The Canadian province of New Brunswick first required its residents to register their motor vehicles in 1905. Registrants provided their own licence plates for display until 1911, when the province began to issue plates.
, plates are issued by the New Brunswick Department of Justice and Public Safety through its Motor Vehicle Branch. Only rear plates have been required on all vehicles since July 15, 2019.
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 first New Brunswick licence plate that complied with these standards was issued seven years beforehand, in 1949 (dated 1950).
License plates designated for Historic cars.
The first Conservation license plate featured a Salmon design. In 2009, New Brunswick introduced three new specialty license plate designs; Chickadee, Flower & Deer. The money earned from these plates go to the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund.