Various Ohio license plate designs from 1908 to 1921 used distinctive monograms instead of a fully spelled-out state name. Ohio issued single-year plates from 1910 through 1973, except in 19 when windshield stickers were issued to revalidate the previous year's plates, again due to metal conservation (for World War II and the Korean War respectively). Front and rear plates would be issued for passenger vehicles for over a century, through June 30, 2020, with the exception of 1944–46 when only rear plates were issued due to metal conservation for World War II.
The Ward Law required automobile owners to display plates at both the front and the rear of the vehicle. One effect of the Ward Law was to eliminate a significant revenue stream for cities like Cincinnati, which took in about $5,000 a year (equivalent to $163,000 today) from auto registrations. Locally issued and owner-provided license plates were phased out by 1909 for automobiles, but local plates continued to be used for motorcycles until 1914. Paxton, Jr., for his Franklin automobile. The first state vehicle registration was issued to Cincinnati resident Thomas B.
The Ward Law went into effect on June 11, 1908, but the Automobile Division did not begin issuing plates for another 30 days due to a manufacturing defect. The Ohio Secretary of State's Automobile Division, precursor to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, was established in 1907. In 1906, the state attempted to take over auto registration under the Ward Automobile Law, but litigation delayed the program until the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in favor of the law.