Nunavut polar bear licence plate nets $213 on eBay

This Nunavut licence plate sold March 24 on eBay for more than $200. (PHOTO COURTESY OF EBAY)

Vehicle owners in Nunavut may want to hang on to their polar bear-shaped licence plates after the territory’s new rectangular plates featuring an updated design are issued later this year.

That’s because the iconic polar bear licence plates, which Nunavut inherited from the Northwest Territories, appear destined to become collector’s items.

After , bids on a polar bear plate closed March 24 at $213.30 U.S..

With postage adding $20 to this cost, the winning bidder will pay more than $230 for the plate described as “14880N September 2008.”

The description on the item adds that there are about three other stickers under the “08” sticker, indicating the plate was used for about four years.

The Government of Nunavut unveiled its new plate design March 6, featuring a busy and colourful night scene to replace the white, bear-shaped plate.

Nunavummiut will be issued the new plate when they update their vehicle registration or purchase a new vehicle after July 2012.