Eligibility for Maine License Plates
Registration is conducted through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles of the Secretary of State, but the process begins at your local municipal office. New residents must register each vehicle within 30 days of establishing residency in Maine (29-A M.R.S. §351).
- Residency: The 30-day period begins upon establishing residency. The vehicle must be registered in the municipality where the owner resides, and property tax is paid to that town before the Bureau of Motor Vehicles processes the registration.
- Vehicle: Vehicles with a model year of 25 years or newer require a certificate of title. Older vehicles are exempt from the title requirement but still need registration. Vehicles with a restored title must undergo the title restoration process of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles before license plates are issued.
- Applicant: The registration application must include the owner’s legal name, residence, current mileage, and vehicle description (29-A M.R.S. §401). Proof of insurance is required at each registration and renewal.
- License Plate Categories: Maine issues standard passenger, motorcycle, trailer, commercial, and antique plates. Plates for the disabled, veterans, Purple Heart recipients, Medal of Honor recipients, Pearl Harbor survivors, and POWs have no registration fee. Specialty plates (Conservation, Lobster, Support Our Troops, University of Maine System, and others) require an additional $20 annual fee.
How to Get a License Plate in Maine?
The initial registration is split between two offices. First, you pay the property tax at your town office, then complete the registration either at the same office (if participating) or at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch.
- Bring the bill of sale or dealer’s sales agreement, signed title (for vehicles 25 years or newer), proof of insurance, and the white and yellow copies of the registration application and property tax receipt from the town office.
- Pay $33 for the title application for vehicles 25 years or newer. Private sales and out-of-state purchases also require payment of Maine’s 5.5% sales/use tax on the purchase price.
- Inspection: Every registered vehicle must undergo an annual safety inspection at a licensed service station (29-A M.R.S. §1751). Vehicles in Cumberland County are subject to enhanced inspection, including onboard diagnostic testing for 1996 and newer models.
- The Bureau of Motor Vehicles issues license plates and a registration certificate upon processing. Vanity plates must be ordered through a Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch or the Bureau of Motor Vehicles vanity plate portal.
Registrations expire annually, one year from the month of issuance (29-A M.R.S. §405). Maine does not send renewal notices. The owner must track expiration and renew through the town office, Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch, or the Rapid Renewal online system.
How Much Does a License Plate Cost in Maine?
The state registration fee is moderate; the municipal property tax is the primary component of the total amount. The property tax is calculated by multiplying the vehicle’s suggested retail price by a declining rate, from 0.0240 in the first year to 0.0040 in the sixth year and beyond.
- Passenger vehicles pay a $35 annual registration fee. Motorcycles and ATVs cost $21. Mopeds cost $9, and antique autos are $30.
- Trailers with a registered weight up to 2,000 pounds cost $10.50 (one year) or $21 (two years). Trailers weighing 2,000 pounds and above cost $20 or $40 for the same periods. Truck and motorhome fees follow weight schedules in the Bureau of Motor Vehicles fee schedule.
- Vanity plates add $25 per year to the base registration fee. Specialty plates have an additional $20 annual fee, and both fees are added if you personalize a specialty plate.
- Title application fee: $33 for vehicles 25 years or newer. There are no county-level surcharges; the property tax paid to the municipality is the only local component.
- Maine does not impose an additional registration fee for electric vehicles starting in 2026. Late registrations over 30 days are subject to penalties up to $50 for the first offense (29-A M.R.S. §351).
Can I Get a License Plate Online in Maine?
The online service covers renewals only, and only in participating municipalities. The Rapid Renewal portal allows owners to pay property tax and state registration fees in one transaction. Payment is made by credit or debit card. Not every town participates; the portal lists available municipalities.
Initial registration, title transfers, and new plates require an in-person visit. Start at your local town office to pay the property tax, then proceed to a Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch if the town cannot complete the registration. Bureau of Motor Vehicles branches operate in Augusta, Bangor, Portland, and other locations throughout the state.
Mail-in registration is permitted under 29-A M.R.S. §401. The package must include:
- A completed registration application, signed title or bill of sale, proof of insurance, and payment by check or money order payable to the Secretary of State.
- A property tax receipt from the municipal office (property tax must still be paid locally before mailing).
If your town supports Rapid Renewal, renew online; for everything else, the town office and Bureau of Motor Vehicles branches handle what the portal cannot.