Vehicle registration plates of Newfoundland and Labrador


first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1920, while still a British dominion. It became a province of Canada in 1949.
In 1956, Canada, the United States, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for licence plates for vehicles at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1956 issue was the first Newfoundland licence plate that fully complied with these standards: the issues from 1951 through 1955 were all 6 inches in height by 12 inches in width, but had non-standard mounting holes.
The last complete re-registration of all registered vehicles in Newfoundland and Labrador was in 1981, with a switch from a numerical system to an alphanumeric system.
All plates issued since 1982 remain valid today. Plates remain with the vehicle to which they are originally registered, rather than with the owner. Used vehicles with expired plates are issued new licence plates, while used vehicles with valid plates retain their original licence plate.
Since 1985, the province has not used the letters I, Q, U or Y on licence plates, except on plates that use "VO1" followed by two or three letters. However, the HAY series was issued on the 1996-97 Cabot 500 base, while the TFI series was issued on trailers in 2010. The letter I is skipped because it closely resembles the number 1, while the letter Q is skipped because it closely resembles the letter O and the number zero.
Since September 1997, the province requires only a rear plate for most registrations, except for B, C, E and G plates. Some older cars still display both front and rear plates. Some early "World of Difference" and Cabot 500 base plates were issued in duplicate for the front and rear.
On Newfoundland licence plates, the first letter designates the registration class of the vehicle. For example, HMT-999 would be assigned to a passenger car, while TZD-019 would be assigned to a trailer.

Vehicle class

Passenger baseplates

1925 to 1969

1970 to present

Non-passenger plates

ImageTypeDates issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Motorcycle1982–
2004		Similar design to 1982 passenger base; debossed sticker box at bottom left
Motorcycle2004–07Embossed red serial on white plate; border lines around plate and around sticker box at bottom left; "NEWFOUNDLAND" at top; "& LABRADOR" at bottom rightMBC-123MDA-001 to
MDE-999
Motorcycle2007–
present		Similar design to pitcher plant passenger base; debossed sticker box at bottom leftMBC-123MDF-001 to
MEK-031
TrailerAs 1982 passenger baseTBC-123TAA-001 to
TDE-999
Trailer1994–96As World of Difference passenger baseTBC 123TDF 001 to TDR 999
Trailer1996–97As Cabot passenger baseTBC 123TDS 001 to TDX 999
Trailer1997–2001As World of Difference passenger baseTBC 123TDZ 001 to TET 999
Trailer2001–02As 2001 flag passenger baseTBC 123TVT 001 to TVV 999
Trailer2002–03As 2002 flag passenger baseTBC 123TVW 001 to TWE 999
Trailer2003–07As 2003 flag passenger baseTBC 123TWF 001 to TWZ 999; TZA 001 to TZC 999
Trailer2007–
present		As pitcher plant passenger baseTBC 123TZD 001 to TZZ 999;
TEV 001 to TKV 099
Truck1982–95As 1982 passenger baseCBC-123CAA-001 to
CHV-999
Truck1995–96As World of Difference passenger baseCBC 123CHW 001 to CJH 999
Truck1996–97As Cabot passenger baseCBC 123CKL 001 to CKR 999
Truck1997–
2003		As World of Difference passenger baseCBC 123CJJ 001 to CKK 999; CKS 001 to CMS 999
Truck2003–04As 2001 flag passenger baseCBC 123CMT 001 to CNE 999
Truck2004–07As 2003 flag passenger baseCBC 123CNF 001 to COS 999
Truck2007–17As pitcher plant passenger baseCBC 123COT 001 to CZZ 999Series CRA through CRZ reserved for mobile crane units.
Truck2017–presentAs pitcher plant passenger baseCB1 234CA0 001 to CD2 077 Series CRA through CRZ reserved for mobile crane units.