Melsh's Plate-o-Rama

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

SOUTH DAKOTA
1AA 671 - Current Standard Issue
First issued 2000

2A69482 - Previous Issue
Issued 1995 to 1999.

41 H875 - Previous Previous Issue
Issued 1990-1994

LY 1363 - Older Passenger Issue
Issued 1976-1980

13-2254 - 1974 Issue
This was the first silkscreened graphic on a US license plate.

16-2095 - 1947 Issue

INFORMATION AS OF:
June, 2002

LINK:
None

ADDRESS:
South Dakota Dept. of Revenue
Speical License Div. of Motor Vehicles
118 West Capitol Ave
Pierre SD   57501-2080

WHAT'S AVAILABLE:
Passenger Issues: Current and two previous issues. Congressional Medal of Honor, Disabled Veterans, Prisoner of War, Purple Heart
Validation Stickers: Many years from '77 to '00
Sioux Indian Tribe Plates: Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Rosebud, Standing Rock, Sisseton Wahpeton, Yankton

SAMPLE SERIALS:
00A000

PRICES:
Validation Stickers: $1.00
Passenger Issues: $3.00
Vet, POW, Purple Heart: $3.00
Indian Tribe: $10.00
Add $1.50 for each plate for postage costs.

PAYMENT INFO:
No Special info of note.

SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:
Turnaround was just over a week.

TENNESSEE
BJB 811 - Current Issue
First issued in 2000. The state shape in the center has since beein made a lighter shade of green for visibility sake.

856 XPP - Previous Issue
Issued 1995-1999

FBB 888 - Previous Previous Issue
Issued 1988-1994

5401W - Wildlife Optional

41-2900 - State Shape, 1947 Standard Issue
Tennessee plates for many years were in the shape of the state until 1957 when a US law mandated that all license plates be of a consistent shape and size.

AMG317 - Past Standard Issue
Issued 1976-1983

INFORMATION AS OF:
September, 2002

LINK:
Link with Tennessee optional license plates (No sample info)

ADDRESS:
Tennessee Dept. of Revenue
Motor Vehicle Division
500 Deaderick Street
Nashville TN   37242

WHAT'S AVAILABLE:
Sadly, standard issue only. (They have some unusual optional issue license plates).

SAMPLE SERIALS:
SAM PLE

PRICES:
$10 per (They were free up to mid-2002 ... damn)

PAYMENT INFO:
No Special info of note.

SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:
I've only dealt with them in the free days, so I don't know if they have any special payment requests.

TEXAS
J44 PFZ - Current Issue
First issued in 1999.

YSR 75C - Previous Issue
Issued 1989-1994 and 1997-1999. On this base, the flag alternated sides on alternating years.

B660A - Big Bend National Park Optional

WCV 77P - Sesquicentennial (Statehood)
Issued 1995-1996

791 MLF - Sesquicentennial (Independecne from Mexico)
Issued 1986. A 1985-1986 version of this base had "SESQUICENTENNIAL" below the serial.

INFORMATION AS OF:
April, 2000

LINK:
Specialty plates available in Texas (none as samples, though).

ADDRESS:
Texas Dept. of Transportation
Vehicle Titles and Registration Division
Austin TX   78779
(512) 465 7627

WHAT'S AVAILABLE:
Standard issue only

SAMPLE SERIALS:
SAM PLE

PRICES:
$6.90

PAYMENT INFO:
No Special info of note.

SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:
Pray you don't have to use the phone number because you'll get shuffled between departments like you're calling Aetna. Other than that, service was quick.

UTAH
298 YMC - Standard Issue
First issued in 1992 as an extra-fee plate. Later became a concurrent general issue with the "Ski Utah!" plate, as it is today. This plate originally had "UTAH" in white with a black outline. This was changed for visibility.

099 HVS - Standard Issue
First issued in 1985. Early versions looked like the 889 APR license plate. Later, the dies were made narrower. Beyond that, the serials were done in a darker blue.

6466D - Weber State Optional
I grew up about 3/4 of a mile from Weber State, so I've gotta hang onto this one

889 APR - Standard Issue, Early version
Story above at 099 HVS

0827F - Wildlife Optional
Utah has the ugliest 8's in license plate land.

UHP 402 - Utah Highway Patrol
The UHP plate since the mid-1980's

EC 6963 - 1965 Passenger Issue

KB732 - 1954 Issue

MW 5898 - 1969 Issue
Issued 1969-1972

CK 7702 - 1966 Issue

CB 4404 - 1967 Issue

PW 2375 - 1973 Issue
Still valid today with stickers. This plate was the final general reissue in Utah.

I do have a Utah Olympic plate ... I have no idea why I didn't take a picture for this page. Maybe later.

INFORMATION AS OF:
June, 2002

LINK:
Utah DMV homepage. Dropdown menu for "Licensing Vehicles" has much Utah license plate info.
Sample "Collector" plate order form.

ADDRESS:
Utah State Tax Commission
Customer Service Division
Sample Plates
210 N. 1950 West
Salt Lake City, UT 84134
1-800-DMV-UTAH

WHAT'S AVAILABLE:
Pretty much everything Utah offers.

SAMPLE SERIALS:
Arch Sample Serial: "000 ZZZ"
Ski Sample Serial: "000 AAA"

PRICES:
$5 to $45. Basics are $5. Olympics are $22. College are $30-$45. Environmental are $30. And there's more on top of that.

PAYMENT INFO:
The web page tells you to fill
out a specific form and provides
a link. It's also linked above.

SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:
No personal info.

VERMONT
BTR 216 - Standard Issue
First issued in 1985 as a 5-digit with wider dies. Evolved to what you see here.

000000 - Falcon Optional

INFORMATION AS OF:
June, 2002

LINK:
Sample plate info from Vermont DMV.

ADDRESS:
Agency of Transportation
Vermont Department of Motor Vehciles
120 State Street
Montpellier VT   05603-0001
(802) 828 2000

WHAT'S AVAILABLE:
Webpage Says: Many different styles. Follow above link to find out which.
Inquiry Letter Reply Says: No specials available.
What I'd do (like anyone wants my opinion): I'd send the order sheet from the webpage with payment if I wanted something. I'd guess one department doesn't know what the other is doing.

SAMPLE SERIALS:
Al zeroes

PRICES:
$15 each (I recently had conflicting information, but the price on the webpage has changed, so I think we've finally got some consistency.)

PAYMENT INFO:
The web page tells you to fill out a specific form and provides a link. It's also linked above.

SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:
No personal info.

	SOUTH DAKOTA 1AA 671 - Current Standard Issue First issued 2000 2A69482 - Previous Issue Issued 1995 to 1999. 41 H875 - Previous Previous Issue Issued 1990-1994 LY 1363 - Older Passenger Issue Issued 1976-1980 13-2254 - 1974 Issue This was the first silkscreened graphic on a US license plate. 16-2095 - 1947 Issue
INFORMATION AS OF:	June, 2002
LINK:	None
ADDRESS:	South Dakota Dept. of Revenue Speical License Div. of Motor Vehicles 118 West Capitol Ave Pierre SD 57501-2080
WHAT'S AVAILABLE:	Passenger Issues: Current and two previous issues. Congressional Medal of Honor, Disabled Veterans, Prisoner of War, Purple Heart Validation Stickers: Many years from '77 to '00 Sioux Indian Tribe Plates: Crow Creek, Lower Brule, Rosebud, Standing Rock, Sisseton Wahpeton, Yankton
SAMPLE SERIALS:	00A000
PRICES:	Validation Stickers: $1.00 Passenger Issues: $3.00 Vet, POW, Purple Heart: $3.00 Indian Tribe: $10.00 Add $1.50 for each plate for postage costs.
PAYMENT INFO:	No Special info of note.
SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:	Turnaround was just over a week.

	TENNESSEE BJB 811 - Current Issue First issued in 2000. The state shape in the center has since beein made a lighter shade of green for visibility sake. 856 XPP - Previous Issue Issued 1995-1999 FBB 888 - Previous Previous Issue Issued 1988-1994 5401W - Wildlife Optional 41-2900 - State Shape, 1947 Standard Issue Tennessee plates for many years were in the shape of the state until 1957 when a US law mandated that all license plates be of a consistent shape and size. AMG317 - Past Standard Issue Issued 1976-1983
INFORMATION AS OF:	September, 2002
LINK:	Link with Tennessee optional license plates (No sample info)
ADDRESS:	Tennessee Dept. of Revenue Motor Vehicle Division 500 Deaderick Street Nashville TN 37242
WHAT'S AVAILABLE:	Sadly, standard issue only. (They have some unusual optional issue license plates).
SAMPLE SERIALS:	SAM PLE
PRICES:	$10 per (They were free up to mid-2002 ... damn)
PAYMENT INFO:	No Special info of note.
SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:	I've only dealt with them in the free days, so I don't know if they have any special payment requests.

	TEXAS J44 PFZ - Current Issue First issued in 1999. YSR 75C - Previous Issue Issued 1989-1994 and 1997-1999. On this base, the flag alternated sides on alternating years. B660A - Big Bend National Park Optional WCV 77P - Sesquicentennial (Statehood) Issued 1995-1996 791 MLF - Sesquicentennial (Independecne from Mexico) Issued 1986. A 1985-1986 version of this base had "SESQUICENTENNIAL" below the serial.
INFORMATION AS OF:	April, 2000
LINK:	Specialty plates available in Texas (none as samples, though).
ADDRESS:	Texas Dept. of Transportation Vehicle Titles and Registration Division Austin TX 78779 (512) 465 7627
WHAT'S AVAILABLE:	Standard issue only
SAMPLE SERIALS:	SAM PLE
PRICES:	$6.90
PAYMENT INFO:	No Special info of note.
SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:	Pray you don't have to use the phone number because you'll get shuffled between departments like you're calling Aetna. Other than that, service was quick.

	UTAH 298 YMC - Standard Issue First issued in 1992 as an extra-fee plate. Later became a concurrent general issue with the "Ski Utah!" plate, as it is today. This plate originally had "UTAH" in white with a black outline. This was changed for visibility. 099 HVS - Standard Issue First issued in 1985. Early versions looked like the 889 APR license plate. Later, the dies were made narrower. Beyond that, the serials were done in a darker blue. 6466D - Weber State Optional I grew up about 3/4 of a mile from Weber State, so I've gotta hang onto this one 889 APR - Standard Issue, Early version Story above at 099 HVS 0827F - Wildlife Optional Utah has the ugliest 8's in license plate land. UHP 402 - Utah Highway Patrol The UHP plate since the mid-1980's EC 6963 - 1965 Passenger Issue KB732 - 1954 Issue MW 5898 - 1969 Issue Issued 1969-1972 CK 7702 - 1966 Issue CB 4404 - 1967 Issue PW 2375 - 1973 Issue Still valid today with stickers. This plate was the final general reissue in Utah. *I do have a Utah Olympic plate ... I have no idea why I didn't take a picture for this page. Maybe later.*
INFORMATION AS OF:	June, 2002
LINK:	Utah DMV homepage. Dropdown menu for "Licensing Vehicles" has much Utah license plate info. Sample "Collector" plate order form.
ADDRESS:	Utah State Tax Commission Customer Service Division Sample Plates 210 N. 1950 West Salt Lake City, UT 84134 1-800-DMV-UTAH
WHAT'S AVAILABLE:	Pretty much everything Utah offers.
SAMPLE SERIALS:	Arch Sample Serial: "000 ZZZ" Ski Sample Serial: "000 AAA"
PRICES:	$5 to $45. Basics are $5. Olympics are $22. College are $30-$45. Environmental are $30. And there's more on top of that.
PAYMENT INFO:	The web page tells you to fill out a specific form and provides a link. It's also linked above.
SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:	No personal info.

	VERMONT BTR 216 - Standard Issue First issued in 1985 as a 5-digit with wider dies. Evolved to what you see here. 000000 - Falcon Optional
INFORMATION AS OF:	June, 2002
LINK:	Sample plate info from Vermont DMV.
ADDRESS:	Agency of Transportation Vermont Department of Motor Vehciles 120 State Street Montpellier VT 05603-0001 (802) 828 2000
WHAT'S AVAILABLE:	Webpage Says: Many different styles. Follow above link to find out which. Inquiry Letter Reply Says: No specials available. What I'd do (like anyone wants my opinion): I'd send the order sheet from the webpage with payment if I wanted something. I'd guess one department doesn't know what the other is doing.
SAMPLE SERIALS:	Al zeroes
PRICES:	$15 each (I recently had conflicting information, but the price on the webpage has changed, so I think we've finally got some consistency.)
PAYMENT INFO:	The web page tells you to fill out a specific form and provides a link. It's also linked above.
SERVICE TESTEMONIAL:	No personal info.