black plate; "49 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at top 123·456 1 to 999·999 Revalidated for 1950
with windshield sticker.
A12·345 K, H and J series
1951–52 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 51" within embossed white bar centered at bottom 123·456 1 to 999·999 Revalidated for 1952
with windshield sticker.
A12·345 K, H, E and P series
1953–54 Embossed white serial on black plate; "MASS 53" within embossed white bar centered at top 123·456 1 to 999·999 Revalidated for 1954
with windshield sticker.
A12·345 K, H, E, P and L series
1955–56 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "55 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at bottom 123·456 1 to 999·999 Revalidated for 1956
with windshield sticker.
A12·345 K, H, E, P, L, N and X series
1957–58 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MASS 57" within embossed white bar centered at top 123·456 1 to 999·999 First 6" x 12" plate. Revalidated for 1958
with windshield sticker.
A12·345 K, H, E, P, L, N, X and U series
1959–60 Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "59 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at top 123·456
A12·345		 Revalidated for 1960
with windshield sticker.
1961–62 Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "MASS 61" within embossed white bar centered at top 123·456
A12·345		 Revalidated for 1962
with windshield sticker.
1963 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "63 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at top 123·456
A12·345
1964–65 Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "MASS 64" within embossed white bar centered at top 123·456
A12·345		 Revalidated for 1965
with windshield sticker.
1966 Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "66 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at top 123·456
A12·345

1967 to present
1966 vanity plate. Serials featuring the names of alcoholic beverages are no longer permitted.
"Spirit of America" low-number reserve plate.

Massachusetts implemented a monthly staggered registration system in 1969. Since then, serials on passenger plates have been coded by the month of expiration of the registration, determined by the last number in the serial (1 for January, 2 for February and so on up to 0 for October). From 1969 through 1977, serials with 'X' and 'Y' suffixes were used for November and December expirations respectively. Registrants are issued plates expiring the last day of the previous month (e.g. a motorist registering a vehicle in June will be issued May plates). If a vehicle is registered in December or January (so that November and December plates would be called for), leftover plates are issued from other months with manufacturing overruns.

In addition to the standard serial formats, Massachusetts also issues "reserve" plates. Reserve plates permit the plate holder to receive the same serial number when new plate styles are issued, or to transfer the serial number to family members. These plates are either all-numeric (1 through 99999) or consist of a single letter followed or preceded by a number (A 1 through Z 9999 and 1 A through 9999 Z). Reserve serials may also be of the forms A#A, A##A, #A#, and #AA#, where # represents any number, and A represents any letter. Low-number reserve plates – now called "Lottery Plates" by the RMV – are of the forms #, ##, ###, ####, A#, A##, #A, and ##A only. When a registrant cancels a low-number reserve registration, the number is placed in an annual lottery.[3] Registration for the lottery generally begins each June, and the drawing must be held by September 15. Prior to the institution of this annual lottery, low-number reserve plates were issued only to well-connected individuals, and it is widely believed that drivers with low registration numbers were given preferential treatment by law enforcement. The annual lottery was instituted in response to complaints about the politics behind the issuance of low-number registrations. As with standard registration plates, the final digit on low-number reserve plates indicates the month of expiration.

Two-year registrations are mandatory, with the exception of vehicles initially registered during December or January. Vanity plates and motorcycle plates must be renewed annually. All vanity plate registrations expire on November 30, and all motorcycle and commercial registrations expire on December 31.

Currently, the Livery plate is the only common license plate in Massachusetts that is allowed to have more than six characters in its serials. All Livery plate serials start with the letters "LV", even if not stamped.

Because the RMV utilizes "Plate Type" to describe the type of registration, it is theoretically possible to have two plates issued with seemingly the same serial. Some of the plate types, and their three-letter codes, are listed below:

  • PAN - Passenger: Normal
  • PAR - Passenger: Reserved
  • PAS - Passenger: Specialty (Antique, Veteran, Environmental, Sports, Spay & Neuter, Breast Cancer, United We Stand, etc.)
  • PAV - Passenger: Vanity
  • PAY - Passenger: Year of Manufacture (Antique plate with year stamped; AN gets added to the beginning of plate number on registration)
  • CON - Commercial: Normal (plates starting SR are for snow removal; HR for Hearse)
  • COR - Commercial: Reserved
  • COV - Commercial: Vanity
  • MCN - Motorcycle: Normal
  • MCR - Motorcycle: Reserved
  • MCS - Motorcycle: Specialty
  • MCV - Motorcycle: Vanity
  • AHN - Camper: Normal
  • AHR - Camper: Reserved
  • AHV - Camper: Vanity
  • AMN - Ambulance: Normal (includes Animal Ambulance)
  • AMR - Ambulance: Reserved
  • LVN - Livery: Normal
  • LVR - Livery: Reserved
  • LVV - Livery: Vanity
  • SPN - School Pupil: Normal
  • TAN - Taxi: Normal
  • TAR - Taxi: Reserved
  • TRN - Trailer: Normal (not used on Camper trailers)
  • TRR - Trailer: Reserved
  • VPN - Van Pool: Normal
  • SBN - School Bus: Normal
  • SBR - School Bus: Reserved
  • BUN - Bus: Normal
  • BUR - Bus: Reserved
  • BUV - Bus: Vanity
Image Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
1967–68 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MASSACHUSETTS" centered at top 123·456 100·001 to 999·999 Revalidated with windshield stickers through the end of 1969, then coded by month of expiration (see above) and revalidated with plate stickers.
A12·345 E10·001 to Y99·999
1969–71 123·45A Coded by month of expiration Revalidated with plate stickers. All plates replaced 1972–73.
1972–78 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MASSACHUSETTS" centered at bottom 1A·2345
12A·340
123·456
A12·345
123·45A		 Coded by month of expiration 12A·340 serial format used only on plates expiring in October.[4] Issued in alternating weeks from 1977, following the introduction of the green-on-white base (below), until supplies were exhausted. Replaced 1982–83.
1977–93 Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MASSACHUSETTS" centered at top 123·ABC 100·AAA to 999·VZZ (see right) Only rear plates issued (except for reserved and non-passenger plates). On all plates, the last digit corresponded to the month of expiration, with November and December expirations discontinued except on non-passenger plates and on red-and-white plates until 1980–81. All-numeric plates were generally issued to holders of the same serials on the red-on-white base. Still currently revalidated.
1983–93 123·456 100·000 to 999·999 (see right)


 1993–present Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "Massachusetts" and "The Spirit of America" screened in blue centered at top and bottom respectively 123·ABC 999·ZZZ to 100·WAA (reverse issue) This base was first issued in 1987 for vanity plates and some non-passenger types, before becoming the standard passenger base in 1993. On all standard passenger plates, the last digit corresponds to the month of expiration. Letters I, O, Q and U not used.
123·4AB 100·9AA to 999·9CZ; 100·0AA to 999·0AM
1234 AB ??? to 9999 ZZ (January issued only through approx. 9991 TZ[5])
12A B34 10A A00 to 99Z Z00, then 10A A10 through 99Z Z10 and so on through 99Z Z90
123 AB4 100 AA0 to 999 ZZ9 (October expirations discontinued after NZ0 series due to confusion with previous 123·ABO format)
1AB 234 1AA 100 to present
1ABC 23 1AAA 10 to present
12A 345 10A 100 to present
123 A45 100 A00 to present

Current passenger baseplates

Currently, both the 1977 green-on-white base and the 1987 "Spirit" base are valid for registration. On the 1977 base, only rear plates were issued for most types (except for Reserved, Commercial and Taxi, for which front plates were also issued and must also be displayed today), whereas on the current "Spirit" base, both front and rear plates are issued. Registrants with 1977 plates have the option of replacing these with "Spirit" plates at no charge (though a different number will be used); however, most choose to keep their 1977 plates as a point of pride. In many cases, the 1977 plates are worn and illegible; legally per M.G.L. Chapter 90, a car with an illegible plate (regardless of age or color) must fail the state's annually required vehicle safety inspection. This is a safety fail, which under Massachusetts law prohibits operation of the vehicle until the issue is corrected.

Image First year of issue Description Current serial format Serials previously issued Notes
1987 Red on reflective white base with screened state name and slogan in blue Coded with "n" by month of expiration:
  • 1AB 23n (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October)
  • 1ABC 2n (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October)
 Coded with "n" by month of expiration:
  • 123 ABn (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October)
  • 123 45n (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October)
  • 12n ABC (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October)
  • 123n AB (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October)
  • 12A B3n (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October)
1987 Low-number reserve: Red on reflective white base with screened state name and slogan in blue Coded with "n" by month of expiration:
  • n (1 through 9 for January through September. 0 is never used.)
  • 1n (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October.)
  • 12n (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October.)
  • 123n (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October.)
  • 1234n (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October.)
  • A n (1 through 9 for January through September. 0 is never used.)
  • A 1n (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October.)
  • A 12n (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October.)
  • A 123n (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October.)
  • n A (1 through 9 for January through September. 0 is never used.)
  • 1n A (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October.)
  • 12n A (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October.)
  • 123n A (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October.)

Non-passenger plates
Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Commercial 1987–91 As "Spirit of America" base, but with embossed "COMMERCIAL" in place of slogan 123·456 1 to 999·999 All Commercial plates expire on December 31.
1991–93 A 1234
A12·345		 A 1000 to C99·999
1993–2007 As above, but with embossed "DEC" at top left D 1000 to approximately M63·800
2007–present As above, but with "DEC" screened rather than embossed M63·801 to V75·538 (as of April 13, 2020)
Trailer 1987–2004 As "Spirit of America" base, but with embossed "TRAILER" in place of slogan 123·456 1 to 999·999 All Trailer plates expire on November 30.
2004–08 A 1234 A 1000 to Z 9999
2008–present A12·345 A10·000 to E96·376 (as of January 24, 2020)
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References
  1. "History of the Plate". Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. Archived from the original on January 4, 2017. Retrieved August 18, 2017.
  2. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  3. 2011 Low Plate Lottery Announcement
  4. Tanner, Eric N. "Massachusetts License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  5. Sage, Kit; Tanner, Eric. "licenseplates.cc Massachusetts highs page". Retrieved June 24, 2009.
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