Complete Listing of All Delaware Plate Types
Passenger & Non-Passenger Special Backgrounds Legislative & Judicial Military & Veteran Colleges & High Schools Misc. Non-Profits Surf & Defunct
Legislative & Judicial →
Lieutenant Governor
1918
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Steel
Colors: White on brown
Dimensions: 5 1/2" × 13 3/8"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Notes: The earliest year that MV records confirm #2 was issued to the Lt. Governor is 1918. The earliest year that MV records confirm #2 was not issued to the Lt. Governor is 1916. Therefore the first year is either 1917 or 1918 but no records exist for 1917.
1919
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: White on dark blue
Dimensions: 5.75" x 10.75"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1920
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Black on light green
Dimensions: 5 5/8" x 13 3/8"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1921
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Red on white
Dimensions: 5 5/8" x 13 3/8"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1922
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Blue on white
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1923
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: White on black
Dimensions: 5.5" x 13.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1924
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Brown on cream
Dimensions: 5.5" x 13.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1925
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Black on orange
Dimensions: 5.5" x 13.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1926
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on blue
Dimensions: 5.5" x 13.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1927
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Red on gray
Dimensions: 5.5" x 13.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1928
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Black on white
Dimensions: 5.5" x 13.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1929
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1930
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on Colonial Blue
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1931
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1932
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on Colonial Blue
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1933
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1934
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on Colonial Blue
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1935
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1936
Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on Colonial Blue
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1937
Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
From Anonymous
1938
Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Maroon on silver
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1939
Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Silver on maroon
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1940
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6.25" x 10"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1941
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on blue
Dimensions: 5.5" x 9.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
1942 - Early 1947
Manufacturer: Varies, see notes
Material: Porcelain
Colors: White on black
Dimensions: 5.5" x 9.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs until March 1943, then singles
Notes: In early 1941, State Senator Harold W. T. Purnell introduced a bill that would create a permament license plate with room for inserts that would be updated every year. It's possible (but not confirmed) that this base was in use through the stainless steel era (see next record).
From Louis O'Neal
Early 1947 - June 1959
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Stainless steel
Colors: Silver/off-white (Scotchlite) on black
Dimensions: 5.5" x 9.5"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: The state switched to stainless steel plates in early 1947. These plates featured numbers that were spot riveted onto the plate and tab slots to continue using the same style of tab that had been in use up to that point. In late 1950/early 1951, reflective Scotchlite tape was applied to numbers. The United States mandated that all license plates measure 6" x 12" starting in 1956. Delaware was the last state to switch to this new standard in 1958.
(Steel numbers)
(Scotchlite numbers)
(Scotchlite numbers, 6" x 12")
June 1959 - June 1962
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Steel (briefly), then aluminum
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: Two variations: (1) thinner "DELAWARE", straight-leg "R" in "DELAWARE", and (2) thicker "DELAWARE", curved-leg "R" in "DELAWARE".
(Thinner "DELAWARE")
(Thicker "DELAWARE")
June 1962 - circa 1977
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Aluminum
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: "THE FIRST STATE" slogan added for the first time. Several fonts for "2" are known. Courtesy plate known. A courtesy plate is a second plate without the "LT. GOVERNOR" legend, perhaps for a second or spouse's vehicle. The courtesy plate displayed below has a sticker box without the "PLACE STICKER HERE", which means it was issued in 1968, 1969, or 1970.
From Dave Lincoln
From Dave Lincoln
From Dave Lincoln
(Courtesy plate)
From Lewest Historical Society
(#2 plate in use, 1975)
From Facebook
Circa 1978 - circa 2010
Manufacturer: Demco (Milford, DE) until July 2002, then unknown
Material: Aluminum
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: Two distinct fonts for "1" observed: (1) Thicker "1", latest sticker observed is 1987; and (2) thinner "1", earliest sticker observed is 1989. Blue on gold Lt. Governor plates are also known, perhaps done as souvenir plates. Courtesy plate known. A courtesy plate is a second plate without the "LT. GOVERNOR" legend, perhaps for a second or spouse's vehicle. Lt. Governor Ruth Ann Minner (served January 1993 - January 2001) was the last Lt. Governor to use #2 on a vehicle. Since then, the Delaware State Police has recommended that the Governor (#1) and Lt. Governor do not use their plates as they may pose a security risk.
(Thicker "2")
From Marc Auger
(Thinner "2")
From Dave Lincoln
From eBay
Circa 2010 - Present
Manufacturer: Waldale Manufacturing Limited (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Material: Aluminum
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: Centennial #2 observed.
From Jordan Irazabal
From Jordan Irazabal