Connecticut, whose DMV was very innovative during the mid-1930s, pioneered the introduction of “permanent” markers in 1937.  This approach was undertaken to eliminate the effort and cost to produce new markers each year.  An owner would retain the marker that needed only to be re-validated for use each succeeding year.  The department developed a new design that was intended to last for at least 10 years.  These markers were made of heavy gauge bare aluminum sheeting with a glossy brushed finish.  They used embossed numbers/letters and a deeply de-bossed border for increased strength and rigidity.  The letters and numbers were painted a very durable shiny black. 

 The letter/numbering and size system introduced in 1932 continued to be employed, but the rest of the marker design changed considerably.  The state abbreviation “CONN” (without the dot after the second “N”) was now placed vertically on the right side of the marker.  To denote the year of registration the DMV placed an embossed black-painted box 2 inches wide by 1 1/2 inches high under the numbers.  The box, more or less centered on the bottom of the marker, had a surface with two slots cut through it on the left side and one on the right.  The purpose of the slots was to hold a metal insert known as a “tab” that had the last two digits of the year of registration cut out of the tab akin to a stencil.  The tab design featured three “grippers” that were intended for insertion through the slots on the tab box and then folded over to secure it to the marker.  The tabs were made of rather insubstantial material such that the grippers could only be bent over once.  This would prevent them from being transferred from one marker to another.

 The color of the insert was changed each year. Replacing the inserts each year instead of making new marker plates resulted in a substantial cost savings to the state.