MAINE
1905-11 UNDATED BASE TOTAL GAP
6-1-1905 Type 1 1 - 532 (532) 121
Sep. 1905 Type 2 654 - 799 (146) 11
Apr. 1906 Type 3 811 - 847 (37) 25
May 1906 Type 4 873 - 991 (119) 30
Jun. 1906 Type 5 1022 - 1384 (363) 23
Mar. 1907 Type 6 1408 - 1458 (51) 54
Apr. 1907 Type 7 1513 - 1977 (465) 49
Aug. 1907 Type 8 2027 - 2479 (453) 45
May 1908 Type 9 2525 - 3082 (558) 36
Sep. 1908 Type 10 3119 - 3371 (253) 51
Apr. 1909 Type 11 3423 - 3552 (130) 84
May 1909 Type 11a 3637 - 4014 (378) 60
Jun. 1909 Type 12 4075 - 7296 (3,222) 42
Feb. 1911 Type 11b 7339 - 7595 (257) 12
Apr. 1911 Type 13 7608 - 10050 (2,443)
Description of Types: (Types 1 and 11 black back, all others white)
Type 1 - "55", serial font A, 1" high "MAINE", square corners, small slots
and holes, no grommets, 7 1/2" long
Type 2 - "85", white back, otherwise as Type 1
Type 3 - "36", serial font A, 3/4" high "MAINE." in M/C-style font, 7" long
Type 4 - "46", 1" high raised (not sunken) "MAINE" fired over 3/4" high
"MAINE.", otherwise as Type 3
Type 5 - "36", otherwise as Type 2, 9 1/4" long
Type 6 - "46", otherwise as Type 5
Type 7 - "37", serial font B, round corners, large slots only on front
plate of pair, small holes, no grommets, medium red, 9 1/2" long
Type 8 - "87", serial font B, round corners, far large slots on both plates
of pair, holes, no grommets, bright red
Type 9 - "28", serial font B, slightly round corners, close medium slots,
small holes, no grommets, medium red
Type 10 - "88", serial font B, round corners, far large slots, small holes,
no grommets, bright red
Type 11 - No mark, serial font B, round corners, zinc grommets
Type 11a - Baltimore seal "ENAMELED/IRON SIGNS", otherwise as Type 11
Type 11b - Same as Type 11
Type 12 - Baltimore seal "ENAMELED IRON/SIGNS", serial font B, square
corners, close large slots & holes, zinc grommets, bright red
Type 13 - No mark, serial font C, square corners, large slots and holes,
brass grommets, orange-red
After it was discovered in March 1906 that "MAINE" was the wrong size,
it appears that about 50 pairs (probably #801 - 850) were kept on hand
to issue, while the rest of the incorrect original Type 3 order,
probably #851 - 999, was sent back to the factory to refire the state
name as Type 4, just in time to be issued by at least May 14, 1906.
1912-13 plates are undated. Truck began 1913.
Highest initially ordered in bold.
1912 1 - 8179, 9181 10000 1928 1 - 139-172* 135-000
1913 1 - 10329, 10839 (?) 1929 1 - 144-936
1914 1 - 14499 14500 1930 1 - 149-198* 150-000
1915 1 - 21234 16000 1931 1 - 151-030* 158-000
1916 1 - 28750 1932 1 - 164-522*
1917 1 - 38-075 35-000 1933 1 - 162-250*
1918 1 - 41-402* 45-000 1934-35 (see below)
1919 1 - 47-629 48-000 1936 1 - 156-423* 152-000
1920 1 - 55-354 55-000 1937 1 - 161-893*
1921 1 - 67-234 68-500 1938 1 - 161-414* 152-000
1922 1 - 78-661 80-000 1939 1 - 159-749* 162-000
1923 1 - 89-631 85-000 1940 1 - 164-083* 165-000
1924 1 - 104-992 105-000 1941 1 - 171-858 164-000
1925 1 - 114-151* 1942 1 - 176-442 177-000
1926 1 - 121-940* 1944 1 - 154-994* 155-000
1927 1 - 131-008* 130-000 1945 1 - 152-504 155-000
1914: 12000 ordered, then 14500.
1915: 19001 - 20000 skipped; 21289 issued on December 21.
1916: 28981 highest issued as of December 16.
1919: 45-000 ordered, then 48-000.
1920: 50-000 ordered, then 55-000.
1921: 55-000 ordered, then 65-000, then 68-500.
1924: 95-000 ordered, then 105-000.
1942: 167-000 ordered, then 177-000 (made and delivered in 1943).
RESERVED NUMBERS
Ch. 287 P 4/7/1917 provided for reserving of numbers for 1918, but no
numbers or deadline specified in law. Numbers 1 to 3-000 were reserved
for 1918 up to December 15, 1917. For 1919, the deadline was moved up
to December 1, 1918.
Ch. 24 P 3/8/1919 repealed 1917 law and specified #2 to #3-000 and
#X-1 - X-500 for 1920, with December 1 deadline.
Ch. 14 P 3/14/1927 increased to #5-000 for 1928.
Ch. 79 P 3/20/1931 increased to #7-000 for 1932.
Ch. 212 P 4/12/1939 added $1 one-time fee for 1940, and SOS may
reserve additional numbers. By 1944, increased to #8-000, but all
numbers reservable by the deadline.
Ch. 107 P 8/13/1947 changed deadline to Nov. 1.
Fee waived in tab years 1949 and 1951-55. (The 1987 fee was $5.)
Numbers reservable:
1944-46 2 - 155-000? 1956 2 - 238-000 1974 2 - 477-000
1948 2 - 175-000 1962 2 - 325-000 1987 2 - 999-999,
1950 2 - ? 1968 2 - 344-000 1A - 99999 N
1934-35
During the Depression, Maine was left with thousands of unsold 1932 plates,
so during 1933, plans were made to design smaller plates to cut costs.
The law specified 4" tall numbers but did not mention alphabetic letters;
through this loophole, officials decided to try an alpha system similar
to that in use in Connecticut since 1932, using smaller stackable letters.
This system began with the 1934 plates, as the 1933 series had already been
ordered and manufactured. The letter system ended due to the requirement
for "Vacationland" on plates. Also, the law was changed regarding number
height (Ch. 162 P 4/6/1935 to 3 inches).
1934 1 - 9-999, A 1 - W 999, Z 1 - Z 999, A/A 1 - F/C 999 (138,000 P) F/N 418 (147,280*P)x1935 1 - 9-999, A 1 - W 999, Z 1 - Z 999, A/A 1 - G/C 824 (145,688*P)
x1934: No H,J,O,X,Y used. (Verify AD,AK,AN,AU,AV,AW,AZ,BL,BS,BU,BW,BZ, (1 prefix skipped, likely CL) CA,CI,CL,DA,DE,DP,EA,EI,EK,EW, FA,FB,FD,FE,FF,FI,FK,FL,FM)x1935: No H,I,J,O,Q,X,Y used. (Verify AR,AT,AV,BF,BK,BL, CE,CG,CS,DE,DK,DN,EN, FP,FR,FU,FV,GA,GB)xNon-Pass. Prefixes: H/A - H/B, O/A - O/D, X, X/A - Z/B.1935 also seen: G/F 1, K/R 1, M/D 1. Y/D issued to passenger cars of veterans of Yankee Division in World War I.(Capacity of 370,638 would have been reached 1955.)
1946-47 BASE
1946 Type 1: Heavy steel 1 - 184-000 (184,000 S) 86.8%Mar.47 Type 2: Brass 184-001 - 204-000 (20,000 S) 9.4%
Sep.47 Type 3: Light steel A1001 - A9000 (8,000 S) 3.8%
(TOTAL 212,000 S)
1948-49 BASE
1948 Type 1 1 - 154-500 (154,500 S)
Apr.48 Type 2 154-501 - 168-700 (14,200 S)
Apr.48 Type 1a 168-701 - 172-600 (3,900 S)
May 48 Type 2a 172-601 - 196-898 (24,298 S)Oct.48 Type 1b 196-906 -Feb.49 Type 2b 198-480 - 207-000 (8,521 S)
Apr.49 Type 3 207-001 - 223-999 (16,999 S)
(TOTAL 223,999 S)
Description of Types: Type 1 - Brass, 1936-46 dies (158,401 S) 71.4%
Type 2 - Aluminum, 1936-46 dies (47,019 S) 21.0%
Type 3 - Aluminum, 1950-55 dies (16,999 S) 7.6%
All tabs 1949-67 have no serial.
1950-55 UNDATED BASE
1950 Type 1 1 - 6819 (6,819 P)
1950 Type 2 6902 - 9919 (3,018 P)
1950 Type 1a 10-904 - 339-245 (328,342 P)
1954 Type 3 339-899 - 354-932 (15,034 P)
1955 Type 4 355-022 - 367-000 (11,979 P)
1955 Type 5 367-236 - 372-103 (4,868 P)1955 Type 4a 373-574 -1955 Type 5a 374-811 - 375-213 (403 P)
(TOTAL 375,213 P)
Description of Types:
Type 1 - 1950-55 dies, bolt slots, 6 1/4" height, long 3 1/2" "MAINE" (333,865 P)
Type 2 - As Type 1, but short 3 1/4" "MAINE"
Type 3 - 1950-55 dies, bolt slots, 6" x 11 1/2", bottom edge cut
Type 4 - 1956-93 dies, bolt slots, 6" x 11 1/2"Type 5 - 1956-93 dies, bolt holes, 6" x 12" (Verify length)
1956-61 BASE
1956 Type 1 1 - 263-856 (Types 1-21956 Type 2 (see below) 263,856 P)
1957 Type 3 264-033 - 290-259 (26,227 P)
1958 Type 4 291-906 - 382-780 (90,875 P)
1959 Type 5 384-719 - 386-788 (2,070 P)
1959 Type 4a 388-490 -1960 Type 5a 389-007 - 407-195 (18,189 P)1960 Type 6 408-959 - 447-181 (38,223 P)
1961 Type 7 448-237 - 460-981 (12,745 P)
1961 Type 8 462-163 - 462-176 (14 P)
(TOTAL 462,176 P)
Description of Types:
Type 1 - Dated "56", bright gold, small holes, tab under UR
hole, "M" of "MAINE" under UL hole, deep front strike
Type 2 - As Type 1, but "MAINE" to right of UL hole, shallow strike
Type 3 - As Type 1, but undated
Type 4 - As Type 3, but dull gold
Type 5 - As Type 4, but large holes, tab left of UR hole, aluminum
Type 6 - As Type 5, but galvanized steel
Type 7 - As Type 5, but plain steel, short 6 1/2" 1956 slogan
Type 8 - As Type 7, but long 6 5/8" 1962 slogan
TYPE 1 - DEEP STRIKE GAP TYPE 2 - SHALLOW STRIKE GAP
1 - 947 163 1111 - 24-699 360 25-060 - 39-225 1,229 40-455 - 48-775 318 49-094 - 150-953 6,251 157-205 - 186-126 890
187-017 - 208-995 436 209-432 - 219-035 1,243 220-193 - 225-213 627 225-841 - 1,187 227-029 - 128 227-158 - 317 227-418 - 268-797 (271-613?) 271-632 -(272-561 - 276-668) (277-110?)(277-492 - 290-259)
(TOTAL 180,223) (TOTAL 70,438)xxxxx1962-67 BASE
1962 Type 1 1 - 381-744 (381,744 P)
1963 Type 2 384-856 - 429-087 (44,232 P)
1964 Type 3 430-046 - 451-583 (21,538 P)
1964 Type 2a 456-835 - 466-135 (9,301 P)
1965 Type 3a 467-005 - 617-020 (150,016 P)
(TOTAL 617,020 P)
Description of Types:
Type 1 - Dated "62", beaded surface
Type 2 - Undated, beaded surface (53,533 P)
Type 3 - Undated, scotchlite surface (171,554 P)
1968-73 BASE
1968 Type 1 1 - 394-958 (394,958 P)
1969 Type 2 395-113 - 403-186 (8,074 P)
1969 Type 3 403-523 - 680-653,680-998(277,131 P)
1972 Type 4 (683-354) 680-805 - 792-991 (112,187 P)
(TOTAL 792,991 P)
Description of Types: Type 1 - Dated "68", tab slots, decal bar
Type 2 - Undated, tab slots, decal bar
Type 3 - Undated, no slots, decal bar
Type 4 - Undated, no slots or decal bar
1974-88 BASE All letters used.*
1974 Type 1 1 - 81-500 (81,500 P)
1974 Type 2 81-501 - 488-000 (406,500 P)
1974 (Undated) Type 3 488-001 - 505-516 (17,516 P)
Apr.75 "APR 76" Type 4 505-739 - 509-489 (3,751 P)
Feb.75 "FEB 76" Type 5 510-002 - 533-646 (23,645 P)
Aug.75 "AUG 76" Type 3a 536-376 -
Aug.75 "AUG 76" Type 5a 537-177 - 552-523 (15,347 P)
Nov.75 "NOV 76" Type 3b 553-618 - 553-961 (344 P)
Sep.75 "SEP 76" Type 5b 554-006 - 598-037 (44,032 P)
Feb.76 "FEB 77" Type 6 599-260 - 611-797 (12,538 P)
Feb.76 "FEB 77" Type 7 612-090 - 779-489 (167,400 P)
Feb.77 "FEB 78" Type 6a 779-507 - 874-987 (95,481 P)
May 78 "MAY 79" Type 8 875-309 - 999-999 (124,691 P)
Feb.79 "FEB 80" Type 8a 1A - 70581 B (170,580 P)
Aug.80 "AUG 81" Type 8b 740-20B - 764-76B (2,457 P)
Aug.80 "AUG 81" Type 8c 77129 B - 70000 K (793,863 P)
Feb.86 "FEB 87" Type 9 70001 K - 35090 M (165,088 P)
Dec.86 "DEC 87" Type 10 54829 M - 87000 M (32,172 P)
Aug.86 "AUG 87" Type 11 90003 M - 53980 N (63,977 P)
(TOTAL 2,254,966 P)
Description of Types:
Type 1 - Dated "74", with decal bar
Type 2 - Dated "74", no decal bar, "M" of "MAINE" under UL hole
Type 3 - Undated, "M" of "MAINE" under UL hole, off-white
Type 4 - Dated "74", "MAINE" to right of UL hole
Type 5 - Undated, "MAINE" to right of UL hole, off-white
Type 6 - As Type 5, but snow-white
Type 7 - As Type 3, but snow-white
Type 8 - Undated, "MAINE" centered, painted border, no hologram
Type 9 - As Type 8, but no painted border, no hologram
Type 10 - As Type 9, but "86" hologram
Type 11 - As Type 8, but "87" hologram (reported start 90000 M)
1A - 9999A centered with no space, 1-5-figures centered with space
1 B - 9999 G, 1-4-digits centered with letter at far right 1 H - 9999 N.
*I series issued from 1 to 999 only.
Replaced July 1987 to June 1988.
1987-2000 LOBSTER BASE All letters used.*
7-1-87 "JUL 88" Type 1/2 1 O - 99999 Z (1,100,088 P)
May 90 "MAY 91" Type 1a 1 AA - 9999 ZZ (229,977 P)
Sep.91 "SEP 92" Type 1b 1 AB - 9964 AY (239,941 P)
Apr.93 "APR 94" Type 3/4 776 AZ - 9881 ER (919,015 P)
Jun.99 "JUNE00" Type 5 33 ES - 1139 ES (1,107 P)
Jun.99 "JUNE00" Type 4c 1149 ES - 2175 ES (1,027 P)
(TOTAL 2,492,124 P)
Description of Types:
Type 1 - Wide dies, unpainted back
Type 2 - Wide dies, light green back
Type 3 - Thin dies, unpainted back, numbers flush left (reported start 1 AZ)
Type 4 - As Type 3, but numbers one space to the right "MAY 97"
Type 5 - As Type 4, but embossed slogan
Any 1974-87 number could be reserved, expire "OCT 87" to "SEP 88".
Type 1: *O series issued 1 - 99 only.
Type 1a: Repeating-letter combinations only; FF,II,OO omitted.
Type 1b: CI series reported but doubtful.
Types 3-4: BB,CC,DD,EE,EO omitted. 2999 ES last number made.
919 FM, 101 FW, 35 FX specially made.
Replaced July 1999 to June 2000.
2000-23 CHICKADEE BASE No O used.
7-1-99 "JULY00" 1 GA - 9999 ZY (4,249,575 P)10-20-23 "DEC 24" 217-JBA, 305-JWB, 545-JAE
Omitted suffixes: GG,HH,II,JJ,KK,LL,MM,NG,NN,PI,PP,PU,QE-QZ,RR,SI, SS,TI,TT,UI,UU,VI,VV,WI,WW,XI,XX,YI,YY,ZI,ZZ.
Original batch up to 9999 KR (1,119,888 P). KS seen 2/5/2002.
JU series recalled after few issued.As of 2023, 1 to 25 in each suffix not made unless a number isspecifically requested by DMV director, but all are counted.Highest seen: 11 KZ (16 YF reported)(Verify xxxx HW)
OPTIONAL EXTRA-COST ISSUES:
1994-2023 LOON BASE $20 annual fee. No I used.
4-1-94 "APR 94" C/R 1 - C/R 99999 (99,999 P)
Feb.96 "FEB 97" C/R 1A - C/R 8663Q (138,649 P)
(TOTAL 238,648 P)
U-Z suffixes reserved for non-pass.Ch. 410 E 4/1/1994 for Loon and Personalized Loon base.Ch. 256 E 6/14/1995 changed $20 annual fee to $20 initial, $15 renewal.Ch. 202 E 6/9/1995 provides for use of Loon plates on Baxter StatePark Authority vehicles.
xxxxxx
2003-23 OPTIONAL BASES No I,O used.Fees $20/initial, $15/renewal except no fee Low Speed Vehicle, Wabanaki,Sportsman $20/20, EMS $5/0. Open series: APA, AQA, AUA, BAA, BKA.APA reportedly issued to Agriculture Commercial.
CHAPTER
New Lobster 5-1-03 "AUG 03" 101-AAA - 999-ABZ (43,152 P) 623 E 7/25/2002(370-ARA = Comm.) 9-1-10 "AUG 11" 101-AEB - 999-AEZ (20,677 P) "OCT 17" 101-AXA - 999-AXZ (21,576 P) Feb. 20 101-BEA - 999-BEZ (21,576 P) Dec. 22 101-BLA - 103-BLH (6,296 P) (TOTAL 113,277 P)
U/Maine Black Bear 11-3-03 "DEC 03" 101-ACA - 778-ADU (38,436 P) 623 E 7/25/2002Low Speed Vehicle ?-?-03 101-AEA - 698-AEA (598 P) 317 E 6/3/2003
Wabanaki 8-12-05 "JUL 06" 101-AFA - 959-AFC (2,657 P) 683 E 7/30/2004
Agriculture 10-1-07 "FEB 08" 101-AGA - 999-AGZ (19,778 P) 456 E 6/28/2007(AGC = Comm., Aug. 11 "SEP 13" 101-ANA - 999-ANZ (21,576 P)(AGF = Farm) Nov. 18 101-BCA - 175-BCY (19,853 P) (TOTAL 61,207 P)
Custom Vehicle 7-1-06 "OCT 07" 101-AHA - 203-AHE (3,699 P) 321 E 7/1/2006
Support Our Troops 11-1-07 "MAR 08" 101-AJA - 292-AJZ (20,869 P) 703 E 7/18/2007
Sportman 4-7-08 "MAR 09" 101-AKA - 999-AKZ (21,576 P) 240 E 6/7/2007 Feb. 12 "SEP 12" 101-ASA - 999-ASZ (21,576 P) 101-AVA - 999-AVZ (21,576 P) Jun. 19 101-BDA - 999-BDZ (21,576 P) Feb. 22 101-BHA - 698-BHY (20,376 P) (TOTAL 106,680 P)
Breast Cancer 10-1-08 "NOV 08" 101-ALA - 999-ALZ (21,576 P) 547 E 6/30/2008 "DEC 13" 101-ATA - 999-ATZ (21,576 P) 101-AYA - 176-AYM (9,965 P) (TOTAL 53,117 P)Animal Welfare 10-1-09 "APR 10" 101-AMA - 999-AMZ (21,576 P) 73 E 9/12/2009 Sep. 15 101-AWA - 999-AWZ (21,576 P) Feb. 22 101-BGA - 752-BGF (5,147 P) (TOTAL 48,951 P)EMS 2-6-18 101-AZA - 506-AZA (406 P) 302 E 11/1/2017 (Allocated to 999-AZY)Barbara Bush Hosp. 10-1-18 "NOV 18" 101-BBA - 999-BBZ (21,576 P) 400 E 8/1/2018 Dec. 22 101-BJA - 239-BJC (1,937 P) (TOTAL 23,513 P)Lighthouse Trust 10-18-21 "MAY 22" 101-BFA - 550-BFQ (13,036 P) 36 P 5/4/2021x(Verify AJQ, ALQ, ASQ, BBQ, BCQ, BEQ, BFQ, BHQ, bold reported)xCOMMEMORATIVE FRONT PLATES (Plastic 1970, 1976, Metal 1985 on.)Maine Sesquicentennial - Ch. 148 E 10/1/1969. Valid 12/25/1969 - 3/1/1971.U.S. Bicentennial - Ch. 171 E 6/28/1974. Valid 7/1/1974 - 1/1/1977.Shapleigh Bicentennial - Resolve Ch. 67 E 7/25/1984. Valid 1/1 to 12/31 1985.Waterboro Bicentennial - Resolve Ch. 3 E 3/3/1987. Expires 12/31/1987.Aroostook County Sesquicentennial - Resolve Ch. 2 E 3/23/1989. Expires 12/31/1989.Hancock County Bicentennial - Resolve Ch. 12 E 4/28/1989. Expires 12/31/1989.Vinalhaven Bicentennial - Resolve Ch. 30 E 6/16/1989. Expires 12/31/1989.Patriot/U.S. Flag (to show support for the armed services in the Persian Gulf region) - Ch. 7 E 3/7/1991 $5 Expires 3/30/1992. - Ch. 758 E 6/29/1991 to sell as souvenirs for $2. - Ch. 869 E 4/9/1992, repealing Ch. 758, extending validity to 3/30/1993.Bucksport Bicentennial - 1992 seen.Augusta Bicentennial - 1997 seen.Hollis Bicentennial - 1998 seen.World Acadian Congress - Resolve Ch. 156 E 8/30/2012. $25. Valid 12/?/2012 - 12/31/2015.U.S. Navy Reserve Centennial - Resolve Ch. 43 E 7/4/2015. $15. Expires 3/3/2016.Maine Bicentennial - Resolve Ch. 23 E 10/15/2015. $25. Valid 1/1/2018 - 12/31/2020.
