Vehicle registration plates of Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia
Current series
Slogan	Canada's Ocean Playground
Size	12 in × 6 in; 30 cm × 15 cm
Material	Aluminum
Serial format	ABC 123
Introduced	2011
Availability
Issued by	Nova Scotia Registry of Motor Vehicles
Manufactured by	Waldale Manufacturing Limited, Amherst, Nova Scotia
History
First issued	January 1, 1918; (pre-provincial plates from 1907 through December 31, 1917)
	v ; t ; e ;

Last updated January 28, 2024

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own licence plates for display until 1918, when the province began to issue plates.^[1]

Passenger baseplates

1918 to 1959

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.^[2] The first Nova Scotia licence plate that complied with these standards was issued fifteen years beforehand, in 1941.^{[ citation needed ]}

No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection.

Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1918	White serial on green flat metal plate; "NOVA SCOTIA", provincial shield and "1918" at left	1234	1 to approximately 9000
1919	Black serial on yellow flat metal plate; "NOVA SCOTIA", provincial shield and "1919" at left	12345	1001 to approximately 12000
1920	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA", provincial shield and "1920" at left	12345	1001 to approximately 12500	First embossed plate.
1921	Black serial on light green flat metal plate; "NOVA SCOTIA", provincial shield and "1921" at left	12345	1001 to approximately 13500
1922	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NS 22" at left	12-345	1-001 to approximately 15-500
1923	Embossed red serial on gray plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA 1923" at right	12-345	1-001 to approximately 17-000
1924	Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NS 24" at right	12-345	1-001 to approximately 19-000
1925	Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA–25" at bottom	12-345	1-001 to approximately 21-000
1926	Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA 1926" at bottom	L12-345	L1-001 to approximately L11-500	'L' prefix used for vehicles weighing 3,000 lb or less, and 'H' prefix for vehicles above 3,000 lb. This happened again in 1927.^[3]
1926		H12-345	H15-001 to approximately H24-500
1927	Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA 1927" at bottom	L12-345	L1-001 to approximately L19-000
1927		H12-345	H19-001 to approximately H29-500
1928	Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "1928" and "NOVA SCOTIA" centred at top and bottom respectively	12-345	10-001 to approximately 27-500	No letter prefix used for vehicles weighing 3,000 lb or less.
1928		H12-345	H40-001 to approximately H52-500
1929	Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA 29" at bottom	12-345	10-001 to approximately 41-500
1930	Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "30 NOVA SCOTIA" at bottom	12-345	40-001 to approximately 85-000
1931	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA 31" at top	12-345	Coded by county group (1)
1932	Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "NOVA SCOTIA 32" at bottom	12-345	Coded by county group (1)
1933	Embossed orange serial on black plate; "33 NOVA SCOTIA" at bottom	12-345	Coded by county group (1)
1934	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "NOVA SCOTIA 34" at bottom	12-345	Coded by county group (1)
1935	Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "35-NOVA SCOTIA" at bottom	12-345	Coded by county group (1)
1936	Embossed white serial on red plate; "NOVA SCOTIA 36" at top	12-345	Coded by county group (1)
1937	Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "37-NOVA SCOTIA" at bottom	12-345	Coded by county group (1)
1938	Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "1938" centred at top and bottom respectively	12-345	Coded by county group (1)
1939	Embossed white serial on green plate; "NOVA" and "SCOTIA" centred at top and bottom respectively; vertical "1939" at right	12-345	Coded by county group (1)
1940	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA" and "SCOTIA" centred at top and bottom respectively; vertical "1940" at right	12-345	Coded by county group (1)
1941	Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '41" at bottom	1-23-45	Coded by county group (1)	First 6" x 12" plate.
1942	Embossed black serial on pale green plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "1942" centred at top and bottom respectively	1-23-45	Coded by county group (1)	Produced in pairs but only single plates issued; the remaining plates were restamped and repainted for use in 1943 and 1944, due to metal conservation for World War II.^[3]
1943–44	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "1943" centred at top and bottom respectively	1-23-45	Coded by county group (1)	Restamped and repainted 1942 plates. Revalidated for 1944 with windshield stickers.
1945	Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '45" at bottom	1-23-45	Coded by county group (1)
1946	Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '46" at top	1-23-45	Coded by county group (1)
1947	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '47" at bottom	1-23-45	Coded by county group (1)
1948	Embossed black serial on pale green plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '48" at bottom	1-23-45	Coded by county group (1)
1949	Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '49" at top	1-23-45	Coded by county group (1)
1950	Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA - 50" at bottom	1-23-45	Coded by county group (1)
1951	Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA - 51" at top	1-23-45	Coded by county group (1)
1952	Embossed black serial on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA - 52" at bottom	1-23-45	Coded by county group (1)	Revalidated for 1953 with light blue tabs, for 1954 with black tabs, for 1955 with white tabs, and for 1956 with dark green tabs.
1953	As above, but with "NOVA SCOTIA - 53" at bottom	12-34-56	10-00-00 to 10-99-99	Issued only to new registrants. Validated for 1954, 1955 and 1956 in the same manner as for 1952 plates.
1953–56	As above, with "NOVA SCOTIA - 52" at bottom	12-34-56	11-00-00 to approximately 16-49-00
1957	Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '57" at top	1-23-45 12-34-56	2-00-00 to approximately 13-34-00
1958	Embossed light yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '58" at bottom	1-23-45 12-34-56	2-00-00 to approximately 13-83-00
1959	Embossed black serial on light yellow plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '59" at top	1-23-45 12-34-56	2-00-00 to approximately 14-70-00

1960 to present

Dates issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
1960–61	Embossed light yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '60" at bottom	none	1-23-45 12-34-56	2-00-00 to approximately 18-37-00	Revalidated for 1961 with windshield stickers.
1962–63	Embossed black serial on light yellow plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '62" at top	none	1-23-45 12-34-56	2-00-00 to approximately 20-33-00	Revalidated for 1963 with windshield stickers.
1964–65	Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '64" at top	none	1-23-45 12-34-56	2-00-00 to approximately 22-49-00	Revalidated for 1965 with windshield stickers.
1966–68	Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA" at bottom, offset to left; black box at bottom right containing debossed "66"	none	1-23-45 12-34-56	2-00-00 to approximately 28-20-00
1969–71	Embossed yellow serial on black plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" centred at bottom; "69" at bottom left	none	1-23-45 12-34-56	2-00-00 to approximately 29-75-00
1972–75	Embossed light blue serial on non-reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" centred at top	"CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" at bottom	1-23-45 12-34-56	2-00-00 to 38-49-99	Letters I, O and Q not used in the ABC-123 serial format. Material changed from steel to aluminum in 1986.^[3]
1975–79	As above, but reflective and with darker blue elements		12-34-56	38-50-00 to 66-39-99
1979–89	As above, but reflective and with darker blue elements		ABC-123	AAA-001 to BRS-999
1989–2011	Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; light blue graphic of the Bluenose screened in the centre; "NOVA SCOTIA" screened in blue centred at top	"CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" screened in blue at bottom	ABC 123	BRT 001 to FAD 999	Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new licence plate of 1989 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Nova Scotia has been so honored. Co-recipient with Oklahoma.
2011–present	As above, but without border lines, and with narrower serial dies	"CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" screened in blue at bottom	ABC 123	FAE 001 to HGA 474 (as of January 16, 2024)

Specialty plates

First issued	Design	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
April 2003	Embossed blue serial on white plate; piping plover screened at left; "NOVA SCOTIA" screened in blue centred at top	"Conservation - Species at Risk" screened in blue centred at bottom	PBC12	PAA01 to PEB03 (as of March 26, 2023)
January 2012	Embossed blue serial on white plate; Flag of Acadia screened at left; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "NOUVELLE-ÉCOSSE" screened in blue centred at top	none	FBC12	FAA01 to FBX48 (as of May 22, 2023)
August 2013	Embossed blue serial on white plate; Select Nova Scotia logo (a circle with the provincial flag at the top, "Select" in blue handwritten font across the middle and "NOVA SCOTIA" in blue at the bottom) screened at left; "NOVA SCOTIA" screened in blue centred at top	"Buy Local" screened in blue centred at bottom	LBC12	LAA01 to LAN69 (as of March 26, 2023)	Introduced to promote buying local produce.
June 2018	Embossed blue serial on white plate; eight-point star petroglyph screened at left; "NOVA SCOTIA" screened in blue centred at top	"MI'KMA'KI LAND OF THE MI'KMAQ" screened in blue centred at bottom	MBC12	MAA01 to MCA12 (as of May 17, 2023)

Non-passenger plates

Type	Dates issued	Design	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
Commercial	1978–2012	Embossed black serial on yellow plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "COMMERCIAL" centred at top and bottom respectively	12-345-A	10-000-A to 37-519-D	Currently issued to commercial vehicles above 5,000 kg (11,000 lb). Passenger plates issued to lighter commercial vehicles since 1986.^[4]
Commercial	2012–present	As above, but without border lines	12-345-A	37-520-D to 61-129-D(as of January 15, 2024)
Motorcycle	1972–78	Embossed blue serial on non-reflective white plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA" at top, offset to left	1-23-45	1-00 to 1-25-99	All motorcycle plates expire on December 31.
	1978–98	As above, but reflective	1-23-45	1-26-00 to 9-75-99
	1998–present	As above, but with rounder serial dies, and "NOVA SCOTIA" centred at top	123456	97600 to 219191 (as of September 17, 2023)
Trailer	1981–2012	Embossed black serial on yellow plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" centred at top and bottom respectively	T1-23-45 T123-456	T1-00 to approximately T339-000	All Trailer plates expire on December 31.
Trailer	2012–present	As above, but without border lines	T1-23-45 T123-456	T339-001 to T516-513 (as of January 8, 2024)	All Trailer plates expire on December 31.
Antique Auto		Embossed blue serial on white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" centred at top and bottom respectively, "ANTIQUE AUTO" on left side of number.	1234	0001 to 9999
Antique Auto	2009–present	As above, but without border lines	A123	A001 to S628 (as of June 24, 2023)

Controversies

GRABHER Licence Plate

In 2017, Lorne Grabher of Nova Scotia had his custom licence plate revoked. The plate displayed his last name 'GRABHER', which he had purchased as a gift for his father in the 1990s. He had received a letter saying his plate would be cancelled as some had found his licence plate to be misogynistic and offensive.^[5] Lorne attempted to keep his plate by fighting back in court, claiming it violated his right to freedom of expression. However, in August 2021 the Nova Scotia Court of Appeals ruled his constitutional rights had not been violated. They concluded the plate could not be used as it could be seen as offensive without the correct context.^[6] In 2022, the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear an appeal of his case.^[7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle registration plates of Maine</span> Maine vehicle license plates

The U.S. state of Maine first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. As of 2022, plates are issued by the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, within the office of the Department of the Secretary of State. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Hawaii was a sovereign constitutional monarchy until this government was overthrown in January 1893, but many of its laws were already modeled after those of the United States, including registering dogs and issuing metal tags for them since the 1870s. The Republic of Hawaii which replaced the previous government was annexed as a Territory by the United States in August 1898, and the first automobiles to be shipped to the Hawaiian Islands arrived in 1899. Each of Hawaii's four counties registered vehicles completely autonomously starting with the City & County of Honolulu in 1906, and license plates were homemade / owner-provided. The first government-issued plates were used by both Honolulu and the County of Hawaii in 1915. Maui County first issued plates in 1919, while Kauai County retained homemade plates through 1921; this was the last jurisdiction in the United States to do so. All license plates were standardized throughout the Territory of Hawaii for the first time in 1922. Despite its status as a territory, Hawaii's vehicle registration laws and license plates were the same as the rest of the United States. Hawaii was admitted to the Union as the 50th state in August 1959.

The U.S. state of Iowa first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1904. Registrants provided their own license plates for display until 1911, when the state began to issue plates.

The U.S. state of Kentucky first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1910. Plates are currently issued by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet through its Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing. Only rear plates have been required since 1944.

The U.S. state of Montana first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1913. As of 2023, plates are issued by the Montana Department of Justice through its Motor Vehicle Division. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

The U.S. state of New Hampshire first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. As of 2022, plates are issued by the New Hampshire Department of Safety through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

The U.S. commonwealth of Puerto Rico first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1906. Only rear plates have been required since 1976.

The U.S. state of South Carolina first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1917. As of 2023, plates are issued by the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1975.

The U.S. state of Vermont first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. As of 2022, plates are issued by the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), associated with the Vermont Agency of Transportation. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

The U.S. unincorporated territory of the United States Virgin Islands first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1917.

The U.S. state of West Virginia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. As of 2023, plates are issued by the West Virginia Department of Transportation through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1944.

The U.S. state of Wisconsin first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. Plates are currently issued by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) through its Division of Motor Vehicles. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

The Canadian province of Saskatchewan first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1906. Registrants provided their own licence plates for display until 1912, when the province began to issue plates.

The Canadian province of British Columbia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1904. Registrants provided their own licence plates for display until 1913, when the province began to issue plates.

The Canadian province of Manitoba first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1911. As of 2022, plates are issued by Manitoba Public Insurance. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Newfoundland and Labrador first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1920, while still a British dominion. It became a province of Canada in 1949.

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

The Canadian territory of Yukon first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1914. Only rear plates have been required since 1990.

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. Only rear plates have been required since June 1, 1993.

The U.S. state of Arkansas first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1911. Prior to 1911, plates were issued by cities.

References

↑ Taylor, Eric Robert. "Nova Scotia Pre-Provincial Plates". PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
↑ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
1 2 3 Tanner, Eric N. "Nova Scotia Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
↑ Tanner, Eric N. "Nova Scotia Truck-Commercial License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
↑ Colbert, Yvonne. "Too rude for the road — government yanks man's last name from licence plate". CBC. CBC News. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
↑ Rhodes, Blair. "Nova Scotia man loses appeal in 'Grabher' licence plate dispute". CBC. CBC News. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
↑ "Supreme Court won't hear appeal of Nova Scotia man's 'Grabher' licence plate case". Global News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

External links

Nova Scotia licence plates, 1969–present

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[1] Taylor, Eric Robert. "Nova Scotia Pre-Provincial Plates". PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved November 25, 2017.

[2] Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.

[allaboutlicenseplatesNS-3] 1 2 3 Tanner, Eric N. "Nova Scotia Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 17, 2020.

[4] Tanner, Eric N. "Nova Scotia Truck-Commercial License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.

[5] Colbert, Yvonne. "Too rude for the road — government yanks man's last name from licence plate". CBC. CBC News. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

[6] Rhodes, Blair. "Nova Scotia man loses appeal in 'Grabher' licence plate dispute". CBC. CBC News. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

[7] "Supreme Court won't hear appeal of Nova Scotia man's 'Grabher' licence plate case". Global News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 5 August 2022.

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v t e Vehicle registration plates of North America
Sovereign states	Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Canada Costa Rica Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Mexico Nicaragua Panama Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago United States
Dependencies and other territories	Anguilla Aruba Bermuda Bonaire British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Curaçao Greenland Guadeloupe Martinique Montserrat Puerto Rico Saint Barthélemy Saint Martin Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saba Sint Eustatius Sint Maarten Turks and Caicos Islands United States Virgin Islands