The U.S. state

U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...

 of Delaware

Delaware

Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...

first required its residents to register their motor vehicle

Motor vehicle

A motor vehicle or road vehicle is a self-propelled wheeled vehicle that does not operate on rails, such as trains or trolleys. The vehicle propulsion is provided by an engine or motor, usually by an internal combustion engine, or an electric motor, or some combination of the two, such as hybrid...

s and display license plates in 1909. All license plates issued since 1942 can still be used with current stickers. Authorized reproductions of porcelain enamel license plates can be obtained through a private vendor, provided they fall within the state's guidelines.

Passenger plates 1942 to present

Image	First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1942	white on black, porcelain enamel plate. The first permanent license plate issued by the state phasing out annual replacements that had been the norm from 1909 thru the war time material shortages associated with World War II. The design incorporated a simple "DEL." at top surrounded by insert tab spaces - month/day to left, year to right. Diamond (for the Diamond State) served as comma between 3rd and 4th digits. No diamond on registration numbers below 1000. Month and day insert tabs for all Delaware renewals were 3/31, 6/30, 9/30, 12/31. Year tabs issues from "42" to "62" and phased out in favor of stickers for renewals after 1962. Inserts alternated between gold on blue for odd years, and blue on gold for even years. March inserts were black on white, June white on green, September and December both white on red.	none.	12♦3451	1 to 869992	5.5"x9.5" in porcelain enamel renewed with metal tabs authorized modern reproductions allowed
	1952	Polished stainless steel numbers riveted on black painted stainless steel base plate. Base embossed with Delaware on top. Insert space at bottom. Insert format continued as original.	none	123456 (variable number of digits)	1 to 2000002	plates vaired in size: 5-digit 9.5 x 5.5 in 6 digit 11 x 5.5 in renewed with metal tabs
	1956	Reflective white scotchlite painted stainless steel numbers riveted on black painted stainless steel base plate. Base plate embossed with Delaware on top. Insert spaces at bottom. Insert format continued as original.	none	1234561	1 to 2000002	first plate in federally mandated 6 x 12 in size renewed with metal tabs
	1958	Reflective gold numbers riveted on dark blue, Delaware at top, insert spaces bottom. Insert format continued as original.	none	1234561	4 to approx 2250002-3	renewed with metal tabs
	1962	gold on dark blue	The First State at top, Delaware at bottom. Insert spaces removed as inserts phased out in favor of stickers beginning with 1963 renewal dates.	1234561	4 to 9999992-3
	1969	gold on dark blue with gold border	The First State on top	1234561	4 to 9999992-3	Several variations of the font used for the serial exist. Some replacement plates have riveted numbers.

Notes:

1. Variable number of digits

2 The state recycles numbers, so they can be found on any base.

3 Registration numbers 1,2,3 reserved for Governor, Lt. Governor, and Sec of State. These are special issue gold background with state coat of arms.

Non-passenger types

Delaware does not use leading zeros on its plates, so serials are composed of a variable number of digits.

Image	Type	Slogan	Serial format	Notes
	Commercial Commercial vehicle A commercial vehicle is a type of motor vehicle that may be used for transporting goods or passengers. The European Union defines "commercial motor vehicle" as any motorised road vehicle, which by its type of construction and equipment is designed for, and capable of transporting, whether for...	The First State	C12345 CL12345
	Dealer Car dealership A car dealership or vehicle local distribution is a business that sells new or used cars at the retail level, based on a dealership contract with an automaker or its sales subsidiary. It employs automobile salespeople to do the selling...	The First State	D1234
	Disabled Person Disability A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...	The First State	HP1234
	Motorcycle Motorcycle A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...	none	12345
	Pleasure/Commercial	The First State	PC123456	Issued to station wagon Station wagon A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid... s and sport utility vehicle Sport utility vehicle A sport utility vehicle is a generic marketing term for a vehicle similar to a station wagon, but built on a light-truck chassis. It is usually equipped with four-wheel drive for on- or off-road ability, and with some pretension or ability to be used as an off-road vehicle. Not all four-wheel... s.
	Recreational Trailer Recreational vehicle Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...	The First State	RT1234
	Recreational Vehicle Recreational vehicle Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...	The First State	RV12345
	State-Owned	The First State	S1234
	Temporary Registration	The First State	XA123456

Optional types

Delaware does not use leading zeros on its plates, so serials are composed of a variable number of digits.

Image	Type	Serial format	Notes
	Centennial of Delaware License Plates	Remakes of passenger serials: 123456 Remakes of pleasure/commercial serials: PC123456	Issued from October 1, 2008 until December 31, 2009. Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 2008 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association Automobile License Plate Collectors Association The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association is the largest such organization in the world. Founded in Rumney Depot, New Hampshire, United States, in 1953 and holding its first meeting in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1954, its members have come from all 50 U.S... , the first and, to date, only time Delaware has been so honored.
	Disabled American Veterans Disabled American Veterans The Disabled American Veterans, or DAV, is an organization for disabled veterans that helps them and their families through various means. It currently has over 1.2 million members...	123DAV
	Duck Duck Duck is the common name for a large number of species in the Anatidae family of birds, which also includes swans and geese. The ducks are divided among several subfamilies in the Anatidae family; they do not represent a monophyletic group but a form taxon, since swans and geese are not considered...	Remakes of passenger serials: 123456	A portion of the proceeds from this license plate's sales benefit Delaware's two National Estuary Program's: the Center for the Inland Bays and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Partnership for the Delaware Estuary The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is a regional nonprofit organization established in 1996 to take a leadership role in protecting and enhancing the Delaware Estuary, where fresh water from the Delaware River mixes with salt water from the Atlantic Ocean... . These funds are used to improve the health of Delaware's coastal waterways and bays, or "estuaries."
	Lighthouse Lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....	Remakes of passenger serials: 123456 Remakes of pleasure/commercial serials: PC123456	A portion of the proceeds from this license plate's sales benefit Delaware's two National Estuary Program's: the Center for the Inland Bays and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Partnership for the Delaware Estuary The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is a regional nonprofit organization established in 1996 to take a leadership role in protecting and enhancing the Delaware Estuary, where fresh water from the Delaware River mixes with salt water from the Atlantic Ocean... . These funds are used to improve the health of Delaware's coastal waterways and bays, or "estuaries."
	Lighthouse—Personalized	various	A portion of the proceeds from this license plate's sales benefit Delaware's two National Estuary Program's: the Center for the Inland Bays and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary Partnership for the Delaware Estuary The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is a regional nonprofit organization established in 1996 to take a leadership role in protecting and enhancing the Delaware Estuary, where fresh water from the Delaware River mixes with salt water from the Atlantic Ocean... . These funds are used to improve the health of Delaware's coastal waterways and bays, or "estuaries."
	Passenger—Personalized	various
	Purple Heart Purple Heart The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...	PH1234
	State Representative Delaware House of Representatives The Delaware House of Representatives is the lower house of the Delaware General Assembly; the state legislature of the U.S. State of Delaware. It is composed of 41 Representatives from an equal amount of constituencies, each of whom is elected to a two year term. The Delaware General Assembly...	Legislators' initials: A. B. C.
	Telephone Pioneers	TP1234
	University of Delaware University of Delaware The university is organized into seven colleges:* College of Agriculture and Natural Resources* College of Arts and Sciences* Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics* College of Earth, Ocean and Environment* College of Education and Human Development...	UD1234
	Volunteer Firefighter Firefighter Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...	VF1234

External links

• Delaware license plates 1969-present