NEW HAMPSHIRE

State-issued motorcycle plates began in 1905 at the same time as passenger plates, and were the same size but issued singly rather than in pairs.  Motorcycle numbers issued per the state's reporting periods are listed on the New Hampshire Pre-state State page.  The highest known 1905-09 motorcycle plate is #C496.

There was a reissue of motorcycle plates in either 1910 or 1911, which was unusual because no other types of plates were replaced.  The new series was black-on-white instead of white-on-green but otherwise very similar in design and size.  The lowest and highest known 1910-11 motorcycle plates are #C23 and #C425.  For a full discussion of various pieces of circumstantial evidence regarding when this series of plates was first issued, see the New Hampshire Pre-state State page.

From 1912 through April 1915, motorcycles were plunged into a pre-state era because the state no longer issued motorcycle plates.  Motorcycles were required to display an owner-provided plate with 2-inch-tall numbers, "N.H." abbreviation and year date.  No 1912 plates are known but a 1914 #C 6 exists.  It is a white-on-maroon two-line plate with "C 6 N" over "1914H", with the "N" and "H" lining up vertically.  The highest motorcycle numbers listed in 1912 and 1914 motor vehicle directories are #C118 and C1099, respectively, nearly a tenfold increase!

For 1915 (effective May 1, 1915), 1916 and 1917, the owner-provided plate requirement was discontinued and the state issued an annual rear motorcycle disc.  According to 1915 and 1917 motor vehicle directories, the highest motorcycle numbers listed were #C802 as of May 15, 1915, and #2060 as of September 1, 1917.  The state issued Motorcycle Dealer discs in sets of 3, each with a different letter (A, B and C) for a $5 fee, and additional discs with higher letters were available for 50c each.  Non-resident motorcycle discs were also issued but their identifying characteristics are unknown.

Starting in 1918, the state resumed issuance of rear motorcycle plates, a miniature of the passenger design but with rounded numbers rather than squared.  Motorcycle Dealer plates were issued in sets of 3 with A, B and C suffix letters for the $5 fee, and again, more plates from "D" onwards could be ordered for an extra 50c each.  Non-resident motorcycle plates were also issued but their appearance is not known.  The highest known 1918 motorcycle plates are as follows:  Motorcycle #2591, Motorcycle Dealer #A-29-B.