MAINE PLATE TYPES - SUMMARY CHRONOLOGICALLY BY INTRODUCTION DATE
(Types researched through 2023)
PLATE TYPE EARLIEST SEEN BEGAN NOTES
Passenger 1905 6/1/05 Ch. 147 P 3/24/1905
Dealer 1905 6/1/05 Ch. 147 P 3/24/1905
Motorcycle 1905 6/1/05 Ch. 147 P 3/24/1905
Commercial 1913 1913 Ch. 162 P 3/30/1911
Log Hauler/Tract. Engine 1913 1913 Ch. 162 P 3/30/1911
Motorcycle Dealer 1917 1913? Ch. 162 P 3/30/1911
Special (Transfer) 1913 1913? Ch. 162 P 3/30/1911
Temporary 7-Day 7/1/15 Ch. 349 P 4/2/1915
State Highway Commission 1916 1916 Announced 10/23/1916
Official 1925 1920 Announced 12/2/1919
Service Station 1922 1922 Ch. 211 P 4/9/1921
Side Car 1922 1922 Ch. 211 P 4/9/1921
Tractor 1922 1922 Ch. 211 P 4/9/1921
Trailer 1922 1922 Ch. 211 P 4/9/1921
Hire 1923 1923 Announced 11/29/1922
Municipal Owned 1924 1924 Announced 2/2/1924
State Police M/C 1925 1924 Announced 1/12/1924
Sample 1925 1923 reported
Convertible 1926 1926 Announced 11/13/1925
Bus 1935 1927?
Temporary (Cardboard) 5/17/32 7/3/31 Ch. 130 P 3/31/1931
Executive Council 1932 1932 Announced 1/7/1932
Fish and Game Department 1935 Announced 8/2/1934
Legion Train 1935 Announced 8/16/1934
Coach 1936 1936 Announced 12/27/1935
State Owned 1936 1936
State Police 1936 1936
State Police Side Car Reported in 1936
Dealer "RP" 1946 Listed 1945 order
Governor "1EX" 1956 1949 Announced 8/20/1949
House/Senate 1951 1951 Ch. 248 E 8/20/1951
U.S. Repr./Senate 1955 1955 Ch. 60 E 8/20/1955
Farm Truck 1956 1956 Ch. 383 P 8/20/1955
Transit/Transporter 1956 1956 Ch. 200 P 8/20/1955
Boat Trailer Dealer 1962 Ch. 337 E 8/28/1957
Prorate Bus 1959 Ch. 285 E 8/28/1957
Indian Representative 1961 1961 Ch. 235 E 9/16/1961
Amateur Radio 1962 1962 Ch. 261 E 9/16/1961
Antique Auto 1962 1962 Ch. 261 E 9/16/1961
Personalized 1962 1962 Ch. 261 E 9/16/1961
Temporary M/C (Cardboard) UND. Ch. 184 E 9/3/1965
Forestry Dept. UND. 1966 Law P 1965 or 1966
Long Term Trailer "2-28-74" 1968 Ch. 448 E 12/25/1967
Snowmobile Dealer "6-30-70" 1969 Ch. 479 E 7/1/1968
Equipment Dealer 1970 1970 Ch. 400 E 10/1/1969
Loaner 1970 1970 Ch. 400 E 10/1/1969
State Owned Trailer "2-28-74" 7/1/70
Dept. of Transportation UND. 1972 Announced 8/29/1972
Temporary Boat (Card.) 5/26/73
Temporary M/C (Cardboard) UND. Pe-1974 size
County Owned "2-29-80" 1974 Ch. 469 E 10/3/1973
County Owned Trailer "2-29-80" 1974 Ch. 469 E 10/3/1973
Municipal Owned Trailer "2-29-80" 1974 Ch. 469 E 10/3/1973
Personalized M/C 1974 1974 Ch. 469 E 10/3/1973
Police 1974 1974 Announced 1/18/1974
Sheriff 1974
Trailer Dealer 1974
Dept. of Conservation UND. 1975 Announced 12/24/1974
Personalized Commercial "AUG 87" Ch. 109 E 3/27/1975
Handicapped "NOV 77" Ch. 16 E 10/1/1975
Turnpike "2-29-80" Reported 1977
University UND. Ch. 142 E 10/24/1977
Temp. Personalized(Card)"4-22-78"
Equipment "FEB 79" 3/1/78 Law E 3/1/1978
Temp. Transit(Cardboard)"5-18-79"
Disabled Veteran "JUN 81" 9/?/79 Ch. 371 E 9/14/1979
Horseless Carriage "AUG 81" Ch. 364 E 9/14/1979
Street Rod "JUN 83" Ch. 607 E 7/3/1980
Wrecker "DEC 81" 1981 Ch. 437 E 9/18/1981
Congr. Medal of Honor "DEC 83" 2/17/82 Ch. 89 P 9/18/1981
National Guard "OCT 83" No law
Commercial Tractor "JUN 85" Ch. 265 E 9/23/1983
All Terrain Vehicle "6-30-86" 7/1/84 Ch. 297 E 7/1/1984
All Terrain Veh. Dealer 1987 7/1/84 Ch. 297 E 7/1/1984
Temporary ATV (Card) "8-3-87" 7/1/84 Ch. 297 E 7/1/1984
Handicapped Motor Home "NOV 84" 1984
Motor Home "JUN 84" 1984 Ch. 94 E 1/1/1984
Firefighter "SEP 86" Ch. 360 E 9/19/1985
Former Prisoner of War "FEB 88" 1986 Ch. 404 E 9/19/1985
Personalized Trailer "FEB 88" Ch. 559 E 7/16/1986
Handicapped M/C "FEB 88" Ch. 298 E 9/29/1987
Personalized Motor Home "JAN 87"
Personalized Antique "JUN 88"
(County Owned M/C?)
Municipal Owned M/C UND. Reported 1980s
State Owned M/C UND. Reported 1980s
Combination "JUN 89" Ch. 549 E 1/1/1988
Pearl Harbor Survivor "AUG 88" 7/1/88 Ch. 789 E 4/27/1988
Antique M/C "FEB 90" 1989? Ch. 481 E 6/27/1989
Personalized Handicapped"FEB 90"
Altered Vehicle UND. 3/?/90? Never issued
Light Trailer Dealer "DEC 93" 1990? Ch. 866 E 4/19/1990
Veteran "JUN 93" 9/1/92 Ch. 600 E 9/1/1992
Apportioned Tractor "JUL 93" 1993?
Personalized Combination"OCT 93"
Heavy Wrecker UND. 1993? Ch. 597 E 10/17/1991
Personalized Hire "APR 02" Ch. 597 E 10/17/1991
Personalized New Car Dlr"DEC 93" 1993? Ch. 383 E 1/1/1992
Trailer Transit "DEC 96" 1993? Ch. 423 E 7/1/1991
Personalized Street Rod "AUG 93"
Temp. Personalized M/C "5-4-94"
Personalized U. of Maine"JUN 08" 2/1/95 Ch. 465 E 10/13/1993
University of Maine "FEB 96" 2/1/95 Ch. 465 E 10/13/1993
Personalized Purp. Heart"AUG 16" 9/1/95 Ch. 190 E 6/1/1995
Purple Heart "MAY 96" 9/1/95 Ch. 190 E 6/1/1995
Apportioned Truck "APR 97"
Personalized Veteran "APR 06" Ch. 69 E 6/26/1997
Purple Heart M/C UND. 9/?/00 Ch. 734 E 8/11/2000
Veteran M/C "MAR 16" Ch. 734 E 8/11/2000
Apportioned Trailer "2-28-04"
Experiment "AUG 13" Ch. 125 E 9/13/2003
Handicapped Veteran "MAY 07" 7/20/04 Ch. 652 E 4/22/2004
Personalized Firefighter"AUG 07" Ch. 80 E 9/17/2005
House M/C 2018/20 Ch. 664 E 5/30/2006
Personalized Vet. M/C "MAR 16" Ch. 376 E 9/20/2007
Personalized Dis. Vet. "OCT 09"
Temporary Snowmobile "12-30-09"
Autocycle UND. 9/12/09 Ch. 55 E 9/12/2009
Hand. Disabled Veteran "JAN 17" 7/12/10 Ch. 598 E 7/12/2010
Personalized Farm "MAY 12"
Pers. Antique M/C "MAY 13"
Gold Star Family "MAR 14" 8/17/11 Ch. 246 E 6/7/2011
Honorary Consul (Apr.2016) Ch. 356 E 6/15/2011
Apportioned Bus "JAN 16"
Pers. Gold Star Family Ch. 17 E 10/15/2015
Pers. Hand. Veteran "APR 19"
PERMITS:
Zone 1918 1913? Ch. 205 P 4/9/1913
Commercial 5 Days/10 Days 1923 1922 Ch. 211 P 4/9/1921
Milk License 1923 1923
MPUC 1933 6/30/33 Ch. 259 P 3/31/1933
Poultry License 1933/34 1933/34 Ch. 159 P 3/24/1933
American Legion UND. 1936
MPUC Interstate 1936
MPUC Common Carrier 1937 Reported 1936
MPUC Limited Contract 1937 Reported 1936
Outdoor Advertising 1936 Ch. 163 P 4/6/1935
Bus Permit Listed 1939 and 1940
Trailer Title 1940 1939? Ch. 239 P 4/19/1939
Motor Boat Listed 1941
Livestock Dealer 1949/50 1949/50 Ch. 417 P 8/6/1949
MPUC Trailer Floater 1957 Reported in 1955
Septage Conveyor 1975 Ch. 601 E 10/3/1973
LETTER PREFIX KEY: (1934-35 A-W, Z, AA-GZ are passenger)
A Motorcycle 1905-12, S Special 1913-15,
Passenger 1946 State Owned 1936-41
A-Z (Suffix) Dealer 1918-21 SHC State Highway Comm. 1918-26
B Dealer 1905-13 T Truck 1913
CX Municipal Owned 1924-33 V Truck 1936-41
D Dealer 1956-63 W Truck 1936-41
F Farm Truck 1956-2000 X Truck 1914-41, 1946
H Hire 1924-2000 XA-XZ Truck 1934-35
HA-HC Hire 1934-35 Y Truck 1936-41
L Log Hauler 1913 YA-YZ Truck 1934-35
M Municipal Owned 1936-41 Z Log Hauler 1914-15,
O Convertible 1926-61 Truck 1936-41
OA-OD Convertible 1934-35 ZA Truck 1935
DETAILED NOTES ALPHABETICALLY BY TYPE:
All types begin at #1, passenger colors, unless noted.
Lowest and highest numbers ordered in bold.
(Need 1913, 1916, 1923, 1925-26, 1929, 1931-35.)
Plates made and delivered in 1943:
Passenger 167-001 - 177-000, Commercial 50-001 - 60-000, Motorcycle M 1201 - M 1300,
Bus 501 - 600, Sidecar 101 - 150, Trailer 13-001 - 15-000, MPUC INT 1401 - 1450.
1943: Windshield sticker issued for all types except MPUC (tab).
Passenger Black/Cream & White
Commercial Black/Red & White
No Type Black/Green & White (Coach, Convertible and Hire)
No Type Black/Blue & White (Motorcycle, Side Car, Tractor and Trailer)
(Instructions to mount on wood or metal)
(According to AutoNews, 11/25/1942)
1947: Windshield sticker issued for all types except Executive Council (?),
M/C Dealer and MPUC (new plate).
Passenger Black/Tan "P" Council? Black/Orange? "CL"
Commercial Black/Pink "C" Hire Black/Pink "H"
Motorcycle Black/Yellow "MC" State Police Black/Light Blue "SP"
Bus Black/Gold "B" Tractor Black/Manila "TR"
Coach Black/Yellow "CH" Trailer Black/Light Green "TL"
Convertible? Black/Yellow "O"
1949-67: Tabs issued for all types except new plates for
Dealer (1964), Executive Council, House/Senate, M/C (1949-50),
M/C Dealer (1949), Side Car (1949-50), State Police types (1949),
Livestock, MPUC, Milk, Poultry.
1956: Initial stock of all dated embossed full-size types are Type 2,
except #1 - 1000 of each appear to be Type 1.
1962: Initial stock of all dated embossed types except Passenger and
Personalized are galvanized steel.
1987-on: Any older number of any type can be reserved on new base.
1999: Only Lobster-graphic types replaced - Passenger, Amateur Radio,
Antique Auto, Bus, Combination, Commercial, Commercial Tractor,
Equipment, Farm Truck, Firefighter, Handicapped, Handicapped
Motor Home, Hire, Horseless Carriage, Motor Home, National Guard,
Street Rod, Tractor, and all Personalized versions of above.
Highest reservable numbers according to news announcements:
PLATE TYPE 1956 1962 1968 1974
Passenger 238-000 325-000 344-000 477-000
Bus 400 350 300
Coach 300 300 250
Commercial 63-000 70-000 75-000
Convertible o15-000 (none) (none) (none)
Farm (none) F 6000 F 6000
Hire H 1200 H 1000 H 800
Motorcycle 1900 1800 9999
Side Car 25 (none) (none)
Tractor 7000 8000 9500
Trailer 30-000 50-000 86-000
PASSENGER (See Passenger page)
ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE
Ch. 297 E 7/1/1984. Began 7/1/1984 with UND. base. Singles issued for rear.
Issued by Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. All expire June 30.
Ch. 762 E 7/1/1986. Pairs now issued. Pairs discontinued again 2001.
Last pair seen "JUN 02", D3-044.
Motorcycle-size, "MAINE" top center, vertical "ATV" left.
All letters used. Discontinued 2005; replaced by vehicle decals.
Baseplates without stickers issued for 1985 and 1987, although a White/Red 1987 sticker seen.
1984 law: "After the first year of registration of the vehicle, the commissioner
may issue a validation device which shall be placed on the number plate.
A registration shall be valid for one year commencing July 1st of each year."
1985-86 BASE Black/Light Green 219 - 28-438 (28,220 S)
1987-2005 BASE White/Red 474 - 99-999 (99,526 P)
"6-30-99" A0-001 - D3-044 (33,041 P)
(D3-045)- K4-646 (71,595 S) (TOTAL 336,729 S)
STICKER COLORS: (No serial 1986, colored serial 1988-90, black serial 1991-2005.)
(No serial 1987 White/Red mint sticker seen; for ATV Dealer only?)
1986 Black/Yellow 1994 Blue/White 2001 Orange/White
1988 Black/Green & White 1995 Green/White 2002 White/Green
1989 White/Blue 1996 Green/White 2003 White/Blue
1990 Red/White 1997 Red/White 2004 RES White/Green
1991 Blue/White 1998 Blue/White NR White/Red
1992 Green/White 1999 Black/Yellow 2005 RES White/Blue
1993 Orange/White 2000 Green/White NR White/Tan
ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE DEALER
Ch. 297 E 7/1/1984. Earliest seen 1987.
Small size, "MAINE" top center, "ATV [ ] DLR" bottom.
Same stickers as All Terrain Vehicle. (Still issued?)
1987-ON BASE Black/Tan 326 - 1526 (1,201)
ALTERED VEHICLE
Never issued c.3/?/1990.
Lobster base(s) produced with "ALTERED VEHICLE" bottom, wide dies, #101-907.
AMATEUR RADIO
Ch. 261 P 4/28/1961, E 9/16/1961. Began 1962.
No legend all years. 1962-67 non-serif "1"; 1968-on serif "1".
1962 W1AA - W1ZZZ, K1AAA - K1ZZZ
1969 WA1AAA - WA1ZZZ (Verify 1966-68)
1977 WB1AAA - WB1ZZZ
ANTIQUE AUTO (1962-on: See Table 3)
Ch. 351 P and E 8/20/1955 provided for undated Black/Gold
non-numbered strip with "ANTIQUE AUTO" to attach over the
slogan on regular plates, issued for $5 fee to vehicles over
25 years old. Issued 1956-61. No holes.
Ch. 261 P 4/28/1961, E 9/16/1961, provided for full-size numbered plates.
Began 1962. "ANTIQUE AUTO" bottom all years.
Ch. 364 E 9/14/1979 revised requirements to no longer include
vehicles made before 1916; now issued Horseless Carriage series.
Ch. 149 E 9/29/1987 began Year of Manufacture (YOM) program. Pairs required,
plates must be dated and be from 1942 or older, so 1914 oldest eligible.
Ch. 100 E 9/30/1989 expanded years to "over 25 years old" but dated plate
requirement still in effect.
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies (3,909 P), Thin dies (4,869 P), (TOTAL 8,883 P)
CHICKADEE BASE (TOTAL 88,487 P)
36-268 Undefined "Q" of "ANTIQUE".
"SEP 08" 38-705 Defined "Q" of "ANTIQUE".
#100-000 reached Jan. 2023.
ANTIQUE MOTORCYCLE
Ch. 481 E 6/27/1989. Earliest seen "FEB 90", although several Black/White
bases known which may have been made in anticipation of a previous law attempt.
"MAINE" top center, "ANTIQUE" bottom all years.
(BASE Black/White 1 - 90 (90)
1989-ON BASE Dark Blue/White 119 - 339 (221) Undefined "Q" of "ANTIQUE".
"APR 11" 1426 - 7465 (6,040) Defined "Q" of "ANTIQUE".
APPORTIONED BUS
Earliest seen "JAN 16".
LEGENDS: "APPORTIONED" bottom, vertical "BUS" left 2016-on.
COLORS: Dark Blue/White 2016-on.
2016-ON BASE Thin "APPORTIONED" 980004 - 980086 (83)
APPORTIONED TRACTOR
Reportedly began 1993. Earliest seen "JUL 93".
Issued singly for front of truck-tractors and power units.
LEGENDS: "APPORTIONED" bottom, wide vertical "COM" left 1993-2011,
"APPORTIONED" bottom 2012-on.
COLORS: Green/White 1993-2011, Dark Blue/White 2012-on.
1993-2011 BASE Wide or thin "MAINE" 900269 - 922400 (22,132 S)
(intermittent)
2012-ON BASE Thin "APPORTIONED" 902-676 - 919-238 (16,563 S)
Wide "APPORTIONED" 924-967 - 925-900 (934 S) (TOTAL 23,225 S)
APPORTIONED TRAILER
Only seen exp. "2-28-04". Uncertain when this plate was issued.
Green/White, "MAINE EXP-2-28-04" top, "APPORTIONED" bottom, vertical "TLR" left, #105884,
thin dies.
APPORTIONED TRUCK
Earliest seen "APR 97". Issued in pairs.
Legends and colors identical to Apportioned Tractor all years.
1997-2011 BASE Wide or thin "MAINE" 950088 - 956298 (6,211 P)
(intermittent)
2012-on BASE Thin "APPORTIONED" 950-061 - 958-537 (8,477 P)
Wide "APPORTIONED" 959-283 - 962-003 (2,721 P) (TOTAL 11,943 P)
AUTOCYCLE
Ch. 55 E 9/12/2009. Began 9/12/2009.
Issued to enclosed motorcycles having no more than 3 wheels.
Motorcycle-size, Green/White, "AUTOCYCLE" bottom, vertical "AU" prefix.
Numbers assigned: 11BCP - 99BCP.
BOAT TRAILER DEALER
Ch. 337 E 8/28/1957. Earliest seen 1962. Previously issued single Dealer plates.
Last seen 1989. Discontinued c.1990; replaced by Light Trailer Dealer.
LEGENDS: "BOAT TLR DEALER" bottom 1962-87, "BOAT TLR DLR" bottom 1988-89.
COLORS: Dealer colors 1962-63, 1974-89. (Verify 1964-67, 1968-73)
1962 1 B
1968
1974 DATED 52 C
1974 UND. "MAINE" left 206 B - 207 B
1980-87 73 A
1987 No border 95 D
1988-89 144 E
BUS
Ch. 167 P 4/7/1925, E 1/1/1926, required Jitney Busses to be issued a PUC
certificate upon procurement of an indemnity bond before being registered.
Unknown if this was what caused new type to be issued.
Bangor Daily News, 12/10/1925: "Starting this morning at 8:30,
automobile license plates will be issued at the local registration
office in City Hall. All names [types] of plates are on hand with
the exception of those for motor buses traveling on a regular route,
from point to point. These plates must be obtained from Augusta."
Not on 1924 order. Not listed in registration figures 1926, but listed 1927.
Earliest listed 3/9/1926 on 1927 order, termed "Jitney Bus" 1927-30.
Earliest seen 1935.
Municipal and State discontinued 1942, resulting in more Bus plates needed.
Kennebec Journal, 8/2/1934, about the 1935 plates:
"Bus plates, formerly denoted by J, now carry the word 'bus.'"
LEGENDS: Vertical "BUS" left, "MAINE '35" bottom, no slogan 1935, 1937, 1941, 1944,
vertical "BUS" left, "MAINE [ ]" top 1950-55,
vertical "BUS" left, slogan bottom 1956-on.
(Verify 1927-34, 1936, 1938-40, 1942, 1945-49)
(If the 1927-33-era plates had "JITNEY BUS", that might have necessitated
shorter vertical legends to avoid a longer plate. Why else would shorter
legend dies have been made, seen on some Dealer 1930 and Trailer 1928?)
(1934 possibly no legend, J/A prefix?)
Highest numbers ordered in bold.
Highest reservable number: 1956 #400, 1962 #350, 1968 #300.
Stickers: FEB 76 to FEB 80; staggered by MAY and JUN 85.
1927 600 1932 1937 86 1942 600
1928 500 1933 1938 1944 600
1929 1934 500 1939 300 1945 600
1930 500 1935 299 1940 300 1946
1931 1936 1941 300 1948 600
1950 34 1974 199
1956 UND., tab right 510 1974 UND., "MAINE" left 287 - 333
1962 148 1974 UND., "MAINE" center 555 - 1830
1968 461
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies 3086 - 5625 (2,540 P)
Thin dies 5776 - 6704 (929 P) (TOTAL 3,619 P)
CHICKADEE BASE "BUS" center 6801 - 8300 (1,500 P)
"MAY 03" "BUS" left 8301 - 9980 (1,680 P)
"JUN 04" "BUS" far left 10103 - 12648 (2,546 P) (TOTAL 5,848 P)
COACH
Began 1936. Issued to hearses, ambulances, etc.
Ch. 162 P 4/6/1935 doesn't mention Coaches but specifies that
"VACATIONLAND" slogan is only to be used on "private passenger
vehicles, hire vehicles and trucks." A Biddeford Daily Journal
7/30/1935 editorial questioned the appropriateness of using the
slogan on funeral coaches. Coach mentioned in Kennebec Journal
12/27/1935 article announcing the types of new 1936 plates.
LEGENDS: "COACH" top 1936-44, 1946, bottom 1948-on. (Verify 1945)
COLORS: Dark Blue/White 1988-on (no graphics or slogan).
Highest numbers ordered in bold.
1956: #2 - 287 are Type 1.
1962: #79 - 269 galvanized steel.
Highest reservable number: 1956 #300, 1962 #300, 1968 #250.
#13 never issued.
1936 302 1940 1000 1945 450 1956 287
1937 579 1941 1000 1946 166 1962 269
1938 491 1942 195 1948 400
1939 1200 1944 450 1950 253
1968 369 1974 887
1968 UND., bar 407, 514 1974 UND., "MAINE" center 913
1968 UND., no bar 427 - 509
1988-ON BASE Wide dies 1600 - 2392 (793 P)
COMBINATION
Ch. 549 E 1/1/1988. Earliest seen "JUN 89". Law: "Automobiles which
are used interchangeably for the conveyance of passengers or property."
Later changed to "An automobile or sport utility vehicle used for the
conveyance of passenger or property...", also "A passenger vehicle used
under contract with the state, municipality or a school district to
transport students must be designated as 'combination'."
"COMBINATION" bottom all years.
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies 100-422 - 102-463 (2,042 P)
Thin dies, widely spaced 102-561 - 103-856 (1,296 P)
"MAY 00" Thin dies, closely spaced 105-210 - 105-993 (784 P) (TOTAL 5,572 P)
CHICKADEE BASE Large legend 110-001 - 117-870 (7,870 P)
"OCT 06" Small legend 119-333 - 144-004 (24,672 P) (TOTAL 34,004 P)
COMMERCIAL (See Truck page)
Ch. 162 P 3/30/1911, E 12/31/1911. Began 1913.
Biddeford-Saco Journal, 6/14/1913: "...last year other than
regular pleasure automobiles - trucks and log haulers, etc.
were registered as automobiles..."
COMMERCIAL TRACTOR
Ch. 265 E 9/23/1983. Earliest seen "JUN 85".
Issued singly for the front of truck-tractors.
Thin hyphen 1985-2000. By 1990, newly-registered vehicles staggered, not FEB.
LEGENDS: "TRACTOR" bottom, vertical "COM" left 1985-2000,
"COM-TRACTOR" bottom 2001-on.
BLACK/WHITE BASE Border 800-001 - 807-440 (7,440 S)
No border 809-754 - 811-499 (1,746 S) (TOTAL 11,499 S)
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies, thin "COM" 826-267 - 844-401 (18,135 S)
Thin dies, wide "COM" 845-861 -
Tall "TRACTOR", no hyphen 846125 - 848417 (2,293 S) (TOTAL 22,151 S)
CHICKADEE BASE 850-001 - 862-482 (12,482 S)
CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
Ch. 89 P 9/18/1981. Began 2/17/1982. Earliest seen "DEC 83".
Black/White, "MAINE" embossed top, "CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL/OF HONOR"
screened bottom, #EPP, MH-2. Stickered through at least "DEC 90".
EPP was issued to Everett Pope of Brunswick, who later moved to Florida.
CONVERTIBLE (1926-61: See Tables 2-3)
Began 1926. Announced in Daily Kennebec Journal, 11/13/1925.
(Previously issued Commercial plates.) Issued to vehicles used
to carry passengers or freight, later primarily station wagons.
Discontinued 1962; replaced by Passenger plates.
LEGENDS: No legend, full-size letter "O" prefix 1926-33,
no legend, "O/A" to "O/D" prefix 1934-35,
no legend or slogan, smaller letter "O" prefix, "MAINE 1936" bottom 1936-44,
slogan bottom, smaller letter "O" prefix 1945-61.
1934-35: O/A 1 - O/D 999. (Capacity of 18,981 would have been reached by 1953.)
1956: O 10 - O 654, O17-641 - O29-931 are Type 1, O 1707 - O14-622 are Type 2.
Highest reservable number: 1956 #O15-000.
COUNTY OWNED
Ch. 469 E 10/3/1973. Began 1974, "EXP-2-29-80".
Issued to county-owned vehicles.
LEGENDS: Vertical "COUNTY" followed by "VEHICLE" left, slogan bottom 1974-80,
"MAINE" top, "COUNTY" bottom 1980-on.
COLORS: Green/White 1980-89, Dark Blue/White 1990-on.
2-29-80 4
UND. (1980-89) Border 200-152 - 200-279 (128)
No border 200-339 - (TOTAL 188)
UND. (1990-on) Wide dies 500-057 - 500-058 (2)
(COUNTY OWNED MOTORCYCLE
"Should" exist since Municipal Owned and State Owned Motorcycle exist.)
COUNTY OWNED TRAILER
Ch. 469 E 10/3/1973. Began 1974, "EXP-2-29-80".
Issued to county-owned trailers.
Probably replaced 1980 by County Owned in the 220-000 series.
LEGENDS: Same as County Owned, but "TRAILER" bottom instead of slogan 2-29-80.
2-29-80 40
DEALER (1922-45: See Table 1)
Ch. 147 P 3/24/1905. Began 6/1/1905. Single plates 1956-on.
Ch. 296 P 1963, E 1/1/1964, split into New Car Dealer and Used Car Dealer.
LEGENDS: No legend, "B" prefix 1905-13,
"DEALER" bottom right 1914-17,
no legend, letter suffix 1918-21,
"DEALER" bottom, vertical "MAINE" left, vertical "1922" right 1922-33,
"DEALER" top 1934-46, bottom 1948-55,
no legend or slogan, "D" prefix 1956-63,
"NEW CAR DEALER" or "USED CAR DEALER" bottom 1964-on, except 2015-17 Used
changed to "PREOWNED CAR DLR" bottom (began April 2011 only for new regs.)
COLORS: Red/Gold 1964-67, Black/White 1968-73, 1974-79, Black/Gold 1980-87,
Red/White 1988-2001, Purple/White 2002-17, Black/White and Yellow 2018-22.
(Same for Boat Trailer Dealer, Equipment Dealer, Light Trailer Dealer, Loaner,
Motorcycle Dealer, Personalized Dealer, Trailer Dealer, Trailer Transit, Transporter)
STICKERS: Passenger "DEC" 1975-87, "DEC" only 1988-99, "JUN" to "DEC" 2000,
all months 2001-on. Monthly staggered registration began June 1999 for
new registrations, and January 2000 for renewals.
1988-2001 RED/WHITE BASE 2002-17 PURPLE/WHITE BASE 2018-22 YELLOW STRIPE BASE
1988 Red/White 2002 White/Light Blue 2018 Black/Yellow
1989 White/Light Blue 2003 Black/Yellow 2019 Black/Light Green
1990 Green/White 2004 Black/Light Green 2020 Black/Light Blue
1991 Light Blue/White 2005 Black/Red 2021 ?
1992 White/Red 2006 ? 2022 Black/White
1993 White/Light Blue 2007 Black/Tan
1994 Green/White 2008 Black/Orange
1995 Black/White 2009 Black/Light Green
1996 Light Blue/White 2010 Black/Light Blue
1997 White/Light Blue 2011 Black/Orange
1998 Black/Orange-Red 2012 Black/Tan
1999 White/Light Green 2013 Black/Light Green
2000 Black/Tan 2014 Black/Orange
2001 White/Red 2015 Black/Light Blue
2016 Black/Orange
2017 Black/White
Ch. 776 E 7/9/1998 provided for a Dealer reissue by 12/31/1999.
Ch. 473 E 7/1/1999 extended the time for replate to 12/31/2000.
1905-11: B.3 - B.41 white back, "65" (B.1 - B.50 expected)
B.53 white back, "57"
B.93 - B.167 Balt. seal "ENAMELED IRON/SIGNS"
B.93 - B.118 6" x 7 1/2" (B.119 expected), B.126 on 6" x 9 1/2" (B.120 expected),
B.188 - B.196 white back, no mark (B.199 expected),
B217 black back, no mark (B200 - B222 expected).
1912: #B300 pictured in 1912 Motor Magazine. 300 sets (x 5 P) ordered.
#B251 appears to be Type 1.
1912-13: #B1 - B99 on 3-figure size.
1914-15, 1917: 350 sets of 5 pairs ordered.
1918-19: 500 sets of 5 pairs ordered.
1920: 600 sets of 5 pairs ordered.
1921: #775 highest allocated, except #800 issued ahead of sequence.
1924-26: #1000+ have non-serif first "1".
1930: A-C have small letter, #259D has full letter on long base,
#340D has full letter on short base, but shorter vertical legends.
1931: #1333A has white back.
1948: #8 - 635 are 10" long ("M" of "MAINE" even with UL slot, "DEALER" between slots),
#978 is 9" long ("M" of "MAINE" left of UL slot, "DEALER" above slots),
#975 C is 9" long, but aluminum, black/cream, unpainted back, in DMV envelope.
Initial order #1 - 900 ABCD. Mid-1948 order #901 - 1018 ABCD.
1950-55: #99 - 635 C are 10" long (types same as 1948),
#947 A is 9" long (types same as 1948),
Replacements and E+ plates seen in 9" size, some with 1956 dies.
1956: #D 59 A - D 505 A are Type 1.
1962: #D 467 C galvanized steel.
1974: All initial issues have non-serif first "D". #D 150 V has serif "D".
1975-87: Always expires "DEC".
1983: Used Car Dealer #U/C 825 B/1, for owner's private vehicles? (M/C 1980)
1986: New Car Dealer #D 57 S/2 no border, for service vehicles?
Ch. 297 E 6/9/1993 mentions 3 maximum service vehicle plates per dealer.
Extra plate sets: 1912-15 - 5 identical pairs
1916-23 - 5 pairs A - E
1924-40 - 3 pairs A - C
1941-49 - 4 pairs A - D
Ch. 222 P 4/17/1939 increased from 3 to 4 pairs, fee $30 to $60. As before, next
two pairs were $10 each, and each additional pair was $5. Trailer dealers were
issued single plates.
Additional plate sets issued upon request; suffixes seen:
1923 I,M
1926 K 1934 E 1950-55 E,F,G,K,V
1927 #23 AA 1936 D,R 1956-61 E,F,G,J,K,L,P,T
1928 L 1937 D 1962-63 E,L,O,AA
1929 D 1940 D 1964-67 E,F,K,N,O,Z
1930 D 1941 E 1968-73 E,F,G,K,R,S,T,U,AA,BB
1931 D,P 1974-79 E,F,J,K,M,R,S,U,V,W,Y,Z,AB,AF,AG,AV,DV
1932 G 1980-87 E,F,J,L,M,O,P,R,T,U,Y,AC,AN,AX,BO,CL,DJ,DK,DU
1905-11 B219 1917 381A 1946 786A
1912 B263 1918 374-A 1948 978A (Brass)
1913 B298* 1919 435A 1950 947A
1914 B346* 1920 411-A 1089E (Edge cut off)
1915 D321 1921 740-A 1956 D558A (D565A Dated?)
1916 295A 1962 D700A
NEW CAR DEALER USED CAR DEALER
1964 DATED Beaded D 385 A 573 A
UND. "67" Scotchlite 763 A
1968 DATED D 333 A 792 A
UND. "73" No slots, no bar 901 A - 960 A
1974 DATED D 389 A U/C 629 A
UND. "DEC 76" "MAINE" left D 400 A U/C 906 A - 1141 A
UND. "DEC 78" "MAINE" center U/C 1183 A - 1235 A
1980-87 Border D 290 A U/C 675 A, 1296 E
"DEC 86" No border D 383 A U/C 1120 A - 1425 A
1988-2001 Wide dies D 4 AV U/C 999 A
Thin dies D 126 BC U/C 1230 E
2002-17 D 143 AD U/C 711 C
2018-23 D 1 O U/C 999 C
DEALER "RP"
Prison records show 1945 "R.P. DEALER" plates #1 - 500 shipped
to Augusta 1/2/1945 (quantity same as Dealer plates #1 - 500).
Only seen 1946, "DEALER" top left, "MAINE '46" (not "1946")
bottom left, vertical "RP" right, same size as Dealer, #1219, 1664.
Prison records show 1948 "DEALER R.P." plates #1001 - 1500 shipped
to Augusta 9/19/1947, and #1501 - 2500 shipped to Augusta 10/8/1948.
Reported 1948. Unknown purpose - possibly Repair?
("RP" was Repair in New Hampshire and Vermont.)
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
Began 1975. Announced in Waterville Morning Sentinel 12/24/1974, with photo
of #1 being mounted. Discontinued 1980; replaced by State Owned. Many
employees had become attached to their old numbers, so trimmed their old
plates to mount alongside the new ones.
Undated, Dark Green/White, "MAINE" top left (although centered on #1),
"CONSERVATION" bottom, vertical "DEPT OF" left, #F2231.
Plain numbers = Admininstration, F = Forestry, G = Geology,
L = Land Use Regulation Commission, PL = Public Lands, PR = Parks
and Recreation.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Began 1972. Announced in Kennebec Journal, 8/29/1972.
Previously issued State Highway Commission plates.
Undated, White/Light Blue, "MAINE DEPARTMENT" top, "OF TRANSPORTATION" bottom,
#S02-658, with #658 stick-on numbers.
DISABLED VETERAN
(Undated Black/White beaded non-numbered strip with "DISABLED" over "VETERAN"
issued in the 1962-67 era, Black/Yellow 1968-73 era; Black/White 1974-79 era.)
Ch. 371 E 9/14/1979 for special full-size plates. Began 9/?/1979. Earliest seen "JUN 81".
LEGENDS: "SERVICE CONNECTED" bottom, smaller wheelchair prefix above "VET" 1981-88,
"DISABLED VETERAN" screened bottom, stars left, stripes right 1988-89,
"DISABLED VETERAN" screened bottom, full-color U.S. flag left 1989-on.
Black/White base "JUN 81" 1 - 444 (444 P)
Stars/Stripes base 7/1/1987 "SEP 88" 155 - 704 (550 P)
U.S. Flag base, wide dies "AUG 89" 38 - 1005 (968 P)
thin dies 1018 - 7429 (6,412 P) (TOTAL 7,392 P)
EQUIPMENT
Law E 3/1/1978. Began 3/1/1978, expire "FEB 79".
Issued to special mobile equipment. Issued singly with Trailer stickers.
LEGENDS: "EQUIPMENT" bottom all years.
BLACK/WHITE BASE "MAINE" under UL hole 698 - 1285 (588 S)
"MAINE" center, border 1618 - 9813, 11-168 (8,197 S)
No border 10-233 - (TOTAL 10,471 S)
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies 19-986 - 24-703 (4,718 S)
Thin dies 26-719 - 32-932 (6,214 S) (TOTAL 12,947 S)
CHICKADEE BASE 40-001 - 65-036 (25,036 S)
EQUIPMENT DEALER
Ch. 400 E 10/1/1969. Began 1970.
LEGENDS: "EQUIPMENT DEALER" bottom 1970-87, "EQUIPMENT DLR" bottom 1988-2022.
COLORS: Dealer colors all years.
1970-73 1 A
1974-79 40 C
1980-87
1988-2001 2 N, 2 SV 11, 6 SV 1, 45 S/2
2002-17 207 A, 20 S/3
2018-22 13 S/2
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Began 1932. Issued to 7 members of the Executive Council. Dissolved November 1975.
(In 1929 and 1931, Official plates #101 - 107 were assigned to council members,
with the last digit indicating their district.)
In at least 1936, 1939-40, 1944-45, and 1947-48, 3 pairs or singles each of
#1 to 7 (representing districts) were assigned.
Districts = Counties as follows:
1 = Oxford, York 5 = Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Waldo
2 = Cumberland 6 = Penobscot, Piscataquis
3 = Androscoggin, Franklin, Sagadahoc 7 = Aroostook, Washington
4 = Kennebec, Somerset
Daily Kennebec Journal, 1/7/1932: "For the first time since the governor's
executive council was established, members have a special automobile number
plate. The new registration plate presents orange figures on a black background."
LEGENDS: "COUNCIL" bottom, vertical "MAINE" left, vertical "1932" right 1932-33,
"COUNCIL" top 1934-36, 1941-42, 1945-46, bottom 1948, 1950-51, 1956,
"EXECUTIVE COUNCIL" top, "MAINE - 1961-62" bottom 1961/62, 1965/66,
"EXECUTIVE COUNCIL" top, "MAINE" bottom, vertical "69" right,
metal state shield left 1961/62, 1969-71, 1973.
(Verify 1937-40, 1944, 1947, 1949, 1952-55, 1957-60, 1963/64, 1967/68, 1972, 1974-75,
1955 #5 reported)
COLORS: Yellow/Black 1932-36, 1938, 1940-42, 1945-47,
Silver/Dark Green 1948, Black/Yellow 1950, Silver/Green FR 1951,
Black/Gold FR horizontal 1952 tab,
Silver/Green FR with Black/Aluminum tab 1956,
Black/White 1957 tab, White/Red 1961/62,
White/Blue 1965/66, 1969, 1970, 1971, Red/White 1973.
EXPERIMENT
Ch. 125 E 9/13/2003. Earliest seen "AUG 13". Purple/White, "EXPERIMENT" bottom, #103 A.
FARM TRUCK (1956-on: See Table 3)
Ch. 383 P 8/20/1955. Began 1956.
LEGENDS: No legend, smaller "F" prefix, slogan 1956-2000,
"FARM" bottom 2001-on.
1956: #F 1700 - F 2840 are Type 2, F 3971 is Type 1.
1962: #F 551 galvanized steel.
1982: "OCT 82" seen, no longer on "FEB" only.
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies (13,991 P), Thin dies (4,654 P), (TOTAL 19,752 P)
CHICKADEE BASE (TOTAL 27,596 P)
FIREFIGHTER
Ch. 360 E 9/19/1985. Earliest seen "SEP 86".
LEGENDS: "FIREFIGHTER" embossed bottom, "F/F" suffix 1986-99,
"FIREFIGHTER" screened bottom, red Maltese cross left 2000-on.
BLACK/WHITE BASE No border 54 - 5239, 6432, 8293, 8751, 9285,
11682 - 16056, 18645 - 21709
Border 5999, 6781, 6976, 16868 - 16875, 23641 - 24444
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies 401 - 25411
Thin dies 28205 -
MALTESE CROSS BASE 13 - 45974
FISH AND GAME DEPARTMENT
Kennebec Journal, 8/2/1934, about the 1935 issue:
"The Fish and Game Department will have a special plate this year
with the letters IFG down the left-hand side."
FORESTRY DEPARTMENT
Law P 1965 or 1966. Began 1966. Announced in Kennebec Journal, 3/22/1966.
Undated, flat, Green/White, "MAINE" top, "FORESTRY DEPT." bottom, #T 2074.
Plain numbers reportedly for cars, T for Trailers and TR for Tractors.
FORMER PRISONER OF WAR
Ch. 404 E 9/19/1985. Began 1986. Earliest seen "FEB 88".
"MAINE" screened in red top, "FORMER POW" screened in red bottom,
six vertical white stars on blue band left, six white stripes on red band right,
embossed serial in blue, no border, #2 - 129, 4 D, border 199 (all have serif "1").
GOLD STAR FAMILY
Ch. 246 E 6/7/2011. Began 8/17/2011. Earliest seen "MAR 14". No additional fee.
Black/White and full-color flag graphic, gold star with "Gold Star Family" left,
"Land of the Free/Because of the Brave" bottom, #G/S 1001 - G/S 1985.
GOVERNOR
Began 1949. Earliest seen 1956. Issued to Governor's Executive car.
Maine has never had a Lieutenant Governor; the Senate President is the next in
line, followed by the House Speaker and the Secretary of State.
(Governor already assigned passenger plate #1 since 1916,
flanking seals added by 1949, "MAINE '49" top.)
No legend, #1, smaller "EX" suffix, slogan 1956-74.
Bangor Daily News, 8/20/1949: "Incidentally, the registration plate on the
Governor's new Ford, which he drives himself to dispense with services of a
State Police trooper, is a special job which he requested. It carries the
numeral and letters 1-EX and also the State seal. Of course, the EX is for
Executive Department. The Governor prefers to use the large Cadillac with
Number One registration only for special occasions, with a State trooper at
the wheel." (Gov. Frederick G. Payne in office 1949-52; became U.S. Senator.)
(When Gov. Baxter left office in 1925, he received #111-111 likely
until his death in 1969, and when Gov. Brewster left office in 1929,
he was assigned #100-000 likely until his death in 1961. Gov. Brann was
issued #45 in 1938, having left office in 1937.)
(In 1934, Gov. Louis J. Brann began using a special plate with "MAINE"
vertically at left, "1934" vertically at right, and a 5" full-color state
seal center, costing $48/pair to make. Biddeford Saco-Journal, 10/20/1933,
states that the plate was designed by Secretary of State Tobey and the
state seal disc would be removable for use on future plates. Photo of Tobey
presenting the seal to Brann in Waterville Morning Sentinel, 11/22/1933.
Also reported in use in 1935. 1939 verified with similar design.)
1956, 1962, 1968, 1974 1EX
HANDICAPPED
Ch. 205 P 4/11/1961, E 9/16/1961 for "HANDICAPPED PERSON" attachment strips.
$1 extra fee; disability must be certified by at least two doctors.
Photo in Portland Evening Express, 2/21/1963.
Ch. 16 E 10/1/1975 for full-size plates with wheelchair prefix,
no legend, slogan bottom. Earliest seen "NOV 77".
BLACK/WHITE BASE "MAINE" left 1 - 1350 (1,350 P)
"FEB 81" "MAINE" center, border 1541 - 9000?, 9402,
1A - 555A, 180D - 789D
"NOV 86" "MAINE center", no border 247B - 847C (1,600 P)
(TOTAL 12,787 P)
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies 908E - 599Z (Verify H,I,U,V) No O,OO used. (15,676 P)
Wide dies 1 AA - 82YY (AA,EE,LL,MM,NN,PP,VV,YY seen) (775 P)
Wide dies 1 AF - 80AZ (AF,AH,AN,AR,AT,AU,AW,AZ, (674 P)
AE replacement seen)
1993 Thin dies 10315 - 22864 (12,559 P)
(TOTAL 29,675 P)
CHICKADEE BASE 30001 - 77133 (825U, 919V, UU, AP also seen) (47,133 P)
LOON BASE Jun. 99 428 - (no "C/R") (Reported as 1W - 999W, then 1A - 99V)
HANDICAPPED DISABLED VETERAN
Ch. 598 E 7/12/2010. Began 7/12/2010. Earliest seen "JAN 17".
Disabled Veteran design with wheelchair suffix, 101A - 643E (4,139 P)
HANDICAPPED MOTORCYCLE
Ch. 298 E 9/29/1987. Earliest seen "FEB 88".
All have no legend, wheelchair prefix.
Black/White base 109, 105AA - 125AA
Dark Blue/White base 101ZZ
HANDICAPPED MOTOR HOME
Began 1984. Earliest seen "NOV 84".
LEGENDS: "MOTOR HOME" bottom, wheelchair left all years.
BLACK/WHITE BASE Border 9076 - 9339 (264 P)
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies 9746 -
Thin dies 118 - 199 (82 P)
CHICKADEE BASE 363 - 440 (78 P)
[9501 A - 9700 A reported as first group]
HANDICAPPED VETERAN
Ch. 652 E 4/22/2004. Began 7/20/2004. Earliest seen "MAY 07".
Veteran design with wheelchair suffix all years.
2007-19 BASE 101A - 994D (3,591 P)
2020-22 BASE 11F1 - 12K3 (3,385 P)(Issued/replaced at same time as Veteran)
(Progression reportedly 11F1 - 99F1, 11F2, etc.)
HEAVY WRECKER
Ch. 597 E 10/17/1991. Earliest seen c.1993 (wide dies).
Wrecker limit remained at 24,000 lbs. for $50 fee.
Heavy Wrecker 24,001 - 80,000 lbs. for $200 fee.
LEGENDS: "HEAVY WRECKER" bottom all years.
COLORS: Dealer colors all years.
1993-2000 W 10 A
2001-17 W 326 D, W 500 A
2018-on W 326 A
HIRE (1923-on: See Tables 2-3)
Began 1923. Issued to taxis. (Previously issued passenger plates.)
Ch. 211 P 4/5/1923, but this may have been to change to "H" prefix
for 1924, as a Kennebec Journal article announcing the new "Public"
type was published 11/29/1922.
May not have been issued in 1936; none seen. Kennebec Journal, 11/2/1937:
"Principal change for this year will be the restoration of the H series of
plates for taxis and other vehicles for hire."
LEGENDS: "PUBLIC" bottom, vertical "MAINE" left, vertical "1923" right 1923,
no legend, "H" prefix 1924-33,
no legend, "H/A" to "H/C" prefix 1934-35,
"H" prefix, slogan bottom 1937-98,
"HIRE" bottom 1998-on. ("HIRE" legend added likely due to introduction
of Personalized Hire c.1992.)
1927: H-1 - H-999 normal "H", H-1-000 - H-2-143 thin "H".
1930: H-1 - H-45 normal "H", H-431 thin "H".
1931: H-7 - H-732 thin "H" with higher crossbar, H-2-042 wider "H" with even crossbar.
1934-35: H/A 1 - H/C 999.
1942: H1-000 - H1-836 on 6-figure size.
1950: H1163 - H1413 no hyphen, H2-361 hyphen.
1956: H 96 - H 173, H 1169 are Type 1.
Highest reservable number: 1956 #H 1200, 1962 #H 1000, 1968 #H 800.
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies (944 P), Thin dies (2,046 P), (TOTAL 3,877 P)
CHICKADEE BASE (TOTAL 5,103 P)
Serial right of "HIRE" 8001 - 9000 (1,000 P)
"FEB 04" Serial centered above "HIRE" 9001 - 9827 (827 P)
"DEC 16" Serial mid-right 11-944 - 13-103 (1,160 P)
HONORARY CONSUL
Ch. 356 E 6/15/2011. Seen in use April 2016.
Undated, flat, Black/White with Gold in state seal center,
"MAINE" top, "HONORARY/CONSUL" left, #2 right.
HORSELESS CARRIAGE
Ch. 364 E 9/14/1979. Earliest seen "MAY 81".
Issued to vehicles manufactured before 1916.
Previously issued Antique Auto plates.
LEGENDS: "HORSELESS/CARRIAGE" left 1981-2000, right 2001-on.
BLACK/WHITE BASE Border 1 - 66, 572
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies 115 - 200
CHICKADEE BASE 1 - 50
HOUSE/SENATE
Optional attachment plates issued as of 7/19/1949 for $2 extra fee.
91 of 151 House members, and 32 of 33 Senators, ordered their plates.
Regular plates are Black/White, 6" (1/4?) x 11 1/2", fully embossed aluminum,
"MEMBER/HOUSE OF/REPRESENTATIVES" or "MEMBER/OF THE/SENATE" top,
"94TH MAINE/LEGISLATURE" bottom, no serial number.
Titled plates are Black/White, 6" x 13", fully embossed heavy steel,
"SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF/REPRESENTATIVES", "CLERK OF THE HOUSE OF/REPRESENTATIVES",
"PRESIDENT/OF THE SENATE", or "SECRETARY/OF THE SENATE" top,
"94TH MAINE LEGISLATURE" bottom.
According to the Maine Constitution, legislator's terms start the first Tuesday in
December following the general election. The House and Senate elect their titled
leaders upon taking office. In 2024, the House Speaker is the District 118 House
Member, while the Senate President is the Senator from District 1. Presumably,
titled leaders can choose either plate, or use both if two cars are owned.
Troy Jackson (D-Allagash), Senate President since 2019, also has District 1.
Rachel Talbot Ross, House Speaker, also has House plate 118.
Ch. 248 P 3/?/1951, E 8/20/1951 for full-size plates for $2 extra fee.
Issued by 3/16/1951 to the 151 members of the State House of
Representatives (plates numbered #1 - 151) and the 33 members of
the State Senate, 1 from each district (plates numbered #1 - 33).
House plates assigned according to seat number 1951-84, district number 1985-on.
From 2014 to 2021, districts were numbered from south to north, starting with York County.
From 2022 to 2024, districts have been numbered from north to south, starting with
Aroostook County, following a plan for reversed redistricting each decade.
Senate plates assigned according to seat number 1951-68, district number 1969-on.
Ch. 138 E 10/1/1969 changed Senate plates to district number, but had begun Jan. 1969.
From 2014 to 2021, districts were numbered from north to south, starting with
Aroostook County, and remained in this order for 2022-24. Previously, the order was
reversed from south to north in each decennial redistricting, starting with York County.
Maine in 2024 has 151 House members and 35 Senators. Maine's constitution allows for
either 31, 33 or 35 Senators.
Embossed/screened 1951-52, flat 1953-90. All tabs flat.
Embossed border some 1963 House, all 1973-76.
Undated 1951-54, dated 1957-90. (Verify 1955-56)
All have vertical date, tab or sticker 1951-76 but 1964, 1970, 1972.
All have printed state seal left 1961-90.
1963 has tab slots on Senate, but not House.
HOUSE LEGENDS:
"REPRESENTATIVE" top, "LEGISLATURE" bottom, vertical "MAINE" left, vertical tab or "57" right 1951-60,
"REPRESENTATIVE - MAINE" top, "100TH LEGISLATURE" bottom, vertical "61" right 1961-62,
"STATE/REPRESENTATIVE" top, vertical "63" right 1963-66 (no "MAINE" except in state seal),
"MAINE" top, "REPRESENTATIVE" bottom, vertical "69" right 1967-76,
"REPRESENTATIVE" top, "MAINE" bottom, "77/78" right 1977-78,
"HOUSE" top, "MAINE" bottom, "79/80" right 1979-80 - 2018/20. (Verify 1996/98, 2002/04)
SENATE LEGENDS:
"STATE SENATOR" top, vertical "MAINE" left, vertical tab right 1951-60,
"STATE/SENATOR" top, vertical "61" right 1961-64 (no "MAINE" except in state seal),
"STATE SENATOR" top, vertical "65" right 1965-68 (no "MAINE" except in state seal),
"STATE SENATOR/DISTRICT" top, vertical "69" right 1969-70,
"MAINE SENATE/DISTRICT" top, vertical "71" right 1971-76,
"MAINE SENATE/DISTRICT" top, "77/78" right 1977-78 - 2018/20.
(Verify 1979-80, 1998/00, 2002/04, 2010/12, 2014/16)
COLORS:
HOUSE SENATE TAB/STICKER
1951 Black/Gold Black/Gold 1951 TAB Gold/Red
1952 TAB Black/Green
1953 White/Medium Blue Gold/Dark Blue 1953 TAB Black/Gold
1954 TAB Black/Aluminum
1955 White/Medium Blue Gold/Dark Blue 1955 TAB White/Red
1956 TAB Black/Aluminum
1957 White/Green White/Red 1958 TAB Yellow/Green
1959 White/Medium Blue White/Red 1960 TAB Light Blue/Dark Blue
1961 White/Green Red/White 1962 TAB Black/White
1963 White/Green Red/White 1964 STICKER Blue/White (Both)
1965 Green/White White/Red 1966 STICKER Green/White (Both)
1967 White/Green White/Red 1968 STICKER White/Green (House)
1968 STICKER White/Red (Senate)
1969 White/Green White/Red 1970 STICKER (Passenger)
1971 White/Orange White/Red 1972 STICKER (Passenger)
1973 White/Green White/Red 1974 STICKER Black/White
1975 Blue/White White/Red 1976 STICKER Blue/White (House)
1976 STICKER Red/White (Senate)
1977-78 White/Medium Blue White/Red
1979-80 White/Medium Blue White/Red
1980/82
to
2018/20 White/Medium Blue White/Red
In 2004, a full-graphic base was issued to both houses, but quickly discontinued.
Dark Blue and White/Light Blue and Light Green, "MAINE" top, "LEGISLATURE" bottom,
full-color graphic of state house dome left, "04/06" right, #S4 seen (or "H").
Replaced between 3/1 and 3/15/2005 by the traditional blue or red designs.
Ch. 248 of 1951 also provided for special non-numbered plates with titles
"SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE", "CLERK OF THE HOUSE", "PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE" and
"SECRETARY OF THE SENATE". Flat all years. Colors always match the respective
House or Senate colors, except 1961-62 Clerk, 1963-64 Speaker.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE:
1963-64 "SPEAKER/OF THE/HOUSE" right, "LEGISLATURE-1963-64" bottom, White/Blue.
1965-66, 1966-67 "SPEAKER/of the/HOUSE" right, "LEGISLATURE - 1965-66" bottom.
1973 "SPEAKER/OF THE/HOUSE" right, "LEGISLATURE" bottom, vertical "73" right.
1979-80 "HOUSE SPEAKER" right, "1979-80" bottom.
1992/94 state seal left, "SPEAKER/of the/HOUSE" center, "1992-94" bottom, no state name.
2004/06 state seal left, "SPEAKER/OF THE/HOUSE" center, "2004-06" bottom, no state name.
CLERK OF THE HOUSE:
1959-60 map of Maine left with "MAINE" and pine tree inside, "LEGISLATURE" top,
"CLERK/OF THE/HOUSE" stepped center, "1959-60" bottom.
1961-62 "CLERK/OF THE/HOUSE" right, "LEGISLATURE - 1961-62" bottom, Green/White.
1965-66, 1966-67 "CLERK/of the/HOUSE" right, "LEGISLATURE - 1965-66" bottom.
1971 "CLERK/of the/HOUSE" right, "LEGISLATURE" bottom, vertical "71" right.
1975 "CLERK/OF THE/HOUSE" right, "LEGISLATURE" bottom, vertical "75" right.
1980/82, 1986/88, 1988/90 state seal left, "HOUSE/CLERK" center, "1980-82" bottom, no state name.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE:
1961-62, 1965-66 state seal left, "SENATE/PRESIDENT" center, "1961-62" bottom, no state name.
1969-70 state seal left, "PRESIDENT/OF THE/SENATE" center, vertical "69" right, no state name.
1972, 1975 state seal left, "PRESIDENT/MAINE/SENATE" center, vertical "72" right.
1977-78, 1982/84, 1986/88, 1990/92 state seal left, "PRESIDENT/MAINE/SENATE" center, "77/78" right.
SECRETARY OF THE SENATE:
1951-52 "SENATE/SECRETARY" top, "'51 MAINE '52" bottom.
1955-56 "SENATE/SECRETARY" top, "55 MAINE 56" bottom.
1959-60, 1961-62, 1963-64 state seal left, "SENATE/SECRETARY" center, "1959-60" bottom, no state name.
1971, 1973 state seal left, "SECRETARY/MAINE/SENATE" center, vertical "71" right.
1979-80, 1980/82, 1990/92, 1992/94 state seal left, "SECRETARY/MAINE/SENATE" center, "79/80" right.
Also seen: "HOUSE ASS'T MAJORITY LEADER" 1984/86,
"HOUSE ASS'T MINORITY LEADER" 1984/86,
"SENATE ASS'T MAJORITY LEADER" 1984/86.
"SENATE MINORITY LEADER" 1984/86.
HOUSE/SENATE MOTORCYCLE
Ch. 664 E 5/30/2006 for House, Senate, Speaker of the House,
President of the Senate, and Indian Representative.
Earliest seen House 2018/20. Exact miniature of House design. No others seen.
INDIAN REPRESENTATIVE
Ch. 235 E 9/16/1961. Earliest seen in Bangor Daily News photo 5/10/1961.
Bangor Daily News, 5/10/1961: "A new act of Legislature relating to
motor vehicle license plates and especially designed for representatives
of Indian tribes has given John S. Nelson of the Penobscot Indian
Reservation at Old Town the right to be the first Indian Representative
in Maine to use the new license plate."
1963 seen, although it is an unissued plate #2, with tab slots
underneath sheeting.
Ch. 469 E 10/7/1967 allowed two representatives instead of one.
Issued to two Representatives to the Maine Legislature, one
each from the Penobscot Nation (#1) and the Passamaquoddy Tribe
(#2). Starting 1982, each tribe assigned #1 with different shields.
Maine in 2024 has 3 Indian Representatives, still non-voting; Penobscot Nation,
Passamquoddy Tribe, and Houlton Band of Maliseets (which received representation
in 2012). Not all representatives have participated in recent years.
Indian head in full headress left 1963-82 (black 1963-68, blue and tan 1975-76,
black and tan 1980/82). Penobscot or Passamaquoddy shield left 1982-90 (black and tan).
LEGENDS:
"INDIAN REPRESENTATIVE" top, "100TH/LEGISLATURE - MAINE" bottom, vertical "61" right 1961-62,
"INDIAN REPRESENTATIVE" top, "LEGISLATURE - MAINE" bottom, vertical "63" right 1963-68, 1973-76,
"INDIAN REPRESENTATIVE" top, "MAINE" bottom, "79/80" right 1979/80 - 80/82,
"INDIAN REPRESENTATIVE" top, "MAINE HOUSE" bottom, "82/84" right 1982/84 - 88/90,
"PENOBSCOT NATION" or "PASSAMAQUODDY TRIBE" added above top legend 1982/84 - 2012/14.
(Verify 1969-72, 1977-78, 1994/96, 1996/98, 2002/04, 2004/06, 2006/08, 2008/10, 2010/12)
COLORS: Same as House 1963, 1966 sticker, 1967-90, White/Green 1965. (Verify 1961-62, 1964)
LEGION TRAIN
Bangor Daily News, 8/16/1934: "The Kennebec Voiture 40 and 8
locomotive, mounted on an automobile chassis, which has attracted
much attention in Maine Legion affairs, is about to be officially
recognized by the state. Registration plates for it will be issued
in 1935 bearing the words, "Legion Train" on top, the numbers 40-8
on the left side, and "Maine-1935" at the bottom."
As of July 3, 1933, Maine had 17 Chapters ("Voitures") of the 40 et 8,
roughly one per county. Kennebec was Voiture #308.
LIGHT TRAILER DEALER
Ch. 866 E 4/19/1990. Earliest seen "DEC 93".
Issued for trailers up to 3,000 lbs.
Previously issued Boat Trailer Dealer plates.
LEGENDS: "LIGHT TLR DLR" bottom all years.
COLORS: Dealer colors all years.
1993-2001 Wide dies 9 J
Thin dies 115 C
2002-17 Thin "MAINE" 25 G
"JUN 02" Wide "MAINE" 129 A
LOANER
Ch. 400 E 10/1/1969. Began 1970.
LEGENDS: "LOANER" bottom all years.
COLORS: Dealer colors all years.
1970-73 88 B
1974 DATED 390 A
UND. "DEC 77" "MAINE" left 672 B
1980-87, border 154 A
"DEC 87", no border 250 J
border 361 A - 383 A
1988-2001, wide dies, wide "MAINE" 28 A
thin dies, thin "MAINE" 84 K
thin dies, wide "MAINE" 84 O
2002-17 122 L
2018-22 359 L
LOG HAULER/TRACTION ENGINE
Ch. 162 P 3/30/1911, E 12/31/1911. Began 1913.
Biddeford-Saco Journal, 6/13/1913: "...last year other than
regular pleasure automobiles - trucks and log haulers, etc.
were registered as automobiles..."
Discontinued 1916; replaced by Commercial plates.
Portland Sunday Telegram, 2/20/1916: "Log haulers are classified
as trucks. While a truck is designated with an 'X.'"
Issued in pairs. No legend 1913-15; "L" prefix 1913, "Z" prefix
1914-15. Highest numbers ordered in bold.
1913 L33*
1914 Z50
1915 Z50
LONG TERM TRAILER (See Misc. 2 page.)
Ch. 448 E 12/25/1967. Began 1968, "EXP-2-28-74".
MOTORCYCLE (See Motorcycle page)
Ch. 147 P 3/24/1905. Began 6/1/1905.
MOTORCYCLE DEALER (1922-45: See Table 1)
Ch. 162 P 3/30/1911, E 12/31/1911. Earliest seen 1917.
1913: #12 highest listed in directory.
1914-15, 1917-20: 50 sets of 3 ordered.
1980: #D 184 B1 seen, owner's personal vehicle.
Extra plate sets: 1912-21, 1944-49 - 3 singles
1922-42 - 3 pairs
LEGENDS: "MAINE" top, "DEALER 1917" bottom 1917, 1919, 1923-24, 1926-33,
"DEALER" top 1934, 1937, 1946, 1949, bottom 1948,
"DLR" bottom 1955-67, no legend, "D" prefix and letter suffix 1968-88.
(Verify 1912-16, 1918, 1920-22, 1925, 1935-36, 1938-45, 1947, 1950-54)
COLORS: Dealer colors all years.
1917 M19B
1946 M14A
1948 M10A (Steel) M25A
1949 M4A (Brass) M12A
1956 M1A
1962? M64A, D73A (both Black/White)
1964 (D prefix)
1968 D79A
1973 UNDATED D 99 J, D119B, D141C
1974 DATED D 115 A
UND. "DEC 79" "MAINE" left D 127 A - D 257 A
1980-87, "MAINE" left D 16 A - D 226 A
1984 "MAINE" left D 82 B1
1986 "MAINE" left D 147 B1
1988-2001, "MAINE" center D 29 A - D 162 A
2002-17 D 38 B1
2018-22 D 47 C
MOTOR HOME
Ch. 94 E 1/1/1984. Earliest seen "JUN 84".
Ch. 866 E 4/19/1990 changed newly-registered vehicles to staggered, not FEB.
LEGENDS: "MOTOR HOME" bottom all years.
BLACK/WHITE BASE Border 1006 - 6233, 9202 - 9274 (5,301 P)
No border 6653 - 7735, 9336 (1,084 P) (TOTAL 7,352 P)
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies 67 A - 14175 A (14,109 P)
Serial far left, Thin dies 15056 A - 20486 A (5,431 P)
Serial mid left, Thin dies 20653 A - 23631 A (2,979 P) (TOTAL 23,565 P)
CHICKADEE BASE 30001 A - 58201 A (28,201 P)
LOON BASE Jun. 99 2208Y - (1Y - 9999Z assigned; no "C/R")
MUNICIPAL OWNED (1924-41: See Table 1)
Began 1924. Announced 2/2/1924 in the Portland Press Herald.
Not on 1924 order listed 9/7/1923.
Also issued to county-owned vehicles as of 1934. Discontinued 1942.
As of 1920 (Ch. 211 P 4/4/1919, E 1/1/1920), all government-owned vehicles,
except state-owned, provided their own plates subject to approval by the
State Highway Commission. The City of Portland issued an undated
white-on-blue porcelain series in 1922, about the same size as 1922 5-digit
plates, with #96 highest seen. In March 1924, Portland owned 17 automobiles.
Portland Evening Express, 1/15/1921: "Purchase of 25 automobile number
plate sets of special design for use on City cars has been made and are
being distributed by City Messenger Furnival. Nearly all the drivers of
City cars balked at 13 until Electrician Hardy accepted it as suitable for
the truck of the electrical department. These numbers run from 1 to 25
and are for perpetual use, year after year. Plates will be changed but not
the numbers. There are nearly 20 cars in the various municipal departments."
Portland Press Herald, 5/19/1922: "SPECIAL PLATES DESIGNED"
"City Automobiles Have New Number Markings" "The city automobiles have been
provided with special plates of dark blue lettered in white bearing the
number of the car and the words 'City of Portland,' in accordance with an
order introduced by Councilman Thomas J. Newman at the January meeting of
the city government."
Ray Hanscom #8 in April 1955 ALPCA: "State owned cars, town or city
owned cars and trucks use regular plates but pay no fee."
Ch. 469 E 10/3/1973. Rebegan 1974, "EXP-2-29-80". 1980 #100-023 seen
with registration card on back stating expiration of "2-28-90".
LEGENDS: No legend, "CX" prefix 1924-33,
"MUNICIPAL" top 1934, vertical "MUN" left 1935,
no legend or slogan, "M" prefix, "MAINE 1936" bottom 1936-41,
"MAINE EXP-2-29-80" top, slogan bottom, vertical "MUN"
followed by verticle "VEHICLE" left 2-29-80,
"MAINE" top, "MUNICIPAL" bottom 1980-on.
COLORS: Green/White 1980-89, Dark Blue/White 1990-on.
1932: CX-1-329 has smaller second hyphen dovetailed with "1".
1933: CX-1-719 same.
EXP-2-29-80 122 - 9188 (9,067 P)
UND. (1980) Border 100-023 - 111-379 (11,357 P)
UND. (1986) No border 111-594 - 112-156 (563 P)
UND. (1987) Border, non-serif "1" 112-372 - 112-569 (198 P)
UND. (1988) Serif "1" 112-941 - 114-703 (1,763 P) (TOTAL 14,681 P)
UND. (1990) Wide dies 400-639 - 411-100 (10,462 P)
UND. (1993) Thin dies, wide spacing 411-101 - 413-812 (2,712 P)
UND. (1999?)Thin dies, close spacing 414-554 - 431-080 (16,527 P) (TOTAL 30,442 P)
(reportedly began 413-xxx)
MUNICIPAL OWNED MOTORCYCLE
Earliest seen 1980-88 base.
LEGENDS: "MAINE" top, "MUNICIPAL" bottom all years.
COLORS: Green/White 1980-89, Dark Blue/White 1990-on.
UND. (1980-89) 2 - 21
UND. (1990-on) 100-014 -
MUNICIPAL OWNED TRAILER
Ch. 469 E 10/3/1973. Began 1974, "EXP-2-29-80".
Replaced 1980 by Municipal Owned in the 120-000 series.
LEGENDS: Same as Municipal Owned, but "TRAILER" bottom instead of slogan 2-29-80.
COLORS: Same as Municipal Owned.
2-29-80 809 - 982
UND. (1980-88) Non-serif "1" 120-062 -
(1988) Serif "1" 121-659 - 121-698 (40 S) (TOTAL 1,637 S)
UND. (1990) Wide dies 300-389 - 302-096 (1,708 S)
(1999?) Thin dies, close spacing 303-971 - 306-677 (2,707 S) (TOTAL 6,289 S)
NATIONAL GUARD
No law; issued by special administrative procedure. Earliest seen "OCT 83".
LEGENDS: No legend, "NG" suffix all years.
BLACK/WHITE BASE Border 84 NG - 1729 NG
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies, "NG" slightly left 5 NG - 788 NG
Wide dies, "NG" far right 1208 NG - 1229 NG, 716 NG (replacement?)
CHICKADEE BASE 652 NG -
OFFICIAL
Began 1920. Reported 1924 #34. Earliest seen 1925.
Issued to state-owned vehicles.
May not have been issued in 1921 and 1922; not on orders.
Discontinued 1936; replaced by State Owned plates.
Highest numbers ordered in bold.
Portland Evening Express, 11/29/1919:
"Plates for the State-owned motor vehicles have been ordered,
running from No. 1 to 200. They are of the same design and
colors as the other 1920 plates, tuscan red on a white background,
but have the word official at the bottom of the plate."
Kennebec Journal, 1/3/1923:
“An order was passed providing that beginning Feb. 1 this year all
State owned and operated automobiles shall be provided with a special
form of number plates to be lettered with red letters on a white
background and containing the word ‘Official.’ Special designation
was also authorized for State trucks.”
LEGENDS: "OFFICIAL" bottom, vertical "MAINE" left, vertical "1923" right 1923, 1925, 1928, 1930-32,
"OFFICIAL" top 1935.
(Verify 1920-22, 1924, 1926-27, 1929, 1933-34)
COLORS: Red/White 1920, 1923, 1928, 1931-32, 1935,
White/"Maroon" 1925, White/Red 1929-30.
(Charles Henry Davis not issued 1922-24, reported 1930, 1931 #25 White/Black)
1920 200 1924 250 1928 125 1932 13
(1921?) 1925 32 1929 1933
(1922?) 1926 1930 125 1934
1923 1927 125 1931 191 1935 22
PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR
Ch. 789 E 4/27/1988. Began 7/1/1988, expire "AUG 88".
Blue/White, "MAINE" embossed top, slogan embossed bottom,
"PEARL/HARBOR/SURVIVOR" screened left in red.
Wide dies 001 - 097
Thin dies, thin "MAINE" 145 -
Thin dies, wide "MAINE" 0110 -
PERSONALIZED
Ch. 261 P 4/28/1961, E 9/16/1961. Began 1962.
1-6-characters allowed for $10 initial extra fee, $5 annual
renewal extra fee. Ampersand and dash allowed 1962, apostrophe seen 1974 to "NOV 84".
Ampersand still seen 2008.
Also seen in 1969 tab-slots and 1974 Type 4 varieties.
Ch. 758 E 1/1/1993 expanded to 7 characters, by which time fee was $15.
Holly Sherburne wrote a book on Maine personalized plates in about 2010.
Limitations on acceptable plates were relaxed 2015 (Ch. 206 E 10/15/2015),
resulting in many questionable words.
Law E 10/18/2021 restricted the available combinations.
PERSONALIZED TYPES
ANTIQUE: Earliest seen "JUN 88".
ANTIQUE MOTORCYCLE: Earliest seen "MAY 13".
COMBINATION: Earliest seen "OCT 93".
COMMERCIAL: Ch. 109 E 3/27/1975. Earliest seen "AUG 87". Loon available.
DISABLED VETERAN: Earliest seen "OCT 09".
FARM: Earliest seen "MAY 12".
FIREFIGHTER: Ch. 80 E 9/17/2005. Earliest seen "AUG 07".
GOLD STAR FAMILY: Ch. 17 E 10/15/2015. None seen.
HANDICAPPED: Earliest seen "FEB 90". Reported "FEB 78". Loon available.
HANDICAPPED VETERAN: Earliest seen "APR 19".
HIRE: Ch. 597 E 10/17/1991. Earliest seen "APR 02".
MOTORCYCLE: Ch. 469 E 10/3/1973. Began 1974.
MOTOR HOME: Earliest seen "JAN 87". Loon available.
NEW CAR DEALER: Ch. 383 E 1/1/1992. Earliest seen "DEC 93". $30 fee, 4 character max.
PURPLE HEART: Ch. 190 E 6/1/1995. Earliest seen "AUG 16".
STREET ROD: Earliest seen "AUG 93".
TRAILER: Ch. 559 E 7/16/1986. Earliest seen "FEB 88". Loon available.
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE: Ch. 465 E 10/13/1993. Began 2/1/1995. Earliest seen "JUN 08".
VETERAN: Ch. 69 E 6/26/1997. Earliest seen "APR 06".
VETERAN MOTORCYCLE: Ch. 376 E 9/20/2007. Earliest seen "MAR 16".
POLICE
Began 1974. Announced 1/18/1974.
LEGENDS: Stepped "POLICE" left, no slogan bottom 1974-87,
Stepped "POLICE" left, "MUNICIPAL" bottom 1989-on.
COLORS: Black/White 1974-87, Dark Blue/White 1989-on.
1974-87 1 - 911
UND. (1989) Wide dies 247 - 403
Thin dies 2033 -
PRORATE BUS
Ch. 285 E 8/28/1957. Only seen 1959-61.
Reported 1962. Not listed in 1964 AAMVA book.
LEGENDS: Vertical "BUS" left, smaller "PR" prefix, slogan bottom 1959-61.
1959-61 PR 161 - PR 419 (tab right)
PURPLE HEART
Ch. 190 E 6/1/1995. Began 9/1/1995. Earliest seen "MAY 96".
Black (serial) and Purple (legends and prefix)/White with full-color medal left,
vertical "PURPLE" to left of medal, vertical "HEART" to right of medal, vertical
"PH" prefix, "COMBAT WOUNDED" bottom, #4 - 7404.
PURPLE HEART MOTORCYCLE
Ch. 734 E 8/11/2000. Began 9/?/2000.
Colors same as Purple Heart, medal left, "PURPLE HEART" bottom.
Numbers began at "100-350".
SAMPLE
Earliest seen 1925. C.O. Baugher reported a 1923.
Quantity ordered: 1940 100, 1942 100, 1941 200, 1945 150, 1948 100.
Stickers: 1969-73, FEB 76-86.
State started charging $1 each in 1977.
1925-33, 1944-46, 1948 00-000
1934-35, 1937-41 000
1936 0-000, 00-000 (on 6-digit size), 000-000
1942 000, 00-000
1950-55 wide 1936-48 dies 000
thin 1950 dies 0000
1956-66 000-000
1967-on SAMPLE (1973 and 1974 bar and no bar)
SERVICE STATION (1922-45: See Table 1)
Ch. 211 P 4/9/1921. Began 1922.
Issued to garages with repair service, to be displayed on vehicles being tested
or delivered to owners and dealers. Small size, pairs all years.
Repealed by Ch. 77 P 7/21/1945. Discontinued 1946.
LEGENDS: "ME. 1922" top, "SERVICE" bottom 1922, 1932. (Verify 1923-31, 1933-45)
SHERIFF
Earliest seen 1974.
Current numbering starts at 101, 201, etc. up to 1601 (16 counties).
LEGENDS: Stepped "SHERIFF" left, no slogan bottom 1974-89,
"SHERIFF" bottom 1990-on.
COLORS: Black/White 1974-89, Dark Blue/White 1990-on.
1974-89 84 -
UND. "MAINE" center 112 -
UND. (1990) Wide dies 4 - 209
Thin dies 1604 -
SIDE CAR (1922-45: See Table 1)
Ch. 211 P 4/9/1921. Began 1922.
Singles all years.
Highest reservable number: 1956 #25.
Last seen 1962. Not listed in 1964 AAMVA book.
LEGENDS: "ME. 1922" top, "SIDE CAR" bottom 1922, 1924-25, 1927,
"ME. 1930" top, "SIDE.CAR" bottom 1930,
"SIDE CAR" top 1935, 1940, 1942, 1944, 1949-50, bottom 1962.
(Verify 1923, 1926, 1928-29, 1931-34, 1936-39, 1941, 1945-48, 1951-61)
1946 1950 62
1947 1951-55 48
1948 100 1956-61 46
1949 12 100 1962 1
SNOWMOBILE DEALER
Ch. 479 E 7/1/1968. Began 7/1/1968, expire "6-30-69". Issued by
Secretary of State.
1969-70 Full size, Black/White, "MAINE EXP-6-30" top before sticker bar
and passenger "69" or "70 sticker, vertical "SV" left, "DEALER"
bottom, #1 D, 286 B, 305 A, 445 D, 610 B, 635 A, 790 C, 801 D, 810 B.
Ch. 414 E 10/1/1969. Issued by Commissioner of Inland Fisheries
and Game. Old registrations under Secretary of State valid until
7/1/1970. Reportedly discontinued sometime after 2003.
1971-74 Motorcycle size, Black/White, "ME. EXP-6-30" top, "SM [ ] DLR" bottom, #15 - 2889.
1976-91 Old Motorcycle size, Red/White, same design as 1971-74, #121 - 2080.
1990? New Motorcycle size, Red/White, same design as 1971-91, #4606 - 4849.
STICKER COLORS: (1971-74 also used on Snowmobile registrations)
1971 Flourescent Orange/Black 1978 ? 1985 ?
1972 Flourescent Orange/Black 1979 Green/Pink? 1986 Black/Yellow
1973 Green/White 1980 ? 1987 White/Red
1974 Black/Flourescent Orange 1981 ? 1988 Black/Green
1975 Orange/White 1982 ? 1989 White/Blue
1976 Black/White 1983 ? 1990 Red/White
1977 Black/Yellow 1984 ? 1991 Black/Gold
SPECIAL
Ch. 162 P 3/30/1911, E 12/31/1911. Earliest seen 1913.
Issued to mid-year passenger and truck registration transfers.
Section 12: "A person transferring the ownership of a registered
automobile or motor truck and applying to the secretary of state for
registration of another automobile or motor truck in the same calendar
year, shall receive a certificate of registration and number plates
therefor upon payment of a fee of two dollars..." plus any difference
owed if the new vehicle is of greater horsepower. Exchanges before
August 1 involving a difference when the new vehicle is of lesser
horsepower were allowed a partial refund.
Listed in monthly Secretary of State reports:
February 1912 as "Registrations Sec. 12", one each for #629 and 704;
March 1912 as "one registration change";
April 1912 as "exchange registrations";
May 1912 as "Reg. Sec. 12" with 41 issued and 3 motorcycle issued;
all may have been issued the next regular number in sequence.
First listed as "special registrations" June 1912 with 52 issued and
July 1912 with 66 issued. By late May, the Type 2 order (#5001 - 10000)
would have been on hand, perhaps #9001 series issued?
In 2018, #9181 turned up; unknown use. (Highest 1912 passenger seen #8179.)
Of the 52 special registrations issued in June 1912, 2 were for trucks.
Assuming the need for special registrations for trucks existed also in
1913-15, as specified in the law, it is assumed that regular "S" plates
were issued, since no "ST" or "TS" plates have ever been seen or reported.
It is unknown if any "S" 1913-15 motorcycle plates exist, since 3 such
registrations were issued in May 1912 despite not being provided for by law.
The status of what was to happen to old plates upon a transfer was not
specified in the law. Ch. 162 Sec. 8 states: "Upon sale of any motor
vehicle, registration shall expire and the vendor shall immediately return
the certificate of registration to the secretary of state, with notice of
sale and the name, place and residence and address of the vendee."
Evidently, old plates were sent back as well, according to an article in
the Waterville Morning Sentinel of August 28, 1915: "On Friday morning
[Aug. 27] a couple of registration plates were received at the office of
Secretary of State Bunker, together with the fee of $2, asking that special
registration be given a new car just purchased. These plates, as are all
others received at the office, were carefully scrutinized and disclosed the
fact that a 1914 registration plate had been carefully painted white..."
As further evidence, a large dump of several hundred turned-in used 1914
plates was unearthed in the 1980s in downtown Augusta, which included a
wide range of low to high numbers, as well as pairs of "S" plates. It is
possible that a car registered with "S" plates could have been sold or
transferred yet again during the same year, being issued higher-numbered
"S" plates, accounting for the "S" plates being found amongst the turn-ins.
No legend, "S" prefix 1913-15. Highest numbers initially ordered in bold.
Discontinued 1916; owners changing cars to receive a new number,
as would owners of lost plates upon turn-in of their other plate.
Ch. 287 P 4/7/1917 allowed old plate/number to be reused in cases
of mid-year transfers, still in effect as of 1922.
Sizable blocks of "Special" plates assigned to all branch offices 1939-40,
ranging from 1 to 20100. Unknown design or usage. If so many were assigned
and presumably issued these two years, why haven't any been found?
1913 S322
1914 S593 S500
1915 S799 S800
STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION
Commission organized 7/12/1913.
Began 1916. Last seen 1956-61.
Issued to vehicles owned by the State Highway Commission.
Highest numbers ordered in bold.
The 1939-41 blocks may have merely been pulled from the Special series.
Replaced by Department of Transportation plates 1972.
Biddeford-Saco Journal, 10/23/1916: "The department has numerous inquiries as to
what the letters SHC noticed on a few Maine auto plates mean and that is easily
answered, because the plates are attached to cars of the state highway commission..."
Not listed among types in 1917 order announced 10/20/1916.
1920: 10 ordered initally.
LEGENDS: No legend, "SHC" prefix 1916, 1918-20, 1926, 1930, 1933, "S-H-C" top 1934,
reported as vertical "SHC" left 1935,
"MAINE" top center, "HIGHWAY COMM." bottom 1956-61.
(Verify 1917, 1921-25, 1927-29, 1931-32, 1935-55)
1916 SHC4 1925 1934 298
1917 1926 SHC172 1935
1918 SHC10 1927 SHC500 1936
1919 SHC10 1928 SHC500 1937
1920 SHC190 1929 1938
1921 1930 SHC500 1939 S18-097 -
1922 SHC250 1931 1940 S18-001 - S18-100
1923 1932 1941 S18-001 - S18-100
1924 SHC500 1933 SHC273
UND. (1956-61) S02-300 - S02-675
STATE OWNED
Began 1936. (Previously issued Official plates.) Last seen 1940,
last listed 1941. Highest numbers ordered in bold.
1936 S-22 1939 S1-200
1937 S-586 1940 S1-200
1938 S-779 1941 S1-200
Ch. 35 P 2/25/1947 so state vehicles no longer need plates.
Ray Hanscom #8 in April 1955 ALPCA: "State owned trucks have no plates
but have the numbers painted on. State owned cars, town or city owned
cars and trucks use regular plates but pay no fee."
Ch. 544 E 7/1/1970. Rebegan 1970, "EXP-2-28-74".
LEGENDS: No legend or slogan, "S" prefix, "MAINE 1937" bottom 1937-41,
"MAINE EXP-2-28-74" top, slogan bottom, vertical "STATE" followed by vertical "VEHICLE"
left 2-28-74, 2-29-80, "MAINE" top, "STATE" bottom 1980-93,
"STATE" top, "WWW.MAINE.GOV" bottom 2004.
(Verify 1936)
COLORS: Passenger colors 1936-40, Black/White 1980-on.
2-28-74 Black/Yellow 25 - 961
2-29-80 Black/White 6 - 1141, 22-791, 05-075
UND. (1980) Border 21-005, 033-035, 043-462, 061-017, 092-007, 099-150, 132-017 - 139-049, T01-004
UND. (1986) No border 099-281, T01-815, T02-721
UND. (1988) Serif "1" 052-061
UND. (1993?) Thin dies T03-636, T55-979, 183-1656
UND. (2000?) Slogan T11-529
STATE OWNED MOTORCYCLE
Reported 1980s. Undated, Black/White, "MAINE" top center, "STATE" bottom, #290-005.
STATE OWNED TRAILER
Began 7/1/1970 "EXP-2-28-74", when State Owned rebegan.
LEGENDS: Same as State Owned, but with "TRAILER" bottom instead of slogan 2-28-74, 2-29-80.
2-28-74 98
2-29-80 301 - 340
STATE POLICE
Began 1936, when the first 47 automobiles were purchased,
replacing most of their 46 motorcycles and 25 side cars.
Highest numbers ordered in bold.
LEGENDS: "STATE/POLICE" top, vertical "MAINE" left, vertical "1936" right 1936-49,
"STATE/POLICE" top right, vertical "MAINE" left 1950-55.
COLORS: Black/Orange 1936, Red/White 1937-40, Black/Light Blue 1942-55.
(Verify 1941 - cars were switched to black with light blue fenders April 1941,
so 1941 plates may have been reissued in the new colors.
Biddeford-Saco Journal, 1/29/1941: "The state police cars attached to the
Wells barracks have all received their new number plates for 1941. This
year their numbers are black with an aluminum background.")
1936 50 1940 200 1945 200
1937 70 1941 200 1946 43
1938 80 1942 85 1948 200
1939 118 1944 200 1949 200
1950-54 UND. 158 Black/Light Blue
Mar. 55 UND. 213 Red/White, huge "STATE POLICE" center, tiny serial bottom
Apr. 59 UND. S-P-230 Red/White, no legend
1964? UND. 54 Red/White, "STATE/POLICE" left, beaded
1965? UND. 151 Red/White, "STATE/POLICE" left, scotchlite
8/3/70 UND. 269 White/Blue, squared font, flat
1975? UND. 376 White/Blue, rounded font, flat
STATE POLICE MOTORCYCLE
Maine State Highway Police was formed in 1921.
Began 1924 as State Highway Police Motorcycle. Earliest seen 1925.
Portland Evening Express, 1/12/1924: "Thirty new motorcycles have
been ordered, and on each will be placed a special registration
plate designating it as highway police equipment."
Ch. 29 P 3/8/1935 changed agency name to State Police.
Some of the 46 motorcycles were traded in during 1936 for automobiles,
resulting in a big decrease. The last 10 motorcycles in use were sold
July 1951. Highest numbers ordered in bold.
LEGENDS: "S-H/POLICE" top 1928-29, 1933-34, "SHP" reported 1935,
"STATE/POLICE" top 1936, 1938, bottom 1948.
(Verify 1924-27, 1930-32, 1935, 1937, 1939-47)
COLORS: Passenger colors 1928-29, 1933-34, 1936, Black/Light Blue 1935,
State Police colors 1938, 1948.
1924 1931 1938 16 1946
1925 161 1932 1939 25 1947
1926 1933 32 1940 50 1948 50
1927 100 1934 20 1941 50 1949 50
1928 101 1935 1942 1950
1929 134* 1936 51 1944 50 1951
1930 100 1937 1945 50
STATE POLICE SIDE CAR
Not on 1930 order. Reported in 1936. Earliest listed on 1939
order. None seen.
Kennebec Journal, 5/20/1925: "A carload of 18 Harley-Davidson
motorcycles and six side cars arrived Tuesday for the members
of the State highway police force."
25 side cars were traded in during 1936 towards automobiles.
Issued no later than 1951, when the last motorcycles in use
were sold. Red/White 1940. Ordered: 1939-41, 1944-45, 1948-49 25.
STREET ROD
Ch. 607 E 7/3/1980. Earliest seen "JUN 83".
LEGENDS: "STREET ROD" bottom all years.
(Black/White also seen with "STREET/ROD" left, slogan bottom, #21, 25 unissued?)
BLACK/WHITE BASE Border 1 - 75
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies 19 - 166
Thin dies 303 - 454
CHICKADEE BASE 801 - 1397 (597 P)
TEMPORARY (7-Day)
Ch. 349 P 4/2/1915. None seen. Possibly repealed by 1919 law.
Plates to be returned within 10 days of issuance.
(Cardboard 1917 pairs with "Registration/Plates/Applied For" left and "MAINE/1917"
right are not 7-Day plates, but emergency issues due to delayed shipment of regular
plates #14-001 - 21-000, according to the Waterville Morning Sentinel, May 3, 1917.)
TEMPORARY (Cardboard)
Ch. 130 P 3/31/1931, E 7/3/1931. 7-day plates issued. Dealers to pay 50 cents per pair.
Earliest seen "5-17-32", #13-316.
Repealed by Ch. 290 P 12/16/1933. Reenacted by Ch. 62 P 3/22/1935.
TEMPORARY TYPES (Cardboard)
ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE: Ch. 297 E 7/1/1984. 20-Day. Earliest seen issued 8/3/1987.
BOAT NUMBER: Earliest seen "5-26-73", Red/White, 10-Day, #105-796.
(Law E 10/7/1967)
MOTORCYCLE: Ch. 184 E 9/3/1965. Earliest seen UND. in pre-1974 size, #4674.
PERSONALIZED: Earliest seen "4-22-78".
PERSONALIZED MOTORCYCLE: Earliest seen "5-4-94".
SNOWMOBILE: Earliest seen "12-30-09". (Mentioned Bangor Daily News 7/28/1970)
TRANSIT: Earliest seen "5-18-79".
TRACTOR (1922-on: See Tables 2-3)
Ch. 211 P 4/9/1921. Began 1922.
Pairs all years. Singles listed in purchase recquisition for 2025 issue.
Last pair seen: Lobster #44-076 (wide dies)
LEGENDS: "TRACTOR" bottom, vertical "MAINE" left, vertical "1922" right 1922-23, 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933,
"TRACTOR" top 1934-41, 1944-46, bottom 1948-on.
(Verify 1924-26, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1942)
1941: Hyphen 2-178 - 2-481, no hyphen 3600.
1946: Hyphen 1-742, 1-903, 3-367, 4-217, 6-526, 6-945, no hyphen 5701, 6388, 7352.
1948: Numbers closed spaced 1 - 6000, numbers spaced far apart 6001 - 8000.
1956: #96 - 822, 7085 - 9564 are Type 1, 1130 - 6476 are Type 2.
1962: #60 - 6028 galvanized steel, undated #11-296 plain steel.
1974-87: Large hyphen 10-429 - 14-964, 20-671 - 23-250, 26-395 - 28-022,
Small hyphen 18-867 - 19-894, 25-690, 28-865.
Highest reservable number: 1956 #7000, 1962 #8000, 1968 #9500.
LOBSTER BASE Wide dies (13,245 P), Thin dies (2,634 P), (T0TAL 19,517 P?)
CHICKADEE BASE (TOTAL 14,447 P?)
TRAILER (1922-88: See Tables 2-3)
Ch. 211 P 4/9/1921. Began 1922.
Singles all years. All letter series start at #10001 1983-96.
LEGENDS: "TRAILER" bottom, vertical "MAINE" left, vertical "1922" right 1922-33,
"TRAILER" top 1934-46, bottom 1948-on.
1928: Shorter vertical legends 1-147 - 1-276 (but 1930 #1-831, 1931 #2-292 normal).
1931: Hyphen centered 1-000 - 1-999, Hyphen low/dovetailed 2-000 - 2-999.
1939: Hyphen 1-930, no hyphen 3443 - 8476.
1946: Hyphen 4-digits, 11-577, 18-678 - 19-003, no hyphen 15978, 22734 - 23321.
1948: No hyphen 1 - 9999, 4-digits, 18001 - 23553, hyphen 10-000 - 18-000.
"TRAILER" bottom 1 - 18-000, 20501 - 24851, "TRAILER" top 18001 - 20500.
1956: #17 - 635, 30-131 - 35-134 are Type 1, 1276 - 29-359 are Type 2.
1962: Galvanized steel 1486 - 47-639, aluminum 57-509.
#100-000 reached 1965.
1974: 151-762 - 205-000 have hyphen right or left of too much center space.
Highest reservable number: 1956 #30-000, 1962 #50-000, 1968 #86-000.
Smaller stickers issued "FEB" 1978-84, 1987-90.
Optional 2-year registration began 1992.
Loon base June 1999: 1086U seen (1U - 9999V assigned; no "C/R")
B reached June 2007; C reached June 2020.
DARK BLUE/WHITE BASE, Wide dies (no I used) E 32589 - K 83220 (500,627 S)
"FEB 94" thin dies, wide "MAINE" (K 85000?) K 86364 - K 99570 (13,207 S)
"FEB 95" thin dies, thin "MAINE" L 22388 - L 99999 (77,612 S)
"FEB 96" thin "MAINE", wide "TRAILER" A 100001 - A 375643 (275,643 S)
"FEB 00" wide "MAINE", wide "TRAILER" A 380270 - B 359457 (879,187 S)
"FEB 14" wide "MAINE", thin "TRAILER" B 360488 - C 392108 (931,620 S)
Dec. 11 ("FEB 13" expected) (TOTAL 2,699,511 S)
TRAILER DEALER
Earliest seen 1974.
(May have begun with Ch. 404 E 10/1/1969, expanding scope of
Boat Trailer Dealers to include Snowmobile Trailer Dealers.)
LEGENDS: "TRAILER DEALER" bottom all years.
COLORS: Dealer colors all years.
1974 DATED 25 A
1978 UNDATED, "M" under hole 140 D
1980-87 161 A
1988-2001, thin dies 34 A
2002-17
2018-20 44 J
TRAILER TRANSIT
Ch. 423 E 7/1/1991. Reported 1993. Earliest seen "DEC 96".
LEGENDS: "TRL TRANSIT" bottom all years.
COLORS: Dealer colors all years.
1996-2001, wide dies 8 B - 25 A
thin dies 60 D
2002-17 248 B
2018-22 118 C
TRANSIT/TRANSPORTER
Ch. 200 P 8/20/1955. Began 1956. Fee $25 for first 3 plates, $10
for each additional plate. 215 issued as of 12/28/1955 (for 1956).
LEGENDS: "TRANSIT" bottom 1956-63, "TRANSPORTER" bottom 1964-on.
COLORS: Dealer colors all years.
1956 477 A (121 A - 477 A are Type 1)
1956 UND., tab right 825 A
1962 494 A (760 A Dated?)
1964 T 300 A
1964 UND. T 392 A
1968 T 27 C
1968 UND. T 577 B - T 667 B
1974 DATED T 284 B
1980-87, border T 288 D
no border T 215 W
1988-2001 T 158 A
2002-17 T 624 D
2018-22
TURNPIKE
Reported 1977. Earliest seen "EXP-2-29-80".
Issued to service vehicles on Maine Turnpike. No stickers used.
LEGENDS: "MAINE EXP-2-29-80" top, slogan bottom, vertical "TPK" left 2-29-80,
"MAINE" top, vertical "TPK" left, slogan bottom 1980-on
COLORS: Black/White all years.
"EXP-2-29-80" 1075 - 1210
UND. "MAINE" center, border 1262 -
no border 1414 - 1450
border, serif "1" 1529 -
thin dies, wide "MAINE" 1595 - , 1808 - 1904
thin dies, thin "MAINE" 1657 - 1728
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE/SENATE
Ch. 60 E 8/20/1955. Began 1955.
Issued to 3 U.S. Representatives 1955-62, 2 U.S. Representatives
since 1963, and 2 U.S. Senators all years.
Ch. 10 (Private and Special) E 4/18/1989 granted free "lifetime" plates to
Margaret Chase Smith, age 91, and Edmund S. Muskie. Both were to be White/Green
with the state seal, and their names.
Ch. 10 (Private and Special) E 9/21/2001 granted free "lifetime" plates to
William S. Cohen (Rep. 1973-79, Sen. 1979-97) and George J. Mitchell (Sen. 1980-95).
1955: White/Green (flat), "MAINE/VACATIONLAND" top, no seal,
"U.S. REPRESENTATIVE" or "U.S. SENATOR" bottom, vertical White/Green tab right.
1958: Same design as 1955, vertical Yellow/Green tab.
1965: Same design as 1958.
1968: Same design as 1958, but vertical "68" right.
1969: White/Green (flat), "MAINE" top, Black/Gold state seal left, "REPRESENTATIVE" bottom,
vertical "69" right, #1.
"DEC 75", "OCT 80": White/Green (flat), "MAINE" top, "U.S. REPRESENTATIVE" bottom,
state seal left, embossed border.
"MAR 76": White/Green (flat), "MAINE" top, "U.S. SENATE" bottom, state seal left.
"DEC 87": Same as above Representative but no embossed border.
UND.: White/Green, "MARGARET CHASE/SMITH" center, "MAINE" bottom, state seal left,
no legend or serial. (U.S. Senator 1949-72)
UND.: White/Green, "EDMUND S./MUSKIE" center, "MAINE" bottom, state seal left,
no legend or serial. (U.S. Senator 1959-80)
(There may be a third "name only" plate for Sen. Frederick G. Payne, in office 1953-58,
former Governor of Maine 1949-52.)
UNIVERSITY
Ch. 142 E 10/24/1977. Issued to state university-owned vehicles;
no sticker validation. Black/White, "UNIVERSITY" bottom.
(According to Kennebec Journal, 11/27/1970, the University of Maine will be issued
regular plates #UM1 - UM83 for 1971.)
UND. "MAINE" center, border 300-001 - 300-474
UND. "MAINE" center, no border 300-648 -
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
Ch. 465 E 10/13/1993. Began 2/1/1995. Earliest seen "FEB 96".
Issued at $20 extra cost to supporters of Maine public universities.
Ch. 645 E 4/10/1996 added $15 annual renewal fee after $20 initial surcharge.
Graphic design, "UNIVERSITY" screened bottom, vertical "UMS" prefix, #5 - 32421.
Map of Maine has dots showing the locations of all 7 major campuses.
VETERAN
Ch. 600 E 9/1/1992. Began 9/1/1992. Earliest seen "JUN 93". $5 one-time extra fee.
LEGENDS: "MAINE" top, "VETERAN" bottom, "V" left, all screened in red 1993-2018,
"MAINE" top, "VETERAN" bottom, all screened in red stripes,
with blue at UL corner 2019-20.
COLORS: Dark Blue & Red/White all years.
Wide dies "JUN 93" V 99 - V 19987 (19,889 P)
Thin dies V 20627 - V 99148 (78,522 P)
New design "APR 19" 1001A1 - 9999A1, (Issued 11/13/2018, replaced all "V" plates through 11/12/2019)
Jan. 19 1001B1 - 1115B1, (Progression 1001A1 - 9999A1, 1001A2, etc.)
Jan. 19 1001A2 - 4215A8 (66,323 P)
Ch. 453 E 11/5/2001 provided for optional decals at $5/pair; included 5 branches of the
military and 17 additional decals.
Ch. 433 E 6/23/2005 added 4 more service decals (total 21).
Ch. 437 E 9/12/2009 added 5 more service decals (total 26).
Ch. 22 E 9/28/2011 added 1 more service decal, National Emergency Service Medal (total 27).
Currently (2023) 33 optional decals are available for extra $5 each, representing 5 branches
of the U.S. Armed Forces, 11 acts of bravery, valor or service in hostile fire zones,
10 campaigns, 6 military badges, and 1 native conflict, as follows:
Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy.
Distinguished Service Cross, Navy Cross, Air Force Cross, Silver Star,
Distinguished Flying Cross, Airman's Medal, Coast Guard Medal, Soldier's Medal,
Navy Marine Medal, Bronze Star, Air Medal.
World War II Europe, World War II Pacific, Korean Service, Armed Forces Expeditionary,
Vietnam Service, Southwest Asia Service, Kosovo Campaign,
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary, Afghanistan Campaign, Iraq Campaign.
Army Combat Infantry Badge, Army Combat Medic Badge, Army Combat Action Badge,
Navy and Marine Combat Action Ribbon, Air Force Combat Action Medal,
National Emergency Service Medal. (First 5 of above were introduced in 2010,
when the cost was $2, and the Navy and Marine Corps ribbons were separate.)
Wabanaki Confederacy.
VETERAN MOTORCYCLE
Ch. 734 E 8/11/2000. Earliest seen "MAR 16". Dark Blue/White, "MAINE" top, "VETERAN" bottom, #925 A.
WRECKER
Ch. 437 E 9/18/1981. Began "DEC 81".
LEGENDS: "WRECKER" bottom all years.
COLORS: Dealer colors all years.
1980-87 W 328 A
1988-99 W 292 C
2000-17 W 624 A
PERMITS:
AMERICAN LEGION
Began 1936. Unable to continue the 1934-35 reserved series
A/L 1 - A/L 999, the state issued undated White/Black attachment
strips with "AMERICAN LEGION", available only to members for an
extra fee of 25c per pair.
BUS PERMIT
Listed 1939 and 1940 as plates 1 to 500 assigned from Augusta. None seen.
COMMERCIAL 5 DAYS/10 DAYS
Ch. 211 P 4/9/1921. Began 1922. 1922 5 Day #X-8 reported. Earliest seen 1923.
Supplemental plate issued to out-of-state trucks, tractors and trailers
used commercially for only a limited time in the state. 5-day plates cost
1/4 the annual fee, while 10-day plates cost 1/3 the annual fee. Days of
usage may be spread throughout the year.
Small size, pairs all years.
Last seen 1925. Not listed on 1927 order.
Highest numbers ordered in bold.
LEGENDS: "ME. 1924" top, "5 DAYS" or "10 DAYS" bottom 1924.
(Verify 1922-23)
5 DAYS 10 DAYS
1922 X-500 X-500
1923 X-144
1924 X-1000 X-600
1925 X-520
LIVESTOCK DEALER
Ch. 417 P 8/6/1949, E immediately. Began 1949/50.
Issued by Department of Agriculture.
Discontinued 1968/69; replaced by Livestock & Poultry.
Short passenger size all years. Pairs seen 1955/56, 1962/63.
LEGENDS: "LIVESTOCK DEALER" top, "MAINE'49'50" bottom all years.
1949/50 Black/Silver 471 1959/60 Red/White 308
1950/51 White/Black 261 1960/61 White/Red 225
1951/52 Black/Orange 520 1961/62 Gray/Light Blue 210
1952/53 White/Blue 286 1962/63 Green/White 261
1953/54 White/Red 383 1963/64 Red/White 201
1954/55 White?/Dark Green? 219 1964/65 White/Green 147
1955/56 White/Black 493 1965/66 White/Red 202
1956/57 Black/White 291 1966/67 Red/White 212
1957/58 White/Green 285 1967/68 Blue/White 111
1958/59 Green/White 220
LIVESTOCK & POULTRY
Began 1968/69.
(Previously issued Livestock Dealer or Poultry License plates.)
Short old passenger size 1968/69 - 1974/75, small size 1975/76 - 1987/88.
Next year's passenger "JUN" sticker applied 1978-87, "JUN" month and "90"
year sticker 1989, "JUN" month and "91" to "96" year sticker 1990-95.
Pairs 1970/71 - 1972/73. Flat 1980.
LEGENDS: "LIVESTOCK & POULTRY" top, "MAINE'68'69" bottom 1968/69 - 74/75,
"MAINE 75" top, "LIVESTOCK-POULTRY" bottom 1975-90.
1968/69 White/Green 111 1980 White/Light Blue 296
1969/70 White/Red 199 1981 Red/White 111
1970/71 Black/White 262 1982 Black/White 244
1971/72 Red/White 119 1983 Blue/White 89
1972/73 White/Green 397 1984 Green/White 48
6-30-74 Black/Gold STICKER 1985 Red/White 309
1974/75 White/Red 352 1986 Blue/White 286
1975 Green/White 272 1987 Red/White 351
1976 Red/White 301 1988 Green/White 305
1977 Black/White 154 1989 Blue/White 205
1978 Brown/White 289 1990 Red/White 192
1979 Green/White 274 (Renewed to 1995/96)
MAINE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Ch. 259 P 3/31/1933, E 6/30/1933. Began 1933. Last seen 1971.
CT, MA Interstate and RI also last seen 1971.
Issued to trucks, truck tractors and trailers.
Issued only in Common Carrier (Common) and Contract Carrier
(Limited Contract) categories 1933-34, but distinction between types,
if any, unknown except colors and possibly number blocks?
Steel, non-reflective all years. Pairs seen 1934.
Motorcycle size 1933-35, short passenger size 1936-71.
LTD CON: 4-digits on longer base 1937-41, all on longer base 1944-71.
INT: 5-digits on longer base 1955-71. (Verify short 1971)
Highest numbers ordered in bold.
Floater refers to plates which could be rotated amongst several vehicles,
not issued to a specific vehicle, probably for a much higher fee, but
logical for out-of-state fleets only occasionally entering Maine.
1962-63 "FLOATER" plates (without "TRAILER") were issued to power units.
MPUC REGISTRATIONS COMMON CONTRACT INTERSTATE (Kennebec Journal, 3/10/1937)
1933 240 623 (none)
1934 274 825 (none)
1935 286 1,246 675+ (+Lewiston Sun-Journal, 2/15/1936)
1936 284 1,273 ?
MPUC LEGENDS
ALL "M-P-U-C" top, "MAINE 1933" bottom 1933-35.
COMMON CARRIER "M-P-U-C" top, "MAINE '37" bottom,
vertical "COM" left 1937, 1939-41, 1945, 1956, 1968-70.
CONTRACT CARRIER "M-P-U-C" top, "MAINE '37" bottom, vertical "LTD" left,
vertical "CON" right 1937-41, 1944, 1947, 1956-57, 1960-64, 1968-71.
INTERSTATE CARRIER "M-P-U-C" top, "MAINE '36" bottom,
vertical "INT" left 1936, 1938-41, 1948-51, 1953-71.
TRAILER FLOATER "TRAILER" top, "FLOATER'57" bottom, vertical "MAINE" left,
vertical "MPUC" right 1957-61, 1962 1-4-digit.
FLOATER "M-P-U-C" top, "FLOATER'62" bottom,
vertical "MAINE" left 1962 5-digit, 1963, 1968-71.
1943 TAB "1943/MPUC" top, 1 hole upper mid left.
MPUC NUMBERS
1933 White/Red 463, Black/Red 91
1934 Black/Red 775 (Contract Carrier)
1935 Black/Orange 3, Green/White 312
1943 TAB 202 - 554
COM LTD CON INT FLOATER
1936 716 -
1937 323 1-061
1938 197 333
1939 365 1132 981
1940 400 1200 1000 -
1941 400 700 1000 -
1314
1942 164 1450
1943 TAB
1944 163
1945 500 1700 1400 -
1946 500 1750 2450 -
1947 600 1600 3700 -
1948 600 1600 4100 -
1949 600 1500 4500 -
1950 3605
1951 606 1300 2348
1952
1953 1282 7970
1954 8114
1955 512 11-728 (reported)
1956 588 649 12-591 (reported)
1957 769 715 16-565 1285
1958 1521 18-966 939
1959 900 2093 20-385 858
1960 1025 2194 23-988 1538
1961 1055 20-319 1799
1962 1285 11-746 3730, 10-157 - 11-667
1963 1300 14-183 328 - 13-775
1964 1427 15-975
1965 531 225 17-196
1966 554 19-132
1967 459 869 19-389 221
1968 723 1488 23-966 374
1969 797 1484 26-811 400
1970 285 1183 29-771 13
1971 519 32737 33
MPUC COLORS
1933 White/Red, Black/Red
1934 Black/Red (Contact Carrier)
1935 Black/Orange, Green/White
1943 TAB Black/Red
COM LTD CON INT FLOATER
1936 Black/Orange
1937 White/Red Yellow/Black
1938 Dark Blue/Orange Black/Orange
1939 White/Red Black/Light Blue Light Green/Black
1940 Silver/Dark Green Black/Yellow Dark Green/White
1941 Black/Red Green/Black Yellow/Dark Blue
1942 Black/Yellow
1943 TAB
1944 Black/Red
1945 Red/Gray
1946 Dark Blue/Cream
1947 Red/Dark Green Yellow/Dark Green Silver/Dark Green
1948 Orange/Black White/Black? (Black/Blue listed)
1949 (Green/White?) Black/White
1950 Red/Black
1951 Red/Light Blue White/Dark Blue Orange/Black?
1952
1953 Orange/Green White/Green
1954 Red/Black
1955 Green/Yellow Black/Yellow
1956 Orange/Light Green Silver/Light Green Red/Light Green (reported)
1957 Blue/Red Black/Red White/Red Black/White?
1958 Light Green/Black Orange/Black Silver/Dark Green
1959 White/Black? Orange/Black? Black/Light Blue Red/Silver
1960 Black/Light Green Maroon/Light Green Silver/Light Green Yellow/Black
1961 White/Red Black/Red Black/Silver
1962 Light Blue/Yellow Black/Yellow Black/Light Green
1963 Black/Red Silver/Red Black/Light Blue
1964 Light Blue/Yellow Black/Yellow
1965 White/Light Green White/Light Green Black/Light Blue
1966 Light Blue/Orange Black/Orange
1967 Black/Red White/Red Silver/Red White/Light Blue
1968 Yellow?/Light Green White/Light Green Black/Light Green Silver/Red
1969 White/Orange Light Blue/Orange Black/Orange Silver/Light Green
1970 White/Red Silver/Red Black/Red White/Blue
1971 White/Light Green Black/Light Green Silver/Red
MILK LICENSE
Began 1923. Last seen 1958.
Issued by Department of Agriculture to milk delivery trucks and
horse-drawn wagons. Registration year April 1 to March 30.
1923: 4,541 issued; 2,202 to wagons. 1924: 4,673 issued.
Small-size plate all years.
Highest numbers ordered in bold. 1951 has slots at bottom.
LEGENDS: "MILK LICENSE" top, "MAINE 1926" bottom 1923-34,
"MILK/LICENSE" top, "MAINE 1936" bottom 1935-39, 1941-42, 1944-58,
"MILK/LICENSE" top, "MAINE '40" bottom 1940. (Verify 1943)
1923 Blue/Yellow 2187 1941 Dark Green/Yellow 2032
1924 Blue/Red 2461 1942 Silver/Maroon 2354
1925 Blue/Yellow 2461 1943
1926 Blue/Yellow 2040 1944 Yellow/Black 1062
1927 Yellow/Black 1230 1945 Dark Blue/Cream 2000
1928 White/Green 1404 1946 Black/Light Blue 748
1929 Orange/Black 1702 1947 Dark Blue/Cream 1600 [White/Red]
1930 White/Red 2089 1948 White/Black 1400
1931 White/Green 1022 1949 Red/Silver 1200
1932 White/Black 1641 1950 Black/Silver 1029
1933 Black/Red 1693 1951 Silver/Black 540
1934 White/Blue 1348 1952 Maroon/Silver 925
1935 White/Red 1912 1953 Silver?/Red 188
1936 Black/Yellow 2413 1954 Green/Silver 933
1937 Dark Blue/White 2098 1955 Silver?/Green 959
1938 Dark Green/Gray 2203 1956 Silver/Red 232
1939 Black/Yellow 1942 1957 Silver?/Dark Blue 818
1940 Black/Red 2600 1958 Black/Aluminum 887
MOTOR BOAT
Listed 1941. None seen. Prison records show that "Motor Boat
Plates" #1 to 999 were shipped to Augusta on 11/18/1940.
OUTDOOR ADVERTISING
Ch. 163 P 4/6/1935, E 1/1/1936. None seen.
Undated unpainted aluminum plates reported.
Issued by State Highway Commission.
Prison records show 500 4" x 6" Outdoor Advertising plates being
shipped to Augusta on 8/9/1940, 12/14/1940 and again on 12/28/1940.
POULTRY LICENSE
Ch. 159 P 3/24/1933. Began 1933/34. Issued by Department of Agriculture.
Discontinued 1968/69; replaced by Livestock & Poultry.
Small-size plate all years.
Highest numbers ordered in bold.
LEGENDS: "POULTRY LICENSE" top, "MAINE 1933-34" bottom 1933/34,
"POULTRY/LICENSE" top, "MAINE '36'37" bottom 1936/37, 1942/43, 1945/46 - 46/47,
1948/49, 1950/51, 1954/55.
(Verify 1934/35 - 35/36, 1937/38 - 41/42, 1943/44 - 44/45,
1947/48, 1949/50, 1951/52 - 53/54, 1955/56 - 67/68)
1933/34 Black/Green 92 1951/52
1934/35 1952/53
1935/36 1953/54
1936/37 White/Blue 157 1954/55 White/Black 134
1937/38 1955/56
1938/39 1956/57
1939/40 1957/58
1940/41 250 1958/59
1941/42 1959/60
1942/43 White/Dark Green 113 1960/61
1943/44 1961/62
1944/45 250 1962/63
1945/46 White/Black 12 1963/64
1946/47 Cream/Dark Blue 8 1964/65
1947/48 Cream/Dark Blue 300 1965/66
1948/49 Black/Cream 300 1966/67
1949/50 Orange/Black 250 1967/68
1950/51 Red/Gray 165
SEPTAGE CONVEYOR
Ch. 601 E 10/3/1973. Earliest seen 1975. Full-size supplemental plate.
Issued by Department of Environmental Protection.
Undated, Black/Yellow, "MAINE" bottom center,
"SEPTAGE CONVEYOR" on Black/White decal top 1975-77.
Year stickers Black/White 1975-77.
1975-77 SC 009 - SC 161, SC 017A, SC 003B
TRAILER TITLE
Ch. 239 P 4/19/1939, E 7/21/1939, required all motor vehicles and trailers
to have a title before being registered. Those trailers which were
home-made and had no factory serial number were issued an identification
number on a small plate. "S.A." reportedly stands for Self Assembled.
Reported 1939 as small embossed, painted plate.
Earliest seen 1940, unpainted brass, 2 1/2" x 4", "MAINE NO." top left,
"TRAILER S.A. 1794 '40" bottom 1940. #5635, 7660, 9191 also seen.
Prison records show plates shipped to Augusta as follows:
#3001 - 4000 1/31/1940, #4001 - 5800 2/10/1940, #5801 - 7600 2/26/1940,
#7601 - 9999 3/?/1940. Repealed by Ch. 301 P 6/5/1940, E immediately.
(A new title law was not passed until 1973, by when all states except
Alabama and Maine had such laws.)
Last seen 1941, same, #A3236, #699B. Unknown under what authority plates
continued to be issued. Prison records show plates shipped to Augusta
as follows: #A1 - A999 9/27/1940, #A1000 - A3500 10/14/1940.
On 4/11/1941, prisoners were "cutting brass for special trailer plates",
presumably for 1942.
ZONE (1922-45: See Table 1)
Ch. 205 P 4/9/1913. Earliest seen 1918. Issued at no cost
to non-residents living within 15 miles of Maine border and
registered in their home state. 1913 law specified single oval
plates to be displayed on the front. Not issued for motorcycles.
Ch. 171 P 4/3/1917 added a $2 fee.
Ch. 211 P 4/4/1919 left the shape of plate now at discretion of SOS, E 1/1/1920.
Ch. 180 P 4/6/1935 changed shape back to oval for 1936.
Oval 1918-19, 1936-45, small rectangular plate 1920-27, round 1935.
Change to rectangular in 1920 probably to accomodate word "ZONE".
Highest numbers ordered in bold. Singles 1917-19, 1939-45. Pairs 1922-27.
Discontinued 1946. Suspended until 12/31/1947 by Ch. 342 P 7/21/1945. Ch. 360
P 8/13/1947 repealed Sec. 5 of 1945 Ch. 342, making the suspension permanent.
LEGENDS: "ME." top, "1918" bottom, smaller "Z" stencilled on at left 1918,
"ME." top, "1919" bottom 1919,
"ME." top, "ZONE 1920" bottom 1920-27,
"ME'35" top, "ZONE" bottom 1935-42, 1945.
(Verify 1913-17, 1928-34, 1944)
1917 Z 50
1918 Z 100
1919 100 130
1920 400
1921 200
TABLE 1: (Highest numbers ordered in
bold)
DEALER M/C D ZONE SERVICE SIDE CAR MUNICIPAL1922 1000-A M75A 500 500 1500 -
1923 710-A M44A 203 458 -
1924 1200-A M75A 500 250 1200 CX-115
1925 948-A M 1 A 411* 351 CX-688*
1926 1177A M 3 A 267* CX-683
1927 1-500A 75A 600 75 700 CX-1-000
1928 1-500A M75A 600 75 700 CX-1-100
1929 861A M21A 350 CX-881
1930 1-500A M75A 75 700 CX-1-000
CX-1-057
1931 1068A M 5 A CX-1-249
1932 1124A M50A 32 CX-1-329
1933 1368A M18A CX-1-719
1934 715A M39A 108 2000
1935 1049A 452 361 1652
1936 518A 86 M1-162
1937 518A M11B 663 M1-703
1938 373A M50A 792 M1-761
1939 800A M40A 1000 50 500 M2-200
1940 800A M40A 1000 40 400 M2-200
1941 700A M12A 999 28 400 M2-200
1942 373A 188 150 -
1944 500A M12A 350 25 100 -
1945 500A M12A 500 25 100 -
TABLE 2: (Highest numbers ordered in bold)
TRACTOR TRAILER HIRE CONVERTIBLE
1922 2000 1500 - -
1923 363 744 2-819 -
1924 1000 1200 H-4-500 -
1925 5 455 H-1-674 -
1926 766 H-2-310 O4-023*
1927 800 1200 H-4-500 O5-000
1928 900 1-200 H-4-500 O5-000
1-276
1929 7 581 H-1-175 O4-509
1930 1-000 2-000 H-3-000 O6-500
1931 712 2-292 H-2-042* O4-392
1932 607 3673 H-2-471 O3-106
1933 521 5725 H-1-026 O3-308
1934 5 7600 H/B 222 O/B 525
1935 357 5998 H/C 1 O/D 278
1936 2146 8624 (none?) O2-019
1937 1245 10212 H1-209 O2-174
1938 2002 10595 H2-000 O2-770
1939 2500 12000 H2-000 O3-000
1940 3500 12000 H1-500 O2-500
1941 2500 14000 H1-500 O2-500
2617
1942 15000 H1-836 O1-985
1944 4500 12000 H1-100 O2-500
1945 5000 15000 H1-500 O2-500
1946 STEEL 6-526 21-784 H 368 O4716
BRASS (7352) 22726 (H1993)
23500
TABLE 3:
TRACTOR TRAILER HIRE CONVERTIBLE FARM ANTIQUE
1948 BRASS 8000 21692 H1700 O6500 - -
ALUM. 22681 - -
24000 - -
50 DIES 24001 O6501 - -
24851 O7160 - -
1950 DIES 13-530 51-106 H2-361 O20-289 - -
50 DIES CUT 54-036 O22-467 - -
55-911 - -
56 DIES SLOTS 14-197 57-745 O23-849 - -
O24-177 - -
56 DIES HOLES O24-958 - -
O25-857 - -
1956 9899 35-134 [H 1200] O29-931 F 3977 -
UND.TAB R 10-078 37-737 O33-171 F 4196 -
14-437 69-120 O57-516 F 6957 -
UND.TAB L 15-492 70-144 O58-466 (F 8497) -
16-174 90-604 O77-895 -
1962 10-898 63-546 [H 1000] - F 7976 300
UNDATED 11-296 66-497 H 1381 - F 9100 376
18-767 167-550 H 1417 - F10-789 451
1968 11-551 104-601 H 938 - F 8054 437
UND.SLOTS 105-441 -
109-727 -
UND.BAR 11-940 110-162 - F 8990 501
19-113 251-865 - F13-422 699
UND.NO BAR 20-010 256-092 - 774
21-953 319-074 - 811
1974 ME. 11-374 124-182 H 929 - F 9024 843
1974 ARK. 125-682 -
148-892 -
1974 ME. 151-762 -
205-000 -
UND. MAINE L 11-826 205-001 H 1174 - F11-623 875
"FEB 76" 16-432 360-033 - 1083
UND. MAINE R - F12-344
"FEB 79" - F13-126
UND. MAINE C 16-577 363-289 H 1529 - F13-705 1103
"FEB 79" 27-395 598-231 H 1639 - F26-420 2803
"FEB 83" A 10135 -
C 34829 -
UND. NO BORD. 27-578 C 37403 - F28-522 3047
"FEB 87" 28-124 C 93067 - F29-197 3114
UND. BORDER 28-865 C 96575 -
"FEB 88" D 66992 -
LOBSTER Wide 35-072 (non- H 4001 - F41-754 4001
48-316 graphic) H 4944 - F55-744 7909
Thin 51-955 5832 - F56-852 8015
54-588 7877 - F61-505 12-883
CHICKADEE 60-001 8001 - 65-001 15-001
74-447 12-140 - 92-596 103-487
