CHART OF SERIAL
FORMATS
OF CURRENT NOVA SCOTIA LICENCE PLATES
Last Revised June 26, 2024
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CURRENT NOVA SCOTIA LICENCE PLATES
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Official 2023 Specimen Set including all 38 types
As of 2023 there are 38 types
of licence plates issued in Nova Scotia by the Department of Service Nova
Scotia. Department of National Defence issues its own plates for its
vehicles but all other federal departments and agencies use provincial
plates. Municipal and provincial government vehicles may use black on
white Restricted plates (included in this article) or regular plates
suitable for the class of vehicle. Municipalities or other government
agencies may issue secondary plates (not described here) for such vehicles
as taxis and school buses.
Only the plates issued by SNS/Access
NS are described here.
Nova Scotia plates are currently being
manufactured within the province in Amherst, with one exception, the restricted plates manufactured by the DPW sign shop.
The design and colour of
plates varies between types. Most plates are of one standard size, but
those for small vehicles (off-road and motorcycles) come in a variety of
smaller sizes. Plate types that now include the Bluenose
originally did not, but the older type still remain valid for use.
Similarly, in recent years the border has been removed but the earlier
issues with borders remain valid. Plates are issued singly
except where noted, and are mounted on the rear, except that PR plates and
most heavy commercial plates are mounted on the front.
Generally speaking, each type
of plate has its own specific serial format. The serial is the set of
numbers and letters that appears on the plate, distinct from the provincial
name, logo, and legend. There are a few instances in which
different plate types have the same format and therefore a possibility of the
same serial being issued for two types of plates. For example,
some antique automobile plates have serials that are the same as some Off
Highway Vehicles, but it is obvious from looking at the plates which one you
are seeing.
Note that Nova Scotia plates,
other than Vanity plates and Amateur Radio Plates cannot include the letters
I, O, or Q. Note also that many three-letter combinations
are
excluded from production due to being potentially offensive or otherwise
unacceptable. Many possible vanity plate requests are also disallowed
for the same reason.
| Type |
Serial Format |
Example |
| |
|
|
Standard Passenger
(includes
light trucks) |
AAA123
As of 2023 the first letter
can
range from A to H |
|
| Honorary
Consul |
NSC123
Format same as standard passenger plates, except must
commence with NSC |
This is a very rare type. |
| Veteran |
AAA12 |
|
| Acadian Heritage |
FAA12 |
|
| Gaelic Heritage |
GAA12 |
Sample shown. Actual plates
commence with G |
| Buy Local |
LAA12 |
|
| Mi'kmaq Heritage |
MAA12 |
|
| Protected Species |
PAA12 |
|
Retired Volunteer
Firefighter |
RAA12
|
Specimen shown; actual plates start with
R |
| Retired GSAR Member |
SAA12 |
Specimen shown; actual plates start with
S |
| Vanity (Personalized)
[pairs] |
Up to 7 Letters, Numbers and
Spaces. No other characters allowed.
|
|
| Amateur Radio
[pairs] |
VA1AB,VA1ABC,
VE1AB, VE1ABC |
|
| Antique Auto
[pairs] |
1234 or A123
(with an A inserted in front,
when accessing records, so actually
A1234 or AA123) |
These plates would be entered
into
records searches as A6622 and AE006 |
| Handicapped/Accessible Pkg
[pairs] |
1A23 |
|
| Volunteer Firefighter
[pairs] |
ABC1VFF |
|
| Career Firefighter
[pairs] |
ABC1F |
|
Volunteer Ground Search
&
Rescue Member[pairs]
|
ABC1SAR |
|
| New Vehicle Dealer |
D12345 |
|
| Used Vehicle Dealer |
U12345 |
|
Restricted
(Provincial or
Municipal Govt) |
R12345 |
Embossed type
Flat type made in provincial sign shop |
Heavy Commercial (In-Province)
plus
Ambulance |
12345A |
|
| Prorated Heavy Commercial Power
Unit |
PR12345 |
|
| Permanent Heavy Trailer |
PT12345 |
|
| Utility Trailer |
T123456 |
|
| Camper (Recreational Vehicle)
[pairs] |
12345 |
|
| Farmer/Fisher
[pairs] |
FM12345 |
|
| Farm Tractor
[pairs] |
FT12345 |
|
General
Tractor [pairs]
(includes industrial equipment) |
GT12345 |
|
Moped
These are very uncommon,
as most
very small motor-assisted
and electric bikes do not need to
be registered at all |
1234 |
|
| Motorcycle |
123456 |
|
| Motorcycle Veteran |
AAA12 |
|
| Motorcycle Handicapped |
1A23 |
|
| Motorcycle
Vanity |
Up to 6
characters |
|
| Motorcycle Dealer |
D123 |
|
| Motorcycle Antique |
AA123 |
|
Motorcycle Restricted
(Effectively these are confined
to
municipal police motorcycles) |
R1234 |
|
| Off-Highway Vehicle |
AA123 |
|
| Off-Highway Vehicle Dealer |
H1234 |
|