For many years, Utah changed the color scheme of its license plate annually. Beginning in 1968, the state began using "standard issue" plates whose color schemes did not vary from year to year. Major events, such as the Great Depression and World War II, affected the frequency of plate color change and the materials from which the plates were made.

In 1943, the plates were issued on paper, the 1944 plates were on a soybean-based material and in 1945, 1946 and 1952, only one plate was issued.

The issuance of the "Ski Utah" plate in 1985 marked the state's first use of the license plate as a promotional tool. Since that time, the Centennial plate and the Olympic Plate have been issued to raise funds for specific causes. Following are the color schemes used throughout the years.