Wasn`t very exciting was it
Well the way they do it here in Illinois is,the plate is issued to an owner/bike,and then a sticker is applied to the plate. The sticker is a visual form of registration that is applied to the plate showing that it is currently registered...all fees/taxes paid.
The stickers have the month and year printed on them. This sticker is good for 1 year from date of purchase. So if bought in July the sticker will show 8/08 and will be good till 8/09.
Also different colors are used so that at a distance the registration can be known if current or past due. (helps the law enforcement people aka coppers!)
Some states have the plate stay with the bike when transfered to a new owner. So if you spend the $$ for a special vanity plate,you're outta luck n $$ if you sell the bike!
But here in Illinois,the owner retains the plate/sticker and either applys the registration (plate/sticker) to the new bike/vehicle or simply throws it away and applys for new registration if another bike/vehicle is purchased after the expiration which again is only good for 1 year.
Even more......extra tax stamps,vehicle stickers,tax plates etc. are affixed to the plate and vary in each city,county,state of the Union.