Colorado Vanity Plate Rules & Restrictions

Everything you need to know about what's allowed (and what's not) on Coloradopersonalized license plates.

Colorado Plate Requirements at a Glance

Maximum Characters

7

Minimum Characters

2

Allowed Characters

Letters, numbers, and spaces

Colorado Specific Rules

  • Maximum 7 characters including spaces
  • Letters, numbers, and spaces allowed
  • $60 one-time personalization fee
  • $25 annual renewal fee
  • Order through myDMV Colorado portal
  • System automatically filters banned combinations
  • Subject to DMV review and approval
  • Can be combined with specialty plate backgrounds

What Will Get Your Application Rejected

Colorado DMV reviews all vanity plate applications. Here's what will definitely get rejected:

Colorado Prohibited Content

  • Profane or vulgar language
  • Obscene or sexual content
  • Racial or discriminatory terms
  • Drug references (including marijuana)
  • Gang-related terminology
  • Government impersonation
  • Offensive combinations in any language

Tips to Get Your Plate Approved

  • Keep it simple and clear

    Plates that are easy to read are more likely to be approved.

  • Avoid creative spellings of banned words

    Reviewers know all the tricks. "A55" isn't fooling anyone.

  • Have backup options ready

    Your first choice might be taken. Prepare 2-3 alternatives.

  • Check availability first

    Use our checker to verify your plate is available before applying.

What If My Application Is Rejected?

If Colorado DMV rejects your application, you typically can:

  • 1.Submit a different plate combination at no additional fee
  • 2.Request a refund of your application fee
  • 3.In some cases, appeal the decision with an explanation

Contact Colorado DMV directly for their specific appeal process.

Ready to Check Your Plate?

Make sure your dream plate is available in Colorado before applying.

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More Colorado Plate Resources