Colorado License Plates

Home » Featured Item, Helpful Info, License Plate Errors » Colorado License Plates

Written by Jake on November 2, 2009 – 9:31 pm -

1913 was the first year Colorado issued their license plates. Before this, cities would issue numbers and you made your own plate.

The 1913, 1914, and 1915 Colorado license plates were made of porcelain.

The numbers on the 1919 and 1920 Colorado plates were individually cut pieces. They were then spot welded on the heavy license plate blank.

1920 large county plates were very large. Some measured 5 1/2" X 16", while others measured 6" X 14" with numbers 5/8" wide and 4" tall.

The 1931, 1932, 1933, and 1934 Colorado license plates were stamped of very heavy metal and were very difficult to bend.

County numbers first appeared on plates in 1932.

1948 Colorado license plates were made of aluminum and were therefore very easily damaged.

1950 Colorado license plates had a very thin layer of paint. Because of this, the slightest dust or sand storm immediately chipped off the plate.

"Colorful" first appeared in 1950, dropped in 1956, reappeared in 1958, dropped in 1959 and reappeared in 1973.

The outline of the Colorado Rocky Mountains appeared on the 1960, 1962-1972, and 1974 plates.

The picture of the Skier appeared in 1958 and disappeared in 1959.

County numbers disappeared from Colorado license plates in 1959.

In 1971, Colorado license plates began using reflectorized material on the coating of the license plates.

For the years 1975 and 1976, a special Centennial-Bicentennial license plate was issued.

The special issue had the State Centennial-Bicentennial emblem, and the colors were red, white and blue for the license plates.
In 1977, Colorado began issuing license plates on a staggered, year around basis.

In 1989, Colorado began issuing Designer license plates. These plates are blue on white and are a multi-year plate with validating tabs that are issued on a staggered, year around basis.