Vehicle registration plates of Maine

Current Maine license plate

The U.S. state of Maine first required its residents to register their motor vehicles and display license plates in 1905.

Passenger plates 1905 to present

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

Image Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
1905-11 White on red none 123; 1234; 12345 1 to 999, then 1 to 9999, then 1 to 99999
1912 Black on yellow none 1234 1 to approximately 2300
1913 Yellow on black none 1234 1 to approximately 4200
1914 White on dark blue none 1234 1 to approximately 5600
1915 Blue on white none 1234 1 to approximately 7800
1916 White on dark blue none 12345 1 to approximately 97000
1917 Blue on white none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 145-000
1918 Forest green lettering on white base; "MAINE 1918" in green letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 176-000
1919 White lettering embossed on brown base; "MAINE 1919" in white letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 231-000
1920 Brown lettering embossed on white base; "MAINE 1920" in brown letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 263-000
1921 White lettering embossed on maroon base; "MAINE 1921" in white letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 279-000
1922 White lettering embossed on blue base; "MAINE 1922" in white letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 312-000
1923 Blue lettering embossed on white base; "MAINE 1923" in blue letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 338-000
1924 White lettering embossed on black base; "MAINE 1924" in white letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 356-000
1925 Blue lettering embossed on white base; "MAINE 1925" in blue letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 379-000
1926 Yellow lettering embossed on blue base; "MAINE 1926: in yellow letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 394-000
1927 Embossed navy lettering and border on golden yellow base; "MAINE 1927" in wide blue letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 416-000
1928 Embossed navy lettering and border on white base; "MAINE 1928" in wide blue letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 435-000
1929 Embossed white lettering and border on navy base; "MAINE 1929" in wide white letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 459-000
1930 Embossed white lettering and border on red base; "MAINE 1930" in wide white letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 478-000
1931 Embossed white lettering and border on black base; "MAINE 1931" in wide white letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 494-000
1932 Embossed white lettering and border on green base; "MAINE 1932" in wide white letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 517-000
1933 Embossed white lettering and border on black base; "MAINE 1933" in wide white letters centered at bottom. none 12-345
123-456 (both with square dash)
1 to approximately 539-000
1934 Embossed black lettering and border on orange base; "MAINE '34" in wide black letters centered at bottom. none 1-234 1 to approximately 5-000 First use of stacked letters at left of plate, This lasted until 1935.
A/B123 A/A1 to E/V999
1935 Embossed white lettering and border on blue base; "MAINE '35" in wide white letters centered at bottom. none 1-234 1 to approximately 8-000
A/B123 A/A1 to E/K999
1936 Embossed white numbers on black plate with border line; "MAINE 1936" embossed in white block letters centered at top "VACATIONLAND" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
134-000
First use of Vacationland on passenger plates.
1937 Embossed white numbers on dark green plate with border line; "MAINE 1937" embossed in white block letters centered at top "VACATIONLAND" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
162-000
1938 Embossed dark green numbers on light green plate with border line; "MAINE 1938" embossed in dark green block letters centered at top "VACATIONLAND" embossed in dark green block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
157-000
1939 Embossed silver numbers on dark green plate with border line; "MAINE 1939" embossed in silver block letters centered at top "VACATIONLAND" embossed in silver block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
160-000
1940 Embossed dark green numbers on silver plate with border line; "MAINE 1940" embossed in dark green block letters centered at top "VACATIONLAND" embossed in dark green block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
165-000
1941 Embossed red numbers on silver plate with border line; "MAINE 1941" embossed in red block letters centered at top "VACATIONLAND" embossed in red block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
170-000
1942–43 Embossed black numbers on beige plate with border line; "MAINE 1942" embossed in black block letters centered at top "VACATIONLAND" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
177-000
Revalidated for 1943 with windshield stickers, due to metal conservation for World War II.
1944 Embossed yellow numbers on black plate with border line; "MAINE 1944" embossed in yellow block letters centered at top "VACATIONLAND" embossed in yellow block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
155-000
1945 Embossed dark blue numbers on white plate with border line; "MAINE 1945" embossed in dark blue block letters centered at top "VACATIONLAND" embossed in dark blue block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
155-000
1946–47 Embossed white numbers on dark blue plate with border line; "MAINE 1946" embossed in white block letters centered at top "VACATIONLAND" embossed in white block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
204-000
Revalidated for 1947 with windshield stickers.
1948–49 Embossed orange numbers on black plate with border line; "MAINE 1948" embossed in orange block letters centered at top "VACATIONLAND" embossed in orange block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
223-000
Revalidated for 1949 with silver tabs.
1950–55 Embossed black numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MAINE" embossed in black block letters at top, offset to left, with metal tab slots to right "VACATIONLAND" embossed in black block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
375-000
Revalidated for 1951 with red tabs, for 1952 with green tabs, for 1953 with gold tabs, for 1954 with silver tabs, and for 1955 with blue tabs.
1956 Embossed black numbers on reflective gold plate with border line; "MAINE 56" embossed in wide black block letters centered at top, with metal tab slots either side of year "VACATIONLAND" embossed in narrow black block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
264-000
Revalidated for 1957 with red tabs, for 1958 with green tabs, for 1959 with white tabs, for 1960 with dark blue tabs, and for 1961 with orange tabs.
1957–61 As above, but without embossed year 264-001 to 463-000
1962 Embossed black numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MAINE 62" embossed in wide black block letters at top, offset to left, with metal tab slots either side of year "VACATIONLAND" embossed in narrow black block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
384-000
Revalidated for 1963 with yellow tabs, for 1964 with dark blue tabs, for 1965 with red tabs, for 1966 with yellow tabs, and for 1967 with black tabs.
1963–67 As above, but without embossed year 384-001 to 617-000
1968 Embossed black numbers on reflective yellow plate with border line; "MAINE 68" embossed in wide black block letters at top, offset to left, with metal tab slots either side of year "VACATIONLAND" embossed in narrow black block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
395-000
Revalidated with stickers; tab slots on 1968 plates never used.
1969–73 As above, but without embossed year and metal tab slots 395-001 to 793-000
1974–75 Embossed black numbers on reflective white plate with border line; "MAINE 74" embossed in wide black block letters at top, offset to left "VACATIONLAND" embossed in narrow black block letters centered at bottom 123-456 1 to
488-000;
502-001 to 510-000
1975–78 As above, but with simply "MAINE" at top, offset to left 488-001 to 502-000; 510-001 to 875-000 Embossed year replaced by revalidation stickers.
1978–79 As above, but with "MAINE" centered at top 875-001 to 999-999
1979 – June 30, 1987 12345 A 1 A to 52000 N
July 1, 1987 – May 1990 Embossed navy blue numbers on reflective white plate with border line; red American lobster screened behind numbers, offset to right; "MAINE" screened in wide red block letters centered at top "Vacationland" (with enlarged 'V') screened in same letters as state name, centered at bottom 12345 A 1 P to 99999 Z
May 1990 – April 1993 1234 AB 1 AA to 9999 ZZ; 1 AB to 9999 AY (see right) Double-letter series issued first (AA, BB, CC, up to ZZ), followed by different-letter series (AB, AC, AD etc.) from September 1991.
April 1993 – June 30, 1999 1 AZ to 2999 ES Narrower dies introduced.
July 1, 1999 – present Embossed black numbers on reflective white plate with border line; black-capped chickadee on pine cone and tassel screened at far left and green pine forest silhouette screened at bottom; "MAINE" screened in wide black serifed letters centered at top "Vacationland" screened in black italic serifed letters in center of pine forest silhouette 1234 AB 1 GA to 9999 VS (as of September 17, 2016)

Optional types

Image Type Dates issued Design Slogan Serial format Serials issued Notes
Lobster May 1, 2003 – present Embossed navy blue numbers on graphic plate featuring a coast scene with green cliffs, a grey boathouse and a red American lobster at the far left; navy blue border line around plate; "MAINE" screened in black serifed letters centered at top "Lobster" screened in same letters as state name, centered at bottom 123-ABC 101-AAA to 999-ABZ;
101-AEA to present
Proceeds go towards the Maine Lobster Research, Education and Development Fund.
Black Bear November 3, 2003 – present Embossed black numbers on white and pale blue gradient plate with border line; logo of the Maine Black Bears screened at far left; "MAINE" screened in light blue serifed letters centered at top Light blue band screened at bottom with "The University of Maine" in black serifed letters in the center 123-ABC 101-ACA to present Proceeds go towards the Maine Black Bears Scholarship Fund.
Agriculture October 1, 2007 – present Embossed black numbers on graphic plate featuring an orange and yellow gradient sky, green hills, a farmhouse, a forest and black silhouettes of an old man and a young girl at the far left; black border line around plate; "MAINE" screened in wide black serifed letters centered at top "Support Local Agriculture" screened in white italic cursive letters centered at bottom 123-ABC 101-AGA to 999-AGZ;
101-ANA to present
Proceeds go towards the Maine Agriculture Education Fund.
Support Our Troops November 1, 2007 – present Embossed black numbers on white plate with border line; dark green forest screened at bottom and yellow ribbon on dark green three-dimensional state icon screened at far left; "MAINE" screened in wide black serifed letters centered at top "We Support Our Troops" screened in yellow italic block letters centered at bottom 123-ABC 101-AJA to present Proceeds go towards members of the Maine National Guard and their families.
Breast Cancer October 1, 2008 – present Embossed pink numbers on white plate with border line; pink ribbon on magenta state icon screened at far left; "MAINE" screened in purple serifed letters centered at top "early detection saves lives" screened in purple italic cursive letters centered at bottom 123-ABC 101-ALA to 999-ALZ;
101-ATA to present
Proceeds go towards the Breast Cancer Services Special Program Fund of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.