Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1914

In 1914 Arizona and California joined the list of states and territories providing license plates to vehicle owners, and no new states entered the prestate era. There were now 37 states and 3 territories that were issuing license plates and 7 other states requiring owners to provide their own license plates.

Passenger baseplates In the table below, a light green background indicates that the owner of the vehicle was required to provide their own license plates. These plates are called "prestate" by most collectors. In the prestate era many states only provided the license plate number on a small disc or on paper, and the owner was required to have their license plate(s) made. These early license plates were created from kits that could be purchased at a hardware store, may have been available from automobile clubs or associations, they were forged by blacksmiths or other tradesmen, or the owner may have made their own plate with whatever materials they had on hand. Prestate plates were made from a variety of materials, but most often were made of leather, steel, or wood.

Legend:Regular state issue plate(s)Prestate era plate(s)No plates issued by state or territory

ImageStateDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesAlabamaAlaskaNo prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1921.American SamoaNo prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1924.ArizonaFirst year for state issued plates.ArkansasCaliforniaFirst year for state issued plates.Canal ZoneColoradoConnecticut DelawareDistrict ofColumbiaFloridaState issued plates begin in 1918.GeorgiaGuamNo prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1916.Hawai'iNo prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1922.IdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyWhite serial numbers on black porcelain plate; "K" over "Y" over diamond symbol with a letter "G' in the center all at right; red lines across top and bottom of platenoneEmbossed black serial numbers on white base; large "KY" over "1914" at rightIssued only to new registrants and those whose plates expired before the end of 1914.LouisianaNo prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.MaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaLast year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.NebraskaPrestate owner provided plate with house numbers on leatherNone12345Last year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.NevadaState issued plates begin in 1916.New HampshireNew Jersey New MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNorthern Mariana IslandsNo prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1944.OhioOklahomaNo prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.OregonPennsylvaniaPuerto RicoRhode IslandSouth CarolinaNo prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917.South DakotaTennesseeLast year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.TexasNo prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1917.U.S. Virgin IslandsNo prestate plates. Territory issued plates begin in 1917.UtahFinal year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.VermontVirginiaWashingtonLast year for prestate plates. State issued plates begin in 1915.West VirginiaWisconsinEmbossed black serial on white plate with a vertical "1914" date at leftnone12345W1W to approximately 54000WFirst year to use embossed metal.WyomingThe round state seal is missing above the letters "WYO" in this photograph.

Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1914

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