What a Colorado vanity plate is and how to order one
A vanity license plate in Colorado is a custom plate where you choose the letters and numbers instead of receiving a random combination from the state. You can request up to seven characters — letters, numbers, or a mix — as long as no one else in Colorado already has that exact combination. The Colorado Department of Revenue handles vanity plate requests, and you order through their website or by mail. The plate costs more than a standard plate: you pay the regular registration fee plus an additional vanity plate fee, which varies depending on the type of vehicle and registration length.
The process takes about two to four weeks from the time you submit your request. Colorado sends you a confirmation letter with your new plate number, and you'll receive the physical plates in the mail. You can't use the vanity plate until you have it in hand — you can't drive on a temporary permit with a vanity plate number.
Key Takeaways
- You choose up to seven characters for your plate through the Colorado Department of Revenue website or by mail, and the state checks whether that combination is already taken.
- Vanity plates cost more than standard plates because you pay both the regular registration fee and an additional vanity plate surcharge.
- The state will reject requests that contain offensive language, impersonate government plates, or violate Colorado law, so test your idea against the rules before submitting.
- Processing takes two to four weeks, and you cannot legally drive with your vanity plate until the physical plates arrive in the mail.
- You can renew a vanity plate you already have by paying the renewal fee, or you can request a different vanity combination at renewal time.
How to request a vanity plate online or by mail
The fastest way to request a vanity plate is through the Colorado Department of Revenue's online system. Go to the DMV section of their website, find the vanity plate request form, and enter your desired character combination. The system will tell you when ready whether that combination is available. If it is, you can proceed to payment. If it's taken, you'll need to choose a different combination and check again.
If you prefer to order by mail, read the vanity plate process form from the Colorado DMV website, fill it out with your desired plate number, and mail it along with a check or money order to the address listed on the form. Include your vehicle registration information and proof of current registration. Mail processing takes longer than online requests — expect an additional one to two weeks.
Before you submit, make sure your desired combination doesn't violate Colorado's rules. The state rejects plates that contain profanity, impersonate government or emergency vehicle plates, or violate federal law. Plates that are primarily numbers (fewer than two letters) are also rejected. Test your idea against these rules first so you don't waste time on a request that will be denied.
What vanity plates cost in Colorado
The vanity plate fee itself ranges depending on your vehicle type and how long you're registering for. A standard passenger vehicle vanity plate costs roughly $25 to $50 more than a regular plate for a two-year registration, though this amount varies. Motorcycles, commercial vehicles, and other categories have different fees. You always pay the vanity surcharge on top of your regular registration renewal fee, not instead of it.
When you renew your registration, you can choose to keep your vanity plate and pay the renewal fee again, or you can drop the vanity plate and return to a standard plate at that time. If you want to change your vanity combination at renewal, you pay the vanity fee for the new combination.
Rules about what characters and words Colorado allows
Colorado allows up to seven characters on a vanity plate, using letters A–Z and numbers 0–9. You can use spaces between characters, and spaces count toward your seven-character limit. The state does not allow special characters like hyphens, asterisks, or punctuation marks.
The state will deny your request if the combination contains profanity or slurs, imitates a government plate (such as plates that look like official state or federal vehicles), or violates any federal law. Plates that are mostly numbers with only one letter are typically rejected. If your request is denied, the state will send you a letter explaining why, and you can submit a new request with a different combination.
How long it takes to receive your vanity plate
Online requests typically process within two to four weeks from the date you submit and pay. You'll receive a confirmation letter in the mail with your approved vanity plate number. The physical plates arrive separately, usually within a few days of the confirmation letter.
Mail-in requests take longer because the form has to travel to the DMV office, be processed by hand, and then mailed back to you. Budget an extra one to two weeks for mail processing on top of the standard two to four week timeline. During this entire period, you cannot legally display or drive with your vanity plate — you must wait until the physical plates arrive.
What to do if your vanity plate request is denied
If Colorado denies your request, you'll receive a letter explaining the reason. The most common reasons are that the combination is already taken by another vehicle, the combination contains prohibited language, or the format violates state rules. You can when ready submit a new request with a different character combination at no additional cost beyond the vanity plate fee for the new request.
If you believe your request was denied in error, you can contact the Colorado Department of Revenue's motor vehicle section by phone or mail to ask for clarification. Keep your denial letter so you can reference your original request number when you call.
Renewing or changing your vanity plate
When your vehicle registration is up for renewal, you can keep your current vanity plate by paying the vanity plate renewal fee along with your standard registration renewal. You don't have to reapply or resubmit your plate number — the state keeps your combination reserved as long as you renew it on time.
If you want a different vanity combination at renewal time, you can request a new one instead of renewing your current plate. Submit the new request through the same online or mail process, and once it's approved, your old vanity plate is released back into the available pool. If you straightforward let your registration expire without renewing, your vanity plate combination becomes available for someone else to request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer my vanity plate to a different vehicle?
Yes, you can transfer a vanity plate to a different vehicle you own. Contact the Colorado Department of Revenue with your current plate number and your new vehicle's information. There is usually a transfer fee, and the process takes one to two weeks. You cannot transfer a vanity plate to someone else — it stays with you as the registered owner.
What happens if someone else requests the same vanity combination I want?
Whoever submits their request first gets the plate. If you check availability and the combination is open, submit your request when ready. The state processes requests in the order they're received. If your request is denied because the combination was taken while you were filling out the form, you can choose a different combination and resubmit.
Can I use a vanity plate on a temporary registration or permit?
No. You must have the physical vanity plates in hand before you can legally display them on your vehicle. Temporary permits and temporary plates cannot show a vanity combination — they must display the temporary registration number the state issues. Once your permanent vanity plates arrive, you can install them and remove the temporary plates.
Do I have to renew my vanity plate every time I renew my registration?
You renew your vanity plate at the same time you renew your vehicle registration. If you renew your registration on time, your vanity plate stays active. If you let your registration lapse, your vanity plate is also deactivated, and the combination becomes available for someone else to request.
What if I want to go back to a standard plate after having a vanity plate?
At your next registration renewal, you can choose not to pay the vanity plate fee and request a standard plate instead. The state will issue you a regular plate number. Your old vanity combination is then released and becomes available for other drivers to request.