Canadian licence plate designs and serial formats

In Canada, licence plate numbers are usually assigned in ascending order, beginning with a starting point such as AAA-001.

As such, someone familiar with the sequence can determine roughly when the licence plate was issued. After Ontario's transition to an ABCD-123 format in 1997, plates were issued in ascending order starting with AAAA-001. It took close to 10 years to exhaust the supply of plate numbers with A as the first digit. In late 2006, plates with B as the first digit were assigned, and have continued from there sequentially. Plates with C as the first digit started appearing in 2016. The first plates beginning with D were issued in 2023.

The gradual increase in the use of letters in the serials of licence plates has given rise to an increased possibility of unintentional profane or inappropriate words or messages arising from the use of sequential alphanumeric combinations. Thus, numbering sequences generally exclude certain combinations of letters or numbers that would be potentially offensive. Jurisdictions' attention to excluding offensive combinations varies widely, however. In 1986, Waldale, a Canadian licence plate manufacturer, due to a production error, produced an entire batch of New Brunswick plates that began with the letters ASS. The plates were issued, and were unofficially scrapped, but many found their way into the collectors' black market.[citation needed]

From 1971 to 1975, Manitoba's licence plate bore the slogan "Sunny Manitoba: 100,000 lakes,"[1] but was changed to "Friendly Manitoba," possibly due to conflict with Minnesota's "10,000 lakes" slogan.[citation needed]

Current designs and serial formats

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The most recent design or serial format being issued.

Passenger plates

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Province/Territory First issued Description Slogan Serial format Image
Alberta 2021 Red on reflective white "Wild Rose Country" ABC-1234  
British Columbia 2014 Blue on reflective white with screened stylized provincial flag in centre "Beautiful British Columbia" AB1 23C  
Manitoba 2012 Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with river scene featuring green trees on either side and yellow wheat at the bottom; black bison graphic screened at top right; "Manitoba" screened in blue at top, offset to right, with red maple leaf over the 'i' "Friendly Manitoba" ABC 123  
New Brunswick 2011 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial ABC 123  
Newfoundland and Labrador 2007–21

2023–present

Embossed blue serial on white plate; screened provincial wordmark centred at bottom, consisting of a pitcher plant with "Newfoundland" and "Labrador" in blue below ABC 123  
Northwest Territories 2010 screened nature scene, shaped like a polar bear "Spectacular Northwest Territories" 123456  
Nova Scotia 2011 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; light blue graphic of the Bluenose screened in the centre; "NOVA SCOTIA" screened in blue centred at top "Canada's Ocean Playground" ABC 123  
Nunavut 2012 Screened black serial on rectangular plate with night scene featuring polar bear, inuksuk, three sets of northern lights and 25 stars; "Nunavut" screened in black letters and in Inuktitut syllabics (ᓄᓇᕗᑦ) centred at bottom 123 456  
Ontario 1997–2020
2020–present
Blue on reflective white with screened crown separator; "ONTARIO" screened in blue centred at top "Yours to Discover" ABCD-123  
"Tant à Découvrir"  
Green on reflective white with screened graphic of white trillium; for hydrogen and plug-in electric vehicles[2] "Green Vehicle" GVAB 123  
"Véhicule écologique" VEAB 123  
Prince Edward Island 2022 Green letters on white baseplate; 'PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND' screened at top & 'CANADA' along bottom. PEI crest in center and small Canadian flag in bottom left. none 123 ABC  
Quebec 2023 Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "Québec" centred at top "Je me souviens" (I Remember) ABC 12D  
2011 green on reflective white with electric vehicle pictogram on the lower left side (for electric vehicles)[3] Began as B12 VEA, followed by C12 VAB  
Saskatchewan 2009 Green on reflective white with screened wheat graphic in centre; serif "Saskatchewan" screened in green centred at top "Land of Living Skies" 123 ABC  
Yukon 1990 Black on reflective white with border line; screened prospector at left; screened red "Yukon" centred on sky blue band at bottom "The Klondike" ABC12  
Department of National Defence - All provinces and territories dark green on reflective white with "Canada" on top flanked by two red maple leaves 12345  

Note: For Ontario and Quebec electric vehicle plates, letters in bold denotes that they are specifically set to identify them, apart from the regular issuance.

Commercial plates

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Most provinces issue separate commercial plates for trucks, usually for commercial purposes or over a certain vehicle weight.

Province/Territory First issued Description Slogan Serial format Image
Alberta none
British Columbia 2008 Blue on reflective white with screened stylized provincial flag used as separator "Beautiful British Columbia" AB 1234  
Manitoba 2012 Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with river scene featuring green trees on either side and yellow wheat at the bottom; black bison graphic screened at top right; "Manitoba" screened in blue at top, offset to right, with red maple leaf over the 'i' "Friendly Manitoba" CAB 123  
New Brunswick 2011 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial CAB 123  
Newfoundland and Labrador 2007 Embossed blue serial on white plate; screened provincial wordmark centred at bottom, consisting of a pitcher plant with "Newfoundland" and "Labrador" in blue below CA1 234  
Northwest Territories 2010 screened nature scene, shaped like a polar bear "Spectacular Northwest Territories" C12345  
Nova Scotia 2012 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "COMMERCIAL" centred at top and bottom respectively 12-345-A  
Nunavut 2012 Screened black serial on rectangular plate with night scene featuring polar bear, inuksuk, three sets of northern lights and 25 stars; "Nunavut" screened in black letters and in Inuktitut syllabics (ᓄᓇᕗᑦ) centred at bottom C12 345  
Ontario 2011 Black on reflective white with screened crown separator "YOURS TO DISCOVER" AB 12345  
"TANT À DÉCOUVRIR"  
Prince Edward Island 2013 Embossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the left "Birthplace of Confederation" C1 234  
Quebec 2001 Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "Québec" centred at top "Je me souviens" FAB1234  
Saskatchewan none
Yukon 1990 Light Commercial - Black on reflective white with border line; screened prospector at left; screened red "Yukon" centred on sky blue band at bottom C123A  
2009 Heavy Commercial - Black on reflective white with border line; screened prospector at left; screened red "Yukon" centred on sky blue band at bottom CA123  

Former designs and serial formats still valid

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Designs or serial formats that are no longer issued, yet are still valid for use.

Province/Territory Dates Issued Description Slogan Serial format Image
Alberta 1983-92 red on reflective white "Wild Rose Country" ABC-123  
1993-2010 red on non-reflective white  
2010-19 red on non-reflective white ABC-1234  
2019-21 as above, but with newer Alberta government logo  
British Columbia 1985-2001 Blue on reflective white with screened stylized provincial flag in centre "Beautiful British Columbia" ABC 123  
2001-14 Blue on reflective white with screened stylized provincial flag in centre 123 ABC  
Manitoba 1997-2012 Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with river scene featuring green trees on either side and yellow wheat at the bottom; blue bison graphic screened at top right; "Manitoba" screened in blue at top, offset to right, with red maple leaf over the 'i' "Friendly Manitoba" ABC 123  
New Brunswick 2003-09 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; screened provincial wordmark ("New" to the left of the galley, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below) ABC-123  
2009-11 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial "Be...in this place - Être...ici on le peut'" ABC 123  
Newfoundland and Labrador 1982-93 red and blue embossed on white ABC-123  
1993-96 red on reflective white with screened Viking ship graphic "A World of Difference" ABC 123  
1996-97 red on reflective blue/white with screened Cabot graphic "Celebrate 500 Years" ABC 123  
1997-2001 As 1993–96 base "A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE" as from 1993–96 ABC 123  
2001-02 Embossed red serial on white plate; screened provincial flag centred slightly below serial; "NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR CANADA" screened in red below flag ABC 123  
2002-03 As above, but with "NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR" centred at top, and "CANADA" increased in size ABC 123  
2003-07 red on reflective white with screened provincial flag graphic ABC 123  
2022-23 Embossed blue serial on white and teal gradient plate; screened blue graphic of a whale; screened red provincial word mark on top; screened red “COME HOME 2022” on bottom "COME HOME 2022" ABC 123  
Northwest Territories none
Nova Scotia blue on white "Canada's Ocean Playground" ABC 123  
Nunavut none
Ontario 1973–78 Embossed blue serial with crown separator on white plate with border line; "ONTARIO" centred at top; "73" at bottom left and full sticker box at bottom right "KEEP IT BEAUTIFUL" ABC 123  
1978-82 As above, but without "73", and with partial sticker box at bottom right "KEEP IT BEAUTIFUL" ABC 123  
1982-86 As above, but with no sticker box "YOURS TO DISCOVER" ABC 123  
1986-94 "YOURS TO DISCOVER" 123 ABC  
1994–97 Blue on reflective white with screened crown separator; "ONTARIO" screened in blue centred at top "YOURS TO DISCOVER" 123 ABC  
2020 white on reflective, two-hue blue with white stylized trillium separator and white crown placed bottom right[4][5] "A Place to Grow" ABCD 123  
Prince Edward Island 1981-92 Embossed green serial with provincial shield separator on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at top and "CANADA" centred at bottom ABC 123  
1993–97 Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; green and red Anne of Green Gables graphic slightly to left of centre; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" screened in red at top "Home of Anne of Green Gables" AB 123  
1997-2007 Embossed green serial on reflective gradient green, white and blue plate; screened Confederation Bridge graphic at top centre and national flag at bottom left; "Prince Edward Island" screened in green below graphic with green trees, wavy blue underline, and "CANADA" below underline "Confederation Bridge" AB 123  
As above, but with screened Province House graphic at top centre "Birthplace of Confederation" AB 123  
2007-09 Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with screened photo of windmills "Canada's Green Province" at bottom AB 123  
2009-12 123 AB  
2013-22 Embossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the left "Birthplace of Confederation" 12 3AB  
"Berceau de la Confédération"  
Québec 1979–83 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "79" at top left; fleur-de-lys and "Québec" at top right "Je me souviens" 123A456
(1979 series only)
 
1983-96 As above, but with wider serial dies, a darker shade of blue, and fleur-de-lys and "Québec" centred at top ABC 123  
1996-2009 123 ABC  
2009-22 A12 BCD  
2022-23 01B ACD  
Saskatchewan 1977-98 Green on reflective white with screened wheat graphic in centre; sans-serif "Saskatchewan" screened in green centred at top "Land Of the Living Skies" ABC 123  
1998-2009 Green on reflective white with screened wheat graphic in centre; serif "Saskatchewan" screened in green centred at top 123 ABC  
Yukon none

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Manitoba License Plays, 1969-Present
  2. ^ "Ontario gets new green licence plates". CBC. 2009-11-02. Retrieved 2009-11-07.
  3. ^ "Electric Vehicles". SAAQ. Archived from the original on 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  4. ^ "Ontario's new licence plates hit the road: Here's what you need to know". toronto.ctvnews.ca. February 3, 2020.
  5. ^ "Accueil véhicules". Ministère des Transports (in French). Le gouvernement de l'Ontario. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
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