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.
Passenger baseplates
1905 to 1936
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
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
1937 to 1956
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.
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 BT·00083 (as of November 10, 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)
Current plate types
Non-passenger types
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Optional issues
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.
"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.
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.