Colorado § 42-3-206.5 - Issuance of plates in a retired style authorized - additional fee - rules.

§ 42-3-206.5. Issuance of plates in a retired style authorized - additional fee - rules.

(1) (a) Beginning January 1, 2023, or when the department is able to issue the license plates, the department shall issue license plates in previously retired styles for motorcycles, passenger cars, trucks, or noncommercial or recreational motor vehicles that do not exceed sixteen thousand pounds empty weight that had:

(I) White letters and numbers on a background of green mountains and a white sky;

(II) White letters and numbers on a background of black with a white border;

(III) White letters and numbers on a background of blue with a white border; or

(IV) White letters and numbers on a background of red with a white border.

(b) Repealed.

(c) On and after October 1, 2026, the amount of the taxes and fees for license plates in the previously retired style is the same as the amount of the taxes and fees specified for regular motor vehicle plates; except that the department shall collect the following additional fees and donations:

(I) A one-time donation of twenty-two dollars and fifty cents for issuance or replacement of the license plate, which must be remitted to the Colorado disability funding authority created in section 8-88-301;

(II) A one-time fee of two dollars and fifty cents for issuance or replacement of the license plate, which must be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the fee to the disability support fund created in section 8-88-104;

(III) An annual renewal donation of twenty-two dollars and fifty cents, which must be remitted to the Colorado disability funding authority created in section 8-88-301; and

(IV) An annual renewal fee of two dollars and fifty cents, which must be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the fee to the disability support fund created in section 8-88-104.

(2) Repealed.

(2.5) The design for the previously retired license plate styles must conform with standards established by the department. After January 1, 2028, the department may stop producing plates in a previously retired style if the department determines that demand for that style, including willingness to pay an additional fee that fully defrays the costs of producing the license plates in the style, is not sufficiently high to justify production of the license plates.

(3) An applicant may apply for personalized license plates in a previously retired style if the department offers such plates for purchase. If the applicant complies with section 42-3-211, the department may issue such plates upon payment of the additional fee required by section 42-3-211 (6) for personalized license plates. If the applicant has existing personalized license plates for a motor vehicle, the applicant may transfer the combination of letters or numbers to a new set of license plates in a previously retired style for the vehicle upon paying the fee imposed by section 42-3-211 (6)(a) and upon turning in such existing plates to the department as required by the department. A person who has obtained personalized license plates in a previously retired style under this subsection (3) shall pay the annual fee imposed by section 42-3-211 (6)(b) to renew such plates. The fees imposed by this subsection (3) are in addition to all other taxes and fees imposed for license plates in a previously retired style.

(4) Repealed.

(5) All applications for license plates in a previously retired style must be made directly to the department.

(6) The executive director of the department may prepare any special forms and promulgate any rules necessary to implement this section.

(7) On or before January 1, 2027, if an applicant for a retired license plate that was issued pursuant to this section demonstrates a physical impairment that affects the applicant's mobility under the standards described in section 42-3-204 (1)(a), the department shall issue the previously retired license plate to the applicant with an identifying figure as defined in section 42-3-204 (1)(e) to indicate that the vehicle is authorized to transport an individual who is eligible to use reserved parking pursuant to section 42-4-1208.

Source: L. 2021: Entire section added, (SB 21-069), ch. 419, p. 2781, § 4, effective September 7. L. 2022: (1), (3), and (5) amended, (2) and (4) repealed, and (2.5) added, (SB 22-217), ch. 378, p. 2685, § 11, effective August 10. L. 2024: (1) amended and (7) added, (HB 24-1360), ch. 324, p. 2168, § 13, effective July 1. L. 2026: IP(1)(a), (1)(b), and (2.5) amended and (1)(c) added, (HB 26-1382), ch. 301, p. 1713, § 15, effective June 2.

Editor's note: (1) For subsection (1)(b) in HB 26-1382 in effect from June 2, 2026, to October 1, 2026, see chapter 301, Session Laws of Colorado 2026. (L. 2026, p. 1713.)

(2) Subsection (1)(b)(II) provided for the repeal of subsection (1)(b), effective October 1, 2026. (See L. 2026, p. 1713.)

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in SB 21-069, see section 1 of chapter 419, Session Laws of Colorado 2021. For the legislative declaration in HB 24-1360, see section 1 of chapter 324, Session Laws of Colorado 2024.