INDIANA

State motorcycle registration began in 1905 at the same time as automobile registration, and there was no distinction between vehicle types when numbers and plates were issued.  When the law was amended in 1907 to require pairs of plates on automobiles, motorcycles were allowed to display only one plate.

One such plate, #O6/42/IND, is known to exist, dating from 1910.  It appears to have been made by removing the digits from a regular plate, arranging them in three lines, and mounting them on a leather background along with the matching disc.  The presence of this plate would seem to indicate that separate motorcycle plates were not issued yet, at least as of 1910.

It has been reported that smaller-size 1907-13 plates exist, which could be a series of plates actually made for and/or issued to motorcycles.  If the 1907-13 motorcycle plate can be verified, it would be the first issue for the state.

Annual state-issued motorcycle plates began in 1913, along with passenger and dealer plates.  10,000 single motorcycle plates were ordered for 1913.  The highest known 1913 motorcycle plate is #C6516.