Vehicle registration plates of Colorado
Encyclopedia
Since 1913, the U.S. state
of Colorado
has issued license plates
for vehicles registered there.
that fixed the size for all their passenger vehicle plates at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Colorado license plate that complied with these standards. However, the 1954 (dated 1955) issue was six inches in height by twelve inches in width, although the mounting holes were not in these standardized positions.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
has issued license plates
Vehicle registration plate
A vehicle registration plate is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the vehicle within the issuing region's database...
for vehicles registered there.
Passenger plates 1959 to present
In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers AssociationAutomobile Manufacturers Association
The Automobile Manufacturers Association was a trade group of automobile manufacturers which operated under various names in the United States from 1911 to 1999....
that fixed the size for all their passenger vehicle plates at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Colorado license plate that complied with these standards. However, the 1954 (dated 1955) issue was six inches in height by twelve inches in width, although the mounting holes were not in these standardized positions.
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes | |
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1959 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1960 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1961 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1962 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1963 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1964 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1965 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1966 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1967 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1968 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1969 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1970 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1971 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1972 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1973 | AB-1234 | ||||
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1974 | AB-1234 | ||||
| 1975 to 1976 | Centennial (graphic) | AB-1234 | First multi-year baseplate. Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new license plate of 1975 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association Automobile License Plate Collectors Association The Automobile License Plate Collectors Association is the largest such organization in the world. Founded in Rumney Depot, New Hampshire, United States, in 1953 and holding its first meeting in North Attleboro, Massachusetts, in 1954, its members have come from all 50 U.S... , the first and, to date, only time Colorado has been so honored. |
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| 1976 | Centennial (embossed) | AB-1234 | Issued at end of Centennial graphic supply. | |||
| 1976 to 1980s | AB-1234 | |||||
| 1980s to 1993 | ABC-123 | |||||
| 1993 to 1999 | ABC1234 | |||||
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2000 | dark green on reflective white with grey, and green mountain scene graphic | none | 123-ABC | 001-AAA to present |
Non-passenger and optional types, 2000 to present
When the current passenger baseplate was introduced in 2000, the state simplified its non-passenger and specialty plates as well, issuing them in the same serial format—123-ABC—and with similar graphic elements.2000 to present
The serials on non-passenger types are embossed unless noted.| Image | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
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Apportioned International Registration Plan The International Registration Plan is a registration reciprocity agreement among the contiguous United States and Canadian provinces which provides payment of registration fees on the basis of total distance operated in all jurisdictions... Permanent Trailer Trailer (vehicle) A trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials.... |
Red background; stacked "PRM" prefix. |
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Apportioned Tractor Tractor A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction... |
Red background; stacked "ATR" prefix. |
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Apportioned Trailer | Red background; stacked "ATL" prefix. |
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Apportioned Truck Truck A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile... |
Red background; stacked "ATK" prefix. |
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Colorado State Patrol Colorado State Patrol The Colorado State Patrol , based in Lakewood, Colorado, is a division of the Colorado Department of Public Safety, and is one of the official state police agencies of Colorado, along with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and several smaller state agencies... |
Black background; surface-printed serials in a format of CSP 123. |
| Commercial Fleet | Red background; stacked "FLT" prefix. | |
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Dealer Car dealership A car dealership or vehicle local distribution is a business that sells new or used cars at the retail level, based on a dealership contract with an automaker or its sales subsidiary. It employs automobile salespeople to do the selling... |
Blue background; stacked "DLR" prefix. |
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Dealer—Demo Demo Demo may refer to:*DEMOs, a business process design methodology by Jan Dietz*Demo , a comic book series by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan*Demo , a non-interactive multimedia presentation... |
Blue background; stacked "DMO" prefix. |
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Dealer—In Transit | Blue background; stacked "INT" prefix. |
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Depot | Blue background; stacked "DPT" prefix. |
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Disabled Person Disability A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped... |
Green background; wheelchair in center; surface-printed serials. |
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Farm Farm A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single... Tractor |
Green background; stacked "FTR" prefix. |
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Farm Tractor—Personalized | Green background; stacked "FTR" prefix; surface-printed serials. |
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Farm Truck | Green background; stacked "FTK" prefix. |
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Farm Truck—Personalized | Green background; stacked "FTK" prefix; surface-printed serials. |
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Government Government Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized... |
Green background; stacked "GVT" prefix. |
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Gross Vehicle Weight Gross vehicle weight rating A gross vehicle weight rating is the maximum allowable total weight of a road vehicle or trailer when loaded - i.e., including the weight of the vehicle itself plus passengers, and cargo.... Tractor |
Red background; stacked "TVW" prefix. |
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Gross Vehicle Weight Truck | Red background; stacked "GVW" prefix. |
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Gross Vehicle Weight Truck—Personalized | Red background; stacked "GVW" prefix; surface-printed serials. |
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Manufacturer | Blue background; stacked "MFG" prefix. |
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Recreational Truck Recreational vehicle Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:... |
Green background; stacked "RTK" prefix. |
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Special Mobile Machine | Green background; stacked "SMM" prefix. |
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Special Mobile Machine—Exempt | Green background; stacked "SMX" prefix; motorcycle-sized plate. |
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Trailer Trailer (vehicle) A trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials.... |
Green background; stacked "TRL" prefix. |
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Transporter Transporter Transporter may refer to:* Transporter , types of vehicles designed to transport items* Volkswagen Transporter, a model of van- Film and television :... |
Blue background; stacked "TPR" prefix. |
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Truck | Green background; stacked "TRK" prefix. |
Prior to 2000
| Image | Type | Design | Serial Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Disabled Person | Reflective white on green. | 12345 | |
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Fleet | Reflective gold on blue. | 1234IA5 |
2000 to present
Specialty types have surface-printed serials. Some types are available in personalized format, in which case the type logo, which normally appears at the center of the plate between the numbers and the letters of the serial, is absent.| Image | Type | Notes |
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10th Mountain Division | |
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"Adopt a Greyhound Greyhound The Greyhound is a breed of sighthound that has been primarily bred for coursing game and racing, and the breed has also recently seen a resurgence in its popularity as a pedigree show dog and family pet. It is a gentle and intelligent breed... " |
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"Advancing Clean Energy"—Motorcycle Motorcycle A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most... |
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"Advancing Clean Energy"—Motorcycle—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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"Advancing Clean Energy"—Passenger | |
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"Advancing Clean Energy"—Passenger—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Air Force Cross Air Force Cross (United States) The Air Force Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Air Force. The Air Force Cross is the Air Force decoration equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy Cross .The Air Force Cross is awarded for extraordinary heroism... —Motorcycle |
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Air Force Cross—Passenger | |
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Amateur Radio Amateur radio Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication... —Commercial |
Stacked "CCL" prefix. Serial is callsign. |
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Amateur Radio Amateur radio Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication... —Passenger |
Stacked "SCL" prefix. Serial is callsign. |
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American Indian Native Americans in the United States Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as... Scholars—Motorcycle |
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American Indian Scholars—Motorcycle—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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American Indian Scholars—Passenger | |
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American Indian Scholars—Passenger—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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"Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... Country"—Motorcycle |
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"Broncos Country"—Motorcycle—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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"Broncos Country"—Passenger | |
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"Broncos Country"—Passenger—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Bronze Star—Motorcycle | |
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Bronze Star—Passenger | |
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Bronze Star of Valor—Motorcycle | |
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Bronze Star of Valor—Passenger | |
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Collector Truck/Tractor | |
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Collector Truck/Tractor—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Collector Vehicle Antique car In the United States, an antique car is generally defined as a car over 45 years of age, this being the definition used by the Antique Automobile Club of America. However, the legal definition for the purpose of antique vehicle registration varies widely. The antique car era includes the veteran... |
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Collector Vehicle—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Colorado College Colorado College The Colorado College is a private liberal arts college in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It was founded in 1874 by Thomas Nelson Haskell... |
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Colorado College—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Colorado School of Mines Colorado School of Mines The Colorado School of Mines is a small public teaching and research university devoted to engineering and applied science, with special expertise in the development and stewardship of the Earth's natural resources. Located in Golden, Colorado, CSM was ranked 29th, in America among national... |
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Colorado School of Mines—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Colorado State University Colorado State University Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and... |
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Colorado State University—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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"Committed to a Cure Breast cancer Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas... "—Motorcycle |
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"Committed to a Cure"—Motorcycle—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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"Committed to a Cure"—Passenger | |
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"Committed to a Cure"—Passenger—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Denver Denver, Colorado The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains... Firefighter Firefighter Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations... |
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Designer—Passenger | Serial is embossed. |
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Designer—Passenger—Personalized | |
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Designer—Truck | Stacked "TRK" prefix; serial is embossed. |
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Disabled Veteran—Motorcycle | |
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Disabled Veteran—Passenger | |
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Disabled Veteran Handicapped—Motorcycle | |
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Disabled Veteran Handicapped—Passenger | |
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Distinguished Service Cross Distinguished Service Cross (United States) The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree... —Motorcycle |
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Distinguished Service Cross—Passenger | |
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"Elks Care, Elks Share" | |
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Fallen Airman | |
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Fallen Guardsman | |
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Fallen Marine | |
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Fallen Sailor | |
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Fallen Soldier | |
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Fire Fighter | |
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"Growing Your Future Agriculture Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the... " |
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"Growing Your Future"—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Honorably Discharged Veteran | |
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Honorary Consul | |
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Horseless Carriage | |
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Italian American Italian American An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship... —Motorcycle |
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Italian American—Motorcycle—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Italian American—Passenger | |
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Italian American—Passenger—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Kids1st—Motorcycle Motorcycle A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most... |
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Kids1st—Motorcycle—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Kids1st—Passenger | |
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Kids1st—Passenger—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Korean War Korean War The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union... Veteran |
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Medal of Honor Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her... |
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Member U.S. Congress | |
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Member U.S. Senate | |
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Mesa State College Mesa State College Colorado Mesa University is a public comprehensive university in Grand Junction, Colorado. The university has its primary campus in central Grand Junction. The university also has other campuses as well; Bishop Campus, which houses Western Colorado Community College in northwestern Grand Junction... |
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Mesa State College—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Metro State College | |
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Metro State College—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Motorcycle Collector—Motorcycle | |
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Motorcycle Collector—Motorcycle—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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National Guard | |
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Navy Cross Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all... |
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NORAD | Issued July 1, 2008 through January 1, 2010. |
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Pearl Harbor Survivor | |
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Pioneer American pioneer American pioneers are any of the people in American history who migrated west to join in settling and developing new areas. The term especially refers to those who were going to settle any territory which had previously not been settled or developed by European or American society, although the... |
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Prisoner of War Prisoner of war A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict... |
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Purple Heart Purple Heart The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York... |
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Regis University Regis University Regis University is a private, co-educational Roman Catholic, Jesuit university in the United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1877, it is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities... |
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Regis University—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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"Respect Life Columbine High School Columbine High School or CHS is a high school in unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado, United States.- History :Columbine High School opened in the fall of 1973. There was no senior class in its first year. The school's first graduating class was the class of 1975... " |
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Respects Wildlife Wildlife Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative.... |
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Passenger—Personalized | |
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Share the Road—Motorcycle Motorcycle A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most... |
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Share the Road—Motorcycle—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Share the Road—Passenger | |
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Share the Road—Passenger—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Silver Star Silver Star The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy.... |
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State Representative | R-000 serial format. |
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State Senator | S-00 serial format. |
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Street Rod Street Rod Street Rod is a racing video game developed by P.Z.Karen Co. Development Group and Logical Design Works, based on an original concept by Magic Partners and published by California Dreams for Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and DOS... |
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Street Rod—Personalized | |
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Support Education Education Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts... —Motorcycle Motorcycle A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most... |
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Support Education—Motorcycle—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Support Education—Passenger | |
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Support Education—Passenger—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Support the Troops—Motorcycle Motorcycle A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most... |
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Support the Troops—Motorcycle—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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Support the Troops—Passenger | |
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Support the Troops—Passenger—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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University of Colorado University of Colorado at Boulder The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado... |
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University of Colorado—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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University of Denver University of Denver The University of Denver is currently ranked 82nd among all public and private "National Universities" by U.S. News & World Report in the 2012 rankings.... |
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University of Denver—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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University of Northern Colorado University of Northern Colorado -Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado... |
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University of Northern Colorado—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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U.S. Air Force United States Air Force The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of... |
Available only to veterans. |
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U.S. Air Force 50th Anniversary | Available to general public. |
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U.S. Air Force Academy United States Air Force Academy The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States... |
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U.S. Air Force Academy—Personalized | No logo at center. |
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U.S. Army United States Army The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services... |
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U.S. Army Special Forces | |
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U.S. Coast Guard United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency... |
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U.S. Marine Corps United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States... |
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U.S. Navy United States Navy The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S... |
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Vietnam Vietnam War The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of... Veteran |
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Western State College | |
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Western State College—Personalized | No logo at center. |
Prior to 2000
| Image | Type | Serial Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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10th Mountain Division | 12345E | |
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Collector Truck/Tractor | 12Z34 | |
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Collector Vehicle Antique car In the United States, an antique car is generally defined as a car over 45 years of age, this being the definition used by the Antique Automobile Club of America. However, the legal definition for the purpose of antique vehicle registration varies widely. The antique car era includes the veteran... |
12N34 12R34 |
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Designer | Coded by county of issuance: A1B2345 |
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Firefighter | 12345F | |
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Honorably Discharged Veteran | 12345B | |
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Pioneers | 12345D | |
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Purple Heart Purple Heart The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York... |
012345 | |
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United States Air Force United States Air Force The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of... |
12345C |