Vehicle registration plates of British Columbia

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.[1]

British Columbia
Current series
SloganBeautiful British Columbia
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatAB1 23C
Introduced1985 (1985)
Availability
Issued byInsurance Corporation of British Columbia
Manufactured byWaldale Manufacturing Limited, Amherst, Nova Scotia
History
First issuedJanuary 1913 (1913-01)
(pre-provincial plates from February 1904 to December 1912)

Plates are currently issued by the provincial motor vehicle insurer, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates

1913 to 1969

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 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
 1913 White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "B.C." and "1913" at left and right respectively none 1234 1 to approximately 6900
1914 Black serial on white porcelain plate; "BC" monogram and "1914" at left none 1234 1 to approximately 7900
1915 White serial on green flat metal plate; provincial coat of arms at left with "B.C. 1915" below none 1234 1 to approximately 7700
1916 Black serial on yellow flat metal plate; provincial coat of arms at left with "B.C. 1916" below none 1234 1 to approximately 9400
1917 Black serial on white flat metal plate; provincial coat of arms at left with "B.C. 1917" below none 12345 1 to approximately 13000
1918–19 Embossed yellow serial 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.
 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.
 1923 Embossed yellow serial on green plate with border line; "BC 1923" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 38500
1924 Embossed yellow serial 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.
 1925 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "25" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 57-000
1926 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "26" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 69-000
1927 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "27" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 77-000
1928 Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "28" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 90-000
1929 Embossed black serial on tan plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "29" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 99-999
1930 Embossed yellow serial on red plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "30" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 103-000
1931 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "31" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 108-000
1932 Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "32" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 120-000
1933 Embossed brown serial on yellow plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "33" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 99-000
1934 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "34" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 96-000
1935 Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "35" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 102-000
1936 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "36" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 89-000
1937 Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "37" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 91-000
1938 Embossed cream serial on brown plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "38" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 97-000
1939 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "39" at right none 12-345 1 to approximately 99-000
1940 Embossed yellow serial 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)
 1941 Embossed blue serial 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
 1942 Embossed white serial 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
 1943 Embossed black serial 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
 1944 Embossed cream serial 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
 1945 Embossed red serial 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
 1946 Embossed white serial 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
 1947 Embossed green serial 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
 1948 Embossed white serial 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
 1949 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "49" at right none 123-456 1 to approximately 168-000
1950–51 Embossed yellow serial 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.
 1952–54 Embossed black serial 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.
 1955 Embossed black serial 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.
 1956 Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 56" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 352-000
1957 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 57" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 402-000
1958 Embossed green serial 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.
 1959 Embossed turquoise serial on maroon plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 59" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 432-000
1960 Embossed maroon serial on turquoise plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 60" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 453-000
1961 Embossed maroon serial on pink plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 61" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 471-000
1962 Embossed pink serial on maroon plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 62" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 509-000
1963 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 63" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 534-000
1964 Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at bottom; "64" at bottom right "BEAUTIFUL" centred at top 123-456 1 to approximately 573-000 First use of the "Beautiful British Columbia" slogan.
 1965 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at bottom; "65" at top right "BEAUTIFUL" centred at top 123-456 1 to approximately 630-000
1966 Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at bottom; "66" at top right "BEAUTIFUL" centred at top 123-456 1 to approximately 674-000
1967 Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at bottom; "67" at top right "BEAUTIFUL" centred at top 123-456 1 to approximately 720-000 Colours chosen to commemorate the centennial of Canadian Confederation.[5]
 1968 Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at bottom; "19" at top left and "68" at top right "BEAUTIFUL" centred at top 123-456 1 to approximately 762-000
1969 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at bottom; "19" at top left and "69" at top right "BEAUTIFUL" centred at top 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
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.
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.
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.
1985–2001 Blue on reflective white with screened stylized provincial flag in centre Beautiful British Columbia ABC 123 LAA 000 to XXX 999
2001 – August 2014 123 ABC 000 AAA to 999 XXX; 000 MJG to 999 MXX 'M' series of serials initially reserved for 2010 Winter Olympics plates; unused serials were issued on the standard base in mid-2014 following 999 XXX. 'V' series 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.[6]
August 2014 –present AB1 23C AA0 00A to KR8 02N (as of May 10, 2020)

Optional types
Image Type First issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
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 123VBC 000VAA to present Issued to veterans who must be confirmed by one of the Veterans associations recognized by the provincial government[7]
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 MBC 000 MAA to 999 MJF Issued from April 16, 2007 to December 31, 2010. Surcharge supported Canada's Winter Olympic team.[8]
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.[9] They can only be obtained by contacting the Manager of Provincial Vehicle Registration & Licensing at ICBC headquarters.[10]
Amateur radio White background with blue text (identical to standard passenger plates) Beautiful British Columbia VE7ABC
VA7ABC		 Available to holders of a valid amateur radio license.[11]

Truck plates 1973 to present

The current standard truck plate is issued to both commercial and private trucks, and also to buses and taxis.[12]

Image First issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1973 Black on white Beautiful British Columbia 123-456 500-001 to 999-999
1976 Orange on white Beautiful British Columbia 12-34-AB 00-00-AA to approximately 25-00-DS
1979 Green on white Beautiful British Columbia 12-34-AB 00-00-FA to approximately 10-00-LY
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
2008 AB 1234 AL 0000 to PL 5656 (as of May 10, 2020)

Optional types
Image Type First issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
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 0000LB 0000LV to present Issued to veterans who must be confirmed by one of the Veterans associations recognized by the provincial government[7]
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 AB 1234 AA 0000 to approximately AF 2500 Issued from April 16, 2007 to December 31, 2010. Surcharge supported Canada's Winter Olympic team.[8]
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.[9] They can only be obtained by contacting the Manager of Provincial Vehicle Registration & Licensing at ICBC headquarters.[10]

Consular plates 1967 to present
Image First issued Design Slogan Notes Serial format Serials issued
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
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

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

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

2001 Continuation of the flag graphic with a change of serial format Beautiful British Columbia Flag graphic CONSUL A00 A01-D99*

*Unconfirmed

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
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
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
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
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[13] 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.[14] 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.[8] 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.[15]

Image First issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
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.[16] Beautiful British Columbia PB123C PA000A to present Secondary slogan of "Discover BC Parks"
2017 An image of the Purcell Mountains with the snow-capped peaks as the background with black lettering. Beautiful British Columbia PB123C PK000A to present Secondary slogan of "Discover BC Parks"
2017 An image of Porteau Cove overlooking Howe Sound as a background with black lettering. Beautiful British Columbia PB123C
RB123C		 PW000A to PX999X; RA000A 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 YearColour
1980Black and white
1981Red and black
1982Green and white
1983Black and white
1984Orange and white
1985Blue and white
1986Red and blue on white (Expo 86 Logo)
1987Red and white
1988Dark blue and white
1989Green on white (thick border)
1990Pink on white
1991Blue on white
1992Black on white
1993Green on white
1994Red on white
1995Blue on white
1996Black on white (Jan-Sep)
1996Pink on white (Oct-Dec)
1997Green on white
1998Red on white
1999Blue on white (thick or thin border)
2000Black on yellow
2001Black on orange
2002Black on dark green
2003Black on pink
2004Black on yellow (no border, long decal)
2005Black on sky blue (no border, short decal)
2006Black on red
2007Black on light green
2008White on baby blue
2009Black on dark orange
2010Black on green
2011Black on yellow
2012Black on pink
2013Black on orange
2014Black on baby blue (full year shown)
2015Black on mustard yellow
2016Black on pink
2017Black on green
2018Black on orange
2019 Black on yellow
2020 Black on yellow

See also

References
  1. "Our History: Licence plates mirror B.C.'s past". Times Colonist. Victoria, BC. April 20, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  2. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  3. Tanner, Eric N. "British Columbia License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  4. 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.
  5. Garrish, Christopher. "British Columbia Passenger License Plates 1964-1969". www.bcpl8s.ca. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  6. Garrish, Christopher. "British Columbia Passenger License Plates 2001-2014". www.bcpl8s.ca. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  7. Garrish, Christopher. "British Columbia Veteran License Plates". www.bcpl8s.ca. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  8. Baluja, Tamara (January 18, 2017). "ICBC unveils new B.C. Parks licence plates". CBC News. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  9. Infrastructure, Transportation and. "B.C. launches Memorial Cross licence plates | BC Gov News". news.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2017-01-25.
  10. Garrish, Christopher. "British Columbia Memorial Cross Recipient License Plates". www.bcpl8s.ca. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  11. "ICBC - Ham radio plates". www.icbc.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  12. Garrish, Christopher. "British Columbia Commercial Truck License Plates". www.bcpl8s.ca. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  13. Garrish, Christopher. "British Columbia Consular License Plates". www.bcpl8s.ca. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  14. "B.C. government creating more than 1,900 new campsites". CBC News. November 28, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
  15. "10,000 BC Parks specialty licence plates sold". BC Gov News. Government of British Columbia. March 19, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  16. "BC Parks licence plates". www.icbc.com. Retrieved January 24, 2017.
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