Which U.S. state issued the first state license plate?

Massachusetts holds the distinction of issuing the first state-made automobile license plates, beginning in 1903. While New York required motorists to display plates earlier, in 1901, those were owner-provided rather than state-issued, making Massachusetts the first to produce and distribute official plates.

How Massachusetts set the precedent

In 1903, the Massachusetts Highway Commission began issuing standardized license plates to motorists, marking the first time a U.S. state manufactured and distributed official vehicle plates. The first plates rolled out on September 1, 1903, establishing a model other states soon followed. Historical accounts widely note that plate number “1” was issued to Frederick L. Tudor of Brookline, a number that reportedly remained in his family for generations—a tidbit that has become part of license plate lore.

What about New York and earlier requirements?

New York was the earliest state to require license plates, starting in 1901. However, those plates were not produced by the state; motorists were responsible for creating them, often using initials at first and later numbers, in accordance with state rules. New York did not issue state-made plates until 1909, underscoring the distinction between “first required” and “first state-issued.”

Key milestones in early U.S. license plates

The timeline below highlights the crucial developments that clarify how the first official state plates emerged and how other states followed with their own systems.

• 1901: New York mandates license plates, but owners must supply their own.
• September 1903: Massachusetts becomes the first state to manufacture and issue official license plates.
• 1909: New York begins issuing state-made plates, transitioning away from owner-provided versions.

Taken together, these milestones show why Massachusetts is credited with the first state-issued plates, even though New York’s regulatory approach predated it by two years.

Why the distinction matters

When asking which state had the “first license plate,” the answer depends on whether you mean the first requirement (New York, 1901) or the first state-produced plate (Massachusetts, 1903). In historical and legal contexts, “first state license plate” generally refers to the first instance of a state government manufacturing and issuing plates to motorists—hence Massachusetts gets the nod.

Summary

Massachusetts issued the first state-made license plates in 1903, setting the standard for official vehicle registration across the U.S. New York required plates earlier, in 1901, but those were owner-provided until the state began issuing its own in 1909. Understanding this distinction explains why Massachusetts is recognized as the first state with official, state-issued license plates.

Who owns 007 number plate?

anonymous Guernsey resident
The 007 number plate was purchased in September 2015 by an anonymous Guernsey resident at a public auction for a staggering £240,000! The plate was valued by experts at £60,000, but the anonymous buyer surprised everyone by offering to pay four times that price!

What happens after 9ZZZ999?

The DMV told KSBW 8 that the “current 9-series configuration, which will end with 9ZZZ999, is projected to end sometime in 2026 due to the dwindling number of available combinations.” The next sequence of license plate numbers will follow a “Numeral Numeral Numeral Alpha Alpha Alpha Numeral” sequence.

Why does Delaware’s license plate say the first state?

“The First State”
Delaware is known by this nickname due to the fact that on December 7, 1787, it became the first of the 13 original states to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

Who has the #1 license plate?

Today, a businessman named Saeed Abdul Ghafour Khouri was willing to pay 52.2 dirham — the equivalent of $14.3 million — for the local license plate labeled “1” at an auction at the 7-star Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi, making it the world’s most expensive license plate.