Policy

ATTENTION:
Please refer to COVID-19 Emergency Interim Policies which provides details for temporary exceptions to this policy.

A vehicle plate exchange service is used when:

• A client requests a replacement licence plate because the previous plate(s) was lost, stolen or damaged. 
• An exchange of registration class requires a new licence plate.
• A licence plate is defective.
• A client wishes to exchange a licence plate for another plate.
  • Client attaching a personalized licence plate to a registration/vehicle that currently has a different licence plate; see 4.45.04 Personalized Plates.
  • Client attaching a specialty licence plate to a registration/vehicle that currently has a different licence plate; see 4.45.09 Specialty Licence Plates.
• A parking placard is lost, stolen or damaged; see 4.45.03 Parking Placards and Disable Plates (3-dsbl).

Note:
When a client’s vehicle registration is due to expire, a registry agent should provide the client with the option of renewing their vehicle registration early; see 4.55.02 Vehicle Renewal.

Registration Requirements

A client must:

• Provide acceptable identification; see 2.05.02 Acceptable Identification / Enrolment.
• Be 18 years of age or older.
  • When a minor is registering a different vehicle, when completing a plate exchange service, subsequent parent/guardian consent is required; see 2.00.02 Minor – Consent / Self-Sufficiency.
• Provide an Alberta address; see 2.10.01 Addresses & Acceptable Abbreviations.
• Provide proof of ownership - only required when the exchange service is completed in conjunction with a vehicle transfer; see 4.00.01 Vehicle Ownership, Creation and Registration Documents.
• Provide proof of insurance - only required when the exchange service is completed in conjunction with a vehicle transfer; see 4.00.02 Insurance Documents.
• Report lost or stolen licence plates to law enforcement; see 4.55.10 Additional Plate Processing.
  • A police report must be filed prior to the service.
  • Reporting personalized licence plates, HAM licence plates, and parking placards as lost or stolen to law enforcement is optional, though strongly recommended.
• Complete a Licence Plate / Parking Placard Cancellation Declaration (REG3106) form (xdp).

A registry agent must:

• Ensure lost or stolen licence plates are reported to law enforcement prior to completing the plate exchange service.
• Complete an additional plate processing service to declare plate as returned, lost, stolen or destroyed; see 4.55.10 Additional Plate Processing.
  • An additional plate processing service is not required for plates / placards being retained by the registered owner, or if the number of plates returned was entered in the plate exchange service.
• Enter the Licence Plate / Parking Placard Cancellation Declaration (REG3106) as a support document to the service.

Additional Requirements

In addition to the registration requirements, the client may also have to provide one or more additional documents depending on the registration class; see the appropriate class section for details.

Registration Surrendered

Surrendered vehicle registration certificates must be destroyed immediately.

Registration Fees

For plate exchange fees; see the Registry Agent Product Catalogue (pdf).

No Charge

The following regulation codes are used to process a no charge plate exchange service:

• Regulation 00-nil to override the government fee.
  and
• Regulation no-comp to override the registry agent’s service fee.

A no charge plate exchange service is processed when:

• The plate is manufactured defective.
• An Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) / Veterans’ personalized plate with valid registration is lost, stolen or damaged.
• A surviving member in a joint registration of a Veterans’ plate has not been approved by the Legion.
  • A Vehicle Ownership Correction service is required to remove the deceased member after the plate exchange is complete; see 4.55.08 Vehicle Ownership Correction (VOC).
• Correcting a clerical error.

For personalized plate exchange requirements, see 4.45.04 Personalized Plates.
For specialty plate exchange requirements, see 4.45.09 Specialty Licence Plates.
For Veterans’ plate exchange requirements, see 4.45.08 Veterans’ Plates.
For HAM plate exchange requirements, see 4.45.06 Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) Plates.

The reason for the no charge plate exchange service must be indicated on the vehicle registration application.

For reimbursement information, see 1.10.17 Registry Agent Service Fee Reimbursement.

Imaging

The signed application form and all supporting documents must be sent for imaging; see the appropriate sub-section in 1.15 Imaging. 

Date Originally Issued: Nov 14, 1989
Date Last Revised: Jan 19, 2022