The Canadian territory of Northwest Territories first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display licence plates in 1941. , plates are issued by the Northwest Territories Registrar of Motor Vehicles. Only rear plates have been required since June 1, 1993 and have been required thereafter.
In 1970, to celebrate the centennial of the territory, a unique polar bear-shaped plate was introduced. The basic bear shape has been retained ever since, and the plate is now a registered trademark of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Canadian Trademark 1050364 - Stylized Polar Bear
The current design, which consists of graphic and material updates, was rolled out on July 1, 2010. The blue-and-white plates prior to the update were made of steel and lack graphic sheeting technology that would make them visible in the dark. Current plates are made with aluminum and incorporated visual updates as well as a new slogan.
Influence on Nunavut plate design
In April 1999, the territory of Nunavut was created from the eastern part of the Northwest Territories. The new territory adopted a virtually identical bear-shaped licence plate, following an agreement between the governments of the two territories. In 2011, the Government of Nunavut decided to discontinue the bear shape and replace it with a conventional rectangular design, which was introduced in July 2012.
In 2024, the polar bear plate was reintroduced and, as of summer 2025, is required for all motor vehicles.
Passenger baseplates 1945 to 1974 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 (except those for motorcycles) at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The first Northwest Territories licence plate that complied with these standards was issued five years beforehand, in 1951. The current bear-shaped plates feature the standard mounting holes. ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes271945White on bluenone1231 to approximately 180371946Orange on blacknone1231 to approximately 2902771947Black on silvernone1231 to approximately 400381948White on bluenone1231 to approximately 590721949White on greennone1231 to approximately 4607271950Black on orangenone1234651 to approximately 135017221951Orange on blacknone12341351 to approximately 2100First 6" x 12" plate.1381952White on bluenone123100 to approximately 650761953Black on orangenone123100 to approximately 7603781954Orange on blackCanada's Northland123100 to approximately 8707231955Black on orangeCanada's Northland123100 to approximately 13002731956Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 11007621957Black on orangeCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 14002371958Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 2200271959Black on orangeCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 23007631960Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 24001961Black on orangeCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 34001962Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 41002871963Black on orangeCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 39007231964Orange on blackCanada's Northland1234100 to approximately 42001965White on light greenCanada's Northland1-234100 to approximately 4-900Black on reflective orange; territorial shield at leftCanada's Northland12-345100 to approximately 11-500Revalidated for 1967 with white-on-blue tabs, for 1968 with red-on-white tabs, and for 1969 with green-on-white tabs.1970Bear-shaped; white on blueCentennial1-2341 to approximately 7-500First bear-shaped plate. Awarded inaugural "Plate of the Year" for best new licence plate of 1970 by the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association.1971Bear-shaped; blue on whitenone1-2341 to approximately 8-5001972Bear-shaped; white on bluenone12-3451 to approximately 10-5001973Bear-shaped; dark blue on white with yellow slogan, date, and borderRCMP Centennial12-3451 to approximately 11-0001974Bear-shaped; red on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 11-500
1975 to present ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1975–76Bear-shaped; turquoise on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 18-000Revalidated for 1976 with stickers.1977–78Bear-shaped; red on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 21-500Revalidated for 1978 with stickers.1979–80Bear-shaped; turquoise on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 21-500Revalidated for 1980 with stickers.1981–82Bear-shaped; red on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 21-000Revalidated for 1982 with stickers.1983–85Bear-shaped; blue on whitenone12-3451 to approximately 30-500Last dated plate. Revalidated for 1984 and 1985 with stickers.1986–2010Bear-shaped; blue on whiteExplore Canada's Arctic1234561 to approximately 126000Monthly staggered registration introduced 1990. Front and rear plates issued through May 31, 1993 (serials 1 through 51700); only rear plates issued thereafter.2010–presentBear-shaped; nature sceneSpectacular123456300000 to 378949
Commercial plates ImageFirst issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1967CV12341968CV1231969CV1231970CV12341971CV1231972CV1231973CV12341974CV1231975-76CV12341977-78CV12341979-80CV12341981-82CV12341983-85CV12341986CV1234CV100 to CV99991991As 1986 passenger baseC12345C10000 to approximately C299992010As Spectacular passenger baseC30000 to C48571 Non-passenger plates ImageTypeFirst issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotesConstruction2010Bear-shaped; green on white; "CONSTRUCTION" at top, "NORTHWEST TERRITORIES" at bottom.H12345 unknown to H11944 Dealer2010Bear-shaped; black on white; "DEALER" at top, "NORTHWEST TERRITORIES" at bottom.D1234unknown to D2323 Government2010As Spectacular passenger baseG12345G8000 to G12291 Public Service1986Bear-shaped; blue on white; "EXPLORE CANADA'S ARTIC" at top, "NORTHWEST TERRITORIES" at bottom.PS1234Issued to taxis and busses.2010As Spectacular passenger baseP12345Motorcycle1986Bear-shaped; blue on white; "NWT" at top1234100 to approximately 99992010Similar to Spectacular passenger base1234510000 to 13075 ATV / Off-road19862010Bear-shaped; orange on white; "NWT" at top12345Trailer1991T12345T40000 to present2010As Spectacular passenger baseT12345T40000 to present
Veteran plate ImageFirst issuedDesignSerial formatSerials issuedNotes2010Bear-shaped; red on white; poppy icon at very bottom, "LEST WE FORGET" at top and "NORTHWEST TERRITORIES" at bottom.VET123VET001 to VET512
References
External links Northwest Territories licence plates, 1969–present