Maine License Plate Lookup Licensed PI Search — Owner Name & Address

Whether you’re tracking down the owner of a vehicle after a hit-and-run on I-95, verifying a used car purchase from a private seller in Portland or Bangor, or investigating a suspicious vehicle in your neighborhood, a licensed plate lookup is the fastest legal path to answers in Maine. With one of the highest vehicle ownership rates per capita in the country — driven by rural layout and long travel distances — Maine’s roads see significant traffic despite its relatively small population.

What Does a Maine License Plate Look Like?

3 Ways to Look Up a Maine License Plate

Under Maine law and the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA), there are three primary methods to search a Maine plate — each returning different information at different cost and speed levels.

What a Maine License Plate Lookup Returns

When you order through LicensePlatesCar.com, our licensed PI team searches official databases and returns a complete owner report. Here is exactly what is included:

Maine License Plate Lookups by County

Maine has 16 counties. Cumberland County (Portland), Kennebec County (Augusta), and Penobscot County (Bangor) generate the highest crash volumes statewide. Registration in Maine is handled at your town or city office or a BMV branch — Maine uses a municipal registration system unique to New England.

Source: Maine Bureau of Highway Safety Fatality Analysis 2019–2023. Maine uses a municipal vehicle registration system — registration is processed at your town or city office, not a central DMV, similar to other New England states.

Maine Hit-and-Run Crashes: What to Do and How a Plate Lookup Helps

Under Maine law (29-A M.R.S.A. §2252), any driver involved in a crash resulting in injury, death, or property damage must stop immediately, provide their name, address, vehicle registration number, and driver’s license, and render reasonable assistance. Leaving the scene is a serious criminal offense:

• Hit-and-run involving property damage only: Class E crime — up to 6 months in jail and $1,000 fine
• Hit-and-run involving injury: Class C crime — up to 5 years in prison and $5,000 fine
• Hit-and-run involving death: Class B crime — up to 10 years in prison and $20,000 fine
• Aggravated leaving the scene: Enhanced charges if OUI, reckless driving, or prior offenses involved

If you were the victim of a hit-and-run in Maine, here is your immediate action plan:

1. Call 911 immediately. Maine State Police handle crashes on state highways; local or county sheriff handles other roads.
2. Note everything about the fleeing vehicle — full or partial plate number, color, make, model, damage, and direction of travel.
3. Do not follow the fleeing vehicle.
4. File an insurance claim — Maine requires minimum liability insurance on all registered vehicles.
5. Contact a licensed PI to run the plate for registered owner identification — this is a DPPA-permissible use for legal proceedings and insurance claims.

See our full nationwide hit-and-run statistics report for crash trends across all 50 states.

Maine Specialty License Plate Types

Maine offers 25+ specialty plate designs in addition to the new Pine Tree standard plate. All specialty plates cost $20 to order and $15 to renew, on top of standard registration fees.

• Pine Tree (standard, new May 2025)
• Chickadee (legacy design)
• Lobster / Conservation
• Lighthouse Trust
• Sportsman
• Agriculture
• Breast Cancer Support
• Animal Welfare
• Wabanaki Plates (tribal members only)
• Antique Vehicle
• Amateur Radio
• Persons with Disabilities
• Military Veterans
• Purple Heart
• University of Maine
• Personalized / Vanity (up to 7 chars)

Personalized plates require at least 1 letter in the combination. Applications for Agriculture, Breast Cancer Support, and Animal Welfare plates must be done in person at a BMV office. Vanity plates are not available for trailers unless registered as long-term. See all designs at maine.gov/sos/bmv/registrations/plates.html.

Maine License Plate Laws and Penalties

• Front AND rear plates required for most passenger vehicles — Maine is a two-plate state
• Exceptions: trailers and motorcycles (rear only); truck tractors (front only)
• Missing front plate fine: $152 (effective March 7, 2025)
• Plates must be clearly visible and properly illuminated at night
• New residents have 30 days to register their vehicle at a town/city office or BMV branch
• Temporary plates valid for 14 days only — available from the BMV or a dealership
• Surrendering plates: required when moving out of state or selling a vehicle
• Maine has statute-limited ALPR (Automated License Plate Reader) use — stricter than most states

How to Check or Renew Your Maine License Plate

• Online renewal: maine.gov/sos/bmv/ — Maine BMV online services
• InforME vehicle records: Subscriber service for authorized users — $95/year — search by plate number
• In-person: Your town or city municipal office — Maine registers vehicles municipally, not through a central DMV
• BMV branch locations: Available for plates and title services statewide
• By mail: Renewal by mail available for eligible vehicles
• NHTSA recall check: nhtsa.gov using your VIN

Maine License Plate Lookup — Frequently Asked Questions

Maine Vehicle & Road Safety Statistics