FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2025

Bureau of Motor Vehicles to Begin Issuing New Pine Tree License Plate on May 1, 2025

Augusta, ME — Beginning May 1, 2025, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will introduce a new state license plate design — the Pine Tree Plate — impacting the majority of Maine residents.

"The Chickadee plates are in rough shape given their age, so we’re excited to roll out the first new standard license plate design in over 25 years starting May 1,” said Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. “Mainers have design options — a classic design or a new Pine Tree plate — and they can make their choice online, in person, or by mail depending on what’s best for them.” 

The current standard issue plate, the Chickadee license plate, has been in circulation for over 25 years. In 2023, the law was amended requiring the BMV to issue a replacement to all Chickadee plates. These are the two new license plate designs: one with a Pine Tree and the North Star accompanying a blue identification number and letter combination, and one classic plain design that retains the blue identification number and letter combination, but removes the Pine Tree and North Star.

Here are examples of how the design will look: Pine Tree Plate (png) and No Tree (png).

“The new Pine Tree license plate is a symbol of Maine’s natural beauty and our heritage as the Pine Tree State,” said Deputy Secretary for the BMV Cathie Curtis. “At the BMV, we’re looking forward to the new plates, and we’re committed to making the process for the customer as easy and efficient as possible.”

From May 2025 to April 2026 when an individual renews their chickadee plate registration, they will receive a new plate with a new identification number free of charge. The Pine Tree license plate will replace all standard issue license plate classes, while the “No Tree” is only available to the passenger car (PC) class license plates.

Reserving Your Current Chickadee License Plate Number

Anyone who would like to keep their current license plate number of any reason may do so for a fee of $25. Those with vanity, low-digit and out-of-rotation Chickadee license plates must reserve their current plate number if they wish to maintain it, and the $25 fee applies.

There are four convenient ways to reserve a Chickadee license plate number right now:

  1. Online Reservation: Visit the official reservation page at maine.gov/online/reservemyplate.
  2. Rapid Renewal: Reserve your plate when renewing your registration online at maine.gov/online/bmv/rapid-renewal.
  3. In-Person Assistance: Visit your local BMV branch. Schedule an appointment through bit.ly/MaineBMVappointments.
  4. Mail-in Form: Complete a license plate reservation form (PDF) and mail it to the BMV at 29 House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0029.

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