Massachusetts was the first U.S. state to issue license plates on September 1, 1903, to Frederick Tudor.[1] Plates are currently issued by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).
On November 12, 2019, Massachusetts became the final state to issue temporary license plates (designated as type PAS, subtype TP), which can be printed at home & put in the RMV sleeve & affixed to the back of the vehicle. Temporary plates are initially good for 20 days but can be renewed once after 17 days if permanent plates haven't arrived yet.
All plates since 1978 are currently valid. Prior to 1993, only rear plates were required; since the first "Spirit of America" plate was issued in 1986, front and rear plates have been required since. As such, the 1978-1993 issues continue to only require the rear plate, while the "Spirit of America" issues since 1986 require front and rear plates.
Blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1908" at left and right respectively
12345
1 to approximately 17500
First dated plate.
1909
White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1909" at left and right respectively
12345
1 to approximately 23500
1910
Blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1910" at left and right respectively
12345
1 to approximately 29000
12345
1911
White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1911" at left and right respectively
12345
1 to approximately 33000
1912
Blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1912" at left and right respectively
12345
1 to approximately 41000
1913
White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1913" at left and right respectively
12345
1 to approximately 54500
1914
Blue serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1914" at left and right respectively
12345
1 to approximately 62000
1915
White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MASS" and "1915" at left and right respectively
12345
1 to approximately 79500
1916
Dark blue serial on cream flat metal plate; vertical "MASS" and "1916" at left and right respectively
123456
1 to approximately 102000
123,456
1917
Cream serial on dark blue flat metal plate; "MASS. 1917" centered at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 127,000
1918
Dark blue serial on cream flat metal plate; "MASS. 1918" centered at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 142,000
123,456
1919
Cream serial on dark blue flat metal plate; "MASS. 1919" centered at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 177,000
1920
Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "MASS. 1920" centered at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 219,000
First embossed plate.
1921
Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "MASS. 1921" centered at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 260,000
123,456
1922
As 1920 base, but with "MASS. 1922" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 321,000
123,456
1923
As 1921 base, but with "MASS. 1923" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 402,000
1924
Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS. 1924" centered at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 473,000
123,456
1925
Embossed white serial on black plate; "MASS. — 1925" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 546,000
123,456
1926
Embossed white serial on blue plate; "1926 — MASS" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 598,000
1927
Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS — 1927" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 624,000
1928
Embossed white serial on green plate; "1928", cod fish graphic and "MASS" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 644,000
1929
Embossed white serial on blue plate; "MASS — 1929" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 712,000
1930
Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "1930 — MASS" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 749,000
123,456
1931
Embossed white serial on green plate; "MASS — 1931" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 792,000
123,456
1932
As 1930 base, but with "1932 — MASS" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 740,000
123,456
1933
As 1931 base, but with "MASS — 1933" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 759,000
123,456
1934
As 1930 base, but with "MASS — 1934" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 749,000
1935
As 1931 base, but with "1935 — MASS" at bottom
123,456
1 to approximately 734,000
123,456
1936
Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 36" centered at top
123,456
1 to approximately 729,000
123,456
1937
Embossed white serial on green plate; "37 MASS" centered at top
123,456
1 to approximately 755,000
1938
Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 38" centered at bottom
123·456
1 to approximately 751·000
123·456
1939
Embossed white serial on green plate; "39 MASS" centered at bottom
123·456
1 to approximately 771·000
1940
Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 40" centered at top
123·456
1 to approximately 779·000
1941
Embossed white serial on green plate; "41 MASS" centered at bottom
123·456
1 to approximately 852·000
1942–44
Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 42" centered at bottom
123·456
1 to approximately 828·000
Revalidated for 1943 and 1944 with wind- shield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
123·456
As above, but green rather than maroon
828·001 to approximately 855·000
1945
Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "45 MASS" at top
123·456
1 to approximately 799·000
1946
Embossed white serial on black plate; "46 MASS" at bottom
123·456
1 to approximately 843·000
1947
Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "MASS 47" within embossed white bar centered at top
123·456
1 to approximately 897·000
1948
Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "48 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at bottom
123·456
1 to approximately 948·000
No image
1949–50
Embossed white serial on black plate; "49 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at top
123·456
1 to 999·999
Revalidated for 1950 with windshield sticker.
A12·345
K, H and J series
1951–52
Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "MASS 51" within embossed white bar centered at bottom
123·456
1 to 999·999
Revalidated for 1952 with windshield sticker.
A12·345
K, H, E and P series
1953–54
Embossed white serial on black plate; "MASS 53" within embossed white bar centered at top
123·456
1 to 999·999
Revalidated for 1954 with windshield sticker.
A12·345
K, H, E, P and L series
No image
1955–56
Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "55 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at bottom
123·456
1 to 999·999
Revalidated for 1956 with windshield sticker.
A12·345
K, H, E, P, L, N and X series
1957–58
Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MASS 57" within embossed white bar centered at top
123·456
1 to 999·999
First 6" x 12" plate. Revalidated for 1958 with windshield sticker.
A12·345
K, H, E, P, L, N, X and U series
1959–60
Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "59 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at top
123·456 A12·345
Revalidated for 1960 with windshield sticker.
1961–62
Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "MASS 61" within embossed white bar centered at top
123·456 A12·345
Revalidated for 1962 with windshield sticker.
1963
Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "63 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at top
123·456 A12·345
1964–65
Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "MASS 64" within embossed white bar centered at top
123·456 A12·345
Revalidated for 1965 with windshield sticker.
1966
Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "66 MASS" within embossed white bar centered at top
123·456 A12·345
1967 to present
Massachusetts implemented a monthly staggered registration system in 1969. Since then, serials on passenger plates have been coded by the month of expiration of the registration, determined by the last number in the serial (1 for January, 2 for February and so on up to 0 for October). From 1969 through 1977, serials with 'X' suffixes were used for November and 'Y' suffixes for December expirations respectively. Registrants are issued plates expiring the last day of the previous month (e.g. 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 serial formats, Massachusetts also issues "reserve" plates. Reserve plates permit the plate holder to receive the same serial number when new plate styles are issued, or to transfer the serial number to family members. 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). Reserve serials may also be of the forms A (expires on December 31), A#A, A##A, #A#, and #AA#, where # represents any number, and A represents any letter. Low-number reserve plates – now called "Lottery Plates" by the RMV – are of the forms A, #, ##, ###, ####, A #, A ##, # A, and ## A only. When a registrant cancels a low-number reserve registration, the number is placed in an annual lottery.[3] Registration for the lottery generally begins each June, and the drawing must be held by September 15. Prior to the institution of this annual lottery[when?], low-number reserve plates 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.[citation needed] As with standard registration plates, the final digit on low-number reserve plates 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 apportioned plate registrations expire on June 30, all trailer and "Spirit of America" vanity plate registrations expire on November 30, and all motorcycle, commercial, and single letter "Spirit of America" plate registrations expire on December 31.
Currently, the Livery plate is the only common license plate in Massachusetts that is allowed to have more than six characters in its serials. All Livery plate serials start with the letters "LV", even if not stamped.
Because the RMV utilizes "Plate Type" to describe the type of registration, it is theoretically possible to have two plates issued with seemingly the same serial. Some of the plate types, and their three-letter codes, are listed below:
PAN - Passenger: Normal
PAR - Passenger: Reserved
PAS - Passenger: Specialty (Antique, Veteran, Environmental, Sports, Spay & Neuter, Breast Cancer, United We Stand, etc.)
PAV - Passenger: Vanity
PAY - Passenger: Year of Manufacture (Antique plate with year stamped; AN gets added to the beginning of plate number on registration)
CON - Commercial: Normal (plates starting SR are for snow removal; HR for Hearse)
COR - Commercial: Reserved
COV - Commercial: Vanity
MCN - Motorcycle: Normal
MCR - Motorcycle: Reserved
MCS - Motorcycle: Specialty
MCV - Motorcycle: Vanity
AHN - Camper: Normal
AHR - Camper: Reserved
AHV - Camper: Vanity
AMN - Ambulance: Normal (includes Animal Ambulance)
AMR - Ambulance: Reserved
LVN - Livery: Normal
LVR - Livery: Reserved
LVV - Livery: Vanity
SPN - School Pupil: Normal
TAN - Taxi: Normal
TAR - Taxi: Reserved
TRN - Trailer: Normal (not used on Camper trailers)
TRR - Trailer: Reserved
VPN - Van Pool: Normal
SBN - School Bus: Normal
SBR - School Bus: Reserved
BUN - Bus: Normal
BUR - Bus: Reserved
BUV - Bus: Vanity
Image
Dates issued
Design
Serial format
Serials issued
Notes
1967–68
Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MASSACHUSETTS" centered at top
123·456
100·001 to 999·999
Revalidated with windshield stickers through the end of 1969, then coded by month of expiration (see above) and revalidated with plate stickers.
A12·345
E10·001 to Y99·999
1969–71
123·45A
Coded by month of expiration
Revalidated with plate stickers. All plates replaced 1972–73.
1972–78
Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MASSACHUSETTS" centered at bottom
1A·2345 12A·340 123·456 A12·345 123·45A
Coded by month of expiration
12A·340 serial format used only on plates expiring in October.[4] Issued in alternating weeks from 1977, following the introduction of the green-on-white base (below), until supplies were exhausted. Replaced 1982–83.
1977–93
Embossed green serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MASSACHUSETTS" centered at top
123·ABC
100·AAA to 999·VZZ (see right)
Only rear plates issued (except for reserved and non-passenger plates). On all plates, the last digit corresponded to the month of expiration, with November and December expirations discontinued except on non-passenger plates and on red-and-white plates until 1980–81. All-numeric plates were generally issued to holders of the same serials on the red-on-white base. Still currently revalidated.
1983–93
123·456
100·000 to 999·999 (see right)
1993–present
Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; "Massachusetts" and "The Spirit of America" screened in blue centered at top and bottom respectively
123·ABC
999·ZZZ to 100·WAA (reverse issue)
This base was first issued in 1987 for vanity plates and some non-passenger types, before becoming the standard passenger base in 1993. On all standard passenger plates, the last digit corresponds to the month of expiration. Letters Q and U never used. Letters I and O used in 123·ABC and 1234 AB formats (IA-IZ, OA-OZ were skipped)
1234 AB
1000 AA to 9999 AA, then 1000 AB through 9999 AZ and so on through 9999 ZZ (January issued only through 9991 TZ, February issued only through 9992 YZ)[5]
12A B34
10A A00 to 99A A09, then 10A B00 through 99A Z09, then 10B A00 through 99Z Z09 and so on through 99Z Z99 (May issued only through 99Z Z85, June issued only through 99Z Z86)
123 AB4
111 AA0 to 999 AA9, then 111 AB0 through 999 AZ9 and so on through 999 ZZ9 (October issued only through 999 NZ0 to avoid confusion with previous 123·ABO format)
1AB 234
1AA 110 to 9ZZ 999
1ABC 23
As of December 16, 2024:
1AAA 11 to 5VLZ 91
1AAA 12 to at least 5HHW 12
1AAA 13 to at least 4MLY 43
1AAA 14 to at least 5VPH 74
1AAA 15 to at least 5GLJ 45
1AAA 16 to 4TZZ 96
1AAA 17 to at least 6GKA 97
1AAA 18 to at least 6KYG 28
1AAA 29 to at least 6SYK 69
1AAA 10 to 9RZZ 90 (9SAA 10 to 9ZZZ 90 were not used and October was moved on to the below formats in November 2018)
12A 340
11A 100 to 99Z 990 (October only)
123 A40
111 A10 to 479 Z90 (October only)
Current passenger baseplates
Currently, both the 1977 green-on-white base and the 1987 "Spirit" base are valid for registration. On the 1977 base, only rear plates were issued for most types (except for Reserved, Commercial and Taxi, for which front plates were also issued and must also be displayed today), whereas on the current "Spirit" base, both front and rear plates are issued. Registrants with 1977 plates have the option of replacing these with "Spirit" plates at no charge (though a different number will be used); however, most choose to keep their 1977 plates as a point of pride. In many cases, the 1977 plates are worn and illegible; legally per M.G.L. Chapter 90, a car with an illegible plate (regardless of age or color) must fail the state's annually required vehicle safety inspection. This is a safety fail, which under Massachusetts law prohibits operation of the vehicle until the issue is corrected.
Image
First year of issue
Description
Serials previously issued
Current serial format
Notes
1987
Red on reflective white base with screened state name and slogan in blue
Coded with n by month of expiration (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October):
123·45n
12n·ABC
123n AB
12A B3n
123 ABn
1AB 23n
1ABC 20 (October expirations, although other months are currently following)
12A 340 (October expirations only, although other months might follow)
Coded with n by month of expiration (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October):
1ABC 2n (January through September expirations)
123 A40 (October expirations only, although other months might follow)
Letters Q and U never used. Letters I and O used in 123·ABC and 1234 AB formats (IA-IZ, OA-OZ were skipped)
Reserved plates
Image
First year of issue
Description
Serial formats
Notes
1987
Low-number reserve: Red on reflective white base with screened state name and slogan in blue
Coded with n by month of expiration (1 through 9 for January through September, 0 for October):
Red on reflective white base with screened state name and slogan in blue
AB
AB 1
AB 12
AB 123
AB 1234
ABC
ABC 1
ABC 12
ABC 123
ABCD
ABCD 1
ABCD 12
ABCDE
ABCDE 1
ABCDEF
All "Spirit of America" vanity plates expire on November 30. The letters I, O, Q, and U can only be used as part of a word that is clearly defined and correctly spelled.
Non-passenger plates
Image
Type
Dates issued
Design
Serial format
Serials issued
Notes
Commercial
1987–1991
As "Spirit of America" base, but with embossed "COMMERCIAL" in place of slogan
123·456
1 to 999·999
All Commercial plates expire on December 31.
1991–1993
A 1234 A12·345
A 1000 to C99·999
1993–2007
As above, but with embossed "DEC" at top left
D 1000 to approximately M63·800
2007–2019
As above, but with "DEC" screened rather than embossed
M63·801 to approximately V44·000
2019–present
As above, but with "COMMERCIAL" screened rather than embossed
V44·001 to at least Y35·825 (as of December 14, 2024)
Trailer
1987–2004
As "Spirit of America" base, but with embossed "TRAILER" in place of slogan
123·456
1 to 999·999
All Trailer plates expire on November 30.
2004–2008
A 1234
A 1000 to Z 9999
2008–2021
A12·345
A10·000 to approximately F99·999
2021–2024
TZ 12345
TZ 10000 to TZ 99999
2024-present
TZ 1234A
TZ 1000A to at least TZ 6031C (as of July 25, 2024)
Apportioned
1987–2018
As "Spirit of America" base, but with screened "APPORTIONED" in place of slogan