License Plate Frequently Asked Questions
First-Time Vehicle Registration:
Customers who recently purchased a vehicle through a Colorado dealership and have received the “title complete notice” postcard in the mail from their county, can complete their first-time vehicle registration online through myDMV in the Vehicle Services tab. If you purchased your vehicle in a private sale from a third party, you will need to visit your county motor vehicle office.
Replace License Plates:
Customers who would like to replace their current license plate, to include a personalized plate, can do so through the “Replace license plate” option through myDMV in the Vehicle Services tab.
Notes:
Please note: not all plates are available online and some may have to be ordered through the owner’s county motor vehicle office; especially those that require physical documentation.
If replacing a Group Special License Plate, because it was damaged, faded, or stolen; it will be necessary for you to contact the non-profit associated with your plate and make another donation to obtain a new certificate or PIN. The non-profit organization can be found on the Group Special License Plates page, in the specific plate, in that plate’s “Requirements” section.
Payment options include credit card and check for most counties. Payment service fees do apply; you will be able to see the amount in the Payment Section under the “Transaction Summary” on the right side of the screen.
Dealer registered plates:
If you registered your vehicle through a dealer, your plates will be mailed to you via USPS; it can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks for them to be delivered. You can request a secondary temporary permit from the dealer (or your county) if necessary.
Once ordered online, or through the county, license plates are generally printed and mailed 3 business days after payment is received. Once mailed through USPS, it can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks for them to be delivered.
If your temporary tag will expire prior to the mailing time frame, you can visit your county motor vehicle office as they will have regular green & white license plates in inventory. If you wish to order a different license plate, you can also get another temporary permit from the county if your current one is expiring and your plates have yet to arrive. Check with your county directly to see if they are appointment-only, or allow walk-in traffic.
Unfortunately, USPS does not provide tracking information on license plates.
Some plates require physical documentation (like military plates) that must be submitted to the county motor vehicle office for review of eligibility. Additionally, some charities of the Group Special License Plates require that a physical certificate (instead of a pin number) be turned into the county.
Personalized plates can be ordered online through myDMV in the Vehicle Services tab and the “Replace license plates” option. Personalized plates can also be ordered at the county motor vehicle office for plates not eligible to be ordered online, that allow for personalization.
Please be advised, not all plates can be personalized and personalized plates are subject to review and may not be approved. You will need to list a minimum of 2, and not more than 6, choices for your personalized plate. Additionally, issued personalized plates where the Department receives 3 customer complaints as offensive will be revoked.
Please note that personalized plates carry a one-time personalization fee of $60 upon their initial registration and are an additional $25 upon renewal each year after.
Senate Bill 21-069 License Plate Expiration on Change of Ownership, updated Colorado Revised Statute to state that the license plates of a motor vehicle (Class C) expire upon the transfer of the owner’s title or interest in the motor vehicle, unless the vehicle has a personalized license plate or plate with a valuable registration number that has been reserved for use under the “Laura Hershey Disability Support Act” (LHDSA). If an owner wishes to continue to use the same configuration of the expired license plate, the owner can request the configuration by applying for personalized license plates. Please note that personalized plates carry a one-time personalization fee of $60 upon their initial registration and are an additional $25 upon renewal each year after.
Print-On-Demand (POD) eliminates the need for customers to visit the motor vehicle office multiple times, for certain types of license plates. It also provides Colorado Counties with an efficient and effective way to manage low issuance license plate inventory, while making plates readily available to the customer.
The Division of Motor Vehicles in conjunction with Colorado County Clerks, Governor's Office of Information Technology and Colorado Correctional Industries worked together to create the Print-On-Demand program. This program creates a process where lower issuance plates are mailed to the customer, and eliminates the need for multiple visits to the motor vehicle office.
In an effort to make plates readily available and ease inventory levels at counties throughout Colorado, the Division of Motor Vehicles worked closely with Colorado County Clerks to create the Print-On-Demand program where applicants for low issuance plates can obtain the plate with one visit to a Motor Vehicle Office. This plate is then mailed to the applicant within five business days. Please click here for a list of POD License plates.
All Colorado license plates are printed by Colorado Correctional Industries. POD plates are printed and mailed to constituents upon completion of registration transaction.
Please contact the Vehicle Services Section at 303-205-5608 with any questions.
