DMV Changes License Plates

WETHERSFIELD — Beginning January 1, the Department of Motor Vehicles will issue newly designed and highly reflective license plates, mandatory for most vehicles in the state, as part of a public safety initiative.

The new plates will be issued with new registrations beginning January 1 and with renewals beginning in September. Legislation enacted earlier this year mandated the program to replace 2.5 million existing plates during the next two years. Except for specialty and special interest plates, all other types of marker plates will be replaced.

The plates will not cost more than the usual registration fees. Passenger car registrations will include two plates, with one required on the front and one on the back of the vehicle. Motorists receiving new plates when renewing their registrations will retain the same marker plate numbers and letters.

The only exceptions will be plates issued to dealers, repairers and recyclers (junkyards) and for early American or antique cars. An example of some of the plates can be seen at the DMV Internet home page at http://www.dmvct.org.