Illustrated History of Connecticut License Plates

These plates are issued to motorcycles.

This type started in 1903. From 1903 through 1911, the registrant supplied their own (homemade) plates.

In 1912, state-issued plates were introduced. These looked very similar to passenger car plates, in color and format (including "C" prefix), though the size of the plate was smaller. This concept stayed the same through 1936. Plates of this style with reversed colors are sidecar plates. These were issued from 1916 through 1923.

While passenger car plates moved to a semi-permanent design in 1937, annual motorcycle issues remained through 1942. They were then revalidated with corner date tabs through 1954.

Annual plates were issued through 1961. After this, the plates were revalidated with passenger-type decals expiring in March.

In 1970, the "standard" motorcycle plate size was adopted and has been used since.

At this time an all-numeric series started at 10000, continuing into 6 digits a couple of years later. The 6-digit all-numeric format continued until the mid-2010s, well into the 900-000 series at which time a much more confusing numbering format was introduced.

Municipal motorcycle plates have been reported, though most municipally-owned motorcycles (i.e. police) use regular-issue plates. State police motorcycles also use regular-issue plates.

Veteran and "Early American" motorcycle plates were introduced around 2000. See the Early American page for details of this type.

Finally, handicapped Motorcycle plates are issued as well - with 3 numbers followed by an -M& suffix.

Click the image above to see this type in use.


1916 4 extra holes along the top, but still a decent affordable example of this type	1960


1969	Revalidated to 1978 The new "standard" sized motorcycle plates now featured narrower dies, which allowed for more than 4 digits. A new series started at 10000.


1971	1972 The "CONN" legend was soon centered, which didn't leave much room for the date decal.


1960's low number revalidated to 1974.


1976 Low number	Early 1970s


1976	Another 1976. Why show this rusty plate here? It's one of the highest numbers made on this style of plate.


1977 Polyvend This issue started in 1974 at number 300000. I've seen up to around number 393000.	Another 1977, less yellowed.


1978 temporary	1979 temporary


1980	Revalidated to 1983.


Revalidated to 1985	1982 This is probably the lowest number I've seen in this style.


Another 1982	Used until 1986. There was a short period of time where the dot was not used.


1982. Still with no dot.	1983 temporary


1985	Early motorcycle vanity, on a steel plate, revalidated to 1999


Revalidated to 1991	1987 The "CONN" was shifted to the left a bit between numbers 523-343 and this one.


1988	1989


ca. 1989	1990


ca. 1990 When the "Map" base passenger car plates came out in 1987, the state name was moved to the top of those plates. The same move was made for motorcycle plates, though no map graphic was added. This took place between numbers 574-896 and 575-916.


1997	1997 vanity. A gentleman named Art had this on his 1991 BMW R-100 'Classic'


2000	2002 Vanity. This one was on Art's '93 BMW K75


2002	Plate used until the general reissue in 2000-2002.


2004	Motorcycle plate with "60 Days" decal. These decals were also used on passenger car plates. I am told they had something to do with delinquent taxes, though I am not sure that is really the case. In any event, it is amusing to see these - the plate expires 60 days from when? From today, of course!

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