Policy

Albertans have the option of purchasing a personalized licence plate with the configuration of their choosing. A personalized licence plate may be registered in all classes except the following:

• Dealer.
• Antique.
• Consular Corp.
• Disabled.
• Specialty Plate.

The Registrar of Motor Vehicle Services is authorized to refuse to issue, or recall at any time, any licence plate configuration that is considered inappropriate for a government-issued licence plate.

Requirements

A personalized licence plate configuration must meet Government of Alberta standards, and must not contain or reference:

• Human rights discrimination.
  • Plate must not express ridicule or superiority of any race, religion, ethnic origin, ancestry, creed, colour, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, age, disabilities etc.
• Abusive, vulgar, derogatory, obscene, or profane language.
• Sexual messaging or meaning.
• Political or social messaging, opinion, affiliation, organization, figures, or dignitaries, including negative message or meaning with respect to government.
• Violence and/or criminal activity, including weapons.
• Offensive language, including text message abbreviations, words spelt backwards/upside down or translated words.
• Promotion of risky driving behavior, including disregard towards road safety, the consumption of drugs, alcohol, controlled substances, or paraphernalia used in the consumption thereof.
• A configuration used by Motor Vehicles for regular series licence plates.
• The letter O (use the number zero).
• A configuration that could be easily confused with an existing licence plate (look-a-like).
  • Letters and numbers cannot be substituted to create a plate similar to an existing plate (ex. H1 QT and HI QT). Common substitutions include:
    • Number 1 and the letter I.
    • Number 1 and the letter L.
    • Number 6 and the letter G.
    • Number 5 and the letter S.
    • Number 2 and the letter Z.
    • Number 0 and the letter Q.
    • Number 8 and the letter B.
    • Number 3 and the letter E.
    • Number 4 and the letter A.

The licence plate configurations must:

• Only contain letters and/or numbers.
  • May contain a space if the configuration consists of more than one character.
• Have a minimum of one character and a maximum of:
  • Seven characters for regular plates
  • Five characters for motorcycle plates
  • Five characters for veterans plates (2-58, 3-pass and HAM plates)
    • Amateur Radio Operator (HAM) call signs consisting of six characters cannot be altered to accommodate a veterans' licence plate which only allows a maximum of five characters.
  • Four characters for veterans motorcycle plates (3-nmc)
• Be issued on a first come first served basis. Plate configurations cannot be reserved.

Procedure

Ordering the Personalized Licence Plate

A client must:

• Record their intended meaning of the licence plate configuration. The intended meaning:
  • Must be a clear explanation of the configuration.
  • Cannot be a one word explanation (i.e. nickname).
  • Must indicate if the plate is being ordered as a gift.
  • May be sent to Motor Vehicles, upon request only.

A registry agent must:

• Review the client’s intended meaning and ensure it meets the standards to be considered appropriate for a government-issued licence plate.
  • Reference the Restricted Table (REST-SN) in MOVES to ensure that the plate configuration does not contain any form of a restricted term.
  • Check MOVES to ensure there are no existing look-a-like configurations
• Ensure the licence plate is ordered under the same MVID as the vehicle the client intends to register the plate (unless the plate is being purchased as a gift).

For plates being purchased as a gift. The personalized plate must:

• Be purchased under the purchaser’s MVID.
  • A registry agent must inform the client they may be held responsible for any incidents and / or fines incurred against that plate until the ownership is transferred, and that there is an additional fee to transfer the plate to the gifted individual; see 4.55.08 Vehicle Ownership Correction (VOC).
• Be mailed to the address on the purchaser’s file. No redirects.

Note:
A fully completed Authorization for Vehicle Services (REG0169) form is required when all registrant(s) cannot be present for the service.

Plate Configuration Change

A client may request a change to their personalized licence plate because they have changed their mind or because their request was denied by Motor Vehicles. The client has the following options within the first 90 days: 

• Cancel the order, return unused licence plates (if applicable) and receive a full refund in the mail (minus the registry agent service charge). 
• Exchange the original unused licence plate for a new configuration.

A registry agent must:

• Collect both unused plates from the client (when applicable).
• Complete a Licence Plate / Parking Placard Cancellation Declaration (REG3106) (xdp) and send plates for destruction as per policy 1.05.03 Records Retention and Disposal.
• Fax or email the Licence Plate / Parking Placard Cancellation Declaration (REG3106) and a request to Motor Vehicles to exchange or cancel the personalized licence plate.
• For personalized plates that have not yet been manufactured (i.e. denied), fax or email a request signed by the client to Motor Vehicles to exchange or cancel the personalized licence plate.  

Manufactured Defective Personalized Licence Plates

Defective personalized licence plates (e.g., wrong spacing, paint peeling off, etc.) must be surrendered by the client within 90 days.

A registry agent must:

• Process a no charge exchange to regular licence plates when there is a registration attached to the defective plate; record the reason for the no charge service on the document being sent for imaging.
• Collect both defective plates from the client and complete a Licence Plate / Parking Placard Cancellation Declaration (REG3106) (xdp), send plates for destruction as per policy 1.05.03 Records Retention and Disposal.
• Fax or email the Licence Plate / Parking Placard Cancellation Declaration (REG3106) and a request to Motor Vehicles to re-order the personalized licence plates.
• When the new plates are received, process a registration service to attach the personalized plate to a registration/vehicle that currently has a different plate.

Lost or Stolen Personalized Plates

It is strongly recommended that lost or stolen personalized plates be reported to law enforcement; however, it is not a mandatory requirement for motor vehicle services.

A registry agent must advise the client that should they choose to reorder or continue to use a personalized plate that has been lost or stolen, the client may be held responsible for any incidents and / or fines incurred against that plate. Once a licence plate has been reported as lost or stolen to law enforcement, it is strongly recommended that the client discontinue use of the plate on their vehicle.

Reorder

To reorder personalized plates (including Veterans' personalized plates), a registry agent must:

• Process a plate exchange service for a licence plate of the same plate class when there is a registration attached to the personalized plate.
  • If the plate is a Veterans’ Personalized Plate, the plate exchange is processed at no charge.
• Reorder the personalized plates.
• When the new plates are received, process a registration service to attach the personalized plate to a registration/vehicle that currently has a different plate.

Note:
The registry agent must advise the client that should the client chose to reorder a lost or stolen personalized plate, the client will be responsible for any and all fines incurred against that plate.

Registry Agent Service Charge Reimbursement

Service Alberta will reimburse the registry agent service charges for the above approved no charge services. Registry agents must submit their service charge reimbursement requests to Motor Vehicles along with a photocopy of the no charge plate exchange application; see 1.10.17 Registry Agent Service Fee Reimbursement.

Public Complaints

Complaints regarding personalized plates may be directed, in writing, to:

SA.MotorVehicles@gov.ab.ca  

or

Service Alberta
Motor Vehicles and Registries Administration
Mezzanine Floor, John E Brownlee Building
10365 97 Street
Edmonton AB  T5J 3W7

Fees

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

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