Vehicle registration plates of Manitoba

The Canadian province of Manitoba first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1911. As of 2022, plates are issued by the Manitoba Public Insurance. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Manitoba
Current series
SloganFriendly Manitoba
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatABC 123
Introduced2012 (2012)
Availability
Issued byManitoba Public Insurance
History
First issued1911 (1911)

Passenger baseplates

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1911 to 1947

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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 license 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.[1] The first Manitoba license plate that complied with these standards was issued 25 years beforehand, in 1931.

No slogans were used on passenger plates during the period covered by this subsection.

Image Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
  1911 White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "MAN" and "1911" at left and right respectively 1234 1 to 1999;
3000 to approximately 3200
Serials 2000 through 2999 reserved for dealers.[2]
  1912 White serial on black porcelain plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN. 1912" below 1234 1 to approximately 4500
  1913 Black serial on white porcelain plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN 1913" below 1234 1 to approximately 5800
  1914 Black serial on golden yellow porcelain plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN 1914" below 1234 1 to approximately 7400
  1915 Black serial on white flat metal plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN. 1915" below 1234 1 to approximately 8900
  1916 White serial on brown flat metal plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN. 1916" below 12345 1 to approximately 12500
  1917 White serial on black flat metal plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN. 1917" below 12345 1 to approximately 18600
 
 
1918–19 Black serial on yellow flat metal plate; provincial shield at left with "MAN. 1918" below 12345 1 to approximately 33000 Revalidated for 1919 with dark green tabs.
  1920 Embossed black serial on light green plate with border line; "MAN 1920" at left 12345 1 to approximately 33500 First embossed plate.
  1921 Embossed gray serial on dark blue plate with border line; "MAN 1921" at left 12-345 1 to approximately 37-500
  1922 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MAN 1922" at left 12-345 1 to approximately 38-500
  1923 Embossed blue serial on gray plate with border line; "MAN 1923" at left 12-345 1 to approximately 41-000
  1924 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MAN 1924" at left 12-345 1 to approximately 42-500
  1925 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "MAN 1925" at left 12-345 1 to approximately 41-500
  1926 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; slanted "MAN" and "26" at right 12-345 1 to approximately 51-500
  1927 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "MANITOBA 27" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 58-500 First use of the full province name.
  1928 Embossed black serial on turquoise plate with border line; "MANITOBA 28" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 59-000
  1929 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "MANITOBA 29" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 77-000
  1930 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "MANITOBA 30" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 80-000
  1931 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "MANITOBA 31" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 90-000 First 6" x 12" plate.
  1932 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MANITOBA 32" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 78-000
  1933 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "MANITOBA 33" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 65-000
  1934 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "34 MANITOBA" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 65-500
  1935 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MANITOBA 35" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 64-500
  1936 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "MANITOBA 36" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 65-500
  1937 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "MANITOBA 37" at top 12-345 1 to approximately 68-000
  1938 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "MANITOBA 38" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 78-500
  1939 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "MANITOBA 39" at top 12-345 1 to approximately 85-500
  1940 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "MANITOBA 40" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 84-500
  1941 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "MANITOBA 41" at top 12-345 1 to approximately 85-000
 
 
1942–44 Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "MANITOBA 42" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 84-000 Revalidated for 1943 with red tabs, and for 1944 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
  1945 Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "MANITOBA 45" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 84-500
  1946 Embossed blue serial on cream plate with border line; "MANITOBA 46" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 84-000
  1947 Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "MANITOBA 47" at bottom 12-345 1 to approximately 85-500

1948 to present

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Manitoba is currently one of five provinces where decals are not used to show that the vehicle has valid registration, the others being Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Quebec.[3]

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
 
 
1948–49 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "MANITOBA 48" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 112-000 Revalidated for 1949 with silver tabs.
 
 
1950–51 Embossed black serial on silver plate with border line; "MANITOBA 50" at bottom none 1A234 1A1 to approximately 9S999 Revalidated for 1951 with red tabs.
  1952–57 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "MANITOBA 52" at bottom none 1A234 1A1 to
9Y999
Revalidated for 1953 with black tabs, for 1954 with green tabs, for 1955 with white tabs, for 1956 with black tabs, and for 1957 with green tabs.
  12A34 10A1 to approximately 70P99
  1958–63 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "MANITOBA 58" at bottom, offset to right, with embossed bison graphic to left none 1A234 1A1 to
9Y999
Revalidated for 1959 with white tabs, for 1960 with yellow tabs, for 1961 with green tabs, for 1962 with white tabs, and for 1963 with yellow tabs. Letters I, O, Q, R and Z not used in serials; this practice continued until 1976.[4]
  12A34 10A1 to
99Y99
  AB123 AA1 to approximately DV999
  1964–70 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "MANITOBA 64" at bottom, offset to right, with embossed bison graphic to left none 1A234 1A1 to
9Y999
Revalidated for 1965 with black tabs, for 1966 with red tabs, for 1967 with purple tabs, for 1968 with green tabs, for 1969 with black tabs, and for 1970 with purple tabs. Manitoba was thus the last jurisdiction in North America to revalidate its licence plates with tabs.
  12A34 10A1 to
99Y99
  AB123 AA1 to approximately PJ999
  1971–75 Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; outline of bison's head and front leg embossed at left; "71" at bottom left "SUNNY MANITOBA" and "100,000 LAKES" centred at top and bottom respectively AB-123
AB12-34
AA-1 to approximately DW99-99 Former provincial slogan coincidentally similar to the U.S. state of Minnesota slogan, "10,000 LAKES" (which is still currently used on its license plates).
  1976–82 Embossed purple serial on reflective yellow plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "MANITOBA" centred at bottom; "76" at top right "FRIENDLY" centred at top ABC-123 AAA-101 to approximately GUW-999 Only letters A through E, G, H, K, L, N, S, T, U, W and X used in serials, and numbers 1–100 reserved in all series.[4]
  1983–86 Embossed black serial on reflective white plate; border lines around plate and around bottom corners; "MANITOBA" screened in red centred at bottom; debossed "83" at bottom left "FRIENDLY" screened in red centred at top 123 ABC 101 AAA to 500 DWT The 1986 design changes were made in order to cut costs. Letters initially used in serials same as those on the 1976–82 base, plus P as second and/or third letter only; all letters used from the QAA series onwards (1995).[4]
  1986 – June 16, 1997 As above, but non-reflective, and with province name embossed in black As above, but embossed in black 501 DWT to approximately 999 QLV
  June 17, 1997[5] – late
2012
Embossed dark blue serial on reflective white plate with river scene featuring green trees on either side and yellow wheat at the bottom; blue bison graphic screened at top right; "Manitoba" screened in blue at top, offset to right, with red maple leaf over the 'i' "Friendly" screened in blue to left of province name, giving "Friendly Manitoba" ABC 123 AAA 101 to BZZ 999; DAA 101 to GLW 999 Awarded "Plate of the Year" for best new standard-issue licence plate of 1997 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, the first and, to date, only time Manitoba has been so honored. Co-recipient with Wisconsin. Letters I, O and Q not used in serials;[4] 'C' series reserved for Commercial plates and 'J' series for alternative Bienvenue plates (below).
  late 2012 – present As above, but with bison graphic changed from blue to black GLX 101 to HZZ 999; KAA 101 to LTK 999 (as of November 25, 2024)
  February 25, 2013[6] – present As above, plus "Bienvenue" screened in blue centered at bottom JBA 101 to JBZ 999 (as of November 12, 2024) Alternative issue.

Specialty plates

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Image Type First issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
  Winnipeg Blue Bombers June 2011 Blue Text, Blue to white gradient and screened Winnipeg Blue Bombers logo "Friendly" and "True Blue" BB1234 BB0001 to BB9999 Serials BB0001 through BB0150 were issued only to current Bomber players, Alumni and executives.
B12345 B00001 to present
  Winnipeg Jets December 2011 Blue serial on white and blue gradient plate with Jets logo screened at left "Friendly" and "Fuelled By Passion" WJ1234 WJ0001 to WJ9999
J12345 J00001 to present
  Firefighter September 2012 Blue serial on white and red gradient plate with Fire Department crest screened at left "Friendly" and "Serving Our Community" FF1234 FF0001 to FF9999 Issued to active or retired fire fighters and their immediate family. The number in the serial usually matches the fire fighter's badge number.
  Firefighter – Winnipeg WF1234 WF0001 to WF9999
  Winnipeg Goldeyes March 2013 Blue serial on white and gold gradient plate with Goldeyes logo screened at left "Friendly" and "Goldeyes" G12345 G00001 to present
  Curling Manitoba December 2013 Black serial on white plate with yellow curling target screened at bottom and curling stone at left "Friendly" and "curlingforlife.com" CM1234 CM0001 to present
  Brandon Wheat Kings February 2014 Black serial on white and yellow gradient plate with Wheat Kings logo and three wheat stalks screened at left "Friendly" and "Wheat Kings" WK1234 WK0001 to present
  University of Winnipeg June 2014 Black serial on white and red plate with UWinnipeg campus screened in background and UWinnipeg crest at left "Friendly" and "Discover, Achieve, Belong" UW1234 UW0001 to present
  Winnipeg Jets Heritage September 2021 Blue serial on white plate with 1973 Jets logo screened at left "Friendly" and "Honour the Past" JH1234 JH0001 to JH9999
H12345 H00001 to present

Non-passenger plates

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Image Type Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
  Collector Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "Friendly Manitoba" and black bison graphic at top; "Collector" at bottom CL12345 CL00001 to CL12299 (as of August 25, 2024) First issued March 2014. Issued to cars and motorcycles that are at least 25 years old and are used only for pleasure.
  Commercial As current passenger base CBC 123 CAA 001 to CRM 999 (as of September 26, 2024)
Dealer As current passenger base D12345 D00001 to D70299 (as of August 22, 2024)
  Livery As current passenger base XBC 123 XAA 001 to XAF 999 (as of December 20, 2017)
  Motorcycle Same design as current passenger base; "MC" embossed below serial 1AB23 1AA01 to 4EB99 (as of August 21, 2021)
  Same design as current passenger base; "MC" embossed below serial 5EB01 to 7GH01 (as of August 1, 2022) New smaller size. Continues on same serial format.
  Repairer R12345 R00001 to R19260 (as of July 1, 2022)
  ORV Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "MANITOBA" at top and "ORV" at bottom 123A4 1A1 to 999Z9 First issued 1988. 1A234 serial format commenced 2010.
1A234 1A001 to 7M878 (as of May 24, 2022)
  PSV As current passenger base PBC 123 PAA 001 to PEB 330 (as of November 8, 2019)
  Trailer Same design as current passenger base; "TL" embossed below serial A123B A001A to Z999Z 123AB serial format commenced 2017.
  123AB 001AA to 433GE (as of May 15, 2022)
  Amateur Radio AB1CD 123AB serial format commenced 2017.

Vanity plates

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The province also offers personalized vanity license plates, at a cost of $100. These plates can be affixed to passenger vehicles, non-commercial trucks, farm trucks, motorcycles, mopeds and motorhomes.[7]

 
A 1977 AMC Hornet with a Manitoba vanity plate.

References

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  1. ^ Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62, no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  2. ^ Taylor, Eric Robert. "Manitoba Archive". PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  3. ^ "Manitoba Public Insurance scrapping licence plate stickers". CBC News. January 15, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2016.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Tanner, Eric N. "Manitoba Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved November 17, 2020.
  5. ^ "New Licence Plates Being Distributed". Province of Manitoba. June 13, 1997. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  6. ^ "Bilingual licence plates coming to Manitoba roads". CBC News. February 19, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  7. ^ "Personalized licence plates". Manitoba Public Insurance. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
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