A History of British Columbia License Plates

Passenger
Antique
APEC
BC Parks
Chauffeur Badges
Collector
Commercial Truck
Consular
Dealer
Decals
Driver's Licences
Expo 86
Farm
Foreign Touring
Government
Guinness World Record
Ham Radio
Industrial Vehicle
Keytags
Lieutenant Governor
Logging
Manufacturer
Medical Doctor
Memorial Cross
Motive Fuel
Motor Carrier
Motorcycle
Movie Props
Municipal
National Defence
National Parks
Off-Road Vehicle
Olympics
Passenger Carrier
Personalized
Prototype
Prorated
Public Works
Reciprocity
Repairer
Restricted
Royal Visits
Sample
Special Agreement
Temporary Permits
Trailer
Transporter
Veteran
VIN Program

Historic Nos.
Highs & Lows
Bicycles
Miscellaneous
Site History & Contributors
Links
Bio

BCpl8s.ca is a collaborative effort that was created in order to present a pictorial history of British Columbia licence plates from 1904 to the present.

This site contains over 5,000 images (a number that increases on a regular basis) in addition to a growing body of historical writing and data on approximately 250 pages.

Please enjoy your time exploring this site and I am always happy to hear from people wanting to talk plates or share stories! I can be reached at cgarrish@yahoo.com (it may take a little while for me to reply, but I will)!

Order a copy and support the work of BCpl8s.ca!
168 Pages  |  Over 250 photos 
Foreword by former Premier Gordon Campbell
Tales from the Back Bumper is the definitive history of the first 100 years of licence plates in BC. It chronicles the province's evolution, from the time when an automobile on the streets of Victoria was enough to draw a crowd, to the revolutionary road-building vision of W.A.C. Bennett, to the heady days of Expo 86 and the 2010 Winter Games. Through it all, the licence plate has been a source of revenue, a symbol of social status, a means of personal expression and sometimes a bureaucratic headache for those charged with overseeing its design, manufacture and distribution.
"Tales from the Back Bumper: A 100 Year History of the Licence Plate"
Penticton Museum and Archives (August 1, 2013 to December 20, 2013)
Recipient of the British Columbia Historical Federation's 2001 History Web Site Award
Vancouver Province HOT SITE for the week of July 23, 2003

Celebrating 25 years online!

November 20, 1999, to November 20, 2024

3,000,000+ site visits and counting!


BRITISH COLUMBIA MOTOR VEHICLE ACT [RSBC 1996] CHAPTER 318
12 (1) Each number plate must bear the licence number of the motor vehicle or trailer for which it is issued, and shall be of a material and design determined by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, and is and remains the property of the corporation.

Be sure to visit our sister site:COMING SOON!

© Copyright Christopher John Garrish. All rights reserved.
email:cgarrish@yahoo.com