Vehicle registration plates of the Northwest Territories

The Canadian territory of Northwest Territories first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1941. As of 2022, plates are issued by the Northwest Territories Registrar of Motor Vehicles.[1] Only rear plates have been required since June 1, 1993 and have been required thereafter.[2]

The Northwest Territories
Current series
SloganSpectacular Northwest Territories
MaterialAluminum
Serial format123456
IntroducedJuly 1, 2010 (2010-07-01)
Availability
Issued byRegistrar of Motor Vehicles, Government of the Northwest Territories
History
First issued1941 (1941)

In 1970, to celebrate the centennial of the territory, a unique polar bear-shaped plate was introduced. The basic bear shape has been retained ever since, and the plate is now a registered trademark of the Government of the Northwest Territories.[3]

The current design, which consists of graphic and material updates, was rolled out on July 1, 2010. The blue-and-white plates prior to the update were made of steel and lack graphic sheeting technology that would make them visible in the dark. Current plates are made with aluminum and incorporated visual updates as well as a new slogan.[4]

Influence on Nunavut plate design

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In April 1999, the territory of Nunavut was created from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. The new territory adopted a virtually identical bear-shaped licence plate, following an agreement between the governments of the two territories. In 2011, the Government of Nunavut decided to discontinue the bear shape and replace it with a conventional rectangular design, which was introduced in July 2012.

Passenger baseplates

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1945 to 1974

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In 1956, Canada, the United States, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for licence plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[5] The first Northwest Territories licence plate that complied with these standards was issued five years beforehand, in 1951. The current bear-shaped plates feature the standard mounting holes.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
27
1945 White on blue none 123 1 to approximately 180
37
1946 Orange on black none 123 1 to approximately 290
277
1947 Black on silver none 123 1 to approximately 400
38
1948 White on blue none 123 1 to approximately 590
72
1949 White on green none 123 1 to approximately 460
727
1950 Black on orange none 1234 651 to approximately 1350
1722
1951 Orange on black none 1234 1351 to approximately 2100 First 6" x 12" plate.
138
1952 White on blue none 123 100 to approximately 650
76
1953 Black on orange none 123 100 to approximately 760
378
1954 Orange on black Canada's Northland 123 100 to approximately 870
723
1955 Black on orange Canada's Northland 123 100 to approximately 1300
273
1956 Orange on black Canada's Northland 1234 100 to approximately 1100
762
1957 Black on orange Canada's Northland 1234 100 to approximately 1400
237
1958 Orange on black Canada's Northland 1234 100 to approximately 2200
27
1959 Black on orange Canada's Northland 1234 100 to approximately 2300
763
1960 Orange on black Canada's Northland 1234 100 to approximately 2400
  1961 Black on orange Canada's Northland 1234 100 to approximately 3400
  1962 Orange on black Canada's Northland 1234 100 to approximately 4100
287
1963 Black on orange Canada's Northland 1234 100 to approximately 3900
723
1964 Orange on black Canada's Northland 1234 100 to approximately 4200
  1965 White on light green Canada's Northland 1-234 100 to approximately 4-900
  1966–69 Black on reflective orange; territorial shield at left Canada's Northland 12-345 100 to approximately 11-500 Revalidated for 1967 with white-on-blue tabs, for 1968 with red-on-white tabs, and for 1969 with green-on-white tabs.
  1970 Bear-shaped; white on blue Centennial 1-234 1 to approximately 7-500 First bear-shaped plate. Awarded inaugural "Plate of the Year" for best new licence plate of 1970 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  1971 Bear-shaped; blue on white none 1-234 1 to approximately 8-500
  1972 Bear-shaped; white on blue none 12-345 1 to approximately 10-500
  1973 Bear-shaped; dark blue on white with yellow slogan, date, and border RCMP Centennial 12-345 1 to approximately 11-000
  1974 Bear-shaped; red on white none 12-345 1 to approximately 11-500

1975 to present

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Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
  1975–76 Bear-shaped; turquoise on white none 12-345 1 to approximately 18-000 Revalidated for 1976 with stickers.
  1977–78 Bear-shaped; red on white none 12-345 1 to approximately 21-500 Revalidated for 1978 with stickers.
  1979–80 Bear-shaped; turquoise on white none 12-345 1 to approximately 21-500 Revalidated for 1980 with stickers.
  1981–82 Bear-shaped; red on white none 12-345 1 to approximately 21-000 Revalidated for 1982 with stickers.
  1983–85 Bear-shaped; blue on white none 12-345 1 to approximately 30-500 Last dated plate. Revalidated for 1984 and 1985 with stickers.
  1986–2010 Bear-shaped; blue on white Explore Canada's Arctic 123456 1 to approximately 126000 Monthly staggered registration introduced 1990. Front and rear plates issued through May 31, 1993 (serials 1 through 51700); only rear plates issued thereafter.[2]
  2010–present Bear-shaped; nature scene Spectacular 123456 300000 to 366499 (as of June 3, 2022)

Commercial plates

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Image First issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
  1967 CV1234
  1968 CV123
  1969 CV123
  1970 CV1234
  1971 CV123
  1972 CV123
  1973 CV1234
  1974 CV123
  1975-76 CV1234
  1977-78 CV1234
  1979-80 CV1234
  1981-82 CV1234
  1983-85 CV1234
  1986 CV1234 CV100 to CV9999
  1991 As 1986 passenger base C12345 C10000 to approximately C29999
  2010 As Spectacular passenger base C30000 to C48571 (as of June 3, 2022)

Non-passenger plates

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Image Type First issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
  Government 2010 As Spectacular passenger base G12345 G8000 to G12291 (as of June 1, 2022)
  Dealer 2010 Bear-shaped; black on white; "DEALER" at top, "NORTHWEST TERRITORIES" at bottom. D1234 unknown to D2323 (as of October 1, 2022)
  Public Service 1986 Bear-shaped; blue on white; "EXPLORE CANADA'S ARTIC" at top, "NORTHWEST TERRITORIES" at bottom. PS1234 Issued to taxis and busses.
  2010 As Spectacular passenger base P12345
  Motorcycle 1986 Bear-shaped; blue on white; "NWT" at top 1234 100 to approximately 9999
  2010 Similar to Spectacular passenger base 12345 10000 to 13075 (as of May 14, 2022)
  ATV / Off-road 1986
  2010 Bear-shaped; orange on white; "NWT" at top 12345
  Trailer 1991 T12345 T40000 to present
  2010 As Spectacular passenger base T12345 T40000 to present

Veteran plate

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Image First issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
  2010 Bear-shaped; red on white; poppy icon at very bottom, "LEST WE FORGET" at top and "NORTHWEST TERRITORIES" at bottom. VET123 VET001 to VET512 (as of October 1, 2022)

References

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  1. ^ "Motor Vehicles Act" (PDF). Legislation of the Northwest Territories. 17 June 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b Tanner, Eric N. "Northwest Territories Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  3. ^ Blackburn, Mark (August 5, 2011). "Nunavut polar bear (license plate) on verge of extinction". APTN. Retrieved October 18, 2011.
  4. ^ "N.W.T. licence plates get update". CBC News. May 4, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  5. ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
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