The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA) is the largest such organization in the world.ALPCA Online – Automobile License Plate Collectors Association Founded in Rumney Depot, New Hampshire, United States, in 1954 and holding its first meeting/convention in North Attleborough, Massachusetts, in 1955. It serves as a way for license plate collectors to trade plates, distribute news, and provide historic information to members.
Overview
ALPCA currently has approximately 3,900 registered members and over 15,000 registered member numbers, 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 15000s. Members treasure their "ALPCA number" and often are known as much by the time period in which they joined as 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.
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, as well as back issues of all publications; and can attend both regional meets and the annual convention.
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.
Since 1972 ALPCA has annually presented a "Best Plate Award" to an American state or Canadian province.ALPCA Plate of the Year Winners . To better educate the public regarding genuine license plates, the association provides a "Guide to Deceptive and Misleading Plates" for free on its website.
Many ALPCA members maintain their own interests and websites, sometimes overlapping, and sometimes going way beyond the confines of license plate collecting. A subset of them are "Extra Miler Club" members, who seek to visit every county (or county equivalent) in the United States, often while picking antique shops and other venues for old plates. One member keeps track of the "highest numbers" issued in each state, and his website records what combinations are the latest to be issued.
ALPCA members often consult the media for stories on issues in automobilia.The New York Times > Automobiles > Driving: Vintage Cars, Vintage PlatesDelaware plate sells for U.S. record | projo.com | The Providence Journal projoCars |Vanity With a Purpose; States Expand Specialty License Plates – New York Times
Membership ALPCA has approximately 3,900 current members. Members choose whether their membership lasts one, two, three, four, or five years. Junior memberships, for those below 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 using 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.
Executive Board 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, while 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.
PositionNameLocationTerm EndingPresidentCyndi McCabeElyria, OHJuly 8, 2026Vice-PresidentDick YourgaAmherst, MAJuly 8, 2025DirectorJohn NorthupLogan, UTJuly 8, 2026DirectorBill DickersonManchester, NHJuly 8, 2025DirectorJoel KimmetCincinnati, OHJuly 8, 2025DirectorMike MorganEsterno, FLJuly 8, 2026DirectorStephen TudayWoodstock, GAJuly 8, 2026
List of ALPCA Presidents The ALPCA presidents' term of office has changed two times. From 1955 until 1961 their term was two years, from 1961 until 2004 the term was one year, and since 2004 the term is once again two years. To simplify the following chart, multiple terms served consecutively are combined in one row. The following list of ALPCA Presidents was compiled from the ALPCA Newsletter, ALPCA Register, and Plates Magazine.
No.NameDatesTermsNotes1Dr. Cecil W. George1955–19571Member #1; Granted life membership in 19882Ralph Perkins1957 – July 4, 19581Resigned3Frank SpinneyJuly 5, 1958 – 19591Appointed4Roy A. Carson1959–196115Asa P. Colby1961–196216Clarence Titus1962–196317Carl Sweiven1963–196418Harvey Parkes1964–196629Andrew Young1966–1967110Ernie Wilson1967–1968111Joe Oliver1968–1969112Frank German1969–1972313Paul M. Maginnity1972–1973114Willie Stahl1973–1974115Earl Jenson1974–1975116Edward Dietz1975–1976117Dick Pack1976–1977118Arthur D. Currie1977–1979219James A. Crilly1979–1981220Robert M. Crisler1981–1983221James K. Fox1983–1985222Robert M. Crisler1985–1987223Jeffrey C. Minard1987–1989224James A. Crilly1989–1991225Michael C. Wiener1991–1993226James K. Fox1993–1995227Dale W. Blewett1995–1997228Richard Yourga1997–2000329Barney Schukraft2000–2001130Michael R. Naughton2001–20064Three single-year terms and one two-year term.31Jeff Francis2006–2010232Michael Liscio2010 – May 30, 20111Resigned33Stephen TudayJune 1, 2011 – July 20111Resigned 34Greg GibsonJuly 2011 – 2016335Cyndi McCabe2016 – 5
Events International conventions ALPCA has held annual conventions since 1955. The four earliest conventions were held at the host members' homes. Since 1959 the annual conventions have been held in a larger private or public venue, and those held since 1984 have been at a convention center or other similarly large public venue. Conventions include three days of selling and trading of plates on the convention floor, an auction of license plates donated by members and individual state departments of motor vehicles, member displays that are judged and presented awards in many categories, committee and membership meetings, and social activities. Newly elected Executive Board members are installed just prior to the convention start. Conventions are open only to members and their guests.
No.YearVenueLocation11955Property of Cecil GeorgeNorth Attleborough, MA21956Property of Cecil GeorgeNorth Attleborough, MA31957Property of Robert OliverSetauket, NY41958Property of Frank SpinneyBristol, NH51959Yorklyn Gun ClubYorklyn, DE61960Odd Fellows HallAdamsburg, PA71961Giroux Motor CompanyPhillipsburg, NJ81962American Legion HallNorth East, MD91963American Legion HallCanastota, NY101964Grange Hall, Hancock County Fair GroundsFindlay, OH111965Natural Bridge HotelNatural Bridge, VA121966Campus Center, Otterbein CollegeWesterville, OH131967Franklin County Fair GroundsGreenfield, MA141968Merchants Building, Hancock County Fair GroundsFindlay, OH151969Memorial Gymnasium, Juniata CollegeHuntingdon, PA161970Kane County FairgroundsSt. Charles, IL171971Youth Center, Ohio State FairgroundsColumbus, OH181972Utah National Guard ArmorySalt Lake City, UT191973Lakeside Gardens, Britannia ParkOttawa, ONT, CAN201974Hoover Community Building, Garfield Fair GroundsEnid, OK211975Acadia Community HallCalgary, ALB, CAN221976Juniata CollegeHuntingdon, PA231977Salem Community High SchoolSalem, IL241978Lehigh Resort MotelLehigh Acres, FL251979Lakeland Community CollegeMentor, OH261980Oklahoma State FairgoundsOklahoma City, OK271981Central Cabarrus High SchoolConcord, NC281982Lake Michigan CollegeBenton Harbor, MI291983Dulaney Senior High SchoolTimonium, MD301984Rushmore Plaza Civic CenterRapid City, SD311985Asheville Civic CenterAshville, NC321986Springfield Convention CenterSpringfield, IL331987Abuquerque Convention CenterAlbuquerque, NM341988Arthur Ashe CenterRichmond, VA351989Riverside Convention CenterRochester, NY361990Rapid City Convention CenterRapid City, SD371991Kansas City Market CenterKansas City, MO381992Peoria Civic CenterPeoria, IL391993Hammons Trade Center, AuroraDenver, CO401994Chattanooga/Hamilton County Conv. & Trade Ctr.Chattanooga, TN411995SeaGate Convention CentreToledo, OH421996Peoria Civic CenterPeoria, IL431997Tucson Convention CenterTucson, AZ441998Niagara Falls Convention and Civic CenterNiagara Falls, NY451999Chattanooga/Hamilton County Conv. & Trade Ctr.Chattanooga, TN462000Hammons Trade Center, AuroraDenver, CO472001Peoria Civic CenterPeoria, IL482002Niagara Falls Convention and Civic CenterNiagara Falls, NY492003Tucson Convention CenterTucson, AZ502004Rhode Island Convention CenterProvidence, RI512005Sioux Falls Convention CenterSioux Falls, SD522006Ontario Convention CenterOntario, CA532007Von Braun CenterHuntsville, AL542008Salt Palace Convention CenterSalt Lake City, UT552009Bayfront Convention CenterErie, PA562010Arlington Convention CenterArlington, TX572011Charleston Convention CenterCharleston, WV582012Iowa Events CenterDes Moines, IA592013Grand Sierra ResortReno, NV602014Rochester Riverside Convention CenterRochester, NY612015Northwest Arkansas Embassy SuitesRogers, AR622016Grand Wayne Convention CenterFort Wayne, IN632017Ontario Convention CenterOntario, CA642018Valley Forge Casino ResortValley Forge, PA652019Knoxville Convention CenterKnoxville, TN ----2020Cox Business CenterTulsa, OK (cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)662021Northern Kentucky Convention CenterCovington, KY672022Hampton Roads Convention CenterHampton, VA682023Crowne Plaza Denver Airport Convention CenterDenver, CO692024Lansing Convention CenterLansing, MI702025Cox Business CenterTulsa, OK712026Grand Wayne Convention CenterFort Wayne, Indiana722027River's Edge Convention CenterSt. Cloud, Minnesota732028Von Braun CenterHuntsville, Alabama
Regional meets Regional meets provide the opportunity for members to sell, trade, or barter plates with other members between annual conventions. The dates for officially sanctioned meets are published in the organization's magazine "Plates." These meets often include auctions, regional meetings, awards, and a social event such as a lunch meal. Like the annual conventions, regional meets are open only to members and invited guests. The number of regional meets varies each year, but recent years have seen 15 – 25 regional meetings. Some regional groups hold a single meeting, while others may host quarterly meetings. A list of upcoming regional meetings is maintained at the ALPCA website.
Independent meets