Tour Plates
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Canada
has recognized the needs of the owners of antique (aka historic or vintage) vehicles by issuing
special plates. By antique vehicle, we usually think of a car we remember
from our childhood but isn't on the road anymore. The DMV's usually define
it as a car which is typically driven for show and
parades but not as general transportation. Special license
plates for antique vehicles are provided at a
reduced registration fee for this limited use. Usually the car itself must
be at least 25 years old (this varies from province to province), with
no major modifications beyond stock.
All jurisdictions except Saskatchewan, the NWT and Nunavut issue plates for antique cars. Quebec doesn't issue special plates. Anitque vehicles there share the same plates as off-road vehicles (V-designation), or those of limited use (C-designation). Alberta and the Yukon also allow a pair of expired plates, of the same year as the car was manufactured, to be licensed with that vehicle. This is called the Year of Manufacture or YOM law. While it is very popular in the States, it has yet to really catch on in Canada. The first year of issue of Antique Auto plates by province is given in the following table:
aUndated permanent plate.
While antique motorcycles should be equally recognized as historic vehicles, only two provinces, Manitoba and BC, have issued special plates for them. BC has plates for both "collector" and "vintage" bikes. Using the same rules to classify antique cars, a collector bike is considered 25 years old or more whereas a vintage bike is older than 35 years. Plates have occasionally been issued for special events and tours of antique autos. These usually are issued by the club or sponsor of the event and are not part of the automobile registration administered by the province. They are not true license plates, despite the fact that many carry a serial number. |
