The U.S. state of Maryland first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1904. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1910, when the state began to issue plates.
Plates are currently issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration of the Maryland Department of Transportation. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers, as well as classes L (historic, 20+ years and unaltered) and N (street rod, 25+ years and altered) that are at least 50 years old.
Passenger baseplates 1910 to 1970 In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1956 (expired March 31, 1957) issue was the first Maryland license plate that complied with these standards. ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1910Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "MD" and "1910" at rightnone12341 to approximately 50001911White serial on black porcelain plate; "MD 1911" at rightnone12341000 to approximately 80001912Dark blue serial on white porcelain plate; "MD 1912" at rightnone123451000 to approximately 110001913Yellow serial on black porcelain plate; "MD 13" at rightnone123452000 to approximately 150001914White serial on green porcelain plate; "MD 14" at rightnone123452000 to approximately 205001915Embossed white serial on blue plate; "MD 15" at rightnone123454000 to approximately 320001916Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "MD 16" at leftnone123458000 to approximately 510001917Embossed dark green serial on white plate; "MD·1917" centered at bottomnone12-34520-000 to approximately 82-0001918Embossed white serial on dark gray plate; "MD·1918" centered at topnone12-34520-000 to approximately 95-0001919Embossed black serial on white plate; "MD·1919" centered at bottomnone123-45620-000 to approximately 109-0001920Embossed white serial on red plate; "MD·1920" centered at topnone123-45620-000 to approximately 113-0001921Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "MD·1921" centered at bottomnone123-45630-000 to approximately 138-0001922Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "MARYLAND·1922" centered at topnone123-45630-000 to approximately 151-000First use of the full state name.1923Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "MARYLAND·1923" centered at bottomnone123-45630-000 to approximately 185-0001924Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1924" centered at topnone123-45630-000 to approximately 223-0001925Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1925" centered at bottomnone123-45630-000 to approximately 242-0001926Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1926" centered at topnone123-45630-000 to approximately 275-0001927Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1927" centered at bottomnone123-45630-000 to approximately 288-0001928Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1928" centered at topnone123-45630-000 to approximately 305-0001929Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1929" centered at bottomnone123-45630-000 to approximately 325-0001930Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1930" centered at topnone123-45630-000 to approximately 342-0001931Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1931" centered at bottomnone123-45630-000 to approximately 386-0001932Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1932" centered at topnone123-45630-000 to approximately 389-0001933Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1933" centered at bottomnone123-45630-000 to approximately 385-0001934Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "MARYLAND" centered at top; "1634" at top left and "1934" at top right"TERCENTENARY" centered at bottom123-45630-000 to approximately 374-000Commemorated the 300th anniversary of the settlement of Maryland.1935Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1935" centered at bottomnone123-45630-000 to approximately 381-000Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1936" centered at topnone123-45630-000 to approximately 396-000Valid through March 31, 1937.1937–38Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "MARYLAND 1937" centered at topnone123-45630-000 to approximately 409-0001938–39Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "MARYLAND EX-3-31-39" at topnone123-45630-000 to approximately 508-0001939–40Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "MARYLAND EX-3-31-40" at bottomnone123-45630-000 to approximately 522-0001940–41Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "MARYLAND EX-3-31-41" at topnone123-45630-000 to approximately 544-0001941–44Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "MARYLAND" centered at top; "3-31" at top left and "1942" at top right"DRIVE CAREFULLY" centered at bottom123-45630-000 to approximately 654-000Revalidated through March 31, 1943 with yellow tabs, then through March 31, 1944 with black tabs, due to metal conservation for World War II.1944–47Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "MARYLAND" centered at top; "3-31" at top left and "1945" at top right"DRIVE CAREFULLY" centered at bottom123-45630-000 to approximately 688-000Revalidated through March 31, 1946 with silver tabs, then through March 31, 1947 with yellow tabs.1947–51Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "48" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123-45630-000 to approximately 795-000Revalidated through March 31, 1949 with black tabs, then through March 31, 1950 with red tabs, and finally through March 31, 1951 with black tabs.1951–53Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "MARCH 52" centered at top and bottom respectivelynone123-45630-000 to approximately 795-000Revalidated through March 31, 1953 with white tabs.1953–54Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "54" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB-12-34AA-10-01 to approximately JF-65-00For each two-letter series, only the letters A through H, and J, were used.1954–55Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "55" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB♦12♦34Letter K added to two-letter series.1955–56Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "56" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB:12:341956–57Embossed dark green serial on white plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "EXP-3-31-57" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB-12-341957–58Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "EXP-3-31-58" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB-12-34Letter L added to two-letter series.1958–59Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "EXP-3-31-59" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB:12:341959–60Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "EXP-3-31-60" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB♦12♦341960–61Embossed black serial on turquoise plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "EXP-3-31-61" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB:12:341961–62Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "EXP-3-31-62" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB-12-34AA-10-01 to approximately FY-47-00Letters M through Z (excluding O, Q and U) added to two-letter series. The practice of not using I, O, Q and U in standard passenger serials continues today.1962–63Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "EXP-3-31-63" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB♦12♦34AA♦10♦01 to approximately FN♦98♦001963–64Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "MARYLAND" and "EXP-3-31-64" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB:12:34AA:10:01 to approximately FX:92:001964–65Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "EXP-3-31-65" and "MARYLAND" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB-1234AA-1001 to approximately GF-13001965–66Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "EXP-3-31-66" and "MARYLAND" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB♦1234AA♦1001 to approximately GP♦78001966–67Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "EXP-3-31-67" and "MARYLAND" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB:1234AA:1001 to approximately GZ:90001967–68Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "EXP-3-31-68" and "MARYLAND" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB-1234AA-1001 to approximately HG-80001968–69Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "EXP-3-31-69" and "MARYLAND" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB♦1234AA♦1001 to approximately HT♦59001969–70Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "EXP-3-31-70" and "MARYLAND" centered at top and bottom respectivelynoneAB 1234AA 1001 to approximately JB 9300
1970 to present ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesApril1970 – March1975Embossed white serial on blue plate; border line around plate and around sticker spot at bottom right; "MARYLAND" centered at bottom; "71" at bottom leftnoneAB 1234AA 1001 to approximately SC 4300 April1975 – March1980Embossed red serial on white plate; border line around plate and around sticker spot at top right; "MARYLAND" centered at topnoneABC 123AAA 001 to approximately HNB 999April1980 – January 1986Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "MARYLAND" centered at topnoneABC 123AAA 001 to approximately KHN 999February 1986 – September 2004Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; shield with design of the state flag screened in the center; "Maryland" screened in black centered at topnoneABC 123NAA 001 to ZZZ 999, then AAA 001 to MZZ 999 (from mid-1992) optional 350th Anniversary base introduced in 1983 (see below). Two-year renewals started on July 1, 1992.September 2004 – February 20051AB C231AA A01 to 9AK Z99February 2005 – November 2006"www.maryland.gov" screened in black centered at bottom1AL A01 to 9CM Z99November – December 20061CN A01 to 9CN Z99Manufactured in New Jersey using that state's serial dies, while the plate production facility at the Maryland State Prison was closed for three weeks due to inmate unrest.December 2006 –June 13, 20101CP A01 to approximately 4GD J47Identical to 2005–06 plates. June 14, 2010 – September 25, 2016War of 1812 200th anniversary commemorative design with U.S. flag and Fort McHenry silhouette. Blue on reflective white. State name in blue (with capital-letter sized, but lower-case shaped, "Y"). "War of 1812" text under state name in red. Was to be issued until 2015, but was extended. Commemorates both the Bicentennial, and the anniversary of the writing of the United States' national anthem by Francis Scott Key.www.starspangled200.org1234510000 to 99999; 10000 to approximately 79999During the period when the plate was issued, the web address "www.starspangled200.org" belonged to a non-profit commemorating the War of 1812 bicentennial. Afterwards, the address was briefly owned by a gambling site in the Philippines but was reclaimed by the state government and now redirects to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.