Vehicle registration plates of Massachusetts
Encyclopedia
The first license plates
in the United States appeared in 1903 when the state of Massachusetts
began requiring motor vehicles to display them.
The modern plates were introduced in 1987. The red number typeface remains virtually the same (though since 2010 the "D's" have changed to a more octagonal shape to be discernible from a distance), but the border was dropped, and the state name is no longer embossed; it is italicized and blue, and no longer all capital letters. Additionally, the slogan "The Spirit of America" (from an advertising jingle from the early 1980s) was added in the same italicized blue typeface at the bottom.
Since 1972, serials on Massachusetts plates are coded to the month of expiration of the registration, using 1 for January through 0 for October. X and Y were used from 1972 to 1977 for November and December. Registrants are issued plates expiring the last day of the previous month (i.e., a motorist registering a vehicle in June will be issued May plates). If a vehicle is registered in December or January (so that November and December plates would be called for), leftover plates are issued from other months with manufacturing overruns.
In addition to the standard numbering formats, Massachusetts also issues "low number reserve" plates. These plates are either all-numeric (1 through 99999) or consist of a single letter followed or preceded by a number (A 1 through Z 9999 and 1 A through 9999 Z). When a registrant cancels a low number reserve registration, the number is placed back into circulation. Dormant low numbers are made available to any registrant who desires such a number by means of an annual lottery held by the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). This lottery is typically held in August each year. Prior to the institution of this annual lottery, such registration numbers were issued only to well-connected individuals, and it is widely believed that drivers with low registration numbers were given preferential treatment by law enforcement. The annual lottery was instituted in response to complaints about the politics behind the issuance of low-number registrations. As with standard registration plates, the final digit on low number reserve plates also indicates the month of expiration.
Two year registrations are mandatory, with the exception of vehicles initially registered during December or January. Vanity plates and motorcycle plates must be renewed annually. All vanity plate registrations expire on November 30, and all motorcycle and commercial registrations expire on December 31.
Starting with the 1987 base, the three-letter abbreviation for the month of expiration is either embossed or screened in the upper left corner of the plate, with the exception of vanity plates which do not have the expiration month (NOV) screened or embossed.
Vehicle registration plate
A vehicle registration plate is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the vehicle within the issuing region's database...
in the United States appeared in 1903 when the state of Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
began requiring motor vehicles to display them.
Passenger plates 1967 to present
For twenty years, starting in 1967, Massachusetts used three series of license plates that were nearly identical. All had the identical semi-rounded letters and numbers and the word MASSACHUSETTS embossed in the same style, with an embossed quarter-inch border a quarter inch from the edge of the plate. The plates changed color twice, in 1972 and 1977; the red plates moved MASSACHUSETTS to the bottom of the plate, but the blue 1967 and green 1977 plates had it on the top.The modern plates were introduced in 1987. The red number typeface remains virtually the same (though since 2010 the "D's" have changed to a more octagonal shape to be discernible from a distance), but the border was dropped, and the state name is no longer embossed; it is italicized and blue, and no longer all capital letters. Additionally, the slogan "The Spirit of America" (from an advertising jingle from the early 1980s) was added in the same italicized blue typeface at the bottom.
Since 1972, serials on Massachusetts plates are coded to the month of expiration of the registration, using 1 for January through 0 for October. X and Y were used from 1972 to 1977 for November and December. Registrants are issued plates expiring the last day of the previous month (i.e., a motorist registering a vehicle in June will be issued May plates). If a vehicle is registered in December or January (so that November and December plates would be called for), leftover plates are issued from other months with manufacturing overruns.
In addition to the standard numbering formats, Massachusetts also issues "low number reserve" plates. These plates are either all-numeric (1 through 99999) or consist of a single letter followed or preceded by a number (A 1 through Z 9999 and 1 A through 9999 Z). When a registrant cancels a low number reserve registration, the number is placed back into circulation. Dormant low numbers are made available to any registrant who desires such a number by means of an annual lottery held by the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). This lottery is typically held in August each year. Prior to the institution of this annual lottery, such registration numbers were issued only to well-connected individuals, and it is widely believed that drivers with low registration numbers were given preferential treatment by law enforcement. The annual lottery was instituted in response to complaints about the politics behind the issuance of low-number registrations. As with standard registration plates, the final digit on low number reserve plates also indicates the month of expiration.
Two year registrations are mandatory, with the exception of vehicles initially registered during December or January. Vanity plates and motorcycle plates must be renewed annually. All vanity plate registrations expire on November 30, and all motorcycle and commercial registrations expire on December 31.
Starting with the 1987 base, the three-letter abbreviation for the month of expiration is either embossed or screened in the upper left corner of the plate, with the exception of vanity plates which do not have the expiration month (NOV) screened or embossed.
| Image | First issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1967 | blue on white; MASSACHUSETTS on top; blue border | 123-456 123-45A A12-345 |
|
|
1972 | red on reflective white; MASSACHUSETTS on bottom; red border | Coded by month of expiration, 1 (Jan) through 0 (Oct) or X (Nov) or Y (Dec) A12-340 1A-2340 123-40A 123-450 |
|
| 1977 | green on reflective white; MASSACHUSETTS on top; green border (only rear plate issued) | Coded by month of expiration: 123-450 120-ABC |
100-000 to 999-999 (final digit varied by month) | |
| 100-AAA to 999-VZZ (final digit varied by month) | ||||
|
1987 (vanity plates, low number reserve, and certain non-passenger types only) 1993 (all plates) |
red on reflective white, with screened state name above and slogan "The Spirit of America" below in blue; no border | Coded by month of expiration: 120-ABC |
999-ZZZ to 100-WAA (reverse issue, final digit varied by month) |
| 123-0AB | 100-0AA to ??? (final digit varied by month) | |||
| 1230 AB | ??? to 9999 ZZ (final digit varied by month. January issued only through approx. 9991 TZ) | |||
| 12A B30 | 10A A00 to 99Z Z00, then 10A A10 through 99Z Z10 and so on through 99Z Z90. Final digit varies by month. | |||
| 123 AB0 | 100 AA0 to present. Final digit varies by month. | |||
| 1AB 230 | 1AA 000 to present. Final digit will vary by month. | |||
Current passenger base plates
Currently, the 1977 green-on-white base as well as the 1987 "Spirit" base is valid for registration. The 1977 base only issued a single (rear) plate, whereas for the current "Spirit" base, two plates are issued. Registrants have the option of replacing the 1977 base with the "Spirit" base at no charge (though a different number will be used), however, most choose to keep their 1977 base plate as a point of pride. In many cases, the 1977 base plates are worn and illegible; technically, a car with an illegible green plate should fail the state's annually required vehicle safety inspection.| Image | First year of issue | Description | Current serial format | Serials previously issued |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1987 | Red on reflective white base with screened state name and slogan in blue | Coded with "n" by month of expiration:
|
Coded with "n" by month of expiration:
|
|
1987 | Low number reserve: Red on reflective white base with screened state name and slogan in blue | Coded with "n" by month of expiration:
|
|
External links
- Massachusetts license plates 1969-present
- Instructions for Ordering Special Plates. Registry of Motor Vehicles (MassDOT). Retrieved 2010-06-22.
- Pro-Life License Plates Available in Massachusetts. June 21, 2010. LifeSiteNews.com. Retrieved 2010-06-22.