Vehicle registration plates of Canada

Registration plates in Canada are typically attached to motor vehicles or trailers for official identification purposes.

Some Canadian registration plates have unique designs, shapes, and slogans related to the issuing jurisdiction.

British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario are the only Canadian jurisdictions that require both front and rear registration plates.

Most Canadian jurisdictions also issue "vanity licence plates," which allow drivers to customize the characters displayed.

These plates typically display the International Symbol of Access, and entitled drivers to parking privileges.

[2][3] In all provinces and the territory of Yukon, licence plate serials are alphanumeric and usually assigned in ascending order.

The Northwest Territories' plates since 1970, and Nunavut's from 1999 to 2012, are cut in the shape of a polar bear, but meet the standardized mounting guidelines (below).

In 1956, the Canadian provinces and U.S. states 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 150 mm (6 in) in height by 300 mm (12 in) in width, with standardized mounting holes.

The colour of plate stickers and windshield decals often change annually, to allow for easier detection by police.

Currently, Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario,[7] Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon are jurisdictions in which decals are not used.

As of 2008,[8] Ontario issues regular licence plates with a registration sticker that is labelled "T" to owners of recently purchased used vehicles.

Classic vehicles (older than 25 model years) use the paper printed window temporary plate (as pictured in this article).

In Ontario, motorists may apply to transfer licence plates with the approval of the provincial Ministry of Transportation under special circumstances, such as from one immediate family member to another.

In the Canadian provinces and territories of Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon, licence plates are currently only required on the rear of most vehicles.

The remaining provinces, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario, require the licence plates to be mounted on both the front and rear of the vehicle.

A portion of the extra cost of these licence plates often ends up as a donation for a related school or non-profit organization.

In the first sixteen months, 22,000 Roughrider plates were issued,[12] resulting in $585,000 profit for the football club.

A number of provinces issued plates recognizing the 1967 centennial of the Canadian Confederation during that year.

Saskatchewan's "Land of Living Skies" slogan may be interpreted as a reference to the province's drastically changing weather within minutes or a nod to the northern lights, aurora borealis.

[14] On November 17, 2018 the province of Alberta announced Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames licence plates for $75 with $55 of each purchase going to the charity of the selected team, the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation and the Calgary Flames Foundation, respectively.

[15] Vehicles owned by the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence are also specially plated, and authorised for movement on all highways and roads.

Official government vehicles do not use distinct licence plate or numbers unlike other provinces within this section of the article.

Cars owned by the provincial government of Ontario use standard series plates, but with specialized validation stickers exempt from annual registration.

The Lieutenant Governor of Ontario receives licence plates that bear an embossed crown rather than a number.

Cars and pickup trucks owned by the province of New Brunswick also use standard series plates, but with black "Permanent" validation stickers exempt from annual registration.

Municipally owned vehicles larger than a pickup truck receive plates that begin with M, in the format M12-345.

The Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick receives a licence plate that bears an embossed crown.

The Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan receives licence plates that bear an embossed crown rather than a number.

Official government vehicles do not use distinct licence plate or numbers unlike other provinces within this section of the article.

Plate numbers with the prefix "X" followed by five or six digits may be used on any vehicle that is part of a dealer's inventory.