Illustrated History of Connecticut License Plates

These plates were sold to motorists as a method of toll payment - an early predecessor to "E-Z Pass". They were displayed on the front of the vehicle, along with the regular license plate.

There were three types - one for the Connecticut Turnpike, one for the Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways, and one for the Charter Oak Bridge in Hartford.

The Turnpike toll plates are much less common than the Parkway plates, and the Bridge toll plates are very rare.

The Parkway Toll plates had three letters as designators - G for Greenwich on the Merritt Parkway, and M for Milford and W for Wallingford on the Wilbur Cross. These letters appeared in any combination on the plates, depending on the toll areas covered. Colors changed each year, and for each of the letter combinations as well. These started in the late 1930s/Early 1940s, with no captions- just the serial number. The legends came about in the mid 1940s. First, as 'PY . TOLL', then simply 'TOLL' and finally 'PKY. TOLL'.

The 1981 plates had reflectorized numbers; I'm not sure any other years did.

Charter Oak Bridge toll plates were the same size as those pictured below, with "89 BRIDGE TOLL" embossed under the upper bolt holes (year varies), and a seral number centered below.

Parkway Toll plates were last used in 1988; bridge toll plates in 1989.

Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways (CT Route 15)


Early-issue Wilbur Cross Parkway toll plate. Tolls were installed in 1939. This plate is from sometime between then and the late 1940s. This plate measures 8-3/8" x 3-3/8". I have seen black on white, black on grey and black on orange plates in this style, I believe those predate this one.	1953 Merritt Parkway - Greenwich This one is steel, later ones were aluminum.


1958 Wilbur Cross Parkway - Milford. Nice 50's color scheme. The caption was changed from "TOLL" to "PKY. TOLL" in 1957. The design of the plate was also changed slightly: the border was now raised, went all the way around the plate, and was painted.	1962 Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways - Greenwich/Milford


1964 Merritt Parkway - Greenwich	1968 Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways - Good for all 3 tolls


1969 Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways - Greenwich/Milford	1973 Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways - Greenwich/Milford


1974 Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways - Good for all 3 tolls. I suppose when you have to come up with 6 distinct color schemes each year, you're bound to end up with some odd color combinations.	1975 Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways - Greenwich/Milford


1976 Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways - Greenwich/Milford The "M" is actually an upside-down "W"	1977 Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways - Greenwich/Milford


1978 Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways - Greenwich/Milford The blank this plate was stamped on was originally yellow and black.	1978 Wilbur Cross Parkway - Milford


1979 Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways - Greenwich/Milford	1980 Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways - Greenwich/Milford


1980 Wilbur Cross Parkway - Wallingford	1981 Wilbur Cross Parkway - Wallingford


1981 Wilbur Cross Parkway - Milford/Wallingford You don't see low numbers too often for some reason.	1988 Wilbur Cross Parkway - Wallingford


1988 Merritt Parkway - Milford	1988 Merritt/Wilbur Cross Parkways - Good for all 3 toll plazas

Connecticut Turnpike (Interstate 95)


Connecticut Turnpike Toll Plate. This came attached to a license plate which expired in 1979. I am not sure what the 'N' decal is for, possibly "Norwalk"?

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