Day in the Life

New Maine License Plate for 2025

On May 1, 2025, the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will begin issuing the Pine Tree license plate, the replacement to the current Chickadee plate. I have had my vanity plate “SB SELLS” since 2012. And like any good vanity plate, it speaks to who I am. I am a Realtor. Vanity number plates allow individuals to personalize their vehicles and express their individuality. By choosing a custom combination of letters and/or numbers, individuals can create a unique identifier that reflects their name, nickname, hobby, or interests. It can represent various aspects of an individual's life, including their status, achievements, and sense of humor. For some, vanity plates serve as a symbol of status and accomplishment like our purple heart recipients. 

When I went to select my own personal vanity plate, all the good real estate associated names were already in use like, REALTOR, RE-AGNT, HMS4SL, HOMES, AGENT, LSTNGS. BUYERS, you get the idea. So whether I am listing a home or working with buyers, I am always SELLING. So SB SELLS was perfect for me. And yes, I have had folks ask me “What do you sell?” And it's a perfect opportunity for me to introduce myself and give my 30 second elevator pitch. Well worth the cost of the vanity plate renewal fee. 

A Few Facts about Vanity Plates: 

• Vanity plates can have up to 7 characters, including letters, numbers, spaces, dashes, and ampersands. 

• Vanity plates can mix letters and numbers, but the first character must be a letter. 

• Besides letters and numbers, you can have a space, dash, or ampersand on your vanity plate. An ampersand (&) is available on vanity plates with 2 to 6 characters, and the sequence must begin with a letter.

• Vanity plates must not begin with a 0 (zero) or with the letter “O”, followed by only numbers. 

To reserve your existing license plate with the new design, visit maine.gov/online/reservemyplate.