Environmental License Plates
All Massachusetts' drivers have a unique opportunity to safeguard the Commonwealth's waterways by selecting a "Preserve the Trust" environmental license plate. These are the only specialty plates that exclusively benefit the environment.
Get Licensed to Support the Environment!
Currently three plates are offered and individually represent the coastal, central and western regions of the state. Proceeds from the sale of over 50,000 environmental license plates have funded more than $16 million in environmental protection and education projects. From Provincetown to Pittsfield, approximately $1 million in grants is awarded annually to fund a diverse array of environmental efforts.
New Land and Water Plate
The Massachusetts Environmental Trust is launching a new ¿Land and Water Conservation¿ license plate that will support the conservation of land critical to the protection of the Commonwealth's water resources. Similar plates in other states have conserved tens of thousands of acres in recent years. Preserve the Trust Plates
The cost of a new "Preserve the Trust" environmental specialty plate is $40 in addition to RMV registration fees. At initial purchase, $28 is a tax deductible contribution that goes directly to the Massachusetts Environmental Trust to support environmental programs/projects with a focus on water and water-related issues. The remaining $12 is a one-time only fee to cover the manufacturing expense of the plate.
Right Whale & Roseate Terns Plate
The first and most popular plate, offered since 1994, features the fluke of a northern right whale and two roseate terns. The North Atlantic Right Whale is the state marine mammal and the world's most endangered large whale. Roseate terns are native to Massachusetts and also endangered. Both of these animals are federally recognized endangered species and are dependent upon healthy Massachusetts ecosystems for their survival. Leaping Brook Trout Plate
This second plate was introduced in 1998. The waterways of central and western Massachusetts are represented by the image of a brook trout. A native to the state's western streams, this popular game fish serves as a symbol of both the pristine water in which the fish thrives, and the recreational benefits of a healthy environment. Blackstone Valley Mill Plate
The Blackstone Valley, running through the central part of the state, is the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. Offered since 1999, the Blackstone Valley Mill Plate reminds us our environmental focus must include more than whales and habitat protection. This plate highlights the need to restore our urban rivers and streams to enhance their ecology and improve the health of riverfront communities. Renew an Existing Plate
Renew your plate every two years and the entire $40 goes to the Trust and is tax deductible. (This is in addition to the standard registration fee the Registry of Motor Vehicles collects at the time of renewal.) The plates are available at your local Registry of Motor Vehicles or you can renew an existing plate online.