If you renewed your vehicle registration recently and noticed something missing, you’re not imagining it — New Brunswick has officially done away with licence plate registration stickers.
As of April 1, vehicle registration stickers are no longer required in the province, following amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act and related regulations. The change is done, it’s official, and it affects pretty much everyone on the road.
What changed — and what didn’t
The change applies to all vehicles, including passenger, commercial, and off-road vehicles. But here’s the important part: drivers are still required to renew their vehicle registration annually. The sticker is gone, but the renewal isn’t — don’t let that slip.
The licence plate stickers are also not to be confused with motor vehicle inspection stickers that go on windshields, which are not affected at all by this change.
Already have a sticker on your plate?
No need to peel it off. Customers who have valid stickers on their licence plates do not need to remove them, but no new stickers will be issued after April 1.
How do you prove your registration now?
When you renew, you can print your registration certificate immediately and keep it in your vehicle. If you can’t print it, you can choose to have it mailed to you. Renewal reminders are available by mail, email, or text message, and signing up is part of the registration process — no additional steps required.
As for enforcement, law enforcement officers can confirm registration electronically. All RCMP vehicles in the province are equipped with onboard computers to allow officers to verify registrations in real time, so police don’t need to eyeball your plate to know if you’re up to date.
Why did this happen?
NB is simply catching up with the rest of the country. Out of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, only New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Nunavut were still using stickers. The province framed it as a modernization move — part of ongoing efforts to modernize services and improve efficiency.
Stickers have been part of New Brunswick licence plates for over 60 years, introduced in 1963. So yeah — this is kind of a big deal, even if it’s a quiet one.
The bottom line
Your plate looks a little cleaner now, but your renewal obligation hasn’t changed. Renew on time, keep your registration certificate in your glove box, and you’re good to go.
You can renew online, in person at a Service New Brunswick centre, or by phone through TeleServices at 1-888-762-8600.
Have questions about your vehicle registration in NB? Drop them in the comments.
