- Source: Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1904
- Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1904
- Vehicle registration plates of the United Kingdom
- Vehicle registration plate
- Vehicle registration plates of Maryland
- Vehicle registration plates of Alabama
- Vehicle registration plates of Ohio
- Vehicle registration plates of France
- Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1903
- Vehicle registration plates of the United States for 1905
- Vehicle registration plates of Northern Ireland
In 1904 Rhode Island became the second state, joining Massachusetts, to issue its own license plates, and the states of Iowa and Maryland began to require owners to provide their own license plates.
Passenger baseplates
In the table below, a light green background indicates that the owner of the vehicle was required to provide their own license plates. These plates are called "prestate" by most collectors. In the prestate era many states only provided the license plate number on a small disc or on paper, and the owner was required to have their license plate(s) made. These early license plates were created from kits that could be purchased at a hardware store, may have been available from automobile clubs or associations, they were forged by blacksmiths or other tradesmen, or the owner may have made their own plate with whatever materials they had on hand. Prestate plates were made from a variety of materials, but most often were made of leather, steel, or wood.
See also
Antique vehicle registration
Electronic license plate
Motor vehicle registration
Vehicle license