Vehicle registration plates of the Canal Zone

The Canal Zone
Current series
SloganFunnel For World Commerce
Size12 in × 6 in
30 cm × 15 cm
MaterialAluminum
Serial format12345
IntroducedJanuary 1, 1979
Availability
Issued byU.S. Canal Zone Territorial Government
History
First issued1910; 114 years ago (1910)
Last issuedDecember 31, 1979; 44 years ago (1979-12-31)

The former U.S. territory of the Canal Zone first issued license plates in 1910, and this continued until the Canal Zone was returned to Panama in 1979.[1] A single plate was issued for all years. The country of Panama also issued Canal Zone license plates for United States citizens that lived in Panama but worked in the Canal Zone, but these plates have the country name "Panama" clearly showing on them.[2] Since reciprocity for license plates between the Canal Zone and Panama did not exist until 1950, old photos often show local vehicles with two different license plates mounted on the vehicle.[3]

  1. ^ Fox, James K. (April 1984). "License Plates of the Canal Zone and Panama". ALPCA Newsletter. Vol. 30, no. 2. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. pp. 81–88.
  2. ^ Sentiford, Tim (April 2002). "A Graphic History of Panama". The ALPCA Register. Vol. 48, no. 2. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. p. 40-41.
  3. ^ Sentiford, Tim (June 2005). "Puente del Mundo". Plates. Vol. 51, no. 3. Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. pp. 37–43.