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 register the vehicle and pay both the 5.5% sales tax and the annual excise tax — Maine is one of the few states where the town clerk, not the BMV, is your first stop. The Maine BMV then issues the title using Form MVT-2 (application) and MVT-7 (state-published bill of sale). Title is required only for 1995 and newer vehicles; older models transfer on a bill of sale and the prior registration. 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. Important Maine quirk: tax is collected at the municipal town office when you register, not at the BMV. Registration begins at the town clerk; the BMV issues the title afterward.
Exemption: Transfers between immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling) are exempt from sales tax with Form ST-A-119.
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 Maine Form MVT-7 with full names, addresses, VIN, year/make/model, odometer reading, sale price, and sale date
- Seller signs the title in the assignment block (1995+ vehicles) and provides the prior registration; for pre-1995 vehicles, seller signs over the existing registration
- Buyer brings MVT-7, signed title (or old registration), proof of insurance, and 5.5% sales tax payment to the municipal town office
- Town clerk collects sales tax, calculates and collects annual excise tax based on MSRP and vehicle age, then issues plates and registration
- Buyer takes the registration and title paperwork to the Maine BMV (or mails to BMV in Augusta) within 30 days for title issuance
- 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 — BMV will refuse the title application because excise tax and registration must be processed at the municipal level first
- 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 a 1994 or older vehicle has a title — it does not, and a buyer who insists on a title will be permanently stuck; the registration is the legal ownership document
- 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 primary stop offense and town clerks will not register a vehicle that has not passed inspection in many cases
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 MVT-7 and your inspection records permanently.