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Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1917

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Vehicle registration plates of the United States by year
Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1916 Events of 1917 Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1918

In 1917 South Carolina, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 47 states and 5 territories that were issuing license plates and 1 other state requiring owners to provide their own license plates.[1][2][3][4]

Passenger baseplates

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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. This was the last year for prestate plates, but note that territories, like Alaska and Hawaii, etc., did not officially issue plates until several years later.

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
Alaska No prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1921.
American Samoa No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1924.
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Canal Zone
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of
Columbia
Florida Last year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1918.
Georgia
Guam
Hawai'i No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1922.
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa Embossed beige serial on dark olive green plate; "IA" and dash at right none 123456 1 to approximately 341000 Used until 1918 due to metal conservation for World War I.
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Northern Mariana
Islands 		No prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1944.
Ohio Black serial on yellow porcelain plate, vertical "OHIO" and "1917" on left and right, respectively.
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina First year for state issued plates.
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas First year for state issued plates. Validated with separate round seal.
U.S. Virgin Islands First year for territory issued license plates.
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin Embossed white serial on dark green plate; vertical "WIS." and "'17." at right. none 123456 1 to approximately 165000
Wyoming

See also

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References

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  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.
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