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License Plates & Placards
Enter your Zip Code below to get a Free Quote. We suggest getting quotes from both companies to ensure you get the best rate. There is no obligation to purchase.Colorado's famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) green and white mountain plates still bedeck the majority of vehicles in the state. The colors date back to 1950, but the basic version of the current plate has only been sprucing up the look of vehicles since the late 1970s.
Of course, some drivers find the plate dull and lacking the vibrancy that they believe reflects the state. After all, one of the state nicknames (and the phrase carved into the welcome signs at the borders) is Colorful Colorado.
Thus, in 1989, the state introduced designer plates to assuage the colorless complaints, and from that date the alternative plate has evolved through a couple of incarnations into the current multi-hued landscape design. There is an annual $25 fee to own this plate.
Top Specialized Plates
Today, the state boasts more than 100 varying license plate styles. You can now support causes, represent your university, lineage, or Masonic group, or tout your service in the military.
Plates are divided into numerous categories including collector (vehicles older than 25 years), passenger, recreational, motorcycle, light truck, special interest, military and veteran, and disabled.
Top Disabled Plates and Placards
In order to receive the privilege of parking in those ultra-convenient handicap spaces you will need to fill out an application and provide a couple of forms basically verifying the disability. You will need to provide proper identification. Step-by-step coverage of this process is provided in the Drivers with Disabilities section.
Handicap plates also come in a design specifically recognizing the service of disabled veterans. The forms and steps needed to obtain this plate are also discussed in the Drivers with Disabilities section.
Top Personalized Plates
Show off elements of your personality to the world, or just your ability to create witty phrases out of seven designated spaces on a Colorado personalized plate. You can have your own saying on the purple mountain designer plates (light trucks and cars only), motorcycle, and the standard issue green and white.
Regular plates allow seven spaces to be filled in with letters (upper case), numerals (no zeros), dashes, blank spaces, and periods. Motorcycle plates, due to size restrictions, cut a character space off and allow only six.
Obviously, no obscenities are allowed. A complete listing of character usage is available on the personalized plate application form. Make sure you are dear to the phrase you create because the costs are quite a bit more than standard state-issued plates:
- Designer: $85 application fee; $50 renewal
- Regular: $60 application fee; $25 renewal
If you do want to change what the plate says, complete the application form to convert one personalized phrase to another. The transfer fee is $13.
Columbine Plate
This plate memorializing the victims and survivors of the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School is currently one of the most popular in the state. It features a columbine flower (the state flower) and the phrase "Respect Life" on a detailed mountain backdrop. There is a one-time fee of $50 for the plate, in addition to standard registration and license fees.
Alumni Plates
Most of Colorado's private and public colleges and universities allow you to display your allegiance via a license plate bearing the school's logo. Each institution's alumni association has a specific set of requirements for application (usually a donation). There is a one-time fee of $50 for the plates, in addition to standard registration and license fees.
Personalized plates, minus the logo, are also available with the completion of this form. Fees are higher for this service.
Top Antique Plates
Instead of antique plates, Colorado offers collector plates. To qualify, your car or light truck (less than 16,000 pounds empty weight) must be at least 25 years old. Registration is valid for five years.
Top Surrendering Your Plates?
You are not required to surrender your Colorado license plates after relocating to a new state.
For general registration information, see Registration & Titling and Car Registration on this site.
Related Questions from DMV Answers
Where do I get disability forms?
Online.Finding driver-related disability forms – such as those for disabled drivers’ license plates and parking placards – takes no more effort than visiting the Web site of your state’s DMV or motor vehicle agency, downloading the form (most are in PDF format), and printing it. On the Web site, you can also find instructions for completing the forms, as well as any special medical documents you need to present with them and any medical checkups and doctors’ signatures you need to obtain.Other Disability FormsIf you’re looking for other disability forms – such as benefit claims supporting forms and Medicare prescription drug help forms – you can get them from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Visit the agency’s Web site or your local SSA office, or contact the agency at (800) 772-1213.Also keep in mind that most states provide residents with disability forms and information through state agencies, too. In West Virginia, f...
Read more >>Where is the closest tag office?
All states offer as many vehicle services locations as possible to promote adherence to registration and titling laws. These offices, which some states refer to as as tag offices, can easily be found by visiting your state's DMV Web page. You'll find listings for each, including phone numbers, addresses and hours. These offices handle everything that's vehicle services related. This includes registration, titling and license plates and placards. To avoid possible lines, try visiting DMV locations in the middle of the month and week. Lines are always longest at the end of the month. In some states county treasurers and county clerks serve as tag agents. Depending on the size of your county, operating hours can be erratic. Closing for an hour or two during lunch is common with smaller county offices. Calling ahead is always recommended.
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