Maine License PlatesA Maine license plate is a vehicle registration plate issued by the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) to identify vehicles registered in the state of Maine. In accordance with Section 351 of Chapter 5 of the Maine Motor Vehicles and Traffic laws, any vehicle operated on a public way in the state must be registered. Following registration, a vehicle owner will be issued a license plate to be affixed to the vehicle registered. Per Section 452 of the Maine Motor Vehicles and Traffic laws, a registration or license plate must be attached to the front and the rear of each vehicle, except as follows:
The Bureau of Motor Vehicles in the state issues two main types of license plates:
Maine License Plate Design and FormatsThe State of Maine began issuing license plates in 1905. Over the years, Maine's license plate design and colors have changed. The Chickadee license plate is the general issue plate and is the basic design for any Maine license plate. Prior to July 1, 1999, the state's general issue plate displayed an image of Maine's most famous export - the red lobster - in the center of the plate.
While the red lobster design has been moved to a specialty plate, the state's slogan - "Vacationland" - remains. Since 1999, the Chickadee plate has featured "Vacationland" across its bottom within some trees. On the left side of the plate, a black-capped Chickadee stands on a pine branch and pinecone. A black-chapped Chickadee is Maine's state bird.
On the top of the Chickadee plate, "MAINE" is screened in black and centered at the top. A green pine silhouette is screened at the bottom, and the plate's serial is embossed in black on the reflective plate with a black border.
Standard Chickadee license plate design:
Specialty license plate design samples:
*Source: Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Per MSRA Title 29A, Section 451, the Maine Secretary of State must periodically provide a new general issue of registration plates as determined by the Legislature. Each new general issue must bear the year of issue or the last 2 numerals of that year and the word "Maine" in letters of at least 3/4 inch in height centered at the top of the registration plate.
Except in motorcycle plates, registration numbers may not be substantially less than 3 inches high. On registration plates issued for private use and trucks, the word "Vacationland" must be centered at the bottom in letters not less than 3/4 inch in height, except when the Secretary of State determines that, for other than passenger vehicles, that space may be used for class codes.
Maine Vanity License PlateIn Maine, vanity license plates, also known as personalized plates, allow you to choose a custom combination of letters and numbers (within certain restrictions) to display on your vehicle instead of the standard issue plate. They offer a way to express your personality, interests, or affiliations while still fulfilling the legal requirement for displaying a license plate
Vanity plates can have a total of 7 characters, which may include a mixture of numbers and letters as long as at least one letter is in the sequence. Vanity plates having fewer than 7 characters may combine numbers and letters, provided the first character is a letter. Vanity plates cannot begin with a zero.
Besides letters and numbers, you can choose to have a blank space between characters. You can also have a dash (-) and ampersand (&) on your vanity plate. However, note that the ampersand is only allowed in sequences containing 2 to 6 characters. You can order a disability vanity plate only if your current license plate is a disability plate with any of the following class codes: CD, MX, DX, or WX.
You can order a vanity plate online via the BMV Vanity Plate Search and Order service. You can use the free service to search if a combination selection is available and has not been taken by someone else. Note that if your vehicle has not been registered with the BMV, you must complete an initial registration at your town office or local BMV office before you may be eligible to order a vanity plate online.
To order a vanity plate online, you will need:
Upon completing the application, the BMV will review the order. Allow a minimum of 30 calendar days for processing. You will get your official registration and new metal plates in the mail 4-6 weeks after your request is approved. You may also select an alternate mailing address to receive your vanity plate when using the online order service.
Most Popular Maine Special Plate NumbersCommon types of specialty license plates in Maine are:
Maine License Plate LookupA license plate lookup in Maine involves using a vehicle's license plate number to access additional information about the vehicle through an online lookup service. This process is commonly used by prospective buyers seeking detailed information about a vehicle before making a purchase. A license plate lookup in Maine can provide the following information:
You may be able to perform a license plate lookup in Maine if you visit the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) in person. However, RecordsFinder allows users to perform quick license plate searches from their homes.
A reverse license plate number search involves using the license plate number to retrieve information about the vehicle linked with that license plate. The gathered information is drawn from a vehicle records database and can provide significant details about the vehicle. However, it is important to note that due to federal and state privacy laws, private information pertaining to the vehicle owner is not accessible to the general public. You can perform a reverse license plate number search on the RecordsFinder website. However, note that RecordsFinder complies with DPPA provisions by providing access only to non-sensitive DMV records.
What Do I Need to Get a License Plate in Maine?You will be issued a standard Maine license plate when you complete your vehicle registration with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. In order to complete a passenger vehicle registration with the BMV for a vehicle purchased from a Maine-licensed dealer, follow these steps:
Note that not all Maine municipalities participate in the BMV registration program. If your municipality does not participate in the BMV 's registration program, you must visit a BMV branch office with the required documents. You may contact your local municipal office to determine if they participate in the program. Vanity plates are available at BMV branches on selected license plate types for an additional fee of $25. Disability license plates are available, and a physician's signature must be provided on the application.
If you are registering a private sale purchase passenger vehicle, follow these steps to complete the vehicle registration and get a Maine license plate:
Vanity plates are available at a BMV branch office for an additional annual fee, and disability plates will require the signature of a physician on the application
Differences Between a Passenger License Plate and a Commercial License Plate in MainePer Maine law, you need a commercial license plate if your vehicle is a truck and the vehicle's GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) exceeds 6,000 pounds. If the truck is a trailer, you need a commercial plate if the combined load exceeds 8,000 pounds. A pick-up truck may have a passenger or commercial plate if the GVW is 6,000 pounds or less; the truck's combined weight and any trailer is equal to or lower than 8,000 pounds. Automobiles, including passenger vans and SUVs, do not need commercial plates regardless of the total or combined weight.
Some critical differences between passenger and commercial license plates in Maine are highlighted in the table below:
| Features | Passenger License Plate | Commercial License Plate |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Use | For personal private use | For any use in commerce, if there is an expectation or possibility of earning money (above reasonable expenses) or receiving other valuable considerations |
| License Plate Class Code | Common passenger license plate class codes include PC, AG, BC, DV, VT, AQ, CM, CV, DS, USM, EM, FD, LB, SW, and UM | Commercial license plates have class codes such as AC (Agricultural Commercial), CC (Conservation Commercial), CO (Commercial), and LC (Lobster Commercial) |
| Requirements for obtaining the license plate | The vehicle must be registered with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles as a passenger vehicle | The vehicle must be registered as commercial with the Maine Motor Carrier Services |
How to Renew License Plate in MaineYour license plate will be renewed in Maine once you complete the vehicle registration renewal process. If your municipality participates in the Maine Rapid Renewal program -the state's online vehicle registration renewal service, you may be able to complete the entire vehicle registration renewal process online. You may access more information on Rapid Renewal by visiting the Rapid Renewal website. If your town does not participate in the program, you must visit your town office and follow these steps to renew your vehicle registration:
For more information, contact the BMV Registration Section for inquiries at (207) 624-9000 ext. 52149 or email registrations@maine.gov.
How to Transfer a License Plate in MainePer Chapter 5 of Maine Motor Vehicle and Traffic laws, a person who transfers the ownership or discontinues the use of a registered vehicle, semitrailer, or trailer and applies for registration of another vehicle, semitrailer, or trailer in the same registration year may use the same number plate on paying a $8 transfer fee, provided the registration fee is the same as the former vehicle's.
If the fee for the vehicle to be registered is higher than the fee for the vehicle first registered, the person will be required to pay the difference. The Maine BMV does not provide an online license plate transfer service. Therefore, you must visit a BMV branch office to complete the process.
Maine License Plate Lookup Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)You cannot find the license plate owner in Maine except in limited circumstances where a court order mandates the release of personal information related to a license plate. Under the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act, sensitive information, including the vehicle owner's name, cannot be disclosed to the public. Similarly, Maine adopted administrative rules in 1997 to implement DPPA rules requirements in the state. Hence, personal information in an individual's Maine motor vehicle records identifying the individual, such as a name, address, or telephone number, is not subject to public information rights.
Under MSRA Title 29A, Section 463, if a license plate is lost, the owner or individual in control of the vehicle must immediately place a temporary substitute registration plate bearing the registration number on the vehicle.
Within 24 hours after the loss of the plate, the owner must notify the Maine Secretary of State and apply for new registration plates. If satisfied with the truth of the facts in the application, the Secretary of State will supply new license plates on payment of a fee of $5 for each plate. Note that whenever one of a set of license plates is lost and a new set is issued, the remaining license plate must be returned to the Secretary of State.
What Do Police See When They Run Your License Plates in Maine?
Police officers do not need specific reasons to run license plates. However, common reasons why law enforcement runs license plates include the following:
When the police run license plates, some of the information obtained in their search includes:
You can perform a license plate lookup for free in Maine using RecordsFinder. It requires users to provide the license plate number of a vehicle to obtain the following information:
In accordance with MSRA Title 29-A, Section 351, a person who operates a vehicle or permits a vehicle not registered to remain on a public way commits:
You do not need to return license plates from an old vehicle, provided the vehicle no longer belongs to you. Maine law allows vehicle owners to retain or transfer license plates from an old vehicle to a new one as long as they have traded in the old car and the new one is registered in their name.
However, if applicable, you must bring your old vehicle registration to the Town Office in your area and the blue title application from the new vehicle. Your insurance card and the bill of sales showing the sales tax paid will also be required. Furthermore, you may be asked to pay the excise tax based on the difference between your old and new registrations, plus a $3 transfer fee.
Can I Keep My Maine License Plate If I Move to Another State?
Per MSRA Title 29A, Section 463, when a registration certificate has expired, and the owner does not intend to renew or transfer within 6 months, the owner must remove the license plates and forward them with the registration certificate to the Maine Secretary of State. Hence, if you are moving out of state, it is recommended that you complete a plate cancellation request to be submitted to:
State of MaineThe standard size for vehicle license plates in Maine is 12 inches (30 cm) in width by 6 inches (15 cm) in height.
Per MSRA Title 29A, Section 954A, a buyer may operate the vehicle or trailer with a temporary registration plate for 30 consecutive days without paying a regular fee. At the end of the 30-day period, a resident who is unable to comply with the requirements of Chapter 7 of MSRA Title 29A or a nonresident who has applied for but has not yet received a registration certificate from a home state may request the Secretary of State to extend the period without charge for an additional 20 days.
You can renew your license plate by following these steps to renew your vehicle registration:
If you lose your license plate in Maine, follow these steps to obtain a new one: