These plates are used on buses which transport passengers for hire. They can be used on vans to motorcoaches.

Buses used Commercial plates for 1914 through 1916. Public Service plates were used on buses starting in 1917 (along with their use on individual-fare for-hire cars).

The Bus type started in 1922 as “Jitney”. They had the reverse colors of passenger plates with a J- prefix. Sometime in the 1930s the type was changed to “Bus” which is used to today.

“Temporary Jitney” plates are known for the 1920s, with a TJ- prefix.

“General Distinguishing Number” Bus plates were used starting sometime in the 1950s. These look the same as regular bus plates (including the “Bus” caption), but have a letter prefix. See section below.

As of 2016 Bus plates are now in the generic AB-12345 format.

Click the photo to see this type in use.

1937

 

1957
This plate was used in ’56 and ’57.
The shiny background didn’t scan too well.

1965

1990

1990s Map Base

1999

ca. 2000s

BUS – GENERAL DISTINGUISHING NUMBER

“General Distinguishing Number” Bus plates were used starting sometime in the 1950s. These look the same as regular bus plates (including the “Bus” caption), but have a letter prefix. They were available to transportation agencies who operated more than one bus. The plates were issued as a series – for example, the operator receiving general distinguishing number ’15’ would be issued plates A 15, B 15, C 15, etc. Buses operated by The Connecticut Company, formerly the state’s largest streetcar company, used plates of this type. I am not sure when new plates of this type were discontinued, but a couple of existing registrations were carried over into the 2000s on the light blue base.
Click the photo to see this type in use.

1936 General Distinguishing Number Bus.
The “Bus” caption was added in the early 1930s, but the “J” prefix for “Jitney” remained.

1964 General Distinguishing Number Bus.
The ‘C’ indicates this would be the third plate under this registration.