Colorado License PlatesA Colorado license plate is a rectangular-shaped metallic plate issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue through its Division of Motor Vehicles. These plates are issued for all registered self-propelled vehicles (such as cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, buses, vans, and trailers), and they display a combination of alphabets and numbers used to identify the vehicle, as well as its registered owner. Per Title 42 of the Colorado Revised Statutes (specifically section 42-3-202), a license plate must be attached to the front and rear of vehicles in the state; however, motorcycles, street rod vehicles, trailers, and other similar vehicles only require rear-attached license plates.
There are five main kinds of license plates issued in Colorado:
Be aware that two validating tabs are typically issued alongside license plates indicating the month and year of the vehicle's registration expiration. These tabs must be affixed to the lower left (for the month tab) and right (for the year tab) corners of the rear license plate.
It should also be noted that the Colorado DMV operates at both the state and county levels. The State DMV sets statewide policies and procedures for vehicle registration, license plate issuance, and other related services. County motor vehicle offices handle vehicle registration, titling, and related transactions for residents within the county; they may also issue license plates, vehicle permits, and handicap placards. These county DMV offices typically serve as a local point of contact for residents to conduct motor vehicle-related business without needing to travel to a state office.
Colorado License Plate Design and FormatsColorado license plates are reflectorized aluminum plates with a unique six-character alpha-numeric combination known as the license plate number. However, personalized plates usually have seven characters - those issued for persons with disabilities may have three characters when personalized for motorcycles and five characters when personalized for other qualifying vehicles. The state also uses numeric county codes for passenger and motorcycle license plates; these codes are assigned based on the county's population.
Since 1975, Colorado license plates have utilized a basic design consisting of a range of mountains against a white, green, or blue background, with the word "Colorado" either written underneath or above the license plate number. Note that additional features or colors may be included on some license plates; for example, non-personalized regular electric vehicle plates feature a lightning bolt, while plates issued for persons with disabilities feature a wheelchair emblem. The characters on Colorado license plates may either be embossed or laser-etched on the plate.
Regular license plates – passenger vehicles:
Group special license plates – firefighter:
Military license plate – Purple Heart:
Historical and Special license plate – government:
Alumni license plates – Colorado State University:
* Source: Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles
Colorado Vanity License PlateColorado vanity license plates are personalized license plates that allow individuals to customize their plate numbers with a unique combination of letters and numbers that reflect their interests and hobbies or share a message. These plates offer a way for vehicle owners to add a personal touch to their license plates.
The Colorado DMV offers personalized versions of the following kinds of license plates:
You can request personalized license plates from the Colorado DMV online by accessing the division's myDMV website, clicking the "Vehicle Services" tab, and selecting the "Replace license plates" option. Alternatively, you can contact your county motor vehicle office to request these personalized plates. The DMV typically allows vehicle owners to choose 2 – 6 customizations for their license plates, and you can check the availability of your desired personalization online. Be aware that the division reserves the right to reject your chosen plate number customization; it will also revoke any issued personalized plates if it receives three customer complaints calling the plates offensive.
Once your request is reviewed and approved, you will receive a notification for payment. Personalized plates cost a one-time $60 personalization fee (a subsequent $25 fee will be charged each year you renew the personalized plates). Likewise, if your request is rejected, you will receive a notice indicating why. Approved plates are typically printed and mailed within 2 – 8 weeks.
Most Popular Colorado Special Plate NumbersColorado is estimated to have over six million actively registered license plates on the road and over 200 license plate designs. The top specialty plates and license plate themes/designs in the state are:
Colorado License Plate LookupA license plate lookup is a process that allows individuals to access information on a vehicle using the vehicle's license plate number. Information typically accessed through a license plate lookup includes the vehicle's make, model, year of manufacture, registration status, title status, accident reports, title issues, recalls, VIN, and ownership information. These license plate lookups are typically used by law enforcement agencies to identify other parties involved in a traffic accident, either to gather information for insurance claims or legal proceedings, track down stolen vehicles or identify suspicious vehicles, enforce traffic laws, identify vehicles associated with criminal activities, and for other similar reasons.
The Colorado DMV allows individuals and organizations to access vehicle-related information by requesting a Vehicle Record Search from the state's DMV online or by submitting a DR 2489A Motor Vehicle Requestor Release Affidavit of Intended Use Form to its office. This process is commonly used to verify a used vehicle's history before buying it. Be aware that if you intend to look up information on another person's vehicle through the Colorado DMV, you must either have their signed authorization or declare your intended use of the record search results, as required by the Driver's Privacy Protection Act. You may also be required to provide additional documentation as deemed necessary by the DMV.
Alternatively, you can perform reverse license plate number searches to get vehicle-related information through RecordsFinder and other similar websites; note that you may be charged a nominal fee when utilizing these websites. These websites typically provide non-personal information like the vehicle's title status, accident history, and repair records.
What Do I Need to Get a License Plate in Colorado?The Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles oversees the issuance of license plates to eligible vehicle owners across the state. The first step to obtaining these license plates is registering your vehicle with this division. To do this, you will need the following documents:
If you purchased your vehicle through a Colorado dealership and have received a "title complete notice" postcard in the mail from your county, you can complete the first-time registration process (and subsequently obtain your license plates) online through the state's myDMV portal. However, if you purchased your vehicle via a private sale, then you will need to visit your county motor vehicle office to complete your registration and obtain your plates. Likewise, plates that require physical documentation, like Military License Plates and some Group Special License Plates, can only be obtained through a county motor vehicle office.
County motor vehicle offices are primarily responsible for determining the cost of license plates in the state; these costs vary based on location, vehicle type, and applicable local taxes. Nonetheless, the state's DMV offers a fee estimator that you can use to get the approximate cost of obtaining your license plate. You can access this fee estimator via the division's myDMV portal by selecting the "Vehicle Services" tab and clicking "Estimate registration fees".
Once you complete the vehicle registration process, your license plates and validation tabs indicating the plates' validity period will be delivered between 2 – 6 weeks, and you can then attach them to your vehicle.
You can direct questions concerning obtaining a license plate in Colorado to the state's Division of Motor Vehicles by calling (303) 205-5600. Queries can also be directed to your county motor vehicle office.
Differences Between a Passenger License Plate and a Commercial License Plate in Colorado?The term "commercial vehicle" in Colorado refers to any vehicle that is self-propelled or towed, weighs at least 16,001 pounds, is used for commerce on public highways, and is designed or used to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver. However, per state law, school buses are excluded from this definition. Motor vehicles used for the commercial transportation of other motor vehicles and those used to transport hazardous materials on public highways are also considered commercial vehicles.
The Colorado DMV issues some license plates specifically for commercial vehicles. These include Apportioned License Plates, Farm Truck License Plates, 5-Year Collector Truck/Tractor License Plates, and Trailer Plates. However, passenger cars, vans, SUVs, RVs, and trucks not weighing more than 16,000 pounds all qualify for any DMV-issued license plate.
Here are the key differences between license plates issued for passenger vehicles and ones issued for commercial vehicles in Colorado:
| Features | Passenger License Plate | Commercial License Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Use |
|
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| Plate number arrangement |
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| Design & Color |
Range of mountains over white, green, blue, or red background * may include additional features and logos |
Range of mountains over white, green, or blue background |
| Use Limitations | None | Commercial use on public highways |
| Requirements for obtaining |
|
|
How to Renew License Plate in ColoradoColorado license plates are issued for a 12-month period; you must renew these license plates (and your vehicle's registration) every year. The Colorado DMV oversees these license plate renewals, and vehicle registrants are typically mailed a renewal notice or postcard a month before their registration expires. The DMV also offers a grace period of one month after a license plate is expired before charging late renewal fees.
The renewal notice/postcard usually includes details of documents that you will need for the renewal process, payment information, and available payment methods. The vehicle registration/license plate renewal can be done through one of the following methods:
Processing times for these renewals largely depend on your location and chosen renewal methods and can range from instant to two weeks or more.
How to Transfer a License Plate in ColoradoYou cannot transfer license plates from an old vehicle to a new one in Colorado, except if the plates are currently personalized. However, you may retain the configuration of your old license plate by requesting a personalized plate online or by contacting your county motor vehicle office. You will need the license plate number, your VIN (or any other verification documentation the DMV may request), and a one-time personalization fee of $60 to complete this process. You may also be required to surrender the old license plates.
Note that you must complete the registration process for a new vehicle and affix license plates within 60 days of purchase; non-residents who move to Colorado must obtain state-issued license plates no later than 90 days after becoming a resident.
Colorado License Plate Lookup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Federal laws (like the Driver's Privacy Protection Act) and Colorado state laws restrict the Colorado DMV from disclosing personal information contained in its motor vehicle records without the person's consent. Nonetheless, exemptions may be made for federal, state, or local government agencies carrying out their official functions for recognized persons of interest.
As such, you may only be able to access information about the owner of a Colorado license plate directly from the DMV if your reason for requesting this information falls under one of the permissible purposes outlined in the state's (and federal) laws.
However, you can access information and obtain non-personal details on over 269 million registered vehicles nationwide using the vehicle's license plate number or VIN through websites like RecordsFinder.
You can request a replacement for most non-personalized license plates in Colorado online by accessing the state's myDMV portal and selecting the "replace license plate" option under the "Vehicle Services" tab. However, you will need to contact your county motor vehicle office to replace personalized license plates and any plates requiring physical documentation, like Military Plates and some Group Special License Plates. You may also have to contact the non-profit associated with a Group Special License Plate if it was stolen to get new documentation. Replacement costs vary based on the kind of plate being replaced, your location, and applicable taxes. Your specific fee will be displayed on the screen for online replacement requests or communicated to you at your county motor vehicle office.
Police officers and other law enforcement or government officials in Colorado can access a range of vehicle-related and personal information when they run your license plates, such as:
Many people commonly turn to free license plate searches, especially when purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, mainly to get details on the vehicle and confirm that it is not being sold with a cloned VIN.
With websites like RecordsFinder, you can easily conduct reverse license plate searches to get details like the vehicle's make, model, year, VIN, tank size, body style, engine type, price, and other related information.
Vehicle registrations in Colorado are valid for 12 months, after which the DMV offers the registrant a grace period of one month from the date their registration expires. If you fail to renew your registration (and, by extension, your license plates) during this grace period, you will be subject to a $25-per-month late fee for up to four months after the grace period and a $10 late fee for the actual renewal month. However, the total fine will be limited to $100, regardless of how long the registration has expired. Be aware that you may be charged back taxes from the date the registration was supposed to be renewed when you fail to do so more than four months after your license plates expire.
Note that the DMV may waive the $25-per-month late fee for vehicles that are:
Similarly, the $10 late fee may be waived for commercial and farm vehicle trailers.
You are not required to return old license plates in Colorado to the DMV. Nonetheless, you can surrender your old plates to your county motor vehicle office in person or through any other method the office allows. If you decide to dispose of these plates by yourself, ensure that you make them unusable by removing and destroying the validation tabs, bending the plates, and recycling them.
Note that your old plates cannot be transferred to a new owner. If you intend to sell your vehicle, make sure you take the plates off before completing the transaction; leaving your plates on the vehicle makes you responsible for any fines or tolls that the vehicle accrues before the new owner replaces them.
You are not required to return your plates to the Colorado DMV if you relocate out of state. However, it is always a good idea to inform the DMV when you change your address, especially if your registered vehicle will not be used in Colorado for the duration of the relocation. You can do this online or by submitting a Change of Address (DR2285) Form to your county motor vehicle office.
Colorado license plates generally have a dimension of 12 inches x 6 inches. Motorcycle plates are typically 7 inches x 4 inches.
The Colorado DMV allows car dealers to issue temporary permits for vehicles purchased through them (these dealers must first register with the division before being authorized to do this). Dealer-issued temporary permits are one-time and expire at midnight on the date shown on the permit. However, your county motor vehicle office may issue an extension on the permit before it expires if there is a problem with your vehicle's lien, title, or any other paperwork that can delay your registration process.
Some county motor vehicle offices also offer residents in their jurisdictions temporary permits for private party vehicle purchases; these types of temporary permits are usually valid for up to 60 days from the date of the vehicle's purchase. While the specific requirements for obtaining these county-issued temporary permits vary by location, they typically include:
Here are steps to take to renew your license plates in Colorado:
To replace lost, stolen, or misused/damaged license plates in Colorado, you will have to:
The fees for replacing lost, stolen, or damaged Colorado license plates are determined by the kind of plates you have and their next renewal date. Contact your county motor vehicle office for specifics on these fees and necessary replacement documentation.