Vehicle registration plates of the Northwest Territories explained

Slogan Label:Slogan
Slogan:Spectacular Northwest Territories
Material:Aluminum
Serial Format:123456
Issuer:Registrar of Motor Vehicles, Government of the Northwest Territories

The Canadian territory of Northwest Territories first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1941., plates are issued by the Northwest Territories Registrar of Motor Vehicles.[1] Only rear plates have been required since June 1, 1993.[2]

In 1970, to celebrate the centennial of the territory, a unique polar bear-shaped plate was introduced. The basic bear shape has been retained ever since, and the plate is now a registered trademark of the Government of the Northwest Territories.[3]

The current design, which consists of graphic and material updates, was rolled out on July 1, 2010. The blue-and-white plates prior to the update were made of steel and lack graphic sheeting technology that would make them visible in the dark. Current plates are made with aluminum and incorporated visual updates as well as a new slogan.[4]

Influence on Nunavut plate design

See also: Vehicle registration plates of Nunavut. In April 1999, the territory of Nunavut was created from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. The new territory adopted a virtually identical bear-shaped licence plate, following an agreement between the governments of the two territories. In 2011, the Government of Nunavut decided to discontinue the bear shape and replace it with a conventional rectangular design, which was introduced in July 2012.

Passenger baseplates

1945 to 1974

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.[5] The first Northwest Territories licence plate that complied with these standards was issued five years beforehand, in 1951. The current bear-shaped plates feature the standard mounting holes.

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes

27

1945White on bluenone1231 to approximately 180

37

1946Orange on blacknone1231 to approximately 290

277

1947Black on silvernone1231 to approximately 400

38

1948White on bluenone1231 to approximately 590

72

1949White on greennone1231 to approximately 460

727

1950Black on orangenone1234651 to approximately 1350

1722

1951Orange on blacknone12341351 to approximately 2100First 6" x 12" plate.

138

1952White on bluenone123100 to approximately 650

76

1953Black on orangenone123100 to approximately 760

378

1954Orange on blackCanada's Northland123100 to approximately 870

723

1955Black on orangeCanada's Northland123100 to approximately 1300

273

1956Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 1100

762

1957Black on orangeCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 1400

237

1958Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 2200

27

1959Black on orangeCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 2300

763

1960Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 2400
1961Black on orangeCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 3400
1962Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 4100

287

1963Black on orangeCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 3900

723

1964Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 4200
1965White on light greenCanada's Northland1-234100 to approximately 4-900
Black on reflective orange; territorial shield at leftCanada's Northland12-345100 to approximately 11-500Revalidated for 1967 with white-on-blue tabs, for 1968 with red-on-white tabs, and for 1969 with green-on-white tabs.
1970Bear-shaped; white on blueCentennial1-2341 to approximately 7-500First bear-shaped plate. Awarded inaugural "Plate of the Year" for best new licence plate of 1970 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
1971Bear-shaped; blue on whitenone1-2341 to approximately 8-500
1972Bear-shaped; white on bluenone12-3451 to approximately 10-500
1973Bear-shaped; dark blue on white with yellow slogan, date, and borderRCMP Centennial12-3451 to approximately 11-000
1974Bear-shaped; red on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 11-500

1975 to present

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1975–76Bear-shaped; turquoise on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 18-000Revalidated for 1976 with stickers.
1977–78Bear-shaped; red on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 21-500Revalidated for 1978 with stickers.
1979–80Bear-shaped; turquoise on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 21-500Revalidated for 1980 with stickers.
1981–82Bear-shaped; red on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 21-000Revalidated for 1982 with stickers.
1983–85Bear-shaped; blue on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 30-500Last dated plate. Revalidated for 1984 and 1985 with stickers.
1986–2010Bear-shaped; blue on whiteExplore Canada's Arctic1234561 to approximately 126000Monthly staggered registration introduced 1990. Front and rear plates issued through May 31, 1993 (serials 1 through 51700); only rear plates issued thereafter.
2010–presentBear-shaped; nature sceneSpectacular123456300000 to 366499

Commercial plates

ImageFirst issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
1967CV1234
1968CV123
1969CV123
1970CV1234
1971CV123
1972CV123
1973CV1234
1974CV123
1975-76CV1234
1977-78CV1234
1979-80CV1234
1981-82CV1234
1983-85CV1234
1986CV1234CV100 to CV9999
1991As 1986 passenger baseC12345C10000 to approximately C29999
2010As Spectacular passenger baseC30000 to C48571

Non-passenger plates

ImageTypeFirst issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Government2010As Spectacular passenger baseG12345G8000 to G12291
Dealer2010Bear-shaped; black on white; "DEALER" at top, "NORTHWEST TERRITORIES" at bottom.D1234unknown to D2323
Public Service1986Bear-shaped; blue on white; "EXPLORE CANADA'S ARTIC" at top, "NORTHWEST TERRITORIES" at bottom.PS1234Issued to taxis and busses.
2010As Spectacular passenger baseP12345
Motorcycle1986Bear-shaped; blue on white; "NWT" at top1234100 to approximately 9999
2010Similar to Spectacular passenger base1234510000 to 13075
ATV / Off-road1986
2010Bear-shaped; orange on white; "NWT" at top12345
Trailer1991T12345T40000 to present
2010As Spectacular passenger baseT12345T40000 to present

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 17 June 2022 . Motor Vehicles Act . 7 July 2023 . Legislation of the Northwest Territories.
  2. Web site: Tanner . Eric N. . Northwest Territories Passenger License Plates . allaboutlicenseplates.com . February 15, 2021.
  3. Web site: Blackburn . Mark . August 5, 2011 . Nunavut polar bear (license plate) on verge of extinction . . October 18, 2011.
  4. Web site: N.W.T. licence plates get update . . May 4, 2010 . October 18, 2020.
  5. Garrish . Christopher . October 2016 . Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size . Plates . . 62 . 5.