Vehicle registration plates of Quebec

The Canadian province of Quebec first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1906. Registrants provided their own licence plates for display until 1908, when the province began to issue plates.[2] Plates are currently issued by the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec (Quebec Automobile Insurance Corporation).

Quebec
Current series
SloganJe me souviens
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial formatA12 BCD
Introduced1983 (1983)
Availability
Issued bySociété de l'assurance automobile du Québec
Manufactured byRelief Design Inc., Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, Quebec[1]
History
First issued1908 (1908)

From 1963 to 1977 (except 1967), licence plates carried the slogan La Belle Province ("The Beautiful Province"), a nickname for Quebec. Since 1978, they have carried Je me souviens ("I remember"), the official motto of the province.

Since 1979, Quebec legislation has required only rear plates, though there are certain cases where front plates are also required. Annual renewal stickers were used from 1979 to 1992; Quebec is currently one of three provinces where such stickers are not used (the others being Saskatchewan and Manitoba). Dates for renewals of plates on passenger vehicles are determined based on the first letter of the registered owner's surname, while for other vehicles they are determined based on the type of vehicle: for example, plates on passenger vehicles whose owners' surnames begin with the letter 'L' are to be renewed in September, as are school bus plates.[3] Registrations and fees may be renewed up to three months in advance. Trailer plates ("R" category) are not renewed annually: they are only registered upon initial purchase, or when transferred to another owner.[3] Enforcement is done by a variety of methods, including automated number plate recognition.[4]

Vehicles registered in Quebec can only display approved plates. Decorative designs are permitted at the front of the vehicles, but displaying a plate with a design that can be "confused" with an official plate, or an official plate from any other jurisdiction, is an offence under articles 34 and 56 of the Highway Safety Code and punishable with a fine.[5]

Relief Design Inc., of Saint-Louis-de-Blandford, Quebec, is the sole producer of licence plates on behalf of the SAAQ.[1][6] The company is a sister company of Amherst, Nova Scotia-based Waldale Manufacturing Ltd.[7]

Vehicle categories

Certain vehicle categories are indicated on plates by the use of prefixes:[8]

Active categories
Active categoriesPrefix
Taxis (** two digits indicate the area where the taxi operates)T, T**
Taxis requiring a special permit (i.e.: limousines)TS
Taxis used for non-emergency patient transferTB
Trucks, truck-trailer, and farm vehicles over 3000 kgL
Buses and minibusesA, AE, AP, AU
Restricted use vehicles (including vehicles used in remote areas not connected to the remainder of the road network, farm tractors, snowmobiles, vintage motorcycles and automobiles restricted to roads with speed limits below 70 km/h)C
Removable plates (i.e.: garage and dealers)X
Removable motorcycle and snowmobile platesXA (only on small motorcycle plate)
TrailersR
Vehicles used off public roadways (snowmobiles under 450 kg, and vehicles restricted to use in harbors, train stations and airports)V
Other vehicles (including commercial, farm, driving school, occasional school use, road-going machines, snow removal vehicles, hearses, ambulances, tow trucks)F
Consular and diplomatic staff vehicles (e.g. CC 123, CD 123)CC, CD
Licensed amateur radio operators (e.g. VE2 AA, VE2 AAA, VA2 AA, VA2 AAA)VE2, VA2

Taxi plates phase-out

The provincial government ceased the issuance of T plates on October 10, 2020, and will phase out T plates between October 13, 2020, and March 31, 2021, following the enactment of a law to modernize the taxi industry.[9] All current T plates will be converted to either regular or commercial (F) plates.[10]

Retired categories
DescriptionExpired prefixReplaced by
Farm trailers registered before 1 January 1989UR
Government of QuébecGQF
Sureté du Québec provincial police forceGPF
Government of CanadaGF
HearseCO, HF
AmbulanceAM, HF
Rentals, short-term (less than one year).[11]ZZF
Rentals/leases longer than one year.[11] If a leased by a commercial owner, prefix may be combined with F prefix.Z, FZF

Passenger baseplates

1908 to 1978

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 (except those for motorcycles) at 6 inches (15 cm) in height by 12 inches (30 cm) in width, with standardized mounting holes.[12] The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Quebec licence plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Description Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1908–10 White serial on black rubber plate; vertical "PQ" at right none 1234 1001 to approximately 3500
1911 White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "PQ" at right none 1234 3501 to approximately 5400
1912 Dark blue serial on white fiberboard plate; vertical "PQ" at right none 1234 1 to approximately 3200
1913 White serial on dark green fiberboard plate; "P.Q." centred at bottom none 1234 4001 to approximately 9500
1914 Red serial on white fiberboard plate; vertical "PQ" at right none 12345 9301 to approximately 16800
1915 Black serial on light green fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred at bottom none 12345 16901 to approximately 26500 First use of the full province name.
1916 Black serial on gray fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred at bottom none 12345 26701 to approximately 42900
1917 Red serial on cream fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred at bottom none 12345 43501 to approximately 66800
1918 Black serial on cream fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred within black bar at bottom none 12345 64001 to approximately 67100, plus older serials
1919 Red serial on light yellow fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 34000
1920 Green serial on white fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred within green bar at top none 12345 1 to approximately 46500
1921 White serial on black fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred at bottom none 12345
123-456		 50001 to approximately 106-000
1922 Dark blue serial on white fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred within dark blue bar at bottom none 12345 1 to approximately 59000
1923 Yellow serial on black fiberboard plate; provincial coat of arms used as separator; "QUEBEC 1923" centred at bottom none 12-345 10-001 to approximately 70-000 First dated plate.
1924 Green serial on white fiberboard plate; "QUE - 24" centred at bottom none 12345 10001 to approximately 82000 All-numeric serials issued on vehicles weighing less than 3,000 lb, and 'H' prefix serials on vehicles 3,000 lb or greater. This practice continued through 1936.[13]
H12345 H1001 to approximately H10500
1925 Embossed white serial on black plate; "QUE–25" at bottom none 12345 10001 to approximately 78000 First embossed plate.
H12345 H-1 to approximately H11000
1926 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "QUE–26" at bottom none 12345 10001 to approximately 81000
H12345 H-1 to approximately H16000
1927 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "QUE–27" at bottom none 12345 10001 to approximately 95000
H12345 H-1 to approximately H20000
1928 Embossed black serial on light green plate; "QUE–28" at bottom none 123456 10001 to approximately 108000
H12345 H-1 to approximately H19000
1929 Embossed white serial on black plate; "QUE–29" at bottom none 123456 10001 to approximately 116000
H12345 H-1 to approximately H27000
1930 Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "QUE–30" centred at top none 123456 10001 to approximately 124000
H12345 H-1 to approximately H33000
1931 Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "31–QUE" centred at bottom none 123456 10001 to approximately 129000
H12345 H-1 to approximately H32000
1932 Embossed black serial on light green plate; "32–QUE" centred at top none 123456 10001 to approximately 127000
H12345 H-1 to approximately H32000
1933 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "QUE" and "33" at left and right respectively none 123456 10001 to approximately 113000
H12345 H-1 to approximately H30000
1934 Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "34" and "QUE" at left and right respectively none 123456 10001 to approximately 110000
H12345 H-1 to approximately H31000
1935 Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; vertical "QUE" and "35" left and right respectively none 123456 10001 to approximately 108000
H12345 H-1 to approximately H35000
1936 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "QUE" and "36" at left none 12345 1 to approximately 99000
H12345 H-1 to approximately H38000
1937 Embossed silver serial on green plate with border line; "QUEBEC 37" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 145-000
1938 Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "QUEBEC 38" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 167-000
1939 Embossed silver serial on maroon plate with border line; "QUEBEC 39" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 172-000
1940 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "QUEBEC 40" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 178-000
1941 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "QUEBEC 41" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 179-000
1942 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "QUEBEC 42" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 183-000
1943 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "QUEBEC -43" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 164-000
1944 Black serial on gray Masonite plate; "QUEBEC-44" centred at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 175-000 Manufactured on Masonite due to metal conservation for World War II.
1945 Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "QUEBEC–45" centred at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 174-000
1946 Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "QUEBEC–46" centred at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 177-000
1947 Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "QUEBEC–47" centred at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 188-000
1948 Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "QUEBEC–48" centred at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 232-000
1949 Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "QUEBEC-49" at bottom none 123-456 1 to approximately 271-000
1950 Embossed white serial with fleur-de-lys separator on azure plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-50" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 294-000 First base to feature the fleur-de-lys.
1951 Embossed black serial with fleur-de-lys separator on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-51" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 339-000
1952 Embossed orange serial with fleur-de-lys separator on azure plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-52" at top none 123-456 1 to approximately 386-000
1953 Embossed black serial with fleur-de-lys separator on white plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-53" at bottom none 123-456 2-001 to approximately 444-000
1954 Embossed black serial with fleur-de-lys separator on yellow plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-54" at top none 123-456 2-001 to approximately 497-000
1955 Embossed yellow serial with fleur-de-lys separator on black plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-55" at bottom none 123-456 2-001 to approximately 537-000
1956 Embossed green serial with fleur-de-lys separator on white plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-56" at top none 123-456 2-001 to approximately 624-000
1957 Embossed white serial with fleur-de-lys separator on green plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-57" at bottom none 123-456 2-001 to approximately 696-000
1958 Embossed black serial with fleur-de-lys separator on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-58" at top none 123-456 2-001 to approximately 749-000
1959 Embossed black serial with fleur-de-lys separator on yellow plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-59" at bottom none 123-456 2-001 to approximately 807-000
1960 Embossed yellow serial with fleur-de-lys separator on black plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-60" at top none 123-456 2-001 to approximately 840-000
1961 Embossed black serial with fleur-de-lys separator on white plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-61" at bottom none 123-456 2-001 to approximately 915-000
1962 Embossed white serial with fleur-de-lys separator on black plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-62" at top none 123-456 2-001 to approximately 998-000
1963 Embossed dark green serial with fleur-de-lys separator on white plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-63" at top "LA BELLE PROVINCE" at bottom 123-456 2-001 to
999-999		 First use of the "La Belle Province" slogan.
12-345A 10-001A to approximately 92-000A
1964 Embossed dark green serial on yellow plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "64" at left, separated from serial by dividing line "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial 123-456 2-001 to
999-999
1A-2345 1A-0001 to approximately 9B-4000
1965 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "65" at left, separated from serial by dividing line "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial 1A-2345 1A-0001 to approximately 4V-2000 Letters F, I, J, L, O, Q, T and U not used in serials.[13]
1966 Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "66" at left, separated from serial by dividing line "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial 1A-2345 1A-0001 to approximately 3R-4500 Letters F, J and L added to serials.[13]

 1967 Embossed red designs and lettering on white plate with embossed border line; Front and rear plates of different design.
Front plate: Centred logo of the Montreal Expo 67, with fleur-de-lys on the left and along the bottom from left to right "1967", the vehicle's registration number, and "QUÉ."
Rear plate: "QUÉ." and maple leaf on the left, vehicle's registration on the right. Along the bottom from left to right "1867 CONFÉDÉRATION 1967".		 Front plate: "MONTRÉAL EXPO67"
Rear plate: "CONFÉDÉRATION"		 1A-2345 1A-0001 to approximately 8R-8500 Commemorated both the Montreal 1967 World Exposition and the centenary of Canadian confederation.
1968 Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "68" at left, separated from serial by dividing line "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial 1A-2345 1A-0001 to approximately 9S-0500
1969 Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "69" at left, separated from serial by dividing line "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial 1A-2345 1A-0001 to approximately 1V-2500 Letter T added to serials.
1970 Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "70" at left, separated from serial by dividing line "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial 1A-2345 1A-0001 to
9Z-9999		 Letters W and Y not used in serials.[13]
1971 Embossed black serial on metallic pea green plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "71" at left, separated from serial by dividing line "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial 123-456 100-001 to
999-999
1A-2345 1A-0001 to approximately 8J-2500
1972 Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; fleur-de-lys, "QUÉBEC" and "72" at top "LA BELLE PROVINCE" centred at bottom 123-456 100-001 to
999-999
1A-2345 1A-1 to approximately 9K-5000
1973 Embossed red serial with fleur-de-lys separator on white plate with border line; "19 QUÉBEC 73" at top "LA BELLE PROVINCE" centred at bottom 123-456 10-01 to
999-999
1A-2345 1A-0001 to approximately 8M-1500
1974 Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; fleur-de-lys, "QUÉBEC" and "74" at top "LA BELLE PROVINCE" centred at bottom 123A456 100A001 to 999A999; 100E001 to 999E999; 100H001 to approximately 450H000
1975 Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "75", "QUÉBEC" and fleur-de-lys at top "LA BELLE PROVINCE" centred at bottom 123A456 A, K, N, S and B series
1976 Embossed red serial on cream plate with border line; fleur-de-lys, "QUÉBEC" and "76" at top "LA BELLE PROVINCE" at bottom, along with the logo of the 1976 Summer Olympics 123A456 H, L, M and P series
1977 Embossed dark blue serial on light blue plate ("Bleu Québec") with border line; fleur-de-lys and "Québec" at top left; "77" at top right "La belle province" centred at bottom 123A456 R, S, T and V series
1978 Embossed brown serial on beige plate with border line; "78" at top left; fleur-de-lys and "Québec" at top right "Je me souviens" centred at bottom 123A456 A, B, C, E and F series Last single-year plate, and first use of the provincial motto.

1979 to present
Image Dates issued Description Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1979–83 Embossed blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; "79" at top left; fleur-de-lys and "Québec" at top right "Je me souviens" centred at bottom 123A456 H, P, L and M series; 100S000 to approximately 540S000 Front plates no longer issued.
1983–96 As above, but with wider serial dies, a darker shade of blue, and fleur-de-lys and "Québec" centred at top ABC 123 AAA 001 to ZZZ 999 Validated with stickers until 1992. 'M' series reserved for motorcycles.
1996 – late 2009 123 ABC 001 AAA to 999 ZZZ Series PAA through PCZ reserved for Veteran plates (below). Letters I, O and U after 999 DMU not used in serials; this practice continues today.[13] Some series have not been issued either : for example BEU (weed), CUL (ass) etc.
late 2009 – present A12 BCD B01 AAA to G87 XBL (as of December 21, 2020) A, C, F, L, R, T and V not used as first letters in this serial format.[13]

Optional plates
Image Type First issued Description Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
Veteran January 1, 2006 As current passenger base, but with screened poppy graphic in the centre Je me souviens 123 PBC 001 PAA to approximately 999 PAV Issued to eligible veterans, subject to vetting standards set by the Royal Canadian Legion. For use on vehicles less than 3,000 kg.[14]
2019 As current passenger base, but with graphics of a male and female soldier and a poppy field at right, a single poppy at bottom left, and "VÉTÉRANS" in red at top left 001 PAW to 515 PBQ (as of December 20, 2020)
Electric 2011 green on reflective white with electric vehicle pictogram on lower left corner [15] Je me souviens E00 VEA (passengers), A00000 (buses), FVE0000 (commercial <3000 kg) E01 VEA to present;
A00001 to present;
FVE0001 to present.		 Hybrid or all-electric vehicles only

Non-passenger plates
Image Type Dates issued Design Serial format Serials issued Notes
Commercial 1979–83 As 1979–83 passenger plates F123-456 F100-001 to approximately F585-000
1983–86 As current passenger plates F123456 F585001 to F999999
1986–2001 FB12345 FA 1001 to FY99999; FF10001 to FF99999
2001–present FBC1234 FAA1001 to FRL2871 (as of January 7, 2021)
Moped (until 1989) 1979–85 Similar to 1979–83 passenger plates, but without slogan 123456 1001 to approximately 155000 Still currently revalidated.
1985–89 Similar to current passenger plates 123 456 155 001 to approximately 223 000
Motorcycle (until 1989) 1979–84 Similar to 1979–83 passenger plates, but without slogan M-12345 M-00001 to M-99999 Still currently revalidated.
M-B1234 M-A0001 to M-Z9999
1984–89 Similar to current passenger plates MBC 123 MAA 001 to approximately MNZ 999
Motorcycle/Moped (from 1989) 1989–92 Similar to current passenger plates 123 456 223 001 to approximately 307 000
1992–2008 123456 307001 to 999999
2008–present 12345A 10001A to 98555K (as of November 1, 2020)
Trailer 2007–present As current passenger plates RB1234C RA0001A to RM5344K (as of January 8, 2021)

References
  1. Raymond, Paul-Robert (17 September 2018). "Ces fameuses plaques d'immatriculation qui pèlent" [Those famous licence plates that peel]. Le Soleil (in French). Quebec City, QC. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  2. Taylor, Eric Robert. "Quebec Archive". PorcelainPlates.net. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  3. "Month for Renewal of Vehicle Registration". Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec. Gouvernement du Québec. Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  4. Frenette, Marie-Claude (31 August 2011). "La police de Mascouche se munit d'un lecteur de plaques" [Mascouche Police equipped with a plate reader] (in French). Terrebonne, Quebec: Le Trait d'Union. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  5. "HIGHWAY SAFETY CODE". Publications du Québec. Éditeur officiel du Québec. Retrieved 18 August 2015. Art. 34 stipulates: No plate or sticker that may be confused with a registration plate or validation sticker issued by the Société or by any other competent administrative authority may be attached to a road vehicle or affixed to a plate, except in the case of a plate or sticker required under another law in force in Québec or of a plate attached in compliance with standards and conditions established under paragraph 19 of section 618. Art. 56 sets a fine between C$200 to C$300 for every infraction.
  6. "Relief Design Inc" (in French). Waldale Manufacturing Ltd. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  7. "About". Waldale Manufacturing Ltd. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  8. "Categories of Licence Plates". Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec. Gouvernement du Québec. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  9. "Modernisation de l'industrie du taxi". Transports Québec (in French). Gouvernement du Québec. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  10. "Transport rémunéré de personnes par automobile: obligations et échéances" (PDF). Transports Québec (in French). Gouvernement du Québec. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  11. "Journal des débats (Hansard) of the Committee on Planning and Infrastructures". Journal des débats (in French). 28 (15). 18 December 1984. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  12. Garrish, Christopher (October 2016). "Reconsidering the Standard Plate Size". Plates. Vol. 62 no. 5. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.
  13. Tanner, Eric N. "Québec Passenger License Plates". allaboutlicenseplates.com. Retrieved 21 November 2020.
  14. "Veteran's plates for cars". Royal Canadian Legion Quebec Command. Archived from the original on 14 August 2014. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  15. "Electric Vehicles". Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec. Gouvernement du Québec. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
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