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When Maine resident’s vehicle registration expires, they need to renew it with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Vacation Land residents may renew their vehicle registration online or in person.

The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) only sends vehicle registration renewal reminders to drivers who request them. This reminder will arrive by e-mail prior to the expiration date of the resident’s Maine car registration.

Registering a Vehicle in Maine

New residents to Maine have 30 days from the date they establish residency to register and title their vehicles with the Maine BMV. ME residents may be able to complete their entire Maine vehicle registration at the municipal town office.

Vacation Land residents who are applying for disability plates, need to have their physician sign the Application for Disability Plates/Placard (Form PS-18) before going to the municipal town office.

ME residents, whose town office does not participate in the vehicle registration program, need to visit a Bureau Motor Vehicle (BMV) Branch Office after paying their vehicle excise tax at the town office.

To register a vehicle, residents of the state of Main can visit their local municipal town office (or BMV branch, if the local office does not register vehicles) and present:

  • Registration certificate from the resident’s previous state.
  • Title from the previous state if the vehicle is newer than 1995.
  • The name and address of the lien holder (if applicable) are required on the registration application.
  • White and yellow copies of the registration application from the town office.
  • Excise tax receipt (provided at the town office).
  • Proof of a valid ME auto insurance policy.
  • A completed Maine Use Tax form (this form, along with the out-of-state registration, exempts you from paying sales tax on the vehicle).
  • Payment for the $33 title application fee for vehicles 1995 or newer.
  • Payment for the registration fees based upon license plate. Specialized plates cost more than standard plates.

Vehicles Purchased From a Dealer

In Maine, the dealer does not take care of all the vehicle registration paperwork. The new owner of the vehicle must do it.

Maine Vehicle Registration Fees

Maine vehicle registration fees vary based on vehicle type, size, and type of license plate. The most common fees are:

  • Passenger vehicles: $35
  • Motorcycles: $21
  • Disability plates: $35
  • Mopeds: $9

Some specialty plate registrations, including agriculture, university, and “Support Your Troops” plates, cost an additional $20 fee upon first registration and $15 at each renewal.

ME License Plates

Regular license plates will be given to Maine residents at the town office or BMV Branch Office when they register their vehicle.

Disability plates are available with a signature from a physician on the Application for Disability Plates/Placard (Form PS-18.)

Special license plates, including those for veterans, breast cancer awareness, animal welfare, and conservation support, among others, are available for an extra charge. Vanity plates are also available for a fee of $25.

Out-of-State Residents

Residents of Maine, who are temporarily working out-of-state or a student studying outside of Maine, can renew online using the ME Rapid Renewal system.

Vehicle Inspections in ME

Although vehicle inspections are required every year, Maine does not tie the process together with car registration renewals.

NOTE: Residents of Cumberland County must also pass an emissions test.

Motorcycle Registration in Maine

Residents of Maine or individuals who plan on moving to Maine must register their motorcycle with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). Whether residents need to learn more about registering a motorcycle following a purchase or the steps required for new ME residents, they can use this guide to simplify the process.

New Maine Residents

After establishing Maine residency, new residents of ME have 30 days to register their motorcycle with the BMV.

BEFORE turning in a registration application, Maine residents need to:

  • Purchase Maine motorcycle insurance.
  • Pay excise tax on the bike at the resident’s municipal town office.

After paying the necessary taxes, the municipal office agent will give Maine residents a receipt and copies of their registration application.

If a Maine resident’s municipal office also processes registration, they can fill out their application and turn in the below documents when they pay their excise tax. If not, Maine residents need to find a different BMV office instead.

At either location, ME residents need to provide their:

  • Out-of-state registration.
  • Title, IF the motorcycle is model year 1995 or newer or 300 CC or greater.
  • If applicable, provide the name and address of any lienholders.
  • Proof of an active ME motorcycle insurance policy
  • The white and yellow copies of the motorcycle registration application.
  • The excise tax receipt.
  • Payment for the $21 registration fee AND any other applicable taxes or fees.

Maine’s residents must complete a motorcycle safety inspection immediately after registering their bike with the BMV. ME residents who have a valid inspection sticker from their previous state of residence, the state of Maine will not require its residents to complete another safety inspection until their current inspection sticker expires.

ME Motorcycle Registration

There are slight differences between the registration process for motorcycles purchased from dealerships and those bought from private sellers. Below are the steps Maine residents need to take in either instance to register their bike with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Regardless of the purchase method, before registering a bike, Vacation Land residents need to:

  • Purchase Maine motorcycle insurance.
  • Pay excise tax on the motorcycle at the resident’s municipal town office. Be sure to keep track of the registration application and receipt you’ll receive after paying the required excise taxes.

Dealership-Sold Motorcycles

When Maine residents purchase a motorcycle from a dealership in Maine, the dealership will not handle the registration process for them.

ME residents can complete the motorcycle registration process by submitting the following items at their municipal town office when they pay their excise tax, or at their local BMV office branch if the municipal office does not offer vehicle registration services:

A completed blue title application if the motorcycle is:

  • 300 CC or more and is a model year 1995 or newer.
  • A bill of sale or sales agreement from the dealership.
  • Proof of a valid ME motorcycle insurance policy.
  • The excise tax receipt.
  • The white and yellow copies of the registration application.
  • The $21 registration fee PLUS any other applicable taxes and fees.

Motorcycles from Private Sellers

Maine residents can apply to register their motorcycle purchased from another individual by providing the following items at their municipal office (during the excise tax payment) or local Maine BMV agency (if the municipal office doesn’t process vehicle registrations):

  • A completed bill of sale, and

A properly assigned and signed-over title IF the motorcycle is:

  • 300 CC or more and is a model year 1995 or newer
  • Proof of a valid Maine motorcycle insurance policy.
  • The white and yellow copies of the registration application.
  • A receipt from the municipal office as proof of excise tax paid.
  • Payment for the 5.5% sales tax due, the $21 registration fee, and any other applicable taxes or fees.

Keep in mind, Maine residents may also be required to get a safety inspection once their motorcycle has been registered.

ME Motorcycle Registration Fees

Maine residents may be required to pay the following fees when they register their motorcycle with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles:

Motorcycle registration:

  • Regular: $21.
  • Antique: $15.
  • Disability: $21.
  • Purple Heart: Free.
  • Special veteran: $21.
  • Disabled veteran: Free.
  • Moped registration: $9.
  • ME sales tax: 5.5% of the motorcycle’s purchase price.
  • Excise tax: Varies by county—contact the local municipal town office for specifics.

Registering a Boat in the State of Maine

ME residents who want to operate watercraft on Maine waters, may be required to register it with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW).

ME Vessels Requiring Registration

The Maine IFW requires all motorized boats, including personal watercraft, used on state waters to be registered, with the following exemptions:

  • Vessels currently registered in another state or country with a properly displayed decal, not operating on Maine waters for more than 60 consecutive days.
  • Ship lifeboats
  • Vessels displaying a current boat number from a recognized racing association that is strictly used for racing.
  • Vessels owned by federal, state, or local governments and used only for official purposes.
  • Military or public watercraft, except recreational watercraft.

Maine residents who are not sure if their vessel qualifies for registration, can call the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife at (207) 287-8000.

Prior to submitting a registration application, Vacation Land residents need to pay excise tax on their boat unless the vessel is:

  • A lifeboat or raft carried by another vessel.
  • 20 ft or under and isn’t motorized.
  • Exempt from property tax.

The amount of excise tax Maine residents owe will depend on their vessel’s length and the ME county of residence. Maine residents can submit their payment and direct any additional questions about excise tax to their municipal tax collector.

Maine residents can complete the registration process by presenting the following items at the IFW’s main office or at a participating municipal/town clerk’s office (call ahead to confirm they process vessel registrations):

A completed:

  • ATV, Boat, and Snowmobile Registration (REV 2019).
  • Boat Excise Tax Exemption if the vessel meets any of the qualifications for excise tax exemption.

Proof of use tax paid, such as:

  • Use Tax Certificate (Form S.T.M.V. 6U).
  • Bill of sale with the purchase price and amount of sales tax paid.
  • The applicable boat registration fees and taxes.

Maine boat registrations are valid for 1 calendar year and are valid through December 31 of the year the registration was issued.

ME Boat Registration Fees & Taxes

The fees associated with registering a boat with the ME Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife are as follows:

  • Boat registration/renewal fees (depend on the horsepower of the boat AND if Maine residents have a lake and river protection sticker, also known as a “Milfoil” sticker):
  • 0 to 10 horsepower: $16 ($31 with Milfoil).
  • 11 to 50 horsepower: $21 ($31 with Milfoil).
  • 51 to 115 horsepower: $27 ($27 with Milfoil).
  • More than 116 horsepower: $35 ($50 with Milfoil).
  • Personal watercraft registration/renewal fee: $35 ($50 with Milfoil).
  • Excise tax: Varies according to the individual’s county of residence.

NOTE: All fees (not taxes) include a $1 agent fee. Agents may also charge an additional $2 fee for new, transfer, and rollover registrations.

Maine Boat Registration Renewals & Replacements

Maine vessel registrations are valid for 1 calendar year and expire on December 31 of the year the registration was issued. Like applying for an original boat registration, Vacation Land residents need to pay excise tax on their vessel BEFORE renewing its registration.

Once Maine residents pay the excise tax (if applicable), they can finish renewing their boat registration by submitting information about their vessel and payment for the appropriate renewal fees:

Online

Using the IFW’s boat registration renewal portal (in participating counties).

By Mail

Residents of Main can send the proper documentation to the address listed on their renewal notice.

Replace a Lost Registration

Duplicate registrations can be purchased by submitting a ATV, Boat, and Snowmobile Registration (REV 2019) AND the duplicate registration fee (along with any applicable agent fees) to the IFW’s main office OR the Maine resident’s municipal/town clerk’s office (call ahead to make sure they process boat registrations).

Maine Boater Qualifications

ME residents who are between 16 and 18 years old, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife requires them to complete a boating safety course if they want to operate a personal watercraft unsupervised.

Without a boating safety certificate, Vacation Land residents need to be accompanied by somebody who’s at least 18 years old to operate personal watercraft on Maine waters. There may be state age restrictions regarding piloting a boat.

ME residents can choose to complete the boating education requirement:

  • Online.
  • In the classroom.

ME residents who have additional questions, can call the regional safety coordinator in their county of residence.

Acceptable Payment Methods

Maine BMV offices accept the following payment methods:

  • Cash.
  • Checks.
  • Money orders.
  • Debit or credit cards such as:
  • VISA.
  • MasterCard.

Before heading to any Maine BMV office, ME residents need to ensure they have the proper documentation and payment method to prevent delays in the registration process.

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