Maryland License Plates

FN, FS-FZ, GE and GF series skipped in 2023-24.

C is constant. 065 00C appears to be the low with website.

P in 5th position. Used on various types of cross-border highway coaches since 1989. Charter buses required to register with Apportioned plates beginning 2016 per updated IRP rules.

E over D in 5th position

T over E in 5th position. Used on "wrecker" type tow trucks.

F in 5th position starting in 1989 until series exhausted and letter moved to 6th position around 2020.

Only issued from 1989-2001. G in 5th position. Very few surviving examples.

E in 5th position

Baltimore City (B/C) and Anne Arundel (A/A), Baltimore (B/A), Howard (H/C), Montgomery (M/C) and Prince George's (P/G) counties all have independent police departments that are assigned their own plate series.

A/A 1590: Anne Arundel County Police

B/A 2055: Baltimore County Police

H/C 1103: Howard County Police

M/C 0936: Montgomery County Police

P/G 3812: Prince George's County

P/P 0288: Maryland National Capital Park Police, Prince George's County (There is also a Montgomery County version of the National Capital Park Police plate, also with P/P prefix.)

S/P 0053: Baltimore City School Police

Tom Castelli informs us that other counties not listed here have a county sheriff's office that performs the same functions as an independent county police department. These departments use similar plates in the S/A 1234 series with "[county name] Co." screened below the serial. Cities and other municipalities that have independent police departments (e.g. Laurel, Westminster) use similar plates in the M/G 1234 series with the name of the municipality screened below the serial, although the L/G series is used by some towns.

Municipal series:

M/G 2376: Westminster

Sheriff series:

S/A 1800 series, S/A 3900 series (Baltimore City)

S/A 1932 (Worcester County)

S/A 2400 series (Baltimore County)

S/A 4720 (Wicomico County)

S/A 5913 (Carroll County)

University of Maryland Campus Police: C/P 0105

From Tom Castelli: It was the standard police type, with a caption of "University of Maryland." This was on a UMBC campus police car on the UMBC campus; I assume this type and prefix is used across all UMd campuses for their campus police cars. (Also assuming C/P stands for Campus Police.)

Maryland Department of Labor and Licensing Police: L/L0003

Reported by Jeff Ellis

The "P" is a constant. Now with website, starting at 085 01P. 084 65P is the high without the website.

Charter Bus (now obsolete): I00 345

Original numbering format: 1A00001

H/T suffix issued 2016-25; low 55000H/T.

H/W suffix issued 2025-present.

D/M is silkscreened -- constant on 4 x 7" plate. Tom Castelli observed 2D436 on 2009-09-13 with wheelchair symbol embossed to right of serial. Later a revision appeared with wheelchair symbol screened to left of stacked D/M prefix, embossed serial number D/M 0437.

4806 D/M low War of 1812 base circa 2014-15.

E and D are constants. High w/o website: E36978D. Low with website: E37001D. Now with VST threads.

Vehicles operating on farm and adjacent roads only. Class K includes vehicles used only on inhabited islands effective 10/2006. Now with website.

High without website: 124 27K.

Low with website: 129 94K.

Probably changed at 125 00K, but not confirmed.

"Farm" screened at bottom on both Farm Truck and Farm Truck Tractor. The stacked F/T and T/R are screened.

Farm Truck Tractor high: 086 91T/R Stickers go on the FRONT plate when these are issued in pairs, but Semi Tractor, Apportioned Semi Tractor, and Farm Semi Tractor were all changed to singles in 2003 or 2004.

Original series was 000 00L followed by L00 000 which ended in 2005 and followed by these.

000 0L0 2005-10

000 00Z 2010-13

Z00 000 2013-16

000 0Z0 2016-18

000 Z00 2018-21

0Z0 000 2021-24

000 L00 2024-25

Plate measures 4 x 7, some used Avery sheeting.

Low 4x7": 18414 L/D

High 4.5"x8": 17135 L/D

Now with website. High without website 03420LM.

Limousines used to use Class B plates, then spun off to separate class in 1997.

L/G 74892 high without website; L/G 75011 low with website

Avery sheeting in use beginning at L/G94500.

New format with the crest on the far left side.

New class; 000R09 is the lowest reported. Two full-size plates are issued, with a 6-character format WITHOUT the state crest. "Low Speed Vehicle" screened bottom. Plate was spotted on a 4-wheel, electric taxi in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

Jeff Ellis spoted 000R01, which is the lowest possible number in this type.

Now on Avery sheeting, and now on War of 1812 base.

New format: first 00000D, then 0000D0, then 000D00, then 000M00, then 0D0000, now D00000. The expected 00D000 would have conflicted with the truck series.

Motorcycle plates have "www.maryland.gov" in very small print at the bottom as of 741M83. High without web site is 737M49. Split was probably at 740M00.

In Fall 2008, Maryland changed Motorcycle plates from the traditional 4 1/2x8" size to the 4x7" size that is becoming the standard for most of the US. The high for the traditional size is 7D0003.

The low for the new size is 8D8444.

High for the new size: D35831

War of 1812 Low: D39381

1B is constant. Changed from old non-standard size (4.5" x 8") to 4 x 7" around 1B3000 or 1B3100 in 2010.

The new high is back to MD dies. See the note under Passenger about NJ dies.

894M522 high with MD dies.

895M023 low with NJ dies.

909M500 high with NJ dies.

910M000 low with MD dies.

It appears that the block of plates from 895Mnnn to 909Mnnn had NJ dies.

000000M - 999999M used originally, then M000000 to M999999, then 000M001 to 999M999, now 00001M0 to current. Newest issues have "www.maryland.gov" at the bottom, making it the first slogan on Maryland plates since 1947. The website began at 480M000.

Jason H. reports a low of 000M002 on this type.

Hologram threads begin 45000M0.

Yellow on black, flat. Tom Castelli reports a red on black, flat.

Chris Morris reports that numbers for this type are randomly assigned, not issued in sequential order.

2R is constant

New in 2025.

"School Charter" caption on bottom

"School Vehicle" caption on bottom

4E is constant

High without website is S/G 22722. Low with website is S/G 22806. The 24000 series uses an odd 2 die.

A separate series of State Gov't plates exists for State Highway Administration vehicles, beginning at S/G 80000. High for that series is S/G 87364. No website seen yet in this series.

There is a THIRD series of State Government plates for State Highway Administration PASSENGER CARS. Low is S/G 29607, and NEW High is S/G 29909. No website yet in this series.

'2' digit is back to a normal die. High with the odd '2' die is S/G 24366.

From Jeff Ellis: Many Maryland Transit Authority buses are sporting newly-remade State Gov't plates, retaining the old numbers, but now sporting the website at the bottom and Avery Sheeting.

These were probably issued up to S/G29599, then skipped to S/G30000 to avoid scattered numbers issued to State Highway Administration passenger cars in the intervening range.

Our high for the original type is S/G30274. It now appears that shortly after that number range, the state reversed to the 01234S/G format around late July 2014.

The state seal appears at the far left of the plate on the new, reversed format Local and State Govt plates.

From Jeff Ellis: Only known m/c plate with state shield. Not sure if equivalent Local Gov't m/c plate exists; have never seen one.

Modified Historic Vehicles

Modified Historic motorcycles

Still on crest base with website.

Website started at 375 00B High without is 374-99B. Christopher F. reports seeing a taxi with an Agriculture plate.

Taxi plates also appear on the Chesapeake plate in the reverse format.

Taxis that use Maryland's Agriculture license plates share the same serial format as regular passenger cars, trucks, & multipurpose vehicles.

This point of sale computer generated black on white permit has been printed by car dealers since October 2010. Permit design includes year, make, model, color, and VIN of vehicle with expiration date printed in white on black.

Numbering started at T000001 and appears to be shared between passenger cars and motorcycles. Some permits observed with missing T suffix or final digit were found to be a printing error. T floats between prefix and suffix as numbers are recycled continuously.

Motorcycle version is printed with blue ink on smaller sized paper; 72588K observed.

TT0-000, then 000-0TT, now 00000TT.

High without website: 00694TT

Low with website: 00712TT

TT is constant.

The website has now been replaced with "Tow Truck"

High with website: 06763TT

Low with "Tow Truck": 06918TT

Tow truck plates are now their own class: Class T. Until 2001 or so they were considered a type of truck plate ("E").

"F" suffix is a constant. Apparently now issued as singles. Issued as pairs as late as 2003 or 2004, plate number 290-26F, with 02 hologram. Now featuring the website. High without website is 301-49F. Break likely at 302-00F. Low with website is 302 72F.

Trailer plates have displayed URL along bottom since 2005.

Lowest Trailer with website: 854079G

Highest Trailer without website: 853890G

Very rare type

One of seven classes not assigned to individual vehicles. Others are: 1A (Dealer), 1B (M/C Dealer), 1C (Trailer Dealer), 2R (Recycler), 3F (Finance[Repossession]), 4E (Special Equipment)

Originally 300 001 to 299 999, then 00A 001 to present, low: 10A 813. "www.maryland.gov" started at 23R 000 in 2005 and VST sheeting threads appeared at 12X 000 in 2009.

www.maryland.gov, probably starting at 035 00J

High without website: 033 19J

Low with website: 034 52J

This nostalgic reproduction of Maryland's 1910 plate was first available only by application in 2014. It was re-activated in October 2025 and should remain available indefinitely. All plates issued from the Vehicle Services back office and mailed to the customer. Available once again to order in regular series, personalized and/or handicap versions in these plate classes and schemes:

A passenger vehicle VR series 2014 low VR00005

E light truck VR series

M Multi-purpose vehicle VR series

L Historic vehicle plate features smaller "HISTORIC" caption directly below state name; 2014 lows VL00300-319 plus 00156

N Street rod plate features smaller "STREET ROD" caption directly below state name; 2025 prefix VN

Introduced July 2001, this license plate ("Ag Tag") was an optional issue celebrating Maryland's agricultural heritage with the slogan "Our Farms, Our Future," beside a farm scene on a bright red and yellow background. It was available for passenger vehicles / light trucks / multipurpose vehicles / taxis in A000000 format, low A000052. Other ag tags were Trailer (A900000), Farm Truck (F/T00000), and Handicapped (00000A/E).

Hologram threads started at A221000. 3M sheeting used through A246xxx and A247 and A250xxx used Avery. A248xxx and A249xxx were mixed between Avery and 3M.

The production month for an Avery "SecureMark" code can be determined by subtracting the number of circles arrayed in a diamond pattern around the year from twelve. Eleven circles = January; ten circles = February, ... zero circles = December.

Christopher F. spotted the first plate in the series - 00001 A/E on 2007-09-30.

From Jeff Ellis: Stacked "A/E" screened through at least 02221A/E. Lowest embossed "A/E" sighted is 02301A/E, so embossed probably started at 02300A/E.

F/T stacked and screened.

Agriculture trailer series started at A900000.

This version debuted in 2018 at 50000 C/H, low 50811 C/H.

Commemorates the induction of Cal Ripken, Jr. to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

This Baltimore Orioles plate was introduced in June 2012. Orioles logo to left of serial, stacked B/A/L prefix is screened, numbers embossed.

Baltimore Ravens logo to left of serial. R/A/V stacked prefix screened.

Redskins helmet to left of serial. F/A/N stacked prefix screened, serial embossed.

DAV prefix (NOT stacked) is screened in black outlined letters -- D is red, A is white, V is blue. Number is embossed.

Wheelchair embossed to the left on numbers up to DV9999. Wheelchair symbol did not appear on 7-digit DV10000 format due to lack of space so a revised 6-digit format was implemented in the late-2010s. "Disabled Veteran" screened along bottom.

Standard Base. "Waving" US flag on flagpole graphic to left of serial. Stacked H/D/V screened.

Motorcycle: 0106 H/D/V

Old style National Guard 00000N/G format no longer issued, but still valid. High is 03735N/G.

This is a graphic dating from around 1990. The original, plainer 86-base Purple Heart plate in the PH00001 format is off the roads.

This base began issuance at NAA 001 in February, 1986 and progressed through ZZZ 999, then from AAA 001 through MZZ 999. Updated numbering format emerged in 2004 with 0 (zero) never produced in first position.

1AL A01 is the lowest pass plate reported with the new "www.maryland.gov" at the bottom.

9AK Z95 is the highest pass reported without "www.maryland.gov" at the bottom.

Maryland used New Jersey dies for a short period due to violence affecting plate production in the Maryland prison.

8CM X22 is the high with MD dies.

3CN Z46 is the high with NJ dies.

1CP A90 is the low for MD dies after NJ dies.

Jeff Ellis figures NJ dies ran between 1CN A01 and 9CN Z99.

Sheeting hologram threads appeared at 1FC A01.

This general use passenger base was issued only between June 2010-15 for new and replacement plates. 1986 "crest" base remained valid.

The M/D series appeared first (low 1M/D0000), followed by the A/A series. B/J and B/S were skipped, 0 (zero) never used in first position, Avery sheeting confirmed low 5 A/G 9000.

899 BNN was the final plate produced in the Heron passenger series.

When the original Bay plate debuted at the very end of 1990, for a premium price passenger car owners could get Bay plates with a BAY suffix. High on this type is 520-BAY.

From Jeff Ellis: Wheelchair and "H/P" screened to high of 13315H/P. Wheelchair embossed and "H/P" screened from low of 13541H/P through high of 13946H/P. Wheelchair AND "H/P" embossed from at low of 14121H/P.

AEY 99W was the final plate produced in the Heron multi-purpose series.

When the original Bay plate debuted at the very end of 1990, for a premium price passenger car owners could get Bay plates with a BAY suffix. Somewhat lesser known is that the same deal applied to multipurpose vehicles. Jeff Ellis reports a high of BAY 53A in this rare type.

On the new Bay base, taxis use the passenger format.

1EY 899 was the final plate produced in the Heron truck series.

This is the replacement for the Heron plate. First available 26 Jan 04. The first series ran through 99999 C/B, then B/Y, then C/A, then C/C, now C/D.

Tiger Joe and Andrew Turnbull report spotting the low for the C/A series, 00001 C/A. The reported low for the C/B series is 00001 C/B.

"Barbed wire" hologram started at 15000C/D.

Switch to Avery sheeting at approximately 08000C/E.

From Jeff Ellis: Background made much bluer beginning 98000C/E; still Avery.

First available 26 Jan 04.

"www.maryland.gov" appeared along bottom in 2005; 69000 H/V low. 68892 H/V high plain.

Progression: 00001H/C, 00001H/D, 00001H/V and 00016H/T.

Wheelchair and stacked letters screened through 35999H/D, embossed thereafter.

Confirmed issue range for this War of 1812 handicapped series was low 09343H/T through high 50665H/T.