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Here we present the vehicle registration statistics for each province. The objective is to given the reader an idea how many plates were issued by each province in any given year. The number of vehicles registered each year is shown for passenger cars and motorcycles, the two most popular classes. Commercial vehicles have been purposely left out since they may represent a myriad of vehicle types. Each of these, such as buses, ambulances, then trucks in various weight classes, might receive distinctive plates. Suffice it to say there were roughly 1/4 to 1/3 as many commercial vehicles as passenger cars registered in any given year, except the early years when many provinces were only beginning to make the distinction.

Other notes...

• The registration figures give you a good idea how many plates were manufactured. It is entirely possible to find a plate with a registration number higher than the total number registered for two good reasons.
  • There was always a surplus of plates kept in reserve for any given year - most of these went unissued. Usually they were destroyed but occasionally some of these were saved.
  • The numbering system didn't always start at one. For example, in the 1950s and 1960s, the PEI numbering started at 10001; in NB and Nfld it was 1001.
• There are many other factors that affect the availability of older license plates. Please read the Guide to Collecting License Plates. This covers the availabity by province.
• License plates were usually issued in pairs, but did you know that sometimes they were issued as singles as a cost cutting measure? We usually think of a motorcycle having only one plate on the rear, but sometimes these were issued in pairs or even sets of three! Two would be rivited back to back to go on the front fender, and the third would be placed on the rear fender). The notes on availability include this data.