Connecticut License Plates

The V series was skipped, because Veteran plates are using it.

On January 9, 2013, DMV confirmed that the new format for passenger plates would be 0AAAA0. That format followed 999·ZZW. (ZZX, ZZY, and ZZZ were used for Keep Kids Safe plates.)

Note: The highs of 863·ZZX and 930·ZZX on standard Pass. plates were verified by photos, so it appears that the series was used for both Pass. and Keep Kids Safe.

Graphics started at 100·NZN, but older plates are being replaced upon renewal and the same numbers are being issued on the new graphic plates, so older and lower numbers are now being seen. Among our reporters, Tyler Rotondo spotted our non-remake low of 136·NZN on 6/1/05, and Corb Moister, Jr. spotted 182·NZN on 2/8/05.

Stephen C. spotted the lowest possible 100·AAA in Dec. 2012.

The letters C, I, O, Q, Y, and Z were not used in any position on the 2013 passenger plate series.

0AAAA0 reported as a low by Jeff Boland on 2013-08-21.

The traditional dot separator has returned to standard Pass. plates.

High without dot: 9AGGX8

Low with dot: 1AG·HA1

The dot began at the 9AGGX9/0AG·HA0 break. There were no AGGY or AGGZ plates since Y and Z are not used.

Gunther Frostyburger reports prior to the middle dot appearing at the 0AG·HA0, the letter O, as of 5ABOE2 seen on 08-04-2013, was used as the third letter in this series until then.

New in August, 2015 as the standard issue plate after the discontinuation of the 2013 1ABCD2 and 1AB•CD2 format. Low for this series was AA•00000, as photographed by Tom Dzamko.

"Ambulance" on the bottom.

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Connecticut issues Camp Trailer plates to all non-commercial trailers types including motorcycle, snowmobile, enclosed car, open utility, boat and of course camping trailers.

CAMP TR on plate

This series has been previously issued in 000·A format. In the current 0·AAA format, the series seems to ascend through the letters first; 0·CGL and 0·CGM were photographed together by Adam Garstka.

Formerly "Early American" (see listing below)

Low: 2C·410

New series Combination plates are in use.

C, then 'COMB' spelled vertically followed by the number.

Combination plates always had the letter C in the second position in the last series. (It has been used in the first position in earlier series.)

Progression (last series):

1CA - 1CZ, 2CA - 2CZ, 3CA - 3CZ, etc. through 9CZ, then 01C·A01 and up through 99C·Z99, now 1001·CA and up.

Tom Dzamko reports that the current series for Combination plates appears to have started at 01C·A01, which would have followed 9CZ·999.

Tyler Rotondo reports C58·X54 on 2007-11-24, but it is unknown if this is a new series. Kit Foster reports a possible error Combination with 55K C60, which deviates from the current series by having the C in the fourth position instead of the third.

Now it appears that Connecticut is breaking from tradition by advancing from 9999·CZ to the DA series, as of August 2014.

Low: C•000000 per Tom Dzamko

Previously used suffix letters R and S.

COMM is stacked above and below the dot - not part of the serial. It shows as COM here because of space limitations.

Low: AB·00300 2015-12-30 Michael Fl

We are unsure whether this design representation is completely accurate.

"Trailer" on bottom of plate.

Used on backhoes, pay loaders and other construction equipment.

Color scheme changes annually. Expiration month and two-digit year are added to upper corners.

Dealer plates for New car franchise dealers begin with X. The plate number is assigned to the dealer, and the suffix letter is the serial.

Dealer plates beginning with D (see below) are issued to Used car dealers and wholesalers.

Standard design is a fully embossed, non-reflective plate with with the state map in the lower left, and the state name bottom center. DEALER is in the top center. Expiration month is upper left, and expiration year is top right. Colors vary, from a green font to a dark brown (almost black) font, both on an

off-white seemingly non reflective base.

For 2014 and 2015 expirations, plates are now reflective in purple on white.

Color scheme changes annually. Color scheme changes annually. Expiration month and two-digit year are added to upper corners.

Dealer plates for Used car dealers and wholesalers begin with D. The plate number is assigned to the dealer, and the suffix letter is the serial.

2014 and 2015 expirations are purple on reflective white.

New series after 99999.

1O series not used.

Now known as "Classic Vehicle" (see listing above)

High in original format was 527·E.

2015 format is 0·AAA.

Factory plates were originally used on vehicles that operated within industrial facilities and more recently on small college-owned electric vehicles. While these vehicles occasionally use public streets, they spend the majority of their time on private property. Plate versions observed include red serial and embossed border or blue serial and embossed border. Blue serial high is 1821.

These plates were in 3 digit form, but 4 digit plates in the 8000 range are now appearing.

New format for temporary plates - red font on white background. "Connecticut" is not written out, it is abbreviated as CT on both top corners. May have started at 6000000.

Although you might expect a plate in this category to be on a truck, it is Connecticut's version of a livery plate for use on sedans, limos, and vans. There is also an "Intrastate" plate in the LnnnnL format that are for similar vehicles used only within Connecticut.

Ken Reager spotted Z9999Z still in service on Nov. 1, 2015.

Low: Z00001Z spotted by Adam Garstka.

Blue on yellow with embossed dates, SEP in upper left, 14 in upper right. MARINE TRAILER at top center. State outline lower left, state name bottom center.

Issued to privately owned buses.

Colors change annually.

From Bradley Gallagher: Highs for Repair would be hard to track. R is constant, but the number is specific to each repairer. The 2nd letter is variable to signify multiple plates for that repairer.

Previous format was 10S00 through 99S99

Using the thin 7 digit vanity dies.

Type introduced 2007 with red serial and "Student Transport" screened in dark blue at bottom. There are both new issues in the S0000S format as well as remakes of serials from other plate types that may have been previously issued to the vehicle. In both cases, the original vehicle type designation is denoted vertically at right. So far Combination - with embossed "COMB" - and Service Bus - with screened "SERV BUS" - have been spotted.

COMB stacked/embossed above and below dot. Thin dies.

No dot divider.

Low: T00000T spotted by Matthew Ford on 2015-09-09.

This is the black 5 digit type that begins with 1, but it has rolled over to 2. This type appears to be a simple printout.

This is the red 7 digit type that begins with 6. These look more official than the black type, which appears to be a simple printout.

Rich Deecken reports 9834 on 2014-06-15, but he says it is unlikely that nearly three thousand Vanpool vehicles were registered since the last high. No reason is known for the big jump.

WRECKER on plate.

PET, DOG, CAT, TLC, WAG, WOF series already issued, now issuing WUF.

Tyler Rotondo reports 194·SIT.

After reaching 9999·Z, now using 1234·Y format.

Started in 1997 with the KID suffix, then TOT and ZZZ, now ZZY.

From Tyler Rotondo: Backwards issue will most likely stop at ZZX (and merge with the other "specials" plates) and general issue will stop at ZZW -- then a new general format!

Note: Although the standard Pass. plates were supposed to end at ZZW, and ZZX has been used for Keep Kids Safe plates, ZZX has been confirmed on a standard Pass. plate.

Brendan Ludlow reports 2WWWW9 on 2014-06-25.

Michael Fl reports 986·ZZX on 2015-10-22.

Tyler Rotondo speculates that Olympics will run from 100·WIN to 999·WIN and then pick up with the other specials, much like the United We Stand plate did. Bradley Gallagher reports several newer issues in the 1AAA1 format, so this seems to be the case. Also, Bradley reports that the town of Windsor uses the WIN suffix on their Municipal plates through 99·WIN.

Plates of this type have gone to the generic 0AAA0 format.

Camper plates issued on the Preserve the Sound base are issued in a 000·Lx format with "CAMP" embossed vertically.

Sound Combination plates are issued in a backwards sequence starting from 999·LZ. "COMB" is printed vertically.

Sound Combination Handicapped plates are also available. High is 308L. COMB is screened vertically at left, followed by embossed wheelchair.

Greg Lindberg informs us that many special issues, including Caring For Pets, and Greenways, are using the same format of 1AAA1. Therefore, consecutively numbered plates could be on different issues. The letters I and Q are used on these plates. The original United We Stand plates had 3 numbers followed by the USA suffix. United We Stand plates are specials, but are issued in the 1BAA1 format. End of the 1A series was probably reached (with 1AZZ9), and the 1C series is used for COMB specials, indicating that if the 1D series is now being issued, the 1B series is perhaps for the exclusive use of United We Stand.

A new series for handicapped motorists who desire special issues. These plates previously could not include an embossed wheelchair. 0H00 format followed by wheelchair at right.

Specials on Combination plates begin with C.

These went through 999·USA and then to the generic 1AAA1 format in the B series.

It appears United We Stand has merged with other specials in 0AAA0 format.

"CO" and "MB" embossed vertically above and below separator dot on previous format, but now "COMB" is stacked at right.

Previously all COMB specials had C as the first letter. Perhaps these are following the lead set by passenger UWS plates, where B is the first letter, and C as the second for COMB. That would make this plate the first in this series.

New plate for immediate members of families of service people killed in action. The plate has a large gold star on the left and a gold band at the bottom with Gold Star Family in blue letters.

Series began with VET, then VAA and up.

Veteran Combination plates are also issued in the same sequence, but VSA series are also in use. 611·VSG is the highest Veteran Combination reported.

Kit Foster reports seeing Commercial Veteran plate 110·VZW, also 314·VZM, but we don't know which is higher since some types are backwards. Tyler Rotondo reports 251·VZY.

Adam Garstka reports Veteran VMA·211, which may be a vanity, but nothing has been confirmed.

Adam Garstka spotted 2211P/O/W on 2014-08-20, but he speculates that it was a special request since it is so far out of sequence.

Plates of this type previously used a format of 0V00 followed by "COMB" embossed vertically. Since moved to a format of 0V·00 with "CO" and "MB" embossed vertically above and below separator dot.

No dot separator, spacing as indicated - embossed handicap to the right of the V.

This white on blue base was retired from use by October 2002.

Connecticut reinstated the two-plate system in 1987 due to concerns from law enforcement. This was signified by a small map in top left corner of new plate pairs starting with EVY series.