The Canadian province of Manitoba first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1911.

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 license 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.

[1] The first Manitoba license plate that complied with these standards was issued 25 years beforehand, in 1931.

Manitoba is currently one of five provinces where decals are not used to show that the vehicle has valid registration, the others being Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Quebec.

[3] The province also offers personalized vanity license plates, at a cost of $100.