Collage of three D.C. plates.

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Non-Passenger License Plates
Page V: Truck and Trailer Types

Apportioned Commercial (Truck)

Apportioned
First Issued: c.2000
Current Type Designation: AP prefix


Apportioned plate no. AP-0167  

Due to its small size and number of commercial trucks based within its borders, it's not surprising that Washington, D.C. was the last American jurisdiction to introduce plates of this type. Apportioned plates are issued for use on commercial vehicles that travel across state lines. Registration fees are apportioned to jurisdictions in which the vehicle is operated based upon records of mileage travelled maintained by the owner.

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Commercial (Truck)
Earliest Known: 1927
Current Type Designation: C prefix

Click here to reach a separate page dedicated to this type.

 

Solid Waste
First Issued: unknown
Current Type Designation: SW prefix

1984 base solid waste plate no. SW-899Plates of this type have been issued, at least since the mid-1990s, for use exclusively on privately-owned refuse collection trucks. Residential trash is collected by city employees in trucks registered with D.C. Government plates, and many private trash haulers (who collect refuse generated by businesses) are based in Maryland and Virginia (the vehicles of which must therefore carry a D.C. Solid Waste permit). The number of D.C.-based trucks that are registered with Solid Waste plates is quite small, so the plates are rather scarce.

 

Trailer
Earliest Known: 1935

Current Type Designation: T prefix

Exp. Nov. 2008 trailer plate no. T-15672There is considerable confusion as to when this type was first issued. The earliest verified genuine trailer plate is dated 1935 and has the type name clearly embossed. Whether earlier plates of various years with only a T prefix were issued for use on private passenger cars or trailers is unknown. When letter prefixes were introduced in 1927 the letter T carried no special significance. Some sources indicate that pre-1935 plates with a T prefix were made for trailers, but how this was determined is unspecified.


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1957 (exp. 3-31-58) Trailer plate no. T-371

1960 (exp. 3-31-61) Trailer plate no. T-236

1961 (exp. 3-31-62) Trailer plate no. T-1521

1962 (exp. 3-31-63) Trailer plate no. T-14301973 (exp. 3-31-74) Trailer plate no. T-35411974 base trailer plate no. T-386

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This page last updated on September 1, 2008

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