New License Plate Process

From Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles

As of May 1, 2025, the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles and agents no longer issue Chickadee Plates.

For new registrations and renewals in the PC class code, registrants can choose:

• a Pine Tree Plate (existing PC class code)

• a “no tree plate” (new NT class code)

• one of the current specialty plates (normal fees apply)

Reserving current plate numbers will be an option through a centralized, web-based solution.

Pine Tree Plate (Existing Class Code – PC)

No Tree Plate (New Class Code – NT)

15 additional class codes will become Pine Tree Plates (the NT plate is not available for these class codes)

• Antique (AQ)
• Bus (BU)
• Combination (CM)
• Commercial (CO)
• Custom Vehicle (CV)
• Disabled (DX)
• Farm (FM)
• Hire (TX)
• Horseless Carriage (HC)
• Lowspeed (LS)
• Motor Home (MH)
• Special Equipment (SE)
• Special Mobile Equipment (SM)
• Street Rod (SR)
• Tractor (TR) (TT)

How does a customer reserve their plate?

1 - Use the standalone website that anyone can use. It is important to remember that this option is only available 30 days prior to a registration's month of expiration from May 2025 - June 2026.

You can find the standalone at: maine.gov/online/reservemyplate

2 - By going through Rapid Renewal. We find most people choose this option, since they are prompted as they re-register. Online you are only able to receive the Pine Tree Plate.

You can find Rapid Renewal at: maine.gov/online/bmv/rapid-renewal

3 - Reserve by walking in or making an appointment at a BMV branch, then going in and working directly with our staff. This option may be best for customers who aren't as familiar with, or do not have access to, the internet.

You can find the branches at: bit.ly/MaineBMVappointments

4 - The final way one can reserve their plate number is by sending a filled out paper form to 29 State House Station, Augusta ME 04333-0029.

You can find the form by going to: Maine.gov's Registration Forms section

People with vanity, low digit and out of rotation plates have the option to reserve their current plate number. Reserving their plate number guarantees to them that they will receive their plates two to four weeks prior to their registration's month of expiration at their address.

It is important to remember that if one does not reserve their plate number, they do lose it.

Some people just want to reserve at the time they re-register. If they do, it is important to know that they will have to wait for the Pine Tree Plate to arrive at their residence, likely several weeks later.

Others want to avoid things like the one-time $25 fee, thinking if they wait they will not have to pay. That is untrue, as no matter when you reserve you must pay this fee.

It is important to note this fee comes from Maine law and is not a policy BMV arbitrarily created as this issuance began.