The Canadian province of Prince Edward Island first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1913; only rear licence plates have been required since 1976.

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 standardised the size for licence plates for motor 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 Prince Edward Island licence plate that complied with these standards was issued six years beforehand, in 1950.

In 2013, the province introduced five new specialty plate designs.

Those designs included; Blue jay, Canada goose, Red fox, Trout & Lady slipper, the provinces official flower.