Complete Listing of All Delaware Plate Types

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Commercial

Prior to 1923, commercial vehicles used plate numbers from the regular Passenger series. The Commercial plate type began as its own type in 1923. From 1923 through 1928, Commercial plates used reserved number blocks from the Passenger series and the plates were oval-shaped, instead of rectangles. The "C" prefix we still see today began in 1929. Plates were still issued annually and in pairs. Manufacturers are largely unknown but a November 8, 1937 article in "The News Journal" states that 1938 plates would be made by Grote Brothers in Bellevue, KY, "the same firm which have made the tags for the past few years." Modern C tags are issued in blocks by the 100,000, see notes below for more information.

1923

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: White on black
Dimensions: 5.5" x 16"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: 25001 - 30148 (per MV records)

From Dave Lincoln

1924

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Brown on white
Dimensions: 5.5" x 16"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: 20001 - 26550 (per MV records)

From Dave Lincoln

1925

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Black on orange
Dimensions: 5.5" x 16"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: 30001 - 34514

From Dave Lincoln

1926

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 5.5" x 16"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: 40001 - 48119 (per MV records)

From Dave Lincoln

1927

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Red on gray
Dimensions: 5.5" x 16"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: 50001 - 58857 (per MV records)

From Lee V.

1928

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Black on white
Dimensions: 5.5" x 16"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: 51750 - 63618 (per MV records)

From Dave Lincoln

1929

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Blue on gold
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: C1 - C8575

From Marc Auger

1930

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Gold on blue
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: C1 - C9577

From Marc Auger

1931

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Blue on gold
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: C1 - C9915

From Dave Lincoln

1932

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Gold on blue
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: C1 - C8500

From Dave Lincoln

1933

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Blue on gold
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: C1 - C7831

From Dave Lincoln

1934

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Gold on blue
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: C1 - C8993

From Chris Turner

1935

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Blue on gold
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: C1 - C9902

From Marc Auger

1936

Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Gold on blue
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed:
C1 - C9999, then
CX10(?) - CX125

From Marc Auger

From Louis O'Neal

1937

Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Blue on gold
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed:
C1 - C9999, then
CX10(?) - CX672

From Marc Auger

From Louis O'Neal

1938

Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Maroon on silver
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed:
C1 - C9999, then
CA100 - CA702

From Worthpoint

From Ryan Brower

1939

Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Silver on maroon
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed:
C1 - C9999, then
CA100 - CA938

From Marc Auger

From Snookie Vent

1940

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Blue on gold
Dimensions: 5.5" x 9.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed:
C100 - C9999, then
CA100 - CA999, then
CB100 - CB999, then
CC100 - CC147

From John Anshant

From Worthpoint

From John Anshant

(Repainted)
From Snookie Vent

1941 (January - July)

Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Gold on blue
Dimensions: 5.5" x 9.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: C100 - C11857 (per MV records)

From Dave Lincoln

July 1941 - Early 1947

Manufacturer: See notes
Material: Porcelain
Colors: White on black
Dimensions: 5.5" x 9.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs until March 1943, then singles
Notes: Type 1 dies made by Baltimore Enamel Company; manufacturers are unknown for types 2, 3, and 4. It's likely that Lansdale Porcelain Co. made at least one of the types.

Serial range observed:
- Type 1 Font:C12000 - C13625
- Type 2 Font:C14956 - C18838
- Type 3 Font:C19031 - C19939
- Type 4 Font:C20224 - C20667
(Only new registrations shown; numbers from former bases also observed reprinted on these formats)

(Type 1 font)
From Ken Dundas

(Type 2 font)
From Ronald Nelson

(Type 3 font)
From Jordan Irazabal

(Type 4 font)
From Jordan Irazabal

Early 1947 - October 1958

Manufacturer: Demco?
Material: Stainless steel
Colors: Steel on black (off-white on black with Scotchlite numbers)
Dimensions: 5.5" x 11" and 6" x 12" (plus 5.5" x 9.5" for replacement plates only)
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: Scotchlite began at the end of 1949/beginning of 1950.

Serial range observed:
- 5.5" x 11", Steel Numbers:C24241 - C28455
- 5.5" x 11", Scotchlite Numbers:C29757 - C37367
- 6" x 12":Only replacement plates observed
(Only new registrations shown; numbers from former bases also observed reprinted on these formats)

(5.5" x 11", steel numbers)
From eBay

(5.5" x 11", Scotchlite numbers)
From Dave Lincoln

(6" x 12")
From Snookie Vent

(5.5" x 9.5", replacement plates only)
From eBay

October 1958 - June 1959

Manufacturer: Demco?
Material: Steel
Colors: Gold on blue
Dimensions: 5.5" x 9.5", 5.5" x 11", and 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: This base only existed to extinguish the remaining supply of black stainless steel plates as the state transitioned to 6" x 12" gold on blue plates. This is referred to as the "Restamp" base because the "DELAWARE", which was embossed on the black stainless steel plates, was stamped out for this base. The three sizes for this base match the three sizes offered during the stainless steel era.

Serial range observed: Only replacement plates observed

(5.5" x 9.5")
From Anonymous

(5.5" x 11")

(6" x 12")
From Dave Lincoln

June 1959 - June 1962

Manufacturer: Demco?
Material: Steel briefly, then aluminum
Colors: Gold on blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: Two font variations: (1) Thinner "DELAWARE", straight-leg "R" in Delaware, and (2) thicker "DELAWARE", curved-leg "R" in Delaware.

Serial range observed:
- Straight-leg "R": C37684 (only one plate observed)
- Straight-leg "R": C40116 (only one plate observed)
(Only new registrations shown; numbers from former bases also observed reprinted on these formats)

(Straight "R")
From Jordan Irazabal

(Curved "R")
From Bill Koneski

July 1962 - Autumn 1968

Manufacturer: Demco?
Material: Aluminum
Colors: Gold on blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles

Serial range observed: C45397 - C54038
(Only new registrations shown; numbers from former bases also observed reprinted on these formats)

From Worthpoint

Autumn 1968 - July 2002

Manufacturer: Demco
Material: Aluminum
Colors: Gold on blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: Sticker box outline until about 1971, then "PLACE STICKER HERE". Some plates observed with a funny "2", see picture below.

Serial range observed:C65605 - C99999, then C/L 10000 - C/L 97017
(C/L 100000 and above used for Apportioned plates)
(Only new registrations shown; numbers from former bases also observed reprinted on these formats)

(Sticker box outline)
From eBay

From Plateshack

(Funny "2")
From Jordan Irazabal

From Jordan Irazabal

July 2002 - Present

Manufacturer: Waldale
Material: Aluminum
Colors: Gold on blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: Three font variations:
(1) Thin ("Waldale 1", July 2002 - Early 2003)
(2) Thicker ("Waldale 2", Early 2003 - 2006)
(3) Copy of Demco font ("Waldale 3", 2006 - Present)
Beveled edges around plate added around March 2010. Numbers issued in blocks by the 100,000. Five-number "C/L" plates were already exhausted by the time this base started, so no new registrations are observed on this base.

History of C/L plates: C/L started in July 1984 when the C series hit C99999. I interviewed former DMV Commissioner Bob Voshell a number of years ago and he told me they picked "C/L" because it was the first and last letters of the word “Commercial”. C/L is simply an overflow series for C tags. The DMV continued only issuing C/L tags through 2002, when they reversed their decision and began to issue "C100000" and above. C/L tags were (and still are) issued contemporaneously with C tags. The C/L 9000 block was issued in the early 2000s for an unknown reason. The lowest number observed in this block is "C/L 9001" and the highest is "C/L 9949", both on the Waldale 3 base (see below for base examples). Numbers have also been observed on the Waldale 1 base, and "C/L 9710" has been observed on the Centennial base. C/L 100000 and above is reserved for Apportioned plates, but a handful of 6-number non-Apportioned "C/L" plates have been observed.

Serial range observed:

- Waldale 1:
C/L series: C/L 9011 - C/L 9409
C100000 block: C100000 - C105000

- Waldale 2:
C100000 block: C110727*
C200000 block: C270000 - C270958*
C300000 block: C342732 - C345603
C400000 block: C492525*
C500000 block: C500003 - C503240
C600000 block: No numbers observed
C700000 block: No numbers observed
C800000 block: No numbers observed
C900000 block: No numbers observed

- Waldale 3:
CL series: C/L 9494*
C100000 block: C112076 - C145084
C200000 block: No new numbers observed
C300000 block: C346325*
C400000 block: C473994 - C480627
C500000 block: No new numbers observed
C600000 block: No numbers observed
C700000 block: No numbers observed
C800000 block: No numbers observed
C900000 block: No numbers observed

(*Only plate observed in that 100000 block on that format)
(Only new registrations shown; numbers from former bases also observed reprinted on these formats)