Maine License Plates

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.)

It appears that the letters do not ascend in the usual way. The first to change seems to be the center letter, then the third letter, then the first letter. For example, after KEP comes KFP and KGP, up to KZP, and then continuing with KAQ, KBQ, KCQ, and so on.

Motorists wishing to retain their numbers from the old base may have them remade on this base; Chris Martin reports seeing 2277 ZH on this base (August 2025).

Started with FAA series. Motorists wishing to retain their numbers from the old base may have them remade on this base, as observed by Chris Martin.

Started with CAA series.

Started with CBA series.

Started with CCA series.

Started with CDA series.

Started with CEA series.

Started with CFA series.

Started with CPA series.

Started with CGA series.

Started with CHA series.

Started with CJA series.

Started with CKA series.

Started with BSA series.

Started with CMA series.

Started with CNA series.

This Maine passenger base was issued between 1999 and 2025 beginning at 1 GA,

The NG, PI, PU, SI, TI and UI suffixes believed omitted along with the entire Ox and QE-QZ ranges.

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.

This blue on white Maine Apportioned license plate series debuted in January 2011 using these initial numbering ranges:

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

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

A new dedicated series of Apportioned Bus plates was introduced January 2016 after the Charter Bus exemption under IRP was repealed. These reflectorized fully-embossed steel plates feature a stacked "BUS" prefix and were issued in pairs with month and year expiry date stickers. Reserved numbering range 980001 - 999999 with no confirmed examples higher than 980201.

Bus high: 980216 (2025-11-15)

Tractor high: 934127 (2026-07-16)

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.

Maine "Low Speed Vehicle" plates are only confirmed in the AEA series and typically assigned to golf carts.

Stacked M/C prefix dropped in 2012 to allow room for inspection sticker in top left corner; change appears to have been in the HV series. Observations 186 HT and 345 HV had M/C stacked prefix while some higher HV and all HW had no M/C stacked prefix. Existing plates with M/C stacked prefix remain valid. Suffix FU omitted in 2008.

The 400-000 series is used for most vehicles with 300-000 to 300-999 reserved for vehicles owned by the University of Maine System.

Municipal trailers, tractors (not truck tractors) and mobile equipment are assigned plates starting at 301-000; Daniel Savage observed 306-157 in 2012.

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.

This Agriculture plate was introduced 10/1/07 with number range 101-AGA to 999-AGZ initially reserved. Numbering continued with ANA-ANZ-onwards. ANL omitted.

Passenger: AGA, AGB, AGD, AGE, AGG and up.

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

Farm: AGF

This plate was introduced 10/1/09, design features images of a cat, dog, horse and rabbit with "Adopt" slogan. Numbered in AMx series until 2015 when suffix moved to AWA-onwards.

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.

Per Daniel Savage, non-passenger Conservation plates don’t use the C/R prefix.

Per Phil Blanchard, U suffix plates are for trailers and Y suffix plates are for motor homes.

Motor Home high: 2829Y (Quinn Iuliano, 2026-08-28)

Trailer high:

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

This plate was introduced in Aug 2011. Design features the image of a US flag and "Land of the Free Because of the Brave" slogan. Stacked G/S 0000 format with numbers 1000-9999.

From Daniel Savage: The first 53 registrants had their numbers drawn by lottery on 8/17/11. Available numbers ranged from 1001-1999 so the sequential high is not necessarily the highest number on the road. Low 1036 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.

Numbering was expected to move to AEB after ABZ in 2010 but a batch of ACA lobster plates was mistakenly produced. Suffix ACA was already used on the Black Bear Plates so all of the issued ACA lobster plates were to be recalled. Jeff Fortier observed lobster 326-ACA on 5/10/10.

There was also a Lobster Commercial plate in the ARA suffix, 380-ARA observed.

This plate was introduced 4/7/08 starting 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.

This plate was introduced 11/1/07. Range 101-AJA to 999-AJZ initially reserved for this series finally exhausted in 2023.

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. Numbering reserved from

101-AFA to 999-AFZ.

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.

Prefix letter V was once red, numbers remain 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.