Colorado § 42-3-212 - Issuance of optional plates authorized - retirement.
Full text of Colorado Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-3-212 — Issuance of optional plates authorized - retirement., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 42-3-212. Issuance of optional plates authorized - retirement.
(1) The department may issue optional license plates for passenger cars or trucks not over sixteen thousand pounds empty weight.
(2) Optional license plates shall have a background consisting of a graphic design representing the state flag of Colorado and shall consist of numbers or letters approved in accordance with rules of the department.
(3) An applicant may apply for personalized optional license plates. 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 optional license plates 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 optional license plates 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) shall be in addition to all other taxes and fees imposed for optional license plates.
(4) The amount of the taxes and fees for optional license plates shall be the same as the amount of the taxes and fees specified for regular motor vehicle plates plus an additional annual fee of twenty-five dollars. The additional fee shall be transmitted to the state treasurer, who shall credit the same to the highway users tax fund for allocation and expenditure as specified in section 43-4-205 (5.5)(b), C.R.S.
(5) All applications for optional license plates shall be made directly to the department.
(6) The executive director of the department may prepare any special forms and issue any rules necessary to implement this section.
(7) The optional license plates authorized by this section shall be retired unless such plates have been issued for at least three thousand vehicles by July 1, 2007.
Source: L. 2005: (4)(a) amended, p. 143, § 11, effective April 5; entire article amended with relocations, p. 1117, § 2, effective August 8.
Editor's note: (1) This section is similar to former § 42-3-115 as it existed prior to 2005.
(2) Subsection (4) was originally numbered as § 42-3-115 (4)(a), and the amendments to it in Senate Bill 05-041 were harmonized with § 42-3-212 (4) as it appears in House Bill 05-1107.
Source: official Colorado text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Colorado § 42-3-212
What does Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-3-212 cover?
Section 42-3-212 ("Issuance of optional plates authorized - retirement.") is part of the Colorado Revised Statutes, the codified statutory law of Colorado. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Colorado § 42-3-212?
A common citation format is "Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-3-212" (Colorado). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Colorado law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Colorado official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Colorado attorney.
How does Colorado § 42-3-212 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Colorado can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Colorado.