Motorcycle 1914 1914 H.B. 55 P 2/6/1914
Dealer 1916 1916 H.B. 591 P 5/14/1915
Electric 1916 1916
City Car 1920 1920 H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919
County Car 1920 1920 H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919
Electric Truck 1920 H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919
M/C Dealer 1920 1920 H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919
Side Car 1920 1920 H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919
State Car 1920 1920 H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919
Trailer 1920 1920 H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919
Truck 1920 1920 H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919
Public M/C 1923 1921? Listed 1921-22
In Transit Permit (Card.) 1922 1922
Sample 1923
Passenger Commercial (P/C)1924 1924
Public Side Car 1927
State Official 1932 1928
Unknown Type "P/D" 1932
Government Car 1934
In Transit Permit 1934
State Patrol 1934 1933? Posts began 11/15/1933
State Patrol M/C 1934 1933? Posts began 11/15/1933
State Trailer 1934
School Bus 1936 1936 H.B. 232 P 6/4/1935
Farm 1937 5/?/37 H.B. 283 P 3/31/1937
40 et 8 Voiture 1937 S.B. 452 P 7/15/1936
Organizational 1944 S.B. 452 P 7/15/1936
Special Dealer 1939 1938 H.B. 531 P 4/29/1937
State Vehicle 1940 1939
Bus 1944 1942? Reg. fig. begin 1942
National Guard 1945
Consular Service [1946]
Church Bus 1949 1949 S.B. 45 P 7/6/1949
Replacement 1950 1950
House Trailer/Vehicle 1951 1951 H.B. 460 P 7/6/1949
Amateur Radio 1953 1953 H.B. 516 P 5/29/1951
Physician 1953 1953 H.B. 516 P 5/29/1951
Historical Vehicle UND. 10/2/53 H.B. 155 P 6/17/1953
Turnpike Commission 1955 1954? Opened 12/1/1954
Radio/Television 1957 1956 S.B. 59 P 6/20/1955
Camp Bus 9-21-60 H.B. 620 P 5/27/1957
Farm Bus 9-20-58 H.B. 620 P 5/27/1957
Transit Bus 1958 H.B. 620 P 5/27/1957
Temporary (Cardboard) 1957 1957 S.B. 317 P 5/21/1957
U.S. Congress 1964 1964
Special Event 1964
Civil Air Patrol 1965 1965 H.B. 384 P 6/14/1965
Highway Post Office 1966
Commercial Car Demonst. 12-10-69 11/14/67 S.B. 272 P 8/1/1967
Watercraft Trailer Dealer 1967 12/1/67 H.B. 761 P 8/22/1967
Family 1967 12/14/67 H.B. 518 P 8/26/1967
Disabled Veteran UND. 3/29/72 H.B. 136 P 9/1/1971
All Purpose Vehicle 1973 9/1/72 H.B. 214 P 11/22/1971
All Purpose Veh. Dealer 1973 9/1/72 H.B. 214 P 11/22/1971
Public All Purpose Veh. 1973 9/1/72 H.B. 214 P 11/22/1971
Snowmobile Dealer 1973 9/1/72 H.B. 214 P 11/22/1971
Commodore 1973
Personalized 1975 1975 Dated 74 base
Medal of Honor UND. 6/27/75 S.B. 264 P 6/11/1975
Collectors Vehicle UND. 1976 S.B. 52 P 5/28/1975
Handicapped " 78" 11/3/77 H.B. 571 P 7/12/1977
Motor Home "79" 3/7/78 H.B. 166 P 11/16/1977
Non-Commercial Truck "5/79" 3/7/78 H.B. 166 P 11/16/1977
Former Prisoner of War "4/80" 1979 S.B. 441 P 6/22/1978
Historical M/C UND. 1979?
Seniors "5/80" 1979 H.B. 697 P 11/23/1977
Volunteer Rescue UND. 1979 H.B. 34 P 5/5/1977
Non-Commercial Trailer "11 90" 10/24/80 H.B. 1171 P 9/18/1980
Volunteer Fireman 3/23/81 H.B. 553 P 11/19/1980
PERMITS:
Boat (MR,RW,SL,MWCD) 1916 1902? S.B. 44 P 4/28/1902
PUCO 1928
Soap Box Derby 1950
Sign Permit (ODH-AD) UND. 1972 S.B. 361 P 11/30/1971
Buggy UND. 11/25/74
LETTER PREFIX KEY: (All other letters/years are Passenger)
CAP Civil Air Patrol 1965-66 S Special Dealer 1938-66,
COM Commodore 1973-80 Family 1967-72
D Dealer 1916-28, 1935-66 T Truck 1920-34
E Electric 1916-21 TP Turnpike Commission 1955-80
ONG National Guard 1945-73 X Dealer 1929-34
PC Passenger Commercial 1924-33
DETAILED NOTES ALPHABETICALLY BY TYPE:
Numbers assumed to begin at #1 unless noted.
Passenger colors unless noted.
Assignments in bold.
1918 Order: 275,000 P Passenger, 5,000 P Electric, 3,000 P Dealer,
15,000 S Motorcycle, 300 S Motorcycle Dealer.
1920 Order: 1,036 State Car, 525 County Car, 1,125 City Car
1921 Order: 1,200 State Car, 801 County Car, 1,360 City Car
1922 Order: 1,200 State Car, 1,384 County Car, 1,649 City Car
1929 Order: 1,460,000 Passenger, 202,000 Truck, 30,000 Trailer,
7,500 Motorcycle, 2,200 Side Car.
1938, 1953: No slogan or graphic except Dealer, State Official.
1942: Issuance by county began for Farm, Trailer, Truck.
Previously only available at 14 stations across state.
1943: Windshield sticker - Passenger (Black/Red), Farm (Black/Gold), M/C (Passenger),
School Bus (Black/Blue), Side Car (Passenger), Truck (Black/Gold).
Plate sticker - Dealer, Trailer
Plate - Boat
(Verify Bus, 40 et 8, In Transit, M/C Dealer, MWCD, National Guard,
Special Dealer, all Public Owned vehicles)
1952: Windshield sticker - Passenger (White/Blue), Bus, Church Bus, Farm (White/Green),
Replacement (White/Blue), School Bus, Transfer (White/Red),
Truck (Black/Yellow).
Plate sticker - Dealer, House Trailer, M/C, M/C Dealer, Special Dealer,
Trailer, Transit Permit and all Public Owned vehicles.
Plate - Boat, MWCD.
(Verify Consular, 40 et 8, National Guard, Replacement, Special Dealer)
PASSENGER (See Passenger page)
ALL PURPOSE VEHICLE
H.B. 214 P 11/22/1971. Began 9/1/1972; required to be registered
by 1/1/1973. Registration year 9/1 to 8/31.
Motorcycle-size plate issued to all-terrain vehicles.
"AV 73 OHIO" bottom 1973-79. Red/White 1973-79.
1973-79 AA 1 - BH 93, DJ 6
ALL PURPOSE VEHICLE DEALER
H.B. 214 P 11/22/1971. Began 9/1/1972; required to be registered
by 1/1/1973. Registration year 9/1 to 8/31.
Motorcycle size, "AV 73 OHIO" bottom 1973-79. Red/White 1973-79.
1973-79 D/1 00
AMATEUR RADIO
H.B. 516 P 5/29/1951. Began 1953. "1953-OHIO" bottom 1953.
There might have been one 1951 issued, according to this article.
Belleville Telescope, 8/9/1951: "GETS SPECIAL LICENSE"
"Ralph Crammer of Columbus, O., has an auto license plate especially
made for him and bearing the radio call letters assigned to him for
his amateur radio station. Mr. Crammer...was pictured in a recent
Columbus newspaper article receiving the plate from W. I. Bishop,
who is in charge of the industries at Ohio penitentiary where auto
licenses are manufactured. Mr. Cramer, operator of station W8VHO,
has been active in supporting legislation in Ohio..."
1953 W-8-A-A - W-8-Z-Z-Z
1954 W8AA - W8ZZZ
1958 K8AAA - K8ZZZ (Verify 1957)
1964 WA8AAA - WA8ZZZ (Verify 1963)
1973 WB8AAA - WB8ZZZ (Verify 1968-72)
BUS
Registration figures begin 1942. Earliest seen 1944.
Numbers began at #101 all years.
LEGENDS: "BUS-1944-OHIO" bottom 1944-46, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1957, 1961, 1963, 1965,
"1947-OHIO-BUS" bottom 1947,
"OHIO-1949-BUS" bottom 1949, 1951, 1953,
"BUS-OHIO-1954" bottom 1954, 1956, 1958-60, 1962, 1964,
"BUS OHIO 1966" bottom 1966, "BUS" top 1967-80.
1942-43 1951-52 5006 1960 1836 1968 1226
1944 757 1953 3001 1961 1950 1969 851
1945 741 1954 4859* 1962 111 1970 1188
1946 500 1955 2502 1963 928 1971 566
1947 3325 1956 4170* 1964 331 1972 200
1948 2295 1957 4347* 1965 1236 1973 1078
1949 2568 1958 2175 1966 1526 1974-75 861
1950 1930 1959 1556 1967 1213 1976-80 1250
CAMP BUS
H.B. 620 P 5/27/1957. Earliest seen "EXP-9-21-60".
Issued to school buses used during summer season for camp functions.
Numbers began at #C101 all years. Dated plates 1976-79.
LEGENDS: "CAMP/BUS" left, "OHIO EXP-9-21-60" bottom 1960-61, 1963-67,
"CAMP/BUS" left, "OHIO-1962" bottom 1962,
"CAMP BUS" top 1968,
"CAMP BUS" top, "EXP./9 21" left 1969-79.
9-21-60 C-101 9-21-67 C124 9-21-74
9-21-61 C-150 1968 C 116 9-21-75
1962 C112 9-21-69 C110 9-21-76 C122
9-21-63 C117 9-21-70 C115 9-21-77 C122
9-21-64 C109 9-21-71 C111 9-21-78 C112
9-21-65 C127 9-21-72 C112 9-24-79 C112
9-21-66 C111 9-21-73
CHURCH BUS
S.B. 45 P 7/6/1949. Began 1949. Numbers began at #101 all years.
LEGENDS: "CHURCH/BUS" left 1949-66, "CHURCH BUS" top 1967-80.
1949 144 1957 556 1964 879 1971 2271
1950 161 1958 1100* 1965 1274 1972 2626
1951-52 155 1959 528 1966 1112 1973 3737
1953 328 1960 658 1967 129 1974-75 5352
1954 591 1961 1300* 1968 1453 1976-80 7300
1955 608 1962 306 1969 1838
1956 932* 1963 1364 1970 1546
CITY CAR (See Table 1)
H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919. Began 1920.
LEGENDS: "CITY/CAR" right 1920-21, left 1925-34,
"CY-OHIO-1935" bottom 1935-49,
"CY OHIO 1945" bottom 1945,
"CITY-OHIO-1950" bottom 1950-54, 1956, 1958,
"CITY-1955-OHIO" bottom 1955, 1957, 1959,
"CITY-OHIO" bottom 1960-66, "CITY" top 1967-79.
(Verify 1922-24)
UND. BASE COLORS: Blue/Yellow 1960-63, Black/White 1964-69,
White/Black 1970-73, Orange/White 1974-79.
CIVIL AIR PATROL
H.B. 384 P 6/14/1965. Began 1965.
LEGENDS: No legend, "CAP" prefix 1965-66, "C.A.P." top 1967-80.
1965 CAP-10 1969 64 1973 82
1966 CAP 83 1970 86 1974-75 67
1967 43 1971 138 1976-80 136
1968 105 1972 114
COLLECTORS VEHICLE
S.B. 52 P 5/28/1975. Began 1976.
Issued for $15 annual fee to limited-use vehicles under 25 years old.
LEGENDS: "COLLECTORS" top, "VEHICLE" bottom, vertical "OHIO" left.
1976-80 UND. OC 102 - OC 776
COMMERCIAL CAR DEMONSTRATION
S.B. 272 P 8/1/1967. Began 11/14/1967. Earliest seen "EXP.12-10-69".
Issued for $500 fee to dealers and manufacturers of commercial
tractor-trailers demonstrating the vehicle and/or hauling a load.
Plate expires one year from date of issue.
LEGENDS: "COMMERCIAL" top 1969-81. "OHIO" bottom 1969-72,
"71 OHIO" bottom 1971, 1973, 1979,
"OHIO 74" bottom 1974, 1976-78, 1980-81.
"EXP./12 10 69" left 1969-72,
"EXP./12 18" left 1971, 1973-81.
COLORS: White/Orange all years.
Numbers began at #A1 and continued serially from 1967 through 1977,
then began again at #A1 1978 through 1981.
12-10-69 A12 2-28-73 A48 12-20-78 A3
11-29-70 A19 9-27-74 A63 8-22-79 A20
1-29-71 A20 7- 9-80 A34
12-18-71 A31 5-14-76 A68 2-27-81 A48
5-21-72 A34 12-31-77 A88 3- 7-81 A51
COMMODORE
Earliest seen 1973. Issued to awardees nominated by Governor in
connection with the "Commodore" businessmen's association for
better government. No legend, "COM" prefix all years.
1973 COM 37
1974-75
1976-80 COM 65
CONSULAR SERVICE (1948-59: See Table 1)
Earliest seen 1946 Sample in Columbus Dispatch article 3/3/1946.
Earliest seen 1948.
Sandusky Star Journal, 8/4/1933: "Free automobile tags are given
to consular attaches in Ohio...Thirteen such 'state car' licenses
are carried by foreign government cars in Ohio".
LEGENDS: "CS-OHIO-1948" bottom 1946, 1948-50, 1953-54, 1956, 1958, 1964,
"CS-1955-OHIO" bottom 1955, 1957, 1959, 1963, 1965,
"CS OHIO 1966" bottom 1966, "CS" top 1967-80.
(Verify 1947, 1951, 1960-62)
1960 1966 OX 5 1972 OX 14
1961 1967 OX 6 1973 OX 20
1962 1968 OX 27 1974-75 OX 53
1963 OX-47 1969 OX 37 1976-80 OX 36
1964 OX-20 1970 OX 14
1965 OX-27 1971 OX 1
COUNTY CAR (See Table 1)
H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919. Began 1920.
LEGENDS: "COUNTY/CAR" left 1920-34,
"CO-OHIO-1935" bottom 1935-44, 1946-49,
"CO OHIO 1945" bottom 1945,
"COUNTY-OHIO-50" bottom 1950-59,
"COUNTY-OHIO" bottom 1960-66, "COUNTY" top 1967-79.
UND. BASE COLORS: Blue/Yellow 1960-63, Black/White 1964-69,
White/Black 1970-73, Orange/White 1974-79.
DEALER
H.B. 591 P 5/14/1915. Began 1916. (Issued passenger plates 1910-15.)
Numbers began at #1 1916-34, #1001 1935-80. Issued singly 1953-on.
LEGENDS: No legend, "D" or "D/2" (etc.) prefix 1916-28,
"X" or "X/1" (etc.) prefix 1929-34,
"D/2" (etc.) prefix 1935-66,
"DEALER" top 1967-80.
1923 FORMATS: D000A, D-0,000, D0,000A
1924-28 FORMATS: D0-000, D/2 0-000
1929-34 FORMATS: X0-000, X/1 0-000
1935-65 FORMATS: D/1-0000
1966 FORMATS: D/1 0000
1967-80 FORMATS: 1 0000
Issued multiple pairs of identical number 1916-21.
Highest additional plate set letters/numbers seen:
1922 B, 1923 X, 1924 2,3, 1928 7, 1929 15, 1933 18, 1937 28,
1955 47, 1962 73, 1964 158.
Additional plate set number defaulted to "1" 1935-80 in table
below for simplicity.
1916: D2793 highest listed in 1916 directory.
1966: D/1 4141 Ohio dies, D/9 6326, D/3 6358 Arkansas dies.
1975: White/Orange "MAY 75" sticker, "D and S".
1916 D2457 1936 D/1-4602 1958 D/1-6048
1917 D3392 1937 D/1-4783 1959 D/1-5565
1918 D2654 1938 D/1-4629 1960 D/1-6441
1919 D-3181 1939 D/1-4710 1961 D/1-5783
1920 D-2935 1940 D/1-3803 1962 D/1-6472
1921 D-2161 1941 D/1-3176 1963 D/1-5943
1922 D1,710B 1942-43 D/1-4229 1964 D/1-6271
1923 D-2,894 1944 D/1-1142 1965 D/1-6171
1924 D2-074 1945 D/1-4342 1966 D/1 6358
1925 D1-803 1946 D/1-2308 1967 1 6393
1926 D3-620 1947 D/1-3017 1968 1 5883
1927 D3-788 1948 D/1-7056 1969 1 6317
1928 D3-010 1949 D/1-6100 1970 1 6616
1929 X3-921 1950 D/1-5759 1971 1 6803
1930 X3-073 1951-52 D/1-6988 1972 1 6874
1931 X2-777 1953 D/1-5300 1973 1 6713
1932 X2-702 1954 D/1-6311 1974-75 1 7852
1933 X2-752 1955 D/1-6680 1976-80 1 8183
1934 X1-047 1956 D/1-6685
1935 D/1-3242 1957 D/1-7485
DISABLED VETERAN
H.B. 136 P 9/1/1971. Began 3/29/1972. Numbers began at #5001.
LEGENDS: "VETERAN" top, wheelchair prefix, blue border.
UND. BASE 7400 (No border 9030)
ELECTRIC
Began 1916. No legend all years. Discontinued 1922.
1916 E 4227 (E 4337 highest listed in 1916 directory)
1917 E 1785
1918 E-3611
1919 E-4808
1920 E-3888
1921 E-4177*
ELECTRIC TRUCK
H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919. Began 1920. Only year issued.
502 manufactured, 242 issued. None seen; reported with "ET" prefix.
Discontinued 1921; replaced by Truck plates.
FAMILY
H.B. 518 P 8/26/1967. Began 12/14/1967. Numbers began at #5001.
Issued for $2.50 fee to family member of vehicle owner upon
suspension of owner's drivers license under certain court-ordered
conditions. Also known as Suspension/Revocation plates.
According to Chuck Sakyrd, only S 5001 R - S 5002 R issued 1967,
while S 5003 R - S 5004 R were issued 1968 and S 5005 R in 1969.
LEGENDS: No legend, "S" prefix, "R" suffix 1967-72.
COLORS: Red/Yellow all years.
1967 S 5001 R 1970 S 5126 R 1973
1968 1971 1974-75
1969 1972 S 5151 R 1976-80
FARM
H.B. 283 P 3/31/1937. Began May 1937, probably only for new
registrations until 1938.
LEGENDS: "FARM-1937-OHIO" bottom 1937-46, 1948, 1950, odd years 1955-65,
"1947-OHIO-FARM" bottom 1947,
"OHIO-1949-FARM" bottom 1949, 1951, 1953, 1956,
"FARM-OHIO-1954" bottom 1954, even years 1958-64,
"FARM OHIO 1966" bottom 1966,
"FARM" top 1967-80.
COLORS: Windshield sticker 1943 Black/Gold, 1952 White/Green.
Numbers began at #101 1937-69. 1963: #123456 also seen.
Over 85% of Farm registrations were replaced by Non-Commercial
category starting 1978. Discontinued August 1996.
1937 6649 1951-52 93033 1965 133081*
1938 21007 1953 77110* 1966 141317*
1939 28460 1954 76872* 1967 148054
1940 30090 1955 71945 1968 151965
1941 33628 1956 79091* 1969 161231*
1942-43 37079 1957 77101* 1970 800008 - 968356
1944 43920* 1958 79786* 1971 803051 - 983578*
1945 45495* 1959 77936* 1972 801407 - 999739*
1946 44049 1960 78067* 1973 788272 - 999681*
1947 48414 1961 81914* 1974-75 698182 - 993555
1948 62294* 1962 98571* 1976-80 575008 - 994200
1949 68087 1963 112367*
1950 70610 1964 116223
FARM BUS
H.B. 620 P 5/27/1957. Earliest seen "EXP-9-20-58".
Issued to vehicles used exclusively for transportation of
agricultural employees, valid for 90 days. Dated plates 1975-79.
LEGENDS: "FARM/BUS" left, "OHIO EXP-10-20-58" bottom 1958-66,
"FARM BUS" top, "OHIO EXP.9-21-67" screened bottom 1967,
"FARM BUS" top, "EXP./11 17" left 1967-79.
COLORS: Yellow/Dark Blue 1958-61, passenger colors 1962-79.
9-20-58 F-10 9-5-65 F-8 8-24-74 F 1 - F 11
10-20-58 F-16 9-20-65 F-12 9-30-74 F 50
9-19-59 F-9 12-14-65 F-18 9-12-75 F 21 - F 69
8-27-60 F-6 8-29-66 F 6 9- 3-76 F 3 - F 9
9-12-61 F-7 11-26-66 F 15 9-15-76 F 47
8-27-62 F-5 9-21-67 F 12 8-18-77 F 1 - F 20
8-19-63 F-3 11-17-67 F 18 8-21-78 F 7 - F 19
8-25-63 F-4 7-30-68 F 2 8-30-78 F 22 - F 36
9-25-64 F-11 9-26-69 F 7 9-14-79 F 2 - F 13
FORMER PRISONER OF WAR
S.B. 441 P 6/22/1978. Began 1979, expire "4/80".
Numbers began at #1001.
LEGENDS: "FORMER POW" top 1979-80.
1979-80 3494
40 ET 8 VOITURE
S.B. 452 P 7/15/1936. Earliest seen 1937.
Most years used the Chapter ("Voiture") number, except 1967
numbers began at #7701 VV.
LEGENDS: "VOITURE NO. 141" top, "40 ET 8" center 1937, 1940, 1947, 1949-54,
same but no period after "NO" 1955-59, 1961-66,
same but no "NO" 1968-80,
no legend, "VV" suffix 1967. 6" x 12" size began 1955.
1937 141 1948 1959 366 1969 105
1938 1949 141 1960 1970 468
1939 1950 141 1961 1057 1971 468
1940 141 1951-52 141 1962 29 1972 800
1941 1953 468 1963 468 1973 468
1942-43 1954 468 1964 468 1974-75 468
1944 1955 468 1965 29 1976-80 29
1945 1956 468 1966 29
1946 1957 105 1967 7710 VV
1947 468 1958 468 1968 105
GOVERNMENT CAR (See Table 1)
Earliest seen 1934. Issued to vehicles owned by the U.S.
Government and local governments other than cities and counties.
LEGENDS: "GOV'T/CAR" left 1934,
"GT-OHIO-1935" bottom 1935, 1942, 1946, 1949-54, 1956, 1958,
"GT-1955-OHIO" bottom 1955, 1957, 1959,
"GT-OHIO" bottom 1960-66, "GOVERNMENT" top 1967-80.
(Verify 1936-41, 1944-45, 1947-48)
UND. BASE COLORS: Blue/Yellow 1960-63, Black/White 1964-69,
White/Black 1970-73, Orange/White 1974-79.
HANDICAPPED
H.B. 571 P 7/12/1977. Began 11/3/1977, expire " 78".
Type 1: "HANDICAP" top, wheelchair left 10409, 11663
Type 2: No legend, wheelchair left 10933, 11545, 11803,
11804, 11841
HIGHWAY POST OFFICE
Earliest seen 1966.
Issued to highway post office buses operating between cities.
(Plates with ZIP codes such as 44035, 44036, 44038 drawn from
passenger series 1965 for issuance to postmasters.)
Discontinued 7/31/1974. but 1975 bases had already been made.
LEGENDS: "POST/OFFICE" left 1966, "POST OFFICE" top 1967-75.
1966 4 1970 8 1974
1967 4 1971 4 UND. (1975) HPO 8
1968 6 1972 (HPO reported)
1969 8 1973 HPO 1
HISTORICAL MOTORCYCLE
May have begun 1979. Undated 1976 base with border seen #2H2.
HISTORICAL VEHICLE
H.B. 155 P 6/17/1953. Began 10/2/1953.
Permanent Black/White plate issued to vehicles over 35 years old,
limited use only, for $10 one-time fee. H.B. 132 P 6/23/1961,
E 8/17/1961, to limit issuance to vehicles built before 1927.
S.B. 204 P 7/27/1973, E 11/21/1973, to expand issuance to all
vehicles at least 25 years old. Assuming no I,O used.
1953 Type 1 101 - 999 (899 P)
1955? Type 1a A-1 - Z-99 (2,376 P)
1964? Type 1b 1-A - 72-N (1,260 P)
1967? Type 2 65 P - 99 Z (1,025 P)
1968? Type 2a A 1 A - A 95 E (491 P)
1969? Type 3 A 42 F - B 74 Y (4,092 P)
1974? Type 4 AA 1 - DT 93 (8,904 P)
1978? Type 4a 4 ZT -
1979? Type 4b 470 H - 574 H (105 P)
(1980 No border 767 H) (TOTAL 19,289 P)
Description of Types:
Type 1 - Long size, "OHIO" left,
"HISTORICAL VEHICLE" bottom (4,499 P)
Type 2 - 6" x 12", vertical "OHIO" left,
"HISTORICAL" top, "VEHICLE" bottom, bolt slots (1,516 P)
Type 3 - Same as Type 2, but bolt holes, NR (4,092 P)
Type 4 - Same as Type 2, but bolt holes, FR (9,010 P)
HOUSE TRAILER/VEHICLE
H.B. 460 P 7/6/1949. Began 1951. Issued singly 1964.
Over 40% of House Vehicle registrations were replaced by Motor
Home category starting 1978. Assuming no I,O used.
LEGENDS: "HOUSE/TRAILER" left 1951-55,
"HOUSE/TRALR" left 1956-59,
"HOUSE/VEH" left 1960-66,
"HOUSE VEH" top 1967-73,
"HOUSE VEHICLE" top 1973-80.
1951-65 FORMATS: 1 - 9999, A-1 - A-99, A100 - A999, B-1 etc.,
1-A - 99-A, 100A - 999A, 1-B etc.,
AA-1 - AA-9, AA10 - AA99, AB-1 etc.
1966 FORMATS: 1 - 9999, A 1 - Z999, 1 A - 999Z, AA 1 - ZZ99
1967-80 FORMATS: 1 - 19999, A 1 - Z 1999, 1 A - 1999 Z,
20000 - 99999, A 2000 - Z 9999, 2000 A - 9999 Z
Expected: 1954 D, 1955 F, 1957 D, 1959 D, 1962 J.
1951-52 J515 (18,506) 1966 CU13 (64,798*)
1953 F-37 (15,031*) 1967 704 F (78,674*)
1954 B-218 (11,216) 1968 1647 S (101,606*)
1955 B213 (11,211) 1969 1084 X (111,038*)
1956 F178 (15,172*) 1970 34901 (130,853*)
1957 B576 (11,574) 1971 66881 (162,833*)
1958 F999 (15,993*) 1972 89874 (185,826*)
1959 C421 (12,418) 1973 "VEH" 34043 (129,995)
1960 G771 (16,764*) "VEHICLE" 37587 - A 6653 (67,067)
1961 G835 (16,828*) (TOTAL 200,605*)
1962 G240 (16,233) 1974-75 2747 K (460,699)
1963 Q766 (24,751*) 105211 - 138340 (33,130)
1964 Z203 (33,179*) (TOTAL 493,829)
1965 AV14 (35,856*) 1976-80 2626 X (556,578)
IN TRANSIT PERMIT
Earliest seen 1934. Pairs 1939, singles 1964.
Used for transporting new and used vehicles.
LEGENDS: "TRANS./PERMIT" center, "X/9" left 1934,
"TRANS/PERMIT" center 1936-39, 1941, 1944, 1947-49, 1951-66,
"IN-TRANSIT" top 1967-73,
"IN TRANSIT" top 1973-80.
(Verify 1935, 1940, 1942, 1945-46, 1950)
Plate set number prefix all years except suffix 1973.
Highest additional plate set number seen: 1934 9, 1936 13, 1937 661,
1947 921, 1951 1712, 1952 2608.
1934 37 1945 1956 7 1966 91
1935 1946 1957 2 1967 75
1936 8 1947 1 1958 17 1968 26
1937 1 1948 5 1959 2 1969 75
1938 3 1949 38 1960 47 1970 2
1939 31 1950 1961 1 1971 2
1940 1951-52 1 1962 65 1972 39
1941 6 1953 6 1963 75 1973 38
1942-43 1954 6 1964 88 1974-75 86
1944 26 1955 2 1965 88 1976-80 58
IN TRANSIT PERMIT (Cardboard)
Began 1922. Only seen 1922.
The ( ) Democratic Banner, 8/8/1922: "The Ohio adopts and recognizes the form
approved by Michigan. These emergency markers, as they are called, may not be
duplicated either by the manufacturers or the dealers, but must be secured as
needed from the state department. These markers bear the inscription,
'Emergency In Transit Permit' and a suitable identification number."
MEDAL OF HONOR
S.B. 264 P 6/11/1975. Began 6/27/1975.
Issued by Governor to 5 Ohio recipients of the Congressional
Medal of Honor. No serial number or initials.
LEGENDS: "MEDAL/OF/HONOR" center 1975-80.
COLORS: Red/White, Blue border 1975-80.
MOTORCYCLE (See Motorcycle page)
H.B. 55 P 2/6/1914. Began 1914.
MOTORCYCLE DEALER
Reportedly began 1917 with #D1 - D50. Listed in 1918 order.
H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919. Began 1920.
LEGENDS: No legend, "D" prefix 1920,
vertical "MC" left, followed by "D" over small "1" (etc.) 1939-48,
"D" over small "1" (etc.) 1949-80.
FORMATS: 1 - 99, A1 - Z9, 1A - 9Z, AA1 - ZZ9.
Highest additional plate set number prefixes seen:
1939 1, 1940 2, 1948 3, 1965 11, 1971 25, 1976-80 31.
Prefix number defaulted to "1" in table below for simplicity.
1920 D-1 1938 1958 D/1-E-8
1921 1939 D/1-10 1959 D/1-27, D/1 R-6
1922 1940 D/1-26 1960 D/1-99
1923 1941 1961 D/1-27
1924 1942-43 1962 D/1-20
1925 1944 1963 D/1 J-3
1926 1945 1964 D/1 S-2
1927 1946 D/1-9 1965 D/1-B7
1928 1947 D/1-186 1966 D/1 9J
1929 1948 D/1-64 1967 D/1 R8
1930 1949 D/1-C6 1968 D/1 5 A
1931 1950 D/1 D-7 1969 D/1 H 9
1932 1951-52 D/1-F7 1970 D/1 R 9
1933 1953 D/1 E-1 1971 D/1 N 8
1934 1954 D/1 D-8 1972 D/1 Q 7
1935 1955 D/1-C-4 1973 D/1 K 2
1936 1956 D/1 Q-1 1974-75 D/1 2 M
1937 1957 D/1-78 1976-80 D/1 MB5
MOTOR HOME
H.B. 166 P 11/16/1977. Began 3/7/1978, exp. "79". No I,O used.
LEGENDS: "MOTOR HOME" top 1979-80.
1979-80 BAA 010 - BDU 011 (89,102 P)
NATIONAL GUARD
Ohio National Guard established by S.B. 247 P 4/21/1941.
Earliest seen 1945.
LEGENDS: No legend, "O.N.G.", "ONG" or "O-N-G-" prefix all years.
1945 O.N.G.17 1960-63 O.N.G.-30
1946 ONG-00 1964-69 O.N.G.-13
1948 O.N.G. 1 1970-73 ONG 23 small prefix
1949 O.N.G.12 ONG 28 - 32 full-size prefix
1954 O-N-G-9 1974-79 ONG 50 "STATE" top
1957 O.N.G.15
1958 O.N.G.15
1959 O.N.G. 7
NON-COMMERCIAL TRAILER
H.B. 1171 P 9/18/1980. Began 10/24/1980. Earliest seen "11 90".
NON-COMMERCIAL TRUCK (See Truck page)
H.B. 166 P 11/16/1977. Began 3/7/1978, exp. "5/79".
ORGANIZATIONAL
S.B. 452 P 7/15/1936 for American Legion plates.
H.B. 104 P 4/9/1941 adding Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
Earliest seen 1944 "DEPT. COMMANDER/U.S.W.V.", no serial.
Wide variety of types issued to commanders and presidents of
national service organizations chartered by U.S. Congress, such
as American Legion, Amvets, D.A.V, V.F.W., etc.
May have started with informal issue. Sandusky Register, 10/22/1933:
"GOVERNOR PRESENTS COMMANDER WITH LEGION LICENSE PLATES"
"Governor George White formally presented Thomas W. McCaw, Dennison,
state commander of the American Legion with official American Legion
license plates for the state commander car...Motor Vehicles Registrar
Glen M. Daily first presented the tags to Governor White..."
LEGENDS: "AMERICAN LEGION" top, "POST NO. 374" center in
lieu of serial numbers, "1955-OHIO" bottom 1955.
PASSENGER COMMERCIAL
Began 1924. Issued to "Ford roadsters and trucks combined", also
described in 1925 as "combination pleasure and commercial".
Discontinued 1934; replaced by Truck plates.
LEGENDS: Vertical "PC" left 1924-33.
1924 P/C 3-818 1928 P/C 21-381 1932 P/C 14-226
1925 P/C 8-240 1929 P/C 17-916 1933 P/C 2-996
1926 P/C 19-153 1930 P/C 15-940
1927 P/C 21-394 1931 P/C 19-063
PERSONALIZED
Law passed August 1973, too late to implement for 1974 year.
Began 1975 on 1974-dated base (1975 sticker only on rear plate).
4-6-figures allowed for $35 extra annual fee.
(Reserved series 1 - 999, A - Z and AA - ZZ began 1935.
#DAVEY also seen 1935. AAA - ZZZ added 1950, 5001 - 9999 added
1968, AAA 1 - ZZZ 5 added 1970. $1 extra fee instituted 1950.
#D CURRY seen 1973.)
PHYSICIAN
H.B. 516 P 5/29/1951. Began 1953. Numbers began at #1001 1953-80.
LEGENDS: Vertical "1953" left, vertical "OHIO" right, "PHYSICIAN" bottom odd years 1953-65,
vertical "OHIO" left, vertical "1954" right, "PHYSICIAN" bottom even years 1954-66,
"PHYSICIAN" top 1967-80.
1953 1200 1959 2076 1965 3119 1971 3183
1954 1885 1960 2972 1966 2888 1972 2645
1955 2076 1961 3500 1967 2645 1973 2645
1956 2889 1962 2467 1968 2182 1974-75 2187
1957 3000 1963 2676 1969 2645 1976-80 2645
1958 3500 1964 2645 1970 3171
PUBLIC ALL PURPOSE VEHICLE
H.B. 214 P 11/22/1971. Began 9/1/1972; required to be registered
by 1/1/1973. Issued to city, county, state and U.S. government ATVs.
Motorcycle size, "AV OHIO" bottom. Black/White.
1973-79 G000
PUBLIC MOTORCYCLE
Listed in registration figures 1921-22, but 1922 appears to be
taken from blocks of regular M/C numbers. Earliest seen 1923.
Issued to city, county, state and U.S. government motorcycles.
LEGENDS: "PUB." left 1923,
"PUB" left 1926-31, 1935-36,
"PUB/MC" prefix 1938-79.
UND. BASE COLORS: Blue/Yellow 1960-63, Black/White 1964-69,
White/Black 1970-73, Orange/White 1974-79.
1921? 1932 1944 1956 H-4
1922? 1933 1945 1957 D-6
1923 61 1934 1946 22 1958 1, P-5
1924 1935 1947 15 1959 37, K-1, 8-A
1925 1936 107 1948 1 1960-63 H-4, 6-F
1926 199 1937 1949 R9 1964-69 B-1, 8-U, 119
1927 160 1938 39 1950 1 1970-73 128, S 7
1928 212 1939 100 1951-52 1 1974-79 256, X 5
1929 175 1940 1953 K9
1930 262 1941 190 1954 4-B
1931 335 1942-43 1955
PUBLIC SIDE CAR
Earliest seen 1927. Last seen 1941.
Issued to city, county, state and U.S. government side cars.
LEGENDS: "PUB" left, "SIDE/CAR" right, no serial number 1927, 1929, 1931-33, 1935,
"PUB/SC" prefix 1940-41.
1940 13
1941 56
RADIO/TELEVISION
S.B. 59 P 6/20/1955. Began 1956. Earliest seen 1957.
Issued to commercial radio and television stations.
LEGENDS: "RADIO" or "TELEVISION" bottom 1956-66,
vertical "OHIO" left, vertical "1956" right even years 1956-66,
vertical "1957" left, vertical "OHIO" right odd years 1957-65,
"RADIO" or "TELEVISION" top 1967-80.
FORMATS:
1956 Radio WAAA - WZZZ, Television WAAA - WZZZ, WAA-T - WZZ-T
1970 Television 1 WJW
1971 Television 4WCPO
1972 Television AVCO
1973 Television 2 WBNS, 6 WCPO
1974-75 Radio 2WAKR
1976-80 Radio 1WJW, 3 WAKR, WPOS 2, Television WCMH
REPLACEMENT
Began 1950. As of 1911, 1929-30 and 1948-49, same number remade.
In some years, passenger plates were assigned for replacements
starting at #N-51, no higher than N-8000, as follows:
1935 N-999, 1942 N-800, 1945 N-3000. 1941 N-1174, 1946 N-5745 seen.
(1948 waffle N-4995 - N-6286 are therefore late issues, not replacements.)
1948 #SV-63 full-size steel seen, along with shorty steel pair.
LEGENDS: "RE-OHIO-1950" bottom 1950-54, even years 1956-64,
"RE-1955-0HIO" odd years 1955-65,
"RE 0HIO 1966" bottom 1966,
"RE" top 1967-80.
Numbers began at #RE-1000, RP-1000, etc.
Non-Passenger seen: Dealer 1951, Special Dealer 1958,
In Transit 1973, Personalized 1975, Amateur Radio 1978,
Physician 1979, Watercraft Trailer Dealer 1980.
1971 Passenger #1467 RQ - 3876 RQ seen.
Starting 1977, reserved plates were made with original number and
"RE" top. By December 1978, only Reserved/Personalized/Amateur
Radio continued; passenger "RE" discontinued and were used up by
being issued to new passenger registrations during 1979.
1950 , RP-9640 1965 RE-9616, RP-9212, RQ-2967
2316-RE 1966 RE 8532, RP 1801
1951 RE-9924, RP-6561 1967 RE 7715, RP 9517, RQ 2801
4759-RE, 8050-RP 1968 RE 9772, RP 4063, RQ 1032
1953 RE-5131 1969 RE 9013, RP 9603, RQ 3097
1954 RE-9626, RP-6757 1970 RE 8997, RP 4267, RQ 2481
1955 RE-5422 1971 RE 9570, RP 3975, RQ 7099
1956 RE-7825 1972 RE 4274, RP 9527, RQ 9870
1957 RE-3979, RP-4042 1973 RE 4662, RP 4326, RQ 8790
1958 RE-9999, RP-3657 2551 RE
1959 RE-8940, RP-4265 1974-75 RE 5708, RP 7164, RQ 9570
1960 RE-7115, RP-4851 4367 RE
1961 RE-9999, RP-6477 16455 R - 59567 R
1962 RE-9483, RP-8041 1976-80 RE 7986, RP 9924, RQ 9690
RQ-1164 7603 RE, 8065 RP, 7721 RQ
1963 RE-9724, RP-5745 17253 R - 98441 R,
1964 RE-6860, RP-8001 R 55903 - R 99356, 28945 Q
SAMPLE
Earliest seen 1923. (Verify 1924-25)
1923 000,000
1926-34 000-000
1929 0-000
1933 H0-000
1935 A-000, A-00-A, A-000-A, 00-AA
1936 000, A-000-A
1937 0, 00, A-000, AA-00, A-00-A, 000-A, 00-AA
000, A-0000, AA-000, A-000-A, 0000-A, 000-AA
1938 00, 000, A-0000, A-000-A, 000-AA
1939 A-000-A
1940 000, A-000-A
1941 0, 000, A-000-A
1942 000, A-0000, A-00-A
1944 000, 00-000
1945-46 000
1947 000, 0000
1948 000, A-0000, AA-00, A-00-A
1949 A-000-A
1950 0-0000, OHIO
1951 A-000-A
1953 0000, 00000, 000-00
1954 A-0000
1955 00000, A-000
1956 00000, A-0000, A-000-A, 0000-A, 000-AA
1957 00000, A-0000, AA-000, A-000-A, 0000-A
1958 A-000-A, 0000-A
1959 00000, AA-000, 0000-A, 000-AA
1960 00000, A-0000, AA-000, 0000-A, 000-AA
1961 00000, A-0000, AA-000, 0000-A
1962 00000, A-0000, AA-000, A-000-A, 0000-A, 000-AA
1963 000000, A-000, A-000-A, 000-A
1964 000000, A-0000, A-000-A, 0000-A
1965 000000, 00 000, A-000-A
1966-67 000000, A 000 A
1968 000000, A 000 A, SAMPL
1969 000000, A 000 A
1970 000000, 00000, 000 000, A 000 A
1971-73 000000, A 000 A
1974 000000, A 0 A, A 00 A, A 000 A, 000 AA (not SAMPLE)
1976 000000, 00000, A 000 A
SCHOOL BUS
H.B. 232 P 6/4/1935. Began 1936. Issued at no fee.
Discontinued by H.B. 435 P 5/26/1965, E 9/22/1965; replaced by
6" tall number to be painted on in black, front and back.
LEGENDS: "SCHOOL/BUS" left 1936-65.
COLORS: Windshield sticker Black/Blue 1952.
FORMATS 1936-48: 1 - 9999
FORMATS 1949-65: 1 - 999, A-1 - Z-99, 1-A - 99-Z, AA-1 - ZZ-9
(Capacity = 10,935 assuming no I,O used)
1936 6405 1949 FC-2 (6,851) 1962 VM-5 (9,959)
1937 6127 1950 27-G (3,996) 1963 WQ-3 (10,200)
1938 5553 1951-52 ME-7 (8,170) 1964 SP-6 (9,330)
1939 6190 1953 HL-3 (7,356) 1965 ZM-9 (10,827)
1940 6532 1954 HC-4 (7,285)
1941 6118 1955 GR-4 (7,186)
1942-43 5556 1956 HH-9 (7,335)
1944 6036 1957 TZ-5 (9,635)
1945 6171 1958 SM-6 (9,312)
1946 4864 1959 MP-7 (8,251)
1947 6576 1960 UP-6 (9,762)
1948 5107 1961 VG-9 (9,918)
SENIORS
H.B. 697 P 11/23/1977. Began 1979, expire "5/80".
Issued to buses transporting handicapped senior citizens.
LEGENDS: "SENIORS" top 1979-80.
1979-80 SOC 105 - SOC 136
SIDE CAR
H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919. Began 1920. No serial number 1920-28.
Discontinued when new law took effect by 8/30/1945.
LEGENDS: "SIDE CAR" center in lieu of numbers 1920-21,
"SIDE/CAR" center in lieu of numbers 1923-28,
vertical "SC" prefix 1929-45.
1929 S/C 1-551 1935 S/C 1-909* 1941 S/C-1044*
1930 S/C 3-021* 1936 S/C 1-881* 1942-43 S/C-1040
1931 S/C 2-327* 1937 S/C-1958* 1944 S/C-1000*
1932 S/C 2-257* 1938 S/C-1968* 1945 S/C-697*
1933 S/C 2-381* 1939 S/C-1161*
1934 S/C 2-163* 1940 S/C-1368*
SNOWMOBILE DEALER
(Snowmobiles issued decals; snowmobile dealers issued plates.)
H.B. 214 P 11/22/1971. Began 9/1/1972; required to be
registered by 1/1/1973. Registration year 9/1 to 8/31.
Motorcycle size, "S 73 OHIO" bottom 1973-79.
Red/White 1973, Green/White 1974, Red/White 1976-80.
1973 D/2 E 5
1974 D/5 G 2
1976-80 D/4 S36
SPECIAL DEALER
H.B. 531 P 4/29/1937. Began 1938. Earliest seen 1939.
Issued to dealerships and related businesses for uses other than
demonstrating vehicles for sale to customers.
Numbers probably began at #1001 all years.
LEGENDS: No legend, "S" over "1" (etc.) prefix 1939-40, 1942-45, 1947-66,
"SPECIAL" top 1967-80.
Highest additional plate set number prefixes seen:
1939 1, 1948 5, 1954 22, 1955 35, 1966 159, 1972 174.
Prefix number defaulted to "1" in table below for simplicity.
1975: White/Orange "MAY 75" sticker, "D and S".
1938 1951-52 S/1-1037 1964 S/1-1455
1939 S/1-1179 1953 S/1-1100 1965 S/1-1435
1940 S/1-1022 1954 S/1-1224 1966 S/1 1361
1941 1955 S/1-1357 1967 1 1378
1942-43 S/1-1215 1956 S/1-1785 1968 1 1695
1944 S/1-1131 1957 S/1-1890 1969 1 1615
1945 S/1-1109 1958 S/1-1670 1970 1 1436
1946 1959 S/1-1667 1971 1 1838
1947 S/1-1081 1960 S/1-1556 1972 1 1474
1948 S/1-1069 1961 S/1-1523 1973 1 2115
1949 S/1-1091 1962 S/1-1798 1974-75 1 2419
1950 S/1-1114 1963 S/1-1719 1976-80 1 2218
SPECIAL EVENT
Earliest seen 1964.
A. National Governors' Conference 1964, Blue/White with Red border,
"GOVERNOR/KERNER/NATL. GOV'S. CONFERENCE/OHIO 1964", no serial.
Second type same, but "OFFICIAL CAR/NATL. GOV'S. CONFERENCE/OHIO 1964", no serial.
Held in Cleveland 6/8-10/1964.
B. Midwestern Governors' Conference 1966, Blue/White with Red border,
"GOVERNOR/KERNER/GOVERNORS' CONFERENCE/OHIO 1966", no serial.
Second type same, but "GOVERNORS'/CONFERENCE/OHIO 1966", no serial.
Held in Cincinnati 6/20-22/1966.
C. National Governors' Conference 1968, Blue/White with Red border,
"GOVERNOR/McCALL/NAT. GOVERNORS' CONFERENCE/OHIO 1968", no serial.
Second type Red/White with Blue border,
"OFFICIAL CAR/NAT. GOVERNORS' CONFERENCE/OHIO 1968", no serial.
Held in Cincinnati 7/21-24/1968.
D. Midwestern Governors' Conference 1970, flat, Blue/White, no border,
"PRESIDENT/NIXON/GOVERNORS' CONFERENCE/OHIO 1970", no serial.
Second type flat, Red/White with Blue border,
"OFFICIAL CAR/GOVERNORS' CONFERENCE/OHIO 1970", no serial.
Held in Columbus 7/19-22/1970; Nixon and Agnew did not attend.
E. Great Lakes Governors' Conference 1973, Red/White with Blue border,
passenger design, #GLGC 2 seen. Held in Cleveland 12/10/1973, the
first ever of its kind, with 4 Governors attending from Michigan,
Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin.
STATE CAR (1920-38: See Table 1)
H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919. Began 1920.
LEGENDS: "STATE/CAR" right 1920, left 1923-34,
"ST-OHIO-1935" bottom 1935-38.
H.B. 298 P 5/31/1939 for State Car plates to be marked "STATE CAR"
and be in different colors than passenger. This split State into two
types, the second of which is listed under "State Vehicle".
LEGENDS: "STATE/CAR" left 1939, 1941-49,
"OHIO-STATE CAR-50" bottom 1950-55,
vertical "OHIO" left, vertical "1956" right, "STATE CAR" bottom 1956, 1958,
vertical "1957" left, vertical "OHIO" right, "STATE CAR" bottom 1957, 1959,
"STATE-OHIO" 1960-66,
"STATE" top 1967-80.
COLORS: Reverse colors 1939, 1941-45, 1947, White/Dark Green 1946, 1948,
Black/Aluminum 1949, Yellow/Black 1950-59.
UND. BASE COLORS: Yellow/Black 1960-63, White/Black 1964-69,
Black/White 1970-80.
1939 136 1948 642,B-79 1956 46-130
1940 1949 634,A-90,C-97 1957 12-186
1941 62 1950 10280 30-101
1942-43 615 1951-52 29-104 9-H-95
1944 921 4-H-154 1958 124, 46-48, 6-H-81
1945 O-10 1953 10233 1959 446, 10-H-52,
1946 71 1954 10003 12-H-45
1947 B-72 1955 10015, 6-H-116
1960-63 648
1964-69 46-68
(1969) 21 136
1970-80 H 12 725, 8 H 51, 801 H 8
(1974) DOT 1, T 487, DT 690, 821 DT
80 128, S80 549, 811 S80
The Times-Recorder (Zanesville) of 11/22/1951 described the various
categories of plates and department codes for the state's 1,600 motor
vehicles (Trailer assignments assumed but not mentioned in article):
Highway Dept. Central Office: Passenger 10000 - 10191 (168 cars)
Truck CO-101 - CO-999
(Trailer 101-CO - 999-CO)
Motor Transport Pool: Passenger 10226 - 10328 (103 cars)
Bureau of Motor Vehicles: Passenger MV-101 - MV-999 (24 cars)
Hwy. Dept. 12 Highway Divisions: Passenger 1-H-101 - 12-H-999
Truck H-1-101 - H-12-999
(Trailer 101-H-1 - 999-H-12)
Other State Departments: Passenger 14-101 - 36-999
Truck S-14-101 - S-36-999
(Trailer 101-S-14 - 999-S-36)
Department Codes:
14 - Agriculture
15 - Natural Resources
16 - Archaeological and Historical Society
17 - Bowling Green University
18 - Education
19 - Finance
20 - Health
21 - Industrial Commission
22 - Industrial Relations
23 - Kent State College
24 - Liquor Control
25 - Metropolitan Housing
26 - Miami University
27 - Ohio Aviation Board
28 - Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station
29 - Ohio University
30 - Ohio State University
31 - Ohio Soldiers' and Sailors' Home (Xenia)
32 - Public Works
33 - Taxation
34 - Unemployment Bureau
35 - Welfare Department
36 - Central State College (Wilberforce)
STATE OFFICIAL
Began 1928 with Governor only at first. Earliest seen 1932.
Passenger #1 assigned to Governor up to 1927, then issued to
Mrs. J. A. House of Cleveland 1928-31.
Dayton Daily News, 11/18/1928: "Special tags are provided for
the personal cars of the governor, secretary of state, adjutant
general and the commissioner of motor vehicles, with their
official titles, instead of numerals."
Portsmouth Times, 3/4/1937: "Governor Davey and other elective
state officials have license plates bearing the titles of their
offices." Gov. Martin L. Davey was also issued special plates
"MLD" upon leaving office in 1939.
LEGENDS: "GOVERNOR" (etc.) in lieu of serial number, longer plate 1932, 1936-38.
"GOVERNOR" 1932, 1936-37
"FRANK J. LAUSCHE/GOVERNOR" 1955
"LIEUTENANT/GOVERNOR" 1955, 1961, 1963, 1965
"SECRETARY/OF STATE" 1965
"DIRECTOR/AGRICULTURE" 1938
"DIRECTOR/OF EDUCATION" 1955
"REGISTRAR/MOTOR VEHICLES" 1949
"R.E.FOLEY/REGISTRAR" 1954
"S.O.LINZELL/DIRECTOR" 1954
"U.C.FELTY/DIRECTOR" 1955
STATE PATROL
Posts began 11/15/1933. Earliest seen 1934.
Apparently discontinued after 1942, until 1977.
LEGENDS: "HIGHWAY/PATROL" left 1934,
"STATE/PATROL" left 1935-42. 1938 has "ST-OHIO-1938" bottom.
1934 23 1937 41 1940 250
1935 42 1938 41 1941 204
1936 3 1939 42 1942 269
UND. (1972) ACE
UND. (1977) CB CH9 (Citizen's Band Radio Channel 9, for help)
STATE PATROL MOTORCYCLE
Posts began 11/15/1933. Earliest seen 1934.
Sample seen 1942; apparently discontinued after 1942.
LEGENDS: "HIGHWAY/PATROL" left 1934,
"STATE/PATROL" left 1935-42.
1934 60 1937 1940 45
1935 52 1938 1941 70
1936 106 1939 162 1942
STATE TRAILER
Only seen 1934, "STATE/TRL'R" left, #74.
STATE VEHICLE (1939-49: See Table 1)
Began 1939 as a result of new State Car series. Earliest seen
1940. See notes under "State Car" also.
LEGENDS: "ST-OHIO-1940" bottom 1940-49,
"STATE-OHIO-1950" bottom 1950-54, 1956, 1958,
"STATE-1955-OHIO" bottom 1955, 1957, 1959,
"STATE-OHIO" 1960-66,
"STATE" top 1967-80.
COLORS: Passenger colors 1935-59.
UNDATED BASE COLORS: Yellow/Black 1960-63, White/Black 1964-69,
Black/White 1970-80.
CO-000 000-CO H-4-000 000-H-4 S30-000 000-S30
1950 CO-530
1951-52 810-H-4
1953 H-4-592 802-H-4
1954 H-4-582
1955 S30-557
1956 H-4-592
1957 CO-641 H-4-514 802-H-4 S30-563
S18-506 817-S-14
1958 S-30-560 830-S-30
1959 CO-523 831-CO
1960-63 870-CO H-12-589 805-H-6 S-42-501
1964-69 803-H-4
(69) H 12 531
1970-80
H = State Highway Department (replaced by "T" for DOT 1973)
OP = Ohio Penitentiary (verified 1946, gone by 1956)
TEMPORARY (Cardboard)
S.B. 317 P 5/21/1957, E 9/4/1957. Earliest seen "SERIES OF 1957".
Valid for 10 days.
TRAILER
H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919. Began 1920. Pairs 1920-33, singles 1934-on.
Assignments on file for 1942, 1945, 1958, 1961. No I or O used.
1923: 3,076 has comma, 6218 no comma.
LEGENDS: "TRAILER" left 1-3-digit 1920,
inverted arched "TR'L'R" right 4-digit 1920, 3-4-digit 1921,
"TRL'R" left 4-digit 1922,
arched "TR'LR." left 3-4-digit 1923,
"TRAILER" left 1-4-digit 1924-32,
"TRL'R" left 5-digit 1927-32, all 1933, (expected 1926),
"TRL'R" over "1" (etc.) 1934,
"OHIO-1935-TRALR" bottom 1935-60, 1962, 1964,
"1961-OHIO-TRALR" bottom 1961, 1963, 1965,
"OHIO 1966 TRALR" bottom 1966,
"TRAILER" top 1967-79.
1920 3812 1925 6-502 1930 26-238*
1921 4071 1926 6-671 1931 30-474
1922 5,504* 1927 11-346 1932 47-372*
1923 6218 1928 14-463 1933 64-136*
1924 7-609* 1929 18-362 1934 1 7 - 60-573
2 1-727 -
8 581 -
1935 FORMATS: 2-A-1 - 999-Z-1, 2-AA-1 - 99-ZZ-1 (80,400)
(194-YH-1, 174-YV-1 also seen)
1936-43 FORMATS: 2-A-1 - 999-Z-1,
2-AA-1 - 199-ZZ-1 (Capacity 138,000)
1944-65 FORMATS: 2-A-1 - 9999-Z-1 (weight class 1 only)
3-A-2 - 999-Z-2 (weight classes 2+)
1966-80 FORMATS: 2 A 1 - 9999 Z 1 (weight class 1 only),
3 A 2 - 999 Z 2 (weight classes 2+),
2 AA 1 - 999 ZZ 1 (repeaters only),
2 AB 1 - 999 ZY 1 (all others).
TRAILER - WEIGHT CLASS 1:
1935 99-XS-1 (75,010) 1957 8383-T-1 (178,348)
1936 17-RW-1 (99,208) 1958 4405-U-1 (184,368)
1937 148-QE-1 (91,419) 1959 683-U-1 (180,646)
1938 30-UA-1 (109,517) 1960 7587-V-1 (197,548)
1939 105-SV-1 (103,850) 1961 70-W-1 (200,029)
1940 156-UL-1 (111,623) 1962 1703-W-1 (201,662)
1941 179-WC-1 (119,566) 1963 7873-V-1 (197,834)
1942-43 102-ZF-1 (134,339) 1964 2637-X-1 (212,594)
1944 6327-N-1 (126,302) 1965 1676-X-1 (211,633)
1945 2112-Q-1 (142,083) 1966 6434-X-1 (216,491)
1946 8509-P-1 (138,482) 1967 8497 X 1 (218,554)
1947 8516-R-1 (158,485) 1968 7338 X 1 (217,295)
1948 1555-S-1 (161,522) 1969 2239 Y 1 (222,194)
1949 9859-Q-1 (149,830) 1970 2968 Y 1 (222,923)
1950 7589-R-1 (157,558) 1971 7281 Z 1 (237,234)
1951-52 6903-U-1 (186,866) 1972 677 HH 1 (247,614)
1953 3908-R-1 (153,877) 1973 269 WW 1 (260,180)
1954 8912-R-1 (158,881) 1974-75 153 DJ 1 (339,904)
1955 4352-R-1 (154,321) 1976-80 841 NX 1 (560,152)
1956 6958-S-1 (166,925)
TRAILER - WEIGHT CLASSES 2 AND HIGHER:
1935 384-D-2 1951-52 598-G-2, 723-C-3
1936 411-C-2 1953 827-J-2, 278-B-5, 617-K-9
1937 745-A-2 1954 746-C-2
1938 578-G-2 1955
1939 659-F-2 1956 404-B-3, 51-A-9, 16-B-14
1940 843-B-2 1957 721-G-2
1941 39-D-3 1958 627-A-2, 168-D-3
1942-43 846-F-2 1959 475-J-2, 707-C-3
1944 1960 695-J-2, 941-C-3, 373-A-5
1945 967-E-2, 567-B-4* 1961 521-Q-2, 208-B-3, 969-C-9, 64-DG-11
1946 261-C-4 1962 924-N-2, 888-B-7, 16-T-11
1947 137-L-2, 159-C-6 1963 407-M-2, 664-A-5, 32-CA-11
1948 435-E-9 1964 634-M-2, 19-EC-11, 23-BR-12
1949 162-K-2, 32-A-4 1965 121-T-2, 14-A-6, 98-AF-12
1950 817-B-5, 915-B-6
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+
1966 476 S 2 906 C 3 514 A 4 77 AP 10, 89 BV 12
1967 416 W 2 863 B 4 822 C 7 498 B 9 984 C 11
1968 329 U 2 837 G 3 161 A 4 306 C 8 690 C 9 745 C 10 65 D 16
1969 194 P 2 49 F 3 157 C 4 583 B 7 299 F 13 361 A 14 17 H 15
1970 776 S 2 556 F 3 14 C 4 466 B 6 899 D 9 837 C 10 825 F 11 586 B 14
71 J 15 75 A 19
1971 719 X 2 763 K 3 316 E 8 471 C 9 538 H 10 13 F 12 556 G 13
55 T 15
1972 479 T 2 969 F 3 331 C 8 42 F 9 552 E 10 662 B 14 21 B 19
1973 247 V 2 54 B 4 455 A 7 784 A 8 27 G 12 268 B 15 19 E 17
93 A 19 77 A 20
1974-75 550 CC 2 627 P 3 388 F 4 521 C 5 182 B 10 629 H 13 872 B 14
34 C 9 946 A 15 68 C 16
1976-80 536 BV 2 783 K 3 804 D 4 694 Q 5 35 M 6 251 A 7 858 C 8 875 E 9 265 M 10 575 X 11 566 N 12
229 T 13 847 F 14 659 F 15 853 F 16 107 A 17 81 J 20 78 B 25
TRANSIT BUS
H.B. 620 P 5/27/1957. Earliest seen 1958.
Issued to buses engaged in public mass transportation.
1961 FORMATS: 51 - 1999, A-51 - A-199, B-51 etc.
LEGENDS: "TRANS/BUS" left 1958-66, "TRANSIT BUS" top 1967-80.
1958 1806 (1,756) 1964 A-81 (1,980) 1970 A 121 (2,020)
1959 1926 (1,876) 1965 1906 (1,856) 1971 1756 (1,706)
1960 1653 (1,603) 1966 A117 (2,016) 1972 C 99 (2,296)
1961 A-199 (2,098) 1967 C 98 (2,295) 1973 B 100 (2,148)
1962 1889 (1,839) 1968 B 78 (2,126) 1974-75 D 139 (2,485)
1963 A-99 (1,998) 1969 A 100 (1,999) 1976-80 C 136 (2,333)
TRUCK (See Truck page)
H.B. 573 P 12/16/1919. Began 1920.
TURNPIKE COMMISSION
Ohio Turnpike opened 12/1/1954. Earliest seen 1955.
No legend all years. Numbers began at TP-1001.
1955 TP-1027
1957 TP-1018
1960 TP-1020
1976-80 TP 1034
U.S. CONGRESS
Began 1964. Ohio has had the following number of U.S.
Congressional Districts: 23 1953-66, 24 1967-72, 23 1973-82,
21 1983-92, 19 1993-2002, 18 2003-12, 16 2013-22, 15 2023-32.
Ohio has always had 2 U.S. Senators.
LEGENDS: "MEMBER OF CONGRESS" top, "8TH DISTRICT" center in lieu of serial number,
state/year legend without hyphen bottom in smaller dies 1964-67,
"MEMBER" top, "CONGRESS" center in lieu of serial number,
"13TH DISTRICT" above state/year legend bottom 1968-76.
"U.S. SENATOR" instead of "13TH DISTRICT" also seen
1968, 1972, 1974, no legend, #USSEN 2 1976-80 base.
COLORS: Next year's Passenger colors 1964-72, (i.e. Red/White 1964),
Red/White 1974, UND. (1975). (Verify 1973)
UNKNOWN TYPE "PD"
Earliest seen 1932. Last seen 1933. Reported 1934. Unknown purpose.
Possibly issued to get more low numbers in the P/C class?
LEGENDS: Vertical "PD" left 1932-33.
1932 P/D 2-003
1933 P/D 2-017
VOLUNTEER FIREMAN
H.B. 553 P 11/19/1980. Began 3/23/1981. None seen.
VOLUNTEER RESCUE
H.B. 34 P 5/5/1977. Began 1979.
Issued to emergency medical services vehicles.
LEGENDS: "VOL RESCUE" top 1979-80.
1979-80 UND. 151 - 170
WATERCRAFT TRAILER DEALER
H.B. 761 P 8/22/1967. Began 12/1/1967.
Issued primarily to boat trailer dealers.
Fee $25 plus $5 for each additional plate.
LEGENDS: "WC" in UL corner, "DEALER" top, vertical "TRL" left 1967-80.
COLORS: Passenger colors all years.
Numbers probably began at #101 all years.
Highest additional plate number suffix seen:
1967 1, 1968 3, 1971 7, 1972 9, 1973 10, 1974-75 13, 1976-80 18.
Suffix number defaulted to "1" in table below for simplicity.
1967 101 1 1970 116 1 1973 215 1
1968 120 1 1971 141 1 1974-75 210 1
1969 109 1 1972 159 1 1976-80 136 1
PERMITS:
BOAT/WATERCRAFT
May have begun 1902. Earliest seen 1916.
S.B. 44 P 4/28/1902, E immediately, licensing boats used on state
lakes and reservoirs. 2 classes: 1. Rowboats, 2. Electric,
naptha or steam. Amended by S.B. 143 P 4/2/1906 to add
registration year 5/1 to 4/30 (1906-52), codifying a term already
in use as of May 1903. 3 classes listed in H.B. 456 P 5/19/1915.
Metal plates required as of May 1903.
Issued by Department of Public Works (later Ohio Conservation
Division) to motor boats, row boats and sail boats 1921.
Flat steel 1916, 1919-22 (reported 1923), 1924-29,
embossed 1930 (reported 1932), 1933-60.
Pairs 1936 Motor, 1940 Row.
LEGENDS:
1916 "MOTOR BOAT" top, "OHIO 1916" bottom.
1919 Large "19" left, large "19" right, "ROW BOAT" top, "OHIO" bottom, number in box center.
1920, 1922, 1924-32 Vertical "OHIO" left, vertical "1920" right, "MOTOR" or "ROW" top, "BOAT" bottom.
1921 Sideways "ROW" left, sideways "BOAT" right, "OHIO/1921" monogram top.
1933-59 No legend, vertical "MR", "RW" or "SL" code.
(Prefix 1933-36, 1938, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1955,
suffix 1937, 1939, 1941, 1943, 1945-54, 1956-59)
"OHIO-1933" top 1933, 1937, 1939, 1941, bottom 1934-36, 1938, 1940, 1942-58,
"1959-OHIO" bottom 1959.
Discontinued 1960; replaced by Watercraft permit.
1960: White/Dark Blue, "OHIO" top, "WATERCRAFT" bottom, "1960"
center in lieu of serial number (150,000 produced).
1961: Red/White sticker, same design as 1960.
1962: Blue/White sticker, same design as 1960.
1963: Red/White FR sticker, same design as 1960.
1966: Green/White small sticker UL corner to revalidate 1965 decal.
1967: Another small validation sticker.
MOTOR ROW SAIL
1916 Black/Yellow 720
1917
1918 (none known)
1919 197
1920 3449
1921 Black/Yellow 4012
1922 Black/Orange-Red 1542
1923(Red/Gray)
1924 White/Dark Blue 3223
1925 Black/Yellow 223
1926 Yellow/Black 3515
1927 Black/Gray 1794
1928 White/Blue 5357
1929 Black/Green 4506
1930 White/Maroon 4679
1931 Black/Gray 5183
1932 White/Dark Blue 5681
1933 White/Black 118 5-943
1934 Black/White 245 3-026 54
1935 White/Black 293 4-034 31
1936 Red/White 87 5-623
1937 White/Dark Maroon 127 7277 (1-448 - 2-711)
1938 Black/White 7125
1939 Maroon/White 28 6634 207
1940 White/Black 404 8519
1941 White/Maroon 284 10458
1942 Blue/White 447 4130
1943 White/Black 3331
1944 White/Maroon 9904
1945 Dark Blue/White G 371
1946 Red/White 311 J 510
1947 White/Dark Green 659 M 744
1948 Black/Light Yellow 144 H-172
1949 Black/Aluminum 179 S-435 65
1950 Light Yellow/Black T-251 169
1951 Black/Yellow 261 S-592 1
1952 White/Black 447 V-805
1953 Yellow/Dark Blue 1046 N-389 401
1954 White/Dark Green 771 Z-742 389
1955 White/Maroon 425 268-E 363
1956 White/Dark Blue 1011 79-H, JJ 752
1957 White/Dark Green 911-N 31
1958 White/Maroon 340 490-T 598
1959 Yellow/Dark Blue 1058 455-U 934
BUGGY
Began 11/25/1974. Issued on a voluntary basis for $1 fee to
Amish horse-drawn wagons for identification purposes only.
None were ever issued as the Amish didn't want to be identified.
Undated, tiny size, upper holes only, Black/White, "BUGGY" top,
"OHIO" bottom, reflective, #1085 - 3898 seen.
MWCD
Issued to boats operating on any of the 10 lakes in the Muskingum
Watershed Conservancy District. District organized 6/3/1933, but
boat permits began 1942. 1,410 issued 1942, 7,477 issued 1956,
8,639 issued 1957. Discontinued 1960.
LEGENDS: "MW/CD" prefix all years,
"OHIO-1944" bottom 1944-58, "1959-OHIO" bottom 1959.
1942 1951 Black/Yellow 3734
1943 1952 Yellow/Dark Blue 4990
1944 White/Maroon 860 1953 White/Dark Green 1979
1945 Red/White 751 1954 Yellow/Maroon 4588
1946 Red/White 850 1955 White/Dark Blue 7451
1947 White/Dark Green 2131 1956 White/Maroon 6145
1948 Black/Light Yellow 2791 1957 Yellow/Dark Blue 8246
1949 Black/Aluminum 3841 1958 Yellow/Dark Green A-969
1950 Light Yellow/Black 4957 1959 White/Maroon 8444
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Only seen 1928. Supplemental plate, "19" left, "28" right, large
"PUCO" center, no serial 1928.
SIGN PERMIT
S.B. 361 P 11/30/1971. Began 1972.
Issued by Ohio Department of Highways, Advertising Device Control
Section, for $15 annual fee, to all signs within 660 feet of a
right-of-way of an interstate or primary highway, advertising
businesses at locations other than that of the sign.
Undated motorcycle size plate, White/Blue, "ODH-AD" bottom left,
#11841 - 29989. Dies and border like 1967-80 M/C plates.
SOAP BOX DERBY
Only seen 1950. Held annually in Akron.
"SOAP BOX/DERBY-50" bottom, no state name 1950.
1950 A-50
TABLE 1 STATE COUNTY CITY GOV'T. CONSULAR
1920 207 356 839
1921 323 116
1922 360
1923 557 1,410
1924 1-065 1-729
1925 1-394 1-718 1-957
1926 480 1-368 1-951
1927 480 2-337 2-784
1928 393 2-108 2-302
1929 775 3-583 2-994
1930 2-206 3-086 1-618
1931 2-113 3-946 3-755
1932 812 4-582 511
1933 2-384 5-344 272
1934 2-858 5-699 1-194 13
START OA-1 OF-1 OQ-1 OW-1 OX-1
1935 OC-584 ON-717 OR-143
1936 O-2578 OF-401 OR-247
1937 O-2357 OH-290 OR-208
1938 O-2588 OF-641 OT-103
1939 OF-752 ON-881
1940 O-3683 OH-856 OR-737
1941 O-3683 OH-173 OM-354
1942-43 O-3665, OD-176 OH-367 OM-989 OW-18
1944 OD-263 OH-375 OQ-899
1945 O-3606 OH-953 OM-280
1946 O-3606 OJ-458 OV-459 OX-000
[OD] [OF,OK] [OL,ON] [OW] [OX]
1947 O-3778 OG-91 OT-164
1948 O-3787 OG-849 ON-1 OX-18
1949 O-4017, OP-10 OF-69 OT-800 OW-93 OX-18
1950 (See State Table) OJ-881 OM-976 OW-1 OX-18
1951 OK-85 OT-94 OW-144
1953 OG-596 OL-258 OW-1 OX-15
1954 OE-285 OV-953 OW-1 OX-3
1955 OH-848 OP-1685 OW-124 OX-9
1956 OE-614 OZ-967 OW-10 OX-9
OP-2590
1957 OE-2011 OZ-308 OW-171 OX-9
1958 OH-837 OQ-9 OW-1 OX-9
1959 OE-2728 OQ-801,OZ-64 OW-1 OX-9
1960-63 OE-4173 OY-405 OW-63 (annual)
ON-1719
OP-3903
1964-69 OJ-827 OP-282 OW-154 (annual)
OV-637
(1967) OP 8370
OL 1395
(1969) OE 5411
1970-73 OE 8088 OL 4766 OW 163 (annual)
OH 112 OP 6891
OJ 600 OR 942
OZ 328 1974-79 OE 9102 OL 2063 OW 1583
OF 6414 OM 1648
OH 350 OP 9722
OU 56
