These plates are used on limousines and for-hire cars (but not taxis).
The ‘Livery’ type started in 1910 and was used on vehicles which transported people for a charge.
Livery plates were issued from 1910 to 1915. They were the reverse colors of passenger plates with an ‘L’ suffix. 1916 was skipped because ‘Commercial’ vehicle plates were used on individual-fare for-hire vehicles. From 1917 to 1920 they used ‘Public Service’ plates, with a ‘PS’- prefix (this type was shared with buses). In 1921 ‘Public Service’ became ‘Omnibus’, with an ‘O’ prefix. Livery returned in 1932 and has been in use since.
In the late 1980s, the format changed from all-numeric to one having an ‘L’ prefix and suffix – similar to Interstate (Z) and Taxi (T) plates. The standard configuration at this time was L1234L, although lower numbers appear in L1L, L12L, and L123L formats. In March, 2016, a 7-digit format was introduced starting at L00000L (number verified on the road).
Click the image above to see this type in use.
1915 Livery.
Thanks to Doug for unearthing this one. This plate was issued for use on a 1911 Studebaker in Lakeville.
1917 Public Service.
1919 Public Service.
This was issued to a 1917 Ford Model T out of Staffordville.
1921 Omnibus
1922 Omnibus
1924 Omnibus
1927 Omnibus
1931 Temporary Omnibus
1934
1938
1939
1948
1956
1966
1970
Early to mid- 1980s
Early to mid- 1980s
2 numbers, used until 2001
3 numbers, used until 2001
Used until 2003
ca. 1990s
1995
2001
The ‘Livery’ legend got narrower somewhere around L5100L.
2008, remade number
ca. late 2000s
Date stickers were not used after 2008.