Vehicle registration

Personalized licence plates

Personalized licence plates are a fun, creative way to express yourself. Find out how to get your own personalized plate and what guidelines and criteria you need to follow.

What types of vehicles can have personalized plates?

The following vehicle types can apply for personalized licence plates:

  • Regular passenger vehicles

  • Motorcycles

  • Vans and light trucks

  • Motor homes

Personalized plates can't be used on vehicles that require a special type of plate, including trailers, antique or collector vehicles, tractors and industrial vehicles.

Character combinations and slogans

Personalized licence plates:

  • must have 2-6 letters or letters and numbers (e.g. "HELLO", "ME2")

  • can include blank spaces or hyphens between letters/numbers (e.g. "JOE 87", "FREE-1")

  • can be a maximum of 7 total characters if it includes a space or hyphen (e.g. "SUNNY-1"). Note: personalized motorcycle plates can be a maximum of 6 total characters if it includes a space or hyphen

  • must be appropriate (if ICBC receives a complaint or a plate is later determined to be obscene or objectionable, the plate may be recalled)

For more details on criteria and guidelines, please review the terms and conditions below. If your slogan does not meet the criteria and guidelines, it will be rejected.

How much do personalized plates cost?

There is a one-time application fee of $100 and, if approved, an annual fee of $40 to maintain the rights to the slogan and the use of the plates.

The annual fee ensures that you maintain exclusive rights to the plate. If a personalized plate remains inactive for more than one year after the expiry date, the right to the slogan will be lost.

How do I apply for a personalized plate?

To apply for a personalized licence plate, you must be the registered owner of the vehicle, and all other registered owners must also sign the application. If you lease the vehicle, your name must be on the registration. (Note: the lessor does not need to sign the application.)

If you require a replacement for your current personalized number plates, your original plates must be surrendered before the application will be accepted.

Steps to apply

1. Design your personal message or slogan. Please thoroughly review the criteria and guidelines before submitting your application. If your slogan is objectionable (e.g. discriminatory, sexually suggestive, abusive, or derogatory in any language) or does not otherwise meet the criteria and guidelines, it will be rejected.

2. Submit your completed application form pdf and fee (cheque or money order made out to ICBC). They can be brought to your Autoplan broker or mailed to ICBC at:

ICBC - PNP
136 - 151 West Esplanade
North Vancouver, BC V7M3H9

3. ICBC will confirm that your slogan meets the criteria and guidelines.

  • Approval and pick-up
    If approved, your plates will be sent to your broker and you will be notified by mail when they are ready for pickup. It can take 10-12 weeks for you to get your plates.

  • Rejected slogans
    If your slogan is not approved, you will be notified by letter and your application fee will be returned.

More information

If you have questions about personalized licence plates, you can call 604-661-2267 (Lower Mainland) or 1-888-788-0797 (toll-free in Canada and the U.S.) or email pnp@icbc.com.

Terms and condi​tions