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821,618 vehicles were registered in the state of Delaware as of May 1, 2005.3 Delaware's License plates are neither embossed or debossed. They are created with a silk-screening process and are flat. License plates in Delaware feature up to six numbers. Prefixes indicated what type of vehicle or license plate.
Examples of Prefixes:
- C - C/L - Commercial (Pickup trucks and vans)
The state originally used just "C" for trucks and vans, but were required introduce "CL" when they started to run out of numbers. The "CL" represent the first and last letters of "Commercial".1
- P/C - Passenger Cars
Tags bearing this prefix are allocated toward station wagons, sport utility vehicles (SUV's), and passenger vans (vans with windows down the sides)1
- T - Trailer
These are placed on any tow-behind trailers.
- CT - This designation is use for trailers owned by construction companies that transport heavy equipment.
- FT - Farm Truck
Farm truck tags cost less than standard commercial tags because of their special duties including short distance transport of heavy loads.1
- MC - Motorcycle
- MOP - Moped
- UD - University of Delaware
- OES - Order of the Eastern Star
- DU - Ducks Unlimited
- KC - Knights of Columbus
- WC - Wilmington College
DelDOT outsourced license plate manufacturing from a Milford, Delaware-based company to Nova Scotia-based Waldale Manufacturing in 2002. The change saved the state $200,000 and introduced a new font to all Delaware license plates for the first time since 1958. Waldale Manufacturing could not replicate the original font due to its use of computerized screening and thus introduced the new lettering. Many Delawarean's were displeased with the new look to Delaware's license plate characters. However since 2002 changes in technology may allow for the resurrection of the old font. Therefore officials are looking into the concept of bringing back the 1958-2002 font in their next license plate contract to replace the Waldale contract that expired on June 30, 2005.3
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| 1999 black/white special tag
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Low numbered tag numbers are prestigious in Delaware for some residents. The lower the number the better according to those who find this to be the case. The state of Delaware began issuing license plates to vehicles in 1905. Initially owners were required to make their own plates, and not until 1909 did the state issue its own first official license plates. Car owners up until that time generally assigned between one and three numbers to their license plate. However in 1909, the state began assigning numbers starting with 1,000 because of the sporadic issuing of numbers under 1,000 and of poor record keeping of them.2
In 1935, tag numbers 1, 2, and 3 were reserved for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the Secretary of State respectively by the Delaware General Assembly. Delaware license plate #4 and up remained in the general circulation.2 Nowadays car owners and family members alike cover lower number tags in the state of Delaware. Tags are transferrable from vehicle to vehicle and can also be sold from Delawarean to Delawarean. The Division of Motor Vehicles only levies a $20 fee for the transfer of a tag number from one owner to another. This allows for a family to keep a license plate number in their family from generation to generation. Ones that are not maintained run the risk of ceding back to the State and put back in general circulation.
The rage of low license plate numbers fetches some outrageous tag number sales in the state of Delaware. In 1994 the sale of Delaware tag #9 garnered $182,500 and in 2005 Delaware tag #170 sold for $115,000.2 Some four-digit plates can bring over $10,000 to the prospective seller. Other states where low numbered tags draw such attention include Washington, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Illinois, and the District of Columbia.
To add to the fever behind low numbered tags in the state of Delaware, owners of low number plates may opt to purchase a replica of 1942-era license plates to display on their vehicle in place of the standard gold on blue tag. Through the Delaware Historical Society, a similar tag (remake) can be displayed on passenger vehicles that have tag numbers lower than 87,000, and trucks that have tag numbers lower then C9999. The yearly fee for these tags is $60.
If your interested in a low number tag for your vehicle and do not wish to shell out thousands of dollars, your only other option is to contact the Delaware DMV occassionally about the availability of numbers ceded back to the state by owners who either left the state, sold their car to an out of stater, or otherwise let their plates expire.
For more information on the black and white tags see the web page of the The Delaware Historic Plate Company.
Vanity tags include an additional $40 per year in addition to the standard fees. Up to seven characters are available for these tags (five characters for motorcycle tags). In 2000 Delaware issued three new license plates to benefit environmental and special causes. See the Delaware DMV Web site for more on these tags. For photos of Delaware license plates, see Delaware Plates @ Plateshack.com.
The four special issue Tags available:
- Duck plate- Environmental
- Lighthouse plate - Environmental
- Cat/Dog plate - Animal Welfare
- Farm plate - Agricultural Farmland Preservation
Delaware License Plate Off site Links
Footnotes:
- "Delafacts." The News Journal (Wilmington, DE), July 26, 1992.
- "Triple-digit Del. plates draw five figures." The News Journal (Wilmington, DE), August 22, 2005.
- "Plates could take trip back; Former font may be used." Delaware State News (Dover, DE), May 31, 2005.
Page Updated August 26, 2005.
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