NEW HAMPSHIRE

There are no known automobile ordinances involving registration, or pre-state plates, from any New Hampshire cities prior to the passage of the first state motor vehicle registration law in early 1905.  This is consistent with the other New England states during this period.  Nashua had an ordinance in effect as of June 11, 1903, but this most likely covered speed regulations only.

FIRST ISSUE SERIES 1905-11

The first state law requiring motor vehicle registration was 1905 Chapter 86, passed March 10, 1905, effective immediately.  This law required all motor vehicle owners to register with the Secretary of State, pay a one-time fee of $3 (or $10 for manufacturers and dealers) and display a pair of state-issued plates or a single motorcycle plate, as well as 1-inch-tall headlight numbers.  Each driver was also required to obtain an annual operator's license for a $1 annual fee.

Non-residents were exempted from registration as long as they were registered in another state.  Manufacturers and dealers of automobiles and motorcycles were to pay a one-time fee of $10 for their license plus $1 per pair for the actual plates.

Registration began on April 4, 1905, and was mandatory by May 1, 1905.  First-issue plates were undated, white-on-green porcelain, with the letters "N.H." below the numbers.  They were valid through December 31, 1911, if renewed annually during 1910 and 1911 (except for motorcycles).  #1323 was issued on April 20, 1907.  The highest known first-issue plates are as follows:  Passenger #7192, Dealer #A168, Motorcycle #C496.  Table 1 lists first-issue plate numbers issued by the state according to the state's periodic annual reports, and the totals of each type:

TABLE 1 - 1905-11 FIRST-ISSUE NUMBERS ISSUED BY REPORTING PERIOD

                       PASSENGER              DEALER             MOTORCYCLE

 4/ 4/05 -  7/ 1/05      1 -  536   (536)     A1 -  A31  (31)     C1 -  C64  (64)

 7/ 2/05 -  2/ 1/06    537 -  703   (167)    A32          (1)    C65 -  C98  (34)

 2/ 2/06 -  7/ 9/06    704 - 1050   (347)    A33 -  A46  (14)    C99 - C137  (39)

 7/10/06 -  4/ 6/07   1051 - 1295   (245)    A47 -  A48   (2)   C138 - C167  (30)

 4/ 7/07 -  8/31/07   1296 - 1902   (607)    A49 -  A56   (8)   C168 - C239  (72)

 9/ 1/07 -  7/ 1/08   1903 - 2422   (520)    A57 -  A67  (11)   C240 - C306  (67)

 7/ 2/08 -  8/31/08   2423 - 2590   (168)    A68          (1)   C307 - C326  (20)

 9/ 1/08 -  7/ 1/09   2591 - 3422   (832)    A69 -  A81  (13)   C327 - C417  (91)

 7/ 2/09 -  8/31/09   3423 - 3701   (279)    A82          (1)   C418 - C463  (46)

 9/ 1/09 - 11/15/09   3702 - 3847   (146)    A83          (1)   C464 - C473  (10)

11/16/09 -  9/ 1/10   3848 - 4871 (1,024)    A84 - A147  (64)   C474 -(C496) (23)

                                                                  C1 - C476*(476)

 9/ 2/10 -  8/31/11   4872 - 6893 (2,022)   A148 - A169  (22)   C477 -   ?

 9/ 1/11 - 12/31/11   6894 -(7192)  (299)     ?  -   ?            ?  -   ?

*Plate reissue assumed 1/1/10; numbers restarted at #C1.

1909 Chapter 154, passed April 9, 1909, and effective January 1, 1910, amended the 1905 law by requiring all motor vehicles to re-register annually.  All existing registrations issued in 1905-09 were now to expire on December 31, 1909.  The new registration year was January 1 to December 31.  Fees were revised as follows:  Passenger $10, Motorcycle $2, Dealer $25 plus $1 per pair of plates.  Non-residents were now exempted for only 10 days before having to register.

All vehicles continued to use the same 1905-09 plates except for motorcycles.  A complete reissue of new undated black-on-white plates for motorcycles appeared but it is uncertain if this series was issued in 1910 or 1911.  Motorcycle plate #C155 and its original certificate exist, having been issued on May 5, 1911, leading to an initial conclusion that the new plate series was a 1911 issue.  It is also entirely possible that it was a spring renewal of a 1910 registration, in which case the same plate number would have been assigned.  (If so, the matching 1910 certificate wasn't saved.)  The statistical evidence from the state reports listed above in Table 1, however, point to 1910 as the issue year for the new motorcycle plates.  If no reissue had occurred until 1911, then only 3 motorcycle numbers (#C474 - C476) would have been assigned during the entire 9 1/2 month period from November 16, 1909, to September 1, 1910, which seems impossibly low.  Known c.1910-11 motorcycle plates range from #C23 to #C425.  This number seems too high for just one year's worth of registrations, based on the 1912 listed high of #C118.  However, the potential exists for the state to have merely assigned the same number each owner had had in 1905-09, in which case any numbers up to about #C500 might be possible.  Our final conclusion is that the year the plate was introduced remains unknown, but that 1910 appears to be the most likely estimate.

ANNUAL PLATES 1912-ON

The 1905 and 1909 laws were repealed by 1911 Chapter 133, passed April 12, 1911.  The non-registration portions of the act took effect on May 1, 1911, while the sections involving registration became effective January 1, 1912.  This law continued annual registration of all motor vehicles just as in 1910-11, but now annual state-issued pairs of plates were also required except for motorcycles, which were now to display owner-provided plates with 2-inch-tall numbers, "N.H." and year date.  Headlight numbers were discontinued.  1912 dated plates were embossed steel with crimped edges but due to their inferior quality, they rusted prematurely, so the state returned to porcelain in 1913.

Fees for 1912 were raised as follows:  Automobiles $10, $15, $20, $25, $20 or $40 depending upon horsepower, Trucks and Commercial Vehicles $10, Motorcycles $3, Dealers $40.  Half rates were in effect for non-residents registering in July, August or September, and for all vehicles in October, November and December of each year.  Section 26 provides that the "secretary may issue certificates of registration for motor vehicles and licenses to operate the same to any member of the foreign diplomatic corps without the payment of the fees therefor."  No special diplomatic plates are known, although Massachusetts issued such plates at the time.

Non-residents were, in addition to the previous requirements, to display the registration number of their home jurisdiction.  Those staying longer than 10 days during the summer months had the option to register for up to 3 months for a half-rate fee.  The state then issued a distinct non-resident plate which was roughly triangular in shape, valid only from July 1 to September 30.  No non-resident plates were to be furnished for motorcycles, though.

Dealers were now issued 6 pairs of plates at no extra cost, which were to be lettered from "A" to "F" in addition to the number.  Letter suffixes did not appear on 1912 Dealer plates but were finally added in 1913.  No motorcycle dealer plates were to be issued.  Dealers needing more than 6 pairs could order additional pairs at $2 each.

According to the 1912 New England Auto List and Year Book, the highest numbers listed of each type are as follows:  Passenger #5935, Dealer #A183, Motorcycle #C118.  Non-residents were not included.  The highest known 1912 plates are as follows:  Passenger #5670, Dealer #A192, Non-Resident #925.  No 1912 motorcycle plates are known, but a 1914 pre-state motorcycle plate #C 6 exists.  The highest known 1914 motorcycle number listed in that year's motor vehicle directory is #C1099.

Motorcycles were plunged into a pre-state era in 1912, continuing into early 1915.  1915 Chapter 129, passed April 15, 1915, and effective May 1, 1915, deleted the owner-provided plate requirement.  Motorcycles were now required to display a state-issued disc on the rear, and the fee was lowered from $3 to $2.  Non-resident (July 1 to September 30) motorcycle discs were also issued but the law didn't specify how these would be identified from regular discs.  Motorcycle dealers were now registered with discs which were to contain a different letter on each.  The Motorcycle Dealer fee was $5 for 3 seals (marked "A", "B" and "C"), and 50c for each additional seal needed.  Motorcycle discs were issued for 1915, 1916 and 1917.  According to registration directories, as of May 15, 1915, #C802 was the highest listed, and as of September 1, 1917, #2060 was the highest listed.

1918 Chapter 229, passed April 19, 1917, and effective January 1, 1918, provided for state-issued rear motorcycle plates.  Non-resident motorcycle plates were also mentioned but not specified as to how they would differ from regular plates.  Motorcycle dealer plates were to have a separate letter on each; 3 plates were to be provided for the $5 fee, and 50c more for each additional plate.  The highest known 1918 motorcycle plates are as follows:  Motorcycle #2591, Motorcycle Dealer #A-29-B.