One style of 1907-17
Style of 22, 24
Style of 26-27
Style of 1929-31
Style of 1932-37
Style of 1939-40
Style of 1941, 45
Style of 1942-43 (44)
Style of 1946-49
Style of 1950-51
Style of 1952-56
Style of 1957-64
Style of 1966-68
Style of 1969-71
Style of 1972-75, valid until 1986
Style of 1976-79, valid until 1986
Style of 1980-88
Style of 1988-89
Style of 1989-date
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How it all began...
The province started registering cars in 1907, prescribing
a one-time $5 fee. The motorist was provided with a small aluminum
disc carrying the registration number to be mounted on the dashboard.
The plates were owner-provided and bore the initials NS after the registration
number. The province did not start supplying plates until rather
late, so home made plates are rather common. Examples are found made
of hand-painted tin or wood, leather with metal numbers. Even a few
well-made porcelain plates have surfaced. In 1918 annual registration
was required and the province began supplying the plates in pairs.
It is possible the city of Halifax issued small porcelain
plates for a one-time fee from about 1905 to '07.
An example reading "HALIFAX AUTO REGISTER" has been reported in a Halifax Museum,
but this has not been confirmed.
Believe it or not, Nova Scotia motorists were required to drive on the left
side of the road until April 15th 1923.
They switched, soon after New Brunswick switched on Dec. 1, 1922.
Physical Characteristics
| 1907-17 |
Owner provided, usually handpainted on flat tin.
Small circular dashboard disc w/ registration number. |
| 1918 |
Flat Heavy Guage Steel |
| 1919 |
Flat Tin crimped over Wire Rim |
| 1920 |
Embossed Steel |
| 1921 |
Flat Heavy Guage Steel |
| 1922-43 |
Embossed Steel |
| 1944 |
Windshield Sticker for '43 plate |
| 1945-51 |
Embossed Steel |
| 1952 |
Embossed Aluminum |
| 1953-56 |
Aluminum Date Strips for '52 base.
Some dated '53 bases exist. |
| 1957-59 |
Embossed Steel |
1960
1962
1964 |
Bi-annual embossed steel bases.
Windshield stickers used for '61, '63, '65. |
1966
1969 |
Tri-annual embossed steel bases, valided by plate stickers
(1967-68; 1970-71) |
| 1972-75 |
Embossed Steel, validated by plate stickers.
Valid until 1986 |
| 1976-79 |
Embossed Steel, Reflectorized; plate stickers.
Valid until 1986. |
| 1980-89 |
Embossed Steel or Aluminum reflectorized base; plate
stickers |
| 1989-date |
Aluminum graphic reflectorized base, plate stickers. |
-
In 1943 the owner turned in his '42 plate and received the
same number on a '43 plate (remade over the mate to the '42 plate).
New registrants in 43 and 44 received '43 plates.
-
From 1941-50 NS used some pretty drab pastel colors, but
the plates were easy to read.
-
Nova Scotia and Manitoba are the only provinces to use all
four methods of revalidating license plates:
a) restamping; b) dated tabs; c) windshield
stickers; d) plate stickers
-
The first attempt at reflectorization ('76-'80) did not hold
up well in the salty and foggy Nova Scotia climate!
-
The plates issued from 1972 to 1979 were valid until 1986
as the new alpha numeric plates were phased in. As a result, because
of the different sized sticker boxes, two types of stickers had to be made.
-
All plates issued since 1980 are valid.
 
Two shades of yellow on the 1964 plate.
The lighter shade is the rarer variety, and probably
was issued in 1965.
Slogans & Graphics
| 1918-21 |
Provincial Crest |
| 1972-date |
"CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" |
| 1989-date |
Bluenose graphic |
-
The bluenose is the same ship that appears on the Canadian
10¢ piece:
Numbering Systems
| 1918-25 |
Numeric, up to 5 digits |
| 1926-27 |
Numeric, L or H prefix indicating weight class
(L = Light, H = Heavy)
Contrary to what one might think, the 'L' and 'H' don't
stand for Lunenburg and Halifax respectively. |
| 1928-40 |
Numeric, 5 digit. First digit indicates county.
More than one county may share the same digit. The '28 plates carried
the 'H' designation. |
| 1941-51 |
Numeric, 1.23.45 format. The first digit indicates
the county as before. |
| 1952-79 |
Numeric 1.23.45 or 12.34.56 formats. In earlier
years the first digit indicated the county, but this was dropped as registrations
increased. |
| 1980-date |
ABC-123 format. |
-
The county system became unworkable as the registration numbers
of certain counties (like Halifax) increased over the years.
Non-passenger types
| C, CX |
Commercial |
| D, S |
Dealer |
| F, Fx |
Farm |
| T |
Trailer |
-
Today for the most part, non-passenger plates are of different
colors than the blue/white passenger plates.
Current motorcycle plate
Special issues
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The Camper plates are interesting since they are
the only plates today to carry the Nova Scotia Crest. Since campers
are most likely seen in tourist areas, the crest helps promote tourism
for the province. |
 |
The G7 Economic Summit for 1995 took place in Halifax.
These plates were assigned to the organizers, motorcade and participants. |
Links
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