Vehicle registration plates of Connecticut

Connecticut

Current series
Slogan	Constitution State
Size	12 in × 6 in 30 cm × 15 cm
Material	Aluminum
Serial format	AB·12345
Introduced	January 1, 2000 (2000-01-01)
Availability
Issued by	Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles
History
First issued	September 1, 1905 (1905-09-01) (pre-state plates from 1903 through August 31, 1905)
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The U.S. state of Connecticut first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1905, when the state began to issue 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. As of 2024^[update], plates are issued by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.

For most classes of vehicles, plates are issued in pairs, for the front and rear of the vehicle respectively, though single rear plates were issued between 1980 and 1987. Plates were validated with metal date tabs from 1937 through 1963, then with plate stickers until 2006, and finally with windshield stickers until 2010. Plate stickers continue to be used on plates for vehicles that do not have a windshield, or are part of fleets that frequently rotate plates among vehicles. All issues (including re-issues) since 2000 are currently valid.

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.

Image	Dates issued	Description	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1905–09	White serial 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 serial on red porcelain plate	C12345	C1 to approximately C11400
	1911	Blue serial on white porcelain plate	C12345	C1 to approximately C14000
	1912	White serial on green porcelain plate	C12345	C1 to approximately C17700
	1913	White serial on blue porcelain plate	C12345	C1 to approximately C21800
	1914	White serial on green porcelain plate; vertical "CONN" and "1914" at left and right respectively	12345	1 to approximately 25000	First dated plate.
	1915	Yellow serial on black porcelain plate; vertical "CONN" and "1915" at left and right respectively	12345	1 to approximately 34000
	1916	White serial on black porcelain plate; vertical "CONN" and "1916" at left and right respectively	12345	1 to approximately 49000
	1917	Dark blue serial 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 serial 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 serial on white flat metal plate; "CONN. 1919" centered at bottom	12-345	1 to approximately 83-000
	1920	Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "CONN.–1920" centered at bottom	12-345	1 to approximately 99-000	First embossed plate.
	1921	Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "CONN.–1921" centered at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 110-000
	1922	Embossed maroon serial on white plate with border line; "CONN.–1922" centered at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 125-000
	1923	Embossed white serial on dark green plate; "CONN. 1923" centered at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 157-000
	1924	Embossed black serial on gray plate; "CONN. 1924" centered at bottom	12-345	1 to approximately 98-000	Letter prefixes introduced to keep the width of plates down.[3] These were assigned to branch offices as follows: A, E and Y to New Haven; F, H and S to Bridgeport; K and V to Waterbury; N and L to New London; and P and Z to Hartford.[4]
			A-1234	Coded by branch office
	1925	Embossed white serial 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 serial 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 serial on maroon plate; "CONN. 1927" centered at bottom	123-456	1 to approximately 118-000	'S' prefix reassigned to Stamford.[4]
			A-12-345	Coded by branch office
	1928	Embossed white serial 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	'Y' prefix reassigned to Danbury.[4]
			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 serial on navy blue plate; "CONN. 1932" at bottom	1234	Issued in blocks by branch office	All plates were 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 9+1⁄4 inches (23 cm) in width; this practice continued through 1956.[5] Plates with the A/B123 serial format had the state abbreviation and year offset to the right; this practice continued through 1936.
			A123
			A/B123
	1933	Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "CONN. 1933" at bottom	1234	Issued in blocks by branch office
			A123
			A/B123
	1934	As 1932 base, but with "CONN. 1934" at bottom	1234	Issued in blocks by branch office
			A123
			A/B123
	1935	As 1933 base, but with "CONN. 1935" at bottom	1234	Issued in blocks by branch office
			A123
			A/B123
	1936	Embossed yellow serial on navy blue plate; "CONN. 1936" at bottom	1234	Issued in blocks by branch office
			A123
			A/B123

Image	Dates issued	Description	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1937–41	Embossed black serial 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.).[4]
			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 serial 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 aluminum	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

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico 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.^[6] The 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Connecticut license plate that complied with these standards.^[7]

Plates continued to be validated with tabs each year through 1960. Monthly staggered registration commenced in 1961; tabs were used for expirations from May 1962 through February 1963, and stickers thereafter.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[8]

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.^[9][10]

Image	Dates issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1957	Embossed white serial 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 serial 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 serial 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 serial 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·ZZX	'O' series not used; '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 BP·27765 (as of March 17, 2024)[11]	Standard seven-character serials introduced following the completion of the aforementioned computer upgrade.[12]

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)

A number of non-passenger types now use the AB·12345 serial format introduced on passenger plates in 2015.

Image	Type	Design	Serial format	Notes
	All Terrain	As Motorcycle plate, but with "All Terrain" at bottom	G·1234	This type probably started in the 1970s. Used on off-road recreational vehicles.
	Amateur Radio	As passenger base, with lightning bolt used as separator	FCC call sign	This type started in the mid-1950s.
	Ambulance	As passenger base, but with "Ambulance" in place of slogan	1234
	Apportioned	As passenger base, but with red serial and border line, and "Apportioned" in place of slogan	12345·A	This type appears to have started in the mid-1980s, from 1000·A.
	Bus	As passenger base, but with "Bus" in place of slogan	1234 AB·12345
	Camp Trailer	As passenger base, but with "Camp Tr." in place of slogan	123·456 AB·12345	This type started in 1924. Used on private trailers.
	Camper	As passenger base, but with "Camper" in place of slogan	12345 123·456	This type started in 1969.
	Classic Motorcycle	Blue on white	1234	Used on collectable motorcycles that are at least 20 years old. Previously "Early American," black on white.
	Classic Vehicle	Blue on white	00·ABCD	Used on collectable vehicles (except motorcycles) that are 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. Original sequence of 12345 was replaced by 1A·123 format, which carried over after the black on white design was changed to the new blue on white on March 29, 2014. 00·ABCD serial format introduced 2015; shared with standard Motorcycle plates.[13]
	Combination	"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.	C·123456	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	"Constitution State" legend. Wheelchair embossed to right of serial; "COMB" embossed vertically to right of wheelchair.	123·R 123·S 123·T
	Commercial	As passenger base, but with red serial and border line, and vertical "COMM" embossed to left of serial	A·12345 AB·12345
	Connecticut News Photographer	"Constitution State" legend.	12·C/N/P
	Construction	As passenger base, but with red serial and border line, and "Construction" in place of slogan	1234	This type probably started in the late 1960s or early 1970s. Generally used on construction vehicles with little or no highway use.
	Factory	As passenger base, but with red serial and border line, and "Factory" in place of slogan	1234	This type started in the mid-1920s.
	Farm	As passenger base, but with red serial and border line, and "Farm" in place of slogan	12345	This type started in 1933.
	Fire Apparatus	As passenger base, but with red serial and border line, and "Fire Apparatus" in place of slogan	1234	This type started circa 1963.
	Handicapped	As passenger base	123·A 1234·Z 1234·Y
	Hearse	As passenger base, but with "Hearse" in place of slogan	U·123 U·8123 AB·12345	This type started in the mid-1920s; the 'U' prefix was for "undertaker".[14]
	Interstate	As passenger base, but with "Interstate" in place of slogan	Z1234Z
	Livery	As passenger base, but with "Livery" in place of slogan	L1234L	This type started in 1910. Used on limousines and for-hire cars, but not taxis.
	Medal of Honor		1
	Medical Doctor		MD·1234	MD·0001 to MD·0999 followed MD·1000 to MD·9999
	Motorcycle	Similar to passenger base, with "Conn" at top and "Motorcycle" at bottom	123·456 00·ABCD	00·ABCD serial format introduced 2015; shared with Classic Vehicle plates.
	Motorcycle – Handicapped	As standard Motorcycle plate	123·M 123·N
	Municipal	As passenger base, but with "Municipal" in place of slogan	1·AB 12·AB 123·AB 1·ABC 12·ABC 123·ABC	This type started in the mid-1970s. Used on town/city government vehicles, including police cars and dump trucks. The letters in the serial indicate the municipality.
	Municipal – Preserve the Sound	Uses a "MUNICIPAL CT" sticker in place of validation sticker.	1·AB 12·AB 123·AB 1·ABC 12·ABC 123·ABC	Letters signify municipality.
	New York Press	As passenger base	NYP·123	Used by news reporters to park in Working Press zones in New York City.[15][16]
	Official		1
	School Bus	Gradient sky blue and white with school bus graphic at left; "CONNECTICUT" at top and "SCHOOL BUS" at bottom	S1234S 12A34 AB·12345	School buses used Service Bus plates prior to the mid-1990s. In the 12A34 serial format, the letter progressed S, A, B.
	School Bus/Livery Bus	As School Bus plate, but with "SCHOOL BUS/LIVERY BUS" at bottom	1SL23
	Service Bus	As passenger base, but with "Service Bus" in place of slogan	12345	This type started sometime in the 1940s. Used on private transportation vehicles that carry persons without charge. Until the mid-1990s, these included school buses.
	Snowmobile	As Motorcycle plate, but with "Snowmobile" at bottom	12345	This type started in 1969.
	State Service Bus		123 AB·12345	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	As passenger base, but with "Taxi" in place of slogan	T1234T	This type started in 1931.
	Trailer	As passenger base, but with red serial and border line, and "Trailer" in place of slogan	V·12345 W·12345 AB·12345	This type probably started in the early 1930s. Used on commercial trailers.
	Transporter	Embossed maroon serial on yellow plate with border line; embossed state shape and "CONNECTICUT" at top; "TRANS." at bottom	1234	This type probably started in the late 1940s. Has a variety of uses, including for the movement of unregistered vehicles for the purposes of inspection or sale, and on vehicles being repossessed.
	Vanpool	As passenger base, but with "Vanpool" in place of slogan	1234	This type started in 1980. Used on carpool commuter vans.
	Wrecker	Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; embossed state shape and "CONNECTICUT" at top; "WRECKER" at bottom	12345 AB·12345	This type started circa 1954.

Image	Type	Design	Serial format	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
	Candlewood Lake Authority
	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·LBC
	Home of the Patriots – Passenger			In 1998, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft sought to relocate the team's home to downtown Hartford, Connecticut. Kraft and then-Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland were photographed at a related press conference shaking hands and holding a "Home of the Patriots" sample plate.
	Preserve the Sound – Camp Trailer
	Preserve the Sound – Camper	"CAMP" embossed vertically.	123·LA
	Preserve the Sound – Combination	"COMB" printed vertically to left of serial.	123·LA	Serials issued in descending order from 999·LZ.
	Preserve the Sound – Combination Handicapped	"COMB" printed vertically to left of serial.	123L
	Preserve the Sound – Commercial	"COMM" printed vertically to left of serial; red serial.	123·CA	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	"CO" and "MB" embossed vertically above and below separator dot.	1BCA2	Original format was USA·123.
	Veteran – Passenger		123·VBC	Originally 123·VET, then VAA and up.
	Veteran – Camper
	Veteran – Combination	"CO" and "MB" embossed vertically above and below separator dot.	123·VSA	Originally 123·VET.
	Veteran – Combination Handicapped	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.	1V·23
	Veteran – Commercial		123·VZA
	Veteran – Handicapped	Wheelchair embossed to left of serial.	1V·23	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	"Constitution State" slogan with small logo at right.	123·AB
	Volunteer Firefighter – Combination	"Constitution State" slogan with small logo at right.	123·CA

Image	Type	Design	Serial format	Notes
	Dealer – Motorcycle New	"Dealer" legend.	MXA·0, MXAA·0, MXA·00, MXAA·00, MXA·000	Numerical suffix signifies the dealership, which receives plates with sequential letters following the X.
	Dealer – Motorcycle Used	"Dealer" legend.	MDA·0, MDAA·0, MDA·00, MDAA·00, MDA·000	Numerical suffix signifies the dealership, which receives plates with sequential letters following the D.
	Dealer – Passenger New	"Dealer" legend.	XA·0, XAA·0, XA·00, XAA·00, XA·000, XAA·000, XA·0000	Numerical suffix signifies the dealership, which receives plates with sequential letters following the X.
	Dealer – Passenger Used	"Dealer" legend.	DA·0, DAA·0, DA·00, DAA·00, DA·000, DAA·000, DA·0000	Numerical suffix signifies the dealership, which receives plates with sequential letters following the D.
	Dealer – Special	"Dealer" legend.	SX·0000	Issued sequentially, not coded by dealership.
	Dismantler	"Dismantler" legend.	DA·0000
	Repair	"Repair" legend.	RA·000, RA·0000	Numerical suffix signifies the repairer, which receives plates with sequential letters following the R.

On both flat blue on white and Preserve the Sound bases:

• Assistant Majority Leader
• Assistant Minority Leader
• Deputy Majority Leader
• Deputy Minority Leader

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2008)

^[17]

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (December 2010)

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.

• Connecticut license plates, 1969–present