SASKATCHEWAN

Saskatchewan was part of the Northwest Territories until it became a province on September 1, 1905.  There are no known city ordinances or license plates prior to the first automobile law of 1906.

The first provincial automobile registration law, 6 Edward VII Chapter 44, was passed on May 26, 1906, during the very first legislative session.  This act required all automobile owners to register with the Provincial Secretary, pay a one-time fee of $10, and display an owner-provided rear plate with 5-inch-tall numbers, as well as headlight numbers of unspecified size.  Motorcycles were not included under the law, but all non-residents were required to register.

In 1909, 9 Edward VII Chapter 132 was passed, revising the headlight number requirements.  This clause was repealed in another amendatory act passed in 1911, which changed the requirement that the license number be illuminated at night from the front lamps to the rear license plate.  The highest pre-provincial plate known is #694.

Annual reports of the Provincial Secretary state that as of March 31, 1911, there were 823 automobiles registered, and on March 31, 1912, 2,127 were registered.  Both of these figures are lower than the cumulative totals listed below by just six vehicles.  Registration figures reported by the Provincial Secretary for fiscal years (April 1 to March 31) are listed as follows, along with the cumulative totals for each year:

             TOTAL   CUMULATIVE TOTAL

      1906      22           22

      1907      55           77

      1908      74          151

      1909     147          298

      1910     531          829

      1911   1,304        2,133

      1912       ?            ?       (April 1 to June 30)

A new law, 2 George V Chapter 38, was passed March 13, 1912, and effective July 1, 1912, entitled "The Vehicles Act".  This law required annual registration with the Provincial Secretary, an annual fee and an annual province-issued rear plate.  The registration year was changed to January 1 to December 31.  Fees were as follows:  Motor vehicles $10, renewals $3, Motorcycles $5, renewals $2, Dealers $25.  It does not appear that half rates were put into effect for 1912, nor does it seem that any 1912 registrations were counted as renewals, which may have contributed to a lower compliance rate.  Non-residents were allowed 30 days before having to register, providing that they were registered in their home jurisdiction and carried plates.

License plates were authorized in four categories starting in 1912:  Passenger, Motorcycle, Dealer (Garage) and Livery (Taxi).  Motorcycle plates were small plates bearing the provincial crest.  Livery plates were clearly marked with the word "LIVERY" below shorter numbers.  Dealer plates were unmarked plates bearing only letters, using A to Z, AA to ZZ, and even AAA to ZZZ.  Only same-letter combinations were used, such as BBB (but not BBA, BBC, etc.)  All letters were used;  1913 plate #I is known, with the I having no serifs, resembling the number 1 but without the notch, and another 1913 plate #OOO is known, resembling a sample plate.  The 1912 single-letter plates have a giant letter which is wider than it is tall.  A 1912 Dealer plate #OO has double letters that are thinner.  The expected high for 1912 is #CCC.  No word "GARAGE" or any other legend appeared on these plates until 1913.  The same unusual lettering system was used in 1913 until #ZZZ was finished, after which #A1 - A99 were begun.  The system, which had a capacity for just 78 dealerships, was only used for those two years.

The number of vehicles registered in 1912 by type, and the highest known plate of each, is listed in the following table:

      PLATE TYPE   REGISTRATIONS   HIGHEST KNOWN

      Passenger        4,982          #4204

      Motorcycle         146           #130

      Dealer              55            #OO

      Livery              47            #28