British Columbia Commercial Truck License Plates
1976 - 1978

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With the issuance of a new base for Commercial Trucks in 1976, the province moved away from the all numeric serial used between 1972 and 1975 and back to a serial that incorporated two letters; albeit as a suffix rather than a prefix; 00-00-XX.
Looking backwards in time, there is much that confuses us as to the distribution of the 1976 Commercial Truck plates but must have made sense to the Motor Vehicle Branch (MVB) at the time.
For starters, and based upon the Branch's own records, it appears that the series was started at 00-01-CA, but that a smaller batch of 20,000 plates in the "BA" and "BD" suffixes was also issued to smaller centres in 1976 in what the Branch referred to as the "Commission Agents" allotment. This despite the "A" suffix block being manufactured at the same time as the "C" & "B" blocks.
In addition, the intial release of plates to start the 1976 registration year appears to have totalled approximately 131,000 sets of plates. Given 283,198 commercial vehicles were registered in 1975, the Branch distributed about 46% of the previous years alottment to start 1976. We assume that additional plates were eventually sent around the province as required, but it does strike us as odd.
1976 - Initial "Motor Vehicle Branch Allotment"
Abbotsford
(00-01-CA to 50-00-CA)

Alberni
(50-01-CA to 60-00-CA)

Ashcroft
(60-01-CA to 65-00-CA)

Atlin
(65-01-CA to 67-00-CA)
Issuing Statistics
Initial Series:
1976

00-01-CA to 99-99-CY
00-01-BA to 99-99-BA
00-01-BD to 99-99-BD
(131,100 )
Registered:
308,250
Issued:
Pairs
Manufacturer:
Oakalla Prison
Dimensions:
302 mm x 150 mm
(12 inch x 6 inch)
Material:
Metal
Comments:
* Estimate / Unconfirmed

Distribution Information
Abbotsford:
00-01-CA to 50-00-CA
(5,000)
Alberni:
50-01-CA to 60-00-CA
(1,000)
Ashcroft:
60-01-CA to 65-00-CA
(500)
Atlin:
65-01-CA to 67-00-CA
(200)
Burnaby:
67-01-CA to 17-00-CB
(5,000)
Burns Lake:
17-01-CB to 20-00-CB
(300)
Campbell River:
20-01-CB to 25-00-CB
(500)
Chilliwack:
25-01-CB to 45-00-CB
(2,000)
Clinton:
45-01-CB to 50-00-CB
(500)
Cloverdale:
50-01-CB to 50-00-CC
(10,000)
Courtenay:
50-01-CC to 53-00-CC
(300)
Cranbrook:
53-01-CC to 70-00-CC
(1,700)
Creston:
70-01-CC to 75-00-CC
(500)
Dawson Creek:
75-01-CC to 85-00-CC
(1,000)
Duncan:
85-01-CC to 93-00-CC
(800)
Fernie:
93-01-CC to 98-00-CC
(500)
Fort Nelson:
98-01-CC to 04-00-CD
(600)
Fort St. James:
04-01-CD to 12-00-CD
(800)
Fort St. John:
12-01-CD to 57-00-CD
(4,500)
Ganges:
57-01-CD to 59-00-CD
(200)
Golden:
59-01-CD to 64-00-CD
(500)
Grand Forks:
64-01-CD to 68-00-CD
(400)
Haney:
68-01-CD to 73-00-CD
(500)
Houston:
73-01-CD to 83-00-CD
(1,000)
Invermere:
83-01-CD to 95-00-CD
(1,200)
Kamloops:
95-01-CD to 25-00-CE
(3,000)
Kaslo:
25-01-CE to 28-00-CE
(300)
Kelowna:
28-01-CE to 58-00-CE
(3,000)
Kitimat:
58-01-CE to 64-00-CE
(600)
Lillooet:
64-01-CE to 69-00-CE
(500)
Merritt:
69-01-CE to 79-00-CE
(1,000)
Mission:
79-01-CE to 82-00-CE
(300)
Nanaimo:
82-01-CE to 02-00-CF
(2,000)
Nelson:
02-01-CF to 07-00-CF
(500)
New Westminster:
07-01-CF to 47-00-CF
(4,000)
North Vancouver:
47-01-CF to 87-00-CF
(4,000)
Oliver:
87-01-CF to 89-00-CF
(200)
100 Mile House:
89-01-CF to 99-00-CF
(1,000)
Penticton:
99-01-CF to 09-00-CG
(1,000)
Port Hardy:
09-01-CG to 13-00-CG
(400)
Powell River:
13-01-CG to 23-00-CG
(1,000)
Prince George:
23-01-CG to 38-00-CG
(1,500)
Prince Ruppert:
38-01-CG to 48-00-CG
(1,000)
Princeton:
48-01-CG to 49-00-CG
(100)
Queen Charlotte City:
49-01-CG to 54-00-CG
(500)
Quesnel:
54-01-CG to 64-00-CG
(1,000)
Revelstoke:
64-01-CG to 84-00-CG
(2,000)
Richmond:
84-01-CG to 24-00-CH
(4,000)
Rossland:
24-01-CH to 26-00-CH
(200)
Salmon Arm:
26-01-CH to 31-00-CH
(500)
Smithers:
31-01-CH to 34-00-CH
(300)
Stewart:
34-01-CH to 37-00-CH
(300)
Terrace:
37-01-CH to 43-00-CH
(600)
Trail:
43-01-CH to 48-00-CH
(500)
Ucluelet:
48-01-CH to 50-00-CH
(200)
Vancouver:
50-01-CH to 90-00-CH
(4,000)
Vancouver East:
90-01-CH to 20-00-CJ
(3,000)
Van. Point Grey:
20-01-CJ to 80-00-CJ
(6,000)
Vanderhoof:
80-01-CJ to 86-00-CJ
(600)
Vernon:
86-01-CJ to 36-00-CK
(5,000)
Victoria:
36-01-CK to 86-00-CM
(15,000)
Williams Lake:
86-01-CM to 11-00-CR
(2,500)
Burnaby Stock Room:
11-01-CR to 99-99-CY
(7,000)
Not issued:
00-01-CN to 99-99-CN*
00-01-CP to 99-99-CP*
Burnaby
(67-01-CA to 17-00-CB)
Burns Lake
(17-01-CB to 20-00-CB)
Campbell River
(20-01-CB to 25-00-CB)

Chilliwack
(25-01-CB to 45-00-CB)
Clinton
(45-01-CB to 50-00-CB)

Cloverdale
(50-01-CB to 50-00-CC)
Courtenay
(50-01-CC to 53-00-CC)

Cranbrook
(53-01-CC to 70-00-CC)
Creston
(70-01-CC to 75-00-CC)
Dawson Creek
(75-01-CC to 85-00-CC)
Dunacn
(85-01-CC to 93-00-CC)
Fernie
(93-01-CC to 98-00-CC)
Fort Nelson
(98-01-CC to 04-00-CD)
Fort St. James
(04-01-CD to 12-00-CD)
Fort St. John
(12-01-CD to 57-00-CD)
Ganges
(57-01-CD to 59-00-CD)
Golden
(59-01-CD to 64-00-CD)

Grand Forks
(64-01-CD to 68-00-CD)

Haney
(68-01-CD to 73-00-CD)
Houston
(73-01-CD to 83-00-CD)
Invermere
(83-01-CD to 95-00-CD)
Kamloops
(95-01-CD to 25-00-CE)
Kaslo
(25-01-CE to 28-00-CE)
Kelowna
(28-01-CE to 58-00-CE)
Kitimat
(58-01-CE to 64-00-CE)
Lillooet
(64-01-CE to 69-00-CE)
Merritt
(69-01-CE to 79-00-CE)
Mission
(79-01-CE to 82-00-CE)

Nanaimo
(82-01-CE to 02-00-CF)
Nelson
(02-01-CF to 07-00-CF)

New Westminster
(07-01-CF to 47-00-CF)

North Vancouver
(47-01-CF to 87-00-CF)
Oliver
(87-01-CF to 89-00-CF)
100 Mile House
(89-01-CF to 99-00-CF)
Penticton
(99-01-CF to 09-00-CG)
Port Hardy
(09-01-CG to 13-00-CG)
Powell River
(13-01-CG to 23-00-CG)
Prince George
(23-01-CG to 38-00-CG)

Prince Ruppert
(38-01-CG to 48-00-CG)
Princeton
(48-01-CG to 49-00-CG)
Queen Charlotte City
(49-01-CG to 54-00-CG)
Quesnel
(54-01-CG to 64-00-CG)

Revelstoke
(64-01-CG to 84-00-CG)

Richmond
(84-01-CG to 24-00-CH)
Rossland
(24-01-CH to 26-00-CH)
Salmon Arm
(26-01-CH to 31-00-CH)
Smithers
(31-01-CH to 34-00-CH)
Stewart
(34-01-CH to 37-00-CH)
Terrace
(37-01-CH to 43-00-CH)
Trail
(43-01-CH to 48-00-CH)
Ucluelet
(48-01-CH to 50-00-CH)

Vancouver
(50-01-CH to 90-00-CH)
Vancouver East
(90-01-CH to 20-00-CJ)
Vancouver Point Grey
(20-01-CJ to 80-00-CJ)
Vanderhoof
(80-01-CJ to 86-00-CJ)


Vernon
(86-01-CJ to 36-00-CK)


Victoria
(36-01-CK to 86-00-CM)

Williams Lake
(86-01-CM to 11-00-CR)


Burnaby Stock Room
(11-01-CR to 99-99-CR)


Burnaby Stock Room
(00-01-CS to 99-99-CS)


Burnaby Stock Room
(00-01-CT to 99-99-CT)


Burnaby Stock Room
(00-01-CV to 99-99-CV)


Burnaby Stock Room
(00-01-CW to 99-99-CW)


Burnaby Stock Room
(00-01-CX to 99-99-CX)


Burnaby Stock Room
(00-01-CY to 99-99-CY)

As mentioned above, 20,000 plates in the "BA" & "BD" blocks were issued to "Commissioned Agents" and, it is assumed, went out simultaneously in the communities listed below as did the "C" block list above.
Interestingly, the "BB" & "BC" block of plates were not initially used and it appears they ever never produced. The reasons why the "BC" block might have been excluded are obvious (i.e. could be construed as denoting an official vehicle), but the "BB" block's exclusion is less clear.
1976 - Initial "Audit Commissioned Agents Allotment List"
Agassiz:
00-01-BA to 02-00-CA
(200)
Alert Bay:
02-01-BA to 04-00-BA
(200)
Bella Coola:
04-01-BA to 06-00-BA
(200)
Cassiar:
06-01-BA to 08-50-BA
(250)
Castlegar:
08-51-BA to 12-50-BA
(400)
Chase:
12-51-BA to 25-50-BA
(1,300)
Chetwynd:
25-51-BA to 37-50-BA
(1,200)
Chemainus:
37-51-BA to 38-50-BA
(100)
Cleatwater:
38-51-BA to 46-50-BA
(800)
Coquitlam:
46-51-BA to 48-50-BA
(200)
Elkford:
48-51-BA to 53-50-BA
(500)
Fraser Lake:
53-51-BA to 55-00-BA
(150)
Gibsons:
55-01-BA to 60-00-BA
(500)
Gold River:
60-01-BA to 62-00-BA
(200)
Granisle:
62-01-BA to 64-00-BA
(200)
Greenwood:
64-01-BA to 65-50-BA
(150)
Hope:
65-51-BA to 75-50-BA
(1,000)
Hudson Hope:
75-51-BA to 78-00-BA
(250)
Keremeos:
78-01-BA to 79-00-BA
(100)
Kimberley:
79-01-BA to 85-00-BA
(600)
Ladysmith:
85-01-BA to 90-00-BA
(500)
Lake Cowichan:
90-01-BA to 92-00-BA
(200)
Lumby:
92-01-BA to 97-00-BA
(500)
Mackenzie:
97-01-BA to 02-00-BD
(500)
Massett:
02-01-BD to 04-00-BD
(200)
McBride:
04-01-BD to 06-00-BD
(200)
Midway:
06-01-BD to 07-00-BD
(100)
Nakusp:
07-01-BD to 17-00-BD
(1,000)
New Denver:
17-01-BD to 18-00-BD
(100)
Osoyoos:
18-01-BD to 20-00-BD
(200)
Parksville:
20-01-BD to 24-00-BD
(400)
Permberton:
24-01-BD to 25-50-BD
(150)
Port Alice:
25-51-BD to 28-00-BD
(250)
Port Coquitlam:
28-01-BD to 33-00-BD
(500)
Qualicum:
33-01-BD to 34-00-BD
(100)
Salmo:
34-01-BD to 36-00-BD
(200)
Sechelt:
36-01-BD to 41-00-BD
(500)
Sidney:
41-01-BD to 44-00-BD
(300)
Slocan Park:
44-01-BD to 46-00-BD
(200)
Sooke:
46-01-BD to 49-00-BD
(300)
Squamish:
49-01-BD to 56-50-BD
(750)
Summerland:
56-51-BD to 61-50-BD
(500)
Telegraph Creek:
61-51-BD to 62-50-BD
(100)
Valemont:
62-51-BD to 67-50-BD
(500)
Audit Unit:
67-51-BD to 99-99-BD
(3,250)
BD

In the absence of any official issuing information for 1977 and 1978, what follows is a presentation of each letter combination known to be used in the suffix of the 76 base. The years and locations in which these plates were issues is, as just mentioned, unknown.
Of interest, the block of plates starting with the "A" as a suffix letter comprised 210,000 sets of plates. The total number of plates between 00-01-AA to 99-99-EK is thought to be in the neighbourhood of 790,000. Whereas the total number of vehicles registered by year was 308,520 (1976), 353,668 (1977) and 392,336 (1978). This explains why approximately 190,000 plates may have been destroyed by MVB when a new design was introduced in 1979.
A- Suffix
AL
AP
Reincarnation
Jon Ilyntzky Collection
Jon Ilyntzky Collection
There is absolutely nothing scientific to the following calculation, but it took approximately 18 years for the 0000-AA serial, which first appeared on the 1976 base (although, it may be a sample), to be recycled and reincarnated in 1994 on the "Flag" base.

B- Suffix
BL
BS

D- Suffix

As discussed above, the Branch's records indicate that Commercial Trucks plates with a suffix as high as "EL" (00-00-EL) were manufactured prior to the 1978 licensing year. The demand for plates, however, never exceed the "DN" suffix before a new design was introduced in 1979 and the left-over 1976 plates were, we presume, recycle/destroyed. This would have been a potential total of 190,000.
Considering that the average cost to produce a plate had been pegged at $1 in the mid-1960s, one can assume that a couple of hundred thousand dollars may have been spent on plates that were never used (ouch!). For posterity, and in the event that these "lost" plates ever surface, we have left slots for them below:
Destroyed Suffix Combinations
DP
DR
DS
DT
DV
DW
DX
DY
EA
EB
EC
ED
EE
EF
EG
EH
EJ
EK
EL

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