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.
When you register your vehicle with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), there are assorrted 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.
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.
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:
Most of these specialty license plates cost $20 to order and $15 to renew. This fee is in addition to any required registration fees. Check with your BMV office for more custom plates and pricing.
You are permitted to personalize standard, custom, and disability license plates. However, you must follow these guidelines from the BMV:
You can check the availability of license plates online. You will also be required to pay $25 to order.
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.
You should receive a reminder in the mail which notifies you that your license plates are about to expire. You should renew your vehicle's registration in advance, because failure to do so leads to 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.
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:
For more details about transferring your plates, contact the BMV 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:
You should contact the police to prevent abuse of your old plates.
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:
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:
