Press Release: 2/17/2026

Massachusetts RMV Announces Special MA250 Low Number Plate Lottery

 



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:



2/16/2026



MEDIA CONTACT



Picture of 250th license plate



Massachusetts RMV Announces Special MA250 Low Number Plate Lottery



In celebration of 250 years of America’s independence and Massachusetts’ revolutionary legacy.



BOSTON — The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) is celebrating President’s Day by announcing a special low number lottery featuring the state’s new 250th Anniversary Plate. Residents can apply starting today, February 16, at 9:00 a.m. and have until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026. Further information is available at Mass.Gov/MA250Plate.



The “Massachusetts 250 Years of Independence” plate is emblematic red, white, and blue and is now the most popular specialty plate in the Commonwealth with more than 57,000 issued in just over seven months.  



The plate features a blue background, with the year "1776" surrounded by 13 stars and the phrase “250 Years of Independence” at the bottom. There are 1000 plates available through the lottery, numbered from 1-999 and including the symbolic 1776.



“Massachusetts is a state of many firsts, and it is only appropriate that we celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary honoring our shared history with the opportunity to celebrate civic pride with a commemorative low number license plate through a lottery. This is a fun but meaningful and visible tribute to the historic occasion, allowing residents to participate in this once in a lifetime event,” said Interim MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng.



“Since last May, the RMV has offered the patriotic-themed higher number plates (online) as part of the Massachusetts 250 festivities. We are so excited to continue this celebration of American and state history by enabling all qualified Massachusetts residents a chance to win a coveted low number on the popular commemorative plate. The RMV is thrilled to partner with the Massachusetts State Lottery and benefit from their lottery expertise. And thank you to the RMV team for their incredible efforts in planning this event,” shared Registry of Motor Vehicles Registrar Colleen Ogilvie.    



“This event represents a unique opportunity to combine historical recognition with public engagement in a way that aligns with the Lottery’s mission. A commemorative low lottery plate is likely to generate strong interest from residents across the state while honoring an extraordinary milestone in our state’s history,” said Massachusetts State Lottery Executive Director Mark William Bracken. 



Applications for the special 250th Anniversary Plate low number lottery will be available at myRMV Online Service Center (located under the Plates button) beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026. To be eligible for the low number lottery applicants must apply by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026. Requests for specific plate numbers will not be honored. Plates will be awarded using an electronic random number generator system. 



Applicants should note that there is no fee to apply for the lottery. All specialty plates have a biennial $40.00 special plate fee, along with a registration fee of $60.00. The initial registration fee may vary depending upon the applicant’s current plate expiration date and the expiration date of the winning plate number.



Customers are encouraged to visit the RMV’s website or follow @MassRMV on X (formerly Twitter) for additional details about the lottery. In addition, lottery plate applicants will be sent a notification from the RMV to the email address they provided with lottery event details. The lottery winners will be announced on May 7, and residents will be able to watch the event online via the RMV website. Following the event, results will be available on the RMV website. 



RMV Low Plate Lottery Rules and Eligibility Requirements 




  • A person (known as “applicant”) who applies for the Massachusetts 250 Low Number License Plate Lottery must be a Massachusetts resident with a current active, Massachusetts registered, and insured passenger motor vehicle.

  • As a condition of the application process, applicants consent to their name, zip code, and any other information that is required be released in accordance with the Massachusetts Public Records law.

  • Only one entry per applicant will be accepted, regardless of the number of active passenger motor vehicle registrations the applicant has on file with the RMV.

  • The following are ineligible to participate:

  • Companies and corporations

  • Commercial vehicles and motorcycles

  • Any employee of MassDOT, including but not limited to executive level employees, RMV, Highway, MBTA, Rail and Transit, Aeronautics, all shared services within MassDOT, and contract employees

  • Any employee of Mass Lottery, including but not limited to executive level employees and contract employees

  • Immediate family members of any MassDOT employees (as described above) and Mass Lottery. This includes parents, spouses, children, and siblings.

  • An applicant whose Massachusetts registration is not in an active status (i.e., in a non-renewal, suspended, or revoked status) at the time of entry, at the time of the lottery, or at the time of the plate swap.

  • An applicant with outstanding violations or obligations reported to the RMV

  • Requests for specific plate numbers will not be honored. Plates will be awarded using an electronic random number generator system.

  • Submission deadline: Online entries will be accepted beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026, and must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026.

  • Lottery results, such as winner’s name, place of residence, and winning plate number, will be available on the RMV website (Mass.Gov/RMV) within 5 business days of the lottery event, which will occur in May.     

  • All winners will be notified by mail with instructions on how to transfer their current registration to their new lottery plate. Winners will have until Friday, August 28, 2026, to pay for and swap their plates.

  • Unclaimed plates by the deadline are considered forfeited by the initial winners, and those plates will be awarded to the pre-selected alternate winners after Friday, August 28, 2026.

  • Plates will be registered only to the winning applicant specifically named on the application and cannot be transferred to anyone else.

  • All plates remain the property of the RMV, including after registration.