Vehicle registration plates of Connecticut

Current Connecticut license plate

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

ImageTypeSerial
format
DesignNotes
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 AB
12·AB
123·AB
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 AB
12·AB
123·AB
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

ImageTypeSerial
Format
DesignNotes

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

TypeSerial formatDesignNotes
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

CodeMunicipality
AS Ansonia
AV Avon
BA Barkhamsted
BD Bloomfield
BE Berlin
BF Beacon Falls
BK Brookfield
BL Bethel
BM Bethlehem
BPT Bridgeport
BR Branford
BT Bristol
BU Burlington
BW Bridgewater
BY Bethany
CH Cheshire
CL Clinton
CN Canton
CO Colchester
COR Cornwall
CR Chester
CU Columbia
CV Coventry
CW Cromwell
DA Danbury
DAR Darien
DE Derby
DR Deep River
DU Durham
EG East Granby
EH East Hartford
EHA East Haven
EL East Lyme
ELL Ellington
EM East Haddam
EN East Hampton
ENF Enfield
ES Essex
ET Easton
FA Fairfield
FN Farmington
FWD Farmington Woods District (Farmington/Avon)
GL Glastonbury
GO Goshen
GR Granby
GRO Groton
GLP Groton Long Point
GU Guilford
GW Greenwich
HE Hebron
HFD Hartford
HR Hartland
HN Hamden
KI Killingly
KW Killingworth
LD Ledyard
LE Lebanon
LFD Litchfield
LI Lisbon
MA Manchester
MDC Metropolitan District Commission, a non-profit municipal corporation that provides water to most of Hartford County
MDF Middlefield
MDN Madison
ME Meriden
MF Mansfield
MFD Milford
MN Middletown
MO Marlborough
MON Monroe
MTV Montville
NA Naugatuck
NB New Britain
NBR North Branford
NE Newington
NF New Fairfield
NFK Norfolk
NH New Haven
NHD New Hartford
NHN North Haven
NL New London
NM New Milford
NO Norwich
NT Newtown
NW Norwalk
NO Norwich
NWT Second Taxing District of City of Norwalk (South Norwalk Electric and Water)
OL Old Lyme
OR Orange
OS Old Saybrook
OX Oxford
PL Plainville
PO Portland
PRO Prospect
PT Putnam
PY Plymouth
RB Roxbury
RH Rocky Hill
RPV Regional Refuse District #1
SA Salem
SBY Southbury
SE Seymour
SF Stratford
SH Shelton
SI Simsbury
SO Southington
SOM Somers
ST Stamford
STF Stafford
STN Stonington
SU Suffield
SW South Windsor
TH Thomaston
TO Torrington
TR Trumbull
UN Union
VE Vernon
WAS Washington
WB Westbrook
WBY Waterbury
WF Wallingford
WFD Waterford
WH West Hartford
WIN Windsor
WL Windsor Locks
WM Windham
WN West Haven
WO Wolcott
WOO Woodbridge
WP Westport
WR Winchester/Winsted
WT Watertown
WTD Wethersfield
WWL Willington
WY Woodbury

[12]

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.

CodeAgency
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

  1. "Old Connecticut License Plates". LeatherLicensePlates.com. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
  2. Wasielewski, Joe. "Illustrated History of Connecticut License Plates - Passenger 1905-1919". Retrieved April 21, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Connecticut License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved January 23, 2016.
  4. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  5. Wasielewski, Joe. "Illustrated History of Connecticut License Plates - Passenger 1950-1959". Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  6. Wasielewski, Joe. "Illustrated History of Connecticut License Plates - Passenger 1980-1989". Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  7. Kauffman, Matthew (February 21, 2012). "Police keeping data from license plate scans; ACLU files privacy protest". Hartford Courant. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  8. Tepfer, Daniel (April 2, 2012). "Police tout use of license plate scanners". Connecticut Post. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  9. Busemeyer, Stephen (September 18, 2015). "DMV ditches license plate style, jumps to seven characters". Hartford Courant. Retrieved September 21, 2015.
  10. Wasielewski, Joe. "Illustrated History of Connecticut License Plates - Reserved Series". Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  11. "Media Parking in NYC". Retrieved September 12, 2013.
  12. Wasielewski, Joe; Barnes, Mike. "Connecticut Municipal License Plate Codes". Retrieved September 12, 2013.
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