Connecticut

Connecticut 1969 passenger issue. This white-on-blue base was introduced in 1957 and was not replaced until recently, with a general reissue having been completed in August, 2002. The original 1957 base was issued in an all-numeric format, followed by AA 100 through ZZ 999, then followed by this AB-1234 format, all of which were in use by 1969. These plates also used wide dies for the state name and distinctive dies for the serial.

Connecticut 1969 passenger issue. In 1968, at plate number FP-1000, the base was modified to use narrower dies for the state name and different dies for the serial. This plate was the 29th issue on the new base, which was used from 1968 through 1974.

Connecticut 1975 passenger issue. Starting in 1974, this blue on white issue was released. These plates were made in Arkansas by the Polyvend company. They did not hold up well during New England winters and were discontinued in 1976, although they could be used for many years after that with stickers. The plates were finally recalled in 1990, although one is occasionally seen on the road today. This was the first appearance of the "Constitution State" slogan on Connecticut plates.

Connecticut 1978 passenger issue. In 1976, when the Polyvend plates were discontinued the state returned to the more familiar white on blue design. These new plates kept the "Constitution State" slogan, which is still in use today. These plates continued the AB-1234 format, ending with ZZ-9999 around 1980.

Connecticut 1981 passenger issue. When plate number ZZ-9999 was reached in 1980, the state switched to a 123-ABC format, still in use today. Also during this time period, the state switched from two plates to one, so most of these plates were issued singly.

Connecticut 1987 passenger issue. This plate contains a couple of different errors, plus a slight variation from the normal baseplate of this era. First off, the plate is missing the dot separator between the letters and numbers, which is an error that has happened occasionally on Connecticut issues in this time frame. Also, the "8" in the serial is upside-down (compare to the other exp. 1987 plate below). The die set used for the state name and slogan is also slightly different on this plate than it is on the 1981 plate above and the other 1987 plate below.

Connecticut 1987 passenger issue. Another 1987 plate, this time with the dot in place, the "8" right-side up and the same dies used as the exp. 1982 plate above for the state name and slogan. Plates of this sort were issued through the late "E" series in 1988.

Connecticut 1989 passenger issue. In late 1987, Connecticut returned to a two-plate system, mostly in response to law enforcement requests. Since there was no general reissue, however, there needed to be a distinction made to show which cars were issued two plates and which could legally carry only one. The state therefore changed the base to swap the state name and slogan, putting "Connecticut" at the top of the plate, and adding a small image of the state shape at the top left. All "Map" plates were issued in pairs and required to be displayed that way. This change occurred at the start of the "EVY" series of plates.

Connecticut undated passenger issue. This was a later-period map issue, first issued in 1999. This plate features a white-on-red sticker marked "REPLACEMENT STICKER" over its original 2001 expiration sticker. These were issued during the changeover from these plates to the new 2002-present plates and were used in cases where the owner's old plates expired before their new plates (bearing the same number) had been produced yet. These stickers were somewhat problematic, as they didn't have any way of showing expiration date.

Connecticut 2002 passenger issue. This new baseplate was introduced for new registrants in January, 2000 at the start of the "NZN" series of passenger plates. Starting in September, 2000, motorists who renewed their registrations received a set of these new plates bearing their previous plate number. The changeover to this plate design ran through the end of August, 2002. This was an earlier plate on the new base, showing the serial placed a bit higher and spaced wider than it appears on most standard-issue plates. All the earliest plates were produced in this fashion, from NZN through NZS. Plates from NZT on were spaced like the "NZU" plate below. Just getting a feel for the new dies, I guess.

Connecticut 2002 passenger issue. Continuation of the plate series above, starting with the NZT series of plates, the serial was more tightly spaced and placed slightly lower on the plate. This may have been done to open up more space at the top right of the plate for the validation sticker, although many motorists seem to be placing the sticker at the bottom right instead anyway.

Connecticut 2004 passenger issue. As noted above, starting in September, 2002, motorists with existing white-on-blue plates were issued new plates bearing their previous plate number. Therefore, these new plates can regularly be seen using older numbering formats including all-numeric, AB-123, AB-1234 and 123-ABC combinations previous to the "NZN" series. Most, if not all, of these re-issued plates were made using slightly different dies from those on the "new" numbered plates. These dies are slightly smaller and stamped less sharply than on the new plates. The little dot in the center is smaller as well. What can I say, I notice these things.

Reissued Connecticut plates
in other formats:

2003 all-numeric
(Original 1957 series serial)

2003 AB-1234 series
(Original circa 1978 series serial)

Connecticut 2005 passenger issue. At some point after the conclusion of the plate reissue in 2002, new plates started to appear using the smaller die set typically reserved for the reissued numbers during the replate. Therefore, plates in the S, T, U series and beyond are seen using both die sets.

Connecticut undated passenger issue (circa exp. 2008). In late 2006, Connecticut discontinued the use of plate stickers, swapping instead to windshield stickers to indicate registration expiration date. Therefore, 2008 will be the final year for plate stickers, with existing plates sporting expired 2006 and 2007 stickers on the road. In other developments, Connecticut has also switched manufacturers for their reflective sheeting at some point in the Uxx series, switching to the same Avery sheeting that has been used in the past by several states with generally poor results. Good luck with that, guys.

Connecticut undated passenger issues (circa exp. 2015). Upon the exhaustion of the 123-ABC series in early June, 2013, Connecticut introduced a revised passenger series using a unique 1ABCD2 format. This format was rather poorly received by most, mostly due to the lack of a space or traditional dot separator in the serial, making it somewhat hard to "process" at a distance. Law enforcement concerns drove a change to the format of the spacing a few months after the introduction of these plates.
Both die sets were in use for these plates, as usual, resulting in some of each set (note the space in the 'A' for best example.)

Connecticut undated passenger issue (circa exp. 2015). Sure enough, legibility complaints about the new format resulted in a revision to the format, re-introducing the dot separator in the center of the serial. This was added at the break between 9AGGX9 and 0AG-HA0. Y and Z are skipped on this base for some reason (as are C, I, O and Q) so those would have been two consecutive plates. Both die sets again present.

Connecticut undated passenger issues (circa exp. 2017). As of August, 2015, the state abandoned the previous 1AB-CD2 format altogether and instead adopted a seven-digit series in the AB-12345 format. This was claimed to be the original plan all along, with the previous format used as a stopgap while the computer and production systems were updated for the seven-digit plates, but complaints over the previous format no doubt didn't help.
Both die sets were in use for these plates, as usual, resulting in some of each set (note the space in the 'A' for best example.)

Additional Connecticut information provided by: Andrew Parker

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Last Modified 8/18/2017 (added 4AH-XM9).

	Connecticut 1969 passenger issue. This white-on-blue base was introduced in 1957 and was not replaced until recently, with a general reissue having been completed in August, 2002. The original 1957 base was issued in an all-numeric format, followed by AA 100 through ZZ 999, then followed by this AB-1234 format, all of which were in use by 1969. These plates also used wide dies for the state name and distinctive dies for the serial.
	Connecticut 1969 passenger issue. In 1968, at plate number FP-1000, the base was modified to use narrower dies for the state name and different dies for the serial. This plate was the 29th issue on the new base, which was used from 1968 through 1974.
	Connecticut 1975 passenger issue. Starting in 1974, this blue on white issue was released. These plates were made in Arkansas by the Polyvend company. They did not hold up well during New England winters and were discontinued in 1976, although they could be used for many years after that with stickers. The plates were finally recalled in 1990, although one is occasionally seen on the road today. This was the first appearance of the "Constitution State" slogan on Connecticut plates.
	Connecticut 1978 passenger issue. In 1976, when the Polyvend plates were discontinued the state returned to the more familiar white on blue design. These new plates kept the "Constitution State" slogan, which is still in use today. These plates continued the AB-1234 format, ending with ZZ-9999 around 1980.
	Connecticut 1981 passenger issue. When plate number ZZ-9999 was reached in 1980, the state switched to a 123-ABC format, still in use today. Also during this time period, the state switched from two plates to one, so most of these plates were issued singly.
	Connecticut 1987 passenger issue. This plate contains a couple of different errors, plus a slight variation from the normal baseplate of this era. First off, the plate is missing the dot separator between the letters and numbers, which is an error that has happened occasionally on Connecticut issues in this time frame. Also, the "8" in the serial is upside-down (compare to the other exp. 1987 plate below). The die set used for the state name and slogan is also slightly different on this plate than it is on the 1981 plate above and the other 1987 plate below.
	Connecticut 1987 passenger issue. Another 1987 plate, this time with the dot in place, the "8" right-side up and the same dies used as the exp. 1982 plate above for the state name and slogan. Plates of this sort were issued through the late "E" series in 1988.
	Connecticut 1989 passenger issue. In late 1987, Connecticut returned to a two-plate system, mostly in response to law enforcement requests. Since there was no general reissue, however, there needed to be a distinction made to show which cars were issued two plates and which could legally carry only one. The state therefore changed the base to swap the state name and slogan, putting "Connecticut" at the top of the plate, and adding a small image of the state shape at the top left. All "Map" plates were issued in pairs and required to be displayed that way. This change occurred at the start of the "EVY" series of plates.
	Connecticut undated passenger issue. This was a later-period map issue, first issued in 1999. This plate features a white-on-red sticker marked "REPLACEMENT STICKER" over its original 2001 expiration sticker. These were issued during the changeover from these plates to the new 2002-present plates and were used in cases where the owner's old plates expired before their new plates (bearing the same number) had been produced yet. These stickers were somewhat problematic, as they didn't have any way of showing expiration date.
	Connecticut 2002 passenger issue. This new baseplate was introduced for new registrants in January, 2000 at the start of the "NZN" series of passenger plates. Starting in September, 2000, motorists who renewed their registrations received a set of these new plates bearing their previous plate number. The changeover to this plate design ran through the end of August, 2002. This was an earlier plate on the new base, showing the serial placed a bit higher and spaced wider than it appears on most standard-issue plates. All the earliest plates were produced in this fashion, from NZN through NZS. Plates from NZT on were spaced like the "NZU" plate below. Just getting a feel for the new dies, I guess.
	Connecticut 2002 passenger issue. Continuation of the plate series above, starting with the NZT series of plates, the serial was more tightly spaced and placed slightly lower on the plate. This may have been done to open up more space at the top right of the plate for the validation sticker, although many motorists seem to be placing the sticker at the bottom right instead anyway.
	Connecticut 2004 passenger issue. As noted above, starting in September, 2002, motorists with existing white-on-blue plates were issued new plates bearing their previous plate number. Therefore, these new plates can regularly be seen using older numbering formats including all-numeric, AB-123, AB-1234 and 123-ABC combinations previous to the "NZN" series. Most, if not all, of these re-issued plates were made using slightly different dies from those on the "new" numbered plates. These dies are slightly smaller and stamped less sharply than on the new plates. The little dot in the center is smaller as well. What can I say, I notice these things.

	Connecticut 2005 passenger issue. At some point after the conclusion of the plate reissue in 2002, new plates started to appear using the smaller die set typically reserved for the reissued numbers during the replate. Therefore, plates in the S, T, U series and beyond are seen using both die sets.
	Connecticut undated passenger issue (circa exp. 2008). In late 2006, Connecticut discontinued the use of plate stickers, swapping instead to windshield stickers to indicate registration expiration date. Therefore, 2008 will be the final year for plate stickers, with existing plates sporting expired 2006 and 2007 stickers on the road. In other developments, Connecticut has also switched manufacturers for their reflective sheeting at some point in the Uxx series, switching to the same Avery sheeting that has been used in the past by several states with generally poor results. Good luck with that, guys.
	Connecticut undated passenger issues (circa exp. 2015). Upon the exhaustion of the 123-ABC series in early June, 2013, Connecticut introduced a revised passenger series using a unique 1ABCD2 format. This format was rather poorly received by most, mostly due to the lack of a space or traditional dot separator in the serial, making it somewhat hard to "process" at a distance. Law enforcement concerns drove a change to the format of the spacing a few months after the introduction of these plates. Both die sets were in use for these plates, as usual, resulting in some of each set (note the space in the 'A' for best example.)

	Connecticut undated passenger issue (circa exp. 2015). Sure enough, legibility complaints about the new format resulted in a revision to the format, re-introducing the dot separator in the center of the serial. This was added at the break between 9AGGX9 and 0AG-HA0. Y and Z are skipped on this base for some reason (as are C, I, O and Q) so those would have been two consecutive plates. Both die sets again present.

	Connecticut undated passenger issues (circa exp. 2017). As of August, 2015, the state abandoned the previous 1AB-CD2 format altogether and instead adopted a seven-digit series in the AB-12345 format. This was claimed to be the original plan all along, with the previous format used as a stopgap while the computer and production systems were updated for the seven-digit plates, but complaints over the previous format no doubt didn't help. Both die sets were in use for these plates, as usual, resulting in some of each set (note the space in the 'A' for best example.)