How to Register a Car in Maine

Before you can register your vehicle in Maine, you’ll need to pay an excise tax—luckily, you can pay and process your registration at the same place!
Written by Kathryn Mae Kurlychek
If you’re new to Maine, you have 30 days to obtain an in-state vehicle registration. To do so, you’ll need to pay an excise tax as a prerequisite at your local municipal office.
New residents have approximately one month to register their vehicles in Maine. But there are a couple of steps involved in obtaining an in-state vehicle registration—so it’s important to get a head start. Here to walk you through it is
Jerry
, the
trustworthy insurance comparison app
. We’ll show you how to register your out-of-state vehicle or renew an in-state registration, then help you save on
Maine car insurance costs
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* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

How to register a car in Maine

In most cases, you can register your vehicle in Maine right at your town or city’s municipal office. But first, you’ll need to pay an excise tax—which is a specific type of property tax for vehicles. Once you’ve paid, you can bring your tax receipt along with your vehicle’s title, a completed registration application, and proof of insurance to your local municipal office. 

If you just moved to Maine

New residents to The Pine Tree State will have 30 days to convert their titles and registrations (as well as their
driver’s license
) after establishing Maine residency. New licenses are issued through Maine’s
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
(BMV) but registrations can usually be handled locally at your town or city’s municipal office. 
Before you can get your registration, however, you’ll need to pay an
excise tax
. In Maine, paying an excise tax is a prerequisite for all motor vehicle registrations, and the exact amount you pay is determined by your vehicle’s age and MSRP value. You can expect to pay excise tax each time your registration is renewed—but the good news is you can usually pay your excise tax and have your registration processed all in one go. 
To pay your excise tax, here’s what you’ll need:
  • Your out-of-state vehicle title
  • Your out-of-state vehicle registration
  • Proof of valid insurance (card, policy, or binder) 
Bring these documents along to your
local municipal office
and be prepared to show them as part of paying the tax. If you’re hoping to knock out your registration at the same time, you should also bring along both the white and yellow copies of your completed registration application. Once you’ve provided the above documents and information, your excise tax will be collected and your registration will be processed. 
A title application fee of $30 may be required to register your vehicle’s title. You’ll also have to pay a
registration fee
depending on the type of plates your vehicle needs. For most passenger vehicles, the fee is only $35—but for trucks and vehicles above 6,000 lbs it’s $37, and for motorcycles, the fee is just $21
Maine won’t charge new residents any sales tax on vehicle registrations, but you will be responsible for completing a Maine Use Tax form to prove you’re exempt from paying. 
If your out-of-state inspection has not yet expired, Maine will honor it up until the expiration date on the sticker. Otherwise, you’ll need to take your vehicle to an inspection center immediately (if you haven’t already) to acquire a valid Maine inspection sticker. Inspections can be performed at a state-licensed dealership, service station, or garage. 
It’s important to note that not every town or city can complete vehicle registrations and issue plates. If you live in an area where your municipal office cannot complete the transaction, you’ll have to take your information to a local BMV branch instead

If you just bought a car

You’ll also need to complete a first-time registration if you purchase a car as a resident of Maine. Registering a new vehicle is similar to registering an out-of-state one—you’ll still need to pay the excise tax at your local municipal office, provide proof of insurance, and fill out both the registration and title applications. You should also bring along your bill of sale from the dealership where the vehicle was purchased, and (if the vehicle is brand new) the MSRP sticker.

How much insurance coverage do you need in Maine?

If you’re new to Maine, you’ll also need to purchase the state’s minimum required auto insurance coverage before you can register your vehicle. Maine has particularly stringent minimum insurance requirements that include: 
Once your policy meets the above requirements, you’re ready to pay the excise tax and register your vehicle—but it’s also a good idea to consider purchasing additional coverages, such as
collision
and
comprehensive coverage
, for the fullest protection. 

How to renew your Maine vehicle registration

You’re required to renew your Maine registration annually, and registrations typically expire one year from the month it was originally issued. In order to renew your registration, your car will have to pass its
yearly inspection
and you’ll have to pay the annual excise tax. 
You can renew your vehicle’s registration up to 60 days prior to its expiration date—or up to 30 days past that expiration date. But it’s a good idea to get it done sooner rather than later, since driving with an expired registration could result in a $200 citation and possible license suspension. 
Maine’s
Rapid Renewal
program allows residents in certain municipalities to renew their vehicle registration completely online, using just your vehicle’s current registration, insurance card, and current recorded mileage. Otherwise, you’ll need to complete the renewal at your local municipal office or BMV branch. 
To renew your Maine registration in person, here’s what to do:
  • Pay excise tax at your local municipal office
  • Bring evidence of insurance, tax receipt, and both the white and yellow copies of your registration application to your local town office or BMV branch
  • Pay any registration fees
Once you’ve completed those steps, your registration renewal will be processed—and you’ll be set to drive on Maine’s highways and byways for another full year. 

How to replace a lost registration sticker or license plate

If you’ve run into the misfortunate of losing your registration sticker or license plate, you can request a replacement online or in person at your local BMV. Note that online replacements can only be issued for registrations (not plate stickers). If you’re requesting the replacement in person, make sure to bring along a completed
Request for a Duplicate Registration Certificate
form (Form MV-11). 

How to save on auto insurance in Maine

Maine’s minimum auto insurance requirements are extensive—and purchasing the necessary coverages can quickly get expensive. That’s why
Jerry
helps drivers save on insurance without sacrificing the coverage they need, all in less than a minute.
It’s this easy: download the Jerry app, then answer a few basic questions about you and your vehicle that take roughly 45 seconds to complete. Jerry can use the information you give to complete a comprehensive cross-analysis of policies across 55+ name-brand providers, then shortlist the best policies based on what you’re looking for. You can compare quotes side by side, and when you’re ready to make a switch, Jerry takes care of the rest: handling the phone calls, paperwork, and renewals for your top pick. 
Because Jerry is a licensed insurance broker and the #1 rated insurance app on the App Store, you can be confident you’re always finding the best deals. Drivers who use Jerry to shop for
car insurance
save over $800+ a year, on average.
“I moved states recently and my old provider didn’t cover me anymore, so I used
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FAQs

Before you can register your vehicle in Maine, you’ll need to pay an excise tax, which is a type of property tax levied specifically on vehicles. Once you’ve paid the tax, you should bring the tax receipt along with proof of insurance, a completed copy of your registration application, and money for registration fees to your local municipal office.
The registration fee for passenger vehicles in Maine is just $35. But the cost of your excise tax can vary, based on your vehicle’s age and MSRP value. Excise tax is calculated by multiplying your vehicle’s MSRP value by the mill rate, which drops each renewal period. To estimate the expected excise tax for your vehicle, you can visit Maine’s
Revenue Services
website.
Exactly what you pay to register your truck in Maine will depend on your vehicle’s weight. For example, vehicles between 6,000 and 10,000 lbs typically have an associated registration fee of $37, while vehicles above 10,000 lbs come with a $48 registration fee. As vehicle weight increases, registration fees also tend to increase—you can find a complete list of
registration fees by vehicle weight
on Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles website. For commercial trucks like semi-trailers, a sales tax of 5.5% may also be levied at the time of registration in addition to other applicable fees.
In Maine, all vehicles must be registered in order to legally drive on public roads. Nonresidents—such as visitors or university students—whose vehicles are registered in their state of legal residence are exempt from registering their vehicles in Maine. Under Maine law, certain vehicles are also exempt from paying excise tax, such as state-owned vehicles, driver’s education vehicles, volunteer fire departments, religious institutions, charitable institutions, as well as certain buses, active military, railroads, and others. Disabled veterans in the state of Maine may also be exempt from paying registration fees.
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