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Illinois: Non-passenger

ILLINOIS PLATE TYPES - SUMMARY CHRONOLOGICALLY BY INTRODUCTION DATE
(Types researched through 1979/JUN 80)

PLATE TYPE           EARLIEST SEEN   BEGAN   NOTES
Passenger                 1911       7/1/11  H.B. 593 P 6/10/1911
Motorcycle                1911       7/1/11  H.B. 593 P 6/10/1911
Dealer                    1912                                  
Tractor                   1920       1920    H.B. 474 P 6/30/1919
Truck                     1920       1920    H.B. 474 P 6/30/1919
Trailer                   1924       1924    H.B. 585 P 6/29/1923
Sample                    1925                                  
Public Owned              1932       1932?   With X Truck in 1930
American Legion           1935
Flat Tax                  1936       1936?
Mileage Tax Truck         1936       1936    S.B. 601 P 7/9/1935
Public Owned Trailer     [1947 chart]1936?   1st listed wheel book
40/8 Voiture              1937
Mileage Tax Trailer      [1947 chart]1937?   1st listed wheel book
Official                  1940       1937
David Rubinoff, Violinist 1938       1938
Farm                      1938       1938    H.B. 166 P 4/21/1937
Farm Trailer              1953       1940?   1st listed wheel book
In Transit                1940       1940    S.B. 521 P 7/13/1939
Trailer HH                1940
House/Senate              1941       1941    H.B. 895 P 7/28/1941
Bus                      [1947 chart]1942?   1st listed 1942
Taxi                      1945       1942?   Listed 1942
Livery                    1947               Numbers listed 1942
Semi Trailer              1947
Manufacturer              1948       1948?   Not on 1947 chart
Disabled Veteran          1948      3/6/48
Special Event             1948
Historic Automobile       1949       1949                        
State Civil Defense       1951               Only year seen
Local Bus                 1953               Reported in 1951
Perm. Mounted Equipment   1954               Law P 1953
Amateur Radio             1956       1956    S.B. 52 P 5/11/1955
U.S. Congress             1959       1958    H.B. 802 P 6/26/1957
Motorcycle Dealer         1959       1959
Municipal Bus            [1959 chart]1959?   Law P 6/24/1957
Trailer Dealer           [1959 chart]1959                        
Prorate Sticker           1960       1960
State Owned               1961       1961
Auxiliary Axle           [1964 chart]1964    S.B.1062 P 8/13/1963
Consular Corps            1965               Reported 1962
Repossessor               1967               S.B. 657 P 8/2/1965
School Bus                1967               S.B. 135 P 5/2/1963
Supreme Court             1967               Reportedly began '67
Antique Vehicle          1968-69     1968    H.B. 1945 P 7/28/1967
State Police             1968-69     1968
Truck Tractor             1968
Farm Machinery            1969               H.B. 1945 P 7/28/1967
Mileage Tax Truck Tract. 1970/71     1969?   Reported 1969/70
Presidential Inaug. Comm. 1973       1969?   H.B. 1944 P 8/7/1967
Prorate Auxiliary Axle   [1972 chart]1969?
Prorate Aux. Axle Trailer[1972 chart]1969?
Prorate Semi Trailer      1969       1969
Prorate Trailer          [1972 chart]1969
Prorate Truck             1969       1969
Prorate Truck Tractor     1969       1969
Prorate Truck Tractor DB [1972 chart]1969?
Recreational Vehicle      1969       1969    H.B.2637 P 8/21/1968
Truck Tractor DB          1969
U.S. Senator              1969               Reportedly began '69
Electric Vehicle         1971-72     1971    P.A.76-1628 P9/30/69
Ambulance                 1972               Reportedly began '72
Ceremonial               [1972 chart]
Funeral Home              1972
Sec. of State Investigat.1972-73             Reportedly began '72
Senate President         [1972 chart]
Speaker of the House     [1972 chart]
Recreational Trailer     JUN 74     JUN 73?  P.A.77-720 P 8/12/71
Driver Education          1974               Reportedly began '74
Handicapped               1974       1974    P.A.78-321 P 8/15/73
Personalized (Limited)    1974       1974
Limousine                 1975
Charitable Bus            1976       1976    P.A.79-698 P 9/3/75
Charitable Vehicle       1978-79             Reportedly began '76
Conservation Truck       JUN 82
Conservation Truck Tract.JUN 77              Reported JUN 72
House Majority Leader     1976
House Minority Leader     1977
Senate Majority Leader    1977
Senate Minority Leader    1977
State Owned In Transit   1976-77
Apport. Auxiliary Axle    1977       1977
(Apport. Aux. Axle Trailer?)
Apportioned Power         1977       1977
Apportioned Semi Trailer  1977       1977
Apportioned Trailer       1977       1977
Exempt Vehicle           1978-79             Reportedly began '78
Public Owned Handicapped 1978-79             Reportedly began '78
Recreational Camper       1978               Reportedly beg.JUN74
State Owned Handicapped  1978-79             Reportedly began '78
Fertilizer Spreader       1980
Personalized (Full)       1980       1980    P.A.81-987 P 9/22/1979 
 
PERMITS:
 
Truck Weight Limit        UND.       1920    H.B. 474 P 6/30/1919
National Guard            UND.               H.B. 790 P 7/21/1947
Illinois Commerce Comm.  1954/55    7/1/54   S.B. 444 P 7/7/1953
Prorate                   1958       1958    Law P 1957
Reciprocity               UND.       1958    Law P 1957
 
 
LETTER PREFIX KEY:  (All other letters/years are Passenger)
 
A,B,C Truck 1930-68                T   Mileage Tax Truck 1936-52
D     Dealer 1914, Truck 1932-68   U   State Owned 1961-79
E     Truck 1932-68                V,W Trailer 1959-68
F,G   Truck 1933-68                X   Truck 1930-68
H     Public Owned 1932-33,        Y   Trailer 1959-68
      Truck 1934-68                BM  Municipal Bus 1959-68
J     Trailer 1959-68              DL  Dealer 1959-80
K,L   Truck 1946-68                FH  Funeral Home 1972-79
M     Truck 1930-32,               IT  In Transit 1959-79
      Public Owned 1934-79         MT  Public Owned Trailer 1959-60
N     Truck 1946-68                PM  Permanently Mounted Equip. 1954-68
O     Livery/Taxi 1945-71          ST  Semi Trailer 1959-68
P     Truck 1950-68                TB-TX Mileage Tax Truck 1954-68
R,S   Trailer 1959-68

 
DETAILED NOTES ALPHABETICALLY BY TYPE:
 
Numbers assumed to begin at #1 unless noted.
Numbers in bold are highest listed in state wheel books.
Passenger colors unless noted.
Fiscal year colors 1969-79 on Truck page.
Biennial colors:  1968-69  Red/White         1974-75  Red/White
                  1970-71  Black/Blue        1976-77  Blue/White
                  1972-73  Orange/White      1978-79  Black/White
[ ] = Number on 1947 or 1959 chart.
1946-58:  "FRONT" or "REAR" on some types.
1947:  All plates fiberboard except Dealer Master.
1968:  No "18 - 18" except Livery, Mileage Tax Truck, Public Owned,
       Repossessor, Sample, Trailer, Truck.
1976, 1976-77:  Slogan top, "19 ILLINOIS 76" or "76 ILLINOIS 77" bottom.
 
PASSENGER  (See Passenger page)
 
AMATEUR RADIO
S.B. 52 P 5/11/1955.  Began 1/1/1956.  $3 extra fee.
Multi-year plates began 1984.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "AMATEUR" left, vertical "RADIO" right 1956-83.
 
1956     W9AA -  W9ZZZ, K9AAA - K9ZZZ
1963   WA9AAA - WA9ZZZ
1973   WB9AAA - WB9ZZZ
1978   WD9AAA - WD9ZZZ
 
AMBULANCE
Reportedly began 1972.  Earliest seen 1972.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "AMB" left 1972-80.
 
1972   3248            1975   5055            1978   4402
1973   5023            1976   5068            1979   4400
1974   4350            1977   5090            1980   4399
 
AMERICAN LEGION  (1954-58:  See Special Event)
Earliest seen 1935.

LEGENDS:  "AMERICAN LEGION" top 1935, arched "AMERICAN LEGION" top 1938-42.
          Small number dies all years.
 
1935    31             1938   118             1941   470
1936                   1939   766             1942   246
1937                   1940   470
 
ANTIQUE VEHICLE
H.B. 1945 P 7/28/1967.  Began 1968.
Issued to vehicles at least 30 years old for $20 biennial fee.
New registrants in 1969 issued 1969-70 plate, but this overlap
was corrected 1970 to allow $10 fee for second year of each base.
On 7/1/1974, biennial fee reduced to $10, and vehicles at least
25 years old allowed.
 
LEGENDS:  Vertical "ANTIQUE" left, vertical "VEHICLE" right all years.
 
1968-69     1 -  184 (Thin dies 265 - 290)    1974-75   1 - 4473
1969-70   255 -  284  Dark Blue/Orange        1976-77   1 - 6645
1970-71     1 - 1227                          1978-79   1 - 8471
1972-73     1 - 2335
 
APPORTIONED AUXILIARY AXLE
Began 1977.  Discontinued 1978.
 
LEGENDS:  "19 ILLINOIS 77" top, "APPORTIONED" bottom, vertical
          "AUX" followed by vertical "AXLE" left 1977.
 
1977   5300
 
(APPORTIONED AUXILIARY AXLE TRAILER
 May have begun 1977.  None seen.  Discontinued 1978.)
 
APPORTIONED POWER
Began 1977.  Issued to truck tractors.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "POWER" left, "APPORTIONED" bottom 1977, 1979, top 1978.
 
1977   1 152 - 16 953
1978   1 927 - 64 408
1979   1 001 - 47 056
 
APPORTIONED SEMI TRAILER
Began 1977.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "SEMI" before "TRAILER" left, "APPORTIONED" bottom 1977, 1979, top 1978.
 
1977   1 245 - 97 001
1978   9 633 - 64 038
1979   1 001 - 52 111
 
APPORTIONED TRAILER
Began 1977.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "TRAILER" left, "APPORTIONED" bottom 1977.
 
1977   1195
 
AUXILIARY AXLE
S.B. 1062 P 8/13/1963.  Began 1964.  Discontinued 1978.
Registered as separate vehicles, the function of which is to
convert a single-axle tractor or semi-trailer to a tandem-axle
tractor or semi-trailer, or a semi-trailer to a full trailer.
4 1/4" x 10" all years.
1964 weight classes:  XN, XN2, XP, KN, KN2, KP, NP, N2P, STV.
 
BUS
First listed 1942 in state wheel book microfilm index as BS 592 - BS 999.
Earliest seen 1947 chart.  Last seen 1966.  Discontinued by 1972.
As of 1951-52, issued to buses from 24,001 to 36,000 lbs. only.
Passenger colors all years.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "BUS" left, "FRONT" or "REAR" bottom 1947,
          vertical ""FRONT" or "REAR" left, followed by vertical "BUS" 1954-56, 1958,
          vertical "BUS" left 1959, 1964-66.
 
1947  [601]      1956   287      1964  [250]
1954     1       1958   287     1965   204
1955     1       1959  [351]     1966   262
 
CEREMONIAL
Earliest seen 1972 chart.  Issued to vehicles used only for
parades and ceremonies by non-profit veterans' organizations.
LEGENDS:  "CEREMONIAL" below small numbers 1972-79.
 
1972-73                         1976-77
1974-75   110                   1978-79   250
 
CHARITABLE BUS
P.A. 79-698 P 9/3/1975, E 1/1/1976.  Began 1976.
Issued to religious and non-profit organizations for vehicles
carrying >10 passengers.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, "CB" suffix 1976-79.
 
1976      3961 CB
1977      2000 CB
1978-79   6811 CB
 
CHARITABLE VEHICLE
Reportedly began 1976.  Earliest seen 1978-79.
Issued to religious and non-profit organizations for vehicles
carrying up to 10 passengers.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, "CV" suffix 1978-79.
 
1978-79   14634CV
 
CONSERVATION TRUCK
Earliest seen JUN 1982.  May have been issued as of JUN 1977.
Issued to private owned trucks transporting soil and related
equipment within 75 miles of point of registration.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, mid-size "CN" right JUN 82.
 
JUN 82   58 CN
 
CONSERVATION TRUCK TRACTOR
Reported JUN 1972.  Earliest seen JUN 1977.
Issued to private owned truck tractors transporting soil and
related equipment within 75 miles of point of registration.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, small "T" before full-size "CN" rught JUN 77,
          or mid-size "CN" right JUN 80.
 
JUN 77   462 T CN
JUN 80    47 T CN
 
CONSULAR CORPS
Reported 1962, but not on 1964 chart.  Earliest seen 1965.
Green/White 1980.
 
LEGENDS:  Vertical "OFFICIAL" in debossed oval left,
          "CONSULAR CORPS" below small numbers 1965-75, 1977-80
          (screened 1965-69, embossed 1971-80), vertical
          "OFFICIAL" screened in blue box left, "CONSULAR CORPS"
          embossed below small numbers 1976.
          Some 1965 have "CONSULAR CORP".
 
1965    88        1969   140        1973   101        1977   194
1966    31        1970    14        1974   153        1978   192
1967    47        1971    70        1975   244        1979   298
1968    82        1972              1976   180        1980   189
 
DAVID RUBINOFF, VIOLINIST
Began 1938.  Only seen 1938 in news articles, held by Bernice Stanger,
Rubinoff's secretary.
Special plate issued to famous violinist known for radio and film appearances.
Still issued in 1939.  Similar type issued to Rubinoff in Texas in 1939-50.
(Rubinoff was also issued New York #UU-2 in 1934-40.)
 
1938:  Dark/light, "RUBINOFF" top, "ILLINOIS 38" bottom, violin graphic left, #0. 
 
DEALER
Provided for in 1911 law but not listed in 1911 registration
figures.  Earliest seen 1912; #849 shown in 1912 Motor Magazine.
 
1912-15:  Discs also issued.
1912:  -2- seen.
1941:  Fee for additional pair reduced from $10 to $3 each.
1955:  Registered 7,868 dealers, with a total of 30,790 plates.
1956-57:  $20 for master pair (no letter), $3 for each additional
          pair (letter A - Z).  If more than 26 extra plates are
          needed, the suffix becomes a prefix.

Taller plate than passenger 1939-55.  Pairs all years.  Steel
1943, 1945, 1948, fiberboard 1947.  Heavier steel began 1959.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, hexagon shape 1912,
          "D" prefix, right arrow shape 1913,
          "D" prefix 1914,
          vertical "DEALER" left, hamburger shape 1915,
          vertical "DEALER" left, rounded sides 1916-19,
          vertical "DEALER" left 1920-35,
          "DEALER" top, "ILL/36" right 1936-37,
          "DEALER" top, "ILLINOIS 38" bottom even years 1938, 1942-54,
          "ILLINOIS 39" top, "DEALER" bottom 1939, odd years 1939, 1943-55 except
          Master 1947 "ILL-47" top, vertical "DEALER" left,
          "DEALER" top, "ILLINOIS 1940" bottom 1940,
          "ILLINOIS 1941" top, "DEALER" bottom 1941,
          "DEALER" top, "19 ILLINOIS 56" bottom 1956, 1958,
          "19 ILLINOIS 57" top, "DEALER" bottom 1957,
          no legend, vertical "DL" prefix 1959-80.  No "18 18" 1968.
 
COLORS:  Passenger colors 1912-35, 1959-75, 1977-79,
         White & Yellow/Black 1936, Black & White/Yellow 1937,
         reverse colors 1938-58, Blue/White 1976, Green/White 1980.
 
1943:  A85, A781, A1122 seen.
1944:  1931 steel, 3624 fiberboard.
1945:  3474 steel, 4463 fiberboard.
1946:  Master plates steel (3970), extra plates fiberboard, plus
       master plate 5296.
1947:  Master plates steel, extra plates fiberboard.
1949:  1353 has 1938-42 dies, 3277 D has 1950-59 dies.
1963:  6572 has wide dies, 6572 D has thin dies.
1975:  0 AR, 00 X seen.
 
Highest numbers issued from state wheel book microfilm index:
1918 3547 (Nov.), 1919 4615, 1920 6275, 1922 3-545, 1924 4358,
1925 4561, 1926 4700, 1927 4430, 1929 4578, 1930 4000,
1932 4500, 1935 5000, 1936 4500, 1937 4-733.
1943 New Car 1 - 3000, Used Car 4501 - 5369.
 
Master plate pair has no letter; additional plate pairs have
letter suffix 1937-80.  Letters seen:
 
A 1937, B 1937, C 1937, D 1941, E 1955, F 1949, G 1954, H 1943,
J 1941, K 1955, L 1954, M 1968, N 1957, P 1960, Q 1955, R 1954,
S 1960, T 1965, U 1968, V 1962, W 1972, X 1968, Y 1966, Z 1956,
A prefix 1943, BA 1962, BB 1962, BD 1963, BF 1967, CB 1974, DN 1976, DT 1980
 
1912     575      1930  [5000]     1948   6537      1966   6334
1913    D616      1931  [5000]     1949   7214      1967   5599
1914   D1198      1932  [5000]     1950   6686      1968   6539
1915    1458      1933  [5000]     1951   6477      1969   7454
1916    2871      1934  [5000]     1952   6006      1970   7104
1917    3270      1935  [5000]     1953   7720      1971   7104
1918    2381      1936  [4500]     1954   7460      1972   7104
1919   [5000]     1937 [4-500]     1955   7598      1973   6666
1920   [6000]     1938  [4500]     1956   6717      1974   7104
1921   [8000]     1939  [4500]     1957   6952      1975   7000
1922  [5-000]     1940  [5000]     1958   7418      1976   6570
1923  [5-000]     1941  [5050]     1959   4863      1977   6666
1924   [5000]     1942  [5000]     1960   5427      1978   6600
1925   [5000]     1943   3071      1961   5673      1979   6454
1926   [5000]     1944   3624      1962   6367      1980   7662,
1927   [5000]     1945   4463      1963   6572             0777
1928   [5000]     1946   5296      1964   6329
1929   [5000]     1947   6469      1965   6480
 
DISABLED VETERAN
Began 3/6/1948.  Number blocks drawn from passenger series 1948.
Numbers reportedly began at V 1200 1949-79 (seen 1949) to avoid
duplication with Trailer class V.
 
LEGENDS:  "DISABLED VETERAN" top 1948-50, 1952, 1954, 1956, 1958,
          bottom 1951, 1953, 1955, 1957,
          vertical "DISABLED" left, vertical "VETERAN" right 1959-79.
 
COLORS:  Black & White/Orange 1948, Dark Blue & Red/Canary Yellow 1949-53,
         Blue & Red/White 1954-79, Red and Blue stripes at right 1973-79.

RED FEATURES:
      "DISABLED VETERAN" and "V"           1949-58
      "DISABLED", slogan and "V"           1959, 1963, 1969, 1971
      "DISABLED" and "V"                   1960-61
      "VETERAN", slogan and numbers        1962, 1964, 1966, 1968
      "DISABLED", "19 ILLINOIS 65" and "V" 1965, 1967, 1970, 1972
      "V" and numbers                      1973-79
 
1948   1271 500 - 1271 599, 1400 701 - 1400 900, 1880 071  (301 P)
 
1949   V 1755            1959   V 2227            1969     V 3594
1950   V 2326            1960   V 2057            1970     V 3036
1951   V 2944            1961   V 1950            1971     V 2534
1952   V 2939*           1962   V 2698            1972     V 4017
1953   V 3050*           1963   V 2369            1973      V3739
1954   V 3153*           1964  [V 3199]           1974      V3955
1955   V 2059            1965   V 3017            1975      V3683
1956   V 3235*           1966   V 2870            1976      V3711
1957   V 2976            1967   V 2833            1977      V4080
1958   V 3235*           1968   V 2695            1978-79   V4197
 
DRIVER EDUCATION
Reportedly began 1974.  Earliest seen 1974.
Number 0001 - 0999 = School.  Master plate has no letters.
Additional plates have letter suffixes.  (Verify D,I,N,O,R-Z,AA-AF,AH+)
 
LEGENDS:  Vertical "DRIVER" before "EDUC." left all years.
 
1974   0696            1977      0367, 9004
1975   0727            1978-79   0485, 9020
1976   0727
 
ELECTRIC VEHICLE
P.A. 76-1628 P 9/30/1969, E 12/1/1970.  Began 1971.
P.A. 79-700 P 9/3/1975 allowing higher-speed vehicles; A = Vehicle
capable of 45 MPH or more.
 
LEGENDS:  Arched "ELECTRIC VEHICLE" above small numbers all years.
 
1971-72    72  Black/Yellow        1976-77   164
1972-73    72                      1978-79   250, A100
1974-75    86                      1980-81   111
 
EXEMPT VEHICLE
Reportedly began 1978.  Earliest seen 1978-79 #1500.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "EXEMPT" left, vertical "VEHICLE" right 1978-79.
 
FARM
H.B. 166 P 4/21/1937, E immediately.  Began 1938.
Listed 1941 as AG 1 - AG 1158, plus custom AG 4540.
Issued to "tractors and trailers in agricultural work" as of 1942.
By 1947, issued to "trucks having farm machinery permanently
mounted thereon and used solely for transporting the same"
("vehicles" 1959-64).
Also issued to Farm Trailers 1959-68 (pairs verified 1959-60)!
Taller plate than passenger 1938-57.
Steel 1943-46, 1948, fiberboard 1947.
1948-49 have 1938-42 dies.  1968 has no "18 18" legend.
JUN 1980 weight classes:  F,G,H,J,K,L,N,P,R,S.
 
LEGENDS:  "FARM" top, "ILLINOIS 38" bottom 1938, even years 1942-56,
          "ILLINOIS 39" top, "FARM" bottom 1939, odd years 1943-57,
          "ILLINOIS 1941" top, "FARM" bottom 1941,
          "FARM" top, "19 ILLINOIS 58" bottom 1958,
          vertical "FARM" left 1959-80.  (Verify 1940)
          Vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" left 1946-47.
        
1938    299      1946    333      1954    831      1962      212
1939    359      1947  [1000]     1955    885      1963     7617
1940             1948    519      1956    874      1964   10 169
1941   1200      1949   1139      1957   1381      1965   10 184
1942    971      1950    524      1958   1540      1966     8605
1943    205      1951    767      1959   1237      1967     2014
1944    347      1952    955      1960   1257      1968   24 581
1945    387      1953    897      1961    629
 
P.A. 77-137 P 6/30/1971, E 7/1/1972, for new Farm plate series.
Re-began 7/1/1972, "JUN 73".  Weight classes same as Truck.
 
          V/F    V/G   V/H   V/J   V/K   V/L  V/N  V/P  V/R  V/S   TOTAL
JUN 73    7412  4089  2268                                        (13,769)
JUN 74   10347  5422  7600                    418                 (23,787)
JUN 75    6973  6451  8206  3847                                  (25,477)
JUN 76    6240  5007  8626  3310                                  (23,183)
JUN 77    5001  3539  8388  1641   114   148  141                 (18,972)
JUN 78    4070  5214  8289  4553   270             264            (22,660)
JUN 79    5344  7790 10779  3222  1019   417            592   35  (29,198)
JUN 80   10127     4  1602  7931     3   222  148    3  397    9  (20,446)
 
FARM MACHINERY
H.B. 1945 P 7/28/1967.  Earliest seen 1969.
Same use as Permanently Mounted Equipment but issued to farmers.
No legend, "FM" suffix all years.
 
1969   1990 FM          1973                    1977      2323 FM
1970    465 FM          1974                    1978-79
1971                    1975    194 FM
1972   2212 FM          1976   1853 FM
 
FARM TRAILER
First listed in state wheel book microfilm index 1940.
Listed 1941 as TAG 1 - TAG 12.
Not on 1947 chart.  Reported 1950.  Earliest seen 1953.
Discontinued 1959-68; issued Farm plates.  Re-began 1969.
Issued to Farm Trailers hauling up to 10,000 lbs. 1972-79.
(Unknown what difference is between this and V/D/C series.)
 
LEGENDS:  "ILLINOIS 53" top, "FARM" bottom, vertical "TRAILER" left 1953, 1955, 1957,
          "FARM" top, "ILLINOIS 54" bottom, vertical "TRAILER" left 1954, 1956,
          "FARM" top, "19 ILLINOIS 58" bottom, vertical "TRAILER" left 1958,
          no legend 1969-79.  Short size 1956-57.
 
1953    2
1954    1          1969  28 141 F/T          1974      21 759 F/T
1955    1          1970       1 F/T          1975        5860 F/T
1956    1          1971       1 F/T          1976         282 F/T
1957    1          1972  11 804 F/T          1977      25 468 F/T
1958    2          1973    9451 F/T          1978-79        1 F/T
 
S.B. 194 P by 7/2/1971, E 7/1/1972, for new Farm Trailer plate series.
Weight classes same as Trailer.
 
         V/D/C   V/D/D   V/D/F   V/D/L
JUN 73
JUN 74
JUN 75                                 
JUN 76                    488
JUN 77                    180
JUN 78            202     542
JUN 79   1149
JUN 80      1     568     241       1 
 
FERTILIZER SPREADER
Earliest seen 1980, Green/White, "FERT. SPREADER" below smaller
numbers, #1309.
 
FLAT TAX
Earliest seen 1936.  Last seen 1942.
 
1936:  Small size, "FLAT TAX" top, "ILLINOIS-1936" bottom, #G 1424.
1937:  Small size, "ILLINOIS-1937" top, "FLAT TAX" bottom, #B-63.
1941:  "ILLINOIS 1941" top, "FLAT TAX" bottom, small numbers, #XX 47.
1942:  "FLAT TAX" top, "ILLINOIS 1942" bottom, small numbers, #D 1.
 
40/8 VOITURE
Earliest seen 1937.  Last seen 1956.
Discontinued by 1972, when Ceremonial was being issued.
Number indicates Chapter ("Voiture") number.
 
1937:  Large "VOITURE" top, "37/ILL" right, #189.
1938:  Arched "VOITURE" top, "40/8" left, small numbers, #189.
1941:  Same format as 1938, #812, #985.
1948:  Fiberboard, arched "VOITURE NO.812" top, "ILLINOIS 1948" bottom, large seal center.
1956:  Red and Dark Blue/White, arched "VOITURE 189" screened top,
       "40/8" screened center, "19 ILLINOIS 56" embossed bottom.
1963:  Blue and Red/White, arched "VOITURE 818" screened top, otherwise same as 1956.
 
FUNERAL HOME
Earliest seen 1972.

LEGENDS:  No legend, vertical "FH" left 1972-80.
 
1972   F/H 2888          1975   F/H 2871          1978   F/H 2967
1973   F/H 1020          1976   F/H 2968          1979   F/H 2967
1974   F/H 3519          1977   F/H 2967          1980   F/H 2106
 
HANDICAPPED
P.A. 78-321 P 8/15/1973.  Began 1974.

LEGENDS:  No legend, wheelchair prefix all years.
 
1974    805            1977   3055
1975   4093            1978   3055
1976    985            1979   5287

HISTORIC AUTOMOBILE
Began 1949.  1949 #13 has 4-leaf clover and horseshoe.
Technically, this type is a series of Special Event plates issued
for the antique car meet at the Illinois State Fair each summer.
Discontinued 1968 after Antique Vehicle plates issued.
 
LEGENDS:  "HORSELESS CARRIAGE" 1949, "ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE" 1950,
          "HISTORIC AUTOMOBILE 1952-67 except "ANTIQUE AUTO" 1955.
COLORS:  Listed in JUN-85 ALPCA, p.92.  1950-51:  See Hartung.
         1952:  Dark Blue/Orange 1 - 172, Red & Dark Blue/White 219 - 251.
 
1949       65       1954   358       1959   189       1964   196
1950       93       1955   393       1960   247       1965   249
1950-51   234       1956   393       1961   250       1966   299
1952      251       1957   250       1962   280       1967   236
1953      375       1958   298       1963   180
 
HOUSE/SENATE
From 1/1/1932 to 1941 (repealed 7/28/1941), elected state
officials were issued cast bronze "star" attachments in pairs
bearing the office and/or district number.  H.B. 895 P 7/28/1941
for actual plates, superceding the stars.  Began 1941.
 
Until 1980, the Illinois Legislature had 59 districts each with 1
senator and 3 representatives = 177 House, 59 Senate.  Since
1980, the Legislature has had 59 Senate districts and 118 House
districts each with 1 representative = 118 House, 59 Senate.
In 1964, representatives were elected at large, not by district.
 
1941-57:  "Official" plates issued with District number 1 - 59
          followed by small number suffix "1" for Senator or "2",
          "3" or "4" for Representative, in order of seniority;
          total = 236.  Fiberboard 1946-48.
         (Verify 1943-45, 1949-50)
 
1958-79:  Plates marked "HOUSE" and "SENATE" began 1958, although
          not provided for by law until H.B. 76 P 4/24/1959.
          Senate numbers 1 - 59 seen 1958-60, 1965, 1967-78.
          House numbers 1 - 59 with suffixes "1", "2" or "3" seen
          1959-64, 1967, 1969, straight numerics 1 - 177 used
          1965-66, 1968, 1970-79.
          Dashes flanking number denote 2nd car 1969-79.
         (Verify House 1958, Senate 1961-64, 1966, 1979)

LEGENDS:
1941:  "OFFICIAL" arched top, "ILLINOIS 1941" bottom.
1942:  "OFFICIAL/GEN. ASSEMBLY" top, "ILLINOIS 1942" bottom,
       vertical "DIST." left, vertical "SENATE" right.
1946:  "OFFICIAL" top, "ILLINOIS 46" bottom.
1947, 1951, 1953:  "ILLINOIS 47" top, "OFFICIAL" in reverse-color oval bottom
1948, 1952:  "OFFICIAL" in reverse-color oval top, "ILLINOIS 48" bottom
1954, 1956:  Slogan top, "ILLINOIS" bottom, vertical "OFFICIAL" in
             debossed oval left, vertical "1954" in debossed oval right.
1955, 1957:  "ILLINOIS" top, slogan bottom, vertical "OFFICIAL" in
             debossed oval left, vertical "1957" in debossed oval right.
1958:  Slogan top, "ILLINOIS" bottom, vertical "HOUSE" or
       "SENATE" left, vertical "1958" right.
1959:  "ILLINOIS" top, slogan bottom, vertical "HOUSE" or
       "SENATE" left, vertical "1959" right.
       ("OFFICIAL" restored 7/1/1959)
1960-75:  Vertical "OFFICIAL" in debossed oval left, vertical
          "HOUSE" or "SENATE" right (embossed 1960-66,
           1967 Senate, 1968-75, screened 1967 House).
1976:  Vertical "OFFICIAL" in blue box left, vertical "HOUSE" or
       "SENATE" in blue box right.
1977-80:  Same as 1966-75; 1979 plate dated "79 80".
 
HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER
Earliest seen 1976.
LEGENDS:  "HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER" center in lieu of serial number 1976-79.
 
HOUSE MINORITY LEADER
Earliest seen 1977.
LEGENDS:  "HOUSE MINORITY LEADER" center in lieu of serial number 1977, 1979.
 
IN TRANSIT
S.B. 521 P 7/13/1939, E 1/1/1940.  Began 1940.
Taller plate than passenger 1941-53.  Pairs 1964.
Numbers aligned with Dealer numbers 1940-41.  Master plate pair
has no number or letter suffix.  Additional plate pairs have
small number suffix 1940-58, letter suffix 1959-79.
 
LEGENDS:  "ILLINOIS 1941" top, "IN TRANSIT" bottom 1941, 1947,
          "IN TRANSIT" top, "ILLINOIS 48" bottom 1948,
          "ILLINOIS 53" top, "IN TRANSIT" bottom 1953,
          "19 ILLINOIS 55" top, "IN TRANSIT" bottom 1955, 1957,
          "IN TRANSIT" top, "19 ILLINOIS 56" bottom 1956, 1958,
          no legend, vertical "IT" left 1959-79.
COLORS:  Passenger colors 1940-41, 1959-79,
         reverse colors 1947-48, 1953, 1955-58.
 
1940   931-2                    1962   I/T 9018
1941   931-2, 2719-6            1963   I/T 9131 E
1947   6000 239, [6001 150]     1964   I/T 9092 A, [I/T 9099 A]
1948   6001 24                  1965   I/T 9033 C
1953   6000 107                 1969   I/T 9032 AE
1955   6029 7                   1970   I/T 9032 V, 9035 BJ
1956   6004 26                  1976   I/T 9047
1957   5330 26                  1977   I/T 9029 AQ, 9044 GQ
1958   9001 5, 9108 5           1978   I/T 9008 EE, 9028 J
1959  [I/T 9015 A]              1979   I/T 9010 D, 9030
 
LIMOUSINE
Earliest seen 1975.
Reportedly manufactured but never issued, yet 1976 looks used.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "LIMO" left 1975-76.
 
1975   1047
1976   1030
 
LIVERY  (See Taxi)
Number series listed 1942-43 in state wheel book microfilm index,
but not mentioned as being Livery rather than Taxi.
Reported 1945 with vertical "LIVERY" after "0".
Earliest seen 1947.  Also issued to rental cars as of 1964.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "LIVERY" left, "REAR" bottom 1947,
          no legend 1948-71, vertical "LIVERY" left 1972-80.
 
LOCAL BUS
Reported in 1951 (Southern Illinoisan, Carbondale, 8/11/1951).
Earliest seen 1953.  Issued to city buses.
Probably discontinued 1959; replaced by Municipal Bus.
 
1951-54 weight classes and fees:  12,001 - 14,000 lbs. $50,
14,001 - 16,000 lbs. $75, 16,001 - 20,000 lbs. $110,
20,001 - 24,000 lbs. $150, 24,001 - 36,000 lbs. $200.
1957:  Fees range from $90 to $640 for same 5 weight classes.
 
1953:  Vertical "FRONT", vertical "BUS" and vertical "14000"
       left, "ILL 53" top, "LOCAL" bottom, #1394.
 
MANUFACTURER
Earliest seen 1948.  May have begun 1948, as not on 1947 chart.
Only 51 Tuckers were built in 1948, but #1 93 seen.
Taller plate than passenger 1948-49, 1955.  Steel 1948.
Master plate has no suffix number or letter.  Additional plates
have small number suffix 1948-49, letter suffix 1959-79.
 
LEGENDS:  "MANUFACTURER" top, "ILLINOIS 48" bottom 1948,
          "ILLINOIS 49" top, "MANUFACTURER" bottom 1949, 1955,
          vertical "MFR" left, "M" prefix 1959,
          vertical "MFR" left 1967-79.
COLORS:  Reverse colors 1948-49, 1955, passenger colors 1959-79.
 
1948   1 93                    1970   1C, F, L, 2 AH
1949   1 42                    1971    2, 15 GC
1955   2                       1972    2 C
1959  [M 1 A]                  1974   19 H, 38 C
1964  [8, 8 A]                 1975   10 U, 28 BV, BW, CE
1966   12 AF                   1976   25 K, 28 R, AE, BW, 36 D, E, J
1967   1 E                     1977   28 Z, BM
1968   1 F, 16                 1978   15 DN, JE, 17 B, 28 CM
1969   1 H, 2 C, X, 5 W        1979    8 W, 50
 
MILEAGE TAX TRAILER
First listed 1937 in state wheel book microfilm (TT 1 - TT 36, TT 501 - TT 602).
Listed 1941 as TT 1 - TT 1230, TT 3715.
Earliest seen 1947 chart.
JUN 1980 weight classes:  10000, 14000, 20000, 36000.
 
LEGENDS:  "SEMI-TRAILER" bottom 1947,
          vertical "SEMITR" left, "ILLINOIS 48" bottom 1948, 1950,
          vertical "SEMITR" left 1951,
          vertical "TRAILER" left, followed by vertical "TT" and vertical "20000" (etc.) 1959,
          vertical "TRAILER" left, followed by "T" and vertical "12000" (etc.) 1968,
          no "TRAILER", vertical "10000" (etc.) before vertical "TM" right JUN 1973,
          vertical "TRAILER" left, vertical "10000" (etc.) before
          vertical "TM" right JUN 1976, JUN 1979-80.

COLORS:  Reverse colors 1947-48, 1950-51,
         Mileage Tax Truck colors 1959-JUN 1980.
 
1947  [T/T 20 001]           JUN 73   36000   284 T/M
1948   T/T 40 695            JUN 76   20000   321 T/M
1950   T/T 41 847            JUN 79   14000   153 - 223 T/M
1951   T/T 41 803                     20000   817 T/M
1959   36000   T/T 2402               36000   644 - 650 T/M
1968   12000   T 77
 
MILEAGE TAX TRUCK
S.B. 601 P 7/9/1935, E 1/1/1936.  Began 1936.  Issued to trucks
electing to pay mileage tax instead of flat rate fee.  Same
weight classes as Truck all years except A omitted by 1946, B
omitted by 1980.  Probably no Yellow 1952 plate issued.
1936 custom number T 5555 also issued.
Steel 1943-44, 1948, fiberboard 1945-47.
1949 has 1938-42 dies.  (Verify 1969)
 
LEGENDS
1936-44:  Truck design but with small "T" above weight tab.
1945:     Full size "T" prefix.
1946:     "FRONT" or "REAR" top, "ILLINOIS 46" bottom, small "T"
          over weight class number left, followed by vertical "TRUCK".
1947:     "ILLINOIS 47" top, "FRONT" or "REAR" bottom, vertical
          "TRUCK" left, followed by small "T" over weight class number.
1948-52:  Vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" left, small "T" over "16000" (etc.) prefix.
1953:     Vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" left, followed by vertical "16000" (etc.).
1954-58:  Vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" left, followed by vertical "T" over
          truck weight class letter, followed by vertical "16000" (etc.).
          "19 ILLINOIS 54" bottom 1954, 1956, 1958, top 1955, 1957.
1959-60:  Vertical "T/C" (etc.) left.
1961-68:  Full size "TC" (etc.) prefix (same as passenger except colors).
1969-79:  Full size "MC" (etc.) suffix.
1980:     Small size "MC" (etc.) suffix.
 
COLORS  (Fully Reflective 1966-on)
1936-53   Passenger colors             1967      Dark Blue/Orange
1954   Red/White                       1968      Black/Yellow
1955   White/Red                       1969?
1956   Black/Light Yellow              1969/70   Black/Blue
1957   Blue/White                      1970/71   Black/White
1958   White/Dark Green                JUN 72    Orange/Blue
1959  "Red/Belmont Buff"               JUN 73    Black/Yellow
1960   White/Dark Green                JUN 74    Red/Tan
1961   Yellow/Black                    JUN 75    Orange/Blue
1962   Red/Yellow                      JUN 76    Orange/Green
1963   Yellow/Dark Brown               JUN 77    Black/Blue
1964   White/Black                     JUN 78    Black/Yellow
1965   White/Blue                      JUN 79    Black/Tan
1966   Black/White                     JUN 80    Brown/White
 
NUMBERING
1936-45:  Numbers assumed to have begun at T 1.
1946-60:  Number blocks progressed higher with each heavier weight class.
1961-68:  Numbers probably began at 1 in each class.
          Unusual spacing on TH series reflects H1, H2, H3 or H4 class.
1969-80:  Numbers began at 1 in each class.
 
1936     T 5077          1940   T 11 135          1944   T 13 124
1937     T-8933          1941   T 15 184          1945   T 12 620
1938   T 10 221          1942     T 9526
1939     T 6679          1943     T 6838
 
 
       8000  10000  12000  14000  16000  20000  24000  28000  32000  41000  45000  50000  59000  72000
1946                                             6735
                                                 6782
1947    [50]                       2183
                                   2523
1948                                      4156                        9818
 
1949                               2365   4005                       11350                13833
                                   2610   4379                       11360                14207
1950                               2072   4082   7176                13920                       20668
                                          4927                                                        
1951                               2018   5502  11116                16273                24982
                                          6513                                            25179
1952                               3083   5816  10326                18887                25277
                                   4104   7039
1953                                            H1090
                                                H9146
 
       T/B    T/C    T/D    T/E    T/F    T/G    T/H    T/H2   T/H3   T/H4   T/X    T/K    T/L    T/N    T/P
1954                        4047  10112  15880  27588
                                         20391
1955                        3110   5011  15146                              52047  62158  65020  70077
                            4055         20457                              52960                            
1956                        3129   6075  15632                       40017  52309
                            4071  10124  17016                              53229
1957                        3058   6967  16745  25517                                            70214
                            4121         17360  27665
1958                               5806  15213  30190                              62103
                                   6410  17389
                                   0880
1959                        3037   5176  16839  25947
                            3177  10027         32120
1960            571         3002   6365  16208
                            3135         18046                                                               
 
 
       TB    TC    TD    TE    TF    TG     TH1    TH2     TH3     TH4     TX    TK    TL    TN1     TN2     TP
1961                     120  1428  4804     302          3  306          2034                 122  ------
1962                     417  2568  5409                          4  353  1904                 107  ------
1963                     297  2202  4440    1469                          1915                      ------
1964               346   140  2150  4648    6331                           773
1965               110   933   672  6148    5101                           466   298           120           705
1966               502   360  3014  4778    8506                          2031
1967               504   249   290  6385    4363                          1962
1968               276   316   334  6352  1 2447                  4 9231   868

 
          MB    MC    MD    ME    MF    MG    MH    MJ    MK    ML    MN    MP    MR    MS    MT    MV
1969?
1969/70                     260  1430  4877  3888                                 553                  
1970/71               184  1230        7447  6503
JUN 72          253        1136  2917  7809
JUN 73                281   682        1657         897   467
JUN 74                                 1345   331  1569                     582
JUN 75                                 2197  1146  1085               740   326                        
JUN 76                            212  2429  1810  2047   219         330  1009  1126               662
JUN 77                      192        1428  3141   606         186         732  1118
JUN 78                      193        1801   914   983   223   521         512
JUN 79          350   500   690        2340   552  3250         490   750   790  2550         300
JUN 80    ----  103   391   653   945   118   909  1788   214   264              2043                  

MILEAGE TAX TRUCK TRACTOR
May have begun 1969.  Reported 1969/70.  Earliest seen 1970/71.

LEGENDS:  No legend, small "T" before full-size suffix 1970/71,
          JUN 1972, JUN 1976-79, or mid-size suffix JUN 1980.
COLORS:  Colors same as Mileage Tax Truck 1970/71, JUN 1972, JUN 1976-80.
JUN 1980 weight classes:  H,J,K,L,N,P,R,S,T,V.
 
1970/71   799 T MS
JUN 72   2239 T MT
JUN 76    712 T ML, 1935 T MN, 662 T MV
JUN 77   1806 T MP, 679 T MV
JUN 78    510 T MS, 497 T MV
JUN 79   1331 T MN, 617 T MV
JUN 80    992 T MV
 
MOTORCYCLE  (See Motorcycle page)
H.B. 593 P 6/10/1911.
 
MOTORCYCLE DEALER
Began 1959.  Green/White 1980.  Master plate has no letter.
Additonal plates have letter suffix:
A 1961, B 1967, C 1973, D 1969, E 1971, F 1978, G 1980, H 1975.

LEGENDS:   No legend, vertical "DL" prefix all years.
 
1959  [205]       1965   347        1971   297        1977   485
1960   149        1966   403        1972   297        1978   863
1961   149        1967   417        1973   494        1979   780
1962   149        1968   377        1974   392        1980   620
1963   255        1969   438        1975   530
1964   268        1970   345        1976   556
 
MUNICIPAL BUS
Law P 6/24/1957.  Probably began 1959.  Earliest seen 1959 chart.
Previously issued Local Bus plates.  Issued to buses operated
solely within a municipality or contiguous municipalities, but
not necessarily owned by same.
 
Chicago Tribune, 11/25/1958:
"Judge Creel Douglass of Sangamon county Circuit court at
Springfield ruled [yesterday] that 11 bus companies...may operate
their buses with $2 a year license plates instead of inter-city
bus plates costing an average of about $256.  This reversed his
decision of last September...The ruling affects 475 buses...The
legislature in 1957 authorized bus companies operating in one
municipality and contiguous areas to use the $2 plates, but the
secretary of state had ruled that the 11 companies did not qualify."
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, vertical "BM" prefix 1959,
          horizontal full-size "BM" prefix 1964-68 (identical to passenger),
          horizontal full-size "BM" suffix 1969-79.
 
1959  [B/M 1501]       1966                  1973      2014 BM
1960                   1967   BM 2428        1974
1961                   1968   BM 1677        1975      1076 BM
1962                   1969   2268 BM        1976
1963                   1970   1843 BM        1977      2727 BM
1964    BM 5428        1971   1370 BM        1978-79   2025 BM
1965    BM 2541        1972   2329 BM

OFFICIAL
Began 1937.  Earliest seen 1940.
(1941-57 plates with a smaller number suffix are House/Senate.)
Issued to 7 to 9 state officials, as follows:
 
1 - GOVERNOR              (1937-79)
2 - LT. GOVERNOR          (1937-74), LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (1975-79)
3 - SECRETARY OF STATE    (1937-71), ATTORNEY GENERAL (1974-79)
4 - AUDITOR PUBLIC ACCT.  (1937-72), SECRETARY OF STATE (1974-79)
5 - STATE TREASURER       (1937-72), COMPTROLLER (1973-80)
6 - SUPT. OF PUBLIC INST. (1937-72), STATE TREASURER (1974-80)
7 - ATTORNEY GENERAL      (1937-72), AUDITOR GENERAL 1976-79)
8 - CLERK SUPREME COURT   (By 1957-75, dropped by 1979)
9 - AUDITOR GENERAL       (1974)
 
LEGENDS:  Arched "OFFICIAL" top, taller plate 1940-42,
          Arched "OFFICIAL" top, smaller "ILLINOIS 43" bottom 1943-46,
          "ILLINOIS 47" top, "OFFICIAL" in reversed oval bottom 1947,
          "OFFICIAL" in reversed oval top, "ILLINOIS 48" bottom 1948,
          "OFFICIAL" in debossed oval top, "ILLINOIS 49" bottom 1949, 1952,
          "ILLINOIS 51" top, "OFFICIAL" in debossed oval bottom 1951,
          vertical "OFFICIAL" in debossed oval left, "1955" in debossed oval right 1955-69,
          "ILLINOIS" top, slogan bottom odd years 1955-69,
          legends reversed even years 1956-66,
          arched name of office above small number 1970-80 (embossed 1970-78, 1980, screened 1979).
         (Verify 1937-39, 1950, 1953-54)
 
1937            1948   1      1959  [3]         1970   3,4
1938            1949   4      1960              1971   1,2,3,4
1939            1950          1961   1          1972   5
1940   2,4      1951   4      1962   1          1973   5
1941   1        1952   4      1963              1974   2,3,4,5,6,9
1942   1        1953          1964   3          1975   1,2,3,4,5,8
1943   1        1954          1965              1976   1,2,3,4,5,7
1944   1        1955   1      1966   6          1977   3,4,7
1945   1        1956          1967   1,3,6      1978   2
1946   1        1957          1968   3          1979   1
1947   1        1958          1969   3          1980   5,6
 
PERMANENTLY MOUNTED EQUIPMENT
Law P 1953.  Earliest seen 1954.  Smaller size 1956-57.
1953 law specified "PM" if industrial or "AG" if agricultural.
AG prefix also mentioned in Belleville News 2/13/1951 as being
"for vehicles of the Agriculture Department." Also mentioned in
1952 as a $5 plate, with no second 1952 plate needed.
No "AG" seen, but used on passenger 1961-on.
As of 5/22/1955, 1,126 issued.
1961:  PM 2001 - 7155 listed in state wheel book microfilm index.
 
LEGENDS:  Vertical "FRONT" or "REAR" left, vertical "PM" prefix 1954, 1956-58,
          vertical "PM" prefix 1959,
          horizontal full-size "PM" prefix 1962-63 (identical to passenger),
          horizontal full-size "PM" suffix JUN 72, JUN 76-78,
          horizontal smaller "PM" suffix JUN 80.
 
1954   P/M 2222        1962   PM 5409        JUN 76   3031 PM
1956   P/M 4305        1963   PM 1424        JUN 77   3112 PM
1957   P/M 2809        1964   [PM 400]       JUN 78   1603 PM
1958   P/M 5553
1959   P/M 5571        JUN 72   1664 PM      JUN 80   1989 PM
 
PERSONALIZED
Limited began 1974 with about 800 3-letter prefixes with numbers 1 - 50,
with a few to 999, no extra fee, increased to 2,851 prefixes in 1975.
3 letters alone or with up to 3 numbers allowed 1976-79.
 
(In 1949, #X/X HITLER made up for Christopher Janus' 5-ton armored
Mercedes Benz limousine that once belonged to Adolf Hitler.)
 
(In 1973, 26 souvenir plates were given to U.S. Congressmen and
Senators, bearing their names, i.e. DOGWOOD, HELEN, MITCH, etc.
1966 #BUD and #DICK seen, as well as 1968 #LEROY, 1969 and 1970
#BUD.  Possibly these are also political souvenirs.)

Full-fledged personalized plate program began 1980 with P.A.
81-987 P 9/22/1979.
 
PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURAL COMMITTEE
H.B. 1944 P 8/7/1967.  May have begun 1969.  Earliest seen 1973.
Only issued every four years.  No serial 1973, 1977, 1981.

PRORATE AUXILIARY AXLE
May have begun 1969.  Earliest seen 1972 chart.  Small-size plate
issued to additional axles for trucks and truck tractors.
1972 suffixes:  NS,NT,NV,PS,PT,PV,SV,TV.  Discontinued 1978? (JUN 79 seen)

LEGENDS:  Vertical "PR" left 1972, no legend JUN 79.
 
JUN 79   14 SV
 
PRORATE AUXILIARY AXLE TRAILER
May have begun 1969.  Earliest seen 1972 chart.  Small-size plate
issued to additional axles for semitrailers and trailers.
Discontinued 1978.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "PR" left, vertical "ST" before "L" right 1972, 1976-77.
 
1976   P/R  2 S/T L
1977   P/R 11 S/T L
 
PRORATE SEMI TRAILER
Began 1969.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "PRORATE" left, vertical "ST" right 1969-70, 1972,
          vertical "PR" left, vertical "ST" 1972-79.
 
1969       9174 S/T      1973   P/R 1000 S/T      1977   P/R 3290 S/T
1970       1110 S/T      1974   P/R 4763 S/T      1978
1971                     1975   P/R 2339 S/T      1979    P/R 219 S/T
1972   P/R 1375 S/T      1976   P/R 9324 S/T
 
PRORATE STICKER
Began 1960.  Sticker issued to truck tractors and trailers using
backing plate of Midwest Compact only 1960-62.
Illinois joined the Uniform Prorate Compact 1963.
Ordered:  1961 50,000, 1962 75,000.
 
PRORATE TRAILER
Began 1969.  Reported 1971.  Earliest seen 1972 chart.
1972-79 weight classes:  T/D, T/F, T/L.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "PRORATE" left, vertical "TD", "TF" or "TL" right 1972,
          same except vertical "PR" left 1979.
 
PRORATE TRUCK
Began 1969.  Issued singly 1972.
1972-79 weight classes:  E,F,G,H,J,K,L,N,P,R.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "PRORATE" left 1969-72,
          vertical "PR" left 1973-79.
 
1969                      52 075F
1970                      52 455F
1971   50 507E,           52 359F - 53 449F
1972
1973                      53 274F
1974                      53 093F, 60 059H
1975                               68 036K
1976   50 231E - 50 240E, 53 123F, 56 494G, 64 111J, 70 436L
1977                      52 212F
1978
1979
 
PRORATE TRUCK TRACTOR
Began 1969.  Issued singly 1972.
1972-79 weight classes:  E,F,G,H,J,K,L,N,P,R,S,T,V.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "PRORATE" left, small "T" in UR corner 1969-70,
          vertical "PR" left, small "T" in UR corner 1972-79.
 
1969                                        93 832V
1970                                        91 094V
1971
1972                                        90 771V
1973                               82 927S
1974                               83 701S
1975   71 038L - 71 060L,          82 079S, 90 376V
1976   71 216L - 71 236L, 74 072N, 82 599S, 90 542V - 93 327V
1977
1978                                        90 174V
1979   71 010L
 
PRORATE TRUCK TRACTOR DOUBLE BOTTOM
May have begun 1969.  Earliest seen 1972 chart.
Issued to tractor-semitrailer towing a trailer or semitrailer.
 
LEGENDS:  Vertical "PRORATE" left, small "T" in UR corner, "V"
          followed by vertical "DB" suffix 1972, same except
          vertical "PR" left 1979.
 
PUBLIC OWNED
Earliest seen 1932.  Issued to vehicles owned by the state, a
county, municipality or township 1932-60; county, municipality
or township only 1961-78.  Although marked "TRUCK" or "TR"
1934-36, they were probably issued to all types of vehicles.
 
In 1930, they were issued "X" prefix, along with all trucks over
20,000 lbs., and in 1932-33, they used an "H" prefix.
 
Rock Island Argus, 1/14/1930:  "In connection with the X plates,
all state-owned trucks have been issued license numbers with the
prefix X on them."
 
Roberts Herald, 11/18/1931:  "Trucks owned by the state, townships,
villages, etc., will bear letter H and cost $2.00."
 
The (Streator) Times, 12/5/1932:  "Truck licenses for 1933 will be
letter [sic] from "A" to "G."  The letter "X" will be used on
license plates issued to trucks of more than 24,000 pounds, while
those issued to state, cities, towns, incorporated villages or
townships will carry the letter "H.""
 
Steel 1943-44, 1946, 1948, fiberboard 1945, 1947.
1946 #M11131 on M9999 size.
1956-57 in old sizes.
 
Highest number issued from state wheel book microfilm index:
1932 H 4921, 1941 M 9999, 1943 M11 000, 1961 M38 047.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, "H" prefix 1932-33,
          vertical "TRUCK" left 1934, "TR" over "M" left 1935,
          vertical "TRUCK" suffix 1936,
          no legend, "M" prefix 1938-76. (Verify 1937)
 
1932   H 2766
1933   H 1854

1934      637M          1949   M 11 876          1964    M30 551
1935   M 5-848          1950   M 13 820          1965    M32 419
1936    M 6176          1951   M 15 833          1966    M33 421
1937                    1952   M 17 136          1967    M34 770
1938     M4024          1953   M 19 529          1968    M35 881
1939     M5924          1954   M 23 087          1969    M40 070
1940     M9112          1955   M 21 710          1970    M41 124
1941     M7293          1956   M 11326           1971    M 43 503
1942   M11 364          1957   M 27 000          1972    M 46 049
1943    M 3082          1958   M 22566           1973    M 48 071
1944   M 11 689         1959   M 32187           1974    M 47 749
1945   M 10 157         1960   M14 698           1975    M 42 769
1946    M11131          1961   M15 380           1976    M 47 027
1947   M 12 274         1962   M28 646           1977    M 37 589
1948   M12 417          1963   M30 352           1978-79 M 47 788
 
PUBLIC OWNED HANDICAPPED
Reportedly began 1978.  Earliest seen 1978-79 #M 761.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, "M" prefix, wheelchair suffix 1978-79.
 
PUBLIC OWNED TRAILER
First listed 1936 in state wheel book microfilm (MT 1 - MT 219, MT 251),
and 1937 (MT 1 - MT 208).  Listed 1941 as MT 1 - MT 488.
Earliest seen 1947 chart.  MT prefix became Passenger 1961, however,
1961 #MT 9001 - 9430 listed in state wheel book microfilm index.
Unknown if "T" in corner (seen 1976) started 1961 or sometime later.
 
LEGENDS:  "ILLINOIS 47" top, vertical "TRAILER" left 1947,
          vertical "TRAILER" left 1953, 1958,
          no legend 1959-60,
          no legend, "M" prefix, "T" in UR corner 1976-79 (reported 1974).
COLORS:  Reverse colors 1947, Passenger colors 1953-55, 1958-60, 1976-78.
 
1947  [M/T 600]      1958   M/T 399      1976      M 19 259 - M 19 824
1953   M/T   1       1959  [M/T 687]     1977      M 19 228 - M 19 254,
1954   M/T   1       1960   M/T 304                M 43 202 -
1955   M/T   5                           1978-79   M 18 607 -

RECREATIONAL CAMPER
Reportedly began JUN 1974.  Earliest seen 1978.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "CAMPER" left, vertical "RC" right 1978-79.
 
1978   4614 R/C
1979   2005 R/C
 
RECREATIONAL TRAILER
P.A. 77-720 P 8/12/1971, E 7/1/1972.  Earliest seen JUN 1974.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "TRAILER" left, vertical "RV" right JUN 74,
          vertical "TRAILER" left, vertical "RT" right JUN 75 - 1979.
COLORS:  Black/White DEC 1975.
 
JUN 73?                        1976    79 352 R/T
JUN 74   49 741 R/V            1977    81 859 R/T
JUN 75   54 675 R/T            1978    99 187 R/T
DEC 75   62 791 R/T            1979   102 181 R/T
 
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE
H.B. 2637 P 8/21/1968, E 1/1/1969.  Began 1969.

LEGENDS:  No legend, vertical "RV" right all years.
COLORS:  Black/White DEC 1975.
 
1969       2662 R/V            JUN 75   62 403 R/V
1969/70    2567 R/V            DEC 75   59 791 R/V
1970/71  16 729 R/V            1976     95 301 R/V
JUN 72   27 339 R/V            1977    112 122 R/V
JUN 73   67 120 R/V            1978    121 460 R/V
JUN 74   48 948 R/V            1979    129 066 R/V
 
REPOSSESSOR
S.B. 657 P 8/2/1965.  Reportedly began 1966.  Earliest seen 1967.
 
LEGENDS:  "REPOSSESSOR" below small number 1967-80
          (screened 1967-69, embossed 1970-80).
 
1967   376        1971   294        1975   455        1979   747
1968   398        1972   365        1976   476        1980   668
1969   497        1973   294        1977   531
1970   253        1974   461        1978   578
 
SAMPLE
Earliest seen 1925.  1926 is #500-000.  (Verify 1943)
1943 Passenger #515 304 seen with "CANCELLED" overprinted in black.
1976 #USA 200 has vertical "COLLECTOR" screened left and right; this
was a special edition sold for $3 with at least 15,000 produced.
 
1925, 1927-37      000-000      1975 Cardboard   MJH ---
1938-42, 1944-65   000 000      1976 Cardboard   MJH ---
1966      000 000, PP 0000           Steel       USA 200
1967-70   PP 0000                    Steel       SAMPLE
1971      PP 0000, JL 0000      1977 Steel       SAM-PLE
1972      JL ----               1978 Cardboard   AJH ---
1973      JL ----, MH ----           Steel       ILL ---
1974      MH ----, MJH ---      1979 Aluminum    ILL ---, IL 1979
 
SCHOOL BUS
S.B. 135 P 5/2/1963.  Earliest seen 1967.
Issued to private-owned school buses.

LEGENDS:  Vertical "SCHOOL" left, vertical "BUS" right all years.
          Wide dies 1 - 9999, thin dies 10 000+.

1967   5167            1971    7598            1975      19407
1968   5292            1972    8762            1976      19407
1969   4638            1973    8264            1977      15694
1970   4796            1974   10201            1978-79   16921
 
SECRETARY OF STATE INVESTIGATOR
Reportedly began 1972.  Earliest seen 1972-73.
Number prefix indicates district.

LEGENDS:  "SECRETARY OF STATE" above small numbers,
          "INVESTIGATOR" below same small numbers 1972-79.
COLORS:   Red/White, long slots except UR hole 1972-73.
 
1972-73   J1-13, JX-98
1974-75   JX-47
1976-77   J2-22
1978-79   J-8, J1-85, J2-18, J3-3, J4-44, J5-28
 
SEMI TRAILER
Earliest seen 1947.  Steel 1948.  1949 has 1938-42 dies.
No second 1952 plate issued.
Highest number issued from state wheel book microfilm index:
1957 S/T 83 101, 1959 S/T 79 864, 1961 ST81811, 1962 ST90525.

LEGENDS:  "SEMI TRAILER" bottom 1947,
          vertical "SEMI TR" left 1948-58,
          no legend 1959 - JUN 80.  1968 has no "18 18".
COLORS:  Reverse colors 1947-58, Passenger colors 1959-69,
         Truck colors 1969/70 - JUN 80.
 
1947  [S/T 50 179]- 54 759     1964       [ST10 039]-  44 490
1948   S/T 50 781 - 69 200     1965        ST37 615 -  54 123
1949   S/T 53 371 -            1966     S/T 105 250 -
1950   S/T 51 418 - 57 811     1967        S/T 8402 - 107 811
1951   S/T 50 030 -            1968      S/T 19 866 - 116 447
1952   S/T 33 756 -            1969      14 373 S/T -  66 677 S/T
1953   S/T 30 916 - 30 918     1969/70   19 866 S/T -  94 926 S/T
1954   S/T 30 781 -            1970/71     9158 S/T -  50 448 S/T
1955   S/T 36 043 - 38 539     JUN 72    10 328 S/T -  18 679 S/T
1956   S/T 30 026 - 63 959     JUN 73    10 328 S/T -  70 349 S/T
1957   S/T 30 001 - 71 400     JUN 74        11 S/T -  54 162 S/T
1958   S/T 35 439 - 58 477     JUN 75    42 411 S/T - 104 820 S/T
1959   S/T 30 001 - 59844      JUN 76      5804 S/T -  98 582 S/T
1960   S/T 30 001 - 91 350     JUN 77        27 S/T - 100 190 S/T
1961     ST20 001 - 35 087     JUN 78    22 483 S/T -  92 819 S/T
1962     ST20 001 - 53 994     JUN 79    19 176 S/T -  95 961 S/T
1963     ST29 032 - 55 618     JUN 80    20 668 S/T -  99 227 S/T

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER
Earliest seen 1977.

LEGENDS:  "SENATE MAJORITY LEADER" center in lieu of serial number 1977, 1979.
 
SENATE MINORITY LEADER
Earliest seen 1977.

LEGENDS:  "SENATE MINORITY LEADER" center in lieu of serial number 1977, 1979.
 
SENATE PRESIDENT
Earliest seen 1972 chart.

LEGENDS:  "PRES. PRO TEMPORE/STATE SENATE" center in lieu of serial number 1972,
          "PRESIDENT/STATE SENATE" center in lieu of serial number 1975, 1977, 1979.
 
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
Earliest seen 1972 chart.

LEGENDS:  "SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE" center in lieu of serial number 1972-79.
 
SPECIAL EVENT
Earliest seen 1948.  Program grew substantially under SOS Charles
F. Carpentier, in office 1953-64.  Issues listed only through 1965,
plus the 1968 Democratic Convention plate.
 
1948:  "CHICAGO RAILROAD FAIR" arched top, #1.
1949:  Passenger design, #X/X HITLER issued to the automobile
       formerly owned by the German dictator, now owned by Chicago
       businessman Christopher G. Janus.
1952:  Vertical "CHICAGO" screened left, vertical "1952" screened
       right, "OFFICIAL" in debossed oval top, "NATIONAL CONVENTION"
       screened bottom, Red and Dark Blue/White, #268.
1954:  American Legion.  "OFFICIAL" in debossed oval above slogan
       top, "19 ILLINOIS 54" bottom, full-color shields left and
       right, Red/White, #67.
1954:  Centennial Flora, Ill. (also Odell, Ill.).
       "CENTENNIAL/- COURTESY OF -" top, "CHARLES F. CARPENTIER"
       center, "SECRETARY of STATE/1854 ODELL, ILL. 1954" bottom,
       White/Dark Green, flat, no serial.
1955:  American Legion.  Same as 1954 but Black/White, #10.
1955:  "CENTENNIAL/-COURTESY OF-/CHARLES F. CARPENTIER/
        SECRETARY of STATE/ILLINOIS 1955".
1955:  Dept. of Ill., VFW shield center, no serial.
1955:  Imperial Council Session (Shriners) #101.  (200 P issued)
1956:  American Legion.  Same as 1954, #62.
1956:  Centennial, same as 1954 but "ILLINOIS 1956" bottom.
1956:  Chicago I.A.C.P. (Police) 63rd Conference, no serial.
1956:  Chicago National Convention #77, same design/colors as 1952.
1956:  Medinah (Shriners) M/C #20.
1957:  American Legion.  Same as 1954, #91.
1958:  American Legion.  Same as 1954, #64.
1958:  American Legion National Convention #130.
1958:  Don Chamberlain Day #1.
1958:  Imperial Council Session (Shriners) #187.
1959:  Elks National Convention #83.
1959:  Pan American Games #86.
1960:  GOP National Convention #348, no state name.
1960:  A.A.O.N.M.S. Great Lakes Shrine Session #86.
1960:  Institute of Traffic Engineers 30th Annual Meeting #34.
1963:  89th Shrine Imperial Council #250 (July).
1963:  National Association Secretaries State Convention #53.
1963:  60th Western Open, Beverly C.C., #25.
1965:  62nd Western Open, Tam O'Shanter, #72.
1968:  Democratic National Convention #392.
 
STATE CIVIL DEFENSE
Only seen 1951, "STATE CIVIL DEFENSE" screened top,
"ILLINOIS 51" bottom, White/Maroon, #1 - 9.
 
STATE OWNED
Began 1961.  Previously issued Public Owned plates.

LEGENDS:  No legend, "U" prefix all years.
 
1961    U 9851        1966       U 9050        1974-75   U 11 405
1962   U10 765        1967       U 9106        1976-77     U 8793
1963   U11 760        1968-69    U 6395        1978-79   U 11 827
1964   U11 739        1970-71    U9 686
1965    U 9383        1972-73   U11 198
 
STATE OWNED HANDICAPPED
Reportedly began 1978.  Earliest seen 1978-79 #U 95.

LEGENDS:  No legend, "U" prefix, wheelchair suffix 1978-79.
 
STATE OWNED IN TRANSIT
Earliest seen 1976-77.

LEGENDS:  Arched "STATE OF ILLINOIS" above small number,
          "IN-TRANSIT" below same small number 1976-79.
 
1976-77    1
1978-79   22
 
STATE POLICE
Began 1968.  Biennial plates issued 1968-69 - 1978-79.
 
LEGENDS:  Vertical "STATE" left, vertical "POLICE" right all years.
COLORS:  Brown/White all years.
 
22 districts; #10 assigned "X" instead.
25 = Tactical Response Team, added 1970-71.
Other letters = Special departments as follows:
A - Administration (1972-79), B - Quartermaster Equipment,
D - District Command Personnel, E - Executive Security (1976-77),
O - Air Operations (1976-77), R - Radio/Communications,
S - Safety Officers for Information/Education (1976-77),
T - Training Academy, V - Vehicle Theft Investigators (1978-79).
 
FORMATS:  1968-69         1, 1-1 - 22-99, X-1 - X-99
          1970-71 added   11-100 - 22-199, 25-50
          1976-77 added   14, 25-100 - 25-105
          1978-79 added   15, 1-100 - 9-199
 
SUPREME COURT
Reportedly began 1967.  Earliest seen 1967.
Numbers 1 - 7 issued to the 7 Supreme Court Justices.
Number 8 issued to Clerk Supreme Court.
 
LEGENDS:  "SUPREME COURT" in arch flanking full-size number 1967,
          "SUPREME COURT" screened in arch above small number 1968,
          "SUPREME COURT" embossed below small number 1970, 1975.
          "CLERK SUPREME COURT" arched above small "8" 1975.
 
TAXI
Reported 1941.  Listed 1942.  First listed in state wheel book microfilm
index 1942 as 02361 - 03516, 022053 - 026300, plus custom 031155.
Listed 1943 as 02001 - 03543, 020001 - 026293, plus custom 09120.
Earliest seen 1945.  Steel 1945-46, fiberboard 1947-48.  Green/White 1980.
Reportedly began at 020 000 after Livery introduced, by 1947.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend 1945-46, 1948-69, 1971,
          vertical "TAXI" left 1947, 1972-80.  "FRONT" or "REAR" 1946-58.
 
           LIVERY                 TAXI
1941?
1942
1943
1944
1945                         02 291 -  03 342
1946                         0 2041 -  0 2459
1947   05 054 -            [025 011]- 030 046
1948    02041 - 04101
1949    02060 - 04109
1950   0 3580 -                              
1951   0 4078 -
1952    03566 - 03579
1953    03579 - 04192       023 474 -
1954    02277 - 04090
1955    03288 - 04508                        
1956    03661 -
1957    03288 - 03821
1958   02 139 - 02 365
1959   02 360 -[05 201]    [025 502]-
1960   02 201 - 03 407                       
1961   02 900 - 02 901
1962
1963   02 900 - 03 755
1964   02 094 -[05 299]    [026 549]- 027 177
1965                        026 521 - 026 553
1966   03 123 - 05 352      023 995 - 032 240
1967   03 640 -             021 661 - 027 172
1968   02 199 - 03 641      024 039 - 027 172
1969   03 821 -             021 688 - 021 692
1970   04 314 - 04 488      027 171 -        
1971   03 821 - 03 973      025 337 - 027 172
1972     2106 -              21 778 -  25 394
1973              3546                   7664
1974              3550                   8821
1975              2527                   9839
1976              5129                   9886
1977              2666                    392
1978                                     7373
1979              5190                   9825
1980              4715                   8510

TRACTOR
H.B. 474 P 6/30/1919, E 1/1/1920.  Began 1920.
Vertical "TRACTOR" left 1920-23.  Pairs all years.
Discontinued 1924; replaced by Truck plates.
 
1920   [500]  (207 highest issued from state
1921   [300]   wheel book microfilm index.)
1922   [300]
1923  [1000]
 
TRAILER  (See Misc. 1 page)
H.B. 585 P 6/29/1923.  Began 1924.
 
TRAILER DEALER
Began 1959.  Master plate has no letter.  Additional plates have
letter suffix:  A 1965, B 1960, C 1969.
 
LEGENDS:  Vertical "DL" left, vertical "TRAILER" right all years.
 
1959   [442]     1965    588      1971    908       1977    809
1960   1046      1966    425      1972    868       1978   1068
1961             1967    236      1973   1588       1979   1185
1962             1968    395      1974
1963   1018      1969    990      1975   1386
1964   [504]     1970             1976   1690
 
TRAILER HH
Unknown type only seen 1940, like Trailer plate but #HH 592.
 
TRUCK  (See Truck page)
H.B. 474 P 6/30/1919, E 1/1/1920.  Began 1920.
 
TRUCK TRACTOR
Earliest seen 1968.  1980 weight classes: G,H,J,K,L,N,P,R,S,T,V.
 
LEGENDS:  No legend, small "T" after full-size weight class letter left 1968,
          no legend, small "T" before full-size weight class letter right 1969-80.
 
1968     H t/4 1778, N t/1 5200
1969     3655 t K, 8579 t N,    2 t S
1969/70  3096 t P, 6519 t S,           11 466tV
1970/71
JUN 72   1844 t L,                     7574 t V
JUN 73                                 10 057tV
JUN 74                                 6047 t V
JUN 75   5872 t H, 2006 t L, 719 t P, 79 t T,   19 049tV
JUN 76   5924 t H, 6806 t P,           24 576tV
JUN 77   6908 t N, 6586 t P, 5032 t S, 20 714tV
JUN 78                                 23 137tV
JUN 79   3628 t K, 1969 t L, 6763 t P, 182 t R,  15 262tV
JUN 80      1 t P, 1 t R, 6 t S,       17 557tV
 
TRUCK TRACTOR DOUBLE BOTTOM
Earliest seen 1969.

LEGENDS:  No legend 1969, small "T" before "V D/B" 1978-80.
 
1969      67 V D/B
JUN 78   310tV D/B
JUN 79   337tV D/B
JUN 80    10tV D/B

U.S. CONGRESS
H.B. 802 P 6/26/1957.  Began 1958.  Earliest seen 1959.
Issued to U.S. Representatives, one per district.
Number of districts:  25 1959-62, 24 1963-82, 22 1983-92,
                      20 1993-2002, 19 2003-12, 18 2013-22,
                      17 2023-32.
Gender-specific legend began 1974; "U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN" seen 1974-77
#7, issued to Cardiss Collins, in office 6/5/1973 to 1/3/1997.
Illinois previously had U.S. Congresswomen, such as Charlotte Reid
(in office 1/3/1963 to 10/7/1971) and Marguerite Church (in office
1/3/1951 to 1/3/1963), but no special plates issued.
 
Flanking dashes denote 2nd car 1974-79.
 
LEGENDS:  "U.S. CONGRESSMAN" below small number 1959-79 (screened
          1959-67, embossed 1970-79).
 
U.S. SENATOR
Reportedly began 1969.  Earliest seen 1969.
Issued to the 2 United States Senators.
Flanking dashes denote 2nd car 1975-77.
 
LEGENDS:  Vertical "OFFICIAL" in oval left, vertical "US" suffix, vertical "SENATE" right 1969,
          "U.S. SENATOR" embossed below small number 1972-77, 1979.
         (Verify 1970-71, 1978)
 
 
PERMITS:
 
ILLINOIS COMMERCE COMMISSION
S.B. 444 P 7/7/1953, E 7/1/1954.  Began 1954/55.
Small supplemental plates 1954/55 - 1958/59.
Discontinued 1959; replaced by cab decals.
 
SIZES:  1-4-digit, 5-digit and 6-digit sizes 1954/55 - 57/58, uniform size 1958/59.
LEGENDS:  "ILL.C.C.54-55" bottom 1954/55 - 57/58,
          "TRACTOR" or "TRUCK" top, "ILL CC 58-59" bottom 1958/59.
 
1954/55           670 - 127853   White/Dark Green
1955/56          3285 - 130701   Gold/Black
1956/57           137 - 201640   White/Red
1957/58           773 - 214001   White/Purple
1958/59 TRUCK    7393 -  28924   White/Dark Green
        TRACTOR   787 -          Blue/Orange
 
NATIONAL GUARD
H.B. 790 P 7/21/1947.
Small-size supplemental undated attachments issued as of 1955,
through 1970's, in various color schemes.
 
LEGENDS:  "MEMBER ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD", half-circle shape, no serial number.

PRORATE
Law P 1957.  Began 1958.  Last seen 1960.
Small annual supplemental plate issued to out-of-state trucks, no fee.
8,624 issued by July 1958.  Weight classes and colors same as truck.
 
LEGENDS:  "ILLINOIS PRO RATE" top, "19 LAND OF LINCOLN 58" bottom 1958-59,
          "19 LAND OF LINCOLN 60" top, "ILLINOIS PRO RATE" bottom 1960.
 
1958                             N 4036
1959   H 4 2290, X?,  K 429, L?, N 3845, P 4048
1960    H 4 176,     K 1498,     N 4337
 
RECIPROCITY
Law P 1957.  Began 1958.  Small permanent supplemental plate issued to
out-of-state trucks, no fee.  47,927 issued by July 1958.  New series
reissued every few years.  Undated, "ILLINOIS RECIPROCITY" all bases.
Issued annually as of 1972 at $1 per year, became biennial in 1973 at
$3 per term.
R = Restricted; Missouri Local Trucks limited to 25 miles from home city.
 
A. White/Black       H4 5813, X 6488,   Legend top, slogan bottom
  (1958)              K 4820, L 2649,
                      N44285, P13436
(B. White/Dark Brown  N40901            Legend top, slogan bottom ??)
C. White/Dark Green   19 030 - 118903   Slogan top, legend bottom
  (August 1960)       128876 - 247053   Legend top, slogan bottom
D. Orange/Dark Blue   117834 - 169109   Legend bottom, no border
  (July 1967)         502187 - 586051   "FOR HIRE" top also, no border
                      175734 - 178308   Legend bottom, border
E. Red/Yellow NR      114911 - 296355   Legend bottom, border
  (August 1971)       R 2784 - R 5771   [1972 chart R 1803]
F. Green/White FR     122236 - 186948   Legend bottom, thin numbers
  (1973?)             R 1001 - R 6295      "      "      "     "
  (in use 1976-79)    242900 - 397543   Legend bottom, wide numbers
 
TRUCK WEIGHT LIMIT  (See Truck page)
H.B. 474 P 6/30/1919, E 1/1/1920.  Began 1920 along with Truck
plates.  Small undated supplemental attachments issued 1920-29.
Unknown if issued annually or only upon initial registration.
1920:  70,000 ordered, 65,080 distributed.
Weight classes:  1920-23 - 5,000, 12,000, 15,000, >15,000 lbs.
                 1924-29 - 5,000, 12,000, 16,000, 20,000, >20,000 lbs.
Due to the honor system, the vast majority issued were 5,000 lbs.
Discontinued 1930; replaced by weight-coded truck plates.
 
A. Black/Orange (1920? or 1927?) "ILLINOIS WEIGHT/5000 LBS."
B. Gold/Black   (1924?)          "TRUCK WEIGHT/12000 LBS."