Vehicle registration plates of New Brunswick explained

Size:	12x
Serial Format:	ABC 123
Issuer:	Department of Justice and Public Safety, Motor Vehicle Branch
Manufacturer:	Waldale Manufacturing Limited, Amherst, Nova Scotia^[1]

The Canadian province of New Brunswick first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own licence plates for display until 1911, when the province began to issue plates.

, plates are issued by the New Brunswick Department of Justice and Public Safety through its Motor Vehicle Branch. Only rear plates have been required on all vehicles since July 15, 2019.^[2]

Passenger baseplates

1911 to 1961

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 6inches in height by 12inches in width, with standardized mounting holes.^[3] The first New Brunswick licence plate that complied with these standards was issued seven years beforehand, in 1949 (dated 1950).

Image	Dates issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1911	Black serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "1911" and "NB" at left and right respectively	none	123	1 to 483^[4]	Those who paid their license tax to the Provincial Board of Works in 1911 were provided with a 6 x 10 inch license plate.^[5]
	1912	Red-orange serial on white porcelain plate; vertical "1912" and "NB" at left and right respectively	none	123	1 to 700
	1913	Black serial on yellow porcelain plate; vertical "1913" and "NB" at left and right respectively	none	1234	701 to 1524
	1914	White serial on green porcelain plate; vertical "1914" and "NB" at left and right respectively	none	1234	701 to approximately 2100
	1915	White serial on red porcelain plate; vertical "1915" and "NB" at left and right respectively	none	1234	701 to approximately 2600
	1916	Dark blue serial on light blue porcelain plate; vertical "1916" and "NB" at left and right respectively	none	1234	3000 to approximately 6500
	1917	Black serial on light yellow porcelain plate; vertical "1917" and "NB" at left and right respectively	none	1234	3000 to approximately 8300
	1918	White serial on black flat metal plate; "N.B. 1918" at left	none	12345	3000 to approximately 11700
	1919	Black serial on white flat metal plate; "N.B. 1919" at left	none	1234	1000 to approximately 8300
	1920	Yellow serial on black flat metal plate; vertical "NB" and "1920" at left and right respectively	none	12345	1000 to approximately 11800
	1921	Brown serial on tan flat metal plate; vertical "NB" and "1921" at left and right respectively	none	12345	1000 to approximately 13500
	1922	Embossed dark green serial on white plate with border line; vertical "NB" and "1922" at left and right respectively	none	12-345	1-000 to approximately 13-600	First embossed plate.
	1923	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "NB" and "1923" at left and right respectively	none	12345	1000 to approximately 16700
	1924	Embossed dark blue serial on grey plate; vertical "NB" and "1924" at left and right respectively	none	12345	1000 to approximately 20900
	1925	Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; vertical "NB" and "1925" at left and right respectively	none	12-345	1-000 to approximately 19-400
	1926	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; vertical "NB" and "1926" at left and right respectively	none	12345	1000 to approximately 23200
	1927	Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; vertical "1927" and "NB" at left and right respectively	none	12-345	3-000 to approximately 24-700
	1928	Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "NEW BRUNSWICK-28" at bottom	none	12-345	3-000 to approximately 28-500	First use of the full province name.
	1929	Embossed white serial on teal plate with border line; "NEW BRUNSWICK-29" at top	none	12-345	5-000 to approximately 32-200
	1930	Embossed maroon serial on silver plate with border line; "NEW BRUNSWICK-30" at bottom	none	12345	5000 to approximately 35000
	1931	Embossed orange serial on dark purple plate; "NEW BRUNSWICK-31" at top	none	A-1234	Probably coded by region
	1932	Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "NEW BRUNSWICK-32" at bottom	none	A-1234	Coded by region (A)
	1933	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "NEW BRUNSWICK-33" at top	none	A-1234	Coded by region (A)
	1934	Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "34-NEW BRUNSWICK" at bottom	none	A-1234	Coded by region (A)
	1935	Embossed silver serial on black plate; "NEW BRUNSWICK-35" at top	none	A-1234	Coded by region (A)
	1936	Embossed black serial on white plate; "NEW BRUNSWICK-36" at bottom	none	A-1234	Coded by region (A)
	1937	Embossed white serial on black plate; "NEW BRUNSWICK - 37" at bottom	none	12-345	1-000 to approximately 34-000
	1938	Embossed black serial on silver plate; "NEW BRUNSWICK - 38" at top	none	12-345	1-000 to approximately 34-000
	1939	Embossed white serial on blue plate; "NEW BRUNSWICK - 39" at bottom	none	12-345	1-000 to approximately 34-500
	1940	Embossed yellow serial on dark green plate; "NEW BRUNSWICK - 40" at top	none	12-345	2-000 to approximately 36-500
	1941	Embossed beige serial on brown plate; "NEW BRUNSWICK - 41" at bottom	none	12-345	2-000 to approximately 36-500
		Embossed yellow serial on dark blue plate; "42 - NEW BRUNSWICK" at top	none	12·345	2·000 to approximately 37·500	Revalidated for 1943 and 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
	1945	Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "NEW BRUNSWICK - 45" at top	none	12·345	1·000 to approximately 30·500
	1946	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "NEW BRUNSWICK-46" at bottom	none	12·345	1·000 to approximately 35·500
	1947	Embossed white serial on brown plate; "NEW BRUNSWICK-47" at bottom	none	12·345	1·000 to approximately 40·000
	1948	Embossed white serial on black plate; "48-NEW BRUNSWICK" at top	none	12·345	1000 to approximately 42·500
	1949	Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "49-NEW BRUNSWICK" at bottom	none	12·345	1·000 to approximately 46·500
	1950	Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NEW BRUNSWICK – 50" at top	none	12·345	1·000 to approximately 53·000
	1951	Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NEW BRUNSWICK – 51" at bottom	none	12·345	1·000 to approximately 58·000
	1952	Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "52 – NEW BRUNSWICK" at top	none	12·345	1·000 to approximately 64·000
	1953	Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "53 – NEW BRUNSWICK" at bottom	none	12·345	1·000 to approximately 68·000
	1954	Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; embossed provincial shield used as separator; "54 - NEW BRUNSWICK" at top	none	12-345	1-000 to approximately 77-000
	1955	Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; embossed provincial shield used as separator; "55 – NEW BRUNSWICK" at bottom	none	12-345	1-000 to approximately 79-000
	1956	As 1954 base, but with "56 – NEW BRUNSWICK" at top	none	12-345	1-000 to approximately 90-000
	1957	As 1955 base, but with "57 – NEW BRUNSWICK" at bottom	none	12-345	1-000 to approximately 99-999
	1958	Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; embossed provincial shield used as separator; "58 – NEW BRUNSWICK" at top	"PICTURE PROVINCE" centred at bottom		10-00 to approximately 109-000
	1959	Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; embossed provincial shield used as separator; "NEW BRUNSWICK – 59" at top	"PICTURE PROVINCE" centred at bottom	123-456	10-00 to approximately 110-000
	1960–61	As 1958 base, but with "60 – NEW BRUNSWICK" at top	"PICTURE PROVINCE" centred at bottom	123-456	10-00 to approximately 130-000	Revalidated for 1961 with windshield stickers.

1962 to present

Image	Dates issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
		Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NEW BRUNSWICK" at top, offset to left; embossed white box at top right containing debossed "62"	"PICTURE PROVINCE" centred at bottom	123-456	1-000 to approximately 152-000
	1964–65	Embossed white serial on red plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "NEW BRUNSWICK" centred at top; "64" at bottom right	"PICTURE PROVINCE" centred at bottom	123-456	1-000 to approximately 173-000
	1966–68	As 1964–65 base, but with "66" at bottom right	"PICTURE PROVINCE" centred at bottom	123-456	1-000 to approximately 233-000
	1969–71	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "NEW BRUNSWICK" centred at top; "69" at bottom right	"PICTURE PROVINCE" centred at bottom	123-456	1-000 to approximately 239-000
	1972–74	Embossed green serial on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NEW BRUNSWICK" and "NOUVEAU-BRUNSWICK" centred at top and bottom respectively; "72" at top right	none	123-456	1-000 to approximately 270-000
	1975–77	As 1972–74 base, but with "75" at top right	none	123-456	1-000 to approximately 321-000
	1978–85	As 1972–74 base, but with "78" at top right	none	123-456	1-000 to approximately 547-000
	1986–89	Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NEW BRUNSWICK" and "NOUVEAU-BRUNSWICK" screened in turquoise centred at top and bottom respectively	none		AAA-000 to approximately ARZ-999
	1989	As above, but with province names embossed rather than screened			AZA-000 to AZG-999	Interim plates manufactured while material was changed from ordinary steel to galvanized steel.
	1989–91	As 1986–89 plates			ASA-000 to approximately AVT-999
	1991–2003	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with "New" and "Nouveau" to the left and "Brunswick" to the right, all in green) centred at top	none	ABC-123	BAA-000 to BZZ-999; GAA-000 to approximately GIY-499	C, D and F as first letters reserved for Commercial, Dealer and Farm plates respectively.
	2003–09	As above, but with revised wordmark ("New" to the left of the galley, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below)			GIY-500 to GWZ-999
	2009–11	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom	ABC 123	GXA 000 to GZZ 999; JAA 000 to JDZ 999	H as first letter reserved for Taxi plates.
	2011–present		none		JEA 000 to KDI 465 ^[6]	Only rear plates required beginning July 15, 2019.

Commercial baseplates

Image	Type	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	Commercial	1986	Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NEW BRUNSWICK" and "NOUVEAU-BRUNSWICK" screened in turquoise centred at top and bottom respectively	none	CA1-234		First letter C reserved for Commercial plates
		2009-11	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom	CAB 123
		2011-present		none		CRA 001 to CXT 983

Truck plates

Image	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1991-2003	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with "New" and "Nouveau" to the left and "Brunswick" to the right, all in green) centred at top	none	L12-345
			none	L123456
	2003-09		none
			none	LAB 123	LAA 001 to LAR 250
	2009-11	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom		LAU 068 to LBI 686	Also used on Transit busses
	2011-present		none		LBI 687 to LDA 683

Prorated plates

Image	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1986	Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NEW BRUNSWICK" and "NOUVEAU-BRUNSWICK" screened in turquoise centred at top and bottom respectively	none	PR12345		PRP Plan
	2009-2011	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom	PAB 123	PTF 001 to PTO 041
	2011-present		none		PTO 042 to PUX 476

Farm plates

Image	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	2009-11	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom	F12 345		First letter F reserved for Farm plates
	2011-present		none		F22 001 to F27 541

Taxi plates

Image	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	2009-11	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom	H12 345		H as first letter reserved for Taxi plates.
	2011-present		none		H21 415 to H25 864

Other non-passenger baseplates

Antique vehicle plates

License plates designated for Historic cars.

Image	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1991–2003	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with "New" and "Nouveau" to the left and "Brunswick" to the right, all in green) centred at top	none
	2003–09	As above, but with revised wordmark ("New" to the left of the galley, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below)	none	AB1 234	AA1 001 to unknown
	2009-11	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom
	2011–present		none		unknown to AA5 852

Trailer plates

Image	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1986	Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NEW BRUNSWICK" and "NOUVEAU-BRUNSWICK" screened in turquoise centred at top and bottom respectively	none	TA1-234
	1991-2003	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with "New" and "Nouveau" to the left and "Brunswick" to the right, all in green) centred at top	none	TAB 123
	2003–09	As above, but with revised wordmark ("New" to the left of the galley, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below)	none
	2009-11	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom
	2011-present		none		TNA 101 to TVC 792

Motorcycle plates

Image	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	2009-11	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom	ABC12
	2011-present		none		YJY37 to ZBN74

ATV plates

Image	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	1986	Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NEW / NOUVEAU" and "BRUNSWICK" screened in turquoise centred at top and bottom respectively	none	AB12345	issued	notes
	2003-09		none	AB1-234
	2009-11	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom
	2011-present		none		unknown to YE6 025

Dealer plates

Image	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	2009-11	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom	D12 345		First letter D reserved for Dealer plates
	2011-present		none		unknown to D21 547

Seasonal plates

Image	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	2009-11	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom	SAB 123
	2011-present		none		SAA 001 to SAF 522

Firefighter plates

Image	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	2009-11	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Be... in this place ᐧ Être... ici on le peut" screened in green centred at bottom	AB123
	2011-present		none		RJ825 to RS890

Specialty Plates

The first Conservation license plate featured a Salmon design. In 2009, New Brunswick introduced three new specialty license plate designs; Chickadee, Flower & Deer. The money earned from these plates go to the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund.^[7]

Image	Type	First issued	Description	Slogan	Serial format	Serials issued	Notes
	Conservation Salmon	2000	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate	"Conservation"	ABC 123
		2009-present	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Conservation"
	Conservation Chickadee	2009	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Conservation"	ABC 123
	Conservation Flower	2009	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Conservation"	ABC 123
	Conservation Deer	2009	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial	"Conservation"	ABC 123
	Veteran	2003		"VETERAN / ANCIEN COMBATTANT"	WA 123	WA001 to WZ 999
		2021-present	Embossed red serial on reflective white plate with curved gold and sky blue bands at the top; screened provincial wordmark (red galley graphic with small blue waves and "New" to the left, "Nouveau" to the right and "Brunswick" and "CANADA" below, all in green) on bands, centred above serial with red poppy to the left of serial	"VETERAN / ANCIEN COMBATTANT"	WAB01	WAA01 to WAX19

External links

• New Brunswick licence plates, 1969–present

Notes and References

1. Web site: Drost . Philip . April 19, 2018 . Peel... in this place: Why thousands of licence plates are being recalled . . November 11, 2020.
2. Web site: MacKinnon . Bobbi-Jean . June 18, 2019 . Front licence plates will be scrapped by July 15 despite safety concerns . . July 28, 2019.
3. Garrish . Christopher . October 2016 . Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size . Plates . . 62 . 5.
4. Web site: Taylor . Eric Robert . New Brunswick Archive . PorcelainPlates.net . December 31, 2018.
5. News: AUTO OWNERS SLOW IN PAYING LICENSE FEES . 24 August 2023 . The Daily Gleaner . October 22, 1912.
6. Web site: New Brunswick License Plates . December 5, 2023 . www.licenseplates.cc.
7. Web site: New conservation plates available . Communications New Brunswick . New Brunswick . 10 August 2022.