Free Maine Vehicle Bill of Sale
Buying or selling a vehicle in Maine runs through two offices, not one. You start at your municipal town office to pay the annual excise tax, and registration — with the 5.5% sales tax on the purchase price — is handled there or at a BMV branch. The title application is Form MVT-2, and the BMV publishes its own Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale; a signed bill of sale is required to register a vehicle bought in a private sale. Title is required only for vehicles 25 model years old and newer; older models transfer with a signed bill of sale. A current annual safety inspection sticker must also be in place before the vehicle can legally be driven.
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Maine Vehicle Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
Maine charges 5.5% sales/use tax on the purchase price, collected when you register — at your town office or a BMV branch. The annual excise tax is paid to your town before registering; the BMV issues the title.
Exemption: Some transfers between family members may be exempt from Maine sales tax — confirm eligibility and the required documentation with the BMV.
Inspection Requirements
Maine requires an annual safety inspection at a state-certified inspection station. A windshield sticker is issued; expired stickers are a primary stop offense.
Registration
Registration for this vehicle type is handled by Municipal town office (registration & excise tax), then Maine BMV (title) — not the same agency that handles cars in Maine. Plan for separate filings.
Maine Vehicle Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Buyer and seller complete the Maine BMV Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale with full names, addresses, VIN, year/make/model, odometer reading, sale price, and sale date
- Seller signs the title in the assignment block (vehicles 25 model years old and newer); older, untitled vehicles transfer with the signed bill of sale
- Buyer brings the signed bill of sale, signed title (if titled), proof of insurance, and 5.5% sales tax payment to the municipal town office or a BMV branch
- Town clerk collects sales tax, calculates and collects annual excise tax based on MSRP and vehicle age, then issues plates and registration
- Buyer submits the title paperwork to the Maine BMV promptly — Maine sets no fixed day count for a private buyer, but the vehicle must be registered before it is driven on public roads
- Buyer obtains a current Maine safety inspection sticker at a certified station before driving on public roads
- Seller removes plates (Maine plates stay with the seller, not the vehicle) and notifies BMV of the sale
Common Pitfalls
- Skipping the town office and going straight to BMV — the excise tax must be paid at your town office first, and you need the excise receipt to register at a BMV branch
- Forgetting that annual excise tax recurs every year for as long as you own the vehicle (a 3-year-old $30,000 truck can run $400+ annually) and budgeting only for the one-time sales tax
- Assuming an older vehicle has a title — Maine titles only vehicles 25 model years old and newer, so an older one transfers with a signed bill of sale
- Leaving plates on the vehicle for the buyer — Maine plates belong to the seller, and the seller remains liable for tickets and tolls until they are removed
- Driving with an expired inspection sticker — it is a traffic violation, and Maine requires a passing inspection every year
Pro Tip
Maine's town-office-first system catches buyers off guard, but once you know the order — town clerk for tax, registration, and excise; then BMV for title — it is straightforward. Keep the bill of sale and your inspection records permanently.