Complete Listing of All Delaware Plate Types
Passenger & Non-Passenger Special Backgrounds Legislative & Judicial Military & Veteran Colleges & High Schools Misc. Non-Profits Surf & Defunct
Surf & Defunct →
Exempt
1930
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on Colonial Blue
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: E183 (only plate observed)
From Dave Lincoln
1931
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: E1 - E311 (per MV records)
1932
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on Colonial Blue
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: E306 (only plate observed)
From Snookie Vent
1933
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: No plates observed
1934
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on Colonial Blue
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: No plates observed
1935
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6" x 15"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: E244 (only plate observed)
From Dave Wild
1936
Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on Colonial Blue
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: E332 - E362
From Delaware Public Archives
1937
Manufacturer: Grote Brothers (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Colonial Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 5 3/8" x 10 1/2"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: E279 - E351
From Dave Lincoln
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: Unknown
From Mike Ambruso, Jr.
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: E102 (only plate observed)
From Dave Lincoln
1940
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Blue on yellow
Dimensions: 6.25" x 10"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: 100 - 413
From Dave Lincoln
1941 (January - July)
Manufacturer: National Colortype Co. (Bellevue, KY)
Material: Steel
Colors: Yellow on blue
Dimensions: 5.5" x 9.5"
Pairs/singles?: Pairs
Serial range observed: 63601 - 63911 (per MV records)
From Worthpoint
NOTE
The goal for all bases following this note is to show "EXEMPT" tabs and stickers on the various bases that follow. Not all plate variations will be shown, as the goal is to show the tab/sticker, not the plates themselves. This type is listed under the "Surf & Defunct" category because Exempt was its own plate type until the July 1941 base, at which point "Exempt" because a classification rather than a separate plate type.
July 1941 - 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: It is believed that reserved number blocks were no longer used starting with this base. Plates exempt from inspection used an "EXEMPT" tab in place of the month-day tab. There were three variations of white on black porcelain plates: (1) the initial run produced by the Baltimore Enamel & Novelty Co. (July 1941 - 1945), (2) a short run produced without the diamond separator (1945 only) and (3) the final run produced by Lansdale Porcelain, with dies matching the dies used on Pennsylvania license plates of the same era (1945 - Early 1947).
Serial range observed: See notes
(Variation 1)
From Worthpoint
(Variation 2)
(Variation 3)
Early 1947 - October 1958
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Stainless steel
Colors: Silver/off-white (Scotchlite) on black
Dimensions: Varies, see notes and pictures
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: It is believed that reserved number blocks were no longer used starting with the July 1941 base. Plates exempt from inspection used an "EXEMPT" tab in place of the month-day tab. 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. Number 100000, issued to Governor Bacon, was reached in April 1949. The United States mandated that all license plates measure 6" x 12" starting in 1956.
Serial range observed: See notes
From eBay
From eBay
October 1958 - June 1959
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Stainless steel
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: Varies, see notes and pictures
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: It is believed that reserved number blocks were no longer used starting with the July 1941 base. Plates exempt from inspection used an "EXEMPT" tab in place of the month-day tab. The state decided to switch to a completely reflective plate (background and numbers) in 1958 but still had a large number of black stainless steel blanks leftover of all three sizes (see previous record), so early blue & gold plates were those blanks painted blue with gold numbers spot riveted on. The vast majority of these plates were replacement/holdover plates until this supply was exhausted.
Serial range observed: See notes
From John Anshant
June 1959 - June 1962
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Steel (briefly), then aluminum
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: It is believed that reserved number blocks were no longer used starting with the July 1941 base. Plates exempt from inspection used an "EXEMPT" tab in place of the month-day tab. Two variations: (1) thinner "DELAWARE", straight-leg "R" in "DELAWARE", and (2) thicker "DELAWARE", curved-leg "R" in "DELAWARE".
Serial range observed: See notes
(Thinner "DELAWARE")
From Snookie Vent
(Thicker "DELAWARE")
From Jordan Irazabal
June 1962 - Autumn 1968
Manufacturer: Unknown
Material: Aluminum
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: It is believed that reserved number blocks were no longer used starting with the July 1941 base. Plates exempt from inspection used an "EXEMPT" tab in place of the month-day tab. "THE FIRST STATE" slogan added for the first time.
Serial range observed: See notes
From Plateshack
Autumn 1968 - July 2002
Manufacturer: Demco (Milford, DE)
Material: Aluminum
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: It is believed that reserved number blocks were no longer used starting with the July 1941 base. Plates exempt from inspection used an "EXEMPT" tab in place of the month-day tab. Gold border and sticker box added. Sticker box added "PLACE STICKER HERE" circa 1971. Starting point of #262000 per newspaper article. Some plates in the low #200000s had folio-style "THE FIRST STATE". Riveted numbers are generally replacement plates made at DMV while you waited.
Serial range observed: See notes
From eBay
July 2002 - Present
Manufacturer: Waldale Manufacturing Limited (Nova Scotia, Canada)
Material: Aluminum
Colors: Gold on dark blue
Dimensions: 6" x 12"
Pairs/singles?: Singles
Notes: It is believed that reserved number blocks were no longer used starting with the July 1941 base. Plates exempt from inspection used an "EXEMPT" tab in place of the month-day tab. 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.
Serial range observed: See notes
(Waldale 3)
From eBay