Melsh's Plate-o-Rama

IF YOU NOTE ANY INACCURACIES, HAVE UPDATED INFORMATION OR ANYTHING ELSE USEFUL, DROP ME A LINE!

NEW MEXICO
798 HDJ - Current Passenger Issue
First issued in 1991. This base is concurrently issued as the standard passenger plate with the balloon plate. The 1982-1990 era plates look similar to this base. The prior base does not have the trim along the top or the weeds in the bottom corner. Also, the state name is a bit of a different typeface. Then again, maybe they aren't that similar. The dies shown on this plate are no longer used.

2NM633 - Current Issue
Motorists can choose either base, though all plates have the dies shown on the balloon plate.

3 8811 - 1971 Issue

G 03851 - Government Plate

INFORMATION AS OF:
June, 2002

LINK:
Link with less info that I have here. Basically, a useless link. But it's a link.

ADDRESS:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Special Plates
PO Box 1028
Santa Fe NM   87504-1028
(505) 827 2212

WHAT'S AVAILABLE:
The two current passenger issues (we'll call them "Zia" and "Balloon").

SAMPLE SERIALS:
WELCOME

PRICES:
$5 (One free to schools or students for projects)

PAYMENT INFO:
Specify which plate you want when ordering.

SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:
Slow. Took about 8 weeks.

NEW YORK
ACZ 6000 - Current Issue
First issued in 2001.

R80 1CG - Previous Issue
Issued 1986-2000

7849-BSK - Previous Issue
Issued 1974-1986

CM-1800 - Previous Issue
Issued 1966-1973. My initials, CM. My birth year, 1972. Date of the month I was born, 18th. Cool plate for me.

MELSH - LA Dodgers Vanity Optional
In New York, you can get any MLB or NBA team on a license plate (plus all other professional New York teams). Vanities on special plates are all flat (Azon-Utch, I believe). This adorned my car for about a year. I frequently heard "Dodgahs Suck" yelled at me. I liked it.

852AUH - Nassau County Regional Optional
This also adorned my car for about a year. I never heard "Nassau Sucks", though I began to feel that way after a while.

INFORMATION AS OF:
June, 2002

LINK:
Link about special and personalized plates through New York DMV (No sample info)

ADDRESS:
Samples - VV
Custom Plates
P.O. Box 2775-ESP
Albany, NY 12220-0775

WHAT'S AVAILABLE:
Apparently, nothing. I wrote them a few years back and they never replied. I've heard from others they aren't doing samples at this time.

SAMPLE SERIALS:

PRICES:

PAYMENT INFO:

SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:

NORTH CAROLINA
HRZ-5985 - Current Issue
First issued in 1984.

LS-2995 - 1972 Base

INFORMATION AS OF:
June, 2002

LINK:
DOT link showing what plate types are available (No sample info)

ADDRESS:
Division of Motor Vehicles
Room 111
1100 New Bern Ave.
Raleigh NC   27697-0001

WHAT'S AVAILABLE:
Pretty much everything they offer. Passenger, Friends of Smoky Mountains, Retired This, Retired That, Lighthouse, Ducks Unlimited, etc.

SAMPLE SERIALS:
SAMPLE on passenger, Zeroes on specials

PRICES:
$10 each

PAYMENT INFO:
No special info noted.

SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:
No personal experience.

NORTH DAKOTA
DSN 394 - Standard Issue
First issued in 1992

LEWIS - Lewis & Clark Optional Sample
Extra fee plate first introduced in late 1999.

CEG 583 - Previous Standard Issue
Issued 1987-1993

326-563 - 1970 Base
Issued 1970-1973

Thanks to Allison Hoff for info.

INFORMATION AS OF:
April, 2000

LINK:
DOT link showing what plate types are available (No sample info)

ADDRESS:
North Dakota Department of Transportation
Motor Vehicle Division
608 East Blvd.
Bismarck ND   58505-0780

WHAT'S AVAILABLE:
Current and some past passenger issues available. Special "Lewis & Clark" plates are available

SAMPLE SERIALS:
"TOUR ND", "EXPLORE" on standard passenger.
"LEWIS" or "CLARK" on Lewis & Clark base.

PRICES:
$5 for standard passenger.
$10 for one, $15 for one of each (LEWIS & CLARK)

PAYMENT INFO:
No special info

SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:
Quick turnaround. One week plus..

OHIO
AY36HF - Current Issue
First issued in 2001.

AYQ 5180 - Previous Standard Issue
Issued 19898-2001. This same style base was used prior with the slogan seen on the lighthouse plate as the standard issue from 1996-1998. Before that, the standard issue typeface of OHIO and the slogan were the same as on the lighthouse plate, but there was no gold-fade in the background. This plate was issued from 1991-1996. I have one that I could display, but it's boring.

135LGA - Lake Erie Base

B1665K - 1972 Base

INFORMATION AS OF:
October, 2002

LINK:
oplates.com ... the home of Ohio license plates. No sample info, though.

ADDRESS:
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Registration Section
P.O. Box 16521
Columbus OH   43266-0021

WHAT'S AVAILABLE:
Nothing until the next plate reissue. Then, it's likely the old stuff, anyway.

SAMPLE SERIALS:
Actual, obsolete plates.

PRICES:
No charge.

PAYMENT INFO:
No special info

SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:
Haven't had anything to truly find out.

	NEW MEXICO 798 HDJ - Current Passenger Issue First issued in 1991. This base is concurrently issued as the standard passenger plate with the balloon plate. The 1982-1990 era plates look similar to this base. The prior base does not have the trim along the top or the weeds in the bottom corner. Also, the state name is a bit of a different typeface. Then again, maybe they aren't that similar. The dies shown on this plate are no longer used. 2NM633 - Current Issue Motorists can choose either base, though all plates have the dies shown on the balloon plate. 3 8811 - 1971 Issue G 03851 - Government Plate
INFORMATION AS OF:	June, 2002
LINK:	Link with less info that I have here. Basically, a useless link. But it's a link.
ADDRESS:	Department of Motor Vehicles Special Plates PO Box 1028 Santa Fe NM 87504-1028 (505) 827 2212
WHAT'S AVAILABLE:	The two current passenger issues (we'll call them "Zia" and "Balloon").
SAMPLE SERIALS:	WELCOME
PRICES:	$5 (One free to schools or students for projects)
PAYMENT INFO:	Specify which plate you want when ordering.
SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:	Slow. Took about 8 weeks.

	NEW YORK ACZ 6000 - Current Issue First issued in 2001. R80 1CG - Previous Issue Issued 1986-2000 7849-BSK - Previous Issue Issued 1974-1986 CM-1800 - Previous Issue Issued 1966-1973. My initials, CM. My birth year, 1972. Date of the month I was born, 18th. Cool plate for me. MELSH - LA Dodgers Vanity Optional In New York, you can get any MLB or NBA team on a license plate (plus all other professional New York teams). Vanities on special plates are all flat (Azon-Utch, I believe). This adorned my car for about a year. I frequently heard "Dodgahs Suck" yelled at me. I liked it. 852AUH - Nassau County Regional Optional This also adorned my car for about a year. I never heard "Nassau Sucks", though I began to feel that way after a while.
INFORMATION AS OF:	June, 2002
LINK:	Link about special and personalized plates through New York DMV (No sample info)
ADDRESS:	Samples - VV Custom Plates P.O. Box 2775-ESP Albany, NY 12220-0775
WHAT'S AVAILABLE:	Apparently, nothing. I wrote them a few years back and they never replied. I've heard from others they aren't doing samples at this time.
SAMPLE SERIALS:
PRICES:
PAYMENT INFO:
SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:

	NORTH CAROLINA HRZ-5985 - Current Issue First issued in 1984. LS-2995 - 1972 Base
INFORMATION AS OF:	June, 2002
LINK:	DOT link showing what plate types are available (No sample info)
ADDRESS:	Division of Motor Vehicles Room 111 1100 New Bern Ave. Raleigh NC 27697-0001
WHAT'S AVAILABLE:	Pretty much everything they offer. Passenger, Friends of Smoky Mountains, Retired This, Retired That, Lighthouse, Ducks Unlimited, etc.
SAMPLE SERIALS:	SAMPLE on passenger, Zeroes on specials
PRICES:	$10 each
PAYMENT INFO:	No special info noted.
SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:	No personal experience.

	NORTH DAKOTA DSN 394 - Standard Issue First issued in 1992 LEWIS - Lewis & Clark Optional Sample Extra fee plate first introduced in late 1999. CEG 583 - Previous Standard Issue Issued 1987-1993 326-563 - 1970 Base Issued 1970-1973 Thanks to Allison Hoff for info.
INFORMATION AS OF:	April, 2000
LINK:	DOT link showing what plate types are available (No sample info)
ADDRESS:	North Dakota Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division 608 East Blvd. Bismarck ND 58505-0780
WHAT'S AVAILABLE:	Current and some past passenger issues available. Special "Lewis & Clark" plates are available
SAMPLE SERIALS:	"TOUR ND", "EXPLORE" on standard passenger. "LEWIS" or "CLARK" on Lewis & Clark base.
PRICES:	$5 for standard passenger. $10 for one, $15 for one of each (LEWIS & CLARK)
PAYMENT INFO:	No special info
SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:	Quick turnaround. One week plus..

	OHIO AY36HF - Current Issue First issued in 2001. AYQ 5180 - Previous Standard Issue Issued 19898-2001. This same style base was used prior with the slogan seen on the lighthouse plate as the standard issue from 1996-1998. Before that, the standard issue typeface of OHIO and the slogan were the same as on the lighthouse plate, but there was no gold-fade in the background. This plate was issued from 1991-1996. I have one that I could display, but it's boring. 135LGA - Lake Erie Base B1665K - 1972 Base
INFORMATION AS OF:	October, 2002
LINK:	oplates.com ... the home of Ohio license plates. No sample info, though.
ADDRESS:	Bureau of Motor Vehicles Registration Section P.O. Box 16521 Columbus OH 43266-0021
WHAT'S AVAILABLE:	Nothing until the next plate reissue. Then, it's likely the old stuff, anyway.
SAMPLE SERIALS:	Actual, obsolete plates.
PRICES:	No charge.
PAYMENT INFO:	No special info
SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:	Haven't had anything to truly find out.