1986 Maryland Sheild base
Maryland license plates around 1986 do not have an embossed border, or sticker boxes or wells. However They do have holograms running vertically down the center of the plate which contain "MD" and a two-digit year of manufacture. (For Example MD 86)
Month and year expiration stickers are applied to the upper corners of the rear plate only.
Standard plates very closely resemble the optional 350th Anniversary base issued in 1983 and 1984 (and used through September 1987). They're black on reflective white, with a screened script Maryland at the top center. Standard passenger car plates, and some non-passenger plate types, have a four-color graphic shield resembling the state flag in the center of the plate.
License Plate Color Stickers
| 1986 – | black on white sticker | Very few issued on this base; format xxx*000, probably all in the N series with March or Oct. – Dec. expiration months. |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 – | red on white sticker | Natural serial letters in the N, P, and early R series, expiration months almost always Feb. – Dec. only. |
| 1988 – | white on black sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. early R series to middle V series (U series skipped). |
| 1989 – | white on red sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. middle V series to middle W series. |
| 1990 – | black on white sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. middle W series to middle X series. |
| 1991 – | yellow on black sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. middle X series to middle Y series. |
| 1992 – | black on yellow sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. middle Y series to middle Z series. |
| 1993 – | yellow on black sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. middle Z series to late Z series, expiration months nearly always Jan. - June. |
| 1994 – | white on red sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. very late Z series to early A series; expiration months nearly always July - Dec. |
| 1995 – | red on white sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. middle A series to early B series. |
| 1996 – | green on white sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. early B series to very early C series. |
| 1997 – | blue on white sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. very early C series to very early D series. |
| 1998 – | white on green sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. early D series to late D series. |
| 1999 – | white on blue sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. very late D series to late E series. |
| 2000 – | green on white sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. very late E series to late F series. |
| 2001 – | blue on white sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. very late F series to very early H series. |
| 2002 – | white on green sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. early H series to very early J series (I series skippped). |
| 2003 – | white on blue sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. early J series to very early K series. |
| 2004 – | green on white sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. early K series to early L series. |
| 2005 – | black on white sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. middle L series to early M series. |
| 2006 – | green on white sticker | Natural serial letter range approx. middle M series to MZZ, then format 0xx*x00 from letters AA*x to approx. AF*x. |
| 2007 – | white on green sticker | Continue format 0xx*x00; natural serial letter range approx. AG*x to AK*x without web address. |
| 2008 and beyond | No naturals, renewals only; | |
