Maine vanity plates that are actually available
Maine plates carry a certain quiet brag, the kind that says you live somewhere people pay good money to visit for a week. Whether you are repping the coast, the county, or your deep personal attachment to lobster rolls, a clever vanity plate is basically a bumper sticker that the DMV blessed. Type your theme, get a batch of ideas, and see which ones are actually open right now on Maine's checker.
Max length
7 characters
Allowed
Letters, numbers, spaces, - &
Annual fee
~$25
Designs
20+ options
Letter O vs 0: Plates may not begin with the letter O or the number 0 followed by only numbers. Plates of under 7 characters must start with a letter.
Popular Maine plate themes
Vacationland vibes, real-time availability.
Lobster Coast Life
The County and the North Woods
Maine Pride and Vacationland
Portland and the Food Scene
Maine plate designs
Real Maine plate backgrounds you can choose from. Some designs allow fewer characters.
Plate images via Wikimedia Commons.
Maine vanity plate FAQ
How many characters can a Maine vanity plate have?
A standard Maine personalized plate allows up to 7 characters (minimum 1). Letters and numbers are allowed. Spaces are allowed.
How much does a Maine vanity plate cost?
Maine charges about $25 per year for a personalized plate, on top of normal registration. The DMV sets the exact fee.
How do I check if a Maine vanity plate is available?
Type your idea into the tool on this page. We check Maine availability and show open plates first. The Maine DMV is always the source of truth.
How does Maine handle the letter O and the number 0?
Plates may not begin with the letter O or the number 0 followed by only numbers. Plates of under 7 characters must start with a letter.
How long can a Maine vanity plate be, and what characters are allowed?
Maine generally allows up to seven characters on a standard passenger plate, using letters and numbers. Spaces and special symbols are not permitted, which is where the creative number swaps and vowel drops come in handy. Our generator applies these rules automatically and filters out combinations that would not clear the character limit.
Can I transfer my vanity plate if I buy a new car or move to a different vehicle?
In most cases, yes. Maine allows you to transfer a personalized plate from one vehicle to another that you own, though there is typically a transfer fee and paperwork involved through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Check the BMV directly for the current fee schedule and any timing requirements, since rules can change.
What happens if my first-choice plate is taken? Is there a waitlist?
Maine does not operate a waitlist for personalized plates. If your top choice is already registered to someone else, it is simply unavailable until that registration lapses and is not renewed. The good news is that our site shows you availability in real time and flags close alternatives, so you can move quickly when something opens up or find a variation that works just as well.
Check another state
Maine plate rules were researched from official sources and verified (high confidence); verify specifics at the DMV. Availability is indicative and shown with the time we last checked. The Maine DMV is the source of truth and makes the final call.