FLORIDA

The first state registration law of 1905 also included motorcycles, and from 1905 to 1917, motorcycles were registered within the same number series and specifications as automobiles.  The only way to discern a motorcycle plate from any other type of vehicle would be to research the original registration lists.

Throughout the 1905-17 period, several cities also registered motorcycles and issued plates.  The earliest known of these is Jacksonville 1910-11, which was issued for the period October 1, 1910, to September 30, 1911.  All motorcycle plates were dated, unlike most other Jacksonville plates.  The next three motorcycle plates issued had the legend "JAX-MO-CYCLE-11-12", etc., at the bottom.  The 1910-11 and 1911-12 issues had different colors than regular plates.  South Jacksonville also issued undated motorcycle plates.  Fernandina issued dated motorcycle plates in 1915 which were smaller than their undated passenger counterparts, and there is also an undated green-on-orange motorcycle plate of unknown date.  Tampa issued motorcycle plates in 1915 and 1917.  Miami also issued motorcycle plates.  A January 1, 1914, Miami Herald news article mentions that 152 motorcycles had been licensed in 1913.  Another article on December 12, 1915, announces that "Five hundred motorcycle tags have been received by City Clerk W. B. Moore.  The tags, ordered several weeks ago, arrived yesterday, and are very sporty in color, some of them being rich purple, while others are yellow.  They may be had for $1."  We have no idea why they would have been produced in two different colors.  Further information on Florida city motorcycle plates can be found on the Florida Local page.

When counties were required by state law to tax motor vehicles, beginning on October 1, 1911, plates were required to be issued in two categories:  Private and For Hire.  However, a few counties also elected to issue motorcycle plates, the earliest known of which is a Hillsborough 1914.  Other known counties include Alachua, Broward, Lake, Palm Beach, St. Johns and St. Lucie.  Plate colors generally matched the Private plates but usually had no type marking except for the occasional wording "MOTORCYCLE" or "MOTOR CYCLE".  The shape was often the only clue - small square, round, vertical or fender-shaped were common.  For more details, see the separate section on Florida county plates.

State-issued motorcycle plates began in 1918 at the same time as passenger plates but contained the letter "A".  1,629 motorcycles were registered in 1918.  The highest 1918 motorcycle plate known, black-on-white, is #327-A.