Vehicle registration plates of Colorado

The U.S. state of Colorado first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1913.

Passenger plates 1913 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Colorado license plate that complied with these standards. However, the 1954 (dated 1955) issue was six inches in height by twelve inches in width, although the mounting holes were not in these standardized positions.

The basic design of Colorado's license plate (a row of mountains against an all-white or all-green background) has been in use since 1960, though not continually until 1978. This makes it the second-oldest American plate design still in circulation, after that of Delaware. In 2000, a more detailed version of the mountain face replaced the previous monochrome one.

Image	Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
150px	1925	white embossed lettering and rims on maroon base	none	1-12-345 10-1-234	County-coded
150px	1926	white embossed lettering and rims on green base	none	1-12-345 10-1-234	County-coded
	1932	orange on black	none	1-12-345 10-1-234	County-coded
	1933	black on orange	none	1-12345 10-1234	County-coded
	1934	yellow on black	none	1-12345 10-1234	County-coded
	1935	black on yellow	none	1-12345 10-1234	County-coded
	1936	white on blue	none	1-12345 10-1234	County-coded
	1937	black on silver	none	1-12345 10-1234	County-coded
150px	1938	white on teal	none	1-12345 10-1234	County-coded
	1939	yellow on black	none	1-12345 10-12345	County-coded
	1940	black on yellow	none	1-12345 10-12345	County-coded
	1941	yellow on black	none	1-123456 10-12345	County-coded
	1942	white on maroon	none	1-123456 10-12345	County-coded
	1943–44	yellow on black	none	1-123456 10-12345	County-coded	Revalidated for 1944 with yellow tabs.
	1945	white on black	none	1-12345 10-12345	County-coded
	1946	yellow on black	none	1-12345 10-12345	County-coded
	1947	black on yellow	none	1-123456 10-12345	County-coded
150px	1948	black on unpainted aluminum	none	1-123456 10-12345	County-coded
150px	1949	yellow on black	none	1-123456 10-12345	County-coded
	1950	green on white	Colorful	1-123456 10-12345	County-coded
	1951–52	white on green	Colorful	1-123456 10-12345	County-coded	Revalidated for 1952 with yellow tabs.
150px	1953	green on yellow	Colorful	1-123456 10-12345	County-coded
	1954	white on black	Colorful	1-1234 A1-1234 1A-1234 10-1234 A10-123 10A-123	County-coded
150px	1955	black on white	Colorful	A/1 1234 A/10 1234	County-coded
	1956	white on black	none	1:23456 12:3456	County-coded
	1957	black on yellow	none	1-23456 12-3456	County-coded
	1958	green on white with skier	Colorful	00B 123 AB 123	County-coded
	1959	embossed white on green	Colorful	AB-1234	County-coded
	1960–61	embossed green on white; mountains at top	none	AB-1234	County-coded	Revalidated for 1961 with stickers.
	1962	embossed white on green; mountains at top	none	AB-1234	County-coded
	1963	embossed green on white; mountains at bottom	none	AB-1234	County-coded
	1964	embossed white on green; mountains at top	none	AB-1234	County-coded
	1965	embossed green on white; mountains at bottom	none	AB-1234	County-coded
150px	1966	embossed white on green; mountains at top	none	AB-1234	County-coded
	1967	embossed green on white; mountains at bottom	none	AB-1234	County-coded
	1968	embossed white on green; mountains at top	none	AB-1234	County-coded
150px	1969	embossed green on white; mountains at bottom	none	AB-1234	County-coded
	1970	embossed white on green; mountains at top	none	AB-1234	County-coded
	1971	embossed green on reflective white; mountains at bottom	none	AB-1234	County-coded
	1972	debossed white on reflective green; mountains at top	none	AB-1234	County-coded
	1973	embossed green on reflective white	Colorful	AB-1234	County-coded
	1974	debossed white on reflective green; mountains at top	Colorful	AB-1234	County-coded
	1975–76	embossed red on reflective white and blue graphic	Centennial	AB-1234	County-coded	First multi-year baseplate. Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1975 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Colorado has been so honored.
	1976	embossed red on reflective white	Centennial	AB-1234	County-coded	Issued at end of Centennial graphic supply.
	1976–82	embossed white on reflective green; mountains at top	none	AB-1234	County-coded
	1982–93			ABC-123	County-coded
	1993–99			ABC1234	County-coded
150px	1992	Blue denim style	none	A0A0000		optional graphic
	2000	Multi colored graphic mountain scene red & yellow 'C' in upper left	none	000AAA		This is an optional plate for $25 extra per year
	January 2000 – present	dark green on reflective white with grey, and green mountain scene graphic	none	123-ABC, ABC-123	001-AAA to present	As of late 2015, a modified version of the ABC-123 series was "re-introduced", except using "Q" in many combinations, which wasn't a valid letter in the pre-2000's series.

Non-passenger and optional types, 2000 to present

When the current passenger baseplate was introduced in 2000, the state simplified its non-passenger and specialty plates as well, issuing them in the same serial format—123-ABC—and with similar graphic elements.

Non-passenger types

2000 to present

The serials on non-passenger types are embossed unless noted.

Image	Type	Notes
	Apportioned Permanent Trailer	Red background; stacked "PRM" prefix.
	Apportioned Tractor	Red background; stacked "ATR" prefix.
	Apportioned Trailer	Red background; stacked "ATL" prefix.
	Apportioned Truck	Red background; stacked "ATK" prefix.
	Colorado State Patrol	Black background; surface-printed serials in a format of CSP 123.
150px	Commercial Fleet	Red background; stacked "FLT" prefix.
	Dealer	Blue background; stacked "DLR" prefix.
	Dealer—Demo	Blue background; stacked "DMO" prefix.
	Dealer—In Transit	Blue background; stacked "INT" prefix.
	Depot	Blue background; stacked "DPT" prefix.
	Disabled Person	Green background; wheelchair in center; surface-printed serials.
	Farm Tractor	Green background; stacked "FTR" prefix.
	Farm Tractor—Personalized	Green background; stacked "FTR" prefix; surface-printed serials.
	Farm Truck	Green background; stacked "FTK" prefix.
	Farm Truck—Personalized	Green background; stacked "FTK" prefix; surface-printed serials.
	Government	Green background; stacked "GVT" prefix.
	Gross Vehicle Weight Tractor	Red background; stacked "TVW" prefix.
	Gross Vehicle Weight Truck	Red background; stacked "GVW" prefix.
	Gross Vehicle Weight Truck—Personalized	Red background; stacked "GVW" prefix; surface-printed serials.
	Manufacturer	Blue background; stacked "MFG" prefix.
	Recreational Truck	Green background; stacked "RTK" prefix.
	Special Mobile Machine	Green background; stacked "SMM" prefix.
	Special Mobile Machine—Exempt	Green background; stacked "SMX" prefix; motorcycle-sized plate.
	Trailer	Green background; stacked "TRL" prefix.
	Transporter	Blue background; stacked "TPR" prefix.
	Truck	Green background; stacked "TRK" prefix.

Prior to 2000

Image	Type	Design	Serial Format	Notes
	Disabled Person	Reflective white on green.	12345
	Fleet	Reflective gold on blue.	1234IA5

Optional types

2000 to present

Specialty types have surface-printed serials. Some types are available in personalized format, in which case the type logo, which normally appears at the center of the plate between the numbers and the letters of the serial, is absent.

Image	Type	Notes
	10th Mountain Division
	"Adopt a Greyhound"
	"Advancing Clean Energy"—Motorcycle
	"Advancing Clean Energy"—Motorcycle—Personalized	No logo at center.
	"Advancing Clean Energy"—Passenger
	"Advancing Clean Energy"—Passenger—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Air Force Cross—Motorcycle
	Air Force Cross—Passenger
	Amateur Radio—Commercial	Stacked "CCL" prefix. Serial is callsign.
	Amateur Radio—Passenger	Stacked "SCL" prefix. Serial is callsign.
	American Indian Scholars—Motorcycle
	American Indian Scholars—Motorcycle—Personalized	No logo at center.
	American Indian Scholars—Passenger
	American Indian Scholars—Passenger—Personalized	No logo at center.
	"Broncos Country"—Motorcycle
	"Broncos Country"—Motorcycle—Personalized	No logo at center.
	"Broncos Country"—Passenger
	"Broncos Country"—Passenger—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Bronze Star—Motorcycle
	Bronze Star—Passenger
	Bronze Star of Valor—Motorcycle
	Bronze Star of Valor—Passenger
	Collector Truck/Tractor
	Collector Truck/Tractor—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Collector Vehicle
	Collector Vehicle—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Colorado College
	Colorado College—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Colorado School of Mines
	Colorado School of Mines—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Colorado State University
	Colorado State University—Personalized	No logo at center.
	"Committed to a Cure"—Motorcycle
	"Committed to a Cure"—Motorcycle—Personalized	No logo at center.
	"Committed to a Cure"—Passenger
	"Committed to a Cure"—Passenger—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Denver Firefighter
	Designer—Passenger	Serial is embossed.
	Designer—Passenger—Personalized
	Designer—Truck	Stacked "TRK" prefix; serial is embossed.
	Disabled Veteran—Motorcycle
	Disabled Veteran—Passenger
	Disabled Veteran Handicapped—Motorcycle
	Disabled Veteran Handicapped—Passenger
	Distinguished Service Cross—Motorcycle
	Distinguished Service Cross—Passenger
	"Elks Care, Elks Share"
	Fallen Airman
	Fallen Guardsman
	Fallen Marine
	Fallen Sailor
	Fallen Soldier
	Fire Fighter
	"Growing Your Future"
	"Growing Your Future"—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Honorably Discharged Veteran
	Honorary Consul
	Horseless Carriage
	Italian American—Motorcycle
	Italian American—Motorcycle—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Italian American—Passenger
	Italian American—Passenger—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Kids1st—Motorcycle
	Kids1st—Motorcycle—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Kids1st—Passenger
	Kids1st—Passenger—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Korean War Veteran
	Medal of Honor
	Member U.S. Congress
	Member U.S. Senate
	Mesa State College
	Mesa State College—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Metro State College
	Metro State College—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Motorcycle Collector—Motorcycle
	Motorcycle Collector—Motorcycle—Personalized	No logo at center.
	National Guard
	Navy Cross
	NORAD	Issued July 1, 2008 through January 1, 2010.
	Pearl Harbor Survivor
	Pioneer
	Prisoner of War
	Purple Heart
	Regis University
	Regis University—Personalized	No logo at center.
	"Respect Life"
	Respects Wildlife
	Passenger—Personalized
	Share the Road—Motorcycle
	Share the Road—Motorcycle—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Share the Road—Passenger
	Share the Road—Passenger—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Silver Star
	State Representative	R-000 serial format.
	State Senator	S-00 serial format.
	Street Rod
	Street Rod—Personalized
	Support Education—Motorcycle
	Support Education—Motorcycle—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Support Education—Passenger
	Support Education—Passenger—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Support the Troops—Motorcycle
	Support the Troops—Motorcycle—Personalized	No logo at center.
	Support the Troops—Passenger
	Support the Troops—Passenger—Personalized	No logo at center.
	University of Colorado
	University of Colorado—Personalized	No logo at center.
	University of Denver
	University of Denver—Personalized	No logo at center.
	University of Northern Colorado
	University of Northern Colorado—Personalized	No logo at center.
	U.S. Air Force	Available only to veterans.
	U.S. Air Force 50th Anniversary	Available to general public.
	U.S. Air Force Academy
	U.S. Air Force Academy—Personalized	No logo at center.
	U.S. Army
	U.S. Army Special Forces
	U.S. Coast Guard
	U.S. Marine Corps
	U.S. Navy
	Vietnam Veteran
	Western State College
	Western State College—Personalized	No logo at center.

Prior to 2000

Image	Type	Serial Format	Notes
	10th Mountain Division	12345E
	Collector Truck/Tractor	12Z34
	Collector Vehicle	12N34 12R34
	Designer	Coded by county of issuance: A1B2345
	Firefighter	12345F
	Honorably Discharged Veteran	12345B
	Pioneers	12345D
	Purple Heart	012345
	United States Air Force	12345C

External links

• Colorado's License Plates
• Colorado license plates 1969-present