Vehicle registration plates of Nova Scotia

The Canadian province of Nova Scotia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1918.

Passenger baseplates 1957 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that fixed the size for licence plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the province's first licence plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Description Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1957 Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '57" embossed in black block letters above numbers none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 13-34-00
1958 Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '58" embossed in yellow block letters below numbers none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 13-83-00
1959 Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '59" embossed in black block letters above numbers none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 14-70-00
1960–1 Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '60" embossed in yellow block letters below numbers none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 18-37-00
1962–3 Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '62" embossed in black block letters above numbers none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 20-33-00
1964–5 Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA '64" embossed in yellow block letters above numbers none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 22-49-00
1966–8 Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "NOVA SCOTIA" embossed in black block letters offset to left below numbers; embossed black box in bottom right corner containing debossed "66" in yellow none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 28-20-00
1969–71 Embossed yellow numbers on black plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" embossed in yellow block letters centered below numbers; "69" embossed in bottom left corner none 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 29-75-00
1972–5 Embossed light blue numbers on white plate; border lines around plate and around top corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" embossed in light blue block letters centered above numbers "CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" embossed in light blue block letters below numbers 1-23-45
12-34-56		 2-00-00 to approximately 38-50-00
1975–9 Embossed blue numbers on white plate; border line around plate and around registration stickers in top corners; "NOVA SCOTIA" embossed in block letters centered above numbers "CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" embossed in block letters below numbers 12-34-56 38-50-01 to approximately 65-62-00
1979–89 ABC-123 AAA-001 to BRS-999
1989–2011 Embossed blue numbers on white plate; border line around plate and around registration stickers in top corners; light blue graphic of the Bluenose screened in the center; "NOVA SCOTIA" screened in light blue block letters centered above numbers "CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" screened in light blue block letters below numbers ABC 123 BRT 001 to FAD 999 Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new licence plate of 1989 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Nova Scotia has been so honored. Co-recipient with Oklahoma.
2011–present Embossed blue numbers on white plate; light blue graphic of the Bluenose screened in the center; "NOVA SCOTIA" screened in blue block letters centered above numbers "CANADA'S OCEAN PLAYGROUND" screened in blue block letters below numbers ABC 123 FAE 001 to FNC 999 (as of April 2, 2015)

Optional types

Image First issued Description Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
January 2012 Embossed blue numbers on white plate; Flag of Acadia screened at far left; "NOUVELLE-ÉCOSSE" screened in blue serifed letters centered above numbers and flag; "NOVA SCOTIA" screened in same letters above, with blue dividing line none FAB 12 FAA 01 to FBB 99 (as of September 13, 2014)
August 2013 Embossed blue numbers on white plate; Select Nova Scotia logo (a circle with the provincial flag at the top, "Select" in blue handwritten font across the middle and "NOVA SCOTIA" in blue block letters at the bottom) screened at far left; "NOVA SCOTIA" also screened in blue serifed letters centered above numbers and logo "Buy Local" screened in blue block letters centered below numbers and logo LAB 12 LAA 01 to LAD 99 (as of September 13, 2014) Introduced to promote buying local produce.

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