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Below are some of the registration cards I have collected. My goal is to obtain one from every year to trace the evolution of the forms.
The original motor vehicle law placed vehicle registration under the purview of the Secretary of State, where it remained until the Department of Licensing was established on April 1, 1921. The 1922 license shown below is the first to reference the Department of Licensing.
It’s also interesting to note that from 1922 to 1930, the design of these forms were subjected to the Kafkaesque Department of Efficiency.
1910
License number 5582, issued to James Henry of Seattle. Dated April 1, 1910.
Annual license certificates had been issued in this same format since the the prestate era began in 1905.
1913
License number 17570, issued to S.A. McGuire of Clarkston. Dated March 11, 1913.
While Washington was still in the prestate era at this time, the annual license certificate had been reduced in size, and some design changes were made in an attempt to avoid confusion between the serial number (the state’s transaction number) and the actual license number of the vehicle.
The licensing year at this time was from June 1 to May 31. The March 11 date on this certificate confirms this was McGuire’s first time registering his new car; he would have to pay the annual $2 fee again in two months, to renew for 1914.
1914
License number 17570, issued to S.A. McGuire of Clarkston. Dated May 28, 1913.
1915
License number 17570, issued to S.A. McGuire of Clarkston. Dated June 12, 1914.
The certificate format was again changed this year to further clarify the license number, placing it in the logical, most prominent location at the top-right, and moving the serial/transaction number to the bottom.
1916
License number 3370, issued to W.F. Baer of Ferndale. Dated June 14, 1915
This was the first year of state-issued license plates.
1917
I don’t have one! Do you have a 1917 Washington vehicle registration certificate? Please contact me!
1918
License number 63495, issued to Frank Gepford of Amber. Dated May 10, 1917.
1919
License number 49877, issued to Fred Engle of 945 22nd Ave, Seattle. Dated March 16, 1918.
1920
License number 141747 (truck – this was a full-porcelain dated 1920 issue), issued to D.A. McDonald of Wapato. Dated April 2, 1919.
1921 (to March 1: green plate)
License number 97399, issued to D.F. Chamberlain of 1409 25th Ave N, Seattle. Dated March 16, 1920.
1921 (to Dec 31: gray plate)
License number 76973, issued to Douglas F. Chamberlain of 1409 25th Ave N, Seattle. Dated March 25, 1921.
1922
License number 6248, issued to C.R. Startin of Dayton. Dated December 19, 1921
This was the first instance where the state’s license year corresponded to the full calendar year.
1923
License number 2226 (motorcycle), issued to Karl Gunther of 201 W. 2nd, Cle Elum. Dated May 17, 1923.
1924
License number 379892 (truck), issued to Horace E. Partain of Camp Lewis (now Joint Base Lewis-McChord). Dated March 18, 1924.
1925
License number 268907, issued to L.O. Clayton of Silcott. Dated September 14, 1925.
The 1925 forms were printed with the signature of Fred J. Dibble, Director of Licenses, at the bottom, as they had been since 1922. On this particular example, the DOL had made the effort to cross out Dibble’s name and update it with his successor, Charles R. Maybury, who was appointed head of the DOL in March 1925.
1926
License number 41-289, issued to Mary A. Kane of R.3, Box 62, Puyallup. Dated December 19, 1925.
1927
License number 155-688, issued to I.E. Hetzel of 262 21st Ave, Longview. Dated January 18, 1927.
1928
License number 147-967, issued to A.L. Leach of 1505 Harris Ave, Bellingham. Dated January 18, 1928.
1929
License number 131-753, issued to Oscar Magnuson of 2901 South 7th St, Tacoma. Dated January 14, 1929.
1930
License number 170-618, issued to Harry D. Taylor of 1820 Terry Ave, Seattle. Dated January 21, 1930.
1931
License number 249-973, issued to Mrs. John Gaino of Dupont. Dated February 6, 1931.
1932 | License number 21-976
License number 21-976, issued to Axel & Hulda Larson of 3002 Main St, Vancouver. Dated December 1, 1931.
1933 (type 1)
License number 339-840, issued to R.J. Lenerville of 5231 1/2 South Tacoma Way, Tacoma. Dated July 31, 1933.
1933 (type 2)
In late 1933, the licensing laws were updated to require, for the first time, the issuance of vehicle titles to prove ownership. Effective August 1, 1933, all vehicle owners were required to obtain a vehicle title. Registration forms changed along with the law, now adding a field to reference the title number, a practice that continued in each subsequent year. In this particular case, Lawrence Boyer likely had a previous-format registration card prior to obtaining his vehicle title in October 1933, at which time he would have been issued this card to supersede his previous registration.
License number 49-768, issued to Lawrence Boyer of 1308 W. Kiernan, Spokane. Dated October 5, 1933.
1934
License number 187-100, issued to N.Q. Barton of Route 2, Blaine. Dated January 25, 1934.
1934 registrations continued in the format of the late-issue 1933 licenses adopted after vehicle titles became law. It appears the state had a surplus of 1933 forms, or a large batch was produced with a printing error: note the red ink adjusting the 1933 dates to 1934
1935
I don’t have one! Do you have a 1935 Washington vehicle registration certificate? Please contact me!
1936
I don’t have one! Do you have a 1936 Washington vehicle registration certificate? Please contact me!
1937
License number C-3180 (Spokane County), issued to Lawrence Boyer of 1308 W. Kiernan, Spokane. Dated December 17, 1936.
1938
I don’t have one! Do you have a 1938 Washington vehicle registration certificate? Please contact me!
1939
License number A-105-331 (King County), issued to Michael J. Comber of Rt 1, Bothell. Dated January 30, 1939.
1943
Windshield sticker number 441851, for license plate C-25885, issued to Charles E. Walker of Vanport City, Oregon.
Due to metal shortages in World War II, windshield stickers were used to renew 1942 plates. This registration shows windshield sticker number 441851 was issued to renew license plate number C-25885 (noted at left).
1951
Tab serial number P 487452, renewing license plate H-5493, issued to Eddie Bazinet of Route 1, Onalaska. Dated May 28, 1951.
This certificate is the for the renewal of a 1950 Washington license plate. The serial number of the 1951 tab is noted at the top right, with the license plate number of H-5493 below it. Also interesting is the fact that the owner resided in Lewis County, but the car’s license plate prefix of H indicates the plate was issued in Grays Harbor County. Either the owner moved, or had initially licensed the car at the Aberdeen licensing office instead of the Chehalis office.
1960
License number CFL 434 (1958 base), issued to Melpa Scales of 9312 N. Howard, Spokane. Dated July 13, 1960.
1963
License number JAH 575 (1963 base), issued to Darrell G. Geidel of Fort Lewis (now Joint Base Lewis-McChord).
1970 | License number OFG 877
License number OFG 877 (1968 base), issued to Donald Y. Aoki of 1771 Sturgus Ave S, Seattle.
1971
License number WSP 698, issued to Washington State Patrol. Dated January 4, 1971.
Danny's License Plates 