MARYLAND
Maryland was the first state to issue a cargo-related vehicle plate
type on 7/1/1910 (Merchandise Only), with 1911 as the earliest known.
It was discontinued in mid-1916 in favor of Solid Tire plates.
When Maryland started issuing "private commercial" plates in 1934,
identifiable only by a separate number block, it became the last
state to issue a distinct series of truck plates. The first
physically identifiable truck plates were the locking plates of
1936, when 35,000 private commercial pairs were initially ordered.
See the Passenger page for the number blocks of regular passenger
plates reserved for "private commercial" vehicles in 1934-47.
Truck plate numbers reported from various classified ads for
sheriff's sales, lost tags, etc.:
1937 6/3/37 165-490, 10/27/37 151-424, 1/22/38 175-935
3-31-41 10/13/40 233-510, 1/11/41 241-108
3-31-42 10/22/41 248-869, 12/22/41 276-301, 3/19/42 277-618,
5/18/43 236-729, 10/14/43 700-699, 2/5/44 701-119
3-31-45 3/20/45 248-228, 4/21/45 262-502, 8/19/45 233-436,
3/24/47 296-318
Finally, Maryland issued a new series to all trucks in 1947 (exp. 4-30 "48")
when commercial vehicles changed to April 30 expirations while passenger
cars remained at March 31. Passenger tabs issued 1949-53. This series
only differed in appearance from passenger starting in "APRIL 52".
(4-30) 1948-51 BASE
(4-30) 48 Type 1: Alum. 800-000 - 933-381 (133,382 P)
Type 2: Steel 941-992 - 998-223 (56,232 P)
(TOTAL 198,224 P)
APRIL 1952-53 BASE 800-000 - 903-914 (103,915 P)
(4-30) 1954-75 FORMAT No I,O,Q,U used.
10-01-EA - 10-99-EA, 11-01-EA - 99-99-EA, 10-01-EB - 99-99-EZ
(4-30) 54 96-95-EK (88,799 S) 4-30-63 60-49-EN (111,919 P)
(4-30) 55 57-06-EK (84,849 S) 4-30-64 35-40-EP (118,345 P)
(4-30) 56 78-92-EK (87,014 P) 4-30-65 4147-EP (118,946 P)
4-30-57 79-97-EK (87,118 P) 4-30-66 1738-ES (134,381 P)
4-30-58 72-68-EM (104,216 P) 4-30-67 1238-ET (142,796 P)
4-30-59 22-17-EM (99,215 P) 4-30-68 3331-EV (153,778 P)
4-30-60 73-30-EM (104,277 P) 4-30-69 5081-EW (164,421 P)
4-30-61 33-04-EN (109,201 P) 4-30-70 7380 EX (175,607 P)
4-30-62 36-59-EM (100,643 P)
(4-30) 1971-75 BASE
1970 "71" Type 1: Large dies 1001 EA - 9999 EZ (196,020 P)
Type 1a 1001 DA - 9999 DZ (196,020 P)
1974 "75" Type 1b 1001 JA - 9215 JB (17,043 P)
1974 "75" Type 2: Small dies 2587 JC - 8260 JM (85,807 P)
(TOTAL 497,238 P)
(4-30) 1976-80 BASE "TRUCK" bottom. No I,O used.
1975 Undated Type 1 H 10001 - P 35279 (565,273 P)
1979 "80" Type 2 P 40088 - P 80796 (40,709 P)
(TOTAL 610,790 P)
Description of Types: Type 1 - Red decal box
Type 2 - Unpainted decal box
(4-30) 1981-87 BASE "TRUCK" bottom. No I,O,Q,S,T,U used.
1980 Undated H 10001 - V 57044 (787,036 P)
Starting number changed from 10001 to 00001 at R series.
Monthly Staggered Registration began 11/16/1985 same as passenger,
for trucks up to 7,000 lbs. Trucks over 7,000 lbs. continue to
expire in APR. Replaced October 1986 to September 1987.
1986-2012 SHIELD BASE No legend. No I,O,Q,U used.
"4-88" Type 1 300 000 - 999 999 (700,000 P)
1989 Type 1a 000 001 - 299 999 (299,999 P)
Dec.92 Type 1b 00A 001 - 22R 999 (1,422,985 P)
3/21/05 Type 2 23R 000 - 93X 866 (570,862 P)
(TOTAL 2,993,846 P)
Description of Types: Type 1 - No slogan
Type 2 - "www.maryland.gov" bottom
Starting number avoided overlapping 1981-87 Motorcycle series.
Two-Year Registration began 7/1/1992-93 same as passenger,
expire "7 94" or "7 95". Discontinued 6/14/2010, replaced by
passenger, but currently revalidated.
1991-2006 CHESAPEAKE BASE No legend. No I,O,Q,U used.
12-24-90 "11-91" 1AA 001 - 1EY 899 (108,791 P)
First digit always "1".
Discontinued 2004, but currently revalidated.
MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLE: Began January 1979 "79".
Previously issued passenger plates.
1979-80 base issued only to new registrations.
(3-31) 1979-80 BASE "MPV" bottom.
1979 "79" Type 1 Z 00001 - Z 10476 (10,476 P)
1979 "80" Type 2 Z 11558 - Z 17366 (5,809 P)
(TOTAL 17,366 P)
Types same as 1976-80 Truck.
(3-31) 1981-87 BASE "MPV" bottom.
1980 Undated Type 1 Z 00001 - Z 99999 (99,999 P)
1984 "85" Type 1b Y 00001 - Y 80250 (80,250 P)
(TOTAL 180,249 P)
Monthly Staggered Registration began 11/16/1985 same as passenger.
Replaced October 1986 to September 1987.
1984-87 ANNIVERSARY BASE No "MPV" legend or shield.
8-1-83 "84" 00001 X - 03952 X (3,952 P)
Replaced October 1986 to September 1987.
1986-2012 GRAPHIC BASE No "MPV" legend or shield.
2-1-86 Type 1 000001M - 999999M (999,999 P)
Oct.97 Type 1a M000001 - M999999 (999,999 P)
2/3/03 "7-03" Type 1b 000M001 - 479M999 (479,999 P)
2/8/05 "3 06" Type 2 480M000 - 895M023 (415,024 P)
11/3/06 "11-07" Type 3 895M804 - 908M113 (12,310 P)
11/19/06 Type 2a 910M000 - 999M999 (90,000 P)
4/23/07 Type 2b 00000M1 - 61433M4 (614,334 P)
(TOTAL 3,614,331 P)
Description of Types: Type 1 - No slogan
Type 2 - "www.maryland.gov" bottom
Type 3 - As Type 2, but New Jersey dies
Two-Year Registration began 7/1/1992-93 same as passenger,
expire "7 94" or "7 95". Discontinued 6/14/2010, replaced by
passenger, but currently revalidated.
1991-2006 CHESAPEAKE BASE No "MPV" legend. No I,O,Q,U used.
12-24-90 "1 92" AAB 01A - AEY 99W (234,927 P)
(TOTAL 237,105 P)
BAY series (2,178 P) also issued.
Discontinued 2004, but currently revalidated.
