Vehicle registration plates of Quebec
The Canadian province of Quebec first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1906. Registrants provided their own licence plates for display until 1908, when the province began to issue plates. Plates are currently issued by the Société de l'assurance automobile du Québec.
From 1963 to 1977, licence plates carried the slogan La Belle Province, a nickname for Quebec. Since 1978, they have carried Je me souviens, the official motto of the province.
Since 1979, Quebec legislation has required only rear plates, though there are certain cases where front plates are also required. Annual renewal stickers were used from 1979 to 1992; Quebec is currently one of three provinces where such stickers are not used. Dates for renewals of plates on passenger vehicles are determined based on the first letter of the registered owner's surname, while for other vehicles they are determined based on the type of vehicle: for example, plates on passenger vehicles whose owners' surnames begin with the letter 'L' are to be renewed in September, as are school bus plates. Registrations and fees may be renewed up to three months in advance. Trailer plates are not renewed annually: they are only registered upon initial purchase, or when transferred to another owner. Enforcement is done by a variety of methods, including automated number plate recognition.
Vehicles registered in Quebec can only display approved plates. Decorative designs are permitted at the front of the vehicles, but displaying foreign plates is an offence under articles 34 and 56 of the Code de la sécurité routière and punishable with a fine.
Relief Design Inc., of St-Louis de Blandford, is specialized in the production of licence plates on behalf of the SAAQ.
Vehicle categories
Certain vehicle categories are indicated on plates by the use of prefixes:Active categories
Retired categories
Passenger baseplates
1908 to 1978
In 1956, Canada, the United States and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for licence plates for vehicles at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 issue was the first Quebec licence plate that complied with these standards.| Image | Dates issued | Description | Slogan | Serial format | Serials issued | Notes |
| White serial on black rubber plate; vertical "PQ" at right | none | 1234 | 1001 to approximately 3500 | |||
| 1911 | White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "PQ" at right | none | 1234 | 3501 to approximately 5400 | ||
| 1912 | Dark blue serial on white fiberboard plate; vertical "PQ" at right | none | 1234 | 1 to approximately 3200 | ||
| 1913 | White serial on dark green fiberboard plate; "P.Q." centred at bottom | none | 1234 | 4001 to approximately 9500 | ||
| 1914 | Red serial on white fiberboard plate; vertical "PQ" at right | none | 12345 | 9301 to approximately 16800 | ||
| 1915 | Black serial on light green fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred at bottom | none | 12345 | 16901 to approximately 26500 | First use of the full province name. | |
| 1916 | Black serial on gray fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred at bottom | none | 12345 | 26701 to approximately 42900 | ||
| 1917 | Red serial on cream fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred at bottom | none | 12345 | 43501 to approximately 66800 | ||
| 1918 | Black serial on cream fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred within black bar at bottom | none | 12345 | 64001 to approximately 67100, plus older serials | ||
| 1919 | Red serial on light yellow fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred at bottom | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 34000 | ||
| 1920 | Green serial on white fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred within green bar at top | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 46500 | ||
| 1921 | White serial on black fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred at bottom | none | 12345 123-456 | 50001 to approximately 106-000 | ||
| 1922 | Dark blue serial on white fiberboard plate; "QUEBEC" centred within dark blue bar at bottom | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 59000 | ||
| 1923 | Yellow serial on black fiberboard plate; provincial coat of arms used as separator; "QUEBEC 1923" centred at bottom | none | 12-345 | 10-001 to approximately 70-000 | First dated plate. | |
| 1924 | Green serial on white fiberboard plate; "QUE - 24" centred at bottom | none | 12345 | 10001 to approximately 82000 | All-numeric serials issued on vehicles weighing less than 3,000 lb, and 'H' prefix serials on vehicles 3,000 lb or greater. This practice continued through 1936. | |
| 1924 | Green serial on white fiberboard plate; "QUE - 24" centred at bottom | none | H12345 | H1001 to approximately H10500 | All-numeric serials issued on vehicles weighing less than 3,000 lb, and 'H' prefix serials on vehicles 3,000 lb or greater. This practice continued through 1936. | |
| 1925 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "QUE–25" at bottom | none | 12345 | 10001 to approximately 78000 | First embossed plate. | |
| 1925 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "QUE–25" at bottom | none | H12345 | H-1 to approximately H11000 | First embossed plate. | |
| 1926 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "QUE–26" at bottom | none | 12345 | 10001 to approximately 81000 | ||
| 1926 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "QUE–26" at bottom | none | H12345 | H-1 to approximately H16000 | ||
| 1927 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "QUE–27" at bottom | none | 12345 | 10001 to approximately 95000 | ||
| 1927 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "QUE–27" at bottom | none | H12345 | H-1 to approximately H20000 | ||
| 1928 | Embossed black serial on light green plate; "QUE–28" at bottom | none | 123456 | 10001 to approximately 108000 | ||
| 1928 | Embossed black serial on light green plate; "QUE–28" at bottom | none | H12345 | H-1 to approximately H19000 | ||
| 1929 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "QUE–29" at bottom | none | 123456 | 10001 to approximately 116000 | ||
| 1929 | Embossed white serial on black plate; "QUE–29" at bottom | none | H12345 | H-1 to approximately H27000 | ||
| 1930 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "QUE–30" centred at top | none | 123456 | 10001 to approximately 124000 | ||
| 1930 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate; "QUE–30" centred at top | none | H12345 | H-1 to approximately H33000 | ||
| 1931 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "31–QUE" centred at bottom | none | 123456 | 10001 to approximately 129000 | ||
| 1931 | Embossed white serial on maroon plate; "31–QUE" centred at bottom | none | H12345 | H-1 to approximately H32000 | ||
| 1932 | Embossed black serial on light green plate; "32–QUE" centred at top | none | 123456 | 10001 to approximately 127000 | ||
| 1932 | Embossed black serial on light green plate; "32–QUE" centred at top | none | H12345 | H-1 to approximately H32000 | ||
| 1933 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "QUE" and "33" at left and right respectively | none | 123456 | 10001 to approximately 113000 | ||
| 1933 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; vertical "QUE" and "33" at left and right respectively | none | H12345 | H-1 to approximately H30000 | ||
| 1934 | Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "34" and "QUE" at left and right respectively | none | 123456 | 10001 to approximately 110000 | ||
| 1934 | Embossed black serial on gray plate with border line; vertical "34" and "QUE" at left and right respectively | none | H12345 | H-1 to approximately H31000 | ||
| 1935 | Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; vertical "QUE" and "35" left and right respectively | none | 123456 | 10001 to approximately 108000 | ||
| 1935 | Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; vertical "QUE" and "35" left and right respectively | none | H12345 | H-1 to approximately H35000 | ||
| 1936 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "QUE" and "36" at left | none | 12345 | 1 to approximately 99000 | ||
| 1936 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; vertical "QUE" and "36" at left | none | H12345 | H-1 to approximately H38000 | ||
| 1937 | Embossed silver serial on green plate with border line; "QUEBEC 37" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 145-000 | ||
| 1938 | Embossed silver serial on black plate with border line; "QUEBEC 38" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 167-000 | ||
| 1939 | Embossed silver serial on maroon plate with border line; "QUEBEC 39" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 172-000 | ||
| 1940 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "QUEBEC 40" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 178-000 | ||
| 1941 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "QUEBEC 41" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 179-000 | ||
| 1942 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "QUEBEC 42" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 183-000 | ||
| 1943 | Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "QUEBEC -43" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 164-000 | ||
| 1944 | Black serial on gray Masonite plate; "QUEBEC-44" centred at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 175-000 | Manufactured on Masonite due to metal conservation for World War II. | |
| 1945 | Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "QUEBEC–45" centred at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 174-000 | ||
| 1946 | Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "QUEBEC–46" centred at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 177-000 | ||
| 1947 | Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "QUEBEC–47" centred at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 188-000 | ||
| 1948 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "QUEBEC–48" centred at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 232-000 | ||
| 1949 | Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "QUEBEC-49" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 271-000 | ||
| 1950 | Embossed white serial with fleur-de-lys separator on azure plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-50" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 294-000 | First base to feature the fleur-de-lys. | |
| 1951 | Embossed black serial with fleur-de-lys separator on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-51" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 339-000 | ||
| 1952 | Embossed orange serial with fleur-de-lys separator on azure plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-52" at top | none | 123-456 | 1 to approximately 386-000 | ||
| 1953 | Embossed black serial with fleur-de-lys separator on white plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-53" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 2-001 to approximately 444-000 | ||
| 1954 | Embossed black serial with fleur-de-lys separator on yellow plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-54" at top | none | 123-456 | 2-001 to approximately 497-000 | ||
| 1955 | Embossed yellow serial with fleur-de-lys separator on black plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-55" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 2-001 to approximately 537-000 | ||
| 1956 | Embossed green serial with fleur-de-lys separator on white plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-56" at top | none | 123-456 | 2-001 to approximately 624-000 | ||
| 1957 | Embossed white serial with fleur-de-lys separator on green plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-57" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 2-001 to approximately 696-000 | ||
| 1958 | Embossed black serial with fleur-de-lys separator on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-58" at top | none | 123-456 | 2-001 to approximately 749-000 | ||
| 1959 | Embossed black serial with fleur-de-lys separator on yellow plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-59" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 2-001 to approximately 807-000 | ||
| 1960 | Embossed yellow serial with fleur-de-lys separator on black plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-60" at top | none | 123-456 | 2-001 to approximately 840-000 | ||
| 1961 | Embossed black serial with fleur-de-lys separator on white plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-61" at bottom | none | 123-456 | 2-001 to approximately 915-000 | ||
| 1962 | Embossed white serial with fleur-de-lys separator on black plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-62" at top | none | 123-456 | 2-001 to approximately 998-000 | ||
| 1963 | Embossed dark green serial with fleur-de-lys separator on white plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-63" at top | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" at bottom | 123-456 | 2-001 to 999-999 | First use of the "La Belle Province" slogan. | |
| 1963 | Embossed dark green serial with fleur-de-lys separator on white plate with border line; "QUÉBEC-63" at top | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" at bottom | 12-345A | 10-001A to approximately 92-000A | First use of the "La Belle Province" slogan. | |
| 1964 | Embossed dark green serial on yellow plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "64" at left, separated from serial by dividing line | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial | 123-456 | 2-001 to 999-999 | ||
| 1964 | Embossed dark green serial on yellow plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "64" at left, separated from serial by dividing line | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial | 1A-2345 | 1A-0001 to approximately 9B-4000 | ||
| 1965 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "65" at left, separated from serial by dividing line | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial | 1A-2345 | 1A-0001 to approximately 4V-2000 | Letters F, I, J, L, O, Q, T and U not used in serials. | |
| 1966 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "66" at left, separated from serial by dividing line | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial | 1A-2345 | 1A-0001 to approximately 3R-4500 | Letters F, J and L added to serials. | |
| 1967 | Embossed red designs and lettering on white plate with embossed border line; Front and rear plates of different design. Front plate: Centred logo of the Montreal Expo 67, with fleur-de-lys on the left and along the bottom from left to right "1967", the vehicle's registration number, and "QUÉ." Rear plate: "QUÉ." and maple leaf on the left, vehicle's registration on the right. Along the bottom from left to right "1867 CONFÉDÉRATION 1967". | Front plate: "MONTRÉAL EXPO67" Rear plate: "CONFÉDÉRATION" | 1A-2345 | 1A-0001 to approximately 8R-8500 | Commemorated both the Montreal 1967 World Exposition and the centenary of Canadian confederation. | |
| 1968 | Embossed white serial on dark blue plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "68" at left, separated from serial by dividing line | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial | 1A-2345 | 1A-0001 to approximately 9S-0500 | ||
| 1969 | Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "69" at left, separated from serial by dividing line | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial | 1A-2345 | 1A-0001 to approximately 1V-2500 | Letter T added to serials. | |
| 1970 | Embossed white serial on dark green plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "70" at left, separated from serial by dividing line | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial | 1A-2345 | 1A-0001 to 9Z-9999 | Letters W and Y not used in serials. | |
| 1971 | Embossed black serial on metallic pea green plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "71" at left, separated from serial by dividing line | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial | 123-456 | 100-001 to 999-999 | ||
| 1971 | Embossed black serial on metallic pea green plate with border line; "QUÉBEC" centred above serial; fleur-de-lys and "71" at left, separated from serial by dividing line | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" below serial | 1A-2345 | 1A-0001 to approximately 8J-2500 | ||
| 1972 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; fleur-de-lys, "QUÉBEC" and "72" at top | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" centred at bottom | 123-456 | 100-001 to 999-999 | ||
| 1972 | Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; fleur-de-lys, "QUÉBEC" and "72" at top | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" centred at bottom | 1A-2345 | 1A-1 to approximately 9K-5000 | ||
| 1973 | Embossed red serial with fleur-de-lys separator on white plate with border line; "19 QUÉBEC 73" at top | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" centred at bottom | 123-456 | 10-01 to 999-999 | ||
| 1973 | Embossed red serial with fleur-de-lys separator on white plate with border line; "19 QUÉBEC 73" at top | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" centred at bottom | 1A-2345 | 1A-0001 to approximately 8M-1500 | ||
| 1974 | Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; fleur-de-lys, "QUÉBEC" and "74" at top | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" centred at bottom | 123A456 | 100A001 to 999A999; 100E001 to 999E999; 100H001 to approximately 450H000 | ||
| 1975 | Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "75", "QUÉBEC" and fleur-de-lys at top | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" centred at bottom | 123A456 | A, K, N, S and B series | ||
| 1976 | Embossed red serial on cream plate with border line; fleur-de-lys, "QUÉBEC" and "76" at top | "LA BELLE PROVINCE" at bottom, along with the logo of the 1976 Summer Olympics | 123A456 | H, L, M and P series | ||
| 1977 | Embossed dark blue serial on light blue plate with border line; fleur-de-lys and "Québec" at top left; "77" at top right | "La belle province" centred at bottom | 123A456 | R, S, T and V series | ||
| 1978 | Embossed brown serial on beige plate with border line; "78" at top left; fleur-de-lys and "Québec" at top right | "Je me souviens" centred at bottom | 123A456 | A, B, C, E and F series | Last single-year plate, and first use of the provincial motto. |