1938-1948
1938-9
1938-9 plates were the first to use a two year date notation to make clear that the plates could be used from March 29, 1938 to April 1, 1939. This system continued to cause confusion, however, with at least one motorist having to purchase 1937 replacement plates after making the change-over early. The plates were ready for distribution by January 21 and the state promoted the benefits of renewing early, allowing motorists to avoid the long lines that were a consequence of last minute renewals. The promotion apparently worked, as 100595 plates had been distributed by February 3.
1939-40
For the 1939-40 year, the start date for plate use for renewed registrations was moved up from March 29 to March 1. New registrants still needed to adhere to the April 1 start date. New registrations begun in the last 4 months of the year cost only half price. The state also stopped mailing out blanks for vehicle registrations. Motorists were responsible for either visiting the Motor Vehicle Department office or securing blanks from local police, town clerks, garages, or chambers of commerce. The hold period for low numbers expired in mid February. Registrants renewing early could request a low number on their registration form and would recieve a number that had not been reseved from the previous year.
1940-41
1941-42
The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles set February 19th as the deadline for motorists to renew who wished to keep their low number license plates. This apparently caused some confusion with motorists who thought they had until the last Wednesday of February. According to the Nashua Telegraph: "irate motorists have been pouring into that office with copies of the motor vehicle laws..."
According to the Motor Vehicle Department, by March 2nd, 17,501 cars had been registered. The mid-March figure was 35,101 and 42,700 had been issued by March 20.
1942-43
By the middle of 1941 there were hints that World War II would begin to impact New Hampshire's license plates. Depite concerns, State Purchasing Agent Harold Cheney announced that on July 15th steel was delivered to Concord to produce the 1942-43 plates.
By January 3, 1942, Warden Charles B. Clarke announced that the State Prison shop had produced 35,000 plates and those plates had been delivered to the motor vehicle commission, and that they were ready to produce more as needed. At that time It was again stated that the war might impact the sourcing of materials for the next year's plates.
The war also impacted the number of vehicles registered in New Hampshire in 1942. On March 3rd, the State Motor Vehicle Department reported that only 13,451 cars were registered, a considerable drop from the same time the previous year. By the middle of the month, only 27,001 had registered.
Finally, on October 2nd, 1942, Motor Vehicle Commissioner Virgil D. White announced that no new license plates would be issued for the duration of the war and that the present plates would need to last for a long time. The Commissioner reported that after several months of study, contact with officials in every other state, the Superintendant of the State Police, and the State Attorney General that "it had been decided to use a supplementary plate to convert the present rear plate for use during 1943... It will conveniently fit onto the top of the present plate and be of a contrasting color combination so as to be quickly identified." The front plates were to be removed from vehicles by inspection stations in October to be returned to the state and re-manufactured into plates for 1944. The Commissioner felt that two plates were more desirable, but that there would be cooperation as it was due to the war emergency.
From the period of the October inspection until the renewal period in the spring of 1943, motorists used just a single 1942-43 plate on the rear of their vehicles.
On November 24, 1942 State Prison Warden Charles B. Clarke announced that metal strips were being manufactured instead of full sized plates for the following year. The strips were distributed at the time of the 1943 renewal instead of new, dated 1943-44 license plates, with the requirement that the strips be in place by April 1, 1943.
The strips were 8 1/2 inches long and 1 1/8 inches high, fitting neatly across the top of 3-digit plates. A serial number, which was recorded as "Tab #" on the registration certificate, was embossed in the center of each strip. Numbers ranged from K 1 to K 99999 for passenger plates. Once the K series was exhausted, some T-prefix non-passenger tabs were used on passenger vehicles as well. New registrants were supplied with a single 1942-43 plate and 1943 strip.
While the strip number did not match the registration number on the plate, it does appear that the strips were issued roughly in numerical order. Because holders of low-number plates were encouraged to renew early, low number plates have a tendency to be found with low number tabs.
1944
As a concession to wartime shortages, only a single, rear, license plate was issued for passenger cars in 1944. The plates were covered with extra coats of heavy paint with an eye toward making them last as long as needed.
Drivers wishing to retain low numbers needed to renew by February 23. 1944 plates could be displayed on vehicles on March 1st for renewals and April 1st for new registrants. Motorists were asked by Commissioner Virgil D. White to turn their old plates in to inspection stations to be collected as scrap for the war effort.
The numbering system for New Hampshire plates also changed significantly in 1944. Instead of beginning at number 100, issuance of plates began at number 1. The lowest numbered plates were reserved for individuals holding particular offices, as was announced by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles on March 2nd:
1: Governor
2: Senior U.S. Senator
3: Junior U.S. Senator
4: U.S. Congressman, 1st district
5: U.S. Congressman 2nd district
6 - 10: Members of the State Supreme Court in order of seniority
11 - 16: Members of the State Superior Court in order of seniority
1945
For the first time in its plate history, New Hampshire abandoned the white and green color combination in 1945. The change to black on white was made due to wartime shortages of green enamel paint.