How Much Does It Cost To Register a Car in Maine in 2025
Maine vehicle registration costs consist of base registration fees determined by vehicle type and weight, local excise taxes calculated on vehicle value, mandatory processing fees, and potential specialty plate surcharges. The total cost varies significantly based on vehicle type, location, and age.
Base Registration Fees by Vehicle Type
Maine registration fees are structured by vehicle classification with specific rates for each category. The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles maintains the official fee schedule for all vehicle types.
Standard Passenger Vehicles
| Vehicle Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Passenger Car | $35 |
| Custom/Modified Vehicle | $35 |
| Combination Vehicle | $35 |
| Rental Vehicle | $70 |
Motorcycles and Two-Wheeled Vehicles
| Vehicle Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle | $21 |
| Autocycle | $21 |
| Moped | $9 |
| Antique Motorcycle | $15 |
| Disability Motorcycle | $21 |
Specialty and Antique Vehicles
| Vehicle Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Antique Auto | $30 |
| Street Rod | $30 |
| Horseless Carriage | $15 |
| Low Speed Vehicle | $25 |
| Tractor | $5-$20 |
| Dune Buggy | $7-$35 |
| Stock Car | $7-$35 |
Commercial Vehicles by Weight
Commercial vehicles follow a graduated fee structure based on gross vehicle weight. The commercial vehicle fee schedule applies to trucks and truck-tractors:
| Weight Range (pounds) | Fee |
|---|---|
| 0 - 6,000 | $35 |
| 6,001 - 10,000 | $37 |
| 10,001 - 12,000 | $48 |
| 12,001 - 14,000 | $81 |
| 14,001 - 16,000 | $105 |
| 16,001 - 18,000 | $130 |
| 18,001 - 20,000 | $161 |
| 20,001 - 23,000 | $188 |
| 23,001 - 26,000 | $220 |
| 26,001 - 28,000 | $267 |
| 28,001 - 32,000 | $308 |
| 32,001 - 34,000 | $342 |
| 34,001 - 38,000 | $379 |
| 38,001 - 40,000 | $403 |
| 40,001 - 42,000 | $426 |
| 42,001 - 45,000 | $450 |
| 45,001 - 48,000 | $497 |
| 48,001 - 51,000 | $533 |
| 51,001 - 54,000 | $568 |
| 54,001 - 55,000 | $580 |
| 55,001 - 60,000 | $640 |
| 60,001 - 65,000 | $699 |
| 65,001 - 69,000 | $762 |
| 69,001 - 72,000 | $797 |
| 72,001 - 75,000 | $821 |
| 75,001 - 78,000 | $857 |
| 78,001 - 80,000 | $877 |
| 80,001 - 90,000 | $982 |
| 90,001 - 94,000 | $1,026 |
| 94,001 - 100,000 | $1,234 |
Farm Vehicles and Motor Homes
Farm trucks and motor homes use a reduced fee schedule with lower rates than commercial vehicles:
| Weight Range (pounds) | Fee |
|---|---|
| 0 - 6,000 | $21 |
| 6,001 - 10,000 | $27 |
| 10,001 - 12,000 | $32 |
| 12,001 - 14,000 | $39 |
| 14,001 - 16,000 | $50 |
| 16,001 - 18,000 | $72 |
| 18,001 - 20,000 | $84 |
| 20,001 - 23,000 | $101 |
| 23,001 - 26,000 | $119 |
| 26,001 - 28,000 | $137 |
| 28,001 - 32,000 | $166 |
| 32,001 - 34,000 | $217 |
| 34,001 - 38,000 | $265 |
| 38,001 - 40,000 | $276 |
| 40,001 - 42,000 | $288 |
| 42,001 - 45,000 | $305 |
| 45,001 - 48,000 | $322 |
| 48,001 - 51,000 | $340 |
| 51,001 - 54,000 | $357 |
| 54,001 - 55,000 | $365 |
| 55,001 - 60,000 | $394 |
| 60,001 - 65,000 | $441 |
| 65,001 - 69,000 | $469 |
Trailers
| Trailer Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Trailer (up to 2,000 pounds registered weight) | $10.50-$21 |
| Trailer (2,000 pounds and over registered weight) | $20-$40 |
| Conservation Trailer | $10.50-$20 |
No-Fee Registrations
Several vehicle categories are exempt from registration fees:
- Municipal vehicles
- County Sheriff vehicles
- State vehicles
- Disabled Veteran vehicles
- Purple Heart recipient vehicles
- Medal of Honor recipient vehicles
- Gold Star Family vehicles
- Prisoner of War vehicles
- Pearl Harbor Survivor vehicles
Local Excise Tax Requirements
Maine requires annual excise tax payment before vehicle registration through the local excise tax system. Excise tax is paid at the municipal office where the vehicle owner resides and represents the largest component of registration costs for most vehicles.
Excise Tax Calculation
Excise tax is calculated by multiplying the vehicle's Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) by the applicable mill rate based on vehicle age:
| Vehicle Age | Mill Rate |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | 0.0240 |
| Year 2 | 0.0175 |
| Year 3 | 0.0135 |
| Year 4 | 0.0100 |
| Year 5 | 0.0065 |
| Year 6 | 0.0040 |
Municipal Collection
All Maine municipalities collect excise tax at the same state-mandated rates. There are no county-specific variations in excise tax rates. Each municipality retains excise tax revenue for local road maintenance, construction, and repair projects.
Mandatory Processing Fees
Municipal Agent Fees
Maine municipalities charge agent fees for processing registrations. Current agent fee structure allows:
- New registrations: Up to $6 agent fee
- Renewal registrations: Up to $5 agent fee
These fees compensate municipal offices for registration processing services and vary by municipality within the statutory limits.
Credit Card Processing Fees
Many municipalities charge additional fees for credit card payments, typically 2.5% of the transaction total when using electronic payment systems.
Title Fees
Maine requires titles for vehicles 25 years old and newer. The Maine title fee schedule includes:
Standard Title Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Certificate of Title Application | $33 |
| Duplicate Title | $33 |
| Corrected Title | $33 |
| Certificate of Salvage | $33 |
| Antique Vehicle Warranty Title | $40 |
| Manufactured Housing Title | $100 |
| Tiny Home Title | $100 |
Additional Title Services
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Expedited Title Processing | Additional $10 |
| Title Search (per name/VIN) | $5 |
| Certified Title Search | $33 |
| Late Filing Penalty | $50 |
Title Fee Exemptions
- Federal, state, and municipal vehicles
- Vehicles owned by registration fee-exempt owners
- Surviving spouse transfers
Regional Variations and Special Requirements
Cumberland County Emissions Testing
Vehicles registered in Cumberland County must undergo enhanced emissions inspection in addition to standard safety inspection. This requirement applies to:
- Gasoline-powered vehicles model year 1996 and newer
- All vehicles registered to Cumberland County addresses
- Enhanced inspection includes On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) testing
Emissions testing fees are charged by inspection stations and are not part of registration fees, but represent a mandatory cost for Cumberland County residents.
Island Use Vehicles
Maine offers reduced-rate registration for vehicles used exclusively on islands:
- Island Use registration: $4 annual fee
- Limited to vehicles that do not travel on mainland roads
- Must be registered by island residents
Specialty Plate Surcharges
Vanity Plates
Maine charges additional fees for personalized license plates through the online vanity plate system:
- Vanity plate fee: $25 annually
- Processing time: 10-12 weeks
- Available for most registration classes
Specialty Organization Plates
Most specialty plates carry additional annual fees:
- Standard specialty plates: Additional $20 first-time fee, $15 renewal fee
- Examples include University of Maine, Black Bear, Conservation, Sportsman plates
- Specialty plate fees are in addition to base registration fees
Plate Number Reservation
Maine offers plate number reservation service:
- Current plate number reservation: $25 one-time fee
- Available during license plate design transitions
- Allows retention of existing plate numbers on new plate designs
Current fee schedules and registration requirements are maintained by the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Excise tax information is available through Maine Revenue Services.
Municipal offices handle registration processing and excise tax collection. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles provides services through branch offices and authorized municipal agents throughout Maine.
