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.

Passenger plates 1905 to present

In 1956, the U.S. states and Canadian provinces came to an agreement with the Automobile Manufacturers Association that fixed the size for license plates for vehicles, except those for motorcycles, at six inches in height by twelve inches in width, with standardized mounting holes. The 1955 (dated 1956) issue was the first Maine license plate that complied with these standards.

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes

 1905-11 White on red none 123; 1234; 12345
1928 Embossed navy lettering and border on white base; MAINE 1928 in wide blue letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1956 Embossed black on golden yellow plate with border line; MAINE in wide block letters above numbers and offset to left; registration year number tab placed between state name and right screw hole VACATIONLAND in thin block letters centered below numbers 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)		 Registration tabs fit in slots and were color-coded
1962 Embossed black on white plate with border line; MAINE in wide block letters above numbers and offset to left; registration year number tab placed between state name and right screw hole VACATIONLAND in thin block letters centered below numbers 123-456 (square dash) Same tab system as 1956 plates
1968 Embossed black numbers on yellow plate with border line; "MAINE 68" embossed in wide black block letters offset to left above numbers, with metal tab slots either side of year "VACATIONLAND" embossed in narrow black block letters centered below numbers 123-456 (variable number of digits) 1 to 395-000 More yellow than 1956 plates.
1969–73 As above, but with simply "MAINE" offset to left above numbers, and metal tab slots removed 123-456 395-001 to 793-000 Embossed year replaced by stickers.
1974–5 Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; "MAINE 74" embossed in wide black block letters offset to left above numbers "VACATIONLAND" embossed in narrow black block letters centered below numbers 123-456 (variable number of digits) 1 to 488-000, 502-001 to 510-000
1975–8 As above, but with simply "MAINE" offset to left above numbers 123-456 488-001 to 502-000, 510-001 to 875-000 Embossed year replaced by stickers.
1978–9 As above, but with "MAINE" centered above numbers 875-001 to 999-999
1979 – June 30, 1987 12345 A 1 A to 52000 N
July 1, 1987 –
May 1990		 Embossed navy blue numbers on white plate with border line; red American lobster screened behind numbers offset to right; "MAINE" screened in wide red block letters centered at top "Vacationland" (with enlarged 'V') screened in same letters as state name, centered at bottom 12345 A 1 P to 99999 Z
May 1990 – September 1991 1234 AA (both letters same) 1 AA to 9999 ZZ
September 1991 – April 1993 1234 AB (both letters different) 1 AB to 9999 AY
April 1993 – June 30, 1999 1 AZ to 2999 ES Narrower dies.
July 1, 1999 – present Embossed black on reflective white with black border; pine forest silhouette screen at bottom, with black-capped chickadee roosting on a pine branch with cone to far left; MAINE in wide serifed block letters screened above numbers Vacationland in black plain serifed italicized text screened below numbers over trees 1234 AB (variable number of digits preceding space) (offset to right, not covering chickadee logo) 1 GA to 9999 UT (as of April 24, 2015)

Optional types

Image Type Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
Lobster May 1, 2003 – present Embossed navy blue numbers on graphic plate featuring a coast scene with green cliffs, a grey boathouse and a red American lobster at the far left; navy blue border line around plate; "MAINE" screened in black serifed letters centered at top "Lobster" screened in same letters as state name, centered at bottom 123-ABC 101-AAA to 999-ABZ, 101-AEA to present Proceeds go towards the Maine Lobster Research, Education and Development Fund.
Black Bear November 3, 2003 – present Embossed black numbers on white and pale blue gradient plate with border line; logo of the Maine Black Bears screened at far left; "MAINE" screened in light blue serifed letters centered at top Light blue band screened at bottom with "The University of Maine" in black serifed letters in the center 123-ABC 101-ACA to present Proceeds go towards the Maine Black Bears Scholarship Fund.
Agriculture October 1, 2007 – present Embossed black numbers 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 the far left; black border line around plate; "MAINE" screened in wide black serifed letters centered at top "Support Local Agriculture" screened in white italic cursive letters centered at bottom 123-ABC 101-AGA to 999-AGZ, 101-ANA to present Proceeds go towards the Maine Agriculture Education Fund.
Support Our Troops November 1, 2007 – present Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; dark green forest screened at bottom and yellow ribbon on dark green three-dimensional state icon screened at far left; "MAINE" screened in wide black serifed letters centered at top "We Support Our Troops" screened in yellow italic block letters centered at bottom 123-ABC 101-AJA to present Proceeds go towards members of the Maine National Guard and their families.

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