Collage of three D.C. plates.

Navigation bar element linking to year-by-year guide to general-issue passenger platesNavigation bar element linking to low-number plate pageNavigation bar element linking to optional plate page

Navigation bar element linking to non-passenger plate pagenavigation bar element linking to special events plates pagenavigation bar element linking to other plates pageNavigation bar element linking to validation stickers page
Navigation bar element linking to ephemera pageNavigation bar element linking to page about D.C. plates currently being issuedNavigation bar element linking to Capital Traffic page
navigation bar element linking to home pagenavigation bar element linking to miscellaneous topics pagenavigation bar element linking to links pagenavigation bar element linking to glossary pagenavigation bar element linking to page describing this site

1968 Baseplate

1968 plate no. 611-068

Just the Facts...

Construction

6" x 12", aluminum or steel covered with reflective white sheeting. Issued in pairs.

Design

Plain, all-embossed black on white. No graphics.

Period of issuance

Six years: April 1, 1968, through March 31, 1974.

Period of use

Only during the period specified above.

Other facts
A registration year of April 1 through March 31 was used during the life of this base.

Plates of this base were assigned sequentially from number 500-001 through 999-999, at which time (January and February of 1974) a small number of plates in the 400-000 series were issued until the 1974 base was introduced. For the first registration year (April 1968 through March 1969), these plain, undated plates were used with no visible indication of the registration year or validation. Reflective stickers listed below were issued to validate 1968 baseplates, and plate collectors are reminded that in most cases the final three digits in the sticker serial number should match the final three digits on the plate, as described at the Validation Stickers page.

Year
Legend
Colors
Period of Use
Sticker Location
1969
EXP. 3-31-70
black on yellow
4/1/69-3/31/70
upper right corner
1970
EXP. 3-31-71
white on red
4/1/70-3/31/71
center, below dash
1971
EXP. 3-31-72
white on blue
4/1/71-3/31/72
center, above dash
1972
EXP. 3-31-73
white on black
4/1/72-3/31/73
upper left corner
1973
EXP. 3-31-74
white on green
4/1/73-3/31/74
lower left corner


Click on image for enlarged view.  
Click on image for enlarged view.
Due to a registration fee increase approved by Congress during 1969 this DMV mailer was provided to motorists in advance of the early 1970 renewal season. Click on the image for an enlarged view.
 
D.C. motorists received a warning with their annual registration renewal notice to submit their application early. This example is from early 1972, and is 3-1/4" x 7-3/8". Click on the image for an enlarged view.

1968 plate no. 726-216 with 1970 sticker 1968 plate no. 779-105 with 3-31-71 sticker

Although most plates of this base are aluminum, those with the highest numbers are steel. Numbers 970-126 and 992-387 (both natural 3-31-74) are verified as steel plates, but some lower-numbered natural 3-31-74 plates are aluminum. The highest documented aluminum plate (natural 3-31-74) is number 957-853. Whether 400-000 series plates are steel or aluminum is unknown.

1968 plate no. 940-023 with 1973 and 1974 stickers.Some natural 1972 plates (first validated with a 3-31-73 sticker with a proper matching serial number) are known that have a 3-31-74 sticker that also has a matching serial number. This is believed to have been caused by the preparation of too many natural 1972 plates. Because the supply outlasted the 1972-73 registration year, these leftover plates were stickered again (at Lorton or the DMV) for the 1973-74 registration year, and matching stickers were again properly used. Therefore, these may be considered natural 3-31-74 plates even though they have two stickers! For more information on matching serial numbers and natural plates, see the Validation Stickers page.


Sticker placement instruction slips

Information about the proper location of plate validation stickers during the life of the 1968 base was provided to motorists with little slips of paper inserted with the stickers themselves. From left Sticker placement instruction slips for 1969 (marked "EXP. 3-31-70"), 1971 ("EXP. 3-31-72") and 1973 ("EXP. 3-31-74) stickers.




D.C. flag

This page last updated on September 1, 2008

copyright 2008 Eastern Seaboard Press
Information and images on this Web site may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without consent of the owner.
For information, send an e-mail to admin@DCplates.net