Transferring a Maine Vehicle Title

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

A Maine title transfer moves legal ownership of a vehicle from the seller to the buyer through the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The buyer typically starts at the town or city office for registration, which then forwards the title application to BMV for issuance. The transfer must happen within 30 days of the sale to avoid late penalties, and the title fee is a flat $33 regardless of vehicle value. Vehicles less than 15 years old are titled in Maine; older vehicles use a registration-only system without a title.

Before the sale

The seller should:

Locate the original Maine title (a duplicate cannot be assigned at sale; if lost, apply for a replacement first).
Confirm any lien on the title has been released by the lender.
Read the odometer the day of sale and record it on the back of the title.
Sign the assignment block exactly as the name appears on the front of the title.
Cancel any specialty plates that are personal to the seller; standard plates may stay with the seller for transfer to a future Maine vehicle.

Bill of sale

Maine recommends a written bill of sale showing the names and addresses of buyer and seller, the vehicle identification number (VIN), make, model, year, sale date, and sale price. The bill of sale isn't a substitute for the title assignment, but it is the document the town office uses to compute the 5.5% sales tax. Without one, the office may apply book value, which can be higher than the parties intended.

Buyer's responsibility

The buyer must apply for a new title and registration within 30 days of the sale. After 30 days, BMV adds a late penalty on top of the $33 title fee. To complete the transfer, the buyer brings to the town office:

The original Maine title properly assigned by the seller, with the odometer reading filled in.
The bill of sale.
Proof of Maine insurance meeting 50/100/25 + MedPay + UM.
Maine driver's license or photo ID.
Lien information if the buyer is financing the purchase.
A current Maine safety inspection sticker (within 60 days of registration).
Payment for the title fee, registration, sales tax, and excise tax.

Forms involved

The town office staff usually prepares the following at the counter:

MV-7 — Application for Certificate of Title.
MV-1 — Application for Registration.
MV-9 — Affidavit of Lien Discharge, if applicable.

The MV-7 is forwarded to Maine BMV for title processing; the MV-1 stays at the town office for registration.

Sales tax and excise tax

Maine's 5.5% sales tax applies to private-party vehicle purchases at the time of registration. Spouse-to-spouse transfers, parent-to-child gifts, and most inheritance transfers are exempt with proper documentation. The first excise tax is also collected at registration, calculated by the municipality based on MSRP and vehicle age. If you paid sales tax in another state, Maine credits the out-of-state amount up to the Maine rate.

Lien releases

If the seller had a loan, the lender holds the title until the loan is paid off. Once paid, the lender mails the released title to the seller (or files an electronic lien release with BMV). A lien-encumbered title cannot be transferred to a buyer; the seller must clear the lien first. If the buyer is financing, the new lender's information goes onto the title as the new lienholder.

Vehicles older than 15 years

Maine's titling law generally applies to vehicles less than 15 years old. Older vehicles transfer through registration alone — the seller signs the registration certificate and provides a bill of sale, and the buyer registers the vehicle at the town office with the same documents required for any other registration. There's no title document for the older vehicle, but the registration record at BMV still tracks ownership.

Out-of-state titles

If the buyer is bringing in a vehicle titled in another state, the out-of-state title is surrendered to Maine and a new Maine title is issued. The transaction follows the same 30-day rule for new arrivals, and a VIN inspection may be required if the title doesn't show a recent verification. Maine also issues salvage and rebuilt titles in their own categories, which carry brand designations that follow the vehicle on every future title.

Seller's protection

Maine doesn't require a separate "release of liability" form, but a copy of the bill of sale and a notice to your insurance carrier protects the seller while the buyer completes the registration paperwork at the town office. Keep the bill of sale at least 5 years in case any liability claim arises during the transition period.