Throughout this period registration numbers associated with privately-owned passenger cars were assigned from two sequences: plates with up to four digits are numbered from 1 through 9999, and higher numbers are known with both five- and six-digit serials. Specifically as to these five- and six-digit numbers, the lowest and highest number known of each plate is presented in this table:

Naturally, higher numbers were reached on plates used for more than a twelve-month period.

This data (nor other extant information) does not allow us to conclude at which point on plates of each year the numbering of non-passenger plates ceased and passenger plates commenced (the "cutoff point"). Taking 1936 as an example, we know of sightseeing bus plate no. 52-070 and passenger plate no. 54-623, whereas for 1937 we know the cutoff point was lower due to the existence of dealer plate no. 42-101 and passenger plate no. 46-702. This assumes, of course, that numbers were not duplicated on plates of various types (including passenger), which seems a fairly safe assumption.

So few non-passenger plates issued from 1935 through early 1948 are known that it is impossible to determine, based on existing examples, which blocks of numbers were set aside for the various registration types. In general, however, we can conclude that many types were evidenced by plates numbered from 10-000 through some undetermined five-digit number. There are, however, exceptions.

Commercial (truck) plates of this era were originally numbered as most other types, but based upon the existence of 1937 truck plate no. 42-101 and a plate of the same type for the following year numbered B1754 we have concluded that letter prefixes were reintroduced on plates of (probably only) this type in 1938, probably due to the quantity of registrations and the desire to again indicate the registration class on the plate. (Truck plates were designated by weight-class letter prefixes prior to 1935.)

Other non-passenger types did not utilize five-number plates, most notably Motorcycle and Diplomatic. This table provides a summary of known five-number 1937-47 non-passenger plates:

1935

Although in this space we once indicated that 1935 plates may have been to first to be produced at Lorton Reformatory rather than by a private contractor, an early 1934 memo in which the production of 1935 plates is discussed indicates that this is not the case. “The dies from which our automobile plates are made are so badly worn that it will become necessary this year to replace them,” wrote W.A. Van Duzer, Director of Vehicles and Traffic, leading us to conclude that annual plates of the design introduced in 1928 were likely all made at Lorton.

New dies used to produce 1935 plates were designed to resemble those then used by two of the states. “These figures have been found by experience in New York and Pennsylvania to be practical from a visibility standpoint,” wrote Mr. Van Duzer. Indeed, D.C. 1935 registration number characters closely resemble those then in use in New York since 1930, and to a lesser extent Pennsylvania dies introduced on that state's 1934 plates.

The Feb. 1934 memo quoted twice above also recommends “that the color scheme for next year be lawn green figures on a white background.” The several changes and provisions specified in the memo had already been approved by the city traffic council and the superintendent of police by the time it was approved by the commissioners on Feb. 20, 1934.

1936

Most noteworthy about 1936 is that this is the first year for which plates with a number comprised of fewer than than five digits were made on a smaller plate than those with five or six characters. This practice continued through the 1947 registration year.

The 1936 color scheme was determined in March 1935. Director of Vehicles and Traffic W.A. Van Duzer wrote this to Commissioner Melvin C. Hazen on the subject: “For 1936 Virginia license tags will be a black background with white figures, and 1936 Maryland tags will be a blue background with white figures. It would be impractical for us to reverse our tags for next year -- that is, green background with white figures, as there would be a possibility of confusion. I have had different [1936 test] tags made up, and [superintendent of police] Major Brown and I have looked them over under lights and find that chrome yellow background with black figures is the best contrast. It is recommended that these colors be selected for our1936 tags.” In fact, 1936 Virginia plates wound up being painted orange on dark blue, and Maryland plates of that year are white on black.