The Canadian province of British Columbia first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1904. Registrants provided their own licence plates for display until 1913, when the province began to issue plates.

, plates are issued by the provincial motor vehicle insurer, the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates 1913 to 1969 In 1956, Canada, the United States, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for licence plates for vehicles (except those for motorcycles) at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1954 (dated 1955) issue was the first British Columbia licence plate that complied with these standards.

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes1913White serial on blue porcelain plate; vertical "B.C." and "1913" at left and right respectivelynone12341 to approximately 69001914Black serial on white porcelain plate; "BC" monogram and "1914" at leftnone12341 to approximately 79001915White serial on green flat metal plate; provincial coat of arms at left with "B.C. 1915" belownone12341 to approximately 77001916Black serial on yellow flat metal plate; provincial coat of arms at left with "B.C. 1916" belownone12341 to approximately 94001917Black serial on white flat metal plate; provincial coat of arms at left with "B.C. 1917" belownone123451 to approximately 13000 Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "BC" monogram and "1918" within box at leftnone123451 to approximately 22000First embossed plate. Revalidated for 1919 with green tabs. 1920–22As 1918–19 base, but without box and with "1920" below monogramnone123451 to approximately 39500Revalidated for 1921 with red tabs, and for 1922 with green tabs.1923Embossed yellow serial on green plate with border line; "BC 1923" at leftnone123451 to approximately 385001924Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "24" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 45-000First use of the full province name.1925Embossed white serial on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "25" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 57-0001926Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "26" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 69-0001927Embossed black serial on orange plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "27" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 77-0001928Embossed orange serial on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "28" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 90-0001929Embossed black serial on tan plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "29" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 99-9991930Embossed yellow serial on red plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "30" at rightnone1 to approximately 103–0001931Embossed black serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "31" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 108–0001932Embossed white serial on brown plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "32" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 120–0001933Embossed brown serial on yellow plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "33" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 99-0001934Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "34" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 96-0001935Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and "35" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 102–0001936Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "36" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 89-0001937Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "37" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 91-0001938Embossed cream serial on brown plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "38" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 97-0001939Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "39" at rightnone12-3451 to approximately 99-0001940Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "40" at rightnone12-3451 to 99-999'A' prefix serials were issued from Vancouver Island, 'B' prefixes from Vancouver, and 'F' prefixes from New Westminster. This practice continued through 1947.A1-234Coded by branch office (see right)1941Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "41" at rightnone12-3451 to 99-999A1-234Coded by branch office1942Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "42" at rightnone12-3451 to 99-999Produced in pairs but only single plates issued; the remaining plates were restamped and repainted for use in 1943, due to metal conservation for World War II.A1-234Coded by branch office1943Embossed black serial on cream plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "43" at rightnone12-3451 to 99-999Restamped and repainted 1942 plates.A1-234Coded by branch office1944Embossed cream serial on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "44" at rightnone12-3451 to 99-999A1-234Coded by branch office1945Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "45" at rightnone12-3451 to 99-999A1-234Coded by branch office1946Embossed white serial on red plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "46" at rightnone12-3451 to 99-999A1-234Coded by branch office1947Embossed green serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "47" at rightnone12-3451 to 99-999A1-234Coded by branch office1948Embossed white serial on green plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "48" at rightnone12-3451 to 99-999A1-234Coded by branch office1949Embossed black serial on yellow plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "49" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 168–000 1950–51Embossed yellow serial on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom and vertical "50" at rightnone123-4561 to approximately 237–000Revalidated for 1951 with white tabs. 1952–54Embossed black serial on unpainted aluminum plate with border line; embossed totem and maple leaf graphic at right; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" at bottom, offset to left; "52" above graphicnone12-345A1-2341A-2341-234ARevalidated for 1953 with blue tabs, and for 1954 with black tabs. Later plates manufactured without the graphic.1955Embossed black serial on golden yellow plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 55" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 310–000First 6" x 12" plate.1956Embossed golden yellow serial on black plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 56" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 352–0001957Embossed dark blue serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 57" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 402–0001958Embossed green serial on gold plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at top"1858 CENTENARY 1958" at bottom123-4561 to approximately 421–000Commemorated the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Colony of British Columbia.1959Embossed turquoise serial on maroon plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 59" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 432–0001960Embossed maroon serial on turquoise plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 60" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 453–0001961Embossed maroon serial on pink plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 61" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 471–0001962Embossed pink serial on maroon plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 62" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 509–0001963Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA 63" at bottomnone123-4561 to approximately 534–0001964Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at bottom; "64" at bottom right"BEAUTIFUL" centred at top123-4561 to approximately 573–000First use of the "Beautiful British Columbia" slogan.1965Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at bottom; "65" at top right"BEAUTIFUL" centred at top123-4561 to approximately 630–0001966Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at bottom; "66" at top right"BEAUTIFUL" centred at top123-4561 to approximately 674–0001967Embossed red serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at bottom; "67" at top right"BEAUTIFUL" centred at top123-4561 to approximately 720–000Colours chosen to commemorate the centennial of Canadian Confederation.1968Embossed blue serial on white plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at bottom; "19" at top left and "68" at top right"BEAUTIFUL" centred at top123-4561 to approximately 762–0001969Embossed white serial on blue plate with border line; "BRITISH COLUMBIA" centred at bottom; "19" at top left and "69" at top right"BEAUTIFUL" centred at top123-4561 to approximately 805–000

1970 to present British Columbia introduced an ABC-123 serial format on its passenger plates in 1970. A split-alphabet system was used, with each letter advancing from A through K, or from L through X (the letters I, O, Q, U, Y and Z were omitted). Serials were thus issued in the following eight series: AAA–KKJ, AAL–KKX, ALA–KXK, ALL–KXX, LAA–XKK, LAL–XKX, LLA–XXK and LLL–XXX. When the ABC-123 format was exhausted in 2001, a reversed format, 123-ABC, was introduced, with the same split-alphabet system and thus the same eight series. Upon the exhaustion of this format in 2014, an AB1-23C format was introduced, with the split-alphabet system discontinued and each letter thus advancing from A through X. In 2025, another format, A12-3BC was introduced, with a new alphabet system which allows the letters U, Y, and Z to be used (with the letters I, O, and Q still omitted).

ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotesBlue on whiteBeautiful British ColumbiaAAA-000 to KKJ-999;KLL-000 to KXX-999Validated each year with stickers.1973–78Blue on whiteBeautiful British ColumbiaABC 123LAA 000 to XKK 999; LLA 000 to XXK 999; LLL 000 to PXX 999Later plates manufactured in Quebec using that province's serial dies.1979–85White on blueBeautiful British ColumbiaABC-123AAA-000 to KKJ-999;AAL-000 to KKX-999;ALL-000 to KXX-999;ALA-000 to BRB-999Early plates manufactured in Quebec.1985–2001Blue on reflective white with screened stylized provincial flag in centreBeautiful British ColumbiaABC 123LAA 000 to XXX 9992001– August 2014123 ABC000 AAA to 999 XXX; 000 MJG to 999 MXX'M' series of serials initially reserved for 2010 Winter Olympics plates; unused serials were issued on the standard base in mid-2014 following 999 XXX. 'V' series reserved for Veteran plates. Numbers 400 through 499 omitted from serials starting in 2008, due to problems surrounding the number 4 among the province's Chinese population.August 2014 –August 2025AB1 23CAA0 00A to NX9 99X; SA0 00A to XX9 99XSerials PA0 00A through RX9 99X reserved for BC Parks plates.August 2025 –presentA12 3BCA00 0AA to B69 9CALetters U, Y and Z added back to serials. Serials P00 0AA through S99 9ZZ reserved for BC Parks plates.

Truck plates 1973 to present The current standard truck plate is issued to both commercial and private trucks, and also to buses and taxis.