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The bottom line: Maine requires a bill of sale for every private car sale, and it must include the VIN and sale price to be valid.
You sign over the title and hand it to the buyer. You also remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. The buyer handles registration, excise tax, and sales tax after that.
Key Takeaways
- Title notarization: Maine does not require it. Just sign in blue or black ink, exactly as your name appears on the title.
- Missing title: A replacement costs $33 and you download Form MVT-8 and submit it to the BMV. Standard mail takes 10 to 12 days, and there’s a $10 rush fee if you need it faster.
- Buyer deadline: The buyer has 30 days to register the car at their local town office or a BMV branch.
- License plates: They stay with you, not the car. Remove them before the buyer drives away. The buyer will need a transit plate from a BMV branch to drive the car legally until they register it.
- Release of liability: Maine has no required form, but handing over a signed title and bill of sale is your paper trail once the sale is done.
- Bill of sale: Required for all private sales in Maine. It must include the VIN and the sale price. For vehicles older than 25 model years, the bill of sale is the only proof of ownership needed.
- No emissions test: Maine does not require emissions testing as part of the selling process, anywhere in the state.
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Step-by-Step Process for Maine
Step 1: Prepare Your Maine Paperwork
Documents you’ll need:
- Vehicle title – Must be in your name and clear of liens (required for vehicles model year 1996 and newer)
- Valid Maine driver’s license – Name must match the title exactly
- Maine bill of sale – Required for all private sales; must include the VIN and sale price
- Lien release documentation – If you still owe money on the car
If your title is missing:
You’ll need to get a replacement first. Download Form MVT-8 and submit it to the BMV with your ID and $33. You can also request one online or drop it off in person at any BMV branch. Standard processing by mail takes 10 to 12 days. Pay the extra $10 rush fee if you need it sooner.
If you still owe money on the car:
Your lender must complete a Release of Lien (Form MVT-12) or sign off on the title directly. Contact your lender to start the process. If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
Learn more: How to Sell a Financed Car?
Name matching requirement:
Check your title carefully. The name on your driver’s license must match the name on the title exactly. If you changed your name after a marriage or other legal reason, bring documentation showing the name change to the BMV.
Vehicles older than 25 model years:
Maine does not require a certificate of title for vehicles older than 25 model years. For these vehicles, a completed bill of sale and the most recent registration are all you need to transfer ownership.
Step 2: Prepare Your Car
Clean your car inside and out, gather maintenance records, and run a VIN check to get the best price and build buyer confidence.
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Step 3: Price Your Car
Learn more: Best Free Car Valuation Tools
Step 4: Advertise Your Car
Facebook Marketplace works best in Maine, especially in Portland, Bangor, and Lewiston where buyer activity is highest. Cars.com and Autotrader are good for reaching buyers statewide and from neighboring states.
Maine’s rural market means older trucks and all-wheel-drive vehicles tend to sell well locally year-round. Peddle or Wheelzy will buy your old or damaged car directly, and Carvana will give you competitive offers if you have a newer car.
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Step 5: Meet with Buyers Safely
Always meet at public places like bank parking lots during daylight hours.
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Step 6: Handle Payment and Negotiate
Cash for cars under $5,000, cashier’s check (verify at bank), or meet at buyer’s bank for wire transfer.
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Step 7: Complete the Maine Title Transfer
Flip the title to the back and find the “Assignment of Title by Owner” section. This is where you complete the transfer.
Fill in the buyer’s full legal name and complete address. Enter the exact odometer reading using whole numbers only. Then write the sale date and the exact purchase price.
Sign your name in the seller field exactly as it appears on the front of the title. Use only blue or black ink. Any correction, cross-out, or white-out voids the entire title and you’ll have to apply for a duplicate.
Odometer disclosure: Federal law requires odometer disclosure for all vehicles model year 2011 and newer that weigh under 16,000 pounds. You record it on the title itself. Vehicles model year 2010 and older, vehicles over 16,000 pounds, and non-motorized vehicles are exempt.
Joint ownership: If the title shows “AND” between two names, all listed owners must sign. If it shows “OR,” any single owner can sign alone.
Buyer’s next steps: The buyer has 30 days to register the car. They must visit their local town office first to pay the excise tax, then complete registration at the town office or a BMV branch. They’ll bring the signed title, the bill of sale, and proof of insurance. They pay the $33 title fee, 5.5% sales tax on the purchase price, and registration fees.
Learn more: What is Odometer Disclosure Statement? (Each State Guide)
Step 8: Sign Bill of Sale (Required)
Maine requires a bill of sale for all private vehicle sales. It must include the VIN and the sale price to be valid. For vehicles older than 25 model years, the bill of sale is the only ownership document needed.
Use the official state form. Maine Motor Vehicle Bill of Sale
No notarization is needed for the bill of sale in Maine. You can also use our free bill of sale generator to create one in minutes.
Learn more: What is Bill of Sale for a Car? (Seller Guide + Templates)
Step 9: Handle Maine License Plates and Registration
Remove your license plates before the buyer drives away. In Maine, plates belong to you (the owner), not the car.
You can transfer the plates to another car you own, return them to the BMV or your local town office, or destroy them. The buyer gets new plates when they register the car.
Transit plates for the buyer: Once your plates come off, the buyer is driving an unregistered vehicle. To drive it legally, they need to visit a BMV branch before pickup to get a transit plate (valid for up to 10 days). They’ll bring proof of insurance and the bill of sale. The fee is typically $10 to $20. Let them know this upfront so there’s no confusion at the sale.
The inspection sticker: Maine requires an annual safety inspection for all passenger vehicles. The sticker stays with the car when you sell it. If your sticker is current, mention it in your listing as a selling point. If it’s expired, the buyer can’t legally drive the car on public roads until it passes inspection. They can use their transit plate to get it to a shop, but be upfront about the sticker status so there are no surprises.
Learn more: How to Remove License Plates Safely?
Step 10: Submit the Release of Liability
Contact the Maine BMV to report the sale after it’s complete.
Maine has no required release of liability form for private sales. Your signed title and bill of sale serve as your paper trail showing you’re no longer responsible for the vehicle.
Step 11: Cancel Insurance
Cancel your insurance only after the title transfer is complete.
Learn more: When to Cancel Car Insurance After Selling a Car?
Maine BMV Resources
State Resources:
- Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
- Find your nearest branch: maine.gov/sos/bmv
- For more state DMV links: List of All 50 State DMV Websites
Phone Support:
- Main BMV line: (207) 624-9000
- Title Unit: (207) 624-9000, ext. 52138
Maine Fees and Costs
| What You Pay? | Cost | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Duplicate title (if needed) | $33.00 (+ $10 rush fee) | Before sale |
| Lien payoff (if applicable) | Loan balance | Before sale |
| Everything else | $0 | Buyer pays |
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the buyer have to transfer the title after we complete the sale?
The buyer has 30 days from the purchase date to complete the title transfer and registration.
They must visit their local town office first to pay the excise tax, then finalize registration at the same office or a BMV branch.
If the buyer misses the 30-day window, they may face late fees and penalties when they register. That’s why it helps to walk them through Maine’s process before they drive away.
Do I need to get the title notarized when I sign it over in Maine?
No, Maine doesn’t require title notarization. The title assignment itself never needs a notary. Just sign in blue or black ink exactly as your name appears on the front of the title.
When is a bill of sale required in Maine?
Maine requires a bill of sale for all private vehicle sales. It must include the VIN and the sale price.
For vehicles older than 25 model years, the bill of sale and most recent registration are the only ownership documents needed.
No notarization is required for the bill of sale. You can use the official Maine state form or our free bill of sale generator.
Can I sell my car if I still owe money on it in Maine?
Yes, but you need to coordinate lien release with your lender. Your lender must complete a Release of Lien (Form MVT-12) or sign off on the title before you can transfer it to the buyer.
Contact your lender first since this can take several days.
If you owe more than the car’s worth, you’ll need to pay the difference.
My car was inherited. What additional Maine forms do I need?
If you’re a surviving spouse or the court-appointed personal representative, you’ll need to complete Form MVT-22 (Affidavit of Surviving Spouse or Personal Representative).
This form must be notarized. You’ll also need a copy of the death certificate and the current title and registration.
If you’re not the spouse or personal representative, you’ll need a letter from the probate court authorizing the transfer before the BMV will process anything.
Maine does not accept copies of wills for vehicle title transfers.
Both my spouse and I are on the Maine title. Do we both need to sign?
It depends on how the title reads. If the names are joined by “AND,” all listed owners must sign. If the names are joined by “OR,” any single owner can sign alone to complete the sale.
What if I make a mistake on the Maine title?
Don’t try to fix it yourself with white-out or cross-outs. Any alteration voids the title completely in Maine.
You’ll need to apply for a duplicate title using Form MVT-8, pay the $33 fee, and start the assignment over on the new title.
The buyer is from out of state. Does Maine require anything special?
Your responsibilities as the seller are the same regardless of where the buyer lives. You still sign over the title, provide the bill of sale, and remove your plates.
The buyer registers the car in their home state using the documents you provide.
Note that some states require a VIN inspection for vehicles coming in from out of state. That’s the buyer’s responsibility to handle, not yours.
Do Maine license plates transfer to the buyer?
No, Maine license plates stay with you (the seller). Remove them before the buyer drives away.
You can transfer the plates to another car you own, return them to the BMV or your local town office, or destroy them. The buyer applies for new plates when they register the car.
Article Update History
All fees, forms, and deadlines have been verified against the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
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