Maryland Organizational License Plates
My specialty focus in collection license plates is on the Maryland organizational program. This program officially began in 1986.
Per the Code of Maryland, Article “Transportation” – Title 13 – Subtitle 6 “SPECIAL REGISTRATION PLATES” one would find Section 13-619 - Special registration plates for members of certain organizations – the legal framework for Maryland to issue Organizational plates. Interestingly, it notes that an additional fee is waived for National Guard members, and volunteer Fire/Rescue/Ambulance organization members. There's also 13-619.1 for combat and armed forces medal. For unknown reasons, the Agricultural plates are 13-619.2, and the 1910 vintage tags are 13-619.3.
The form a Maryland resident would fill out to apply for an already approved plate is VR-124, which requires a signature from an “Authorized Representative” for the organization. This form also has a line that releases “personal information to the representative for official purposes” – what that is actually used for is beyond me. At the bottom of the single page you’d file out, the VR-124 states you may mail the application and fees ($15 for Non-Logo, $25 for Logo) to the MVA’s headquarters – or visit. From my understanding, that information is outdated and the MVA no longer takes in person applications – all must be mailed in. The MVA’s form has been updated over the years, I’ve seen at least five revisions since 2002 – but the most recent (12-2017) would presumably be outdated. The MVA website does not have the most recent copy unfortunately, yet they do have other forms like VR-164 “Application for Special Registration Plates” where one could apply for “Our Farms”, “Our Bay”, or Amateur Radio Operation plates among others, and VR-131 which helpfully displays information regarding Maryland’s registration tag system, along with vehicle classes.
There is a separate form for the most common Organizational plate, Maryland State Fireman’s Association – VR-124A. Interestingly, this lists the fee as only $10, even though it is a Logo plate. I have yet to find the legal framework for such. This may be because the entire “FD” prefix has gone back far longer than the 13-619 section. There is little documentation on how these were applied for, and even less on how many were issued.
Since there’s no clear figure on how many truly exist, I’ll focus on those 654 unique types of plates that were issued from 2018-2023. The clear high was the Maryland State Firemen’s Association, which saw 659 a year issued. When it comes to least issued, there were 122 organizations that saw a single license plate issued in those 5 years.
These organizations included the St. Mary's County ALS Unit seeing one plate issued in 2023, Frederick Saltwater Anglers in 2022, American Sewing Guild in 2021, Maryland Chapter Korean War Veterans Association in 2020, Fort Meade Flying Club in 2019, Harbor City Music Company in 2018, and a single Motorcycle Vietnam Veterans of America in 2019.
Yes, organizational plates are offered for motorcycles as well - 32 unique organizations offer this according to the MVA to be exact. The Maryland State Firemen’s Association motorcycle saw an issuance of 138 from 2018-2023. There were 7 unique organizational motorcycle plates that saw a single issuance from over those 5 years - ABATE of Maryland, Inc., Annapolis, Maryland Chapter Harley Owners Group, Boumi Temple, Free State Nam Knight Motorcycle Club of America, Howard County Professional Firefighters Local 2000, United States Navy Chief, Vietnam Veterans Of America. Motorcycle organizational tags are rare, with one being a August 2015 expiration United States Navy Chief 0063CPO that sold on eBay in May of 2023 for $578.
Oh, those 654 organizations didn’t include “Non-Logo” plates – which the MVA classes separately. The fee is only $15 for these, which of course do not have a screened logo on the side.
The MVA’s website lists 67 unique types of Non-Logo Organizational plates, but only 9 unique organizations saw issuance in those years. On average, 15 Non-Logo Org plates are issued each year – with the Fraternal Order of Police Associate Members averaging 9 a year. The College of Notre Dame and Syracuse University Alumni Club of Washington DC, Inc. each saw a single issuance between in 5 years. I have yet to find an Organizational Non-Logo Motorcycle plate – if you know of one let me know!
Lastly, a decent number of organizational plates are available, but not listed on the MVA’s website. For example, I found that 2 plates had been issued to “JOBS DAUGHTERS” in the 2018-2022 request, but no mention on the site. A simple Google search for it led to a 10-year-old .pdf, with an email to contact. I contacted them, sent off my $10 donation to the group along with $25 for the MVA, and a few weeks later I received a November 2023 expiration JD0105.
Although I have never been to a group meeting, and don’t often join Masonic affiliated youth organizations for girls and young women aged 10 to 20, my plate proudly displays the image, along with the Greek and Latin “IYOB FILIAE” to other drivers that may be sharing the road with me. I also see that in 2023, only a single plate was issued, which I can only assume was mine.
The 2 Archaeological Society plates that were issued from 2018-2023 also include my November 2025 expiration AS0154.