NEVADA

It is theorized that motorcycle registration probably began in 1913 at the same time as the law providing for automobile registration became effective.  However, the 1913 state law specifically excluded motorcycles from all of the provisions of registration.  Since 1916 motorcycle plates started at #501, following the method of passenger plate number assignment, which also started above where 1913-15 numbers ended, this methodology implies that motorcycle numbers may somehow have been issued with numbers below #500 in the pre-1916 period.  Otherwise, why wouldn't 1916 motorcycles start at #1?  However, there is clearly no law before 1916 that provides for motorcycle registration or plates.  Such a scenario could only be explained by the state's possible decision to go ahead and issue motorcycle registrations anyway, despite a lack of any provision for them in the law.

State-issued motorcycle plates began in 1916 along with passenger plates.  Motorcycle numbers started at #501, and at least 128 had been issued by April 12, 1916, after just four months of issue.