Vehicle registration plates of Prince Edward Island explained

Size:12x
Serial Format:123★ABC
Issuer:PEI Department of Transportation and Infrastructure

The Canadian province of Prince Edward Island first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1913; only rear licence plates have been required since 1976.

Passenger baseplates

1919 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 standardised the size for licence plates for motor vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at 6inches in height by 12inches in width, with standardized mounting holes.[1] The first Prince Edward Island licence plate that complied with these standards was issued six years beforehand, in 1950.

ImageDates issuedDescriptionSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1919Dark blue serial on light blue porcelain plate; vertical "PEI" at rightnone12341 to approximately 1000
1920Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; vertical "PEI" at rightnone12341001 to approximately 2500First embossed plate.
1921Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; vertical "PEI" at rightnone1-2343-001 to approximately 4-800
1922Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; vertical "PEI" at rightnone1-2345-001 to approximately 7-200
1923Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "P.E.I. 1923" at leftnone1-2341-001 to approximately 3-300First dated plate.
1924Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; "P.E.I. 1924" at leftnone1-2344-001 to approximately 6-500
1925Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; vertical "P.E.I." and "1925" at left and right respectivelynone1-2345-001 to approximately 7-900
1926Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "P.E. ISLAND" at bottom and vertical "1926" at rightnone1-2345-001 to approximately 8-300
1927Embossed orange serial on dark blue plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at left and "CANADA 1927" at bottomnone1-2341-001 to approximately 5-300First use of the full province name.
1928Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom and vertical "1928" at right"SEED POTATOES FOXES" at left1-2344-001 to approximately 8-800
1929Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom and vertical "1929" at right"GARDEN OF THE GULF" at left1-2341-001 to approximately 6-500
1930Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom and vertical "1930" at right"GARDEN OF THE GULF" at left1-2343-001 to approximately 9-500
1931Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom and vertical "31" at rightnone1-2341-001 to approximately 7-600
1932Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom and vertical "32" at rightnone1-2341-001 to approximately 8-100
1933Embossed white serial on purple plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom and vertical "1933" at rightnone1-2341-001 to approximately 7-200
1934Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom and vertical "1934" at rightnone1-2341-001 to approximately 7-100
1935Embossed black serial on orange plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at top and vertical "1935" at rightnone1-2341-001 to approximately 7-300
1936Embossed white serial on black plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom and vertical "1936" at rightnone1-2341-001 to approximately 7-100
1937Embossed black serial on white plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at top and vertical "1937" at rightnone1-2341-001 to approximately 8-000
1938Embossed silver serial on dark green plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at top; provincial shield and "1938" at leftnone1-2341-001 to approximately 7-700
1939Embossed green serial on grey plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom; "1939" and provincial shield at leftnone1-2341-001 to approximately 7-800
1940Embossed white serial on black plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at top; provincial shield and "1940" at leftnone1-2341-001 to approximately 8-000
1941Embossed black serial on orange plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom; "1941" and provincial shield at leftnone1-2341-001 to approximately 7-800
1942Embossed silver serial on green plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at top; provincial shield and "1942" at leftnone1-2341-001 to approximately 7-100
Embossed white serial on black plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom; "1943" and provincial shield at leftnone1-2341-001 to approximately 7-900Revalidated for 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1945Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom; "1945" and provincial shield at leftnone1-2341-001 to approximately 7-900
1946Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at top; provincial shield and "1946" at leftnone1-2341-001 to approximately 8-400
1947Embossed white serial on black plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom; provincial shield and "1947" at rightnone1-2341-001 to approximately 8-400
1948Embossed black serial on silver plate; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom; provincial shield and "1948" at leftnone1-2341-001 to approximately 9-300
1949Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom; provincial shield and "1949" at leftnone1-2341-001 to approximately 9-999
1950Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom; provincial shield and "1950" at leftnone1-234
12345
1-001 to approximately 11500First 6" x 12" plate.
1951Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; provincial shield and "1951" used as separator; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottomnone12-34510-001 to approximately 22-000
1952Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; provincial shield and "1952" used as separator; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottomnone12-34510-001 to approximately 21-100
1953Embossed blue serial on yellow plate with border line; provincial shield and "1953" used as separator; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottomnone12-34510-001 to approximately 22-400
1954Embossed yellow serial on blue plate with border line; provincial shield and "1954" used as separator; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottomnone12-34510-001 to approximately 22-900
1955Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; provincial shield and "1955" used as separator; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at topnone12-34510-001 to approximately 23-400
1956Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; provincial shield and "1956" used as separator; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottomnone12-34510-001 to approximately 24-500
1957Embossed yellow serial on blue plate with border line; provincial shield and "1957" used as separator; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at topnone12-34510-001 to approximately 25-100
1958Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "1958" and provincial shield used as separator; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottomnone12-34510-001 to approximately 25-600
1959Embossed silver serial on light blue plate with border line; provincial shield and "1959" used as separator; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at topnone12-34510-001 to approximately 27-100
1960Embossed white serial on maroon plate with border line; "1960" and provincial shield used as separator; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottomnone12-34510-001 to approximately 30-500
1961Embossed burnt orange serial on white plate with border line; provincial shield and "1961" used as separator; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at topnone12-34510-001 to approximately 30-300

1962 to present

ImageDates issuedDescriptionSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at top; white box at right containing debossed "62""GARDEN OF THE GULF" at bottom12-34520-001 to approximately 47-000Revalidated for 1963 with stickers.
1964–65Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at top; "64" at right"GARDEN OF THE GULF" at bottom12-34520-001 to approximately 51-000Revalidated for 1965 with yellow tabs.
1966–68Embossed white serial on dark green plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom; "66" at top left"GARDEN PROVINCE" centred at top12-34520-001 to approximately 61-000Revalidated for 1967 and 1968 with stickers.
1969–72Embossed dark blue serial on reflective orange plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom; "69" at top left"GARDEN PROVINCE" centred at top12-34530-001 to
30-500
Reflective plates were experimental. All plates revalidated for 1970, 1971 and 1972 with stickers.
As above, but beige rather than orange, and non-reflective30-501 to approximately 83-000
1973–75Embossed burnt orange serial on white plate with border line; Father of Confederation graphic at left; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom"The Place To Be... In 73" at top12-34519-760 to approximately 76-000Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new licence plate of 1973 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Prince Edward Island has been so honoured. Revalidated for 1974 and 1975 with stickers.
1976–80Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at bottom; white box at right containing debossed "76""SEAT BELTS SAVE" centred at top12-34519-790 to
99-999;
10-001 to approximately 12-000
Revalidated for 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980 with stickers.
1981–92Embossed green serial with provincial shield separator on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" at top and "CANADA" centred at bottomnonesee rightOnly A through T (excluding Q and S) used as first letter in serial, and only A through G (excluding D) used as second letter. Series with A as the second letter issued first; random order thereafter.[2]
1993–97Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; green and red Anne of Green Gables graphic slightly to left of centre; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" screened in red at top"Home of "Anne of Green Gables"" screened in red centred at bottomAB★123
Q1★234
QB★C12
Coded by county of issuance (A)'K' code used in Kings County, 'P' in Prince County, and 'Q' in Queens County, which used the Q1 234 and QB C12 serial formats following QZ 999.
1997AB 123AA 001 to approximately AH 500No county coding.
1997–2007Embossed green serial on reflective gradient green, white and blue plate; screened Confederation Bridge graphic separator at top centre and national flag at bottom left; "Prince Edward Island" screened in green below graphic with green trees, wavy blue underline, and "CANADA" below underline"Confederation Bridge" screened in green at topAB★123ZA 001 to approximately RV 999 (see right)Progression of first letter was as follows: Z, Y, X, V (most series), U, R.
As above, but with screened Province House graphic separator at top centre"Birthplace of Confederation" screened in green at topAB★123WA 001 to approximately VW 999 (see right)Issued concurrently with the Confederation Bridge base. Progression of first letter was as follows: W, N, V (some series).
2007–09Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with screened photo of windmills"Canada's Green Province" at bottomAB 123AA 101 to ZZ 999Issued concurrently with "Canada's Green Province" base (website: "www.peiplay.ca")
2010–12"Canada's Green Province" as 2007 base123 AB101 AA to 963 EW (As of July 30th 2011)Issued concurrently with "Canada's Green Province" base (website: "www.peiplay.ca")
2007–2012La province verte du Canada as 2007 baseJA123JA101 to JA999Issued concurrently with "La province verte du Canada" base (website: "www.douceurdelile.com")
2013–2022Embossed light brown numbers on reflective white with screened facsimile of Province House on the left, provincial coat of arms in centre.Birthplace of Confederation12★3AB A1★23B10 1AA to 99 9ZZ A1 01A to C7 56G (As of July 30th 2022)
Berceau de la Confederation
2013–presentPersonalized plates; can choose to have Province House on the left. Birthplace of ConfederationunlimitedAny personalized plates are allowed so long as text is not offensive; can also be low digit.
2022–presentGreen letters on white baseplate; 'PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND' screened at top. Provincial crest separator in centre and small Canadian state flag in bottom left.CANADA123★ABCDefault version for Anglophone Prince Edward Islanders.
Green letters on white baseplate; 'ÎLE-DU-PRINCE-ÉDOUARD' screened at top. Provincial crest separator in centre and small Canadian state flag in bottom left.Available as an alternate choice for Francophone Prince Edward Islanders.[3]

Commercial licence plates

ImageTypeDates issuedDescriptionSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Commercial1997–2007Embossed green serial on reflective gradient green, white and blue plate; screened Confederation Bridge graphic at top centre and national flag at bottom left; "Prince Edward Island" screened in green below graphic with green trees, wavy blue underline, and "CANADA" below underline"Confederation Bridge" screened in green at topCA 123
2007–2012Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with screened photo of windmills"Canada's Green Province" at bottom
2013–presentEmbossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the leftBirthplace of ConfederationCVC1 234Letters CV are stacked on left
PRP1997–2007Embossed green serial on reflective gradient green, white and blue plate; screened Confederation Bridge graphic at top centre and national flag at bottom left; "Prince Edward Island" screened in green below graphic with green trees, wavy blue underline, and "CANADA" below underline"Confederation Bridge" screened in green at topP1 234
2007–2012Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with screened photo of windmills"Canada's Green Province" at bottom
2013–presentEmbossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the leftBirthplace of Confederation

Non-passenger plates

ImageTypeDates issuedDescriptionSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
DealerEmbossed red serial on reflective yellow plate; "Prince Edward Island" at top, and "Dealer" at bottomnoneDLR1234
Service Vehicle1997–2007Embossed green serial on reflective gradient green, white and blue plate; screened Confederation Bridge graphic at top centre and national flag at bottom left; "Prince Edward Island" screened in green below graphic with green trees, wavy blue underline, and "CANADA" below underline"Confederation Bridge" screened in green at topSV★A12
2007–2012Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with screened photo of windmills"Canada's Green Province" at bottom
2013–presentEmbossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the leftBirthplace of ConfederationSV12 345Letters SV are stacked on left
Trailer1993–1997Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; green and red Anne of Green Gables graphic slightly to left of centre; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" screened in red at top"Home of "Anne of Green Gables"" screened in red centred at bottomTA★123
1997-–2007Embossed green serial on reflective gradient green, white and blue plate; screened Confederation Bridge graphic at top centre and national flag at bottom left; "Prince Edward Island" screened in green below graphic with green trees, wavy blue underline, and "CANADA" below underline"Confederation Bridge" screened in green at top12★3AT
2007–2012Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with screened photo of windmills"Canada's Green Province" at bottom
2013–presentEmbossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the leftBirthplace of ConfederationTLR12T34
Motorcycle1993–1997Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; green and red Anne of Green Gables graphic slightly to left of centre; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" screened in red at top"Home of "Anne of Green Gables"" screened in red centred at bottom
1997–2007Embossed green serial on reflective gradient green, white and blue plate; screened Confederation Bridge graphic at top centre and national flag at bottom left; "Prince Edward Island" screened in green below graphic with green trees, wavy blue underline, and "CANADA" below underline"Confederation Bridge" screened in green at topA1★23
2007–2012Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with screened photo of windmills"Canada's Green Province" at bottom
2013–presentEmbossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the leftBirthplace of Confederation

Specialty licence plates

ImageTypeDates issuedDescriptionSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Volunteer firefighter1993–1997Embossed red serial on reflective white plate; green and red Anne of Green Gables graphic slightly to left of centre; "PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND" screened in red at top"Home of "Anne of Green Gables"" screened in red centred at bottomA12
1997–2007Embossed green serial on reflective gradient green, white and blue plate; screened Confederation Bridge graphic at top centre and national flag at bottom left; "Prince Edward Island" screened in green below graphic with green trees, wavy blue underline, and "CANADA" below underline"Confederation Bridge" screened in green at top1A1
2007–2012Embossed green numbers on reflective white plate with screened photo of windmills"Canada's Green Province" at bottom
2013–presentEmbossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the leftBirthplace of Confederation12 3FAFD to FS
Green electric vehicle (English)2022–presentWhite serial on green background, provincial escutcheon in centre and state flag at bottom left.ELECTRIC VEHICLE123★4EV
Green electric vehicle (French)2022–presentWhite serial on green background, provincial escutcheon in centre and state flag at bottom left.French: VÉHICULE ÉLECTRIQUE123★4EV

Conservation licence plates

In 2013, the province introduced five new specialty plate designs. Those designs included; Blue jay, Canada goose, Red fox, Trout & Lady slipper, the provinces official flower. All profits go to the P.E.I. Wildlife Conservation Fund.[4] [5]

ImageTypeDates issuedDescriptionSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Blue Jay2013Embossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the left; Blue Jay graphic on rightBirthplace of Confederation
Goose2013Embossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the left; Goose graphic on rightBirthplace of Confederation
Red fox2013Embossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the left; Red fox graphic on rightBirthplace of Confederation
Lady slipper2013Embossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the left; Lady slipper flower graphic on rightBirthplace of Confederation
Speckled trout2013Embossed light brown numbers on reflective white with photo of Province House on the left; Trout graphic on rightBirthplace of Confederation

External links

Notes and References

  1. Garrish . Christopher . October 2016 . Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size . Plates . . 62 . 5.
  2. Web site: Tanner . Eric N. . Prince Edward Island Passenger License Plates . allaboutlicenseplates.com . December 17, 2020.
  3. Web site: Province unveils new license plates . Prince Edward Island . 16 November 2022 . 29 January 2023.
  4. Web site: New Licence Plate. www.gov.pe.ca/highwaysafety. Highway Safety Division. 12 September 2014. 2013-10-03.
  5. Web site: 5 conservation licence plates offered by P.E.I. . CBC News . 19 September 2022.