To switch ALPR vendors, review your current contract for term, termination, data ownership and hardware, write requirements, run a competitive process, pilot finalists in parallel on the same corridors, update your policy and public notice, and cut over in phases while preserving data for open cases. A planning template is about 90 days, though contract terms and council calendars drive the real timeline.
Why agencies switch
Agencies replace ALPR vendors for a mix of reasons: cost and renewal increases, concerns about data governance and sharing, a wish for capabilities such as video or off-grid power, and local politics. Press coverage reports that Denver canceled one vendor and awarded an ALPR contract to another in March 2026, and that other councils have launched competitive processes for alternatives. The Institute for Justice’s database, as reported by Multistate, listed 137 local governments that had canceled ALPR contracts as of August 28, 2026, though that excludes places that only paused use or changed vendors. Switching is common enough to plan for deliberately.
Your contract exit checklist
| Contract term | What to find out |
|---|---|
| Term and renewal | End date, auto-renewal, notice period and the price at renewal. |
| Termination | Whether you can end early, for convenience or for cause, and any fees. |
| Data | Who owns it, how you export it, how long the vendor keeps it after you leave, and how deletion is certified. |
| Hardware | Who owns the cameras and poles, who removes them and when, and who pays. |
| Integrations | Which systems (dispatch, evidence, hotlists) connect to the current vendor and will need to be reconnected. |
| Records and holds | Which data must be preserved for open cases, public-records requests or legal holds. |
A 90-day plan to switch ALPR vendors
- Days 1–15: Review and requirements. Read the contract, list what must be preserved, and write requirements: power, video, retention, sharing controls, audit logs, support and total cost.
- Days 15–30: Shortlist and RFP. Issue a short request for proposals or quotes. Ask every vendor the same questions and for a written five-year worksheet. See how to choose a license plate reader.
- Days 30–60: Parallel pilot. Test finalists on the same corridors as your current cameras and compare reads, uptime and time to alert. See how to test accuracy.
- Days 45–75: Policy and public process. Update the written policy, brief officials, and give notice or hold a hearing where your rules require it.
- Days 60–90: Cut over in phases. Replace the highest-value sites first, keep the old system until the new one is proven, then remove old equipment and obtain written confirmation of data export and deletion.
Real timelines depend on contract terms, council calendars and installation schedules. Treat these windows as a planning template.
Risks to manage
- Losing data you need. Export and preserve records for open cases before cutting over.
- Coverage gaps. Phase the change so no corridor goes dark.
- Surprise fees. Confirm early termination and removal costs before announcing a switch.
- Repeating the problem. A new vendor with the same sharing defaults and weak audit logs will bring the same questions. Use the same scorecard for the new vendor that you used on the old one.
Frequently asked questions
How do I switch ALPR vendors?
Review your contract, define requirements, run a competitive process, pilot finalists in parallel, update your policy, and cut over in phases while keeping coverage and preserving data for open cases.
Can I get out of my ALPR contract early?
It depends on the contract. Look for termination for convenience, early termination fees and non-appropriation clauses, and ask counsel. Many contracts run several years, so check before you commit to a date.
What happens to my data when I switch?
That depends on the contract. Ask in writing how you export it, how long the vendor keeps it and how deletion is certified, and preserve data for open cases.
Can I run two ALPR systems at once?
Yes. A parallel pilot on the same corridors is the most reliable way to compare vendors. Keep your policy and audit process consistent across both.
How long does switching take?
A 90-day plan is a reasonable template, but real timelines depend on contract end dates, procurement rules, council meetings and installation schedules.