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License Plate Gallery

Oregon Non-Passenger Variations

Here is a look at many of the non-passenger Oregon license plates of the last sixty years. By no means does it list every type thereof; rather, I've limited myself to types with sequential serials that are continuous between different styles of plates, and for which multiple variations exist.

Each type is listed with information on specific layout and die variations and the confirmed serial ranges thereof. Originally many plate types had divergent color schemes; however, colors were more or less standardized at blue on gold following the adoption of reflectorization in 1973. Some non-passenger plate types have been made on optional graphic bases such as the Oregon Trail and Salmon issues; however, the issuance of these has ceased as of 2004. Since the Trail plates used the same serial prefixes as ordinary issues, they are covered here.

Note: License plates with a colon (:) in the serial divider position were issued as remakes of pre-existing numbers, and are not included in the data tables when they fall outside of known sequential ranges. Ranges in italics are assumed endpoints or unconfirmed plates. Information added or updated since September 2012 is indicated with an asterisk (*).

A, AQ: Old Timer, Historic Vehicle, and Antique Vehicle B: Bus C: Coach or Mobile Home D: Disabled Veteran D, DIS: Disabled Person E: Publicly Owned vehicle E,M: Exempt Motorcycle F: Farm vehicle H, HC: Motor Home HF: Heavy Fixed Load HP-HU: Heavy Trailer K: Camper LF: Light Fixed Load

LT: Light Trailer M: Motorcycle MP: Moped PF: Permanent Fleet R: Travel Trailer SC: School Bus SP: Special Interest Vehicle T: Truck TL: Light Trailer TL5-TL9: Heavy Trailer TW: Tow Truck U: Utility Trailer Y, Z: Apportioned Truck PUC and DOT plates

A, AQ: Old Timer, Historic Vehicle, and Antique Vehicle

In spite of their divergent titles, Old Timer, Historic Vehicle, and Antique Vehicle plates appear to be continuations of each other. The classification is currently reserved for vehicles "older than one-half the number of years between the current year and 1900" that are maintained as collectors' items.

The Old Timer series began with a similar format to passenger plates. The serial format originally contained an "A" prefix that was soon squeezed out by a fourth digit, although I wouldn't be surprised if it was implied in vehicular records after that. The "Pacific Wonderland" slogan seems to have been adopted for Old Timer plates later than it did on other types, judging by the fact that tab slots had already disappeared by the time that style arrived.

The caption changed to "Historic Vehicle" around 1964, coinciding with the discontinuation of plate stickers. Some plates have a dash in the serial; others don't. After that series was depleted, a singly-issued "Antique Vehicle" plate with an "AQ" prefix debuted. I honestly don't know if Old Timer plates remained valid after the Historic Vehicle ones came out, or if either are still in use today.

Collector Steve Grove has a page for Oregon on his Antique Auto License Plates website, which is well worth a look for anyone interested in the topic.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Black/aluminum	OLD/TIMER before serial; OREGON 50 with tab slots and holes at top	Square Irwin-Hodson	A-1 - A-636	636 p
Gold/blue	OLD/TIMER before serial; OREGON 56 with tab slots and holes at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	A-1 - A-938	938 p	2245 p
	OLD/TIMER before serial; OREGON with tab slots and holes at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	1-004 - 1-363	360 p
	OLD/TIMER before serial; OREGON with only tab slots at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	1-469 - 1-564	96 p
	OLD/TIMER before serial; OREGON with no slots at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	1-674 - 2-064	391 p
	OLD/TIMER before serial; OREGON over PACIFIC WONDERLAND	Short Irwin-Hodson	2-120* - 2-245	126* p
Gold/blue	HISTORIC/VEHICLE before serial; OREGON at bottom	Tall Irwin-Hodson	3-090* - 5-181*	2092* p	2777* p
			5215 - 5819	605 p
			5-866*
Blue/gold	HISTORIC/VEHICLE before serial; OREGON at bottom	Tall Irwin-Hodson	6-437 - 8-250*	1814* p	3370 p
			8774
		Tall Polyvend	8815* - 9194	380 p
		Tall Irwin-Hodson	9539 - 9806	268 p
	ANTIQUE VEHICLE over OREGON	Short Irwin-Hodson	AQ 00001 - AQ 01543	1543 s	4163 s
	OREGON over ANTIQUE VEHICLE	Short Waldale	AQ 02578
		Tall Irwin-Hodson	AQ 04163

B: Bus

By Oregon's definition, a bus worthy of receiving these plates is "designed and used for carrying passengers, baggage, and express for compensation." Designs parallel those of farm and truck plates, although bus plates are issued in far fewer number. There should be other variations I haven't yet documented as well.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Red/aluminum	OREGON SEPT. 54 at top	Square Irwin-Hodson	B 3-310*
White/black	OREGON SEPT. 55 at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	B 3-012*
Green/white	OREGON SEPT. 56 at bottom	Tall Irwin-Hodson	B 3-010 - B 3-158	149* p
Gold/blue	OREGON DEC. 56 at bottom	Tall Irwin-Hodson	B 5-172
Green/white	ORE and sticker box	Tall Irwin-Hodson	B 1-510* - B 1-511*	2* p
Blue/aluminum	ORE and sticker box over PACIFIC WONDERLAND	Short Irwin-Hodson	B 582 - B 883	302 p
Orange/aluminum	OREGON over sticker box	Short Irwin-Hodson	B 740* - B 3-931	3192* p
Blue/gold	OREGON over sticker box	Short Irwin-Hodson	B 6-234		6113* p
		Short Polyvend	B 9044
		Short Irwin-Hodson	B11864 - B12346*	483* p

C: Coach or Mobile Home

Coach plates were issued to house trailers until approximately 1971. I assume this was a precursor of the Travel Trailer type; and quite possibly Camper and Motor Home as well.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Gold/blue	ORE and sticker box over PACIFIC WONDERLAND	Short Irwin-Hodson	C 21* - C 860	840* s	57,622* s
			C 1-075* - C57-642	55,081 s
	ORE and sticker box	Tall Irwin-Hodson	C58-257* - C101-999	43,743* s	68,087* s
			C102070 - C126343	24,274 s
	ORE and sticker box over MOBILE HOME	Short Irwin-Hodson	C131615* - C135966		4352* s

D: Disabled Veteran

Some of these plates have a wheelchair symbol under the "D;" others (with newer, higher serials) don't. According to the Oregon License Plate Manual, these plates "do not allow special parking privileges:" I guess they changed their mind somewhere along the way.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Blue/gold	PERMANENT over OREGON; VETERAN right; wheelchair under prefix	Tall Irwin-Hodson	D 00001 - D 05631	5631 p	17,945 p
	PERMANENT over OREGON; VETERAN right; no wheelchair	Tall Irwin-Hodson	D 06079 - D 07887	1809 p
	OREGON over PERMANENT; VETERAN right; no wheelchair	Tall Waldale	D 10429 - D 11597*	1169* p
		Tall Irwin-Hodson	D 13860 - D 17945	4086 p
"Live tree" graphic; PERMANENT bottom; VETERAN right		Tall Irwin-Hodson	D2 13 38 - D4 03 82*	19,045* p

D, DIS: Disabled Person

Disabled and handicapped-related plates certainly present some of the most perplexing mysteries in non-passenger Oregon platedom. Most of these plates tend to be gold on blue and are stamped with the month of expiration. There would seem to be evidence that different serial blocks were reserved for different months: Numbers invariably get higher as you go from January to December; oblivious to base color.

The mysteries only begin there, however. Why do lots of blue "Disabled Person" plates look unissued, and why do sticker stacks often end in 1978: Did a replate happen then? A limited quantity of "DIS" prefix passenger-style plates exist in collector hands with 1976-80 stickers, followed by an even more limited quantity of non-passenger style plates with 1981-92 stickers. Evidence of later handicapped issues is limited to some plates with a "D" and wheelchair preceding the number (all of which seem to have numbers in a narrow and somewhat arbitrary range) that don't seem to have survived beyond 1994.

Type 1: Gold/blue; DISABLED/PERSON before serial; (month) OREGON [ ] at bottom; tall Irwin-Hodson dies

Type 2: Blue/gold; DIS before serial; (month) OREGON [ ] at bottom; tall Irwin-Hodson dies

Type 3: Blue/gold; DIS before serial; OREGON over wide sticker box; short Irwin-Hodson dies

Series	Type 1	Type 2	Type 3	Number block theory
JAN.	30 - 47	159	393	1 - 899
FEB.	901 - 907		1178	900 - 1799
MAR.	1800 - 1840*			1800 - 2599
APR.		2758*		2600 - 3499
MAY	3574 - 3577	3639		3500 - 4399
JUN.	4474 - 4524	4550 - 4601		4400 - 5299
JUL.				5300 - 6199
AUG.		6377		6200 - 7099
SEP.	7139			7100 - 7999
OCT.		8110*		8000 - 8899
NOV.	8913* - 8975		9432 - 9476	8900 - 9799
DEC.	9801*			9800 - 9999
	quantity
	186* p	59* p	47 p

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Blue/gold	OREGON over wide sticker box; no wheelchair	Short Polyvend	D012008
	OREGON at top; wheelchair under prefix	Tall Irwin-Hodson	D 015121 - D 015478*	358* p	1424 p
		Tall Polyvend	D 016142 - D 016290	149 p
		Tall Irwin-Hodson	D 016544

E: Publicly Owned vehicle

The all-purpose government-vehicle plate wasn't always thus: In the '50s the state went overboard with specially-captioned plates for all sorts of entities: Counties, Schools, "Irrigation Districts," and so on with little serial blocks dedicated to each. The captions were standardized under a "Publicly Owned" umbrella in the Pacific Wonderland era, and the series has been steadily chugging along ever since.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Black/aluminum	OREGON-PUBLICLY/OWNED	Square Irwin-Hodson	E 9		28,777 p
	OREGON-IRRIG. DIST./OWNED	Square Irwin-Hodson	E 1-122
	OREGON-SCHOOL DIST./OWNED	Square Irwin-Hodson	E 2-857* - E 4-748	1892* p
	OREGON-CITY/OWNED	Square Irwin-Hodson	E 8-384 - E10-305	1922 p
	OREGON-COUNTY/OWNED	Square Irwin-Hodson	E14:584 - E16-693	2110 p
	OREGON-STATE/OWNED	Square Irwin-Hodson	E26-657 - E28-785	2129 p
Gold/blue	OREGON-PUBLICLY/OWNED	Tall Irwin-Hodson	E37-865 - E38-238	374 p	83,599 p
	OREGON-IRRIG. DIST./OWNED	Tall Irwin-Hodson	E40-007
	PUBLICLY OWNED over OREGON (Backfilled serial block)	Tall Irwin-Hodson	E40-410* - E47-521	7112* p
	OREGON-SCHOOL DIST./OWNED	Tall Irwin-Hodson	E50-780 - E50-798	19 p
	OREGON-COUNTY/OWNED	Tall Irwin-Hodson	E71-914
	OREGON-STATE/OWNED	Tall Irwin-Hodson	E80-607
	OREGON-PUBLICLY/OWNED over PACIFIC WONDERLAND	Short Irwin-Hodson	E90-106 - E94-411	4306 p
	PUBLICLY OWNED over OREGON	Tall Irwin-Hodson	E95-654
			E102019*
			E104-801* - E111-051	6251* p
			E112410 - E121463	9054 p
Blue/gold	PUBLICLY OWNED over OREGON	Tall Irwin-Hodson	E123776 - E148344	24,569 p	114,186 p
		Tall Polyvend	E151575* - E151858	284* p
		Tall Irwin-Hodson	E154997 - E224852*	69,856* p
	OREGON over PUBLICLY OWNED	Short Waldale	E228878* - E230335	1458* p
		Tall Irwin-Hodson	E237961

E, M: Exempt Motorcycle

Exempt Motorcycle plates may be seen as an extension of the Publicly Owned type; however, there are enough twists and turns in this type's history to command a heading of its own.

Oregon originally treated these permanent plates as a subset of the Motorcycle type, using the M prefix and allocating a block of numbers in the 9000 series. It's worth noting that regular motorcycle numbers may have conflicted with this series, at least in 1964-65. Whether more variations exist than are depicted here is unknown.

The M 9000 series was exhausted at some indeterminate point in time. The state then started treating Exempt Motorcycle plates as a subset of the Publicly Owned type, shifting them to the "E" prefix with a block of numbers in the 9 series, as before.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
White/black	ORE. EXEMPT at top	Rounded Irwin-Hodson	M9236* - M9454*	219* s
Blue/gold	OREGON over EXEMPT	Rounded Irwin-Hodson	M 9666*
		Squared Irwin-Hodson	E9 00052 - E9 00967	916 s

F: Farm vehicle

The stickered green-on-white series came about in 1959 following a series of quarterly issues. The numbering reset in late 1961 (when the blue/aluminum base came out) and late 1965 (when the orange/aluminum base debuted), and has been continuous since then. The changes affecting farm plates are analogous to the changes on truck plates.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Black/aluminum	OREGON and tab slots at top	Square Irwin-Hodson	F 41 - F40-417*		40,377* p
			F 2-394 - F32-786 (scattered)

Layout & dies	Quarterly issues
OREGON [mo yr] at top Square Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR 53		JUNE 53		SEPT 53		DEC 53	F41-465 - F68-170*
								26,706* p
OREGON [mo yr] at top Square Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR 54		JUNE 54	F21-680* - F21-755	SEPT 54		DEC 54	F42-086* - F66-877
				76* p				24,792* p
OREGON [mo yr] at top Tall Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR. 55		JUNE 55	F21-507*	SEPT. 55	F30-426 - F31-188	DEC. 55	F40-522 - F68-937*
						763 p		28,416* p
OREGON [mo yr] at bottom Tall Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR. 56	F10-092 - F10-478	JUNE 56	F20-291 - F21-608	SEPT. 56	F30-186 - F31-163*	DEC. 56	F41-524 - F68-860
		387 p		1318 p		978* p		27,337 p
OREGON [mo yr] at bottom Tall Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR. 57	F10-189	JUNE 57	F20-424 - F21-617*	SEPT. 57	F30-583	DEC. 57	F40-028 - F64-041*
				1194* p				24,014* p
OREGON [mo yr] at top Tall Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR. 58		JUNE 58	F22-404	SEPT. 58	F30-519 - F32-030*	DEC. 58	F44-455 - F66-726
						1512* p		22,272 p

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Green/white	ORE and sticker box	Tall Irwin-Hodson	F10-135 - F42-994	32,860 p
Blue/aluminum	ORE and sticker box over PACIFIC WONDERLAND	Short Irwin-Hodson	F10-315* - F41-241*	30,927* p	37,716* p
	ORE and sticker box	Tall Irwin-Hodson	F42-217* - F48-030	5814* p
Orange/aluminum	OREGON over sticker box	Short Irwin-Hodson	F10-543 - F71-183*	60,641 p
Blue/gold	OREGON over sticker box	Short Irwin-Hodson	F71-722 - F99-423*	27,702* p	89,549 p
		Short Polyvend	F 99806* - F100895	1090* p
		Short Irwin-Hodson	F108nnn
		Short Polyvend	F110917 - F111236	320 p
		Short Irwin-Hodson	F139042* - F147980	8939* p
		Short Waldale	F149634
		New Irwin-Hodson	F151202 (serifed "1")	6815 p
			F157071 - F158016
			(F161270 reported)

H, HC: Motor Home

This type of plate has been a bit convoluted in terms of serial progressions and the like. The earliest numbers seem to be in the 900000s; however, the various numbering series have changed more than the plate since then, with the 900000 block followed by 100000-block plates; followed in turn by "HC" prefixed plates with five digits. These "HC" plates seem to actually work back sequentially from 99999; with lower numbers doled out to issues stamped on optional Oregon Trail bases in the mid '90s. These plates have been issued separate month and year stickers since the 1980s, although the single heavy vehicle-style sticker box was maintained for some time after that.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Blue/yellow	ORE and sticker box over MOTOR HOME	Short Irwin-Hodson	H900225 - H912748	12,524 p
Blue/gold	ORE and sticker box over MOTOR HOME	Short Irwin-Hodson	H913194* - H947390*	34,197* p	118,604* p
		Short Polyvend	H947549* - H951311	3763* p
	OREGON over sticker box	Short Irwin-Hodson	H953286 - H971115	17,830 p
		Short Polyvend	H974121 - H979983*	5863* p
		Short Irwin-Hodson	H981710* - H998528	16,819* p
			H101158* - H134426*	33,269* p
Oregon Trail graphic		Short Irwin-Hodson	H800039 - H809738	9700 p	21,305 p
		Short Irwin-Hodson	HC 06019 - HC 17623	11,605 p
			(HC 31616 reported)		64,424 p
Blue/gold	OREGON at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	HC 35504* - HC 54346*	18,843* p
		Tall Waldale	HC 56093 - HC 57988	1896 p
	OREGON over sticker box	Short Irwin-Hodson	HC 59458 - HC 96039	36,582 p

HF, LF: Fixed Load

Fixed Load plates are definitely one of the stranger plate types around: Tar kettles, backhoes, and road graders over 3000 pounds fall into this category. They actually span two series: "HF" for Heavy Fixed, and "LF" for the rarer Light Fixed type. Many of the HF and LF plates in collector hands are dated "Dec. 73" (Were they even revalidated after that?), but surprisingly this is still listed as a current plate type in the Oregon License Plate Manual.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Gold/blue	OREGON over DEC [ ] 73	Short Irwin-Hodson	LF 01085* - LF 03117*		2033 s
			HF 00296 - HF 03799		3504 s
Blue/gold	OREGON over DEC [ ]	Short Irwin-Hodson	HF 06311 - HF 10005*	3695* s	6327 s
		Short Polyvend	HF 12637

HP-HU, TL5-TL9: Heavy Trailer

The origin of this type has often been shrouded in mystery, and a revelation now puts a bit of it into clearer focus: Prior to 1968, the "TL" prefix was used for both Heavy Trailer and Light Trailer plates. Since Light Trailer plates differed dramatically from Heavy Trailer in terms of design, they are listed separately under their own heading.

Customarily issued to heavy trailers and semi-trailers in excess of 8000 pounds; these plates have had a very interesting trajectory over the years. 1950s plates consisted of quarterly issues similar to Farm and Truck in execution.

The designated prefix changed to "HT" when "TL" was depleted in the early 1970s. The newest dated sticker confirmed on any Heavy Trailer plate is MAR 90. It seems that "Permanent Registration" decals were issued to existing registrations at that point, and new plates began being made in the "HP" series ("H"eavy "P"ermanent?) with no stickers whatsoever. The series has continued from there, with a number of different prefix letters being used over the years.

Layout & dies	Quarterly issues
OREGON [mo yr] at bottom Tall Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR. 56	TL 5-49* - TL 5-3970	JUNE 56	TL 6-1383 - TL 6-4016*	SEPT. 56	TL 7-4174 - TL 7-4535*	DEC. 56
		3922* s		2634* s		362* s
OREGON [mo yr] at bottom Tall Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR. 57		JUNE 57	TL 6-1816*	SEPT. 57		DEC. 57	TL8-7913
OREGON [mo yr] at top Tall Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR. 58		JUNE 58	TL 6-564*	SEPT. 58		DEC. 58	TL8- 707 - TL 8-3362*
								2656* s

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Green/white	ORE and sticker box	Tall Irwin-Hodson	TL 62-019* - TL 70-095*	8077* s
Blue/aluminum	ORE and sticker box over PACIFIC WONDERLAND	Short Irwin-Hodson	TL 51-250 - TL 64-745*	13-496* s
Orange/aluminum	OREGON over sticker box	Short Irwin-Hodson	TL 54-161* - TL 97-642	43,482* s	48,567* s
			HT 00-516 - HT 05-600	5085 s
Blue/gold	OREGON over sticker box	Short Irwin-Hodson	HT 06-008* - HT 37-516*	31,509* s	55,537* s
		Short Polyvend	HT 42951 - HT 44431	1481 s
		Short Irwin-Hodson	HT 45773
			HT 50 322* - HT 57 072*	6751* s
		Short Polyvend	HT 61 374* - HT 61 544*	171* s
	OREGON over PERMANENT	Short Irwin-Hodson	HP 00001 - HP 99999	99,999 s	469,217 s
			HQ 00001 - HQ 99999	99,999 s
			HR 00001 - HR 99999	99,999 s
			HS 00001 - HS 76097*	76,097* s
		Tall Waldale	HU 00326* - HU 07286*	6961* s
		Tall Irwin-Hodson	HU 27929 - HU 50293*	22,365* s
			(HU 69221 reported)

K: Camper

Camper plates are issued to "structure[s] with a floor designed to be mounted upon a motor vehicle but not permanently attached" and "providing facilities for human habitation or camping:" Make of that what you will. These plates were originally issued in a unique black-and-white design, although things have predictably gone blue and gold in the decades since then.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
White/black	ORE and sticker box over CAMPER	Short Irwin-Hodson	K702512 - K757926*	55,415* s
Blue/gold	ORE and sticker box over CAMPER	Short Irwin-Hodson	K760686* - K788165	27,480* s	59,217* s
	Sticker box over OREGON	Short Irwin-Hodson	K794914 - K809467*	14,554* s
	OREGON at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	K819902*

LT, TL: Light Trailer

Uh-oh, not yet another type of trailer plate! This classification split off from the Heavy Trailer type in 1956. To prevent serial conflicts, light trailer plates of 1956-67 had low numbers while heavy trailers started at TL5-1 or TL50000 and above. Although heavy trailers switched to multi-year bases in 1959, light trailers continued receiving annual plates for ten more years.

A unique black-on-aluminum multi-year base was issued in 1969 with a number of different serial-spacing conventions. What became of this after that I'm less sure about...I'd expect that "LT" was folded into the Utility Trailer classification by 1979 or so.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Annual Issues
Gold/blue	OREGON DEC. 56 at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	TL 1-562
	OREGON DEC. 57 at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	TL 1-4577 - TL 1-5625	1049 s
White/black	(1958 issue expected)	Tall Irwin-Hodson
Green/white	OREGON DEC. 59 at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	TL 1-7351
Gold/blue	OREGON DEC. 60 at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	TL 4-135 - TL 4-805	671 s
Gold/blue	OREGON DEC. 61 at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	TL 951* - TL 5-083	4133* s
	OREGON DEC. 61 over PACIFIC WONDERLAND	Short Irwin-Hodson	TL 6:278 (remake)
Red/aluminum	OREGON DEC. 62 over PACIFIC WONDERLAND	Short Irwin-Hodson	TL 4-920 - TL 7-130*	2211* s
Black/aluminum	OREGON DEC. 63 over PACIFIC WONDERLAND	Short Irwin-Hodson	TL 1-948 - TL10-082	8135 s
Green/aluminum	DEC. OREGON 64 at bottom	Tall Irwin-Hodson	TL 1-240* - TL 10-743*	9504* s
Orange/aluminum	DEC. OREGON 65 at bottom	Tall Irwin-Hodson	TL 556* - TL 9-584	9029* s
Green/aluminum	DEC. OREGON 66 at bottom	Tall Irwin-Hodson	TL 5-197* - TL 11-117*	5921* s
Black/aluminum	DEC. OREGON 67 at bottom	Tall Irwin-Hodson	TL 8 - TL 12-835*	12,828* s
Blue/aluminum	DEC. OREGON 68 at bottom	Tall Irwin-Hodson	LT 20-932* - LT 26-629*	5698* s
Stickered Issues
Black/aluminum	DEC. OREGON [ ] at bottom	Tall Irwin-Hodson	LT 918		58,174 s
			LT 1-480 - LT 35-620*	34,141* s
			LT 3-7749 - LT 5-1114	13,366 s
			LT 54-348 - LT 59-091	4744 s
Blue/gold	DEC. OREGON [ ] at bottom; large state name	Tall Irwin-Hodson	LT 6-6022		15,096 s
	DEC. OREGON [ ] at bottom; small state name	Tall Irwin-Hodson	LT 7-2636 - LT 7-8485*	5850* s
	DEC. OREGON [ ] at bottom; large state name	Tall Irwin-Hodson	LT 81-117

M: Motorcycle

The first postwar multi-year Oregon motorcycle plates were issued in 1966, and renewed the year thereafter with a sticker. Some late registrations received high-numbered plates dated "67." Although this was only a two-year base, it's a bit interesting to note that I've come across a number of illicit combinations in my research over the years...such as a 67 sticker on a 1965 annual plate, and 1966 bases with 1978 and 1982 stickers. People will put stickers on anything, I suppose!

The current series of Oregon motorcycle plates dates back to 1968. Early plates (up to 85000, if what the Oregon License Plate Manual says is any indication) had straight numeric serials, although an "M" prefix was implied in vehicular records. Narrower, squarer dies came into use in the early '70s that allowed easily for five digits plus the "M." The "M" and first digit began to be stacked from the 200000 series on.

Originally the plates were validated with unique, small stickers. These were replaced by gigantic heavy vehicle-style stickers when staggered registration commenced in the late '70s (which did a number on the plates, covering up their sticker box in the process), and eventually separate month and year stickers.

A rare white/blue transitional variation with squared dies exists. Early plates in the stacked M2 series have a wider "2" die than later examples. Finally, some plates in the '80s were made by the Polyvend Corporation in Arkansas, and feature much more rounded serial dies.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range (earliest expiration seen)	quantity
Green/aluminum	OREGON 66 at bottom	Rounded Irwin-Hodson	1842* - 44780*		42,939* s
	OREGON 67 at bottom; boltholes	Rounded Irwin-Hodson	45532 - 46679	1148 s	1857 s
	OREGON 67 at bottom; boltslots	Rounded Irwin-Hodson	46797
	OREGON 67 at bottom; boltholes	Rounded Irwin-Hodson	47158 - 47388	231 s
White/blue	OREGON over sticker box	Rounded Irwin-Hodson	980 - 77659 (85000 expected)	76,680 s	85,380 s
		Squared Irwin-Hodson	M 86359
Gold/blue	OREGON over sticker box	Squared Irwin-Hodson	M 90949* - M186740 (71)		95,792* s
Blue/gold	OREGON over sticker box	Squared Irwin-Hodson	M188370 - M199828 (75)	11,459 s	519,358* s
			M2 01448 - M2 10516* (wide 2; 76)	9069* s
			M2 13814 - M2 54559* (75*)	40,746* s
	OREGON at top; no sticker box	Squared Irwin-Hodson	M2 55416* - M3 13414 (8/79)	57,354 s
		Polyvend	M3 14969* - M3 37347* (82)	22,379* s
		Squared Irwin-Hodson	M3 41201* - M3 57973* (7/84)	16,773* s
		Polyvend	M3 61378* - M3 67933 (5/86*)	6556* s
		Squared Irwin-Hodson	M3 70165 - M3 96584 (12/85)	26,420 s
		Polyvend	M3 99312 - M4 10366* (7/87)	11,055* s
		Squared Irwin-Hodson	M4 10563* - M5 47726 (8/89)	137,035* s
		Waldale	M5 50759 - M5 59592 (9/07)	8834 s
		Squared Irwin-Hodson	M5 63868* - M7 07727 (3/07*)	143,860* s

MP: Moped

Low-powered cycles, or mopeds, began rating their own plates at some indefinite point in the 1980s. Issuance of these appears to lag well behind production.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range (earliest expiration seen)	quantity
Blue/gold	OREGON over sticker box	Squared Irwin-Hodson	MP 00018 - MP 06496 (3/86?)	6479 s	22,507* s
		Polyvend	MP 12580* - MP 13630 (3/93*)	1051* s
		Squared Irwin-Hodson	MP 22524* (8/16)

PF: Permanent Fleet

According to the Oregon License Plate Manual, these plates are issued to "owner[s] of a fleet of vehicles registered as a fleet rather than individually." The point of appeal for this type is that they don't require stickers...thus letting companies like UPS off the hook for trying to revalidate the plates on hundreds of trucks scattered throughout the state at any one time.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Blue/gold	PERMANENT FLEET over OREGON	Tall Irwin-Hodson	PF 07024 - PF 20081*	13,058* p	26,847 p
			PF 22 237 - PF 22 670	434 p
			PF 23714 - PF 26812	3099 p
	OREGON over PERMANENT FLEET	Short Waldale	PF 27821
		Tall Irwin-Hodson	PF 31763
			(PF 33870 reported)

R: Travel Trailer

Another class of plate that originally had a unique (pistachio!) color scheme; "travel trailer" plates are issued to trailers that "provide facilities for human habitation"...a mobile home, if you will. Separate month and year stickers replaced the combined heavy vehicle-type stickers in the 1980s. High serial blocks were reserved for issues on the Oregon Trail graphic base.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
White/green	ORE and sticker box over TRAVEL TRAILER	Short Irwin-Hodson	R400240 - R499010*	98,771* s
Blue/gold	ORE and sticker box over TRAVEL TRAILER	Short Irwin-Hodson	R499555 - R563863	64,309 s	326,648 s
		Short Polyvend	R570888 - R571918*	1031* s
	Sticker box over OREGON	Short Irwin-Hodson	R578166 - R581309	3144 s
		Short Polyvend	R582927 - R586201	3275 s
		Short Irwin-Hodson	R589836 - R595061	5226 s
		Short Polyvend	R611282 - R614177	2896 s
		Short Irwin-Hodson	R615674* - R749480*	133,807* s
	OREGON at top	Tall Waldale	R755064* - R762983	7920* s
		Tall Irwin-Hodson	R765270 - R820284	55,015 s
			(R826202 reported)
Oregon Trail graphic		Short Irwin-Hodson	R982042* - R999976*	17,935* s

SC: School Bus

School bus plates have been made by different vendors in at least three distinct styles.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Blue/gold	SCHOOL BUS over OREGON; PERM at right	Short Polyvend	SC 01199* - SC 02691*	1493* p	2352* p
		Tall Irwin-Hodson	SC 03550
	OREGON over SCHOOL BUS; PERM at right	Tall Waldale	SC 06560

SP: Special Interest Vehicle

Special Interest plates are issued to vehicles 25 years old or more that are maintained as a collector's item and, presumably, are not eligible for Antique Vehicle tags. The first two die variations are very similar and differ only in details: The Polyvend-made plate has straight Os and Gs in the state name and has the state name and serial stamped very close together; the Irwin-Hodson version, meanwhile, has oval Os and Gs, a slightly higher-stamped serial, a more shapely "S" in the prefix, and generally better-quality stamping.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Blue/gold	OREGON at bottom	Short Irwin-Hodson	SP 00016 - SP 00843	828 s	19,946 s
		Short Polyvend	SP 01062 - SP 01364	303 s
		Short Irwin-Hodson	SP 01695 - SP 07792	6098 s
	OREGON at top	Tall Irwin-Hodson	SP 11228* - SP 16209	4982* s
			(SP 19961 reported)
	Motorcycle size; OREGON at top	Waldale	SP 99202

T: Truck

"T" prefix plates like these are issued to trucks in excess of 10,000 pounds; lighter trucks get the same spiffy tree plates as ordinary cars. Like farm vehicles, trucks have been issued a number of different plate styles over the years. The numbering seems to have been continuous since the "Pacific Wonderland" series debuted in 1961.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Black/aluminum	OREGON and tab slots at top	Square Irwin-Hodson	T 2-178 - T55-627	53,450 p	62,938* p
			T64-048* - T65-115*	1068* p

Layout & dies	Quarterly issues
OREGON [mo yr] at top Square Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR 53	T 1 - T11-840	JUNE 53	T13-482* - T25-275	SEPT 53	T28-727 - T37-157	DEC 53	T45-768 - T90-282*
		11,840 p		11,794* p		8431 p		44,515* p
		T100480*		T97-994*		T95-777*, T120844*
OREGON [mo yr] at top Square Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR 54	T 1 - T12-233	JUNE 54	T30-993 - T45-905	SEPT 54	T78-606 - T89-546	DEC 54	T102428 - T147810
		12,233 p		14,913 p		10,941 p		45,383 p
OREGON [mo yr] at top Tall Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR. 55	T-1 - T12-748	JUNE 55	T29-978* - T46-204	SEPT. 55	T79-163* - T90-043	DEC. 55	T116181 - T139196*
		12,748 p		16,227* p		10,881* p		23,016* p
OREGON [mo yr] at bottom Tall Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR. 56	T-1 - T-6340	JUNE 56	T30-177 - T44-586*	SEPT. 56	T77-776 - T86-400*	DEC. 56	T106492 - T139703
		6340 p		14,410* p		8625* p		33,212 p
OREGON [mo yr] at bottom Tall Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR. 57	T 1 - T 6-682	JUNE 57	T 26413 - T 40631*	SEPT. 57	T77-527 - T84-843	DEC. 57	T101483 - T136445
		6682 p		14,219* p		7317 p		34,963 p
OREGON [mo yr] at top Tall Irwin-Hodson dies	MAR. 58	T 1 - T 6-637*	JUNE 58	T27-063* - T38-480	SEPT. 58	T80-481 - T83-081*	DEC. 58	T101518 - T133808
		6637* p		11,418* p		2601* p		32,291 p

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range (earliest expiration seen)	quantity
Green/white	ORE and sticker box	Tall Irwin-Hodson	T100057 - T154881 (3/59)	54,825 p
	ORE and sticker box over PACIFIC WONDERLAND	Short Irwin-Hodson	(T133062 remake seen, 12/61*)
Blue/aluminum	ORE and sticker box over PACIFIC WONDERLAND	Short Irwin-Hodson	T101120 - T143502 (12/62)	42,383 p	62,616 p
	ORE and sticker box (Possibly remakes)	Tall Irwin-Hodson	T146879 - T147461	583 p
	ORE and sticker box over PACIFIC WONDERLAND	Short Irwin-Hodson	T150814 (12/64)
	ORE and sticker box	Tall Irwin-Hodson	T151117 - T163735 (12/64)	12,619 p
Orange/aluminum	OREGON over sticker box	Short Irwin-Hodson	T200956 - T346344* (6/66)	145,389* p
Blue/gold	OREGON over sticker box	Short Irwin-Hodson	T346816 - T417002 (6/74)	70,187 p	250,517 p
		Short Polyvend	T418249 - T419339 (12/82)	1091 p
		Short Irwin-Hodson	T431405 - T437070* (12/84)	5666* p
		Short Polyvend	T439182 - T442423* (12/84)	3242* p
		Short Irwin-Hodson	T443987 - T460452 (6/85)	16,466 p
		Short Polyvend	T460849 - T465539* (6/88)	4691* p
		Short Irwin-Hodson	T468233 - T550039 (9/89)	81,807 p
		Short Waldale	(expected)
		New Irwin-Hodson	T558465* - T578318 (6/06)	19,854* p
			(T597332 reported)

TW: Tow Truck

This plate type evidently originated in the 1980s. "Wrecker" plates with non-sequential serials somewhat similar in format to dealer plates were utilized until then. I'm not sure if these plates are issued in pairs or singly: At least some carry undated "Tow Identification" or "Prorated Tow" stickers, in any case.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Blue/gold	OREGON over sticker box	Short Irwin-Hodson	TW 10235* - TW 11111	877*	9697*
		Short Polyvend	TW 12118
		Short Irwin-Hodson	TW 13236
			TW 14 195
			TW 16864 - TW 17938*	1075*
	OREGON at top	Tall Waldale	TW 18838
		Tall Irwin-Hodson	TW 19931*

U: Utility Trailer

These "regular" trailer plates are issued to light boat or utility trailers; probably starting in 1979 or whenever the Light Trailer series was discontinued. Separate month and year stickers began being used in the 1980s, and the descriptive caption was removed shortly thereafter. This class is noteworthy for being one of the only non-passenger types of plate routinely made on the graphic tree bases used for passenger plates.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Blue/gold	ORE and sticker box over TRAILER	Short Irwin-Hodson	U006879* - U031476	24,598* s	78,438* s
		Short Polyvend	U038791 - U040212	1422 s
	Sticker box over OREGON	Short Irwin-Hodson	U042646 - U043709*	1064* s
		Short Polyvend	U050154*
		Short Irwin-Hodson	U059798* - U067523*	7726* s
		Short Polyvend	U071611* - U078926*	7316* s
		Short Irwin-Hodson	U081936* - U085316	3381* s
"Dead tree" graphic		Short Irwin-Hodson	U112254 - U117426		5173 s
"Live tree" graphic		Short Irwin-Hodson	U140128* - U303165*	163,038* s	310,332* s
		Tall Waldale	U408584* - U423399	14,816 s
			(U450459 reported)

Y, Z: Apportioned

Oregon joined the International Registration Plan, a road tax fee-handling agreement for interstate vehicles, in 1975. Apportioned plates began to be issued immediately thereafter. "Y" prefixed plates are issued to trucks; "Z" plates went to trailers. These plates use the same small dies used on Oregon's infamous PUC plates; Polyvend-made plates are easily identifiable in part to the use of a closed "4." These plates generally use leading zeroes; however, some strangely don't.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range	quantity
Blue/gold	OREGON over APPORTIONED [ ]	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Y 000487 - Y 043944	43,458 s	113,510* s
		Extra-small Polyvend	Y052118 - Y053780*	1663* s
		Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Y 058851* - Y 113996*	55,146* s
		Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Z 004671 - Z 047201	42,531 s	101,621 s
			Z 72429 - Z 72468	40 s
		Extra-small Polyvend	Z081854 - Z088576	6723 s
		Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Z 094156 - Z 106291	12,136 s

PUC and DOT plates

Oregon's permit plate (or "tax plate") for heavy trucks. Although permit plates for heavy trucks were once a fixture on big rigs across the country, the advent of apportioned registrations and the eventual standardization of road tax procedures ultimately led to their disappearance. The red "ORE PUC" plate (which had been placed under the administration of the DOT by this point) met its final end in 2002; though similar Y-prefixed plates remain in use for Oregon carriers.

Colors	Variation	Dies	Confirmed serial range (earliest expiration seen)	quantity
				Letters not seen: OQ Assuming OQ skipped.
Blue/white	ORE 78-79 PUC at top; wide date	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	AA1559* - AM3391	121,821* s	216,997* s
	ORE 78-79 PUC at top; narrow date	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	AN2060 - AX8576	86,509 s
Red/yellow	ORE 80-81 PUC at top	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	GB 7162 - GZ 7840*	220,657* s
Gold/blue	ORE 82-83 PUC at top	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	JB 6527 - JZ 4934	218,386 s
White/red	ORE 84-85 PUC at top	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	KC 0533 - LD 6618*	256,061* s
				Letters not seen: U Assuming none skipped.
Yellow/green	ORE [ ] PUC at top	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	AAB 573* - ACZ 106	75,458* s	804,535* s
		Medium Polyvend	AHA 380 - AHA 963	584 s
		Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	BAL 612 - BBD 988	18,359 s
			CAA 067 - CAY 235	24,145 s
			DAM 527 - DSB 901*	456,918* s
		Medium Polyvend	DSW 691 - DSY 663 (88-89)	1971 s
		Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	DTC 576 (88-89)
		Medium Polyvend	DTO 234 - DTR 732* (88-89)	3,496* s
		Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	DTX 614* (88-89)
		Medium Polyvend	DVA 329* - DWG 313 (88-89)	31,953* s
		Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	DWL 642 (88-89)
		Medium Polyvend	DWO 042 (88-89)	3368 s
		Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	DWP 840* (88-89)
		Medium Polyvend	DWR 412 - DWV 403* (88-89)	3988* s
		Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	DWX 928 (88-89)
				Letters not seen: O Assuming O skipped.
White/red	ORE [ ] PUC; full border	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	MBB 449* - MZZ 600*	619,532* s	1,660,064* s
	ORE [ ] PUC; broken border	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	NBB 122 - NRP 572 (93)	402,049* s
	ORE [ ] DOT	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	NRV 997 - NZZ 549 (97)	210,342* s
			PAF 878* - PSA 174 (98)	434,861* s
	ORE [ ] PUC over APPORTIONED	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Y ABA 267 - Y ACS 415 (93)	42,107 s	166,927* s
	ORE [ ] DOT over APPORTIONED	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Y ACU 042 - Y ADG 508 (97)	70,209* s
			YADN511 (00)
			Y ADP 461 - Y AFM 320 (00)
Black/white	OR [ ] DOT over APPORTIONED	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Y AHM 360* (14)
White/red	ORE [ ] PUC over APPORTIONED	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Y APG 202 - Y APL 464 (94)	5258 p	18,627 p
	ORE [ ] DOT over APPORTIONED	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Y APV 466* (07)
		Small Waldale	YAPY572* - YAPZ846 (05)	1274* p
	ORE [ ] PUC over COMMERCIAL	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Y CBE 912 - Y CBX 593* (93)	17,664* s	29,540* s
	ORE [ ] DOT over COMMERCIAL	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Y CBZ 213* (05)
		Small Waldale	YCCI810 (06)
		Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Y CCK 828* - Y CCM 481* (08)	1651* s
	ORE [ ] PUC over COMMERCIAL	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Y CPB 235 - Y CRC 432 (93)	52,146* p	67,293* p
	ORE [ ] DOT over COMMERCIAL	Extra-small Irwin-Hodson	Y CRP 600* - Y CRS 594 (03)	2,992* p