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Bringing the past to the present.
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Collectable License Plates • Vintage Items • Unique Art
by Tom Baur, The License Plate Guy here at License Plate Garage
Illinois License Plate History
Dashboard Discs Part 1 — 1907 to 1910
Illinois started registering automobiles in 1907. But you didn’t get a license plate — you got a disc for your dashboard.
Dashboard Discs Part 2 — 1911 to 1917
See examples of more early issue dashboard discs from 1911 to 1917.
Hand-Made Plates
Because you didn’t get a license plate, drivers had to make their own. Here are some examples early hand-made plates.
Vented Plates
In the teens, overheating engines was a major concern so the state came up with some imaginative ways to prevent license plates from adding to the problem. Here are some examples of vented plates.
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