The History of License Plates in America: When Did Plates and Car Titles Start?

Kourosh
October 19, 2025

The history of license plates started with registration in 1901 and state-made plates in 1903. Here is the timeline for America and Maryland, plus when car titles began.

The history of license plates is shorter than most people think. New York required vehicle registration in 1901, Massachusetts issued the first state-made plates in 1903, and Maryland began registering motor vehicles in 1904. Car titles came later and arrived state by state. Below is a sourced timeline for America and for Maryland, with every date linked to an official record. (Smithsonian, Massachusetts RMV, Maryland State Archives)

When Did License Plates Start? The 1901 to 1903 Timeline

The first rules asked owners to identify their own vehicles. New York’s law took effect April 25, 1901. It required owners to register with the Secretary of State and to put the separate initials of their name on the back of the vehicle, in letters at least three inches high (A History of the Vehicle and Traffic Law in New York State). The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History confirms New York was the first state to register automobiles (NMAH).

Two years later, Massachusetts changed the model. Under Chapter 473 of the Acts of 1903, the state began issuing the plates itself (1903 Chapter 473). Before that, even Boston had required owners to make their own plates (Massachusetts RMV).

Who Had the First License Plate in America?

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles says the first plate, number “1,” was issued to Frederick Tudor in 1903 and is still held as an active registration by a member of his family. It says Massachusetts “was not the first to register motor vehicles,” but did “lead the way in issuing registration plates.” Those first plates were iron covered in porcelain enamel, with a dark blue background and white numbers (Massachusetts RMV, History of the Plate).

When Were License Plates Required in Every State?

Adoption took about 17 years. The Smithsonian notes that by 1918 all states required license plates, while driver licensing spread more slowly: only 39 states issued driver licenses by 1935 (NMAH, Licensing Cars and Drivers).

History of Maryland License Plates

1904: Maryland starts registering motor vehicles

Maryland’s Chapter 518 of 1904, approved April 8, 1904, required owners to file a statement with the Secretary of State and pay a $1 registration fee. The Secretary issued a numbered certificate, and owners displayed that number on the back of the vehicle in numerals at least three inches tall (Archives of Maryland, 1904 Session Laws; next page). The State Archives confirms that owners “were given a certificate and number to display on their vehicles” (State Archives guide).

1910: A commissioner and two metal “Md.” plates

In 1910, responsibility for registering automobiles moved to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles (Chapter 207, Acts of 1910). The law directed the Commissioner to issue each owner a registration certificate and two metal plates or markers bearing the letters “Md.” and the assigned number (Archives of Maryland, 1910 Session Laws; State Archives guide).

1943 and 1970: From DMV to MVA

The office became the Department of Motor Vehicles in 1943 (Chapter 1007, Acts of 1943). Chapter 526 of the Acts of 1970 renamed it the Motor Vehicle Administration and placed it within the Department of Transportation; the State Archives dates the change to 1971 and the Maryland Manual to 1970 (State Archives guide; Maryland Manual 1994-95).

Maryland plates today

A Maryland vehicle that needs two plates must display one on the front and one on the rear, and the plates must be the ones the MVA issued for the current registration period (Transportation Article §13-411). If you sold, donated or totaled a car, read our guide on how to return license plates in Maryland. If a plate is missing, see what to do about a lost plate. Old-style plates have their own rules: see Maryland historic vehicle tags.

Why Are License Plates 6 by 12 Inches? The 1956 Standard

For decades, plate designs and sizes varied. AAMVA says a standard 12 by 6 inch size was introduced in 1956 at the request of automobile manufacturers, to make mounting hardware easier to build (AAMVA, Best Practices Guide). The Massachusetts Registry adds that its own plate sizes were not standardized until 1957 (Massachusetts RMV).

When Did Car Titles Start?

A license plate shows a vehicle is registered. A title shows who owns it. Titles came later, and not on the same date everywhere.

Why states created titles: theft

Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles says its first title law, in 1923, was meant mainly to prevent auto theft (Florida DHSMV history). Uniform Vehicle Code commentary archived in the U.S. DOT library explains the problem: a thief could steal a car in a state with a title law and sell it in a state without one (Uniform Motor Vehicle Antitheft Act).

Why it took decades: state by state

A national model law was drafted in the 1920s but was not well received and was scrapped by 1943. A new Uniform Motor Vehicle Certificate of Title and Anti-Theft Act followed in 1955 (South Dakota Law Review). Some states waited even longer: a Massachusetts legislative report from December 1969 notes that bills to set up a certificate of title had been introduced there for many years (Massachusetts Legislative Research Council, 1969).

Maryland car titles

The 1922 Maryland Manual says the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles had jurisdiction over titling, registration and licensing (Maryland Manual, 1922). A 1927 law barred the Commissioner from issuing a registration certificate or plates unless the applicant also obtained an official certificate of title or showed one had already been issued (Session Laws, 1927). Today the MVA issues Maryland certificates of title and registration (State Archives guide). Need to move a title today? See our title-only transfer guide and the Maryland tag and title checklist.

From Paper to Electronic: Maryland Plates and Titles Today

Maryland has moved much of its paperwork online. Since January 1, 2024, the MVA requires dealers and tag and title agencies to process all titling and registration transactions electronically (MVA, Electronic Submission Mandate). Maryland is also an electronic title state for lien filings: while a lien is active, the owner does not receive a paper title, and the MVA issues a Security Interest Filing instead (MVA, lender information). Learn how it works in our guide to Maryland’s ERT system.

Need Plates or a Title in Reisterstown?

Maryland Express Services is an MVA-licensed tag and title agent in Reisterstown. We are an authorized agent, not the MVA. We can help with tags, titles and registration; see our tag and title services. Call, text or WhatsApp (443) 826-7843, or walk in at 25 Main St, Suite C, Reisterstown, MD 21136.

Frequently asked questions

What is the history of license plates in America?

It started with registration, not metal plates. New York became the first state to require motor vehicle registration in 1901, and owners had to display their own initials on the vehicle. Massachusetts began issuing state-made plates in 1903, and by 1918 every state required plates. (Smithsonian, NY law history, Massachusetts RMV)

When did license plates start?

License plate rules started in 1901, when New York required owners to register vehicles and display their initials. The first state-issued plates came two years later, when Massachusetts began issuing them in 1903 under Chapter 473 of the Acts of 1903. (NY law history, Massachusetts RMV)

Who had the first license plate in America?

The first plate issued under the Massachusetts law was number “1,” issued to Frederick Tudor in 1903. The Massachusetts Registry says a member of his family still holds it as an active registration. (Massachusetts RMV, History of the Plate)

Which state was first to require license plates?

New York was the first state to require registration of motor vehicles, in 1901. Massachusetts was not the first to register vehicles, but it led the way in issuing plates in 1903. (Smithsonian, Massachusetts RMV)

When did Maryland start requiring license plates?

Maryland’s first motor vehicle registration law was approved April 8, 1904. Owners registered with the Secretary of State and had to display the certificate number on the back of the vehicle, so the owner supplied the numerals. A 1910 law created the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and directed that two metal plates marked “Md.” be issued to each owner. (1904 law, 1904 law, page 2, 1910 law)

When were license plates required in every state?

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History says that by 1918 all states required license plates. (Smithsonian)

When did car titles start?

There is no single date, because each state passed its own title law. Florida’s first title law was enacted in 1923, mainly to prevent auto theft. Maryland’s 1927 law said no registration certificate or plates could be issued unless the applicant also got an official certificate of title or showed one had been issued. (Florida DHSMV, Maryland 1927 law)

When did Maryland start issuing car titles?

The State Archives’ 1922 Maryland Manual shows the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles already had jurisdiction over titling, registration and licensing, and the 1927 law tied registration to a certificate of title. I did not find an MVA or State Archives page that gives one exact first-title date, so we don’t state one. Today the MVA issues Maryland certificates of title. (1922 Maryland Manual, 1927 law, State Archives guide)

Why are license plates 6 by 12 inches?

AAMVA says a standard plate size of 12 by 6 inches was introduced in 1956 at the request of automobile manufacturers, to make it easier to build in mounting devices. Before then, plate designs and sizes varied. (AAMVA)

How many license plates does Maryland require?

Most Maryland vehicles that need two plates must display one on the front and one on the rear. Some vehicle types use one plate, so check the MVA for your vehicle class. You must display the plates the MVA issued for the current registration period. (Md. Transportation Article §13-411) See our guide on which states require two license plates.

Sources

Maryland Express Services is an MVA-licensed tag and title service agent, not the MVA. This post is general historical information, not legal advice. Historical dates come from the linked public records and may differ in other sources. Confirm current rules with the MVA at mva.maryland.gov.

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