Since 2000, when the latest fully reflective base came out in the 000-XXX format, all plates have been issued within the same sequential system, so there is now only one high for Colorado that covers every type of plate. There have been times when Specials have been way ahead of regular Passenger, but remember that Colorado still issues embossed Regulars, while all Specials are flat. Even so, all plate types fall within the same 000-XXX format, so there is only one real high for the state. All letters were used except for the letter Q in the original run of 001-AAA through 999-ZZZ.

Although Q has not been used previously, it has come into regular use following the ZZZ series. The state has decided to go back through the 000-XXX series using the letter Q in each position. The next series after 999-ZZZ is 001-AAQ, then ABQ, ACQ, and so on through AZQ, then BAQ. After 999-ZZQ, the Q will move to the center position for AQA through ZQZ, then QAA through QZZ will be used. After exhausting those combinations, the series will reverse to XXX-000, skipping the remaining numbers in that format that are still in use on the 1982 base.

Specials are now using a thicker font for registration characters. The change appears to have taken place in the late M series.

Stickers
11 - black on red
12 - black on green
13 - black on orange
14 - black on yellow