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License Plate Gallery

The Wisconsin Pages:

Dealer

Dealer plates represent the oldest non-passenger class in Wisconsin: Registration of vehicles on display by dealers commenced in July 1905; the same time the first passenger license plates debuted in the state. Early dealer plates are identifiable by the presence of a large, solid star at left.

In 1920, the numbering configuration was changed in order to allow more than one uniquely-numbered plate to be issued to a single dealer. An alpha suffix was added that would increment itself with each additional plate: 344C would be the third plate owned by dealer number 344, for example. This system is essentially still used today, with double letters issued after "Z."

In a peculiar move, the state eliminated validation stickers, colors, and reflectorization from dealer plates in 2011. Some plates have suffix letter stickers, but most have no suffix at all. These crude-looking bare-aluminum subjects are going to be phased in over the next year:

Motorcycle Dealer

Demonstrator

Many sub-types of the motor vehicle business class exist. One of the rarer varieties amongst these is Demonstrator, used on trucks and tractors in excess of 8,000 pounds. The assigned numbers on these plates tend to be in the 4000 series, and do not carry an alpha suffix.

Distributor

Distributor plates are most often used by entities involved in the wholesale distribution of vehicles; working as a middleman between a dealer and manufacturer. Newer distributor plates often carry numbers in the 7000 series.

Motorcycle Distributor

Finance Company

Used by banks and other financial institutions when moving or demonstrating repossessed vehicles. Finance companies tend to be assigned numbers in the 5000 series.

Manufacturer

At risk of stating the obvious, Manufacturer plates are used by motor vehicle manufacturers to test or demonstrate vehicles.

Motorcycle Manufacturer

Wisconsin is notable as being the only state in the country to currently issue plates for motorcycle manufacturers...namely Harley-Davidson, whose central offices are based in Milwaukee and who, incidentally, have been assigned the "41" and "48" prefixes.

In-Transit/Transporter

In-Transit and Transporter plates are used by businesses that transport vehicles between manufacturers, distributors, and dealers "under their own power" or "in tow on their own wheels;" per the DOT guide. The assigned numbers on these plates tend to be in the 8000 series.