Maine License Plates

The current base began in July, 1999 as a general reissue, starting at 1 GA.

Series jumped from NF to NH since NG was already used on Chickadee plates for National Guard. PA followed NZ since the O series was skipped. PI series was skipped. PU also apparently skipped. QA through QD was issued, but plates have now jumped to RA. SI series skipped. SQ series confirmed. TI series skipped. UI apparently skipped.

On sale in May 2025 as a rolling replate. The 1999 "Chickadee" plates must be off the road by April 2026. (More info available from News Center Maine.)

Antique Auto plates in Maine are validated annually, and they do not have use restrictions. Vehicles registered in this class are exempt from the annual safety inspection.

The current blue on white Maine Apportioned license plate series was introduced in January 2011 and is available in three versions:

900-001 - 949-999 Tractor (Issued singly)

950-001 - 979-999 Truck (Issued in pairs)

980001 - 999999 Bus (Stacked B/U/S prefix, Issued in pairs, introduced January 2016)

Upon reaching 799-999, format changed to 1A-0001 through 9Z-9999.

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Series debuted early 2022, succeeding the "Semi Permanent" series. See moini.net for details.

Golf carts

FU skipped.

Jeff also reported 15 GW on 2010-05-18, but this was likely an early low number pull.

Previous highs of 186 HT and 345 HV had M/C stacked prefix. Some higher HV and all HW had no M/C stacked prefix to allow room for the inspection sticker on the upper left corner, so the change appears to have been in the HV series. All existing plates with the M/C stacked prefix are still valid.

The 400-000 series is used for most vehicles, but there is also a series that started at 301-000 for trailers, tractors (not truck tractors) and mobile equipment. Daniel Savage reports 306-157 on 6/12/12. 300-000 to 300-999 are on vehicles owned by the University of Maine System.

This series of blue on white Maine trailer license plates has a single letter prefix followed by six numbers ranging from 100001-999999. Prefixes used so far are A (until 2006), B (2006-2020) and C since 2020.

101-AGA to 999-AGZ reserved for Agriculture plates released 10/1/07

ANA-ANZ block will be used after AGZ. ANL skipped.

Passenger: AGA, AGB, AGD, AGE

Commercial: AGC (955-AGC reported by Daniel Savage on 2014-12-18.)

Farm: AGF

Passenger: AGG and up

Newest Optional first available 10/1/09. Began at AMA series. Series advanced from AMZ to AWA. Features images of a cat, dog, horse, and rabbit with "Adopt" slogan.

New optional plate available 3 NOV 03. Series began at 101 ACA. "The University of Maine" bottom center. This is the official plate for the University of Maine at Orono (the main campus) and proceeds from this plate benefit UMO.

From Jeff Fortier: ADA is the beginning of the second block of plates. Initially ACA-ADZ set aside for this series. Took 9 years and 4 months to run through the first block of plates.

I suffix not used.

Available since February 6, 2018 to licensed emergency medical services personnel.

Features the image of a us flag and "Land of the Free Because of the Brave" slogan. Stacked G/S 0000 format numbers 1000-9999. First available Aug 2011.

From Daniel Savage: First 53 registrants had their numbers drawn in a lottery on 8/17/11. The numbers ranged from 1001-1999 so the sequential high is not necessarily the highest number on the road. The lowest number I have seen so far is 1036 spotted on 3/21/12.

This Maine Lighthouse Trust license plate debuted October 18, 2021. The BMV web page for this series states that "...low digit plates will not be available for issuance. The plates will be issued in a unique numbering sequence, beginning with 101-BFA through 999-BFZ (skip letters I and O)." Our Highs history shows that the Lobster series had already run from BEA through BEQ by that date so the initial Lighthouse Trust BEC suffix observation is unconfirmed.

AAO series was skipped.

After ABZ series was supposed to go to AEB afterwards. The state mistakenly produced a batch of ACA plates. ACA is already used on the Black Bear Plates. The state is going to recall all of the ACA plates issued. Jeff Fortier reports 326-ACA on 5/10/10.

There is also a Lobster Commercial plate in the -ARA suffix of plates. Phil Blanchard spotted 380-ARA.

New optional plate, issued 4/7/08, began with 101-AKA. "Support Wildlife" bottom center with an image of Mount Katahdin at the top, a moose in the upper left, and a brook trout in the lower left. There is a $20 fee for this type.

Order of issuance: AKA-AKU (roughly), AKZ, AKV-AKY, ASA-present.

New specialty plate available 11/1/07. 101-AJA to 999-AJZ block reserved for this series.

This is the original university plate for Maine, and proceeds from this plate benefit the entire University of Maine System. U/M/S screened vertically to left of registration number.

Effective August 12, 2005, Wabanaki registration plates became available to members of the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet and Micmac Tribes in Maine

101-AFA to 999-AFZ used for Wabanaki (available 8/12/05). 101-AGA to 999-AGZ unused. 101-AHA to 999-AHZ for Custom Vehicle plates on Chickadee base set for 7/1/06 release.

This series debuted in 2018, after the Big V series hit V99999. The open space on the left accommodates an optional commemorative decal.

This series debuted in 2018. The open space on the left accommodates an optional commemorative decal.

Letter V is red, numbers are blue.

ISA symbol on the right for access to handicapped parking.  First issued 7/20/04 starting at 1A.

US Flag at left with bottom "DISABLED VETERAN" caption.

Maine Disabled Veteran parking license plates were introduced July 12, 2010. Plates feature US flag at left and wheelchair symbol on the right. Numbering range is 111A-999Z.

Maine Purple Heart license plates debuted 9/1/1995.