NOTE THAT I COLLECT ONLY THE PLATES THEMSELVES AND DO NOT CONCERN MYSELF WITH OBTAINING PLATES
 WITH ALL THE ANNUAL STICKERS.   IN OTHER WORDS, FOR ME, A PLATE WITH A 1978 STICKER IS THE SAME
 AS ONE WITH A 1979!  I KNOW YOU DO NOT ALL FEEL THE SAME.
 

1972 Type. 

Blue on Non-reflectorized white
Round (3/4") corners, on steel construction.
Note that the background "white" varies considerably
from "white white" to decidedly off-white,
sometimes almost cream. 

Two plates, both stickered.  All expired
on December 31 annually, and therefore
the year of registration
and the year of expiry are the same.
Stickers placed alternately, even years
to left, odd to right.

  Lowest serials were in the 2-00-00 range.

Remained valid when alphanumeric plates were
introduced in 1979 until finally replaced in 1986.

This example is one of the very last in the 1972 series that
ended at 38-49-99
 

1975 Type.

As for 1972 except Darker Blue on Reflectorized white,
and serials approximately 40-00-00 and up.
 

THE GREAT PASSENGER PLATE TRANSITION 1979 TO 1986
I lived through this period as an adult with a vehicle, and with at least a casual interest in licence plates,
and yet I still find this period confusing.  I will try to explain this as well as I can.  
 
Beginning in June of 1979 the Registry of Motor Vehicles began issuing a Passenger alphanumeric base plate,
 commencing with AAA-001, and with staggered validations replacing the standard December expiries.
   Validations continued to be for one year duration.    This series is  shown below.

For reasons that are lost in time, the Registry did not immediately terminate and replace the existing numeric plates shown above.
These numeric plates continued in use for re-validations right through to 1986.  
 In addition and even more inexplicably, new numeric plates were also issued as replacements for losses and deterioration.
  They were also issued to those who had arrived from other jurisdictions and were exchanging their existing plates for Nova Scotia ones.   
The numeric plates continued to have December expiries, and therefore all stickers on these plates
 should read DEC 31 over XX (last two digits of year of expiry) with the very last of these reading DEC. 31 over 86.

In a major change, Nova Scotia began a conversion of passenger plates from the historic all-numeral format
to a three-letter/three-digit format.

Along with this came staggered annual validations, so
that no longer did all validations expire on December 31. Instead they expired at the end of the same month as validated.   Therefore, no longer was the year of validation the same as the year of expiry.  For example, a plate issued and validated in July of 1979 would have a July 1980 sticker.   This means that for every year there is a consistent sticker colour but twelve variations for the months.

Two plates, both with stickers continued to be issued, but
with changes made in this policy made over time, see below.

Assignment of the Alphanumeric prefixes and the progression through the alphabet"

This alphanumeric series remains currently in effect, as of 2024, thus spanning 45 years so far.  As of June of 2024  the series has reached the HHx point, and therefore it is obvious that the 3-letter/3-number format can continue onwards for many years.   All of these plates, regardless of design modifications over the years, remain valid if continuously in use.   For example, if a person had obtained the ABC-321 plate back in 1979 and continuously had registered vehicles through to today, that plate would have gone with the person from vehicle to vehicle and still be on the current vehicle.   A few A series plates can still be seen on the roads today, but most older plates have gone due to attrition. This can be due to deterioration of the plate, requiring a replacement, but usually it is due to the original registrant either no longer having a vehicle, or having registered and plated a new vehicle while still having the older one, and subsequently disposing of the older vehicle.  The older plate then is removed and discarded.   It is possible, for a fee, to change plates.   For example in that sort of case, if I bought a new car today and plated it with HHM-123, but still had my old car with DST-707, and then sold this older car, the DST-707 would normally be thrown out or put on a wall as a keepsake, but it would be no longer "on the road". But if I really like DST-707 I could go to Access Nova Scotia and switch out the plates and put DST-707 on the new vehicle and discard the almost brand new GZZ-123.

Progress Through the Alphabet

AAA -- June 1979
BAA -- Spring of 1986
CAA -- Spring of 1991
DAA -- Summer of 1998
EAA -- September 2004
FAA -- November 2011
GAA -- March 2017
HAA -- July 2022
JAA -- future

Non-Issued Combinations
With two type exceptions, Nova Scotia plates are not issued with combinations that include the letters I, O or Q. 
 In the larger sense, this means that there will be no plates commencing with those three letters. 
For example, when HZZ-999 is reached, the next plate issued should be JAA-001.  
At the more specific level the non-use of I, O or Q means that may combinations are not issued. 
For example there cannot be AIB, CQR, or HOL plates.
Many other combinations that do not include these three letters are also not produced due to being possibly offensive or controversial.
The list of "banned" combination can change over time with changes in social standards and in language.  
This banned list is in addition to the banning standards used for personalized plates. 

Note also that no plates are issued, other than as samples or specimens, with 0, 00, 000 etc as the numerical component.

Note that amateur radio plates are the exception to the banning rules for I, O, Q and the decency standards.
For example, in Nova Scotia there are no BUM plates in the regular passenger series, but if the federal government has issued the amateur call sign VE1BUM, that will indeed be produced as a licence plate if the ham operator with that callsign applies for it.   Vanity plates also may include
the three otherwise banned letters, but there are standards of decency and confusion still applied to vanity plates.


Validation Stickers for Alphanumeric Plates

Because the first alphanumeric plates were issued in June 1979, the first stickers on these plates were 80 over JUN

 Sticker Colours:

From 1980 to 2003 there was an annual change of colours, with no set pattern, as follows:

 1980 Green and beige on white
1981 White on magenta
1982 White on blue
1983 White on green
1984 White on black
1985 Red and gold on White
1986 Jan to Nov.  Black on green
1986 Dec  Green and black on white
1987 Black on lavender
1988 Black on yellow and white
1989 Blue on white
1990 Green on beige
1991 White on magenta
1992 White on black
1993 Red on gold
1994 Blue on white
1995 Blue on yellow
1996 Black on yellow
1997 Blue on white
1998 Green on beige (tan)
1999 White on magenta
2000 White on black
2001 Red on gold
2002 Black on green
2003 Black on Magenta and white

Commencing with 2004 there has been a standard 8-year recurring cycle of colours as follows:

2004 2012 2020    Black on yellow
2005 2013 2021   Blue on white
2006 2014 2022   Green on tan
2007 2015 2023   White on red
2008 2016 2024   White on black
2009 2017 2025   Red on tan
2010 2018 2026   Black on green
2011 2019 2027   Black on Magenta and white

Note that the same sticker colours are used on all plate types, not just passenger.

AAA-001 TO AWC-999

Note that these plates do not include the use
of 000 in the numerical component.  The first plate
issued was AAA-001, reportedly to the Premier
of Nova Scotia at the time.  That plate is now
in a Nova Scotia collection.

This was the 569th alphanumeric plate issued.
It is not in the best of condition, which is strange when you note that 
it was only used 1979-80 and not renewed!
The first AAA plates were issued in mid-June 1979, and
have June 80 stickers.  The plate above was issued in July 1979 and
therefore has a July 80 sticker.

A later example in better shape, which is
ironic as this one was registered for several years.
 

BJK-707 to BRS-999

JANUARY 1988: IN A MAJOR CHANGE, PLATES BEGAN TO "STAY WITH OWNER"
INSTEAD OF "STAY WITH VEHICLE".

1989
ALPHANUMERIC TYPE 4
"BLUENOSE"
 

As previous except that the Bluenose sailing ship
image replaced the central hyphen.
The provincial name and the tourist slogan
were screen-printed
instead of being embossed

BRT-001 TO FAD-999

 

Note that some batches of plates  have proven to have less than ideal paint. 
The group from ENG001 to ETA499, issued in 2008, was particularly deficient,
and a great many of them were turned in and replaced.

 I have seen this notation: "BRT-001 to CCV-999 Helvetica die, CCW-001 to CVW-999 New Brunswick die".

his was my own plate, obtained with the help of a friendly
employee, and was on my vehicles from 1993 to 2021.

I still need an F prefix bordered plate (FAA 001 to FAD 999)

Commencing in May of 1995 only one sticker was issued,
 to go on the back plate, but two plates were still being issued.  For this era, this means
that there are plates without stickers.

Commencing with CVX-001 only a single plate was issued,
To be mounted on the rear.   Owners with the earlier front plates could retain them on the vehicle or remove them.

The implication for collectors is that there are fewer plates available and that all from CVX-001 should have a sticker.
 

2011
ALPHANUMERIC TYPE 5
"BLUENOSE"
BORDERLESS DEBOSSED EDGE, WITH
ONLY ONE STICKER WELL

FAE-001 TO GCX-999

2011
ALPHANUMERIC TYPE 6
"BLUENOSE" as above but with
high definition sheeting

GCY-001 TO present

At first glance, and here on the page, they do not look much different,
but on close inspection of the actual plate, the background
looks different and has a pronounced texture.  

Click 3M Sheeting for the 3M page on their
high definition sheeting

The first plate in the H series.  Issued July 2022.
Was on my own vehicle

Also From my own vehicle.     Issued early 2024.

Note that there will not be a series beginning with the letter "I", as
this letter is not used for NS plates other than vanity and amateur radio.

Next up will be the "J" series, expected to be reached around 2027.

AMATEUR RADIO

This type already existed at the beginning of the Blue on White era. For earlier examples (if any) in my collection see the Middle Era page.

These depict the amateur radio call letters of the plate owner, and are only available to qualified amateur radio operators.   They might be regarded as a special case of vanity plate, as they are "made to order", but they do not have an extra charge due to the fact that amateur radio operators could provide assistance to the authorities in cases of disasters, etc. and these plates do help to clearly identify vehicles of hams.  

There are many misunderstandings surrounding amateur radio plates, as they are issued with some different "rules" than regular plates. I am myself an amateur radio operator so it makes a bit more sense for me.  

1. Despite any bans on particular letter combinations or individual letters not used on regular plates, the province will issue plates with any call letters assigned by the federal authorities.  For example in modern Nova Scotia, I, O and Q are not normally used, but it is perfectly normal to have ham plates such as VE1FQ, VE1III, VA1OK.  Combinations that would be banned on other plate types such as BUM are indeed allowed on ham plates.  If someone is VE1BUM, then they may have the plate to go with it.
 
2. The plates issued in Nova Scotia should only contain Nova Scotia zone call letters.  Currently the Nova Scotia zone includes the VE1 and VA1 prefix call letters, so these are the only two prefixes you should see on NS plates.   It might be possible for others to slip through.
You may be interested to know that there are separate prefixes for Sable Island and for St. Paul Island,
but as there are no permanent residents on either island, there are no vehicles eligible to have plates with those prefixes.
 
3. Call signs (call letters) are recyclable.  If someone dies and had let's say VE1AR, the authorities in Ottawa will hold the call sign for a year or so in case family members want to take it up. After this, if not taken it is available for re-use.  This means the call can show up again in
the future.  My own call sign VE1CY has been on plates belonging to someone else in the past, as this is a recycled call sign.

4. Ham call signs are not nowadays given out in alphabetical order.   The first plate issued in Nova Scotia back in 1959 was to VE1VN in Lunenburg.  So don't be thinking that the first one must have been VE1AA because it wasn't, and in fact there might never have been a VE1AA plate simply because no one who held that call sign ever obtained plates.  

5. I said above that Nova Scotia is VE1 and VA1 but collectors of ham plates should realize that in years gone by VE1 also encompassed New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.   My own call sign today is VE1CY and I live in Nova Scotia, but back in time a ham in New Brunswick had this call sign and a plate was issued there to him.

6. Ham plates were issued just like regular passenger plates, following the rules of the day.  So, when people received annual licence plates, so did hams.
  
7. Hams can change call signs.  You should note that nowadays the ones with two letters are generally reserved for hams with either an Advanced radio certificate, or have been a ham for at least ten years.  When I was first licenced in 1978 my call sign was VE1BWC.  Now I am VE1CY, and had a couple of others along the way.

This is the 1972 era issue to VE1VN, the ham who
had received the first NS ham plate in 1959.
No hyphen, as is correct for radio call signs.
Also shown is a VE1VN QSL card.

1975 reflective type. Rounded corners in steel
My own first amateur radio plate, issued when I was licenced in 1978. . 

1982 Type. Tourist slogan at bottom.  The previous 1979 type
was the same except no hyphen.   I wonder who asked
for a hyphen, as call signs do not have them!
 

1986 Type.  Aluminum with squared corners

1989 Type, on the Bluenose base.
Note that the hyphen is gone but now there is a space, which is also incorrect.
My second ham callsign. 

2014 Type.  Debossed and borderless.
This is my current call sign.   
This plate was on my car in early 2024.
Note that the space between the prefix and letters has now gotten wider!

ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE

This type already existed at the beginning of the Blue on White era. For earlier examples (if any) in my collection see the Middle Era page.

These plates began with digits only but have evolved
into having an initial letter followed by three digits. 

Behind the scenes these plates have a hidden A that
precedes the serial shown.  For example if a plate was
being checked by police, the first plate shown here 290, would
 be entered as A290. 

1972 Type. Commenced at 100.

1975 Type Reflective background.  Commenced at 500.

1975 Type with smaller prefix, to accomodate 4 characters. Commenced
at 1000.

Type 3.  Steel with squared corners. Commenced at 1500.

Type 4. As for Type 3 but in aluminum. Commenced at 2000.

 
Type 4A, as for Type 4 but with Bluenose type numbers
Commenced at 2501

 
Type 4B, same but with new word dies. Theoretical highest
is 9999; actual highest issued unknown.  Commenced with
serial 5041.

Type 4C, Change of serial format from four digits
to a letter followed by three digits.  Began at A001

Type 5.  Debossed, no borders.  Lowest first letter in this type
is D.  Highest seen, as of 2024, is T.
 

DEALER

This type, originating in 1920, and with varying
forms over the years, was used by new and
used vehicle dealers alike. 


Replaced by separate Dealer and Used Vehicle Dealer types (see next section)

NEW VEHICLE  DEALER
First issued in 1980

This type and the Used Vehicle Dealer type jointly
replaced the previous Dealer and Dealer Salesman plates
that were issued in the Early and Middle eras.

The first batch of Dealer plates in1981(serials starting at D-1000)
used the rounded corner steel base from the previous era,
and with narrow numeral dies.

Later type on aluminum, with square corners.  An initial small run of square
corner plates were on steel bases.

Current borderless type needed

Type 1 Steel with rounded corners




|
 

Vanity (Personalized) Plates

First issued April 1989
and therefore this type did not exist
 in previous eras.

As in most other Canadian jurisdictions, Nova Scotia offers a vanity or personalized plate, for an additional charge, currently over $100 and with a recurring fee.

 In this province the vanity plates are identical to regular plates with the exception of the serial itself.  Up to seven characters and spaces are allowed.  Currently, only letters and numerals are allowed, thereore no special characters such as #, & or +.    As in other jurisdictions there are combinations that are not allowed, these being either that they would duplicate a format of regular licence plates, or they are objectionable in some way.   For example, you cannot obtain JXD-989 because three letters followed by three digits is the format for regular passenger plates.  You cannot have USUK as that is objectionable.
 

These plates are issued in pairs, with stickers only on the back plate.

Formerly on my personal vehicle

Handicap (Accessible Parking) Plates
Commenced September 1981
and therefore this type did not exist
 in previous eras.

 I have seen a report that this was the first handicap plate in Canada.

Restricted, must be certified by a physician. No additional fee.

A digit, a letter and two digits.
These serials ascend as follows:
Commenced with Letter A. possibly 0A-01, to 9A-99, then to letter B, with 0B-01, etc.

PLATES ARE ISSUED IN PAIRS

Type 1. Steel with rounded corners

Type 2.  Aluminum with squared corners.  Began with 2D series.

Type 2A.  As previous but new word dies

Type 3.  Borderless and debossed edge

Veteran

Commenced February 2003 with AAA01.
Restricted, must be a veteran as certified by the the Royal Canadian Legion.   Requirement is at least two years service.  No fee.

As of 2022 this plate was still being issued with an embossed border.
Must have been a lot of stock ordered back in time!

The frameless variety of the veteran plate began to be seen in October
of 2024, years later than other passenger types made the
changeover.  Note the difference also in font.   It is unknown
what is the lowest serial of the new type, as there is a complex
overlap between the two varieties due to the method of manufacture
and distribution.  For example there could possibly be an old-style
framed plate with a higher serial than this AKC44.

Acadian Heritage
Commenced January 2012 with FAA01
Unrestricted, anyone paying the additional fee may obtain these plates.

Gaelic Heritage
(Alba Nuadh is Nova Scotia in Gaelic)
Commenced May 2018 with GAC01 because GAA and GAB are omitted combinations in NS.
Unrestricted, anyone paying the additional fee may obtain these plates.

Buy Local
Commenced August 2013 with LAA01
Unrestricted, anyone paying the additional fee may obtain these plates.

Mi'kmaq Heritage
Commenced June 2018 with MAA01
Unrestricted, anyone paying the additional fee may obtain these plates.

This was the first of the optional, for fee, specialty plates. 
It was issued several years before other
similar types, and is the only one of the five
that was issued at first with a border and embossed edge.

Firefighter*
Commenced April 2001

3 letters 1 digit followed by FF

Volunteer Firefighter*
Commenced December 2001

Restricted, must be certified by the department. Comes with free registration.

3 letters 1 digit followed by VFF

In 2024 these plates were in the E series.

Current plates are being issued in the 2012 style with no border and with debossed edge

Ground Search and Rescue Volunteer
Commenced December 2001
Restricted, must be certified by the team leader. Comes with free registration.

3 letters 1 digit followed by SAR

Note that in 2024 the SAR plates were still
in the A series, as there are relatively few of them issued.
 

Retired Volunteer Firefighter
Available only to applicants who have served at least 15 years as a volunteer firefighter.  Free registration.

introduced February 2022 with RAA01

 I do not have one of these plates in my collection.
They are expected to be scarce well into the future as families are likely to keep them as heirlooms.
 

SPECIMEN IMAGE.  I DO NOT HAVE ONE. 

Issued plates use Rxx, not Axx prefix

Retired Volunteer Ground Search and Rescue Member

introduced February 2022 with SAA01

Available only to applicants who have served at least 15 years as a GSAR volunteer. Free registration.
I do not have one of these plates in my collection.
They are expected to be quite rare well into the future.
 

Restricted, must be certified by the consulate. No additional fee.

NSC plus three digits
(Note that this format is the same as
for regular passenger plates)

This is most likely the rarest current type of Nova Scotia plate. In 2021 there were only 21 honorary consuls based in Halifax, plus the US Consul-General.  The Consul may obtain more than one set if he or she has more than one vehicle.  Employees are not eligible for these plates.
   This plate uses the standard Bluenose base but with the slogan replaced by the words "Honorary Consul".   Its use of the standard passenger serial format of three letters and three digits does mean that NSC cannot be used for regular passenger plates.  

These plates are all in the NSC 500 series, beginning
with NSC 501.

SPECIMEN IMAGE.  I DO NOT HAVE ONE.

For interest here are the nations that currently have a consul in Nova Scotia:  Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden and the USA.  It is unclear whether or not the USA is eligible as their representative is a paid consul-general, not an honorary consul.   An honorary consul is a person who represents another country but is not substantially paid for their services as an occupation.  Usually they are businesspersons or professionals with a hereditary connection to the country involved (but not necessarily).