Today in History: License Plate Laws Are Introduced

Ah, license plates. Those little metal tags on your car that you probably never think about until it's time to renew your registration. But, these simple rectangles have come a long way from being a simple identifier. They’ve become a vital tool in maintaining law and order, as well as a space for personal expression.

Since their debut in the late 19th century, license plates have evolved from hand-crafted numbers on leather to high-tech digital displays that can update in real-time. Let’s take a spin through their history to explore where they started and where they're headed:

A Timeline of License Plate History

August 14, 1893 – The Introduction of License Plate Laws

It all started in Paris with the Paris Police Ordinance. With motor vehicles suddenly meeting horse-drawn carriages, the ever-so-organized French decided these newfangled contraptions needed ID tags.

These early plates were simple, functional, and essential for law enforcement to keep track of those speeding metal boxes. They also set the stage for the rest of the world, showing that a little consistency across the board could go a long way.

1901 – New York’s DIY License Plates

Across the pond, New York became the first U.S. state to mandate license plates. But here’s the kicker: drivers had to make their own. That’s right—these early plates were handcrafted, often from leather or iron, and typically only featured the owner’s initials.

It wasn’t until two years later that Massachusetts started issuing state-made plates, with the first one bearing the single number "1."

1918 – License Plates Take Over America

All 48 contiguous states had jumped on the license plate bandwagon by this time, with Florida being the last aboard. While there still wasn’t much standardization, they were a critical step in establishing a national system for vehicle identification.

1920s – The Rise of Annual Renewals

The new decade brought the concept of annual registration renewals. Gone were the days when a license plate would last the lifetime of the vehicle. Now, you had to renew every year, and states often switched up the colors to help cops spot expired registrations.

1928 – Idaho’s Potatoes Get Their Day in the Sun

Idaho took license plates to a new level by adding a state slogan: "Idaho Potatoes."

This simple move turned license plates into a form of state branding and set the trend for other states to follow suit with their own unique slogans and designs.

1931 – Pennsylvania Gets Personal

Allowing drivers to put their own stamp on their vehicles, Pennsylvania was the first to issue personalized license plates. Whether it was a name, a nickname, or just a random combination of letters, these plates added a new dimension of individuality to driving.

1941 – Georgia Lights the Way

Georgia made history with the first reflectorized (?) license plates in the country to improve visibility at night. They also introduced the use of decals to replace the need of a new plate every year.

1944 – The War Effort Hits the Road

During World War II, the nation faced a metal shortage which lead to states getting creative with their license plate supplies. Materials like like fiberboard, cardboard, and even soybean-based plastic were used as replacements—though the latter had the unfortunate side effect of attracting hungry goats.

1957 – The Standard Size is Set

The U.S. finally standardized the size of license plates to 12" x 6", creating a unified look across all 50 states and ensuring that plates fit vehicles consistently nationwide.

2000s – License Plates Go Digital

As we entered the new millennium, much like everything else, license plates got a tech upgrade. Digital plates (first introduced in states like California, Arizona, Michigan, and Texas) can display dynamic information such as registration status or Amber Alerts in real time, and are continuing to grow in popularity around the country.

More Fun Facts:

• All the way back in 1783, King Louis XVI mandated that carriage drivers in Paris have metal plates with their names and addresses afixed to their carriages.

• Only some states in the U.S. require front license plates – 29 states and the District of Columbia.

• Vehicles owned by the United State Postal Service do not have license plates.

• A visual history of standard state license plates from 1966-2016 (click to expand):