Vehicle registration plates of the Northwest Territories

Last updated

The Northwest Territories
1986 Northwest Territories license plate 331758.jpg
Current series
SloganSpectacular Northwest Territories
MaterialAluminum
Serial format123456
IntroducedJuly 1, 2010 (2010-07-01)
Availability
Issued byNorthwest Territories Department of Infrastructure, Driver and Vehicle Services
History
First issued1941 (1941)

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 Department of Infrastructure through its Driver and Vehicle Services branch. Only rear plates have been required since June 1, 1993. [1]

Contents

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. [2]

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. [3]

Influence on Nunavut plate design

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

1945 to 1974

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. [4] 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.

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
27
1945White on bluenone1231 to approximately 180
37
1946Orange on blacknone1231 to approximately 290
277
1947Black on silvernone1231 to approximately 400
38
1948White on bluenone1231 to approximately 590
72
1949White on greennone1231 to approximately 460
727
1950Black on orangenone1234651 to approximately 1350
1722
1951Orange on blacknone12341351 to approximately 2100First 6" x 12" plate.
76
1952White on bluenone123100 to approximately 650
76
1953Black on orangenone123100 to approximately 760
378
1954Orange on blackCanada's Northland123100 to approximately 870
723
1955Black on orangeCanada's Northland123100 to approximately 1300
273
1956Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 1100
762
1957Black on orangeCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 1400
237
1958Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 2200
27
1959Black on orangeCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 2300
763
1960Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 2400
1961 Northwest Territories licence plate.jpg 1961Black on orangeCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 3400
Canada Northwest Territories license plate 1962.jpg 1962Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 4100
287
1963Black on orangeCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 3900
723
1964Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 4200
Northwest Territories License Plate 1965.jpg 1965White on light greenCanada's Northland1-234100 to approximately 4-900
Northwest Territories Licence Plate 1966.jpg 1966–69Black on reflective orange; territorial shield at leftCanada's Northland12-345100 to approximately 11-500Revalidated for 1967 with white-on-blue tabs, for 1968 with red-on-white tabs, and for 1969 with green-on-white tabs.
Northwest Territories 1970 license plate.jpg 1970 Bear-shaped; white on blueCentennial1-2341 to approximately 7-500First bear-shaped plate. Awarded inaugural "Plate of the Year" for best new licence plate of 1970 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
Northwest Territories Licence Plate 1971 bear design.jpg 1971Bear-shaped; blue on whitenone1-2341 to approximately 8-500
Northwest Territories Licence Plate - 1972, bear design.jpg 1972Bear-shaped; white on bluenone12-3451 to approximately 10-500
Northwest Territories Licence Plate, 1973, bear design.jpg 1973Bear-shaped; dark blue on white with yellow slogan, date, and border RCMP Centennial12-3451 to approximately 11-000
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1974Bear-shaped; red on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 11-500

1975 to present

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Northwest Territories License Plate 1975.jpg 1975–76Bear-shaped; turquoise on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 18-000Revalidated for 1976 with stickers.
Northwest Territories License Plate 1977.jpg 1977–78Bear-shaped; red on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 21-500Revalidated for 1978 with stickers.
Northwest Territories License Plate 1979.jpg 1979–80Bear-shaped; turquoise on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 21-500Revalidated for 1980 with stickers.
1981 Northwest Territories license plate 6-909.jpg 1981–82Bear-shaped; red on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 21-000Revalidated for 1982 with stickers.
Northwest Territories Licence Plate 1983 bear design.jpg 1983–85Bear-shaped; blue on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 30-500Last dated plate. Revalidated for 1984 and 1985 with stickers.
1986 Northwest Territories license plate 125419.jpg 1986–2010Bear-shaped; blue on whiteExplore Canada's Arctic1234561 to approximately 126000Monthly staggered registration introduced 1990. Front and rear plates issued through May 31, 1993 (serials 1 through 51700); only rear plates issued thereafter. [1]
1986 Northwest Territories license plate 331758.jpg 2010–presentBear-shaped; nature sceneSpectacular123456300000 to 366499 (as of June 3, 2022)

Commercial plates

ImageFirst issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1967.jpg 1967CV1234
Blank License Plate Shape.svg 1968CV123
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1969.jpg 1969CV123
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1970.jpg 1970CV1234
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1971.jpg 1971CV123
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1972.jpg 1972CV123
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1973.jpg 1973CV1234
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1974.jpg 1974CV123
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1975.jpg 1975-76CV1234
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1977.jpg 1977-78CV1234
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1979.jpg 1979-80CV1234
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1981.jpg 1981-82CV1234
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1983.jpg 1983-85CV1234
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1986.jpg 1986CV1234CV100 to CV9999
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 1991.jpg 1991As 1986 passenger baseC12345C10000 to approximately C29999
Northwest Territories Commercial License Plate 2011.jpg 2010As Spectacular passenger baseC30000 to C48571 (as of June 3, 2022)

Non-passenger plates

ImageTypeFirst issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Northwest Territories Government License Plate 2012.jpg Government2010As Spectacular passenger baseG12345G8000 to G12291 (as of June 1, 2022)
2010 Northwest Territories Dealer license plate SAMPLE (cropped).jpg Dealer2010Bear-shaped; black on white; "DEALER" at top, "NORTHWEST TERRITORIES" at bottom.D1234unknown to D2323 (as of October 1, 2022)
Northwest Territories Trailer License Plate 2010.jpg Public Service1986Bear-shaped; blue on white; "EXPLORE CANADA'S ARTIC" at top, "NORTHWEST TERRITORIES" at bottom.PS1234Issued to taxis and busses.
Northwest Territories Trailer License Plate 2012.jpg 2010As Spectacular passenger baseP12345
Northwest Territories Motorcycle License Plate 1986.jpg Motorcycle1986Bear-shaped; blue on white; "NWT" at top1234100 to approximately 9999
2010 Northwest Territories Motorcycle license plate SAMPLE (cropped).jpg 2010Similar to Spectacular passenger base1234510000 to 13075 (as of May 14, 2022)
Blank License Plate Shape.svg ATV / Off-road1986
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES 2014 - ATV-SNOWMOBILE LICENSE PLATE.jpg 2010Bear-shaped; orange on white; "NWT" at top12345
Northwest Territories Trailer License Plate 2010.jpg Trailer1991T12345T40000 to present
Northwest Territories Trailer License Plate 2012.jpg 2010As Spectacular passenger baseT12345T40000 to present

Veteran plate

ImageFirst issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
2010 Northwest Territories Veteran license plate SAMPLE (cropped).jpg 2010Bear-shaped; red on white; poppy icon at very bottom, "LEST WE FORGET" at top and "NORTHWEST TERRITORIES" at bottom.VET123VET001 to VET512 (as of October 1, 2022)

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References

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