CHANGES TO NUMBER PLATE SYSTEM

Every year, about 300,000 cars are registered in Connecticut, so it might come as no surprise that state is running out of number and letter combinations for the marker plate alphanumeric scheme now in effect.

The passenger car plate number and letter sequence now in use, with three numbers followed by three letters, will run out of possible combinations in about 18 months state Deptartment of Motor Vehicles officials said.

So, sometime in early 2013, the state’s passenger car number plates — that’s their legal name — will have two numbers, two letters and two numbers, with a dot between the two letters, or 33w.j77, for example, officials said.

The new numbering sequence will last about four years before it will have to be redesigned yet again, according to Ernie Bertothy, a spokesman for the DMV.

“We’ll be putting in a first order of 1.2 million sets of plates soon with the new numbering sequence,” Bertothy said. “Other orders will follow.”