Year of Manufacture (YOM) Plates

YOM plates are licence plates that can be attached to a vehicle (passenger vehicle, motorcycle or commercial vehicle under 3000 kg.) that was manufactured in the same year as the plates. For example, an original plate issued in 1959 may be attached to a vehicle manufactured in 1959.

The last year in which Ontario licence plates were manufactured showing the year was 1973. Subsequently, the ministry introduced perennial plates, along with an annual colour-coded validation plate sticker that expire on the owner's birthday.

Registration Criteria

Under the YOM plates program, the following conditions have to be satisfied:

• The vehicle must be a historic vehicle at least 30 years old and substantially unchanged or unmodified from the original manufacturer's product.
• Only plates manufactured in Ontario will be considered.
• The plates will be authenticated by comparing the requested plate with an original sample from the same year to ensure that the requested plate corresponds with the material used, colour scheme, layout and numbering sequence.

Application Process

Before you decide to purchase a set of YOM plates, or send the plates to the Ministry for authentication, you may wish to call the Ministry of Transportation's Telephone Enquiry Unit at 416-235-2999 or 1-800-387-3445 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding statutory holidays, to determine the availability of the plate's alphanumeric combination. It is possible that the alphanumeric combination is already registered on the ministry's vehicle registration system and, as a result, your application will be denied.

Send plates, vehicle registration, and your payment for the YOM application fee of $235.25 * (including GST) to:

Ministry of Government Services – ServiceOntario
Kingston Production & Verification Services
Renewals Section
P.O. Box 9700
Kingston, Ontario   K7L 5N2

* Note: The fee should be in the form of a cheque, money order payable to the "Minister of Finance" or credit card (a credit card number and expiry date must be provided).

A response can be expected within 2-4 weeks. It is recommended that you send the plates and vehicle registration via courier or registered mail. MTO is not responsible for plates lost or damaged in the mail.

• Once the plate application is reviewed, a letter approving or declining the request is sent to the sender along with the YOM plates.
• If declined, the application fee and the plates are returned to sender.
• If approved, the vehicle owner takes the letter of approval and YOM plates to a Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Office.
• The vehicle owner pays the required fees to have the plates registered and attached to the historic vehicle.