Sample license
plates are generally manufactured by the issuing authority
(i.e. ICBC) as an example/specimen to be used by various
law enforcement and government authorities to familiarize
themselves with that jurisdictions current issue. Usually,
for a small fee these plates are also made available to
collectors.

1924
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In British Columbia,
the earliest known example of a Sample License Plate is
1924. From this point, there is a known plate for every
year of manufacture. The serial used on the plates consistently
followed the 00-000 format, except from 1931 (possibly 1930)
to 1933, and 1950-1951 when a six-digit 000-000 was employed.

1976
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From 1955 through
to 1969 the 000-000 format would again be used. In 1970,
with the introduction of an alpha-numeric serial, a Sample
plate with "1970" was issued followed by plates
with the word "SAM-000" from 1971
through to 1978.

1979
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With the introduction
of a new base plate in 1979, sample plates began to be issued
in the now familiar "SAMPLE" format. Just as in
1973, when a new base plate was issued, no validation decal
was made for 1979, however, there are prototypes of the
1980 decal with the 1979 date known to exist. If there can
be said to be an official 1979 Sample plate, it is generally
ackowldeged to be the undated 1979 base pictured at left.

(Astrographics Souvenir)
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In
1985, when the province introduced the new "Flag"
graphic, a Souvenir plate stamped
in the format of a Truck plate with a "BC-0000"
serial was made available to collectors for a modest fee
(until being discontinued in 2002).

(Astrographics Sample)
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Unfortunately,
this plate has widely been misinterpreted as the official
"SAMPLE" plate issued by British Columbia during
this time frame. In actuality, however, ICBC still issued
Sample plates with the word "SAMPLE" to other
issuing authorities (and examples of these have subsequently
made their way into the hands of collectors).
Recently, and
due to concerns surrounding the ambiguity of the "BC-0000"
type as an easily identifiable Souvenir
plate in other jurisdictions, ICBC made the decision to
phase it out as of November 2002. In its place, collectors
may now order genuine "SAMPLE" plates (sample
decals are not available) from the Corporation for a fee
of $21.50 CDN (GST included); payment must be made by certified
cheque. The rise in price from the previous $10.70 CDN for
the Souvenir plate reflects increased manufacturing
and mailing costs. The new Samples will display Waldale
dies.
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