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Maine Vehicle Registration

Maine Vehicle Registration

The state of Maine requires all motor vehicle owners to register their motor vehicle with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles before driving it on the road in accordance to the Maine vehicle registration laws. 

Initial Maine Vehicle Registration

If you need tom complete the ME vehicle registration for the first time for a motor vehicle, if you have purchased your motor vehicle from a private party, you will first need to pay the correct amount of excise tax. You will then have to submit the following documents for your ME registration:

• Submit the title of the vehicle if it is up to 15 years old.
• A signed Bill of Sale.
• The yellow and white copy of the ME registration application with the excise tax receipt, which you can get from your local town office.
• The 5 percent Maine sales tax that you paid for the vehicle.
• A motor vehicle title for and the ME registration form.

If your vehicle is registered in Cumberland County, you will need to have an emissions test done on your vehicle for your ME vehicle registration. Vehicle inspections have to be performed at an authorized inspection station or by an authorized inspector who has been licensed by the Department of Environmental Protection of Maine. Once your motor vehicle passes inspection, you will get an inspection certification.

You must then go to your local municipal office and bring along the completed title and ME registration form, along with the inspection certification. You will have to also provide proof of insurance, as well as the odometer reading of the vehicle if it is less than 10 years old. If you reside in a municipality that does not participate in the ME registration program, you will have to take your documents to the nearest Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch office.

For motor vehicles that have been registered, but in another state, you will also bring along the original, out-of-state title for the motor vehicle. If this is unavailable, you can bring the ME registration document, along with your proof of sales tax payment.

For a motor vehicle purchased from a dealer, you will still need to pay the necessary excise tax. You will also have to submit the following documents:

The green dealer's certificate which proves that sales tax was paid.

• The blue title application for motor vehicle that are up to 16 years old.
• The yellow and white copy of your ME registration application and your excise tax receipt 

Cumberland County vehicle owners will still need to get an emissions test from an inspection station or by an authorized inspector in order to be issued an inspection certification.

Maine Vehicle Registration Fees

When you complete your ME registration for your vehicle, you will have to pay a registration fee and a title application fee. While the latter is always $33, the ME vehicle registration fee varies depending on the weight of your vehicle and the manufacturer’s model year 

Renewing your Maine Vehicle Registration

Owners of vehicles in Maine must renew their ME registrations every year, and can do so either by in person or online. You can either use the Bureau of Motor Vehicles online service to renew or you can go to your local BMV office.

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