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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can I order a disability (handicap) plate online?
  2. Can my vanity plate sequence start with a number?
  3. Can I order a vanity plate for my commercial truck-tractor?
  4. Can I order a vanity plate for a vehicle I have yet to purchase?
  5. Can I order a vanity plate as a gift for someone else?
  6. How will I know if my plate has been approved/ordered?
  7. How will I receive my plates, stickers and registration?
  8. Can I have my plates mailed to an alternate mailing address?
  9. My trailer is registered for two years. Can I apply for a trailer vanity plate online for this registration?
  10. What special characters beside letters and numbers can I have on my vanity plate?
  11. Can I have an ampersand in my seven character vanity plate sequence?
  12. Will a seven character vanity plate cover the graphic on my chickadee plate?
  13. Which plates are considered specialty plates and are charged an additional fee each year?
  14. Can I apply for a Firefighter vanity plate online?
  15. Can I pay for my online order with an electronic check?
  16. Can I renew my registration using the Rapid Renewal online service and apply for a vanity plate at the same time?
  17. Can I order a plate any time of the year?

1. Can I order a disability (handicap) plate online?

Because certification of disability must be submitted or confirmed, you can order a disability plate only if your current registration is a disability plate with one of the following class codes: CD, DX, MX, or WX


2. Can my vanity plate sequence start with a number?

Only vanity plates with a total of seven characters may begin a sequence with a number as long as there is at least one letter in the sequence.  Example:  1GR8ST8 or AGR8ST8


3. Can I order a vanity plate for my commercial truck-tractor?

No; commercial vanity plates cannot be issued if the vehicle is being used in a truck-tractor configuration.


4. Can I order a vanity plate for a vehicle I have yet to purchase?

No, you must have a current registration to apply for vanity plates.


5. Can I order a vanity plate as a gift for someone else?

No, due to the Federal Driver Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), you cannot change a plate on a registration that is not your own.


6. How will I know if my plate has been approved/ordered?

You will receive an e-mail from VANITY.PLATE@MAINE.GOV once the Bureau of Motor Vehicles has approved your plate.


7. How will I receive my plates, stickers and registration?

A registration and stickers (month and year) will be mailed with your new metal plates approximately 4-6 weeks after your request is approved.


8. Can I have my plates mailed to an alternate mailing address?

Yes, there is an opportunity to select an alternate mailing address when using the online Vanity Plate Order application.


9. My trailer is registered for two years. Can I apply for a trailer vanity plate online for this registration?

Yes.  You will be charged the $25.00 annual fee for both registration periods ($50.00).


10. What special characters beside letters and numbers can I have on my vanity plate?

In additional to a blank space between characters, you can obtain a dash (-) and ampersand (&).


11. Can I have an ampersand in my seven character vanity plate sequence?

No, due to the size of the character on the plate, the ampersand is only allowed in sequences containing 2 to 6 characters.


12. Will a seven character vanity plate cover the graphic on my chickadee plate?

Plates with seven characters will cover the chickadee design, especially if the sequence contains a space or dash.


13. Which plates are considered specialty plates and are charged an additional fee each year?

All Conservation plates (Loon), the University of Maine System plate, the Lobster plate and the Black Bear plate.  The first year costs an additional $20 and each annual renewal is an extra $15.00. 


14. Can I apply for a Firefighter vanity plate online?

You can apply for a firefighter vanity plate only if you are replacing an existing firefighter registration plate.


15. Can I pay for my online order with an electronic check?

No.  At this time, only Visa, MasterCard and Discover are accepted as forms of payment.


16. Can I renew my registration using the Rapid Renewal online service and apply for a vanity plate at the same time?

No.  Please renew your current registration using Rapid Renewal; you will normally receive your updated registration within 3-5 days.  Once you have received your renewal, you may apply for a vanity plate using the online application.


17. Can I order a plate any time of the year?

Yes.  Keep in mind that the vanity plate fee is an annual fee due at time of re-registration.  Therefore, if you are nearing your month of expiration, it may be to your financial advantage to apply for a vanity plate after re-registering.  


 

Questions about this Service? Contact Bureau at: (207) 555-1212 x 12345 or Email: bureau@maine.gov