New character combinations are coming—here’s what to expect
If you’re registering a new vehicle in British Columbia this summer, don’t be surprised if your licence plate looks a little different than you expected.
Starting in August 2025, ICBC (Insurance Corporation of British Columbia) is introducing new licence plate formats for passenger vehicles to make room for more combinations. While the plates will still have six characters and the same familiar look, the sequence of letters and numbers may now include U, Y, and Z, which weren’t used in the past.
Why the change?
ICBC is close to running out of available character combinations under the old format. To ensure every British Columbia licence plate remains unique for the next 20 years, they’re refreshing how letters and numbers are arranged, without adding any extra characters. This update is part of a broader effort by the provincial government to modernize vehicle registration systems across the province and improve efficiency for drivers.
This rollout begins with specialty licence plates, like the BC Parks – Porteau Cove series and a future Howe Sound edition, and expands to standard plates by August 2025. These changes will also be phased in across 16 plate types, including commercial trucks and utility trailers, as current stock runs out.
No action required
You don’t need to do anything. Just be aware that a new plate issued to you (or spotted on the road) might have an unfamiliar configuration. ICBC is making sure these new British Columbia plates remain fully compatible with law enforcement scanners and existing systems.
Reminder: The letters I, O, and Q are still excluded because they’re easily confused with numbers or each other. Plates remain six characters long, with no change in design, reflectivity, or materials. The colour scheme and finish will stay the same, ensuring consistency with current plate styles.
Want to stand out? Get a personalized plate in British Columbia
If you’d rather skip the random combination altogether, you can personalize your British Columbia licence plate and make a statement on the road.
Whether it’s your name, a clever pun, or a nod to your favourite hobby, personalized plates let you drive with a bit more personality.
Who can get a personalized plate?
Personalized plates are available for:
- Passenger vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Vans and light trucks
- Motor homes
These plates can’t be used on trailers, antique or collector vehicles, industrial vehicles, or tractors.
Plate design rules
Here’s what you can include on your BC plate:
- 2 to 6 letters or numbers (e.g., VANFUN, 2FAST)
- Spaces or hyphens between characters (e.g., COOL-1, HI 123)
- Up to 7 total characters if you include a space or hyphen
- Just make sure your message is appropriate. ICBC can reject or recall anything offensive, in any language
How much does it cost?
- One-time application fee: $100
- Annual fee: $40 (to keep exclusive rights to your plate)
If your personalized plate goes inactive for over a year, your rights to it will expire.
How to apply
- Design your slogan and make sure it meets ICBC’s guidelines
- Submit your completed application and cheque or money order to ICBC via your Autoplan broker or mail
- If approved, your plate will arrive at your broker within 10–12 weeks
If it’s rejected, ICBC will let you know by mail and return your fee. You can find more details about plate design rules and prohibited content on the ICBC website.
Need help? You can contact ICBC at 604-661-2267 or toll-free at 1-888-788-0797, or email pnp@icbc.com.
King Insurance Tip: Whether you’re sticking with a standard plate or going custom, we’re here to help with vehicle registration, renewals, and making sure your coverage fits your lifestyle. Get in touch if you have any questions, we’re happy to walk you through it.
Located at the northwest corner of Marine Drive and Main Street, King Insurance proudly serves not only the South Vancouver communities of Marpole, Sunset, Oakridge, Victoria–Fraserview, and nearby areas like Marine Gateway and Marine Landing, but also clients across Richmond and the entire Lower Mainland in BC.
Ka Hing Cheung is proud to work in Canada’s insurance industry, helping people manage risk and protect what matters most in BC. Ka Hing is committed to ongoing learning and enjoys helping clients find the right coverage at the best available rate, while making sure they understand their options clearly, down to the fine print and even colour preferences.