Code of Maine Rules
29 - DEPARTMENT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
250 - BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Chapter 159 - RULES GOVERNING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PERMANENT, SEMIPERMANENT SEMITRAILER REGISTRATION PROGRAMS
Section 250-159-Q - CONSIGNMENT PLATES
Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024
Consignment plates are semipermanent trailer or semitrailer plates, temporarily in the possession of an agent, that have not been assigned to a trailer or semitrailer. An agent may be issued consignment plates to use to replace lost plates, or to issue as new registrations. Agents are responsible for the proper use and accountability of consignments plates assigned to them.
1. Twenty-five year Permanent Plate Consignment Program. Consignment plates for the permanent registration program will be made available. A registrant may receive consignment plates equal to one percent of the number of units registered in the program.
The fee for each consignment plate is eighty dollars ($80.00). Registration certificates must contain the following: Plate number, registrant's name, and address. The vehicle description information will be added by the registrant or their agent when the consignment plate is assigned to a vehicle.
An agent initially may be assigned up to ten semipermanent plates for each registration year to be used only as replacement plates for previously assigned plates reported as lost. The fee for each consignment plate used to replace a lost plate is five dollars ($5.00). The five dollar fee is non-refundable.
The agent will verify with the Bureau that the plate being replaced is an active registration. The agent will complete the green copy of the consignment plate registration and return it to the Bureau within five business days. The plate being replaced must be noted on the green copy. The Bureau will match the green copy to the Bureau's copy, and will make the revisions to the Bureau's database.
Consignment plates used as replacements for lost plates may be replenished on a one-for-one basis. Upon turning in the documents on a used consignment plate, the agent may receive an additional plate for the same year. The agent must pay the five dollar ($5.00) consignment plate fee at the time the consignment plate is issued.
2. Consignment plates used for new eight to twelve and twenty year registrations. An agent may be issued consignment plates to be used to issue new registrations for their clients' newly acquired trailers or semitrailers. For eight to twelve year plates, the agent must pay an initial fee of forty-eight dollars ($48.00) per consignment plate representing the fee for the first four years of the registration, for the 20 year program the fee would be thirty-six ($36.00) dollars. Each consignment plate will remain the responsibility of the agent until assigned to a registrant's unit. The agent will be billed annually under the regular billing program for any consignment plates that remain assigned to the agent under this paragraph. The annual incremental payment will be due by March 1 of each year.
Upon assignment of the plate to a new trailer or semitrailer, within five business days the agent shall return the green copy of the registration to the Bureau along with required supporting documentation. The agent shall fill out the green copy of the registration including the vehicle and registrant information. The Bureau will update its database, and will reassign the registration to the registrant's fleet. The registrant will become responsible for subsequent registration fees.
3. Full fee consignment plates. An agent may obtain consignment plates by paying the annual fee multiplied by the term of the plate. These plates remain the responsibility of the agent until assigned to a registrant's trailer or semitrailer as a new registration. Upon assignment, the agent must turn in a completed green copy of the registration and any supporting documentation within five business days.
Refunds. The first three years' fees are non-refundable. For the fourth and subsequent years an agent may return consignment plates for a refund of any unused portion of the registration that has been paid for. Any portion of a year is a full year. In order to receive any refund, the agent must return both the plate and all copies of the registration documents. No portion of the fee for the 25-year permanent plate may be refunded.
Cancellation. An agent may request that a consignment plate be canceled without refund. The Bureau will enter the registration on the database with the status "canceled". The agent will not be billed for subsequent registration years. For lost plate consignments, the agent may not receive an additional plate to replenish the canceled plate. A canceled plate may be reactivated within the same license year at the request of the agent, and with the approval of the Secretary of State.
Misuse of consignment plates. Any agent who fails to meet the requirements for the use of consignment plates may have their privileges suspended or revoked. Any agent whose privileges have been suspended or revoked may request a hearing from the Secretary of State.
