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.

Chris Martin - 30 May ’23

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.

Jeff Fortier - 14 May ’23

Apportioned plates in Maine are issued in three blocks.

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)

Current design introduced in January 2011. Apportioned Bus plates were introduced January 2016.

Chris Martin - 29 Sep ’22

Seen in Skowhegan

Daniel Savage - 18 May ’23

Seen in Westbrook

Chris Martin - 3 Nov ’21

Seen in Gorham

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

Phil Blanchard - 1 Apr ’23

Bill Sproull - 3 Sep ’14

Seen in South Portland

Phil Blanchard - 11 Apr ’23

Seen in Portland

HIRE at bottom of plate.

Daniel Savage - 14 May ’22

Colin McGregor - 30 Jun ’15

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.

Phil Blanchard - 15 Nov ’22

Seen in Skowhegan

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.

Heriberto Tapia - 27 Sep ’22

Jordan Irazabal - 20 Mar ’12

Isaac Wilson IV - 31 May ’21

A series ended at A 999999. B series began at B 100001.

Jeff Fortier - 29 May ’23

Seen in Waterville

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

Daniel Savage - 18 May ’23

Seen in Gorham

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.

Phil Blanchard - 20 Mar ’23

Jeff Fortier - 6 May ’23

Spotted in Sebago

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.

Phil Blanchard - 28 May ’23

Spotted in Harrison

I suffix not used.

Phil Blanchard - 28 May ’23

Seen in Portland

Phil Blanchard - 26 Dec ’21

Phil - 19 Sep ’19

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.

Daniel Savage - 3 Jun ’12

These plates debuted October 18, 2021.

Although the <a href="//www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/registration/lhplate.html">BMV web page for this series</a> states that "the plates will be issued in a unique numbering sequence, beginning with 101-BEA through 999-BEZ", our Highs history shows that the <a href="/history.php?id=163">Lobster series</a> had already run from BEA through BEQ by that date. So, this will be interesting to watch...

Jeff Fortier - 16 Mar ’23

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.

Jeff Fortier - 12 May ’23

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.

Jeff Fortier - 12 May ’23

Seen in Scarborough

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

Phil Blanchard - 20 Mar ’23

Seen in Portland

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.

Phil Blanchard - 17 Dec ’22

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.

Chris Martin - 20 Mar ’19

Spotted in Waterville

This series debuted in 2018, after the Big V series hit V99999. The open space on the left accommodates an optional <a href="https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/registration/decalpage.html">commemorative decal</a>.

Daniel Savage - 18 May ’23

Spotted in Waterville

This series debuted in 2018. The open space on the left accommodates an optional <a href="https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/registration/decalpage.html">commemorative decal</a>.

Daniel Savage - 18 May ’23

Seen in Skowhegan

Letter V is red, numbers are blue.

Phil - 11 Aug ’18

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

Seen in Anson

Daniel Savage - 11 Oct ’21

Seen in Anson

US Flag on the left with "DISABLED VETERAN" caption on the bottom.

Daniel Savage - 18 May ’23

Spotted in Waterville

US Flag on the left & ISA on the right. Numbering range is 111A-999Z. Introduced 7/12/10.

Daniel Savage - 18 May ’23

Began 9/1/1995

Phil - 30 Jul ’20