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Illustrated History of Connecticut License Plates
Joe Wasielewski - ALPCA Member 6996
All-Terrain
Ambulance
Amateur Radio
Apportioned
Boat Ramp
Bus
Camp Trailer to 1957
Camp Trailer 1958-
Camper
Classic Vehicle
Combination 1
Combination 2
Commercial to 1957
Commercial 1958-
Common
Construction
Dealer Motorcycle
Dealer New to 1969
Dealer New 1970-1989
Dealer New 1990-
Dealer Spec. Equip.
Dealer Used to 1969
Dealer Used 1970-1989
Dealer Used 1990-
Dismantler
Early American
Error Plates
Exp. Test
Factory
Farm
Fire Apparatus
Fish
Foreign Consul
Gasoline
Handicapped
Hearse
High Mileage Veh.
Interstate
Junk
Livery
Marine Trailer
M.F.G.
Military
Miscellaneous/Local
Motorcycle
Municipal
M.V. Dept
Official
Parade
Permits
Political - State
Political - US
Postmaster
POW
Prototype
PUC
Repair to 1969
Repair 1970-
Sample
School Bus
Service Bus
Snowmobile
Special Equipment
Sphinx
State
Student Transport
Taxi
Temp. Metal Plates
Temp. Non-Passenger
Temp. Pass.
Temp. Reg. Certificate
Toll
Trailer
Trans.
Vanpool
Veteran
Volunteer Firefighter
Wrecker
State

 

Click to see this type in useThese plates are used on state-owned vehicles - Capitol Police cars to tractors.

This type started sometime in the mid 1940s.

The numbered prefix on these plates is a code for the department/agency to which the plate is issued.
Click Here for a partial listing of these codes, and feel free to contribute any additions.

Click the photo to see this type in use.

 

 1950s
 9
I estimate this plate to be from the very early 1950s.
Another format was later introduced on 6x9 plates with stacked prefix numbers. This plate is 6-1/2" x 11".
1960s / Early 1970s
University of Connecticut
   
 1970s 1980s
1960s / Early 1970s
This plate was from the now-closed Norwich State Hospital, which opened in October 1904 as the "Norwich Hospital for the Insane".
Late 1970s - Early 1980s
Department of Transportation
   
 1980s 1990s
Late 1970s - Early 1980s Map base - late 1980s through 1990s
   
 1990s 1990s
Same, probably from a highway maintenance vehicle  4-digit State plate. These had up to 5 digits in the general motorpool (5- prefix), for example 5-12345

'State' plates were one of the last types to be completely replaced in the general reissue. Plates of this style were still use on some state vehicles such as buses, tractors, etc. for about 4-5 years after the general reissue.
   


State Service Bus
Click to see this type in useThese plates are used on state-owned buses which do not charge a fee for transportation.

These plates are typically used on buses belonging to the State Vocational schools, the State University system, and prisoner transport buses.

This type started sometime in the 1970s. 

Beginning in 2016, as with pretty much all of the other formerly all-numeric types these plates now use the AB-12345 numbering format.

Click the photo to see this type in use.



State Serv. Bus  
Circa 1970s, revalidated to 1989  
   
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