In the early 1900's, it became apparent that the "horseless carriage" was here to stay (some thought it was only a novelty item). The desire for improved roads grew, and Michigan's government raised money by having all automobiles registered, using license plates to be displayed on the vehicle. From 1905 through 1932, automobile license plates used numbers. It was not until 1933 that the plates began to be identified by county by means of a prefix letter.

At this writing, we cannot be sure which letter identified Leelanau County, but if its neighbor Grand Traverse County is any indication, it may have been the letter 'L.' Whatever letter it was, the single prefix letter continued through the 1938 plates. However, problems arose because the single letter caused confusion with other counties that began with the same letter.

In 1938, a county code using 2 prefix letters was created to begin with the 1939 license plates. This was a better system, as the county confusion was removed, and Leelanau County became identified with the letters 'LL.'
However, it was not long before another county code was created.

The 1940's saw multiple Leelanau County identifications on license plates. A new county prefix for the "Little Finger of Michigan" was 'SK.' During this same time, Michigan issued 1/2 year plates through 1946 to lighten the financial burden for those who needed to split their payments for car plates. A different county code was used for the 1/2 year plates, and Leelanau County's was 'ZP.' Probably the most varied identification was on the plates used for municipally owned vehicles. For example, vehicles belonging to the Leelanau County Road Commission would display license plates that contained wording such as 'Leelanau County Road Commission.' Cars belonging to the sheriff's office would be so identified, as were plates that identified different county and village departments. This practice was streamlined beginning in 1949 when license plates for all municipally-owned vehicles were made with a diamond-x prefix and had 5 numerals.

In the 1950's, Leelanau County had a program by which the head of the license bureau would go around to the county's villages and townships and take applications for new license plates. The plates would be mailed to the applicant. Also, another county code was created beginning in 1955, with Leelanau County given the 'XL' prefix. This prefix would be used through 1961.

In 1962, when Michigan reshuffled the codes again, 'WW' became Leelanau County's new license plate prefix. In 1965, still another reshuffling of the county codes took place, but Leelanau County was one county not affected by this change, so 'WW' continued as the prefix through 1969.

In 1970, Michigan's license plates began containing 3 prefix letters, which also reduced the numerals from 4 to 3, and used still a new county code. Leelanau County had more than 1 prefix, and was identified with the prefixes 'BLZ' through 'BMF'.

Beginning in 1972, Michigan's license plates were renewed with stickers, and today they are not identified by county code. However, one thread of information discovered by this writer may indicate that the 1971, 1973, and
1976 plates had specific county code prefixes. If this is proven, we will post which prefix letters were used for Leelanau County in those years.

~ Thomas Baird

Update 12/29/2006:

Someone read my article on Leelanau license plate prefixes, and shared information on the missing prefix code letters. They are as follows:

In 1940-41, Leelanau was TZ-50-01 to TZ-99-50, changing to SK from 1942-54.
1971-72 - BMM-BMR
1973-75 - BKX-BLB
1976-78 - BNS-BNW, and SKW
1979-83 - BPB-BPG
1984-86 - 200 AAB-249 AAB, ABV, APW-APX, CLK-CLL, JGB-JGC
1996 Auto Centennial Plate - DHH-DHM prefix
1997 Bridge Plate - BPF

~Thomas Baird