Basics / FAQ
This website is intended for both seasoned license plate experts and the general public. With that in mind, a lot of plate terminology on this page might be a bit foreign to someone just getting into plates. This page is dedicated to those people, as when I started, I wish a page like this existed. This page will cover a ton of general basic information that I've found out over my time researching plates in CO.
In 48 out of the 50 states, license plates are issued sequentially. For example, 068-AFJ would be issued just before 069-AFJ. With this in mind, there are progressive "highs" in these states, which is the newest (based on having the "highest" number) plate seen in that state. All of these highs are tracked at licenseplates.cc, which is one of my favorite websites - check it out! I also keep a high posted at the top of my Eagle County page, which has the current series and what I've seen as a CO high (often that website lags behind a bit).
I go in detail about CO's county system on its respective page, but I can explain it briefly. Counties receive thousands of plates (or sometimes tens of thousands!) in order, making those sets of letters appear frequently in that county. By paying close attention to plates I see in those respective counties, along with car sale postings, I've managed to figure out some of the first of those plates, and some of the last. That means that every plate between those two is guaranteed to be from the county, and that's how I can tell.
There are two different ways plates are made (for the most part). They're either embossed or screened. Embossed plates are, well, embossed. The letters are pressed through the plate and then painted over. Sometimes, graphics are screened on the plate as well; the mountains on Colorado's plate are screened. Alternatively, some plates are completely screened. These plates are often referred to as flat, since they are literally flat. Colorado uses both systems. All specialties and personalized plates are screened, and everything else is embossed.
License plates are anonymous by law. The plate owner and their information cannot be gathered from a license plate alone without access to a police computer or the DMV system. Thus, plate numbers are public information and there's no problem with posting pictures of them. Furthermore, the amount of people looking at this website is negligible compared to how many people actually see this plate in person, since the plate is on a car that likely drives around frequently. With this in mind, there's no point blurring or blocking plate numbers online, especially on a website whose entire purpose is to display them. If you see your plate on my website, and despite all this still want it taken down, contact me and I will remove it for you.
Starting last year, Colorado introduced new rules regarding transfers and remakes. In 2000, the state tried to take most older green plates off the road (and failed, as many are still seen). As part of a compromise with the public, people could get a personalized number on the new white plate with their old number. This program was revived in 2021 when the state banned the transfer of plates. Essentially, if you sell your car and buy a new one, the plates are invalidated and you can't transfer them to your new car; unless they're personalized, which are exempt from this rule. However, you can pay a $60 fee and get a personalized plate with a new number. This is unique, as the state typically doesn't let people get personalized plates that match previous general-issue formats. I've seen a few of these remakes on the road - they're quite conspicuous, as unlike their original plates, they're NOT embossed. These remade plates become considered "personalized" in the system, and can then be transferred until the end of time (hopefully). Another exception to this rule is "non-passenger vehicles". I expect to see excavators and stuff keep old plates on the road, but I'm not sure if this applies to light trucks yet. I've been keeping a close eye on new trucks to see if they have older plates.
Update: Group Special plates are now able to be transferred with a new exception that began March 2023.
