Colorado drivers will no longer be able to transfer license plates from one vehicle to another.
The program took effect Jan. 1 and seeks to replace worn-out plates with new reflective and legible plates as part of the License Place Expiration on Change of Ownership Act, which was passed in July by the Colorado Legislature.
State officials say newer plates are easier to be seen by first responders in the event of emergency or even when cars are parked on the side of the road, where as weathered plates are less reflective.
“Having reflective license plates is critically important in stalled-vehicle scenarios for first responders and law enforcement officers as well as all motorists using Colorado’s highways and byways,” said Division of Motor Vehicle spokesperson Derek Kuhn in an email to The Durango Herald.
The program aims to keep license plates updated and looking fresh by requiring owners of Class C vehicles to retire their old plates on change of ownership.
The newer plates do not look any different; they are the exact same green and white design Coloradans have come to know.
Kuhn said the DMV has been issuing highly reflective plates for some time now, and that a large reason for the program is to stop the transfer of old plates from one vehicle to another.
“Previously, Coloradans could transfer their license plates from one vehicle to another, which had led to some vehicles having old license plates that had lost their reflectivity and had become difficult to read,” Kuhn said. “This new program aims to replace these old, weather-worn plates with new serviceable plates.”
Kuhn said license plates can fade substantially after five to 10 years of being exposed to weather, and that plates are often the only highly reflective element on a vehicle.
Although Coloradans can no longer transfer plates from one vehicle to the next, they can keep their license plate number if they apply for a personalized license plate.
The program will cost most Coloradans an additional $4.73 when registering a vehicle, but other variations of the standard license plate may cost more. Kuhn said the most expensive option is the historical plates, which would add an extra $118.06 to the cost of registering a vehicle.
Kuhn said the legislative intent is to ensure vehicles registered in Colorado have serviceable license plates, making roads safer for all Colorado drivers.
njohnson@durangoherald.com
