Vehicle registration plates of Manitoba explained

Slogan Label:Slogan
Slogan:Friendly Manitoba
Size:12x
Material:Aluminum
Serial Format:ABC 123
Issuer:Manitoba Public Insurance
Start Date:

The Canadian province of Manitoba first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1911., plates are issued by Manitoba Public Insurance. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates

1911 to 1947

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.[1] The first Manitoba licence plate that complied with these standards was issued 25 years beforehand, in 1931.

No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection.

ImageDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1911White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MAN" and "1911" at left and right respectively12341 to 1999;
3000 to approximately 3200
Serials 2000 through 2999 reserved for dealers.[2]
1912White serial on black porcelain plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN. 1912" below12341 to approximately 4500
1913Black serial on white porcelain plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN 1913" below12341 to approximately 5800
1914Black serial on golden yellow porcelain plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN 1914" below12341 to approximately 7400
1915Black serial on white flat metal plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN. 1915" below12341 to approximately 8900
1916White serial on brown flat metal plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN. 1916" below123451 to approximately 12500
1917White serial on black flat metal plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN. 1917" below123451 to approximately 18600

1918–19Black serial on yellow flat metal plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN. 1918" below123451 to approximately 33000Revalidated for 1919 with dark green tabs.
1920Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; "MAN 1920" at left123451 to approximately 33500First embossed plate.
1921Embossed gray serial on dark blue plate with border line; "MAN 1921" at left1 to approximately 37-500
1922Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MAN 1922" at left12-3451 to approximately 38-500
1923Embossed blue serial on gray plate with border line; "MAN 1923" at left12-3451 to approximately 41-000
1924Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MAN 1924" at left12-3451 to approximately 42-500
1925Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "MAN 1925" at left12-3451 to approximately 41-500
1926Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; slanted "MAN" and "26" at right12-3451 to approximately 51-500
1927Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "MANITOBA 27" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 58-500First use of the full province name.
1928Embossed black serial on turquoise plate with border line; "MANITOBA 28" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 59-000
1929Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "MANITOBA 29" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 77-000
1930Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "MANITOBA 30" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 80-000
1931Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "MANITOBA 31" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 90-000First 6" x 12" plate.
1932Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MANITOBA 32" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 78-000
1933Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "MANITOBA 33" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 65-000
1934Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "34 MANITOBA" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 65-500
1935Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MANITOBA 35" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 64-500
1936Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "MANITOBA 36" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 65-500
1937Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "MANITOBA 37" at top12-3451 to approximately 68-000
1938Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MANITOBA 38" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 78-500
1939Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "MANITOBA 39" at top12-3451 to approximately 85-500
1940Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "MANITOBA 40" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 84-500
1941Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "MANITOBA 41" at top12-3451 to approximately 85-000

Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "MANITOBA 42" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 84-000Revalidated for 1943 with red tabs, and for 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1945Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "MANITOBA 45" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 84-500
1946Embossed blue serial on cream plate with border line; "MANITOBA 46" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 84-000
1947Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "MANITOBA 47" at bottom12-3451 to approximately 85-500

1948 to present

Manitoba is currently one of five provinces where decals are not used to show that the vehicle has valid registration, the others being Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Quebec.[3]

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes

Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "MANITOBA 48" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 112-000Revalidated for 1949 with silver tabs.

1950–51Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "MANITOBA 50" at bottomnone1A2341A1 to approximately 9S999Revalidated for 1951 with red tabs.
1952–57Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "MANITOBA 52" at bottomnone1A2341A1 to
9Y999
Revalidated for 1953 with black tabs, for 1954 with green tabs, for 1955 with white tabs, for 1956 with black tabs, and for 1957 with green tabs.
12A3410A1 to approximately 70P99
1958–63Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "MANITOBA 58" at bottom, offset to right, with embossed bison graphic to leftnone1A2341A1 to
9Y999
Revalidated for 1959 with white tabs, for 1960 with yellow tabs, for 1961 with green tabs, for 1962 with white tabs, and for 1963 with yellow tabs. Letters I, O, Q, R and Z not used in serials; this practice continued until 1976.[4]
12A3410A1 to
99Y99
AB123AA1 to approximately DV999
1964–70Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "MANITOBA 64" at bottom, offset to right, with embossed bison graphic to leftnone1A2341A1 to
9Y999
Revalidated for 1965 with black tabs, for 1966 with red tabs, for 1967 with purple tabs, for 1968 with green tabs, for 1969 with black tabs, and for 1970 with purple tabs. Manitoba was thus the last jurisdiction in North America to revalidate its licence plates with tabs.
12A3410A1 to
99Y99
AB123AA1 to approximately PJ999
1971–75Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; outline of bison's head and front leg embossed at left; "71" at bottom left"SUNNY MANITOBA" and "100,000 LAKES" centred at top and bottom respectivelyAB-123
AB12-34
AA-1 to approximately DW99-99Former provincial slogan coincidentally similar to the U.S. state of Minnesota slogan, "10,000 LAKES" (which is still currently used on its license plates).
1976–82Embossed purple serial on reflective yellow plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "MANITOBA" centred at bottom; "76" at top right"FRIENDLY" centred at topAAA-101 to approximately GUW-999Only letters A through E, G, H, K, L, N, S, T, U, W and X used in serials, and numbers 1–100 reserved in all series.
1983–86Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "MANITOBA" screened in red centred at bottom; debossed "83" at bottom left"FRIENDLY" screened in red centred at top123 ABC101 AAA to 500 DWTThe 1986 design changes were made in order to cut costs. Letters initially used in serials same as those on the 1976–82 base, plus P as second and/or third letter only; all letters used from the QAA series onwards (1995).
1986 – June 16, 1997As above, but non-reflective, and with province name embossed in blackAs above, but embossed in black501 DWT to approximately 999 QLV
June 17, 1997[5]  – late
2012
Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with river scene featuring green trees on either side and yellow wheat at the bottom; blue bison graphic screened at top right; "Manitoba" screened in blue at top, offset to right, with red maple leaf over the 'i'"Friendly" screened in blue to left of province name, giving "Friendly Manitoba"ABC 123AAA 101 to BZZ 999; DAA 101 to GLW 999Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new standard-issue licence plate of 1997 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Manitoba has been so honored. Co-recipient with Wisconsin. Letters I, O and Q not used in serials; 'C' series reserved for Commercial plates and 'J' series for alternative Bienvenue plates (below).
late 2012 – presentAs above, but with bison graphic changed from blue to blackGLX 101 to HZZ 999; KAA 101 to LBE 958
February 25, 2013[6]  – presentAs above, plus "Bienvenue" screened in blue centered at bottomJBA 101 to JBT 193 Alternative issue.

Specialty plates

ImageTypeFirst issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Winnipeg Blue BombersJune 2011Blue Text, Blue to white gradient and screened Winnipeg Blue Bombers logo"Friendly" and "True Blue"BB1234BB0001 to BB9999Serials BB0001 through BB0150 were issued only to current Bomber players, Alumni and executives.
B12345B00001 to present
Winnipeg JetsDecember 2011Blue serial on white and blue gradient plate with Jets logo screened at left"Friendly" and "Fuelled By Passion"WJ1234WJ0001 to WJ9999
J12345J00001 to present
FirefighterSeptember 2012Blue serial on white and red gradient plate with Fire Department crest screened at left"Friendly" and "Serving Our Community"FF1234FF0001 to FF9999Issued to active or retired fire fighters and their immediate family. The number in the serial usually matches the fire fighter's badge number.
Firefighter – WinnipegWF1234WF0001 to WF9999
Winnipeg GoldeyesMarch 2013Blue serial on white and gold gradient plate with Goldeyes logo screened at left"Friendly" and "Goldeyes"G12345G00001 to present
Curling ManitobaDecember 2013Black serial on white plate with yellow curling target screened at bottom and curling stone at left"Friendly" and "curlingforlife.com"CM1234CM0001 to present
Brandon Wheat KingsFebruary 2014Black serial on white and yellow gradient plate with Wheat Kings logo and three wheat stalks screened at left"Friendly" and "Wheat Kings"WK1234WK0001 to present
University of WinnipegJune 2014Black serial on white and red plate with UWinnipeg campus screened in background and UWinnipeg crest at left"Friendly" and "Discover, Achieve, Belong"UW1234UW0001 to present
Winnipeg Jets HeritageSeptember 2021Blue serial on white plate with 1973 Jets logo screened at left"Friendly" and "Honour the Past"JH1234JH0001 to JH9999
H12345H00001 to present

Non-passenger plates

ImageTypeDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
CollectorEmbossed black serial on yellow plate; "Friendly Manitoba" and black bison graphic at top; "Collector" at bottomCL12345CL00001 to CL06177 First issued March 2014. Issued to cars and motorcycles that are at least 25 years old and are used only for pleasure.
CommercialAs current passenger baseCBC 123CAA 001 to CKU 204
DealerAs current passenger baseD12345D00001 to D68012
LiveryAs current passenger baseXBC 123XAA 001 to XAF 999
MotorcycleSame design as current passenger base; "MC" embossed below serial1AB231AA01 to 4EB99
Same design as current passenger base; "MC" embossed below serial5EB01 to 7GH01 New smaller size. Continues on same serial format.
RepairerR12345R00001 to R19260
ORVEmbossed black serial on yellow plate; "MANITOBA" at top and "ORV" at bottom123A41A1 to 999Z9First issued 1988. 1A234 serial format commenced 2010.
1A2341A001 to 7M878
PSVAs current passenger basePBC 123PAA 001 to PEB 330
TrailerSame design as current passenger base; "TL" embossed below serialA123BA001A to Z999Z123AB serial format commenced 2017.
123AB001AA to 433GE
Amateur RadioAB1CD123AB serial format commenced 2017.

Vanity plates

The province also offers personalized vanity license plates, at a cost of $100. These plates can be affixed to passenger vehicles, non-commercial trucks, farm trucks, motorcycles, mopeds and motorhomes.[7]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Garrish . Christopher . October 2016 . Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size . Plates . . 62 . 5.
  2. Web site: Taylor . Eric Robert . Manitoba Archive . PorcelainPlates.net . July 31, 2017.
  3. Web site: Manitoba Public Insurance scrapping licence plate stickers . . January 15, 2016 . June 27, 2016.
  4. Web site: Tanner . Eric N. . Manitoba Passenger License Plates . allaboutlicenseplates.com . November 17, 2020.
  5. Web site: New Licence Plates Being Distributed . Province of Manitoba . June 13, 1997 . June 28, 2019.
  6. Web site: Bilingual licence plates coming to Manitoba roads . . February 19, 2013 . July 25, 2018.
  7. Web site: Personalized licence plates . Manitoba Public Insurance . 7 September 2022.