DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
Division of Motor Vehicles – Title and Registration Section
1 CCR 204-10
RULE 38. YEAR OF MANUFACTURE LICENSE PLATES
Basis:   This regulation is promulgated under the authority of 42-1-204 and 42-12-302, C.R.S.
Purpose:   The following rules and regulations are promulgated to establish criteria for the application and registration of Year of Manufacture license plates.
1.0  Definitions
1.1   “Collector’s Item” – means, pursuant to 52-12-101(2), C.R.S., a motor vehicle, including a truck or truck tractor, that is of:
a.     Model year 1975 or earlier; or
b.     Model year 1976 or later that was registered as a collector’s item prior to September 1, 2009; except that a vehicle so registered is not eligible for registration as a collector’s item upon sale or transfer to a new owner.
1.2   “Department” – for purposes of this regulation means the Department of Revenue, Title and Registration Sections.
1.3   “Homemade”  or “Shop Made”  – means a license plate that was not produced via standard license plate manufacturing processes using a metal dye stamping press machine.  Homemade and Shop Made shall include but is not limited to novelty license plate vendors or other states manufacturing processes.
1.4   “Secondary Registration”  – means the motor vehicle that the Year of Manufacture license plates are authorized for shall have a primary registration as established in 42-3-102 through 42-3-1276, C.R.S and 42-3-201 through 42-3-313, C.R.S.
1.5   “Year of Manufacture License Plates” – means an original license plate that was manufactured using Department approved processes and issued through Department motor vehicle systems that is embossed with the year of original issue, that does not exceed seven legible characters, and that the embossed year is the same as the year of manufacture of the vehicle upon which it is registered.  
2.0   Requirements
2.1   Registration of motor vehicles, meeting the below criteria pursuant to 42-12-302(1), C.R.S., with Year of Manufacture license plates shall be a secondary registration.
a.     Motor vehicle is valued principally because of the vehicles’ early date of manufacture, design, or historical interest; or
b.     Motor vehicle is valued as a collector’s item.
2.2   An application for use of Year of Manufacture license plates shall be submitted on forms required by the Department and shall only be authorized for license plates that meet the criteria below.  A color photo copy of the license plate shall be attached to the application.  
a.     Were manufactured at least thirty years prior to the date of application; and
b.     Are embossed with the year or original manufacture; and
c.     The embossed year on the license plate is the same year as the year of manufacture of the vehicle that it will be registered to; and
c.     Are legible; and
d.     Does not exceed seven character
2.3   Year of Manufacture license plates may not be homemade or shop made. The Department shall not manufacture Year of Manufacture license plates. The registrant is responsible for providing the Year of Manufacture license plate.
2.4   Year of Manufacture license plates shall not be authorized for use or secondarily registered if such plate conflicts with any current and/or past plate numbering combinations.
2.5   Year of Manufacture license plates shall only be authorized for use to the registrant(s) that are listed as owner(s) on the primary registration for the motor vehicle that they are being secondarily registered to.
2.6   Year of Manufacture license plates shall be displayed on the motor vehicle as established in 42-3-202, C.R.S., with the primary registration license plate and registration receipt being maintained within the motor vehicle at all times the Year of Manufacture license plate is being displayed. Year of Manufacture license plates shall not be issued or be required to display validation year or month tabs.  Use of Year of Manufacture license plates shall be as followed, pursuant to 42-12-302, C.R.S.
a.     To and from assemblies, conventions, or other meetings where such vehicles and their ownership are the primary interest; and
b.     On special occasions, for demonstrations and parades; and
c.     On occasions when the operation of the vehicle on the streets and highways will not constitute a traffic hazard; and
d.     To, from, and during local, state, or national tours held primarily for the exhibition and enjoyment of such vehicles.
2.7   Lost or stolen Year of Manufacture license plates shall be reported by the owner within seventy-two (72) hours to the local law enforcement agency and the Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles, Title and Registration Sections using form number DR 2283 Affidavit for Lost or Stolen License Plates/Permits.
3.0   Rejected Applications or Cancelled Registrations
3.1   Pursuant to 42-3-119, C.R.S., The Department may reject an application for the license plate, vehicle, or owner being unable to meet the criteria for issuance and use of Year of Manufacture license plate.  Pursuant to 42-3-120 through 42-3-122, C.R.S., The Department may cancel a Year of Manufacture license plates registration for reported mis-use of the license plates, owner providing false information on the application, when the primary registration is no longer valid, upon discovery of use of a homemade or shop made plate. Registrants subject to rejected applications or canceled registrations may request a hearing, in writing, within thirty days after the notice is issued.  Written hearing request shall be submitted to the Department of Revenue, Enforcement Unit, Hearings Section, 1881 Pierce Street, Room #106, Lakewood, CO 80214.  If a hearing is not requested, within thirty days, the owner shall surrender the Year of Manufacture license plates to the Department of Revenue, Title and Registration Sections within ten days.
3.2   The hearing shall be held at the Department of Revenue, Enforcement Unit, Hearings Section, 1881 Pierce Street, Room #106, Lakewood, CO 80214. The presiding hearing officer shall be an authorized representative designated by the Executive Director. The Department’s representative need not be present at the hearing unless his or her presence is required by the presiding officer, or requested by the registrant at the time the written request for hearing is submitted. If the Department’s representative is not present at the hearing, the written documents and affidavit submitted by the Department may be considered at the discretion of the hearing officer.