Automobile License plates sizes? shapes?

[GABSTER]

This is my question, anybody knows why is there different shapes IE. long narrow plates in europe/some of asia, versus the rectagular shape in the rest of the world? whats the reason behind this? history facts? thanks a mil in advance

[Sternvogel]

As a partial answer to your question, here's an interesting page on the history of the Massachusetts plates. The first one issued by the state bore the single digit 1, so it could be relatively small. Soon two digits were needed, then three, so the plates got wider. By 1908 (only five years after the 1 plate was issued, five-digit numbers were needed, and the tag looked somewhat like the European plates you mention.

By the late 1920's, Massachusetts plates were looking more like the standard American tags of today, but were still issued in varying sizes. Not until 1957 were the dimensions standardized (note the centered 3 in the plate pictured on the linked page). Obviously it's easier to make the "blanks" all with the same length and width than to produce a handful of one-digit plates, about 90 two-digit plates, etc.

Although most of the world's plates are rectangular, some interesting exceptions exist. To publicize the wildlife of the Arctic, Canada's Northwest Territories plates are shaped like bears. In the 1950's, the USA's Tennessee and Kansas both issued plates in the shape of the respective state maps.

[Santos L Halper]

Originally Posted by Sternvogel

In the 1950's, the USA's Tennessee and Kansas both issued plates in the shape of the respective state maps.

Colorado's license plates are specially made in the shape of that state as well.