Colorado license plates are issued by your county motor vehicle office for the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Most cars get two plates, front and rear.
The standard plate adds no extra plate fee. Your real cost is the yearly registration, which depends on the car’s value, age and weight, plus any special plate you pick.
One mix-up to clear first. A “Colorado license plate toll” is a mailed toll bill from E-470 or the CDOT Express Lanes. It isn’t a DMV plate fee, and it never comes by text.
Independent site. CheckLicensePlate.us is not the Colorado DMV, a county clerk or E-470. We don’t issue plates, take payments or look up owners.
Colorado plates at a glance
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Who issues plates? | Your county motor vehicle office, for the Colorado DMV |
| Front plate required? | Yes for cars and trucks, rear only for motorcycles and trailers |
| New resident deadline | 90 days after you establish residency |
| Personalized plate fee | $60 one time, then $25 a year |
| Black, red, blue or green retro plate | $25 to issue, then $25 a year |
| Renewal grace period | Until the last day of the month after expiration |
| Late fee after grace | $25 per month, capped at $100 |
| Toll bill phone (ExpressToll) | (303) 537-3470 or (888) 946-3470 |
What Are Colorado License Plates And Who Issues Them?
Colorado state license plates are registration plates tied to one vehicle and one owner. The Colorado DMV sets the rules, and the 64 county clerk offices hand out the plates.
So “Colorado DMV license plates” and “county plates” are the same thing. You deal with the county for plates and renewals, and with a state driver license office for your license.
Plates, registration and the year tab are three separate items. The plate carries the number, the registration card proves the fees are paid, and the small tab shows the expiration month and year.
Colorado law (C.R.S. 42-3-202) puts one plate on the front and one on the rear of most cars. Motorcycles, autocycles, street rods and trailers get a single rear plate.
Types Of Colorado License Plates Available In 2026
Colorado license plate options fall into five DMV groups. Those are regular plates, group special plates, military plates, alumni plates and an “other” bucket.
You won’t need all Colorado license plates listed there. Here are the different Colorado license plates most drivers pick from in 2026, and the 2025 lineup carried over mostly unchanged.
So if you saved a “Colorado license plate options 2025” list, it still works. The Colorado license plate designs and colors below are the same choices on myDMV today.
Standard Green And White Mountain Plate
This is the plate most Colorado cars wear, with green mountains across a white background. It comes at no extra plate charge on top of your normal registration.
The state does pay to make it. From July 1, 2025, an embossed set costs $7.38 and a print-on-demand set costs $14.80, and that cost is built into your fees.
Colorado 150th Anniversary License Plates
Colorado became a state in 1876, and two anniversary designs went on sale August 1, 2023. The DMV says they stay available until July 2027.
Both designs came from a public contest where more than 34,000 people voted. One was picked from the 13-and-over group, the other from artists under 13.
The Colorado 150th anniversary license plate cost is $12.20 per pair plus local fees, per the DMV’s anniversary page. The 2023 launch notice said $8.06, so expect the newer figure.
You can personalize either design for the usual $60 up front and $25 a year. They’re available for cars, motorcycles, light trucks under 16,000 pounds and motor homes.
Black Colorado License Plates And Other Retired Colors
The black plate is a copy of Colorado’s 1945 plate, white letters on black. It came back in 2023 under Senate Bill 22-217, along with three other old designs.
The blue one copies the 1914 visitor plate. The green “greenie” copies the plate Colorado used most years from 1962 to 1999, which is the one many people remember as the old Colorado plate.
No special qualification is needed for Colorado black license plates or the other three. Anyone with an eligible car, motorcycle, light truck or RV can order one at a county office or on myDMV.
Why Are Some Colorado License Plates Red?
A red Colorado plate is usually the red historical plate. It copies Colorado’s 1915 plate and belongs to the same retired-color set as the black one.
It costs the same $25 to issue and $25 a year, and anyone with an eligible vehicle can order it. Nothing about the color signals a special status.
Colorado Specialty License Plates And Group Special Plates
Group special plates support a cause, school or group. Colorado has dozens, from Adopt a Shelter Pet and Breast Cancer Awareness to the Broncos Foundation and Girl Scouts.
Some are open to anyone. Others need an authorization certificate, which you usually get by donating $25 to $60 to the sponsoring nonprofit before the county will issue the plate.
People search for them as Colorado special license plates too, it’s the same program. The DMV keeps a separate page for military plates and another for college alumni plates.
Personalized And Custom Colorado License Plates
A personalized plate lets you pick the letters and numbers. Colorado personalized license plates cost $60 once, plus $25 each year you renew.
Colorado custom license plates cost the same, because custom and personalized mean the same thing at the DMV. You can put your own text on most designs, including the black plate.
Passenger plates allow up to 7 characters and motorcycle plates up to 6. You can use capital letters, numbers 1 to 9, spaces, dashes and periods, but not the number zero.
Spaces and dashes count as characters but don’t make a new plate. If ABC is taken, then A-B-C and A.B.C are taken too, per form DR 2810.
The DMV won’t refund the fee once it approves your plate. And on a personalized group special plate, the center logo is left off.
Motorcycle, Electric Vehicle And Other Colorado Plates
Colorado motorcycle license plates come in most of the same designs. The 150th anniversary and the four historical colors are both offered for motorcycles.
Plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles can get an EV plate with no added plate fee. Designer plates cost $50 to issue plus $25 a year, and the Persons With Disabilities plate needs a medical certification.
How Much Do Colorado License Plates Cost?
The plate itself is often the cheapest part. A standard plate adds nothing extra, while special plates add between $25 and about $80 up front.
So how much does it cost to get license plates in Colorado? Plan on your full registration bill plus that plate add-on, since Colorado license plates fees are only one line of it.
The big number is the registration, driven mostly by specific ownership tax on the car’s value. That’s why a CO license plate cost can differ hugely between two neighbors with the same plate.
| Plate | Up-front fee | Yearly add-on |
|---|---|---|
| Standard mountain plate | No extra plate fee | None |
| Electric vehicle plate | No extra plate fee | None |
| 150th anniversary plate | $12.20 per pair plus local fees | None |
| Historical black, red, blue or green | $25 | $25 |
| Designer plate | $50 | $25 |
| Group special plate | Usually $50 (some $25, some $75 to $80) | Usually none, a few charge $25 to $50 |
| Personalized (any eligible design) | $60 extra | $25 extra |
Why Your Colorado DMV Plates Cost More Than The Plate Fee
Your bill mixes several charges. The DMV lists specific ownership tax, a weight-based registration fee, the FASTER road safety surcharge, a bridge surcharge and a $4 clerk hire fee.
There’s also an age-of-vehicle fee of $12, $10 or $7, plus small emissions, insurance and emergency medical service charges. Some counties add their own fees on top.
Specific ownership tax uses 85% of the original MSRP. In year one the rate is 2.1%, falling to 1.5%, 1.2%, 0.9%, then 0.45% for years five to nine, and a flat $3 from year ten.
The DMV’s own example is a $30,000 car in its first year. $30,000 × 0.85 × 0.021 comes to $535.50 in ownership tax alone, before any other fee.
That’s what people mean when they ask what Colorado car tags cost, or what Colorado DMV plates cost. A new truck can run several hundred dollars, while a 12-year-old sedan often costs far less.
Colorado License Plate Cost Estimator And Calculator
The most accurate Colorado license plates cost calculator is the DMV’s own Fee Estimator on myDMV. It asks for your vehicle details and county and returns a line-by-line total.
If you just want to estimate Colorado license plates cost for a car you’re shopping for, the quick tool below gets you close on the tax part.
Your renewal postcard is the other shortcut. It shows the exact amount due, so if you want to know “how much will my Colorado license plates cost,” start with last year’s card.
Quick ownership tax estimator
Rough guide only. It estimates specific ownership tax (Class C) and the plate add-on, not your full bill.
How Much Do Black Colorado License Plates Cost?
Colorado black license plates cost $25 when issued and $25 more every year on top of your normal registration, according to the DMV’s standard plate page.
So do black Colorado license plates cost more? Yes, a little, and every year you keep them.
Make it personalized and add $60 once and $25 a year. So a personalized black plate runs about $85 extra in year one and $50 extra each year after.
That $25 yearly charge goes to the Colorado Disability Funding Committee. Some 2023 news stories quoted different personalization numbers, so trust the DMV fee page over older articles.
How To Get Colorado License Plates
How you get plates depends on where the car came from. Dealer sales are the easiest, and out-of-state cars need the most paperwork.
- Get Colorado insurance. You need at least $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $15,000 property damage liability before the county will register the car.
- Pass emissions if required. Vehicles older than 7 model years in the Denver and Front Range emissions area need a current test.
- Get a VIN verification for out-of-state cars. A Colorado officer, licensed dealer or emissions station fills out form DR 2698.
- Gather your documents. Bring the title, ID, proof of Colorado address and, for new residents, form DR 2504.
- Visit or book your county motor vehicle office. Check whether your county takes walk-ins or needs an appointment.
- Choose your plate and pay. Standard plates are handed over the same day, while special and personalized plates are mailed.
- Mount both plates and the year tab. Put one plate on the front and one on the rear, clearly visible and free of covers.
New To Colorado From Out Of State
New residents have 90 days after establishing residency to title and register. The DMV says this must be done in person at your county motor vehicle office.
Waiting longer costs money. A 2022 law made late registration charge $25 a month up to $100, plus back taxes from the date you should have registered.
Bought A Car From A Dealer Or Private Seller
Colorado gives you 60 days after purchase to register. A dealer usually issues a 60-day temporary permit and can often start the registration for you.
Buying from a private seller? Since 2022, plates expire when the title changes hands under SB 21-069. You won’t be driving on the seller’s plates, so get your own.
How Long Do New Colorado License Plates Take To Arrive?
Mailed plates are printed within 3 business days of payment, then USPS delivery takes 2 to 6 weeks. The mail isn’t tracked, which is annoying.
If your temporary permit runs out first, ask your county for another one. Don’t drive on an expired paper tag while you wait.
Do You Need An Appointment To Get License Plates In Colorado?
It depends on the county. Colorado license plates appointment rules are set by each county office, so Denver takes walk-ins while Jefferson County is appointment only.
Renewals rarely need one. A Colorado license plate renewal appointment only makes sense when you’re past the grace period or a kiosk can’t handle your plate type.
New plates are different. Out-of-state transfers, title work and your first Colorado license plate registration appointment still happen at the county counter.
If you searched for a Colorado DMV license plates appointment, you’re really booking with your county. Where it offers booking, a Colorado DMV new plates appointment saves a long wait.
Denver License Plates Appointment And Walk-Ins
Denver Motor Vehicle license plates services take walk-ins, but lines close once they reach capacity. The city’s advice is to arrive early in the day.
For questions, call 3-1-1 or 720-865-4600, Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Denver also has drop boxes and MV Express kiosks for renewals.
Jefferson County Colorado License Plate Appointment
Jefferson County lists its motor vehicle office hours as by appointment only. You book through the county’s Register Plates page on jeffco.us.
Most Jeffco renewals can be done online instead. The county motor vehicle phone number is 303-271-6511 if you can’t find a slot.
Weld County And Other Counties
For a Colorado license plate renewal in Weld County, or new plates, use the offices in Greeley at 1250 H St, Fort Lupton or Longmont.
All three are open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Greeley number is (970) 304-6520.
Weld renewals can also go by mail to P.O. Box 459, Greeley, CO 80632. The county says mail can take up to four weeks, so don’t leave it to the last week.
Colorado License Plate Renewal
Colorado registrations expire on the last day of your renewal month, every 12 months. You can renew Colorado license plates online, at a kiosk, by mail or at the county office.
Colorado license plates renewal is really a registration and tag renewal. Your plate number stays, and you get a new year tab, so some people call it a Colorado license plates tag renewal.
Can I Renew My Colorado License Plates Online?
Yes, if your county takes part and your plate type is eligible. For a Colorado license plate renewal online, go to mydmv.colorado.gov, choose vehicle services and enter your plate number and the last 8 VIN digits.
Your insurance and any needed emissions test must already be on file. Emissions results usually reach the system in 2 to 3 business days.
The online receipt works as proof for 15 days when you carry it with your expired registration. New tabs can take up to 30 business days to arrive.
Online renewal won’t work once you’re past the grace period, or for some military and non-standard plates. The DMV FAQ says 43 counties take part in online renewals.
Colorado License Plate Renewal Kiosks At King Soopers
MV Express kiosks print your registration and tab on the spot. That makes them the fastest way to fix a tab that expires this week.
Many sit inside King Soopers stores, like the five El Paso County ones on Stetson Hills, Academy, Baptist Road, Constitution and Austin Bluffs. Store kiosks take cards, not cash.
Kiosks charge a service fee of $3.50 at DMV locations and $4.50 elsewhere. Cards add 2.3%, and you’ll need your plate number and last 8 VIN digits or the renewal barcode.
Colorado License Plate Renewal Grace Period And Late Fee
You get until the last day of the month after your plates expire. Tabs that expire in March, for example, can still be renewed without a late fee through April 30.
After that, the Colorado license plate renewal late fee is $25 per month, capped at $100. Active-duty military using the non-resident exemption have to renew in person or by mail.
The grace period covers the fee, not a traffic stop. Driving on expired tags is a class B traffic infraction, and the Colorado Sun reported tickets typically run $15 to $100.
How To Renew Expired License Plates In Colorado
If you’re still inside the grace month, renew online or at a kiosk like normal. Once you’re past it, Colorado DMV license plates renewal usually has to go through the county office or mail.
Bring your plate number, current insurance and emissions results if your postcard asks for them. Expect to pay the renewal, the late fee and any back taxes together.
Colorado License Plate Renewal Cost And Estimate
Your renewal costs about what last year’s did, minus a bit of ownership tax as the car ages. The postcard shows the exact figure, and the myDMV Fee Estimator gives a Colorado license plate renewal estimate.
Personalized and special plates add their yearly fee to that renewal. That’s the $25 personalization fee, or the $25 on a black, red, blue or green plate.
Colorado License Plate Lookup
You can’t legally pull up a stranger’s name and address from a Colorado plate. Any Colorado license plates lookup that promises it runs into the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act.
What a CO license plates lookup can show is your own vehicle record, a vanity plate’s availability, and basic vehicle data tied to a plate or VIN. A Denver Colorado license plate lookup works the same way.
Colorado DMV License Plate Lookup And Who Can Use It
A Colorado DMV plate lookup releases owner records for set reasons only. That includes the registered owner, tow carriers, repair shops, storage facilities and court cases with proper paperwork.
Requests go through myDMV under vehicle services and records, by mail with form DR 2489A, or in person at 3265 S. Wadsworth Blvd #3A in Lakewood. Mail and online take 2 to 3 weeks.
Colorado License Plate Lookup For Vanity Plates
Want to know if a personalized combination is free? Logan County’s clerk says personalized plates can be ordered on myDMV through the replace license plate option, which is the easiest place to test one.
That’s the closest thing to a CO license plate availability check. Not every plate is orderable online, so some requests go through your county office.
Remember the zero rule and the DR 2810 blocked patterns, like AAA1234, that copy standard plates.
Colorado License Plate Lookup By VIN, Online And Free
Colorado license plates lookup free sites, including FaxVin, can often show the year, make and model tied to a plate. A Colorado license plate lookup online can’t legally give you the owner’s details.
If you’re buying a used car, a VIN history report is more useful than a plate search. If you’re reading Colorado license plate lookup Reddit threads, keep one rule in mind. Vehicle data yes, owner data no.
My stance is simple. Don’t pay for a Colorado number plate lookup that promises owner names. Either the data is thin, or the site is breaking the rules it claims to follow.
Colorado Stolen License Plate Lookup
There’s no public stolen plate search in Colorado. If your plates are stolen, report it to local police first, then replace them at the county office with form DR 2283.
Report fast. Stolen plates get used on other cars, and those toll bills and tickets go to the address tied to your plate.
Colorado License Plate Toll Bills
License Plate Toll is how E-470 and the CDOT Express Lanes bill drivers without an ExpressToll pass. Cameras read your plate, and a Colorado license plate toll statement is mailed to your registration address.
A Denver Colorado license plate toll comes from roads like E-470 on the city’s east side or the US 36, I-25, Central 70, I-70 Mountain and C-470 express lanes.
License Plate Toll rates are higher because tracking and mailing bills costs E-470 more. It says ExpressToll account holders save more than 35%, so if you drive these roads monthly, get the account.
How To Pay A Colorado License Plate Toll Bill Online
To pay a Colorado license plate toll online, go to expresstoll.com and enter the statement details. E-470 says you can also pay tolls there before a statement is even created.
Your Colorado license plate toll pay options also include mail. Send payment to P.O. Box 5470, Denver, CO 80217-5470, and allow extra time, since E-470 warns delayed bank bill-pay can trigger fees.
Colorado License Plate Toll Phone Number And Customer Service Number
The ExpressToll Service Center handles License Plate Toll bills, so that’s the Colorado license plate toll number to use. Call (303) 537-3470 or toll-free (888) 946-3470 for automated payments or an agent.
Use only numbers from e470.com, expresstoll.com or codot.gov. Never call a number printed in a text message, even if it looks local.
Colorado License Plate Toll Out Of State And Rental Cars
Out-of-state plates get billed too. The system matches the plate to the address registered with that state’s DMV and mails the statement there.
Rental cars are trickier. Rental companies add their own daily fee on top of tolls, so E-470 suggests adding the rental’s plate to your ExpressToll account before you drive.
Is A Colorado License Plate Toll Text Legit?
No. If you searched “license plate toll Colorado legit” because of a text, delete it.
An E-470 representative told CBS Colorado that “ExpressToll would never text you if you owed a bill.” Real License Plate Toll statements come by mail.
E-470 saw scam reports jump 443% in February 2025. If you get one, don’t click, forward it to 7726 (SPAM), then delete it and check your account directly.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay A Colorado Toll Statement?
The costs stack. A second statement adds a one-time $5 late fee, and after 90 days the account goes to collections with a $20 fee.
| Stage | Added charge |
|---|---|
| First statement | Tolls only |
| Second statement | $5 late fee, one time |
| Collections (90+ days) | $20 collection fee |
| Civil Penalty Assessment Notice | $25 per notice |
| Hearing Officer’s Final Order | $20 court fee |
| Registration hold | You can’t renew until the balance is paid |
That registration hold is the part of a Colorado license plate toll bill that catches people. You find out at renewal time, often months after the original toll.
Colorado License Plate Problems And Fixes
Most plate trouble in Colorado comes from a handful of repeat mistakes. Here’s what goes wrong and what to do about it.
| Issue | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Can’t renew online | Past grace period, missing insurance or emissions, or county not taking part | Renew at a kiosk or county office after updating insurance and emissions |
| Renewal blocked | Unpaid toll registration hold | Pay the balance with ExpressToll, then renew |
| Plates never arrived | USPS delivery takes 2 to 6 weeks, no tracking | Ask your county for a temporary permit and check the mailing address |
| Ticket for plate cover | Tinted or obstructing cover | Remove it, the fine is $100 under C.R.S. 42-3-202 |
| No front plate | Assumed only one was required | Mount the front plate, cars and trucks need both |
| Faded, hard-to-read plate | Plates lose about half their reflectivity in 5 to 10 years | Order replacements at the county with form DR 2283 |
What Should You Do With Old Colorado License Plates?
Return them to your county motor vehicle office or recycle them. Since 2022, standard plates expire when the car’s title transfers, so old plates don’t move to your next car.
Personalized, group special and alumni plates are the exception. Those can move to another vehicle, so check with your county before you give them up.
Moving from Colorado to California or Alabama? See our California license plates guide and Alabama license plate guide for how those states handle it.
Colorado License Plates FAQs
Standard plates expire when the title transfers, so they don’t carry over. Personalized, group special and alumni plates can usually move to your next vehicle, so ask your county first.
Yes. Order a replacement plate in the new design through myDMV or your county office and pay that plate’s fee. It’s a plate swap, not a new registration.
Only for 90 days after you establish residency. After that, late fees of $25 a month up to $100 apply, plus back taxes from your required registration date.
The DMV lists both anniversary designs as available until July 2027. If you want one, don’t leave the order to the final month.
It can. Unpaid E-470 tolls and penalties can lead to a registration hold, which stops your renewal until you pay ExpressToll.
No. Form DR 2810 allows the numbers 1 to 9 only on most personalized plates. Zero is allowed on call letter plates and a few remade plates.
Only at an MV Express kiosk or a county counter. Online renewals mail the tab, which can take up to 30 business days, so keep your receipt in the car.
Call your county motor vehicle office, not the state driver license line. Counties handle plates, registration, titles and renewals across Colorado.
Sources Used For This Colorado Plates Guide
- Colorado DMV standard license plates and fees
- Colorado DMV license plates overview
- Colorado DMV group special license plates
- Colorado DMV 150th anniversary plates
- Colorado DMV vehicle taxes and fees
- Colorado DMV online renewal FAQs
- Colorado DMV vehicle registration
- Colorado DMV vehicle record searches
- Colorado DMV MV Express kiosks
- E-470 unpaid toll process
- E-470 toll payments
- CDOT Express Lanes
- C.R.S. 42-3-202 plate display law
- CBS Colorado on toll text scams
Fees and rules change. Confirm the current amount with your county or the Colorado DMV before you pay. Last reviewed September 23, 2026.