Massachusetts License Plate Lookup

About 80% of license plates in the United States are made in about eight prisons. All Massachusetts license plates are made by prisoners in the MCI-Cedar Junction prison in Walpole as well. They have been produced there since 1920. It is estimated that almost 4,8 million Massachusetts plates are recently in circulation.

Everything You Need to Know Before Starting Massachusetts License Plates Lookup

If you are in Massachusetts license plate lookup the first thing you should know is that the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles is responsible for issuing license plates. It issues more than 200 different types of plates.

Massachusetts requires you to have, at least, one license plate on your vehicle. It is up to you whether to put it on the front or on the rear of your vehicle.

It was only in 2019 when Massachusetts began to issue temporary license plates. Thus, it became the final state in the US implementing the system of temporary plates.

There are also characters limit for Massachusetts license plates. The maximum number of characters you can have on your plate is seven. However, the Livery plate is the only common license plate in Massachusetts permitted to have more than six characters in its serials. All Livery plates start with the letters “LV”.

Getting Massachusetts License Plates

Before getting your Massachusetts, license plate giving you full right to drive on the roads you need to have the following documents prepared:

1. Proof of your Massachusetts residency.
2. Proof of your vehicle insurance (It should be from the licensed agent or company in MA)
3. Title of your vehicle
4. Odometer disclosure statement

Besides, you must pay registration fees before starting the process. You can make payments at one of your local Registry of Motor Vehicle offices.

It is important to mention that there might be some slight differences in the required documents. The changes may apply to the vehicles which are gifts. It can also apply to the vehicles purchased from the dealerships.

After completing the transaction, you will receive your new plate and registration certificate. In terms of rear plates, you will also receive a year of expiration decal. The process of getting your title in an email may take 6 to 8 weeks maximum.

Renewing Massachusetts License Plates

There are four ways you can choose from for renewing your Massachusetts license plate. You can renew online, by phone, by email, in person. Furthermore, you don’t need to worry about remembering your license plate expiration date. You are getting a renewal reminder in your mail before the expiration of your license plate. You will receive a renewal form to complete. After renewal, you will get a new sticker to display on your license plate.

You can also check your registration status online.

There may be some cases when you will be eligible to complete the Application to Renew instead of the renewal form.

Vehicle registration renewal should take place every 1 or 2 years. It initially depends on your plate type.

Deadlines for receiving your renewed license plates also vary according to the renewal means you choose. For example, if you want to renew your license plate online or by mail you should be expecting to receive your new plate decals and registration in 10 days. Meanwhile, in-person you will receive them immediately after the transaction is processed.

Replacing Massachusetts License Plates

There is no need to worry if you accidentally lost, damaged or someone stole your license plates. Though it is better if you don’t face these issues. However, even if you did you just need to apply for replacing your Massachusetts license plate.

You are eligible to request one or two replacement license plates in Massachusetts. The plates will be the same plate type and have the same numbers as your last one.

You can apply for the replacement in person or by phone.

How to apply for replacing the Massachusetts license plate in person?

If you want to apply in person for replacing your license plate you should go to the MA RMV branch office.

You will need to take with you:

1. A completed form RMV-3
2. The owner’s information of the vehicle
3. The number of vehicle registration

How to apply for replacing Massachusetts license plate by phone?

Remember this number (800) 858-3926. This is the number you should call for replacing your license plate.

You will need to provide:

1. The number of vehicle registration
2. Information about the vehicle
3. The owner’s information of the vehicle

The replacement fee for both in-person and by phone orders is $10.

Transferring Massachusetts License Plates

You are allowed to transfer your license plate from the old vehicle to the new one. But this can be possible only in one case. There will be your name in the registration. You will also have a 7-day grace period from the day of your old vehicle disposal to register your new vehicle.

For transferring your Massachusetts license plate you will need to complete the Registration and Title Application. You will also need proof of ownership and pay for it.

The transfer fee is $25. It doesn’t include taxes or other fees.

The process of transferring may take from 6 to 8 days.

Surrendering Massachusetts License Plates

There are two ways to surrender your Massachusetts license plate. You can do it in person or online. For canceling in person, you should go to the Massachusetts RMV office. You can also use an online registration cancelation service. In this case, you should destroy or recycle your license plate on your own.

Note: You have to surrender your license plate only in person to MA RMV if you are moving to another state.

Types of Massachusetts License Plates

In this section, you can find different types of Massachusetts license plates. Afterward, you can decide which one is the best choice for your vehicle.

Massachusetts Specialty License Plates

By ordering specialty license plates, you are raising money for charity and science organizations as well. There are some special plates that are particularly designed to raise money for suchlike organizations. For instance, the money raised from that kind of plate can go to the professional sports teams’ charitable foundations, state-run homes for veterans, cancer research, an alternative to abortion, and so on.

You can check Massachusetts license plates availability through this link. There are different specialty license plates you can choose from. You can find veteran’s specialty plates, national guards’ plates, silver star plates, and so on.

You can apply to get them in person or by mail. But note that you can’t order these plates online. As you need to complete an Application Form for getting a specialty license plate in MA.

There may be some cases when you can order specialty plates for motorcycles as well.

Fees for specialty license plates vary. Particularly, it depends on your choice of the plate. For having a better understanding of the fees, you can check the Schedule of Fees.

Usually, specialty plates are not assigned. However, this doesn’t apply to vanity plates.

Massachusetts Vanity License Plates

You can order Massachusetts vanity license plates for buses, private vehicles, motorcycles, livery, and so on.

There are some important things you should know before ordering a vanity license plate in Massachusetts.

1. All vanity plates begin with 2 letters.
2. Vanity plate can’t have more than 6 characters.
3. There can’t be more than 5 characters for motorcycles.
4. There can’t be a mix of letters and numbers.
5. Numbers in the middle of the plate are not allowed.
6. Punctuation, spaces, and periods are not allowed.
7. Letter or number combinations shouldn’t convey any offensive message.

You can order vanity license plates in person, online, or by mail.

Special Plates Department is responsible for reviewing vanity license plates. It will take up to 12 weeks to receive your vanity license plate if you are approved.  But if you are denied you will be notified within 4 to 6 weeks.

The fee for a vanity license plate is $50.

The RMV may reject vanity plates for various reasons, check out our Mass banned license plates page for more details.

Massachusetts Antique Registration Plates

A vehicle over 25 years old is considered an “antique motor car” in the following cases. If it is only for use in exhibitions, parades, and club activities. The vehicle is eligible to display an antique registration plate if it meets these criteria. Motorcycles are also eligible to display antique registration plates.

You can apply for getting Massachusetts antique car registration in person or by email. You should also complete an Application for an Antique Motor Vehicle Plate.

The fee for an antique registration plate is $50.