Nova Scotia License Plates

This variation appeared in late-2011 featuring narrower dies, debossed borders and single sticker box, low FAE 002.

The original award-winning (ALPCA 1989) bordered design was issued between 1989-2011 in range BRT to high FAD 726.

Original series was four-digits, then moved to A123 format starting in spring-2009 after # 9999 issued.

All-embossed blue on white, narrow dies started around the 35-000 series.

Black on yellow plate used on commercial vehicles and transit buses.

"FD" Fire Dept. logo on left

Some issued on the 74 base.

Nova Scotia motorcycle licence plates were downsized from 5 x 8" to 4 x 7" in 2005. The smaller plates appear to have started at 125001, remain fully embossed and use the same Waldale dies found on New Brunswick motorcycle plates.

The Nova Scotia Accessible Motorcycle licence plate allows qualified registrants to park in designated spots. This series debuted in 2014 at 0P-01 and features an embossed wheelchair logo to left of registration number on a 4x7" plate.

Fully-embossed 5 x 8" red on white metal licence plate, Nova Scotia top, Off-Highway bottom, red borders.

PR plate series followed signing of Canadian Agreement on Vehicle Registration (CAVR, for heavy interprovincial trucks and buses) in 1982, Open For Business slogan first appeared in 1993, NS joined larger North American International Registration Plan (IRP) in 2001, Apportioned slogan replaced Open For Business in 2004, red border dropped/revised dies appeared in 2012, all plates red on yellow:

Canada's Ocean Playground low PRP2868

Canada's Ocean Playground high PRP8755

COMMERCIAL-PRP in this spot

OPEN FOR BUSINESS low PR12163

OPEN FOR BUSINESS high PR26063

APPORTIONED low PR26703

APPORTIONED red border high PR33155

APPORTIONED no-border low PR33273

APPORTIONED no-border current high - see History tab

Optional for use on vehicles operated by provincial, county, or municipal governments;, some vehicles use this plate while others use regular plates.

Compass graphic on left, SAR stacked on right and "Volunteer" along bottom.

This Permanent Trailer series is currently being produced borderless with narrow dies (since 2012) and is validated with 5-year expiry stickers dated DEC 2029. This series dates back to the 1980s, originally captioned "NO-EXPIRY".

Version history:

OPEN FOR BUSINESS current no-border low PT6-51-92

OPEN FOR BUSINESS red border high PT6-39-20

OPEN FOR BUSINESS low PT3-25-19 circa-1993 (red on yellow, 5-year term expiry stickers debut DEC 1994, 1999 etc-present)

NO-EXPIRY high PT3-00-05 (black on yellow plate, no date, no sticker)

NO-EXPIRY low PT1-76-93 (black on yellow plate, no date, no sticker)

T339-643 low narrow dies and debossed border after 2011.

T338-785 high original Waldale dies, black border and sticker boxes.

"FD" Fire Dept. logo on left

Introduced in January 2012 for an extra $50. Dave Fraser advises on wide variances in prefixes since only small quantities of these plates are available in most issuing offices.

Introduced in August 2013 for an extra $50. Plate numbering started with LAA01.

Introduced in April 2003 for an extra $70.

Introduced in May 2018 for an extra $50. "Alba Nuadh" means "Nova Scotia" in Gaelic.

Introduced to all Nova Scotia motorists in June 2018 for an extra fee of $24. Funds raised support Mi'kmaq youth sport and recreation activities. Plate numbering started at MAA01.

Nova Scotia was the first province to introduce a special passenger licence plate to honour certified veterans for their service in November 2002.

The 4 x 7" veteran motorcycle option became available in spring-2017.