British Columbia Passenger License Plates
1940-1948

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A special thanks to Tom Lindner, Dallas Doyle, Pierre Delacote and Ron Garay for providing many of the plates pictured.

1940

Tom Lindner Collection

Tom Lindner Collection
Ron Garay Collection
Issuing Statistics
Initial Series:
1 to 90,000
Registered:
101,452
Over-run:
19,000*
Issued:
Pairs
Manufacturer:
Oakalla Prison
Dimensions:
290 mm x 137 mm
Material:
Metal
Comments:
'A' prefix: Vancouver Island;
'B' prefix: Vancouver; and
'F' prefix: New Westminister.
It is not clear if prefix plates were only issued in blocks of 3,000 (i.e. 'A-1' to 'A2-999').
* Estimate / Unconfirmed
"A" Prefix / 1-digit
"A" Prefix / 4-digit
"B" Prefix / 1-digit
"B" Prefix / 2-digit
Neale Hankins Collection
"F" Prefix / 1-digit
"F" Prefix / 4-digit
Shown at left is Premier Duff Pattullo exiting his official car with the No. 1 license plate for 1940 (the same one as shown above)!
1941
Don McNeill Collection
Tom Lindner Collection
Ron Garay Collection
Issuing Statistics
Initial Series:
1 to 91,000
Registered:
105,410
Over-run:
16,000*
Issued:
Pairs
Manufacturer:
Oakalla Prison
Dimensions:
290 mm x 137 mm
Material:
Metal
Comments:
'A' prefix: Vancouver Island;
'B' prefix: Vancouver; and
'F' prefix: New Westminister.
It is not clear if prefix plates were only issued in blocks of 2,000 (i.e. 'A-1' to 'A1-999').
* Estimate / Unconfirmed
"A" Prefix / 1-digit
"A" Prefix / 2-digit
"A" Prefix / 4-digit
"B" Prefix / 1-digit
"B" Prefix / 2-digit
Graham Casey Collection
"F" Prefix / 1-digit
"F" Prefix / 2-digit



1942
Rick Pilotte Collection
Ron Garay Collection
Issuing Statistics
Initial Series:
1 to F1,000 (105,000*)
Registered:
100,582
Over-run:
1,000*
Issued:
Singles
Manufacturer:
Oakalla Prison
Dimensions:
290 mm x 137 mm
Material:
Metal
Comments:
'A' prefix: Vancouver Island;
'B' prefix: Vancouver; and
'F' prefix: New Westminister.
It is not clear if prefix plates were only issued in blocks of 2,000 (i.e. 'A-1' to 'A1-999').
* Estimate / Unconfirmed
"A" Prefix / 1-digit
"A" Prefix / 2-digit
"A" Prefix / 3-digit
"A" Prefix / 4-digit
  
"B" Prefix / 1-digit
"B" Prefix / 2-digit
"B" Prefix / 3-digit
 
"F" Prefix / 1-digit
"F" Prefix / 2-digit
"F" Prefix / 3-digit
 
Shown at left is a car displaying an example of the "F" prefix that was issued to passenger vehicles in New Westminster between 1940-47. Available MVB records indicate that this particular plate was the last in the initial bloc of 1,000 plates (i.e. F1 to F1000) produced in 1942. An additional bloc of over-run plates with an "F" prefix was subsequently produced in 1942.
1943
2-digit
Tom Bourne Collection
Ron Garay Collection
Issuing Statistics
Initial Series:
1 to 89,000
Registered:
98,920
Over-run:
20,000*
Issued:
Singles
Manufacturer:
Oakalla Prison
Dimensions:
290 mm x 137 mm
Material:
Metal
Comments:
'A' prefix: Vancouver Island;
'B' prefix: Vancouver; and
'F' prefix: New Westminister.
It is not clear if prefix plates were only issued in blocks of 3,000 (i.e. 'A-1' to 'A2-999').
* Estimate / Unconfirmed
"A" Prefix / 1-digit
"A" Prefix / 2-digit
Pierre Delacote Collection
"A" Prefix / 4-digit
"B" Prefix / 1-digit
"B" Prefix / 2-digit
"B" Prefix / 3-digit
"B" Prefix / 4-digit
"F" Prefix / 1-digit
Gerry Harrison Collection
Tom Lindner Collection
Due to material shortages associated with the War Effort, British Columbia (as well as many other jurisdictions) opted to issue only a single license plate for the 1942 license year, and would continue to do so through 1947.
This decision, however, was only made after Oakalla had already produced pairs of 1942 plates. So that the metal did not go to waste, the pairs of 1942s were split-up with one plate heading back to Oakalla were it would be re-stamped for issuance in 1943 and repainted, and the other plates being issued to motorists.
Although not generally visible from the front of the plates, it is possible to see the restamping process on the back of the 1943 plates (with some plates showing this better than others):
 

1944
1-digit
Ron Garay Collection
Ron Garay Collection
Dave Hollins Collection
Issuing Statistics
Initial Series:
1 to 92,950
Registered:
99,063
Over-run:
16,050*
Issued:
Singles
Manufacturer:
Oakalla Prison
Dimensions:
290 mm x 137 mm
Material:
Metal
Comments:
'A' prefix: Vancouver Island;
'B' prefix: Vancouver; and
'F' prefix: New Westminister.
It is not clear if prefix plates were only issued in blocks of 3,000 (i.e. 'A-1' to 'A2-999').
* Estimate / Unconfirmed
"A" Prefix / 1-digit
"A" Prefix / 4-digit
"B" Prefix / 1-digit
"B" Prefix / 2-digit
"B" Prefix / 4-digit
"F" Prefix / 1-digit
"F" Prefix / 2-digit

1945
1-digit
2-digit
Tom Lindner Collection
Ron Garay Collection
Issuing Statistics
Initial Series:
1 to 96,000
Registered:
99,421
Over-run:
9,579*
Issued:
Singles
Manufacturer:
Oakalla Prison
Dimensions:
290 mm x 137 mm
Material:
Metal
Comments:
'A' prefix: Vancouver Island;
'B' prefix: Vancouver; and
'F' prefix: New Westminister.
It is not clear if prefix plates were only issued in blocks of 2,000 (i.e. 'A-1' to 'A1-999').
* Estimate / Unconfirmed
"A" Prefix / 1-digit
"A" Prefix / 2-digit
"A" Prefix / 3-digit
"B" Prefix / 1-digit
"B" Prefix / 2-digit
"B" Prefix / 3-digit
"B" Prefix / 4-digit
"F" Prefix / 1-digit
"F" Prefix / 2-digit
"F" Prefix / 3-digit
Scott Burrows Collection
By 1946 the MVB had expanded the prefix system to include the letter "H":
In the event of Issuing offices requiring further allotments of passenger plates, these will be supplied in the usual manner.  However, if the ordinary numerical passenger sequence is exhausted during the licence year, Mainland points will be supplied with a series beginning with the prefix “H” (with the exception of Vancouver Motor Licence Office which will be allotted “B” and New Westminster Motor Licence Office and Sub-Offices which will be allotted “F”.  The alphabetical prefix for Vancouver Island being “A” as in previous years.

1946
1-digit
Tom Lindner Collection
Tom Lindner Collection
Ron Garay Collection
Issuing Statistics
Initial Series:
1 to B1,040 (104,040*)
Registered:
109,077
Over-run:
7,950*
Issued:
Singles
Manufacturer:
Oakalla Prison
Dimensions:
290 mm x 137 mm
Material:
Metal
Comments:
'A' prefix: Vancouver Island;
'B' prefix: Vancouver;
'F' prefix: New Westminister; and
'H' prefix: Lower Mainland.
It is not clear if prefix plates were only issued in blocks of 3,000 (i.e. 'A-1' to 'A2-999').
* Estimate / Unconfirmed
"A" Prefix / 1-digit
"B" Prefix / 1-digit
"B" Prefix / 2-digit
Jon McKillop Collection
"F" Prefix / 1-digit
"F" Prefix / 2-digit
"H" Prefix / 2-digit

1947
1-digit
2-digit
Tom Lindner Collection
Ron Garay Collection
Issuing Statistics
Initial Series:
1 to B7,000 (117,000*)
Registered:
128,611
Over-run:
33,000*
Issued:
Singles
Manufacturer:
Oakalla Prison
Dimensions:
287 mm x 137 mm
Material:
Metal
Comments:
'A' prefix: Vancouver Island;
'B' prefix: Vancouver;
'F' prefix: New Westminister;
'H' prefix: Lower Mainland; and
'J' prefix: (unknown).
It is not clear if prefix plates were only issued in blocks of 10,000 (i.e. 'A-1' to 'A9-999').
* Estimate / Unconfirmed
"A" Prefix / 1-digit
"A" Prefix / 2-digit
"A" Prefix / 3-digit
"B" Prefix / 1-digit
"B" Prefix / 2-digit
"B" Prefix / 3-digit
"F" Prefix / 1-digit
"H" Prefix / 1-digit
"H" Prefix / 2-digit
Gary Spicer Collection
"J" Prefix / 1-digit
"J" Prefix / 2-digit
"J" Prefix / 3-digit

1948
2-digit
Dave Hollins Collection
Christopher Garrish Collection
Ron Garay Collection
Issuing Statistics
Initial Series:
1 to J9,999 (140,000*)
Registered:
143,675
Over-run:
70,000*
Issued:
Pairs
Manufacturer:
Oakalla Prison
Dimensions:
287 mm x 137 mm
Material:
Metal
Comments:
The use of the 'F' prefix on passenger vehicles would be discountined in 1948 following amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act in 1947 which created a sepoarate category of Farm Tractors. Henceforward, farm tractors would be issued 'F' prefix plates.
It is not clear if prefix plates were only issued in blocks of 10,000 (i.e. 'A-1' to 'A9-999').
* Estimate / Unconfirmed
"A" Prefix / 1-digit
Graham Casey Collection
"B" Prefix / 1-digit
"B" Prefix / 2-digit
"B" Prefix / 3-digit
"B" Prefix / 4-digit
"H" Prefix / 1-digit
"H" Prefix / 2-digit
"H" Prefix / 3-digit
"J" Prefix / 1-digit
"J" Prefix / 2-digit
Graham Casey Collection
"K" Prefix / 1-digit
"K" Prefix / 2-digit
"K" Prefix / 3-digit
"P" Prefix / 1-digit
"P" Prefix / 2-digit
"R" Prefix / 1-digit
"R" Prefix / 2-digit
"R" Prefix / 3-digit
"S" Prefix / 1-digit
Ron Garay Collection
"T" Prefix / 1-digit
"T" Prefix / 2-digit
"T" Prefix / 3-digit
"U" Prefix / 1-digit
"U" Prefix / 2-digit
Dave Hollins Collection
"W" Prefix / 1-digit
"W" Prefix / 2-digit
Does "T" = Truck?
In light of photographic evidence (see below), there is some question as to whether the "T" was issued to private passenger vehicles of commercial trucks in 1948:
Given the wild range of alpha-numeric combinations that had to be used to accommodate Commercial Trucks in 1948 (Click here to see!) due to the peeling paint, use of the "T" prefix would have provided 10,000 combinations versus the 1,000 available under any 2-letter/3-number combo. Until more information comes to light, we are posting plates with a "T" prefix under passenger, but this could change ...

A Urinary Defect
On March 1, 1948, the MVB reported that "a defect had developed in a large number of motor-vehicle licence plates issued for 1948 (the white paint on the numerals and letters coming off after exposure to dampness) it is necessary that such plates be substituted ..." It is thought that the plate shown above represents an example of this "defect".
Subsequently, the MVB would have to replace inexcess of 30,000 defective plates. This, combined with the growth in private vehicle ownership following the end of WWII led to as many as 11 different prefix letters being used.
In the Letter to the Editor at right, which appeared in the Vancouver Sun in October of 1948. "M. Porritt" of 999 Beach Avenue, Vancouver (which is now under the site of the Burrard Street Bridge) is complaining that anyone attempting to record the license plate numbers of reckless drivers would be unable to due to the poor state of the paint on many plates.

Quick Links:
1904-1912  | 1913-1914  |  1915-1917  |  1918-1923  |  1924-1929  |  1930  |  1931-1935  |  1936-1939  |  1940-1948  |  1949-1951
1952-1954  |  1955-1963  |  1964-1969  |   1970-1978  |  1979-1985  |  1985-2001  |  2001-2014  |  2014-2023  |  2023 and beyond

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