First Issue 1923?
Samples were generally traded between states for law enforcement to recognize style/color from other states.
Always representative of normal passenger.
Cross-reference Passenger section for colors/design.
Embedded Files
1923
white/dark green
1924
black/orange
1925
white/green
1926
"SC" inside Palmetto Tree design
red/white
1927
"SC" inside Palmetto Tree design
green/white
1928
black/yellow
1929
black/white
1930
"IODINE" vertically on right side
white/black
1931
"THE IODINE STATE" bottom
green/gray
1932
"THE IODINE STATE" bottom
black/yellow
1933
"THE IODINE PRODUCTS STATE" bottom
black/white
1934 "APRIL 30" top or "OCTOBER 31" bottom
black/yellow(April) yellow/black(October)
believed that Samples exist for both color schemes
1935
"APRIL 30" top or "OCTOBER 31" bottom
color variations: black/white; white/black
red/white; white/red color schemes for Common Carrier.
believed that Samples exist for all color schemes
1936
"APRIL 30" top or "OCTOBER 31" bottom
yellow/black(April); black/yellow(October)
1937
black/white
1938
black/yellow
1939
black/white
1940
"OCTOBER 31" bottom
yellow/black
1941
black/yellow
type exists without second dash
1942
yellow/black
1943
restamped from collected plates - most '42; rare unstamped exist yellow/black
1944 strip applied to existing 1943; weight class matched, plate number did not
yellow/green
1945
yellow/green
1946
silver/black
1947
black/yellow
1948
yellow/black
1949
white/black
1950
black/white
1951
white/black
1952
yellow/black
1953
black/yellow
1954
white/black
1955
black/white
1956
black/yellow
1957
white/blue
1958
blue/white
1959
white/blue
1960
blue/white
1961
red/white
1962
some experimental reflective (some debossed in E and F series)* unknown if experimental Samples were available
white/red
1963
white/green
1964
white/black
1965
black/white
unknown if normal A-00-000 format was available
1966
white/blue
1964 was the first year 2-letter prefixes were issued on passenger plates.
Two types of 1966 Samples known.
1967
blue/white
1968
begin reflective letters; "AUTO" bottom (passenger only)
white/black
single letter prefix also valid on passenger plates; unknown if single-letter Sample available
1969
white/blue
1970
"1670 300 YEARS 1970"
white/green
1971
white/brown
1972
begin 3-letter, 3-number format
white/black
1973
white/blue
1974
white/green
1975
white/maroon
1999-June, 2008
"Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places" base regular plates transitioned to flat, debossed border, beginning Sept, 2007 unknown if flat Samples were available
sample stickers used
July, 2008-March, 2016
"Sunrise" base
sample stickers used through 2014. No 2015+ sample stickers known.
February, 2016-present
"Hope" base
no stickers used on samples
No specialty samples are issued by South Carolina. Any plates with only "000" are considered prototypes.
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