Jack’s License Plate Collection     

Washington State License Plate History

Beginning with the first vehicle to be licensed in the state prior to March 15, 1915, the customer would go to the Country Auditor requesting a license. The County Auditor would then write to the State Auditor who would send the plate number to the customer. The customer was then responsible for making his or her own plate, usually from wood or leather.

In 1915 to 1916, Tacoma Rubber and Stamp Company made license plate cut of wood or leather. From 1917 to the end of 1920, Tacoma Rubber and Stamp made license plates from porcelain.

From 1921 to 1953, the Department of Corrections made license plate. In October of 1953, a fire destroyed the plate plant at Walla Walla and Irwin Hodson (from Oregon) made license plates. From 1958 until the present time, the Department of Corrections makes the plates.

Beginning in 1935, license plates were issued to each county. The most populated counties were each assigned a letter of the alphabet. The remaining counties were given two letter combinations. For example, “SJ” was San Juan. “A’ went King County. Thurston County was assigned “J”, until they needed more and were assigned “JJ”. This stopped in 1979 because there was a large scare riot at Walla Walla and we ran out of license plates. Since then, license plates are manufactured in large quantities and distributed as needed.

1905      The Division of Motor Vehicles was created by the Legislature and placed under the direction of Secretary of State. The Secretary of State signed all licenses personally.

There was a flat fee of $2.00 charged on a yearly basis. A license number was then assigned. The owner was responsible for making his own “plate”.  It could be made of wood, metal, Or leather, with the numbering painted or fastened on.  This plate had to be carried on the Vehicle.  If the owner did not wish to have a plate, they could stencil the number on the Front and rear of the vehicle itself.  There were no plates issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles.

The first vehicle licensed belonged to Mr. S.A. Perkins of Tacoma.  On May 2, 1905 he Licensed a 30 HP Pope- Toledo Touring car.  Mr.Perkings retained his license number B-1 For many years.

During the first year, 763 license numbers were issued resulting in revenue of $1,526. The license year ended on May 31.  Failure to apply for renewal by June 1 resulted in the Number being reassigned.

1906      During this year the total number of license increased to 1,253. In 1910 the total number Of vehicles had risen to 9,311. In the next 5 years the rate of increase expanded, and by  the year 1915, had increased to 46,000 vehicles.

1915       From 1915 to 1916, Tacoma Rubber and Stamp Company made license plates out of  Wood or leather.

1916       During this year, the Division of Motor Vehicles, under the direction of the Secretary of  State, issued the first metal license plates.  They were made with a blue background and White letters.  Passenger vehicles were designated by a small “X”, trucks by a “T”, and  Publicly owned vehicles by a small “E”.  License plates were issued to the individual and Were transferred from vehicle to vehicle.  Throughout the years the colors of the plates Have changed (see attached list). 1917       From 1917 to 1920, Tacoma Rubber and Stamp made license plates from Porcelain.

1921       By 1921 the number of registrations had reached 137,000 vehicles and produced revenue in the amount of $2,841,000.  At this time the Legislature also changed the date of expiration to December 31, which required that another license plate having a different date of expiration be ordered.  When these license plates arrived, they were stored with the other license plates in the basement of the Capitol Building.  The weight of license plates was so great that the floor of the building began to sink.  The sinking of the basement floor necessitated the license plates being transferred to another part of the building during a weekend.

1922       In 1923 manufacture of license plates began in the penitentiary at Walla Walla. This produced a considerable cost savings.  The same colors were used for plates manufactured in 1923, 1924, and 1925.  This resulted in cost savings through purchasing

The enamel to paint the license plates in large quantities.

1926      A new license design was instituted this year.  The design was slightly larger than Previous license plates and had the word “Washington” stamped in full across the bottom of the plate.  These changes resulted from letters received from Washington vehicle owners.  The following are two examples of the letters that were received:

                     “ A great many Washington automobiles travel into other states during the course of the year and if the name is brought

                     to the attention of the people in those states, it will be a very suggestive form of advertising.  It will also be a wonderful help in

                     selling the state to our own people.  Using the abbreviation is more or less like calling a man by nickname and does not carry the

                     dignity, which the name of the state should have.

                     “The tourist travel to the East is getting larger every year and a license bearing the name “Washington” would be much more

                     effective from an advertising standpoint than the abbreviated from “WN”.”

1934      Prior to 1934 all motor vehicle license plates were mailed from Olympia.  In 1934 the System was changed and license plates were assigned to counties.  A system of  Assigning county letters to the plate number was adopted.  This system was discontinued

In 1979.  The use of county temporary license plates was abandoned.  Registrations in 1934 had increased to 460,000.

1939      A “Golden Jubilee” 50^th anniversary license plate was issued.

1943      In 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1948, and 1952, windshield stickers were used in lieu of License plates.  The use of the windshield stickers was due to the fact that aluminum was Not available during the war years.

1958      A new type of license plate was issued.  The new plates used a combination of three Letters and three numbers.

1963       Due to a misunderstanding in the specifications for the new 1963 license plates, there was no space provided for validation tabs, so “Washington” was abbreviated to “Wash”. This caused a storm of protests from citizens and the legislature.

           1965    The  1965 Legislature passed a law prohibiting the use of the abbreviation “Wash” on Vehicle license plates.

           1968   A 1968 law required that all new license plates be manufactured using reflectorized material.  This was to allow easier

                      identification of license plates in the dark.

           1975   “Personalized Plates, or “Vanity Plates” were authorized by the legislature and were made available to the public. These plates

                     cold contain between 2 to 7 numbers Or letters in any combination that  not conflict with existing plates.  

           1986   The legislature passed a bill mandating the Department of Licensing to design new license plate in recognition of Washington

                      State’s Centennial. Washington residents turned in 1300 designs. A panel selected 12 designs out of 1300. The Governor and

                      the Director of the Department Licensing then selected the final design. The winner of the contest was Eric Booth, An 18-year-

                      old high school student. The legislature also authorized use of single letters or numbers on personalized license plates this year.

          1987   Starting on January 1, 1987, license plates representing Washington’s centennial were issued. These plates have a blue color

                     scheme on a white background with “Washington” and   “Centennial Celebration” in red. A rendition of Mount Rainier is in the

                     background.

          1990   The line “Centennial Celebration” was dropped from the license plate, otherwise the license plates remained the same. Legislation

                     this year has allowed veterans to display a U.S. flag and campaign ribbons on the bottom of the license plate.

          1994   The Legislature passed the collegiate plate bill that allows the six major public universities to raise funds for scholarships. These

                     plates began to be issued in 1995. This program is similar to the personalized plate series however, all funds go directly to the

                     universities. Presently, all of the six universities designed their plate and raising money for their scholarship funds:

                     Washington State University (WSU), University of Washington (UofW), Western Washington  University (WWU),

                     Eastern Washington University (EWU), Central Washington University  (CWU), and The Evergreen State College (TESC).

           1995   The Legislature held a special session and passed the stadium plate bill. This program is intended to raise money in order to help

                      build a new baseball stadium for Major League Baseball team in Seattle. The availability date for these plates was July 22, 1996.

           1997   The Legislature passed Substitute House Bill (SHB) 1008, Standardizing License Plates. This bill requires all license plates be

                      issues on a standard background beginning with registrations due or to become due January 2001. Exceptions to this section are

                      Horseless Carriage and Collector Vehicle license plates issued prior to January 1, 1987, the Medal of Honor plates, and plates

                      issued to commercial vehicles with gross weight of more than 23,000 pounds. The mountain background will remain as the

                     standard design and the words “Evergreen State have been added to the bottom of the plate.

  Washington State Passenger License Plate Colors
 

Note: All the information provide by State of Washington Department of Licensing

          Plates from 1916 through 1920 were issued on a March-March basis. The year on the plate indicated the year of expiration.

          If a license plate wasn't issued in a particular year, use the earlier preceding plate year. Example 1943 or 1944 should be issued a 42 plate.

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