| Size: | 12x |
| Serial Format: | ABC 123 |
| Issuer: | Digital Government and Service NL, Motor Registration Division |
| Manufacturer: | Waldale Manufacturing Limited, Amherst, Nova Scotia[1] |
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.
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.[2] The 1956 (dated 1957) issue was the first Newfoundland licence plate that fully complied with these standards: the issues from 1951 (dated 1952) through 1955 (dated 1956) were all 6 inches in height by 12 inches in width, but had non-standard mounting holes.
The last complete re-registration of all registered vehicles in Newfoundland and Labrador was in 1981, with a switch from a numerical system to an alphanumeric system.
All plates issued since 1982 (beginning AAA-001) remain valid today. Plates remain with the vehicle to which they are originally registered, rather than with the owner. Used vehicles with expired plates are issued new licence plates, while used vehicles with valid plates retain their original licence plate.
Since 1985, the province has not used the letters I, Q, U or Y on licence plates,[3] except on plates that use "VO1" (or "VO2" for Labrador) followed by two or three letters issued to Amateur radio operators.[4] However, the HAY series was issued on the 1996-97 Cabot 500 base, while the TFI series was issued on trailers in 2010. The letter I is skipped because it closely resembles the number 1, while the letter Q is skipped because it closely resembles the letter O (which the province does use) and the number zero.
Since September 1997, the province requires only a rear plate for most registrations, except for B, C, E and G plates (see below). Some older cars still display both front and rear plates. Some early "World of Difference" and Cabot 500 base plates were issued in duplicate for the front and rear.
In 2019 the province announced[5] it would be designing licence plates for electric "green" vehicles.
On Newfoundland licence plates, the first letter (or two letters) designates the registration class of the vehicle. For example, HMT-999 would be assigned to a passenger car, while TZD-019 would be assigned to a trailer.
Newfoundland and Labrador is the only province in Canada that does not allow vanity licence plates to be registered.
| First letter(s) | Vehicle type | Notes on use/expiration/issue | Current/last issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Private car | Began at AAA-001 in 1982; ended at AZZ-999 on World of Difference base in 1998. Front and rear plates required until 1997. | AZZ-999 | |
| AA | Antique Auto | Issued to cars and trucks eligible to be considered antique. Cars must be at least 25 years old to be considered. ‘Antique Auto’ is screened onto the plate on the left of the serial | 4433 | |
| B | Bus | BAx for public-use buses, BPx for private-use buses (e.g. tour buses). Front and rear plates required. | BAJ-976 BPD-893 | |
| C | Truck/heavy vehicle | Issued to pickup trucks, SUVs and large vans. Began at CAA-001 in 1982; reached CZZ-999 on pitcher plant base in 2017, followed by CA0 001 onwards. Front and rear plates required. CRx indicates large mobile crane units that are generally overwidth and need special permits and escort on public roadways. Some trucks and vans may now be registered as private cars. | CL7-999 | |
| D | Dealer | Issued to auto dealers for test driving and transporting cars. | DAW-768 | |
| E | Emergency vehicle | Emergency vehicles (fire trucks or police cars) are registered as provincial or municipal, as private ambulance companies operate in NL. Front and rear plates required. Also used by search and rescue vehicles. | EAD-692 | |
| F | Farm vehicle | FAx for farm tractors, FEx for farm equipment, FTx for farm trucks that operate on roads. Infrequently issued. | FAD-638 FEC-654 FTD-273 | |
| FF | Fire Fighter | Issued to cars and trucks belonging to firefighters. Have the FD crest on the left of the serial. | 6163FF | |
| G | Government vehicle | GMx on municipal vehicles, GPx on provincial, GFx on federal. Front and rear plates required. | GMO-320 GPR-292 GFM-154 | |
| H | Private car | Issued as next available letter after 'A' series. Began at HAB-001 on Cabot base in fall of 1996; issued on World of Difference base from 1998; ended at HZZ-999 on pitcher plant base in summer of 2013. | HZZ-999 | |
| J | Private car | Issued as next available letter after 'H' series. Began at JAA-001 on pitcher plant base in summer of 2013. | JUH-002 | |
| M | Motorcycle | Began at MCA-001 in 1982. | MEO-723 | |
| PR | Apportioned | Issued to transport trucks. Began at PRP-001 in 1982; reached PRZ-999 on pitcher plant base in 2012, followed by PRA-001 onwards. | PRC-228 | |
| S | Snowmobile | Began at SAA-001. These are decals and older ones can also be 12345 format. Used to all be orange text on white but the current decal is black text on white. | SMN-942 | |
| T | Trailer | Began at TAA-001 in 1982; jumped from TET-999 to TVT-001 when flag base was introduced in 2001; reached TZZ-999 then jumped back to TEV-001 on pitcher plant base in 2008. TXx reserved for taxi plates. | TMJ-999 | |
| TX | Licensed taxi | Supplemented with a municipal taxi licence sticker. | TXP-999 | |
| W | Tow truck | Tow trucks display a second plate (in addition to a 'C' series plate). Infrequently issued. | WAE-592 | |
| X | Heavy machinery | Issued to tractors, backhoes, forklifts, etc. | XAX-203 | |
| V (VBC-123) | Off-Road | Issued to quads and UTVs, | VJO-091 | |
| VO1 (VO1-XXX) | Amateur Radio | Issued to Newfoundland Operators, | VO1-??? | |
| VO2 (VO2-XXX) | Amateur Radio | Issued to Labrador Operators, | VO2-??? | |
| V (V1234) | Veteran | Issued to cars and trucks belonging to military veterans | V3223 | |
| VA (VA123) | Veteran Motorcycle | Issued to motorcycles belonging to military veterans | VA644 |
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; vertical "NFLD" and "1925" at left and right respectively | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 2100 | |||
| 1926 | Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; vertical "NFLD" and "1926" at left and right respectively | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 2000 | |||
| 1927 | Embossed white serial on forest green plate with border line; "NFLD 1927" at bottom | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 2500 | |||
| 1928 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "NFLD 1928" at bottom | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 2700 | |||
| 1929 | Embossed white serial on ocean blue plate with border line; "NFLD 1929" at bottom | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 3200 | |||
| 1930 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-30" at bottom | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 3500 | |||
| 1931 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-31" at bottom | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 3600 | |||
| 1932 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-32" at bottom | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 3300 | |||
| 1933 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-33" at bottom | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 2800 | |||
| 1934 | Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-34" at bottom | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 3600 | |||
| 1935 | Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-35" at top | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 3900 | |||
| 1936 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-36" at bottom | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 4200 | |||
| 1937 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; embossed crown graphic at left; "NEWFOUNDLAND-37" at top | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 4800 | |||
| 1938 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-38" at bottom | none | 1-234 | 1-001 to approximately 5-100 | |||
| 1939 | Embossed dark green serial on white plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-39" at top | none | 1-234 | 1-001 to approximately 4-900 | |||
| 1940 | Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-40" at bottom | none | 1-234 | 1-001 to approximately 5-400 | |||
| 1941 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-41" at top | none | 1-234 | 1-001 to approximately 5-000 | |||
| 1942 | Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-42" at bottom | none | 1-234 | 1-001 to approximately 6-500 | Reused in 1944 due to metal conservation for World War II. | ||
| 1943 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-43" at top | none | 1-234 | 1-001 to approximately 6-100 | |||
| 1944 | As 1942 base, but red on black | none | 1-234 | 1-001 to approximately 5-700 | Repainted and reused 1942 plates. | ||
| 1945 | Hand-painted white serial on dark green flat metal plate; "NEWFOUNDLAND-45" at top | none | 1-234 | 1-001 to approximately 4-700 | |||
| 1946 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-46" at bottom | none | 1-234 | 1-001 to approximately 6-400 | |||
| 1947 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-47" at top | none | 1-234 | 1-001 to approximately 7-200 | |||
| 1948 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-48" at bottom | none | 1-234 | 1-001 to approximately 8-000 | |||
| 1949 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-49" at top | none | 1-234 | 1-001 to approximately 9-000 | Joined Canada | ||
| 1950 | Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-50" at top | none | 1-001 to approximately 11-500 | ||||
| 1951 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND 51" at bottom | none | 12-345 | 10-001 to approximately 23-500 | |||
| 1952 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-52" at bottom | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 19-000 | |||
| 1953 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-53" at top | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 21-000 | |||
| 1954 | Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-54" at top | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 26-500 | |||
| 1955 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-55" at bottom | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 28-000 | |||
| 1956 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-56" at top | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 36-000 | |||
| 1957 | Embossed yellow serial on sky blue plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-57" at bottom | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 38-000 | |||
| 1958 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-58" at top | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 39-000 | |||
| 1959 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-59" at bottom | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 43-000 | |||
| 1960 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-60" at top | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 45-000 | |||
| 1961 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-61" at bottom | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 49-000 | |||
| 1962 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-62" at top | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 55-000 | |||
| 1963 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-63" at bottom | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 59-000 | |||
| 1964 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND-64" at top | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 65-000 | |||
| 1965 | Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND AND" and "LABRADOR" centred and top and bottom respectively; "19" at top left and "65" at top right | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 70-000 | |||
| 1966 | Embossed dark blue serial on orange plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR" and "1966" centred at top and bottom respectively | none | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 74-000 | |||
| 1967 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR" and "1967" centred at top and bottom respectively | "CANADA CENTENNIAL" between serial and year | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 79-000 | |||
| 1968 | Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR" at top; "19" at bottom left and "68" at bottom right | "CANADA'S HAPPY PROVINCE" centred at bottom | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 87-000 | |||
| 1969 | Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR" and "1969" centred at top and bottom respectively; embossed blue lightning bolts either side of year | "THE MIGHTY CHURCHILL" between serial and year | 12-345 | 1-001 to approximately 88-000 |
| Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970–72 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR" and "1970" centred at top and bottom respectively | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 136-000 | |||
| 1973–75 | Embossed red serial on white plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR" and "1973" centred at top and bottom respectively | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 165-000 | |||
| 1976–82 | Embossed blue serial on orange plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR" and "1976" centred at top and bottom respectively | none | 123-456 | 1-001 to approximately 259-000 | |||
| 1982 – mid 1993 | Embossed blue serial on white plate; "NEWFOUNDLAND" and "AND LABRADOR" in red centred at top and bottom respectively | none | AAA-001 to ASZ-999 | ||||
| mid 1993 – September 1996 | Embossed red serial on white plate; graphic screened at bottom featuring a Viking ship with a red sail against a yellow sunset; "Newfoundland & Labrador" screened in red at top | "A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE" screened in red below and to right of graphic | ABC 123 | ATA 001 to AZF 999 | |||
| September 1996 – September 1997 | Embossed red serial on light blue and white gradient plate; screened red graphic of John Cabot centred at bottom; "Newfoundland & Labrador" screened in blue at top | "CABOT" screened in blue to right of graphic, and "Celebrate 500 Years" in black to left | ABC 123 | HAB 001 to HBC 999 | Commemorated the 500th anniversary of Cabot's voyage to Newfoundland. | ||
| September 1997 – October 2001 | As 1993–96 base | "A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE" as from 1993 to 1996 | ABC 123 | AZG 001 to AZZ 999; HBD 001 to HEP 999 | |||
| October 2001 – July 2002 | Embossed red serial on white plate; screened provincial flag centred slightly below serial; "NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR CANADA" screened in red below flag | none | ABC 123 | HER 001 to HFO 999 | |||
| July 2002 – September 2003 | As above, but with "NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR" centred at top, and "CANADA" increased in size | HFP 001 to HGZ 999 | |||||
| September 2003 – April 2007 | As above, but with flag graphic revised and increased in size, "Newfoundland & Labrador" at top, and "CANADA" removed | HHA 001 to HMT 999 | |||||
| April 2007 – December 2021June 2023 – Present | Embossed blue serial on white plate; screened provincial wordmark centred at bottom, consisting of a pitcher plant with "Newfoundland" and "Labrador" in blue below | none | ABC 123 | HMV 001 to JTJ 446 [6] | |||
| January 2022 – | Embossed blue serial on white and teal gradient plate; screened blue graphic of a whale; screened red provincial word mark on top; screened red “COME HOME 2022” on bottom | "COME HOME 2022" screened in red bottom centre | ABC 123 | JRA 001 to JTC 999 | Commemorated the 2022 Newfoundland and Labrador Come Home Year. | ||
| January 2024 | Embossed black serial on white plate; screened blue and gray graphics of sectios of the NL flag; screened red half maple leaf; screened blue “1949 - 2024” on bottom separated by a gold dash; screened provincial wordmark with pitcher plant on top; screened 75 middle | "1949 - 2024 75" screened in bottom & centre | ABC 123 | JUA 001 to JUH 999 | Commemorated the 75th anniversary of Canadian confederation. |
| Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial | 1982–95 | As 1982 passenger base | CBC-123 | CAA-001 to CHV-999 | ||
| 1995–96 | As World of Difference passenger base | CBC 123 | CHW 001 to CJH 999 | |||
| 1996–97 | As Cabot passenger base | CKL 001 to CKR 999 | ||||
| 1997– 2003 | As World of Difference passenger base | CJJ 001 to CKK 999; CKS 001 to CMS 999 | ||||
| 2003–04 | As 2001 flag passenger base | CMT 001 to CNE 999 | ||||
| 2004–07 | As 2003 flag passenger base | CNF 001 to COS 999 | ||||
| 2007–17 | As pitcher plant passenger base | COT 001 to CZZ 999 | Series CRA through CRZ reserved for mobile crane units. | |||
| 2017–present | CB1 234 | CA0 001 to CE8 182 | ||||
| PRP | As pitcher plant passenger base | PRA 123 | ||||
| Bus | 1997-2001 | As World of Difference passenger base | BAB 123 | |||
| 2007–present | As pitcher plant passenger base | |||||
| Private Bus | 1997-2001 | As World of Difference passenger base | BPA 123 | |||
| 2007–present | As pitcher plant passenger base | |||||
| Farm Truck | As pitcher plant passenger base | FTA 123 | ||||
| Farm Equipment | As pitcher plant passenger base | FEA 123 | ||||
| Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antique | As pitcher plant passenger base; "ANTIQUE AUTO" on left side | 1234 | ||||
| ATV | ABC 123 | |||||
| Motorcycle | 1982– 2004 | Similar design to 1982 passenger base; debossed sticker box at bottom left | ||||
| 2004–07 | Embossed red serial on white plate; border lines around plate and around sticker box at bottom left; "NEWFOUNDLAND" at top; "& LABRADOR" at bottom right | MBC-123 | MDA-001 to MDE-999 | |||
| 2007– present | Similar design to pitcher plant passenger base; debossed sticker box at bottom left | MDF-001 to MEK-031 | ||||
| Snow vehicle | ABC 123 | |||||
| Trailer | As 1982 passenger base | TBC-123 | TAA-001 to TDE-999 | |||
| 1994–96 | As World of Difference passenger base | TBC 123 | TDF 001 to TDR 999 | |||
| 1996–97 | As Cabot passenger base | TDS 001 to TDX 999 | ||||
| 1997–2001 | As World of Difference passenger base | TDZ 001 to TET 999 | ||||
| 2001–02 | As 2001 flag passenger base | TVT 001 to TVV 999 | ||||
| 2002–03 | As 2002 flag passenger base | TVW 001 to TWE 999 | ||||
| 2003–07 | As 2003 flag passenger base | TWF 001 to TWZ 999; TZA 001 to TZC 999 | ||||
| 2007–present | As pitcher plant passenger base | TZD 001 to TZZ 999; TEV 001 to TLD 004 | ||||
| Emergency Vehicle | 1997–2001 | As World of Difference passenger base | EAB 123 | |||
| 2007–present | As pitcher plant passenger base |
| Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal government | As pitcher plant passenger base | GFA 123 | |||||
| Provincial government | As pitcher plant passenger base | GPA 123 | |||||
| Municipal government | As pitcher plant passenger base | GMA 123 |
| Image | Type | Dates issued | Design | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veteran | As pitcher plant passenger base; "VETERAN" at top, poppy on left. | V1234 | |||||
| Veteran Motorcycle | As pitcher plant passenger base; "VETERAN" at top, poppy on left. | VA123 |