| Slogan Label: | Slogan |
| Slogan: | Constitution State |
| Size: | 12x |
| Material: | Aluminum |
| Serial Format: | AB·12345 |
| Issuer: | Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles |
| Start Date: | (pre-state plates from 1903 through August 31, 1905) |
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., 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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 6inches in height by NaNinches in width; this practice continued through 1956.[5] Plates with the 123 serial format had the state abbreviation and year offset to the right; this practice continued through 1936. | |
| A123 | |||||
| 123 | |||||
| 1933 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "CONN. 1933" at bottom | 1234 | Issued in blocks by branch office | ||
| A123 | |||||
| 123 | |||||
| 1934 | As 1932 base, but with "CONN. 1934" at bottom | 1234 | Issued in blocks by branch office | ||
| A123 | |||||
| 123 | |||||
| 1935 | As 1933 base, but with "CONN. 1935" at bottom | 1234 | Issued in blocks by branch office | ||
| A123 | |||||
| 123 | |||||
| 1936 | Embossed yellow serial on navy blue plate; "CONN. 1936" at bottom | 1234 | Issued in blocks by branch office | ||
| A123 | |||||
| 123 |
| Image | Dates issued | Description | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 123 serial format, the letter progressed before the small number (through, then through, etc.). | ||
| 123 | 1 to 999 | ||||
| 123 | 1 to 999 | ||||
| 1941–46 | 123 | 1 to 999 | |||
| 1946–47 | As above, but with border line | 1 to 999 | |||
| 1947 | 123 | 100 to approximately 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. | |
| 123 | 1 to 999 | ||||
| 123 | 1 to 999 | ||||
| 123 | 1 to 999 | ||||
| 1951–53 | 123 | 100 to 999 | |||
| 1953–54 | As above, but with narrower dies | 12345 | 10000 to 99999 | ||
| 1954 | As above, but non-reflective aluminum | 1234 | 1000 to 9999 | ||
| 1954–56 | As above, but with "CONN" at bottom right | 1000 to approximately 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 6inches in height by 12inches 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.
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.[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 [11] | Standard seven-character serials introduced following the completion of the aforementioned computer upgrade.[12] |
Notes
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· | |||
| 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 | ||||
| Veteran – POW | 123 | ||||
| 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:
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 |