How to Get a Rebuilt Title in Maine
To get a rebuilt title in Maine, you need to submit an application and the required fees to the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Written by Sarah Gray
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
To get a rebuilt title in Maine, you’ll need to apply for a salvage certificate, then determine how extensive your rebuild will be before applying for one of Maine’s two types of rebuilt titles at the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). In addition to your salvage certificate and rebuilt title application, you’ll need to pay the required fees.
Maine weather is tough on vehicles, so even people who’ve never been in an accident can sometimes find themselves with a vehicle so beat up that it’s considered a total loss. That doesn’t mean you have to start over, though. Maine offers a few unique options when it comes to salvaged vehicles, including rebuilt and rebuilt salvage titles.
It can be a bit tricky determining what type of rebuilt title you should be looking for in Maine. To help you out,
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What is a rebuilt title?
Generally speaking, a
rebuilt title
indicates that a previously totaled vehicle has been repaired to safe and legal operating standards. Maine has a few varieties of rebuilt titles:
- Rebuilt title are issued when any one component part of a salvaged vehicle has been replaced
Rebuilt salvage titles can be issued for two reasons:
- Two or more vehicles with different frames have been joined, orFive or more component parts have been replaced
Before you can get a rebuilt title, most states require that the car first be issued a
salvage title
. In Maine, a salvage title or certificate of salvage indicates the car is so badly damaged that making it safe to drive would cost 75% or more of the vehicle’s total value.Be sure to hang onto your certificate of salvage because you’ll need it when you apply for your rebuilt/rebuilt salvage title.
Does my car need a rebuilt title?
If you hope to drive a totaled vehicle again, you’ll need a rebuilt title. You can buy salvage vehicles and use them for parts or sell them for scrap, but if you plan to restore the vehicle to driveability, be sure you know and trust the person or dealer you’re buying from and what you’re getting yourself into.
Restoring salvaged vehicles takes a lot of time and money, so experts generally advise buyers to avoid the hassles.
Key Takeaway The only legal way to drive a previously totaled vehicle is by getting a rebuilt title.
How to get a rebuilt title in Maine
Whenever you’re dealing with vehicle restoration, you need to be ready for a lot of hard work and expense. By comparison, the paperwork required to get a rebuilt title in Maine is certainly tedious, but hardly costly.
Apply for the salvage title
If the vehicle does not already have one, you’ll need to apply for a Maine certificate of salvage, usually referred to as the salvage title, at your
local BMV office
.Before going to the BMV, make sure to gather the following:
- The vehicle’s original title
- The owner’s name, residence, and mailing address
- The insurance settlement agreement
- A vehicle description, including:
- Make, model, and yearBody typeCurrent mileage
- Chronological list of liens and lienholders
- Payment for salvage title fee of $33
You may also be able to complete this process by mail, so check with your local BMV to find out your options.
Make the necessary repairs to your vehicle
Once your salvage title arrives, you’re ready to rebuild your vehicle. Whoever completes the repairs will need to complete an
Affidavit of Rebuilt or Repaired Salvage Vehicle
(Form MVT-103). As you rebuild your vehicle, be sure to keep bills of sale and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) information for each new or used component part you use.
Once repairs are complete, it’s time to have your
vehicle inspected
. Before you head out, though, you need to check with your local BMV office to see what permits you might need to drive it to the inspection station. Once you’ve obtained these, you can drive your vehicle to have it inspected at any motor vehicle inspection station
authorized by the Maine State Police (MSP).While this inspection is similar to the annual safety inspections required of all vehicle owners in Maine, the inspector will also be checking the vehicle’s component parts against the Affidavit of Rebuilt or Repaired Salvage Vehicle and VIN information for your rebuilt vehicle.
Once your vehicle passes this inspection, you’ll receive a safety inspection sticker and the safety inspection documentation you’ll need to apply for your rebuilt/rebuilt salvage title.
Essential documents for a rebuilt Maine title
Now that your car is fully repaired and fully inspected, you’re ready to apply for your rebuilt/rebuilt salvage title by submitting the following to your local Maine BMV office:
- An application for a rebuilt or rebuilt salvage title
- Your Maine salvage title
- The Affidavit of Rebuilt or Repaired Salvage Vehicle completed by whoever completed the vehicle repairs.
- Bills of sale for all new component parts
- VIN and title information for all used component parts
- This information will be listed on your Affidavit of Rebuilt or Repaired Salvage Vehicle, but keeping a separate list and bills of sale is never a bad idea.
- Payment for applicable taxes and fees
- These vary a lot in Maine, so be sure to check with your local BMV office to see what you’ll owe.
How long does a rebuilt title take in Maine?
It depends. The Maine BMV doesn’t offer any guidelines for how long you should expect to wait for application processing at any step during this process. However, it’s a fairly good bet that whenever handwritten, hard copy paperwork is involved that things may take a bit longer than you might expect.
Key Takeaway Keep all the documents and information associated with repairing your salvaged vehicle.
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FAQs
Is a rebuilt title bad in Maine?
Not necessarily. A rebuilt title means the car is safe and legal to drive. However, don’t confuse rebuilt with revitalized—cars with rebuilt titles may have more hidden mechanical issues than other vehicles, so be cautious.
How much does it cost to get a rebuilt title in Maine?
Costs vary a lot depending on where you live, as well as which titles the car already has, but getting a rebuilt title in Maine will likely cost less than $150. This doesn’t include the cost of repairing the vehicle, though.
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