British Columbia Passenger License Plates 2013 and beyond!

British Columbia Passenger License Plates
2013 and beyond!

On May 25, 2010, Vancouver's News 1130 broke the story that ICBC was running out of license plate combinations and that the introduction of a new serial format would occur.

Specifically, the Corporation's Senior Media Relations Advisor, Adam Grossman, advised that "there won't be any more 'three letter, three number' combinations by 2013 [but] after much research a solution has been found [and] typically where we see three letters, followed by three numbers - we're actually going to be seeing a sequence of two letters and a number, followed by two numbers and a letter."

Grossman went on to state that "ICBC looked at moving to seven character combinations like Ontario and Alberta, but found it would be a costly switch, and would interfere with administrative systems for brokers that are built for the six character system. Seven character combinations would also require smaller numbers and letters, making plates harder for police to read."

Accordingly, the Corporation took the classic "AAA-000" format and shifted each character one position to the left, thereby creating an additional 8,000,000 license plate combinations. It is thought that at current issuance rates and anticipated growth in vehicle registrations, that this will create an approximately 8-10 year supply.

If this "new" AA0-00A format looks oddly familiar, that is because it is! The Corporation has been using it for the past three years on the redesigned Consular base first introduced in 2007:

Ignoring the placement of the "Mountain" logo (also known as the "BC Mark") the AA0-00A format becomes readily apparent in this example of a Consular plate. This particular plate is assigned to "Career Consular Officers", hence the use of the "CC" letter combination prior to the three numbers.

While ICBC has not provided any details on how the series will progress, it is assumed that it will start at "AA0-01A" and follow the sequencing seen on the Consular base - in which case, it is likely that the "DL"; "CC"; "HC"; "CS" and "SR" prefixes have already been blocked out.

In addition, whereas the traditional sequence saw the letters "K" and "L" act as strategic breakpoints in the series, it is thought this will be abandoned in favour of the system employed on the more recent Veteran and Olympic passenger base plates. For example:

Traditional Sequence	Veteran & Olympic Sequence*	Consular Sequence*	Anticipated "AA0-00A" Sequence
AAK-998	AAK-998	AA9-98K	AA9-98K
AAK-999	AAK-999	AA9-99K	AA9-99K
ABA-000	AAL-000	AA0-00L	AA0-00L
ABA-001	AAL-001	AA0-01L	AA0-01L
ABA-002	AAL-002	AA0-02L	AA0-02L
* indicative only

As it seems that ICBC is intent on retaining the six-digit format due to cost considerations, it is assumed that when the "AA0-00A" format is exhausted, each character will again be shifted another position to the left, thereby creating a " A00-0AA" format - which is similar to that currently employed by Utah (see below).

Of particular interest is that the Corporation explored the possibility of re-designing the license plates and implementing a general re-issuance in 2013, thereby allowing for all existing plates to be pulled-off the road, and the series to recommence at AAA-000, however, this was ruled out as it was "felt it would be too costly, administratively burdensome and not environmentally responsible."

In taking this route, however, ICBC is now confronted with the challenge of determining what to do about those license plates that were issued in the 1980s and early 1990s and are still on the road, yet due to age and exposure to the elements are slowly becoming illegible as their paint of reflective sheeting slowly come off?

Although the plate shown at left is not a passanger plate, it clearly shows some of the problems that ICBC is facing with aging plates. This plate would have been issued in 1987 and appears to have been on the roads over the past 24 years.

By way of example, in Washington State it is law that license plates be replaced every seven years as the reflective coating is considered to break down after this point, making it hard for law enforcement officials to see the plate in bad weather. Given one of the reasons for ICBC not introducing a seventh digit to BC plates was due to concerns from law enforcement regarding the legibility of such plates, it is thought that the Corporation will soon have to consider a similar license plate replacement regulation for BC motorists.

The Corporation's concern for the environment in deciding against a general re-issuance is commendable, however, when asked if this would extend to the manufacturing of the new plates through the use of digital flat plate technology, ICBC was non-commital advising that "few details regarding it are final yet." Yet, when Arizona introduced a new 7-digit format in 2008 the change was promoted as being "environmentally responsible ... [by] eliminating the toxic fumes released as the paint dried." While there are also cost savings associated with going flat, and that Waldale is capable making such plates, it is known that flat plates are not favoured by law enforcement due to the ease with which snow and dirt can conceal the number and it is thought that, for this reason, ICBC will eventually decide against such plates for BC.

Although ICBC had advised that a new license plate design was not being considered as part of the new letter-number combination, it was queried if this then ruled out a re-design at any future point - remembering that the current "Flag" design is now 25 years old (see "British Columbia's Licence Plate Turns 25"). In response the Corporation advised that "we are always considering options available to us but there are no plans at this time to redesign the B.C. licence plate."

Admittedly disappointing, this response reminded us of the case of Indiana and the introduction of its "In God We Trust" license plate in 2007. "In God We Trust" was offered as a free alternative to the standard passenger issue lime-green pastoral fields license plates - which were reported to be "reviled by many motorists" in the State. The unforseen impact of the wildly popular "In God We Trust" plate on sales of other specialty plates benefiting colleges, not-for-profits and other Indiana organizations was catastrophic. The State reported a one-third decline in sales of specialty plates, for a total loss of $2.8 million in fee revenue over 2006 numbers.

The cynic in us would suggest that a similar dynamic may be at play in BC as it is thought that any flashy re-designed passenger plate introduced (or mentioned) prior to 2013 might significantly cannibalise renewals of the unexpectedly popular 2010 Winter Games Licence Plate - which is scheduled to keep generating revenue for the Corporation from its $25 annual fee through December 31, 2012. With an estimated 175,000 such plates having been issued and potentially half that many still on the road, this represents a significant source of revenue for ICBC.

Despite the Corporation promoting the robust sale of the Olympic plate as demonstrating "the passion and enthusiasm British Columbians have towards the Games", we have always felt that sales have equally benefited from a general sense of fatigue with the "Flag" design and a yearning for something new. It will be interesting to see if there is a change of heart at the Corporation on the merits of a re-design after New Year's day 2013 ...

In closing, it strikes us that a number of other jurisdictions - particularly in western North America - have recently had to contend with the exhaustion of a six-digit license plate serial. Interestingly, each has addressed the issue in it own way (with the majority opting to go to 7-digits) and the following gallery seeks to present visual examples of the different experiences that were available to ICBC when making its own decision on the "AA0-00A" serial:

Jurisdiction: California
Introduced: 1980
Format: 0AAA-000
Comments: The first State to introduce seven digits for passenger plates, California opted to retain the basic AAA-000 format by adding a number in front. Accordingly, the first number only rolls-over after the proceeding six digit combination (i.e. AAA-000) is exhausted. For example, 1ZZZ-999 is followed by 2AAA-000. As of 2010, California is currently into the sixth series - i.e. 6AAA-000.

Jurisdiction: Ontario
Introduced: 1997
Format: AAAA-000
Comments: The first jurisdiction in Canada to introduce a 7-digit serial, the use of four letters is seen to allow for a possible 350 million different combinations - which probably gives Ontario a 100 year supply. Thirteen years into the series and the highest combination spotted is only in the "BJWT" range. Although very similar to California, Ontario's use of four letters effectively gives the province an additional dozen potential cycles through the basic AAA-000 format.

Jurisdiction: Quebec
Introduced: 2009
Format: A00-AAA
Comments: Interestingly, Quebec has opted to retain a 6-digit format for its passenger plates despite already utilising a 7-digit format on many other non-passenger vehicle types (think of the ubiquitous "F" prefix). It is not known how many possible combinations will be yielded by the use of four letters and two numbers ...

Jurisdiction: Alberta
Introduced: 2010
Format: AAA-0000
Comments: In 2008, the Province undertook a consultation with residents on the redesign of the venerable "Wild Rose" plate (introduced in 1984) as the 000-AAA format neared exhaustion. The redesign was eventually abandoned, purportedly due to cost considerations, and the decision to add a seventh digit was made. Alberta is hoping this will provide a 20 year supply of combinations.

Jurisdiction: Arizona
Introduced: 2008
Format: AAA-0000
Comments: One of the fastest growing States in the US since 2004, Arizona exhausted its 6-digit serial in 2008 and added a seventh digit in the form of a fourth number. It is anticipated that this extra number will allow for an additional 106.48 million combinations. As part of the change, the State also moved away from embossed and to flat license plates.

Jurisdiction: Utah
Introduced: 2008
Format: A00-0AA
Comments: As Utah neared the exhaustion of its 000-AAA format in 2008, a select design team was assembled to decide upon a new design to replace the "Ski Utah" base that had been in use since 1985. The result is the new "Life Elevated" base and a serial that most closely resembles the "AA0-00A" format selected by ICBC and offers a possible glimpse of the next combination ICBC may utilise.

Jurisdiction: Texas
Introduced: 2009
Format: AA0-A000
Comments: In 2008, the State decided that "because we nee to change the plate [to accommodate a seventh digit], we thought it was the perfect time to invite Texans to participate in a design selection." Given a choice of 4 designs, Texans opted for the one shown above. The State also made the switch to flat plates, and is anticipating that the 7-digit format will last for 35 years.

Jurisdiction: Washington
Introduced: 2010
Format: AAA-0000
Comments: After significant public outcry, the State amended the letter-number combination of the new 7-digit plates to the more easily recallable AAA-0000 instead of the original 0A0-0AAA (shown above). The new serial will yield approximately 138 million possible combinations (down from the 350 million offered by the abandoned 0A0-0AAA format).