The province of Ontario first required its residents to register their vehicles and display licence plates in 1903. Along with regular series plates, the province also offers graphic plates and vanity plates with a maximum of 8 digits. Plates are currently issued by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation.
The symbol of a crown, representing the Crown of Canada, has appeared on almost all Ontario licence plates since 1937, when it was first used to commemorate the coronation of King George VI. Exceptions include the 1951 plates, and farm series plates issued in the 1980s and '90s. Toronto politician and Orange Order leader Leslie Saunders led protests against a proposal to remove the crown in 1948, a decision the government overturned.[1]
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All Ontario licence plates issued since 1972 are still valid for display today, provided they have been continuously registered.
| Image | First issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | white on black | 1950 | 12A34 | |||
| 1967 | blue on white with embossed crown separator | 1968 | 12-34; 123-456; A12-345; 123-45A | 1968-82 - plate expiry was March 31 of following year | ||
| 1968 | white on blue with embossed crown separator | 1969 | 12-34; 123-456; A12-345; 123-45A | |||
| 1969 | blue on white with embossed crown separator | 1970 | 123-456; A12-345; 123-45A | |||
| 1970 | white on blue with embossed crown separator | 1971 | 123-456; A12-345; 123-45A | |||
| 1971 | blue on white with embossed crown separator | 1972 | 123-456; A12-345; 123-45A | final year for single year issues | ||
| 1972 | blue on white with embossed crown separator | 73 Keep it Beautiful | ABC-123 | AAA-001 to NKJ-999 | first multi-year issue (originally intended for 5 years, but still valid today with current registration) | |
| 1978 | blue on white with embossed crown separator | Keep it Beautiful | ABC-123 | NKK-001 to TMA-999 | year removed; sticker box does not join border | |
| 1982 | blue on white with embossed crown separator | Yours to Discover | ABC-123 | TMB-001 to ZZZ-999 | new slogan; sticker box removed; staggered registration (registrant's birthday) introduced 1983 | |
| 1986 | blue on white with embossed crown separator | Yours to Discover | 123-ABC (issued in alphabetical order) | 001-AAA to 999-VYH | serial format changed | |
| 1994 | blue on reflective white with screened crown separator. Crown appears at upper left hand corner on personalized plates on this and later issues. | Yours to Discover | 123-ABC | 001-VYJ to 999-ZZZ | province name, slogan and crown separator now screened; narrower alphanumerics to accommodate 7 digits; reflective background | |
| 1997 (English) 2008 (French) |
blue on reflective white with screened crown separator | Yours to Discover (English) Tant à Découvrir (French) |
ABCD-123 | AAAA-001 to present | serial format changed |
| Image | First issued | Description | Slogan | Serial Format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Green on white with graphic trillium separator | Green Vehicle (English) Véhicule écologique (French) |
GVAB 123 (English) VEAB 123 (French) |
GVAA 001 to present (English) VEAA 001 to present (French) |
Issued only to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles |
| Serial(s) | Political Office of Holder(s) | Level of Government |
|---|---|---|
| CAN-001 | Prime Minister of Canada | Federal |
| CAN-002 to CAN-999 | Federal Cabinet Ministers | Federal |
| SEN-001 to SEN-999 | Members of the Senate | Federal |
| MHC-001 to MHC-999 | Members of the House of Commons | Federal |
| FCJ-001 to FCJ-999 | Federal Court Judges | Federal |
| FDA-001 to FDZ-999 | Federally Owned Vehicles | Federal |
| ONT-001 | Premier of Ontario | Provincial |
| ONT-002 to ONT-999 | Provincial Cabinet Ministers | Provincial |
| MPP-001 to MPP-999 | Members of Provincial Parliament | Provincial |
| SCO-001 to SCO-999 | Ontario Superior Court of Justice | Provincial |
| PJO-001 to PJO-999 | Ontario Provincial Judges | Provincial |
| Image | First issued | Description | Slogan | Serial Format | Serials issued | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | black on white with embossed crown separator | None | AB1 234 | AA0 001 to YZ9 999 | Also used for non-passenger personal vehicles (i.e. pick-up trucks, panel vans) | |
| 1995 | black on reflective white with screened crown separator | Yours to Discover | AB1 234 | ZA0 001 to ZZ9 999 | Screened slogan added, frame removed, reflective background, province and crown now screened. | |
| 1996 (English) 2008 (French) |
black on reflective white with screened crown separator | Yours to Discover (English) Tant à Découvrir (French) |
234 1AB | 001 0AA to 999 9ZZ | Serial format changed. | |
| 2011 | black on reflective white with screened crown separator | Yours to Discover (English) Tant à Découvrir (French) |
AB 12345 | AA 10000 to present | Serial format changed. |
| Image | First issued | Description | Slogan | Serial format | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | white on reflective red with screened crown separator | Yours to Discover | 123-CCC | Diplomatic Plate | |
| 2004 | printed on security paper with barcode | 10 Day Temporary Permit/Permis Provisoire de Dix Jours | A-123456 | temporary use only, placed on dashboard at windshield |
In Ontario, motor vehicle dealers licensed under the Motor Vehicle Dealers Act use a single portable plate with the word "DEALER" on the left side and red alpha-numeric characters on a white background. It is for exclusive use by motor vehicle dealers only on motor vehicles owned as part of the dealer's inventory of vehicles for sale. It may also be used for private use vehicles that are owned as part of the dealer's inventory of vehicles for sale.
Service providers, including anyone who repairs, customizes, modifies, manufactures or transports motor vehicles or trailers use yellow and black DLR series plates (Dealer and Service Plate).
A Service Plate may be used:
Private use of motor vehicles or trailers with a service plate is not permitted.
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