The Canadian province of Ontario first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1903. Registrants had to provide their own licence plates for display until 1911, when the province began to supply plates.[1] Plates are currently issued by the Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO).
The location of plates and renewal stickers is specified by the Highway Traffic Act[2] and Regulation 628 under the Act.[3]
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 and Queen Elizabeth. Exceptions include the 1951 plates, and farm series plates issued in the 1980s and 1990s. Toronto politician and Orange Order leader Leslie Saunders led protests against a proposal to remove the crown in 1948, a decision the government overturned.[4]
In 1956, the Canadian provinces and U.S. states 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 (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[5] The 1954 (dated 1955) issue was the first Ontario licence plate that complied with these standards.
Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
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1911 | White on blue porcelain | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 11500 | |
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1912 | Black on off-white | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 16500 | |
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1913 | Black on yellow | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 24000 | |
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1914 | Dark blue on orange | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 33000 | |
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1915 | Dark blue on yellow-green | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 43000 | |
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1916 | Black on white | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 64000 | |
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1917 | Dark blue on white | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 78000 | |
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1918 | Dark blue on off-white | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 107000 | |
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1919 | Black on golden yellow | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 133000 | |
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1920 | Dark green on white | none | 123456 | 1 to approximately 162000 | |
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1921 | Orange on royal blue | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 184-000 | First embossed plate. |
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1922 | Black on gray | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 216-000 | |
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1923 | Gray on black | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 260-000 | |
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1924 | Black on light yellow | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 313-000 | |
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1925 | Orange-yellow on black | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 309-000 | |
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1926 | Black on gray | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 415-000 | |
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1927 | Black on buff | none | 123·456 | 1 to approximately 437·000 | First use of the full province name. |
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1928 | Black on golden yellow | none | 123·456 | 1 to approximately 446·000 | |
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1929 | Black on gray | none | 123·456 | 1 to approximately 477·000 | |
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1930 | Black on white | none | A-1234 | A-1 to Z-9999 | Letters G, I and Q not used in serials.[6] |
AB-123 | AA-1 to approximately PV-999 | |||||
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1931 | Black on yellow | none | A·1234 | A·1 to Z·9999 | |
AB·123 | AA·1 to approximately OT·999 | |||||
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1932 | Black on white | none | A·1234 | A·1 to Z·9999 | |
AB·123 | AA·1 to approximately OB·999 | |||||
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1933 | Black on yellow | none | A·1234 | A·1 to Z·9999 | |
AB·123 | AA·1 to approximately MZ·999 | |||||
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1934 | Black on off-white | none | A·1234 | A·1 to Z·9999 | |
AB·123 | AA·1 to approximately NA·999 | |||||
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1935 | Embossed black numbers on orange plate; "19 ONTARIO 35" embossed in black block letters at top | none | A·1234 | A·1 to Z·9999 | |
AB·123 | AA·1 to approximately OK·999 | |||||
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1936 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "19 ONTARIO 36" embossed in white block letters at bottom | none | A·1234 | A·1 to Z·9999 | |
AB·123 | AA·1 to approximately PK·999 | |||||
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1937 | Embossed white numbers on red plate; "ONTARIO 1937" embossed in white block letters centred at top, with embossed white crowns to left and right | none | 1·A·234 12·A·34 123·A·4 |
First base to feature a crown in any form. | |
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1938 | Embossed orange numbers on light blue plate; "ONTARIO" embossed in orange block letters centred at bottom; embossed orange crown centred at top with "19" and "38" to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 |
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1939 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; "ONTARIO" embossed in white block letters centred at bottom; embossed white crown centred at top with "19" and "39" to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 |
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1940 | Embossed black numbers on yellow plate; embossed black crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1940" in black block letters to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 |
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1941 | Embossed green numbers on white plate; embossed green crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1941" in green block letters to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 |
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1942 | Embossed black numbers on orange plate; embossed black crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1942" in black block letters to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 |
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1943–44 | Embossed orange numbers on black plate; embossed orange crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1943" in orange block letters to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 |
Revalidated for 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II. | |
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1945 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate; embossed white crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1945" in white block letters to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 |
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1946 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; embossed white crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1946" in white block letters to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 |
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1947 | Embossed black numbers on silver plate; embossed black crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1947" in black block letters to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 |
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1948 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate; embossed white crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1948" in white block letters to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 |
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1949 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate; embossed blue crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1949" in blue block letters to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 1234A |
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1950 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; embossed white crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1950" in white block letters to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 1234A |
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1951–52 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate; "19–ONTARIO–51" embossed in blue block letters at top | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 1234A AB123 |
Revalidated for 1952 with windshield stickers. | |
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1953 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate; embossed white crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1953" in white block letters to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 1234A AB123 |
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1954 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate; embossed blue crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1954" in blue block letters to left and right respectively | none | 1A234 12A34 123A4 A1234 1234A AB123 |
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1955 | As 1953 base, but with "1955" to right of crown | none | 123·456 A12·345 |
First 6" x 12" plate. | |
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1956 | As 1954 base, but with "1956" to right of crown | none | 123·456 A·12345 |
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1957 | Embossed white numbers on black plate; embossed white crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1957" in white block letters to left and right respectively | none | 123·456 A·12345 |
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1958 | Embossed black numbers on white plate; embossed black crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1958" in black block letters to left and right respectively | none | 123·456 A·12345 |
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1959 | As 1957 base, but with "1959" to right of crown | none | 123·456 A·12345 |
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1960 | As 1958 base, but with "1960" to right of crown | none | 123·456 A·12345 |
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1961 | As 1957 base, but with "1961" to right of crown | none | 123·456 A·12345 |
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1962 | As 1958 base, but with border line, and with "1962" to right of crown | none | 123·456 A·12345 |
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1963 | As 1957 base, but with border line, and with "1963" to right of crown | none | 123·456 A·12345 |
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1964 | As 1958 base, but with border line, and with "1964" to right of crown | none | 123·456 A·12345 |
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1965 | Embossed white numbers on blue plate with border line; embossed white crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1965" in white block letters to left and right respectively | none | 123·456 A·12345 12345·A |
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1966 | Embossed blue numbers on white plate with border line; embossed blue crown centred at top, with "ONTARIO" and "1966" in blue block letters to left and right respectively | none | 123·456 A·12345 12345·A |
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1967 | Embossed white numbers and crown separator on blue plate with border line; "ONTARIO" embossed in white block letters centred at top; "19" embossed in top left corner, "18" in bottom left corner and "67" in top right and bottom right corners | "CONFEDERATION" embossed in white block letters centred at bottom | 123-456 A12-345 123-45A |
Issued as part of the Canadian Centennial celebration. | |
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1968 | Embossed blue numbers and crown separator on white plate; "1968" and "ONTARIO" embossed in blue block letters centred at top and bottom respectively | none | 123-456 A12-345 123-45A |
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1969 | Embossed white numbers and crown separator on blue plate; "1969" and "ONTARIO" embossed in white block letters centred at top and bottom respectively | none | 123-456 A12-345 123-45A |
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1970 | As 1968 base, but with "1970" embossed at top | none | 123-456 A12-345 123-45A |
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1971 | As 1969 base, but with "1971" embossed at top | none | 123-456 A12-345 123-45A |
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1972 | As 1968 base, but with "1972" embossed at top | none | 123-456 A12-345 123-45A |
All Ontario licence plates issued since 1973 are still valid for display today, provided they have been continuously registered.
Image | Dates issued | Design | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1973–78 | Embossed blue numbers and crown separator on white plate with border line; "ONTARIO" embossed in blue block letters centred at top; "73" embossed in bottom left corner and full sticker box in bottom right corner | "KEEP IT BEAUTIFUL" embossed in blue block letters centred at bottom | ABC-123 | AAA-001 to NKJ-999 | |
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1978–82 | As above, but without embossed "73", and with partial sticker box in bottom right corner | NKK-001 to TMA-999 | |||
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1982–86 | As above, but with no sticker box | "YOURS TO DISCOVER" embossed in blue block letters centred at bottom | TMB-001 to ZZZ-999 | Staggered registration introduced 1983, with each plate expiring in the same month as the registrant's birthday. | |
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1986–94 | 123-ABC | 001-AAA to 999-VYH | |||
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1994–97 | Embossed blue numbers and screened blue crown separator on reflective white plate; "ONTARIO" screened in blue serifed letters centred at top | "YOURS TO DISCOVER" screened in blue serifed letters centred at bottom | 123-ABC | 001-VYJ to 999-ZZZ | Narrower dies introduced in preparation for ABCD-123 serial format. |
File:Ont plate Canada.jpg | 1997–present | ABCD-123 | AAAA-001 to CDFS-999 (as of October 9, 2017) | Letters G, I, O, Q and U not used.[6] | ||
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2008–present | "TANT À DÉCOUVRIR" screened in blue serifed letters centred at bottom | Extra-cost alternative issue. |
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 |
ONA-001 to ONZ-999 | Provincially Owned Vehicles[7] | Provincial |
Image | First issued | Description | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
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2010 | Green on white with graphic trillium separator | Green Vehicle | GVAB 123 | GVAA 001 to present | Issued to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles. Vehicles with these plates can access HOV lanes on 400-series highways regardless of the number of passengers in the vehicle.[8] See also: government incentives for plug-in electric vehicles. |
Véhicule écologique | VEAB 123 | VEAA 001 to present |
Vehicles more than 30 years old and substantially unchanged since manufacture may qualify for a "Historic" registration.[9]
Annual fees are much lower ($18 vs $108 for a passenger car in 2015)[10], but historic vehicles may not be used as conventional transportation. They legally may only be driven to and from events and parades where the vehicle is on display, to garages for maintenance, and other similar use cases. Annual renewal stickers are affixed to the rear plate, as with passenger vehicles.
Historic plates are not to be confused with year-of-manufacture plates.[11]
Unlike passenger cars, plate validation stickers for commercial vehicles are placed on the front plate, instead of the rear. This placement is consistent between trucks with visible rear plates, and tractor units where the rear plate is obscured by a trailer. Ontario vehicles registered in the International Registration Plan receive special commercial plates with "PRP" written vertically on the left.
All pickup trucks are legally considered commercial vehicles and thus require commercial plates. However, if used strictly as a passenger vehicle ("personal-use vehicle"), a truck may be exempt from some conditions imposed on commercial vehicles, indicated by a white or red "PERSONAL USE ONLY" sticker affixed in the top left corner of the front plate.[12]
Image | First issued | Description | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1980 | Black on white with embossed crown separator | none | AB1-234 | AA1-001 to ZD9-999 | Also used for non-passenger personal vehicles (i.e. pick-up trucks and panel vans). |
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1995 | Black on reflective white with screened crown separator | Yours to Discover | AB1-234 | ZE1-001 to ZZ9-999 | |
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1996 | 123-4AB | 100-1AA to 999-9ZZ | |||
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2011 | AB-12345 | AA-10001 to present | On commercial vehicles, licence plate stickers are affixed in the top right of the front plate, as shown in the photo. The top left corner may be used for other stickers relating to vehicle use or taxation (i.e.: government exemption). | ||
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Tant à Découvrir | DA-10001 to present | ||||
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Black on reflective white with screened crown separator "PRP" vertically |
Yours to Discover | Used on vehicles taking part in the International Registration Plan (IRP) |
Vehicles over 3000 kg owned by farmers and used for farm-related purposes, such as working the soil, building maintenance, and the transportation of farm products, may qualify for a farm plate. Farm-plated trucks and towed trailers may also be used by a farmer for personal transportation.
To qualify, a farmer must meet a series of criteria, including membership in farming organisations and a minimum amount of income that derives from farming. Fees for farm plates are substantially lower than for passenger or commercial plates. The Highway Traffic Act also exempts farm vehicles from several requirements imposed on commercial vehicles.[13]
Farm plates are black on white with a black crown separator, in a pattern similar to commercial plates. They have the word "FARM" written vertically on the left of the plate. Validation stickers are the same as for other vehicles, and are affixed to the front plate, as with commercial plates.
Image | First issued | Description | Slogan | Serial format | Notes |
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1994 | White on reflective red with crown separator. | Yours to Discover | 123-CDx - diplomat 123-CCx - consular |
Diplomatic Plate. Ontario plates do not bear indications of the mission. Low numbers assigned to heads of missions (i.e.: ambassadors). |
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1994 | Black on yellow background, with crown separator. | Yours to Discover | DLx-xxx 123-Dxx |
Removable service plate. Before 2007 also used by vehicle dealers. See below. |
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2007 | Red stamped identification on a white reflective background. Screened in black: "DEALER" written vertically on the left, crown separator, "ONTARIO" across the top and "Yours to discover". | Yours to Discover | 123-Dxx | Removable plate restricted to car dealers. Introduced in 2007 to differentiate dealer's inventory from vehicles being serviced.[15] See below. Issued singly, to be displayed at the rear of the vehicle. |
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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. |
All trailers in Ontario are considered separate vehicles and must have a permit and be plated. New owners of a trailer must register with the MTO within six days of purchase. They are then issued with a permit and a plate. Trailer plates are not renewed annually, but may be replaced if lost, damaged or stolen. Plates are affixed to the rear of the trailer. There is no front plate.[16]
All trailers, whether used by commercial operators or others, use a same model plate. Plates are blue on white with crown separator, in a pattern and colour similar to that of passenger vehicles, with the word "TRAILER" written vertically on the left of the plate. However, they do not follow the same numbering system as other vehicles.
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.[17]
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.
Along with regular series plates, the province also offers personalized plates for passenger and commercial vehicles. A personalized licence plate message may contain almost any combination of letters and numbers from two to eight characters. The plates can also include one of 60 different graphics,[18] with two to six characters. Available graphics have changed over the years, with some becoming available, while others have been withdrawn or modified. Owners selecting a graphic but no custom message are generally assigned a registration with a 12XY34 pattern, where the XY is a code indicating the design (i.e.: LN and LM = Loon, CF = Canadian Flag, etc.).
The province reserves the right to refuse or withdraw plates for a variety of reasons,[19] including:
While criteria have existed since the introduction of personalized plates, accusations of excessive zeal led the McGuinty government to set up a review committee in August 2008. The eight-member committee meets weekly to review submissions. In the first half of 2013, it had rejected 3% of requests.[20] Plates have also been withdrawn after issue.[21]
The ownership of plates with graphic elements associated with particular groups, such as veterans or firefighters, may be restricted and require proof of eligibility.
Personalized plates with two to five characters are also available for motorcycles.
Since 1991, all Ontario plates have been manufactured for the MTO by Trilcor Industries, owned by the province's Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services,[23] at the Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Ontario.[24]
In 2012, reports began to appear of plates deteriorating earlier than otherwise expected. The reflective layers detached themselves from the metal plate, making the plate unreadable. Approximately 1% of licence plates issued have this defect. The defect has appeared in both front and rear plates. Trilcor Industries and the MTO offer a five-year warranty on plates and will replace the defective plates at no cost.[25] Plate replacement for other reasons (theft, damage, wear, etc.) is done at a cost.
Conventional plates can be replaced "over-the-counter" at a license office, but the complete process for personalized plates takes over six months.[26]
Driving with an illegible plate is an offence punishable by fine, under the Highway Traffic Act.[27]
In 2015, the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services hired Canada's National Research Council to identify the root cause of licence plate de-lamination. The NRC's report indicated that the reflective material adhered poorly to the aluminium plates, and that embossing process stressed the materials to the point that the reflective layer would puncture and de-laminate. At that point, water and other contaminants could slip between the layers. Also, road de-icing materials contributed to the de-lamination. The report found that this problem was present in samples from all types of plates, except for motorcycle plates.
The report recommended that Trilcor work with its supplier of laminating layer to resolve the problem, and indicated that a thicker layer of material would likely perform better.[28]
In 2016, an increase in the rate of defective plates combined with an increase in the number of registered vehicles led to the Ontario Ministry of Transport unable to keep up with demand for plates. It placed an order for 100,000 units from the Waldale Irwin Holdson Group, the largest licence plate manufacturer in North America.[29] Plates are produced by the Waldale Manufacturing facility in Amherst, Nova Scotia.
Plates from the first batch of 35,000 can be identified due to the use of embossed letters and numbers from Nova Scotia plates, which differ in appearance from Ontarian fonts.[30]