Cars, motorcycles, vans, and trucks in Maine must be registered with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Upon registration, license plates and titles are issued for a vehicle.

Some custom plates require a special application for eligibility. Personalized plates require time to review and approve.

Sample Maine License Plate

Some custom plates require a special application for eligibility. Personalized plates require time to review and approve.

Types of License Plates in Maine

When you register your vehicle with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), there are assorted license plates to choose from.

The standard license plate issued by the state of Maine has a scenic background with black lettering. If you have no preference for license plates, these are the plates you’ll receive when you register your vehicle at the BMV.

Otherwise, you can personalize your plate or choose from a list of custom plate designs.

If you have a disability, you may also be eligible for disability plates and placards. This enables you to park in designated handicapped zones throughout the state. You need a physician’s signature on the application form.

Regardless of the type of license plate you obtain, you are required to place the registration stickers in the designated corners. Ensure that your stickers remain visible at all times. If they fall off, you must get them replaced.

Custom License Plates in Maine

Are you a member of a charity, local collegiate, or organization and want to express your support on the back of your car?

You can choose from the following list of custom license plates available in Maine:

Lobster Specialized License Plate
Maine Agriculturalist License Plate
Support Animal Welfare License Plate
Breast Cancer Awareness License Plate
Support Your Troops License Plate
Wabanaki License Plate (Note: These plates are only available for Passamaquoddy, Maliseet, Micmac, and Penobscot aboriginal people)
Maine Black Bear License Plate
University of Maine License Plate
Medal of Honor License Plate
Purple Heart License Plate
Ex-Prisoner of War License Plate
War Veterans License Plate
Classic Car License Plate
Antique License Plate

Most of these specialty license plates cost $20 to order and $15 to renew. This fee is in addition to the standard registration fees. Check with your BMV office for more custom plates and pricing.

Personalizing License Plates in Maine

You are permitted to personalize standard, custom, and disability license plates. However, you must follow these guidelines from the BMV:

No vulgar or profane language
No suggestion of association with public groups (e.g., police)
No duplicates of already registered license plates
Can use letters, numbers, and spaces
Requires up to 7 characters (minimum 1 letter)

Note also that:

Vanity plates with a total of 7 characters may mix numbers and letters in any order but there should be at least one letter in the sequence, i.e. A123456, 1234A56, 123456A, or AGR8PL8
Vanity plates having fewer than 7 characters may mix numbers and letters but the first character should be a letter, i.e. A1, A2B, A3C5, A4D4U, F2G3H4
Vanity plates should not begin with a 0 (zero) or with the letter “O” followed by only numbers (for example, 01234 and O1234 are not allowed)
Vanity plates with 2 to 6 characters can include an ampersand (&). The sequence must begin with a letter, i.e. A&71C or AB&C2

Please note: Vanity plates with seven characters plus one space or dash cover the chickadee design.

You can check the availability of personalized ME license plates online. If your application is approved, you will need to pay $25 to order.

Applying for License Plates in Maine

If you have recently purchased a new vehicle, or if you have become a new resident with an out-of-state car, you must apply for license plates at your county’s BMV.

Even if you purchased a vehicle at a dealership, you are required to process your registration in person at the BMV.

You’ll need temporary plates to drive your vehicle legally. These can be obtained from the BMV or a local dealership and are valid for 14 days only.

You have 30 days to register your vehicle if you recently moved to Maine.

Renewing License Plates in Maine

You should receive a reminder in the mail when your license plates are about to expire. Renew your vehicle's registration in advance, because failure to do so can invite additional fees.

You can renew your vehicle’s license plates online, in person, or by mail. When you receive your new decal stickers, you can place them on top of the old ones.

Transfer & Surrender License Plates in Maine

If you no longer need your license plates, such as when you move out of state or sell your car, you can surrender them to the BMV. To do this, you can send your old license plates by mail or drop them off in person.

If you purchase a new vehicle, you are permitted to transfer your license plates. You’ll require the following:

Application forms
Registration documents for new vehicle
Proof of ID
Valid Insurance
Payment for transfer fee: $8

For more details about transferring your plates, contact the BMV in Maine.

Lost, Damaged, or Stolen License Plates in Maine

If your Maine license plates have been lost, damaged, or stolen, you should have them replaced right away.

When you go to the BMV, you’ll require the following:

Form MV-9: Notice of Loss of Plates and Request for New Plates
Surrendering any plates remaining on your vehicle
Additional documents (vehicle’s registration, proof of insurance, etc.)
Payment for replacement fees:
- Replacement License Plate: $5
- Replacement License Plate + Sticker: $5.50

You should contact the police to prevent abuse of your old plates.

Summary of Fees for License Plates in Maine

Here you’ll find a summary of some of the fees required for registering your vehicle in Maine. Please contact your local BMV office for updated pricing and fees for the vehicle that you intend to register:

Standard License Plate Fee (same as renewal fee):
- Passenger Car: $35
- Motorcycle: $21
Personalized License Plate: $25
Specialty License Plate: $20 (or more)
- Renewal: $15 (or more)
Replacement License Plate: $5
Replacement License Plate + Sticker: $5.50
License Plate Transfer Fee: $8

How to look up Maine license plates

Remember, you can search for available license plate numbers using this free license plate search tool. Not only can you find available plates in Maine, but also in any state throughout the USA.

You can also use this tool to obtain additional information about a vehicle. If you’re purchasing a used car, you can discover if the vehicle you are about to buy was stolen or is from the original owner.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to look up Maine License Plates and report bad drivers:

Open a web browser
Go to FindByPlate.com
Enter the plate number, and select state
View the report
View images submitted by the community
View videos submitted by the community
Add comments
Add pictures of the vehicle
Add videos related to the vehicle

Car Ownership in Maine

Maine had the second largest increase in motor vehicle registrations (28.09%) between 2017 and 2021, behind only Delaware (49.55%).
Maine ranks 31 in the list of states with the highest rates of car ownership.
93.20% of households in Maine have at least one vehicle. Idaho and Wyoming are tied for first place with 96.20% of households having at least one vehicle. The national average is 91.70%.
Maine ranks 27 in the US for electric vehicle ownership. Approximately 0.24% of all registered vehicles in Maine are electric vehicles. California has the most electric vehicles (1.61%). Hawaii the second highest (1.32%).
Maine is the 4th least expensive state to own a car in the US, after Ohio, Iowa, and Wisconsin.
The average cost of annual full coverage car insurance in Maine is $1,216.
The average cost of a check engine light-related car repair in Maine is $349.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Maine require 2 license plates?

Yes, Maine requires license plates to be displayed both on the front and rear of a vehicle. The only exceptions are trailers, semi-trailers, motorcycles, and manufacturer, dealer, or transporter registration plates (rear plates only) and truck tractors (front plates only).

How many numbers can a vanity license plate in Maine have?

The number of characters allowed on vanity plates in Maine are as follows:

Antique Auto, Combination, Commercial, Custom Vehicle, Hire, Motor Home, Passenger, Street Rod, Trailer, Wabanaki: Up to 7 characters – plus one dash or space
Autocycle, Motorcycle, Moped, Antique Motorcycle, Special Veterans Motorcycle: Up to 7 characters – includes space or dash
Agriculture, Agriculture Commercial, Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, Black Bear, Breast Cancer, Emergency Medical Services, Farm, Lobster, Maine Lighthouse Trust, Sportsman, Support Animal Welfare, We Support Our Troops: Up to 6 characters – plus one dash or space
Special Veterans: Up to 6 characters – includes space or dash
Firefighter: Up to 5 characters – plus one dash or space
Conservation, Conservation Commercial, Disability, Disability Motorcycle, Disabled Veterans, Disabled Veterans Motorcycle, Purple Heart, Purple Heart Motorcycle, University of Maine: Up to 5 characters – includes space or dash
Special Veterans Disability: Up to 4 characters – includes space or dash

How much are license plates in Maine?

License plates in Maine are $35. This is the standard license plate registration fee. Specialty and vanity plates require an additional fee on top of this.

Are plate covers illegal in Maine?

Plate covers are not illegal in Maine. You can use covers and frames on your Maine license plates as long as they do not obscure the characters (numbers, letters, and words) and the plate is clearly visible and legible at all times. This means, if you choose tinted frames or covers, you have to make sure they do not block visibility even with a glare.

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