Vehicle registration plates of Nova Scotia

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1907. Registrants provided their own licence plates for display until 1918, when the province began to issue plates.[1]

Nova Scotia
Current series
SloganCanada's Ocean Playground
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatABC 123
Introduced2011 (2011)
Availability
Issued byNova Scotia Registry of Motor Vehicles
Manufactured byWaldale Manufacturing Limited, Amherst, Nova Scotia
History
First issuedJanuary 1, 1918 (1918-01-01)
(pre-provincial plates from 1907 through December 31, 1917)

As of 2022, plates are issued by the Nova Scotia Registry of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since 1997.

Passenger baseplates

1918 to 1959

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 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[2] The first Nova Scotia licence plate that complied with these standards was issued fifteen years beforehand, in 1941.

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

Image Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
1918 White serial on green flat metal plate; "NOVA SCOTIA", provincial shield and "1918" at left 1234 1 to approximately 9000
1919 Black serial on yellow flat metal plate; "NOVA SCOTIA", provincial shield and "1919" at left 12345 1001 to approximately 12000
1920 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA", provincial shield and "1920" at left 12345 1001 to approximately 12500 First embossed plate.
1921 Black serial on light green flat metal plate; "NOVA SCOTIA", provincial shield and "1921" at left 12345 1001 to approximately 13500
1922 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NS 22" at left 12-345 1-001 to approximately 15-500
1923 Embossed red serial on gray plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA 1923" at right 12-345 1-001 to approximately 17-000
1924 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NS 24" at right 12-345 1-001 to approximately 19-000
1925 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA–25" at bottom 12-345 1-001 to approximately 21-000
1926 Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA 1926" at bottom L12-345 L1-001 to approximately L11-500 'L' prefix used for vehicles weighing 3,000 lb or less, and 'H' prefix for vehicles above 3,000 lb. This happened again in 1927.[3]
H12-345 H15-001 to approximately H24-500
1927 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA 1927" at bottom L12-345 L1-001 to approximately L19-000
H12-345 H19-001 to approximately H29-500
1928 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "1928" and "NOVA SCOTIA" centred at top and bottom respectively 12-345 10-001 to approximately 27-500 No letter prefix used for vehicles weighing 3,000 lb or less.
H12-345 H40-001 to approximately H52-500
1929 Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA 29" at bottom 12-345 10-001 to approximately 41-500
1930 Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "30 NOVA SCOTIA" at bottom 12-345 40-001 to approximately 85-000
1931 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA 31" at top 12-345 Coded by county group (1)
1932 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "NOVA SCOTIA 32" at bottom 12-345 Coded by county group (1)
1933 Embossed orange serial on black plate; "33 NOVA SCOTIA" at bottom 12-345 Coded by county group (1)
1934 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate; "NOVA SCOTIA 34" at bottom 12-345 Coded by county group (1)
1935 Embossed dark blue serial on white plate; "35-NOVA SCOTIA" at bottom 12-345 Coded by county group (1)
1936 Embossed white serial on red plate; "NOVA SCOTIA 36" at top 12-345 Coded by county group (1)
1937 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; "37-NOVA SCOTIA" at bottom 12-345 Coded by county group (1)
1938 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "1938" centred at top and bottom respectively 12-345 Coded by county group (1)
1939 Embossed white serial on green plate; "NOVA" and "SCOTIA" centred at top and bottom respectively; vertical "1939" at right 12-345 Coded by county group (1)
1940 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA" and "SCOTIA" centred at top and bottom respectively; vertical "1940" at right 12-345 Coded by county group (1)
1941 Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '41" at bottom 1-23-45 Coded by county group (1) First 6" x 12" plate.
1942 Embossed black serial on pale green plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "1942" centred at top and bottom respectively 1-23-45 Coded by county group (1) Produced in pairs but only single plates issued; the remaining plates were restamped and repainted for use in 1943 and 1944, due to metal conservation for World War II.[3]
1943–44 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "1943" centred at top and bottom respectively 1-23-45 Coded by county group (1) Restamped and repainted 1942 plates. Revalidated for 1944 with windshield stickers.
1945 Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '45" at bottom 1-23-45 Coded by county group (1)
1946 Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '46" at top 1-23-45 Coded by county group (1)
1947 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '47" at bottom 1-23-45 Coded by county group (1)
1948 Embossed black serial on pale green plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '48" at bottom 1-23-45 Coded by county group (1)
1949 Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '49" at top 1-23-45 Coded by county group (1)
1950 Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA - 50" at bottom 1-23-45 Coded by county group (1)
1951 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA - 51" at top 1-23-45 Coded by county group (1)
1952 Embossed black serial on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA - 52" at bottom 1-23-45 Coded by county group (1) Revalidated for 1953 with light blue tabs, for 1954 with black tabs, for 1955 with white tabs, and for 1956 with dark green tabs.
1953 As above, but with "NOVA SCOTIA - 53" at bottom 12-34-56 10-00-00 to 10-99-99 Issued only to new registrants. Validated for 1954, 1955 and 1956 in the same manner as for 1952 plates.
1953–56 As above, with "NOVA SCOTIA - 52" at bottom 11-00-00 to approximately 16-49-00
1957 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '57" at top 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 13-34-00
1958 Embossed light yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '58" at bottom 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 13-83-00
1959 Embossed black serial on light yellow plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '59" at top 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 14-70-00

1960 to present
Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1960–61 Embossed light yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '60" at bottom none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 18-37-00 Revalidated for 1961 with windshield stickers.
1962–63 Embossed black serial on light yellow plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '62" at top none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 20-33-00 Revalidated for 1963 with windshield stickers.
1964–65 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '64" at top none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 22-49-00 Revalidated for 1965 with windshield stickers.
1966–68 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA" at bottom, offset to left; black box at bottom right containing debossed "66" none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 28-20-00
1969–71 Embossed yellow serial on black plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" centred at bottom; "69" at bottom left none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 29-75-00
1972–75 Embossed light blue serial on non-reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" centred at top "CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" at bottom 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to
38-49-99		 Letters I, O and Q not used in the ABC-123 serial format. Material changed from steel to aluminum in 1986.[3]
1975–79 As above, but reflective and with darker blue elements 12-34-56 38-50-00 to
66-39-99
1979–89 ABC-123 AAA-001 to BRS-999
1989–2011 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; light blue graphic of the Bluenose screened in the centre; "NOVA SCOTIA" screened in blue centred at top "CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" screened in blue at bottom ABC 123 BRT 001 to FAD 999 Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new licence plate of 1989 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Nova Scotia has been so honored. Co-recipient with Oklahoma.
2011–present As above, but without border lines, and with narrower serial dies FAE 001 to GZF 664 (as of May 29, 2022)

Specialty plates
Image First issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
April 2003 Embossed blue serial on white plate; piping plover screened at left; "NOVA SCOTIA" screened in blue centred at top "Conservation - Species at Risk" screened in blue centred at bottom PBC12 PAA01 to PDD55 (as of May 5, 2022)
January 2012 Embossed blue serial on white plate; Flag of Acadia screened at left; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "NOUVELLE-ÉCOSSE" screened in blue centred at top none FBC12 FAA01 to FBT64 (as of August 20, 2021)
August 2013 Embossed blue serial on white plate; Select Nova Scotia logo (a circle with the provincial flag at the top, "Select" in blue handwritten font across the middle and "NOVA SCOTIA" in blue at the bottom) screened at left; "NOVA SCOTIA" screened in blue centred at top "Buy Local" screened in blue centred at bottom LBC12 LAA01 to LAL33 (as of April 8, 2022) Introduced to promote buying local produce.
June 2018 Embossed blue serial on white plate; eight-point star petroglyph screened at left; "NOVA SCOTIA" screened in blue centred at top "MI'KMA'KI LAND OF THE MI'KMAQ" screened in blue centred at bottom MBC12 MAA01 to MBL98 (as of September 27, 2021)

Non-passenger plates
Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Commercial 1978–2012 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "COMMERCIAL" centred at top and bottom respectively 12-345-A 10-000-A to 37-519-D Currently issued to commercial vehicles above 5,000 kg (11,000 lb). Passenger plates issued to lighter commercial vehicles since 1986.[4]
2012–present As above, but without border lines 37-520-D to 58-425-D (as of October 1, 2021)
Motorcycle 1972–78 Embossed blue serial on non-reflective white plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA" at top, offset to left 1-23-45 1-00 to 1-25-99 All motorcycle plates expire on December 31.
1978–98 As above, but reflective 1-26-00 to 9-75-99
1998–present As above, but with rounder serial dies, and "NOVA SCOTIA" centred at top 123456 97600 to 204634 (as of July 23, 2021)
Trailer 1981–2012 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" centred at top and bottom respectively T1-23-45
T123-456		 T1-00 to approximately T339-000 All Trailer plates expire on December 31.
2012–present As above, but without border lines T339-001 to T480-271 (as of September 22, 2021)
Antique Auto Embossed blue serial on white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" and "CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" centred at top and bottom respectively, "ANTIQUE AUTO" on left side of number. 1234 0001 to 9999
2009–present As above, but without border lines A123 A001 to P557 (as of September 1, 2022)

Controversies

GRABHER License Plate

In 2017, Lorne Grabher of Nova Scotia had his custom license plate revoked. The plate displayed his last name 'GRABHER', which he had purchased as a gift for his father in the 1990s. He had received a letter saying his plate would be canceled as some had found his license plate to be misogynistic and offensive.[5] Lorne attempted to keep his plate by fighting back in court, claiming it violated his right to freedom of expression. However, in August 2021 the Nova Scotia Court of Appeals ruled his constitutional rights had not been violated. They concluded the plate could not be used as it could be seen as offensive without the correct context.[6] In 2022, the Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear an appeal of his case.[7]

References
  1. Taylor, Eric Robert. "Nova Scotia Pre-Provincial Plates". PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  2. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  3. Tanner, Eric N. "Nova Scotia Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  4. Tanner, Eric N. "Nova Scotia Truck-Commercial License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  5. Colbert, Yvonne. "Too rude for the road — government yanks man's last name from licence plate". CBC. CBC News. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  6. Rhodes, Blair. "Nova Scotia man loses appeal in 'Grabher' licence plate dispute". CBC. CBC News. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  7. "Supreme Court won't hear appeal of Nova Scotia man's 'Grabher' licence plate case". Global News. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
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