Licence Plates
Licence Plates

Licence Plates

Licence Plates

Special and interesting licence plates

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Unlike European and other international licence plates which are long, simple, and strictly functional, the 2:1 aspect ratio of North American (and other) licence plates provides a decently-sized canvas for interesting and beautiful themed backgrounds that make their jurisdiction of issue really stand out. Two jurisdictions that take it a step further to really stand out from all of the rest is Canada’s Nunavut and Northwest Territories with their unique polar-bear shaped licence plates.

Ontario

Nunavut

Northwest Territories

Ontario
Northwest Territories
Nunavut

Highlights

Highlights

Ontario: A Place to Grow

After many, many years of simple but boring licence plate designs, the government of Ontario finally announced a new white on a graphic blue background licence plate design in 2019 [1] followed by its release in 2020 [2].

Defective Design

Unfortunately the plates were illegible from certain angles under direct light at night due to differences in reflectivity and material between the characters and the background [3]. They were discontinued shortly after release however over 100,000 remain in use as they have not been officially recalled [4].

Explore Canada's Arctic in Style

Two of Canada's northern territories are among only a few jurisdictions in the world with non-rectangular licence plates. The iconic polar bear-shaped plate was introduced in the territory to celebrate its centennial in 1970. A more recent design was shared with the territory of Nunavut from the year of its separation from the Northwest Territories in 1999 until 2012 [5].

Spectacular Northwest Territories

The Northwest Territories polar bear plate underwent a redesign in 2010 which saw changes including an updated slogan and font and the addition of a graphic background. Nunavut's polar bear plate design it had been sharing with its neighbour was discontinued in the territory shortly thereafter and was changed to the standard rectangular shape with a graphic background featuring an inuksuk, the northern lights, and of course, a polar bear [5].

The Return of Nunavut's Polar Bear Plate

Nunavut's polar-bear shaped licence plate is making a return in time for the territory's 25th anniversary after more than a decade-long hiatus. The territorial government unveiled an updated polar bear design on May 26th, 2025, distinct from the one used by the neighbouring Northwest Territories [6].

A Tale of Two Bears

Unlike their former shared design from the 2000s, the new design differs considerably from that of the Northwest Territories, featuring a lower stance, yellow border, and a plain rather than scenic background. The new plate also faces left instead of right [6]. The two bears now complement each other when placed facing each other side by side, mirroring the two territories' real-world relative geographic orientation.
Sources
  1. Westoll, Nick. “Doug Ford Government Rebranding Ontario’s Logo, Slogans, Licence Plates.” Global News, Global News, 13 Apr. 2019, https://globalnews.ca/news/5157537/ontario-budget-licence-plate-yours-to-grow/
  2. Tsekouras, Phil, and Beth Macdonell. “Ontario’s New Licence Plates Hit the Road: Here’s What You Need to Know.” Toronto, CTV News, 17 Feb. 2020, https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-s-new-licence-plates-hit-the-road-here-s-what-you-need-to-know-1.4795049
  3. Jones, Allison. “Ontario Scraps Licence Plate Redesign, Will Revert to Old Design | National Post.” National Post, 6 May 2020, https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/ontario-scraps-licence-plate-redesign-will-revert-to-old-design
  4. Jones, Allison. “Ontario's plan to get rid of blue licence plates is to sit back and wait | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 14 Feb. 2024, https://cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-licence-plates-1.7115115#:~:text=The%20blue%20licence%20plates%20are,speak%20publicly%20about%20the%20matter
  5. “The Story behind Our Beloved, Iconic Polar Bear Plates.” Spectacular NWT, 10 Apr. 2024, https://spectacularnwt.com/story/the-story-behind-our-beloved-iconic-polar-bear-plates/
  6. Reports, Staff. “Nunavut Brings Back Iconic Bear-Shaped Licence Plate for 25th Anniversary.” Nunavut News, 26 May 2025, https://www.nunavutnews.com/2025/05/26/nunavut-brings-back-iconic-bear-shaped-licence-plate-for-25th-anniversary
Sources:
  1. Westoll, Nick. “Doug Ford Government Rebranding Ontario’s Logo, Slogans, Licence Plates.” Global News, Global News, 13 Apr. 2019, https://globalnews.ca/news/5157537/ontario-budget-licence-plate-yours-to-grow/
  2. Tsekouras, Phil, and Beth Macdonell. “Ontario’s New Licence Plates Hit the Road: Here’s What You Need to Know.” Toronto, CTV News, 17 Feb. 2020, https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-s-new-licence-plates-hit-the-road-here-s-what-you-need-to-know-1.4795049
  3. Jones, Allison. “Ontario Scraps Licence Plate Redesign, Will Revert to Old Design | National Post.” National Post, 6 May 2020, https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/ontario-scraps-licence-plate-redesign-will-revert-to-old-design
  4. Jones, Allison. “Ontario’s plan to get rid of blue licence plates is to sit back and wait | CBC News.” CBCnews, CBC/Radio Canada, 14 Feb. 2024, https://cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-licence-plates-1.7115115#:~:text=The%20blue%20licence%20plates%20are,speak%20publicly%20about%20the%20matter
  5. “The Story behind Our Beloved, Iconic Polar Bear Plates.” Spectacular NWT, 10 Apr. 2024, https://spectacularnwt.com/story/the-story-behind-our-beloved-iconic-polar-bear-plates/
  6. Reports, Staff. “Nunavut Brings Back Iconic Bear-Shaped Licence Plate for 25th Anniversary.” Nunavut News, 26 May 2025, https://www.nunavutnews.com/2025/05/26/nunavut-brings-back-iconic-bear-shaped-licence-plate-for-25th-anniversary

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Ontario sample licence plate featuring the original logo of the Toronto Blue Jays.

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