ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
SONRA manages the VO Plate program on behalf of all amateur radio operators in the province. A special arrangement was reached between SONRA and Motor Vehicle Division that permitted Amateur Radio operators to display their Amateur call sign as their licence plate number. The reason this privilege was granted directly relates to our involvement in providing Emergency Communications.
By issuing VO-plates, radio equipped vehicles could be easily identified by both the authorities and the general public. This raises a concern that in more recent times, there seems to be an increase of vehicles advertising their communications ability, but having no communications equipment on board. We ask you to keep this in mind and make every effort to display VO-plates only on communication equipped vehicles.
Please be aware that while the VO plate is a legitimate licence plate, in Newfoundland and Labrador, it is a requirement that you keep your original licence plate in the vehicle as you may be required to produce it if you are ever stopped by the police. Both licence plates will show on your vehicle registration, with the VO licence plate being shown as a “Sp Plate/Sticker”.
GUIDELINES:
This program applies only to Radio Amateurs living in Newfoundland and Labrador.
To take advantage of this program, the following requirements must be met:
*You must hold a valid amateur radio Certificate of Proficiency with a VO1 or VO2 callsign.
*The vehicle is registered with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador Motor Registration Division in the name of the callsign holder
*We also ask that your vehicle be equipped for amateur radio communications.
NOTE: Both the callsign and the vehicle registration MUST be registered in same name.
ORDERING:
SONRA orders are placed twice a year March and October each year, typically it will take 12 months to receive your new VO licence plates. The reason for this delay is due to the fact that our order is added to, and not separate from, the overall licence plate order for the entire province and that provincial order usually lasts a year or more. To order your VO plate, please click to email Chris Vernon – VO1CH