Vehicle registration plates of British Columbia
The Canadian province of British Columbia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1904. Registrants had to provide their own licence plates for display until 1913, when the province began to supply plates.[1] Plates are currently issued by the provincial motor vehicle insurer, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC).
Passenger baseplates
1913 to 1969
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 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[2] The 1954 (dated 1955) issue was the first British Columbia licence plate that complied with these standards.
Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
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1913 | White numbers on blue porcelain plate; vertical "B.C." and "1913" at left and right respectively | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 6900 | |
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1914 | Black numbers on white porcelain plate; "BC" monogram and "1914" at left | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 7900 | |
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1915 | White numbers on green flat metal plate; provincial coat of arms at left with "B.C. 1915" below | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 7700 | |
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1916 | Black numbers on yellow flat metal plate; provincial coat of arms at left with "B.C. 1916" below | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 9400 | |
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1917 | Black numbers on white flat metal plate; provincial coat of arms at left with "B.C. 1917" below | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 13000 | |
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1918–19 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "BC" monogram and "1918" within box at left | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 22000 | First embossed plate. Revalidated for 1919 with green tabs. |
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1920–22 | As 1918–19 base, but without box and with "1920" below monogram | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 39500 | Revalidated for 1921 with red tabs, and for 1922 with green tabs. |
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1923 | Embossed yellow numbers on green plate with border line; "BC 1923" at left | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 38500 | |
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1924 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "24" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 45-000 | First use of the full province name. |
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1925 | Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "25" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 57-000 | |
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1926 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "26" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 69-000 | |
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1927 | Embossed black numbers on orange plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "27" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 77-000 | |
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1928 | Embossed orange numbers on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "28" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 90-000 | |
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1929 | Embossed black numbers on tan plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "29" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 99-999 | |
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1930 | Embossed yellow numbers on red plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "30" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 103-000 | |
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1931 | Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "31" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 108-000 | |
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1932 | Embossed white numbers on brown plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "32" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 120-000 | |
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1933 | Embossed brown numbers on yellow plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "33" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 99-000 | |
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1934 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "34" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 96-000 | |
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1935 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "35" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 102-000 | |
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1936 | Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "36" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 89-000 | |
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1937 | Embossed black numbers on cream plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "37" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 91-000 | |
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1938 | Embossed cream numbers on brown plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "38" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 97-000 | |
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1939 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "39" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to approximately 99-000 | |
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1940 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "40" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to 99-999 | 'A' prefix serials were issued from Vancouver Island, 'B' prefixes from Vancouver, and 'F' prefixes from New Westminster. This practice continued until 1948.[3] |
A1-234 | Coded by branch office (see right) | |||||
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1941 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "41" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to 99-999 | |
A1-234 | Coded by branch office | |||||
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1942 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "42" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to 99-999 | Produced in pairs but only single plates issued; the remaining plates were restamped and repainted for use in 1943, due to metal conservation for World War II.[4] |
A1-234 | Coded by branch office | |||||
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1943 | Embossed black numbers on cream plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "43" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to 99-999 | Restamped and repainted 1942 plates. |
A1-234 | Coded by branch office | |||||
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1944 | Embossed cream numbers on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "44" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to 99-999 | |
A1-234 | Coded by branch office | |||||
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1945 | Embossed red numbers on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "45" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to 99-999 | |
A1-234 | Coded by branch office | |||||
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1946 | Embossed white numbers on red plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "46" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to 99-999 | |
A1-234 | Coded by branch office | |||||
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1947 | Embossed green numbers on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "47" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to 99-999 | |
A1-234 | Coded by branch office | |||||
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1948 | Embossed white numbers on green plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "48" at right | none | 12-345 | 1 to 99-999 | |
A1-234 | Coded by branch office | |||||
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1949 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "49" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 168-000 | |
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1950–51 | Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "50" at right | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 237-000 | Revalidated for 1951 with white tabs. |
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1952–54 | Embossed black numbers on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; embossed totem and maple leaf graphic at right; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom, offset to left; "52" above graphic | none | 12-345 A1-234 1A-234 1-234A |
Revalidated for 1953 with blue tabs, and for 1954 with black tabs. Later plates manufactured without the graphic. | |
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1955 | Embossed black numbers on golden yellow plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 55" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 310-000 | First 6" x 12" plate. |
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1956 | Embossed golden yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 56" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 352-000 | |
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1957 | Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 57" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 402-000 | |
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1958 | Embossed green numbers on gold plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at top | "1858 CENTENARY 1958" at bottom | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 421-000 | Commemorated the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Colony of British Columbia. |
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1959 | Embossed turquoise numbers on maroon plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 59" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 432-000 | |
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1960 | Embossed maroon numbers on turquoise plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 60" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 453-000 | |
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1961 | Embossed maroon numbers on pink plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 61" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 471-000 | |
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1962 | Embossed pink numbers on maroon plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 62" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 509-000 | |
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1963 | Embossed white numbers on light blue plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 63" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 534-000 | |
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1964 | Blue on white | Beautiful British Columbia | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 573-000 | |
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1965 | White on blue | Beautiful British Columbia | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 630-000 | |
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1966 | Blue on white | Beautiful British Columbia | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 674-000 | |
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1967 | Red on white | Beautiful British Columbia | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 720-000 | |
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1968 | Blue on white | Beautiful British Columbia | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 762-000 | |
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1969 | White on blue | Beautiful British Columbia | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 805-000 |
1970 to present
British Columbia introduced an ABC-123 serial format on its passenger plates in 1970. A split-alphabet system was used, with each letter advancing from A through K, or from L through X (the letters I, O, Q, U, Y and Z were omitted). Serials were thus issued in the following eight series: AAA-KKJ, AAL-KKX, ALA-KXK, ALL-KXX, LAA-XKK, LAL-XKX, LLA-XXK and LLL-XXX.[3] When the ABC-123 format was exhausted in 2001, a reversed format, 123-ABC, was introduced, with the same split-alphabet system and thus the same eight series. Upon the exhaustion of this format in 2014, an AB1-23C format was introduced, with the split-alphabet system discontinued and each letter thus advancing from A through X.
Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
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1970–72 | Blue on white | Beautiful British Columbia | ABC-123 | AAA-000 to KKJ-999; KLL-000 to KXX-999 | Validated each year with stickers. |
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1973–78 | Blue on white | Beautiful British Columbia | ABC 123 | LAA 000 to XKK 999; LLA 000 to XXK 999; LLL 000 to PXX 999 | Later plates manufactured in Quebec using that province's serial dies. |
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1979–85 | White on blue | Beautiful British Columbia | ABC-123 | AAA-000 to KKJ-999; AAL-000 to KKX-999; ALL-000 to KXX-999; ALA-000 to BRB-999 | Early plates manufactured in Quebec. |
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1985–2001 | Blue on reflective white with screened stylized provincial flag in centre | Beautiful British Columbia | ABC 123 | LAA 000 to XXX 999 | |
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2001 – August 2014 | 123 ABC | 000 AAA to 999 XXX; 000 MJG to 999 MXX | Serials in this format with 'M' as the first letter were initially reserved for 2010 Winter Olympics plates; unused serials were issued on the standard base in mid-2014 following 999 XXX. Serials with 'V' as the first letter are reserved for Veteran plates. Numbers 400 through 499 omitted from serials starting in 2008, due to problems surrounding the number 4 among the province's Chinese population.[5] | ||
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August 2014 –present | AB1 23C | AA0 00A to HB9 99S (as of October 5, 2018) |
Optional types
Image | Type | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Veteran | 2004 | Powder blue background with black lettering, the national flag at the upper right, and a partial image of the national war memorial in Ottawa on the left side with a red poppy overlaid | VETERAN | 123VAB | 000VAA to present | Issued to veterans who must be confirmed by one of the Veterans associations recognized by the provincial government[6] |
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2010 Winter Olympics | 2007 | Screened mountain design background with black lettering and the 2010 Winter Olympics logo in the centre | The Best Place On Earth | 123 MAB | 000 MAA to 999 MJF | Issued from April 16, 2007 to December 31, 2010. Surcharge supported Canada's Winter Olympic team.[7] |
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Memorial Cross Recipient | 2016 | White background with purple writing, the national flag at the upper right, and an image of the memorial cross on the left side | Memorial Cross Recipient | MC123R | MC000R to present | As of November 10, 2016, this plate is issued to recipients of the Memorial Cross.[8] They can only be obtained by contacting the Manager of Provincial Vehicle Registration & Licensing at ICBC headquarters.[9] |
Truck plates 1973 to present
Image | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1973 | Black on white | Beautiful British Columbia | 123-456 | 500-001 to 999-999 | |
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1976 | Orange on white | Beautiful British Columbia | 12-34-AB | 00-00-AA to approximately 25-00-DS | |
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1979 | Green on white | Beautiful British Columbia | 12-34-AB | 00-00-FA to approximately 10-00-LY | |
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1985 | Blue on reflective white with screened stylized provincial flag used as separator | Beautiful British Columbia | 1234 AB | 0000 MB to 9999 YY; 0000 AA to approximately 9999 LR | |
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2008 | AB 1234 | AL 0000 to present |
Optional types
Image | Type | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
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Veteran | 2004 | Powder blue background with black lettering, the national flag at the upper right, and a partial image of the national war memorial in Ottawa on the left side with a red poppy overlaid | VETERAN | 0000LA | 0000LV to present | Issued to veterans who must be confirmed by one of the Veterans associations recognized by the provincial government[6] |
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2010 Winter Olympics | 2007 | Screened mountain design background with black lettering and the 2010 Winter Olympics logo in the centre | The Best Place On Earth | AA 1234 | AA 0000 to approximately AF 2500 | Issued from April 16, 2007 to December 31, 2010. Surcharge supported Canada's Winter Olympic team.[7] |
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Memorial Cross Recipient | 2016 | White background with purple writing, the national flag at the upper right, and an image of the memorial cross on the left side | Memorial Cross Recipient | MC1234 | MC0000 to present | As of November 10, 2016, this plate is issued to recipients of the Memorial Cross.[8] They can only be obtained by contacting the Manager of Provincial Vehicle Registration & Licensing at ICBC headquarters.[9] |
Consular plates 1967 to present
Image | First issued | Design | Slogan | Notes | Serial format | Serials issued |
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1967 | The first year diplomat plates are issued with date stamped plates changing yearly from red-on-white, blue-on-white, and white-on-blue. | Beautiful British Columbia | Date stamped from 1967 to 1972 | CONSUL 000 | |
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1973 | The first year for decals, small decals, in the blue-on-white colour scheme. | Beautiful British Columbia | Small decal from 1973 to 1978 | CONSUL 000 | 101-500
501-600 |
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1979 | The first year for large decals, in the white-on-blue colour scheme. | Beautiful British Columbia | Large decal from 1979 to 1985 | CONSUL 123 | 002-100
601-999 |
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1986 | The first year of the "flag graphic" plates with the blue-on-white colour scheme. | Beautiful British Columbia | Flag graphic | CONSUL 000 | 101-500
501-999 |
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2001 | Continuation of the flag graphic with a change of serial format | Beautiful British Columbia | Flag graphic | CONSUL A00 | A01-D99*
*Unconfirmed |
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2007 | Red background with white writing and rising sun logo; created by ICBC and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa | none | Diplomat-level Representative - Includes dependents or International Organizations | DL 000A | |
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2007 | Red background with white writing and rising sun logo; created by ICBC and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa | none | Career Consular Officers - Includes level foreign representatives and their dependents or Consular Post where headed by a Career Officer | CC 000A | |
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2007 | Red background with white writing and rising sun logo; created by ICBC and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa | none | Honorary Consular Officers - Includes Canadian citizens, level foreign representatives or a Consular Post where headed by Honorary Consular | HC 000A | |
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2007 | Red background with white writing and rising sun logo; created by ICBC and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa | none | Consular Staff - Includes administrative, technical and service level foreign representatives and their dependents | CS 000A | |
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2007 | Red background with white writing and rising sun logo; created by ICBC and the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa | none | Special Representative - Includes foreign officials and their dependents from Offices of Political Subdivisions of Foreign State and from other Office and for their Offices[10] | SR 000A |
BC Parks plates
On November 28, 2016, British Columbia announced its new BC Parks Future Strategy. This included the issuance by the ICBC of special licence plates, with the proceeds going towards preserving BC Parks.[11] The three new plates were unveiled by the ICBC on January 18, 2017, and went on sale January 29, 2017, through the Autoplan broker network. Each plate costs $50 for the initial purchase, of which $33 goes towards funding BC Parks; thereafter, there is an annual renewal fee of $40, all of which goes towards funding the parks system.[7] In less than eight weeks since going on sale, it was reported that 10,000 BC Parks plates had been sold; this included all three designs.[12]
Image | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
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2017 | An image of a Kermode Bear as the background with black lettering. The Kermode Bear is also a provincial symbol. It is a white black bear subspecies; it is not albino.[13] | Beautiful British Columbia | PA123A | PA000A to present | Secondary slogan of "Discover BC Parks" |
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2017 | An image of the Purcell Mountains with the snow-capped peaks as the background with black lettering. | Beautiful British Columbia | PA123A | PK000A to present | Secondary slogan of "Discover BC Parks" |
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2017 | An image of Porteau Cove overlooking Howe Sound as a background with black lettering. | Beautiful British Columbia | PA123A | PW000A to present | Secondary slogan of "Discover BC Parks" |
Decals
Since 1970, British Columbia has required motorists to place a decal on the rear licence plate as proof of registration.
Initially, all decals expired on February 28 of the following year. When monthly staggered registration commenced in 1979, longer decals were introduced displaying the month of expiration; all such decals initially expired at the end of the month displayed. Daily registration commenced in 1993, with an additional decal introduced displaying the number of the day on which the month decal expired.
The decals are currently issued by the ICBC. The following are the colour patterns used in the years from 1980 onward:
Image | Year | Colour |
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1980 | Black and white |
1981 | Red and black | |
1982 | Green and white | |
1983 | Black and white | |
1984 | Orange and white | |
1985 | Blue and white | |
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1986 | Red and blue on white (Expo 86 Logo) |
1987 | Red and white | |
1988 | Dark blue and white | |
1989 | Green on white (thick border) | |
1990 | Pink on white | |
1991 | Blue on white | |
1992 | Black on white | |
1993 | Green on white | |
1994 | Red on white | |
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1995 | Blue on white |
1996 | Black on white (Jan-Sep) | |
1996 | Pink on white (Oct-Dec) | |
1997 | Green on white | |
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1998 | Red on white |
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1999 | Blue on white (thick or thin border) |
2000 | Black on yellow | |
2001 | Black on orange | |
2002 | Black on dark green | |
2003 | Black on pink | |
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2004 | Black on yellow (no border, long decal) |
2005 | Black on sky blue (no border, short decal) | |
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2006 | Black on red |
2007 | Black on light green | |
2008 | White on baby blue | |
2009 | Black on dark orange | |
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2010 | Black on green |
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2011 | Black on yellow |
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2012 | Black on pink |
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2013 | Black on orange |
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2014 | Black on baby blue (full year shown) |
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2015 | Black on mustard yellow |
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2016 | Black on pink |
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2017 | Black on green |
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2018 | Black on orange |
2019 | Black on yellow |
See also
References
- ↑ "Our History: Licence plates mirror B.C.'s past". Times Colonist. Victoria, BC. April 20, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ↑ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
- 1 2 "British Columbia License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ↑ Garrish, Christopher (2013). Tales from the Back Bumper: A Century of BC Licence Plates. Victoria, BC: Heritage House. p. 60. ISBN 978-1-927527-03-0.
- ↑ "British Columbia Passenger License Plates 2001-2014". www.bcpl8s.ca. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
- 1 2 "British Columbia Veteran License Plates". www.bcpl8s.ca. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
- 1 2 3 Baluja, Tamara (January 18, 2017). "ICBC unveils new B.C. Parks licence plates". CBC News. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- 1 2 Infrastructure, Transportation and. "B.C. launches Memorial Cross licence plates | BC Gov News". news.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
- 1 2 "British Columbia Memorial Cross Recipient License Plates". www.bcpl8s.ca. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
- ↑ "British Columbia Consular License Plates". www.bcpl8s.ca. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
- ↑ "B.C. government creating more than 1,900 new campsites". CBC News. November 28, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
- ↑ "10,000 BC Parks specialty licence plates sold". BC Gov News. Government of British Columbia. March 19, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
- ↑ "BC Parks licence plates". www.icbc.com. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
External links
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