The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA) is the largest such organization in the world.^[1] Founded in Rumney Depot, New Hampshire, United States, in 1954 and holding its first meeting/convention in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1955. It serves as a way for license plate collectors to trade plates, distribute news, and provide historic information to members.^[2]

Quick Facts Company type, Industry ...

Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, Inc. (ALPCA)

Company type	Membership driven
Industry	History, Research
Founded	December 22, 1954; 69 years ago (December 22, 1954) in Rumney Depot, New Hampshire, U.S., incorporated December 1957
Founders	Dr. Cecil George, Asa P. Colby
Headquarters	United States of America
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Cyndi McCabe (President and Chairman of the Board)
Products	Memberships, magazine, archives, conventions, annual Best Plate Award
Website	Official website

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ALPCA currently has approximately 2,800 registered members and over 14,000 registered member numbers,^[1] although many of the earlier—and therefore lower-numbered—members are now deceased or are no longer members. When an individual joins, he or she is assigned a membership number, which started with #1 in 1954, and are currently being issued in the 14000s. Members treasure their "ALPCA number" and often are known as much by the time period in which they joined than by name or geographic home. The club hosts an annual convention each June or July that attracts several hundred members, and regional meets take place in a number of states, provinces, and countries throughout the year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 convention, originally scheduled for Tulsa, Oklahoma from July 8–11, 2020, was cancelled. The next convention, open to members only, was scheduled for Covington, Kentucky, from August 4 to 7, 2021.^{[needs update][3][4]}

Members come from all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, as well as nineteen countries. Most members reside in the United States, followed by Canada, Germany, and Australia. Members receive the bi-monthly full-color publication "Plates;" have full access to the organization's web-based license plate archives for every country around the world; access to back issues of all publications; and can attend both regional meets and the annual convention.^[5]

Despite the club's name, many members also collect and exchange license plates from vehicles other than automobiles. Antique vehicle, bus, camper, farm, military, motorcycle, trailer, and truck plates are just a few of the hundreds of other plate types that have been issued and are now collected by members.^[6][7]

Since 1972 ALPCA has annually presented a "Best Plate Award" to an American state or Canadian province.^[8] To better educate the public regarding genuine license plates the association provides a "Guide to Deceptive and Misleading Plates" for free on its website.^[9]

Many ALPCA members maintain their own interests and websites, sometimes overlapping, and sometimes going way beyond the confines of license plate collectors. A subset of them are "Extra-Miler Club" members, who seek to visit every county in the United States, often while picking antique shops and other venue for old tags. One member keeps track of the "highest numbers" issued in each state, and his website records what combinations are the latest to be issued.^[10]

ALPCA members often consult the media for stories on issues in automobilia.^[11][12][13]

The ALPCA has approximately 2,800 current members. Members choose whether their membership lasts one, two, three, four, or five years. Junior memberships, for those members less than 18 years of age, are also available. The organization's magazine, "Plates," is mailed to all members, and all members in good standing are entitled to vote for officers and the Best Plate Award. Members can research plates with the association's online archives which have been extensively expanded and updated in recent years. Members may also display the ALPCA logo (shield) for personal use.^[14]

The ALPCA is run by a seven member Executive Board composed of the President, Vice-President, and five Directors. All members serve two year terms. The President and three of the Directors terms expire in even numbered years, and the Vice-President and two Directors terms expire in odd numbered years. The Administrative Staff, composed of the Secretary, Treasurer, Plates Editor, Webmaster, Regional Meet Coordinator, Complaint Chairman, and Legal Counsel, are appointed by the Executive Board, Similarly, the Project Staff, consisting of the Convention Planner, Convention Administrator, Archivist, Hall of Fame Coordinator, and Best Plate Coordinator, are also appointed by the Executive Board. The President also serves as the Chairman of the Executive Board. Note that prior to the 1977 election of board members there were multiple other elected offices which are not shown here.^[15][16]

From its inception ALPCA has distributed a publication to all active members. Unofficially, the primary publication was titled the ALPCA Newsletter, but it was many years before this was formalized. The name first appeared on the masthead in April 1972, but the name had appeared in the newsletter itself many times before this date. The ALPCA Newsletter changed names in February 2000 to the ALPCA Register, and since December 2004 has been known as Plates Magazine or informally as Plates. Back issues of these publications are available to active members on the association's website.^[42][43][44]

Since 1972 members have voted each year to name one United States or Canadian license plate design, and in some years two such designs, introduced during the previous year as the "Best Plate."^[52] The first award went to Pennsylvania for their early Bicentennial plate which featured the Liberty Bell in the center.^[52] The award to the 1970 Northwest Territories for their polar bear-shaped license plate was made by Executive Board action between December 1973 and February 1974.^[53]

Members votes are based on both the plate's legibility and its aesthetics. For 1995, 1997, and 1998, the club recognized one standard-issue plate and one optional-issue plate, while in 1985 and 1989, two jurisdictions' designs tied for first place.^[8] The presentation of the award each year is usually covered by media outlets in the state that wins the award.^[54][55]

The ALPCA Hall of Fame was approved by the Board of Directors in 2002, but it did not officially induct any members until 2004. "The goal of the Hall of Fame is [to] provide a vehicle to learn about our founding fathers and the legacy of leaders throughout the years who have embodied the fraternal spirit of our hobby."^[80]

"To be considered for the Hall of Fame, candidates must have served the club or hobby unselfishly for the good of all without concern for praise, compensation, or reward; promoted membership; provided guidance to fellow members; and taught others the value of collecting."^[80] Any member in good standing may nominate any ALPCA member for induction into the hall that they feel is deserving of the honor. The Hall of Fame Committee reviewes all initial nominations, and the past presidents of the association vote to determine who on the list would be inducted in the Hall of Fame.^[80]

• Robert M. "Bob" Crisler, of Lafayette, Louisiana, served as an officer of ALPCA and was inducted as one of the first members of its Hall of Fame. He is a retired geography professor from the University of Louisiana, and authored "License Plate Values," the first collector price guide in the hobby.^[81]
• Jim Fox, drummer of the James Gang; served as an officer of the ALPCA and authored one of the most prominent published works within the hobby, License Plates of the United States.
• Ernest R. Hemmings, of Quincy, Illinois, the founder of Hemmings Motor News.
• Keith Marvin, of Menands, New York, wrote three books about license plates and seven books total. He wrote over 3,000 articles on automotive history, and his work appeared in more than 70 different publications.
• Doug DeMuro, a YouTuber, automotive journalist, and businessmen whose collection of low-numbered plates, including many political plates, serves as a backdrop for videos filmed in his garage.^[82]