Vehicle registration plates of Connecticut
The U.S. state of Connecticut first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants had to provide their own license plates for display until 1905, when the state began to supply plates.[1] Since then, Connecticut has used a variety of license plate designs, and has issued different designs for passenger, non-passenger, and, more recently, optional plate types that often require an additional fee.
Plates are issued in pairs, one each for the rear and front of the vehicle, for most classes of vehicles. For most classes of vehicles, plate validation stickers, or metal date tabs in earlier decades, were discontinued in favor of windshield stickers beginning in September 2006. (Windshield stickers were no longer required beginning in 2010.) Vehicles that do not have a windshield, or are part of fleets that frequently rotate plates among vehicles, continue to receive plate stickers.
Until 2013 Connecticut, as a rule, skipped the number 0 as the leading digit in its plates, with the exception of dealer plates. Between July 2013 and August 2015, temporary 1ABCD2 and 1AB-CD2 serial formats were used, both of which allowed 0 to be used as the leading digit. In August 2015, a permanent AB-12345 serial format was introduced, and the number 0 could be used as the first of the five digits in the serial.
Passenger baseplates
1905 to 1936
Image | Dates issued | Description | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1905–09 | White numbers on black porcelain plate | C1234 | C1 to C9999 | Each serial was specific to the motorist, rather than to an individual plate (so if the motorist owned more than one vehicle, the plates on each would display the same serial). Annual re-registration commenced 1907.[2] | |
1910 | White numbers on red porcelain plate | C12345 | C1 to approximately C11400 | ||
1911 | Blue numbers on white porcelain plate | C12345 | C1 to approximately C14000 | ||
1912 | White numbers on green porcelain plate | C12345 | C1 to approximately C17700 | ||
1913 | White numbers on blue porcelain plate | C12345 | C1 to approximately C21800 | ||
1914 | White numbers on green porcelain plate; vertical "CONN" and "1914" at left and right respectively | 12345 | 1 to approximately 25000 | First dated plate. | |
1915 | Yellow numbers on black porcelain plate; vertical "CONN" and "1915" at left and right respectively | 12345 | 1 to approximately 34000 | ||
1916 | White numbers on black porcelain plate; vertical "CONN" and "1916" at left and right respectively | 12345 | 1 to approximately 49000 | ||
1917 | Dark blue numbers on white flat metal plate; vertical "CONN" and "1917" on dark blue bands at left and right respectively | 12345 | 1 to approximately 62000 | ||
1918 | Dark green numbers on white flat metal plate; vertical "CONN" and "1918" on dark green bands at left and right respectively | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 70-000 | ||
1919 | Black numbers on white flat metal plate; "CONN. 1919" centered at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 83-000 | ||
1920 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "CONN.–1920" centered at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 99-000 | First embossed plate. | |
1921 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "CONN.–1921" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 110-000 | ||
1922 | Embossed maroon numbers on white plate with border line; "CONN.–1922" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 125-000 | ||
1923 | Embossed white numbers on dark green plate; "CONN. 1923" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 157-000 | ||
1924 | Embossed black numbers on gray plate; "CONN. 1924" centered at bottom | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 98-000 | ||
A-1234 | Coded by branch office[3] | ||||
1925 | Embossed white numbers on navy blue plate; "CONN. 1925" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 104-000 | ||
A-1234 | Coded by branch office | ||||
1926 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; "CONN. 1926" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 112-000 | ||
A-12-345 | Coded by branch office | ||||
1927 | Embossed white numbers on maroon plate; "CONN. 1927" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 118-000 | ||
A-12-345 | Coded by branch office | ||||
1928 | Embossed white numbers on navy blue plate; "CONN. 1928" centered at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 128-000 | ||
A-12-345 | Coded by branch office | ||||
1929 | As 1927 base, but with "CONN. 1929" at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 135-000 | ||
A-12-345 | Coded by branch office | ||||
1930 | As 1928 base, but with "CONN. 1930" at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 133-000 | ||
A-12-345 | Coded by branch office | ||||
1931 | As 1927 base, but with "CONN. 1931" at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 137-000 | ||
A-12-345 | Coded by branch office | ||||
1932 | Embossed white numbers on navy blue plate; "CONN. 1932" at bottom | 1234 A123 A/B123 |
Issued in blocks by branch office | Plates with the A/B123 serial format had the state abbreviation and year offset to the right. This practice continued until 1937. | |
1933 | Embossed white numbers on maroon plate; "CONN. 1933" at bottom | 1234 A123 A/B123 |
Issued in blocks by branch office | ||
1934 | As 1932 base, but with "CONN. 1934" at bottom | 1234 A123 A/B123 |
Issued in blocks by branch office | ||
1935 | As 1933 base, but with "CONN. 1935" at bottom | 1234 A123 A/B123 |
Issued in blocks by branch office | ||
1936 | Embossed yellow numbers on navy blue plate; "CONN. 1936" at bottom | 1234 A123 A/B123 |
Issued in blocks by branch office |
1937 to 1956
Image | Dates issued | Description | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1937–41 | Embossed black numbers on silver plate; vertical "CONN" at right; tab box at bottom center | 1234 | 1 to 9999 | Validated for 1937, 1940 and 1943 with yellow tabs; for 1938, 1941 and 1946 with silver tabs; for 1939, 1942, 1945 and 1947 with light green tabs; and for 1944 with white tabs. In the A/1 123 serial format, the letter progressed before the small number (A/2 through Z/2, then A/3 through Z/3, etc.).[3] | |
A/ 123 | A/ 1 to Z/ 999 | ||||
A/B 123 | A/A 1 to Z/Z 999 | ||||
1941–46 | 1/A 123 | 2/A 1 to 8/Z 999 | |||
1946–47 | As above, but with border line | 9/A 1 to 9/Z 999 | |||
1947 | A/1 123 | A/2 100 to approximately Y/3 999 | |||
1948–51 | Embossed black numbers on reflective aluminum plate with border line; "CT" at bottom right; tab box at bottom center | 1234 | 1 to 9999 | Validated for 1948, 1951 and 1954 with yellow tabs; for 1949 and 1952 with silver tabs; for 1950 and 1955 with light green tabs; and for 1953 and 1956 with red tabs. | |
A/ 123 | A/ 1 to Z/ 999 | ||||
A/B 123 | A/A 1 to Z/Z 999 | ||||
1/A 123 | 2/A 1 to 9/Z 999 | ||||
1951–53 | A/1 123 | A/2 100 to Z/9 999 | |||
1953–54 | As above, but with narrower dies | 12345 | 10000 to 99999 | ||
1954 | As above, but non-reflective | A/B 1234 | A/A 1000 to A/C 9999 | ||
1954–56 | As above, but with "CONN" at bottom right | A/D 1000 to approximately B/B 6000 |
1957 to present
In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[4] The 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Connecticut license plate that complied with these standards.[5]
Plates continued to be validated with tabs each year through 1960. Staggered monthly registration commenced in 1961; tabs were used for expirations from May 1962 through February 1963, and stickers thereafter.
The "Constitution State" slogan was first used on the 1974 blue-on-white base. This base did not hold up well and was discontinued in 1976; remaining plates were recalled in 1990 and replaced with white-on-blue plates bearing the same serials.
From 1980 through 1987, only rear plates were issued as a cost-saving measure. When front plates became mandatory again in 1987, the design of the 1976 white-on-blue base was changed in order to distinguish between plates issued in pairs and rear-only plates, with a state shape added in the top left corner and the "Constitution State" slogan moved from the top to the bottom.[6]
The current sky blue base was introduced in January 2000. Between September 2000 and August 2002, all remaining 1957–74 and 1976–99 plates were replaced with plates on this base bearing the same serials. Hence, serials issued in 1957 can be seen on the current base.
Plate stickers continued to be issued through August 2006 (the last being used for August 2008 expirations). From September 2006 through July 2010, windshield stickers were used instead (the last being used for July 2012 expirations); these were discontinued after the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles began allowing police agencies to use license plate scanners to verify registrations.[7][8]
Image | Dates issued | Description | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1957 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "CONNECTICUT" at bottom, offset to left | none | 12345 | 1 to 99999 | In the two-letter serial formats, serials with C or D as the first letter were reserved for Combination and Used Dealer plates respectively. | |
AB 123 | AA 1 to ZZ 999 | |||||
AB1234 | AA1000 to BH9999 | |||||
1958–66 | 123·456 | 100·000 to 999·999 | ||||
1966–74 | AB·1234 | BJ·1000 to NZ·9999; ZA·1000 to ZF·9999 | ||||
1974–76 | Embossed blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "CONNECTICUT" centered at bottom | "CONSTITUTION STATE" centered at top | AB·12341 | PA·1000 to approximately TP·4999 | ||
1976–80 | Embossed reflective (glass-beaded) white numbers on blue plate with border line; "CONNECTICUT" centered at bottom | "CONSTITUTION STATE" at top | AB·12341 | TP·5000 to YZ·9999; ZG·1000 to ZZ·9999 | ||
1980–87 | 123·ABC1 | 100·AAA to 999·EVX | Letters I and Q not used in this serial format. 'C' series reserved for Combination plates. | |||
1987 – December 1999 | Similar to above, but with "CONNECTICUT" at top and embossed state shape at top left | "CONSTITUTION STATE" at bottom | 123·ABC1 | 100·EVY to 999·NZM | 'L' series reserved for optional Preserve the Sound plates. | |
January 2000 – June 2013 | Embossed dark blue numbers on reflective gradient sky blue and white plate with dark blue border line; "Connecticut" screened in dark blue centered at top; screened dark blue state shape at top left | "Constitution State" screened in dark blue centered at bottom | 123·ABC2 | 100·NZN to 999·ZZW | O not used as first letter in serials. 'V' series reserved for Veteran plates. | |
June – December 2013 | 1ABCD2 | 0AAAA0 to 9AGGX9 | Temporary serial formats used until the completion of a computer upgrade to allow standard seven-character serials (below). Initial 1ABCD2 format revised with addition of dot separator in response to visibility concerns. Letters C, I, Q, Y and Z not used in either format; O used in the 1ABCD2 format but not in the 1AB·CD2 format. | |||
December 2013 – August 2015 | 1AB·CD2 | 0AG·HA0 to 9AX·XX9 | ||||
August 2015 – present | AB·12345 | AA·00001 to AS·10000 (as of August 13, 2018)[9] | Standard seven-character serials introduced following the completion of the aforementioned computer upgrade. |
Notes
- 1 Plus remakes of serials issued on previous bases: 123-456 and AB-1234 formats
- 1 Plus remakes of serials issued on previous bases: 123-456, AB-1234, and 123-ABC formats (serials from 100-AAA to 999-NZM)
- 2 Plus remakes of serials issued on previous bases: 123-456, AB-1234, and 123-ABC formats (serials from 100-AAA to 999-NZM)
Current plate types
Non-passenger types
Image | Type | Serial format | Design | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
All Terrain | G·1234 | Motorcycle-sized. | ||
Amateur Radio | (various) | Embossed lightning bolt divider in serial. | This type started in the 1950s. Plates are issued to amateur (ham) radio operators, with the operator's FCC call sign as the registration number. | |
Ambulance | 123 1234 |
|||
Apportioned | 12345·A | Red serial. | This type seems to have started in the mid-1980s from 1000·A. | |
Bus | 1234 | |||
Camp Trailer | 123·456 | "Camp Tr." legend. | This type started in 1924, with plates similar to regular commercial plates except for a 'B-' prefix. This continued until 1932 when "Camp Tr." was spelled out for the first time, and the 'B-' was dropped. | |
Camper | 12345 123·456 |
|||
Classic Vehicle (Motorcycle) | 1234 | Blue on white. | Issued for use on vehicles at least 20 years old. Previously "Early American," black on white. | |
Classic Vehicle (Passenger) | 1A·123 | Blue on white. | Issued for use on vehicles at least 20 years old. Previously "Early American," black on white. The earliest of the "Early American" plates were issued in 1952. These were porcelain plates, black on a white background. Previous sequence of 12345 has reached 99999 and shifted to the new format. | |
Combination | C·123456 | "Constitution State" legend; "COMB" embossed vertically at right. This type started in 1922, with the same size, colors and format as regular passenger plates but with a 'C' prefix. | Previously CA·1234, C·12345, 12345, 123·CAB, 1C·2345, 12C·345 on past bases remade on the current base; 12345·C, 1CA·234, 12C·A34, 1234·CA, and 1234·DA on the current base. | |
Combination - Handicapped | 123·R 123·S 123·T |
"Constitution State" legend. Wheelchair embossed to right of serial; "COMB" embossed vertically to right of wheelchair. | ||
Commercial | A·12345 | "Constitution State" legend with "COMM" embossed vertically at left. Red serial. | ||
Connecticut News Photographer | 12·C/N/P | "Constitution State" legend. | ||
Construction | 1234 | Red serial. | This type appears to have started sometime in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Plates are generally used on heavy equipment with limited to no highway use. | |
Factory | 1234 | Blue serial through at least 1821; red serial from at least 2399. | This type started in the mid-1920s, with a "FAC" legend slanted downwards on the right side of the plate after the serial number. | |
Farm | 1234 12345 |
Red serials through at least 37638; blue serials by at least 44132. | This type started in 1933. | |
Fire Apparatus | 1234 | Red serial. | ||
Handicapped - Passenger | 123·A 1234·Z 1234·Y (backwards issue) |
"Constitution State" legend. Wheelchair embossed at right. | ||
Hearse | U·123 U·8123 |
|||
Interstate | Z1234Z | |||
Medical Doctor | MD·1234 | MD·0001 to MD·0999 followed MD·1000 to MD·9999 | ||
New York Press | NYP·123 | NYP·001 to NYP·999 Used by news reporters to park in Working Press zones in New York City.[10][11] | ||
Livery | L1234L | These plates are used on limousines and for-hire cars (but not taxis).
The 'Livery' type started in 1910 and was used on vehicles which transported people for a charge. | ||
Medal of Honor | 1 | |||
Motorcycle | 123·456 | This type started in 1903. From 1903 through 1911, the registrant supplied their own (homemade) plates. | ||
Motorcycle - Handicapped | 123·M | Wheelchair embossed to right of serial. | ||
Municipal | 1·AB 12·AB 123·AB 1·ABC 12·ABC 123·ABC |
These plates are used on town/city government vehicles - police cars to dump trucks.
This type started in the mid-1970s. Prior to this, vehicles such as police cars used regular run-of-the-mill passenger car plates. |
Letters signify municipality. | |
Municipal - Preserve the Sound | 1·AB 12·AB 123·AB 1·ABC 12·ABC 123·ABC |
Uses a "MUNICIPAL CT" sticker in place of validation sticker. | Letters signify municipality. | |
Official | 1 | |||
School Bus | S1234S 12S34 12A34 |
Prior to this, school buses used Serv. Bus plates. School Bus plates launched in 1995 decals. | ||
School Bus/Livery Bus | 1SL23 | |||
Service Bus | 12345 | This type started sometime in the 1940s. | ||
Snowmobile | 12345 | Motorcycle-sized. | ||
State Service Bus | 123 | This type started sometime in the 1970s. Plates are typically used on buses belonging to the State Vocational schools, the State University system, and prisoner transport buses. | ||
Taxi | T1234T | This type started in 1931, with a "TAXI" legend. | ||
Trailer | V·12345 | Red serial. | Examples have been reported as early as 1932. Generally the size and colors have been the same as Commercial plates. | |
Transporter | 1234 | All-embossed red on yellow; captioned "TRANS." | This type is believed to have started in the late 1940s. Plates have all-numeric serials. | |
Vanpool | 1234 | |||
Wrecker | 1234 12345 |
All-embossed black on orange. | This type appears to have started in 1954. Plates are used on tow trucks from shops that also have Dealer or Repair plates. Non-dealer or repair tow trucks use regular Commercial plates. |
Optional issues
Image | Type | Serial Format | Design | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Optional Issues - Passenger | 123·ABC 1ABC2 |
Types confirmed as using 1ABC2 format: Blue Knights, Combat Wounded, Ducks Unlimited, Fraternal Order of Police, Garden Clubs, Greenways, Laos War Veteran, Meriden, Norwich, Olympic Spirit, Silent Service, UCONN. Letters I, O, and Q are used in any letter position. Elks previously used 123-ELK; UCONN 1999 NCAA National Champions: 123·PEP; Olympic Spirit: 123·WIN; Penn State University: 123·PSU. | ||
Special issues - Combination | 1CAB2 | |||
Caring for Pets | 123·PET 123·DOG 123·CAT 123·TLC 123·WAG 123·WOF 1ABC2 |
|||
Keep Kids Safe | 123·ZZY | Previously 123·KID, 123·TOT, 123·ZZZ. | ||
Olympic Spirit | 123·WIN 1ABC2 |
|||
Police Memorial | 123·OFC 1ABC2 |
|||
Preserve the Sound - Passenger | 123·LAA | LAK, LAL, LAM, LAN, LAO, LAP, LAR, LAS, and LAT series use Maine dies. | ||
Preserve the Sound - Camp Trailer | ||||
Preserve the Sound - Camper | 123·LA | "CAMP" embossed vertically. | ||
Preserve the Sound - Combination | 123·LA | "COMB" printed vertically to left of serial. | Serials issued in descending order from 999·LZ. | |
Preserve the Sound - Combination Handicapped | 123L | "COMB" printed vertically to left of serial. | ||
Preserve the Sound - Commercial | 123·CA | "COMM" printed vertically to left of serial; red serial. | Previously 000·LA, for which the high is 269·LC. | |
Preserve the Sound - Handicapped | 123L | |||
United We Stand - Passenger | 1BAC2 | Original format was 000·USA. | ||
United We Stand - Combination | 1BCA2 | "CO" and "MB" embossed vertically above and below separator dot. | Original format was USA·123. | |
Veteran - Passenger | 123·VAA | Originally 123·VET, then VAA and up. | ||
Veteran - Camper | ||||
Veteran - Combination | 123·VSA | "CO" and "MB" embossed vertically above and below separator dot. | Originally 123·VET. | |
Veteran - Combination Handicapped | 1V·23 | Wheelchair embossed at right of plate. Format of 1V23 followed by "COMB" embossed vertically through at least 1V13; switched to format of 1V·23 with "CO" and "MB" embossed vertically above and below a separator dot at 3V·56 or lower. | ||
Veteran - Commercial | 123·VZA | |||
Veteran - Handicapped | 1V·23 | Wheelchair embossed to left of serial. | Previously 000·V | |
Veteran - Motorcycle | "Veteran - MC" legend. | |||
Veteran with V/E/T | 123 V/E/T | |||
Veteran - POW | 123 P/O/W | |||
Volunteer Firefighter - Passenger | 123·AB | "Constitution State" slogan with small logo at right. | ||
Volunteer Firefighter - Combination | 123·CA | "Constitution State" slogan with small logo at right. |
Annual types
Type | Serial format | Design | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Dealer - Motorcycle New | MXA·0, MXAA·0, MXA·00, MXAA·00, MXA·000 | "Dealer" legend. | Numerical suffix signifies the dealership, which receives plates with sequential letters following the X. |
Dealer - Motorcycle Used | MDA·0, MDAA·0, MDA·00, MDAA·00, MDA·000 | "Dealer" legend. | Numerical suffix signifies the dealership, which receives plates with sequential letters following the D. |
Dealer - Passenger New | XA·0, XAA·0, XA·00, XAA·00, XA·000, XAA·000, XA·0000 | "Dealer" legend. | Numerical suffix signifies the dealership, which receives plates with sequential letters following the X. |
Dealer - Passenger Used | DA·0, DAA·0, DA·00, DAA·00, DA·000, DAA·000, DA·0000 | "Dealer" legend. | Numerical suffix signifies the dealership, which receives plates with sequential letters following the D. |
Dealer - Special | SX·0000 | "Dealer" legend. | Issued sequentially, not coded by dealership. |
Dismantler | DA·0000 | "Dismantler" legend. | |
Repair | RA·000, RA·0000 | "Repair" legend. | Numerical suffix signifies the repairer, which receives plates with sequential letters following the R. |
Political types
On both flat blue on white and Preserve the Sound bases:
- Assistant Majority Leader
- Assistant Minority Leader
- Deputy Majority Leader
- Deputy Minority Leader
Municipality codes
State agency plates
Most state agencies in Connecticut register their vehicles with state plates. The plate starts with a number to represent the agency that owns the vehicle. Some agencies, such as the Connecticut State Police, register some vehicles using regular passenger or combination plates.
Code | Agency |
---|---|
1- | Department of Motor Vehicles |
2- | Department of Transportation |
5- | Department of Administrative Services - Fleet vehicles, leased to other agencies |
9- | University of Connecticut (UCONN) |
36- | Western Connecticut State University - Police |
46- | Eastern Connecticut State University - Police |
50- | Department of Energy and Environmental Protection |
56- | Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection - State Police special vehicles (mobile crime lab, fire investigation unit, etc.) |
58- | Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security - CT-TF1 Urban Search & Rescue |
79- | Department of Veteran Affairs - Vehicles belonging to the Veterans Home in Rocky Hill |
References
- ↑ "Old Connecticut License Plates". LeatherLicensePlates.com. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
- ↑ Wasielewski, Joe. "Illustrated History of Connecticut License Plates - Passenger 1905-1919". Retrieved April 21, 2015.
- 1 2 "Connecticut License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
- ↑ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
- ↑ Wasielewski, Joe. "Illustrated History of Connecticut License Plates - Passenger 1950-1959". Retrieved June 23, 2017.
- ↑ Wasielewski, Joe. "Illustrated History of Connecticut License Plates - Passenger 1980-1989". Retrieved June 23, 2017.
- ↑ Kauffman, Matthew (February 21, 2012). "Police keeping data from license plate scans; ACLU files privacy protest". Hartford Courant. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ↑ Tepfer, Daniel (April 2, 2012). "Police tout use of license plate scanners". Connecticut Post. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ↑ Busemeyer, Stephen (September 18, 2015). "DMV ditches license plate style, jumps to seven characters". Hartford Courant. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
- ↑ Wasielewski, Joe. "Illustrated History of Connecticut License Plates - Reserved Series". Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ↑ "Media Parking in NYC". Retrieved September 12, 2013.
- ↑ Wasielewski, Joe; Barnes, Mike. "Connecticut Municipal License Plate Codes". Retrieved September 12, 2013.