Vehicle registration plates of Maine


The U.S. state of Maine first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905. Plates are currently issued by the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, within the office of the Department of the Secretary of State. Front and rear plates are required for most classes of vehicles, while only rear plates are required for motorcycles and trailers.

Passenger baseplates

1905 to 1949

1950 to present

In 1956, the United States, Canada, and Mexico came to an agreement with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, the Automobile Manufacturers Association and the National Safety Council that standardized the size for license plates for vehicles at in height by in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 issue was the first Maine license plate that complied with these standards.
ImageDates issuedDesignSloganSerial formatSerials issuedNotes
Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MAINE" at top, offset to left, with metal tab slots to right"VACATIONLAND" centered at bottom1 to approximately 376-000Validated for 1950 with silver tabs, for 1951 with red tabs, for 1952 with green tabs, for 1953 with gold tabs, for 1954 with silver tabs, and for 1955 with blue tabs.
1956Embossed black serial on reflective gold plate with border line; "MAINE 56" centered at top, with metal tab slots either side of year"VACATIONLAND" centered at bottom1 to
264-000		Revalidated for 1957 with red tabs, for 1958 with green tabs, for 1959 with white tabs, for 1960 with dark blue tabs, and for 1961 with orange tabs.
1957–61As above, but without "56""VACATIONLAND" centered at bottom264-001 to approximately 463-000Revalidated for 1957 with red tabs, for 1958 with green tabs, for 1959 with white tabs, for 1960 with dark blue tabs, and for 1961 with orange tabs.
1962Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MAINE 62" at top, offset to left, with metal tab slots either side of year"VACATIONLAND" centered at bottom1 to
384-000		Revalidated for 1963 with yellow tabs, for 1964 with dark blue tabs, for 1965 with red tabs, for 1966 with yellow tabs, and for 1967 with black tabs.
1963–67As above, but without "62""VACATIONLAND" centered at bottom384-001 to approximately 617-000Revalidated for 1963 with yellow tabs, for 1964 with dark blue tabs, for 1965 with red tabs, for 1966 with yellow tabs, and for 1967 with black tabs.
1968Embossed black serial on reflective yellow plate with border line; "MAINE 68" at top, offset to left, with metal tab slots either side of year"VACATIONLAND" centered at bottom1 to
395-000		Revalidated with stickers; tab slots on 1968 plates never used.
1969–73As above, but without "68" and metal tab slots"VACATIONLAND" centered at bottom395-001 to approximately 793-000Revalidated with stickers; tab slots on 1968 plates never used.
1974–75Embossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; "MAINE 74" at top, offset to left"VACATIONLAND" centered at bottom1 to
488-000;
502-001 to 510-000
1975–78As above, but without "74""VACATIONLAND" centered at bottom488-001 to 502-000;
510-001 to 875-000		Embossed year replaced by revalidation stickers.
1978–79As above, but with "MAINE" centered at top"VACATIONLAND" centered at bottom875-001 to 999-999
1979 – June 30, 1987As above, but with "MAINE" centered at top"VACATIONLAND" centered at bottom12345 A1 A to 52000 N
July 1, 1987 – May 1990Embossed navy blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; red American lobster screened behind serial, offset to right; "MAINE" screened in red centered at top"Vacationland" screened in red centered at bottom12345 A1 P to 99999 Z
May 1990 – April 1993Embossed navy blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; red American lobster screened behind serial, offset to right; "MAINE" screened in red centered at top"Vacationland" screened in red centered at bottom1234 AB1 AA to 9999 ZZ;
1 AB to 9999 AY
Double-letter series issued first, followed by different-letter series from September 1991.
April 1993 – June 30, 1999Embossed navy blue serial on reflective white plate with border line; red American lobster screened behind serial, offset to right; "MAINE" screened in red centered at top"Vacationland" screened in red centered at bottom1234 AB1 AZ to 2999 ESNarrower serial dies introduced.
July 1, 1999 – presentEmbossed black serial on reflective white plate with border line; black-capped chickadee on pine cone and tassel screened at left and green pine forest silhouette screened at bottom; "MAINE" screened in black centered at top"Vacationland" screened in black in center of pine forest silhouette1234 AB1 GA to 4685 YB Letter O not used in serials.

Optional plates

All optional plates introduced from 2003 onwards use a 123-ABC serial format, with blocks of three-letter series assigned for each plate as required.
ImageTypeDates issuedDesignSloganSerial blocks assignedNotes
LobsterMay 1, 2003 – presentEmbossed navy blue serial on graphic plate featuring a coast scene with green cliffs, a grey boathouse and a red American lobster at left; navy blue border line around plate; "MAINE" screened in black centered at top"Lobster" screened in black centered at bottomAAA–ABZ, AEA–AEZ, AXA–AXZ, BEA–BEZProceeds go towards the Maine Lobster Research, Education and Development Fund.
Black BearNovember 3, 2003 – presentEmbossed black serial on white and pale blue gradient plate with border line; logo of the Maine Black Bears screened at left; "MAINE" screened in light blue centered at topLight blue band screened at bottom with "The University of Maine" in black in the centerACA–ADZProceeds go towards the Maine Black Bears Scholarship Fund.
WabanakiAugust 12, 2005 – presentEmbossed black serial on graphic plate featuring Mount Katahdin; black border line around plate; "MAINE" screened in dark red centered at top"WABANAKI" screened in dark red centered at bottomAFA–AFZIssued to members of the nations of the Wabanaki Confederacy.
AgricultureOctober 1, 2007 – presentEmbossed black serial on graphic plate featuring an orange and yellow gradient sky, green hills, a farmhouse, a forest, and black silhouettes of an old man and a young girl at left; black border line around plate; "MAINE" screened in black centered at top"Support Local Agriculture" screened in white centered at bottomAGA–AGZ, ANA–ANZ, BCA–BCZProceeds go towards the Maine Agriculture Education Fund.
Support Our TroopsNovember 1, 2007 – presentEmbossed black serial on white plate with border line; dark green forest screened at bottom and yellow ribbon on dark green three-dimensional state icon screened at left; "MAINE" screened in black centered at top"We Support Our Troops" screened in yellow centered at bottomAJA–AJZProceeds go towards members of the Maine National Guard and their families.
SportsmanApril 7, 2008 – presentEmbossed black serial on white plate with border line; Mount Katahdin screened at top and moose and brook trout screened at left; "MAINE" screened in black centered at top"SUPPORT WILDLIFE" screened in black centered at bottomAKA–AKZ, ASA–ASZ, AVA–AVZ, BDA–BDZProceeds go towards funds including the Fish Hatchery Maintenance Fund and the Maine Endangered and Nongame Wildlife Fund.
Breast CancerOctober 1, 2008 – presentEmbossed pink serial on white plate with border line; pink ribbon on magenta state icon screened at left; "MAINE" screened in purple centered at top"early detection saves lives" screened in purple centered at bottomALA–ALZ, ATA–ATZ, AYA–AYZProceeds go towards the Breast Cancer Services Special Program Fund of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Animal WelfareOctober 1, 2009 – presentEmbossed black serial on white plate with border line; silhouettes of cat, dog, bird, rabbit and horse screened at right; "MAINE" screened in red centered at topYellow band screened at bottom with "respect. love. adopt." in black offset to left, AWA–AWZ

Non-passenger plates