Licence Plates
Licence Plates

Licence Plates

Licence Plates

Special and interesting licence plates

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While many parts of the world express a strong preference and need for standardization, North America stands almost alone as the undisputed capital of graphic and vanity licence plates. Over the decades, the continent has effectively turned what is otherwise a strictly functional and mandatory piece of external vehicle identification into works of art and tourism advertising, the absolute best of which is none other than the polar bears of Canada’s Northwest Territories.

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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