How to Get a Personalized License Plate in Colorado

Tired of road raging? Take the high road and switch to road phrasing! Get a personalized license plate in Colorado, express your individual personality and make your presence known wherever the road of life may take you. It's as simple as A-B-C, and 1, 2, 3.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Internet access
• SSL-supported browser

Instructions

1. Logon to Colorado's Department of Revenue Web site and download an official application for a personalized license plate.

2. Print the application.

3. Read the one and half pages of special instructions on the form before proceeding to the application portion of the form. Keep all rules, regulations and policies in mind while filling out the application.

4. Typewrite or print your name, mailing and legal addresses and daytime phone number.

5. Enter three different choices for your personalized plates using capital alphanumeric character combinations. The number of alphanumeric characters on your plate may be between two and seven; if all characters are numerical, you are required to have a minimum of five characters. You are allowed to use spaces, dashes and periods in your messages, but count them as separate characters.

6. Provide the meanings of your personalized license plate messages so that the department may make decisions on their appropriateness. Applications will be automatically rejected without them.

7. Mark Box B "Personalized" and indicate the type of vehicle for which you will be ordering a personalized license plate.

8. Sign and date your application.

9. Mail your completed application to Department of Revenue, Motor Vehicle Registrations, Denver, Colorado, 80261-0016.

10. Review the Billing Notice stating that your request has been approved. Return the fees specified on the notice.

11. Receive a mailed notice from the County Motor Vehicle Office that your plates are ready for pick-up between two and three months later and pick up your personalized license plates.

12. Affix month and year tabs on your permanent personalized plates upon receipt and use.

Tips & Warnings

• Permanent personalized license plates usually arrive within two to three months. If you move, be sure to contact your local county office and the Colorado Motor Vehicle Registration Section to report your new address. If you do not advise the two offices of your move, receipt of your personalized license plates may be complicated or delayed.

• Be advised that if your plate is approved, it may undergo some changes during manufacturing. Certain characters' widths may cause the spacing specified to be reduced or eliminated.

• The address on your vechile's registration must be correct. Contact the DMV and make all changes to your address before placing your order. If your personalized license plates are sent to an incorrect address, you may be charged a reissuing fee.

• The department will not honor requests for personalized license plates that contain prohibited characters, offensive or misleading messages or alphanumeric combinations that are already in use. Keep this in mind while choosing your plate message.

• Personalized license plates cost more than a standard license plate. Be aware that additional fees will likely apply on top of the standard license plate fees that you are accustomed to paying.

• Blank or incomplete areas on the application will cause the application process for your personalized license plate to be delayed. Be sure to fill in all requested information completely and truthfully.

• If your vehicle is sold, traded or its ownership transferred after the issuance of the personalized license plates, you must contact Colorado's Department of Revenue to report the transaction. You must also follow the appropriate guidelines to release the plate to the new owner, transfer the plate to your new vehicle or return the plate to the department. Be advised that additional paperwork may be required.

• Once your payment has been received, all requests for order changes, cancellations and refunds will be denied.

• Your plates must be claimed from the County Motor Vehicle Office within 12 months from the date that the office received your plates. Otherwise, your plates will be destroyed and your personalized license plate message will become available to others who seek it.