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Maine · What a car really costs

Buying a car in Maine.

Maine charges sales and use tax of 5.5% statewide on vehicles, with no local add-on. A trade-in does reduce the taxable price, which is real money on the deal.

5.5%
Sales and use tax on a vehicle
Full credit
Trade-in reduces the taxable price
$33.00
Title fee
$35
Registration, typical new car
~$499
Doc fee, typical (no cap)

How the tax works.

No local sales tax in Maine.

Manufacturer rebates assigned to the dealer are part of the taxable sale price; only dealer discounts reduce it.

Leases of one year or more: sales tax is due at lease inception on the total of all lease payments plus any capitalized cost reduction (Maine Revenue Services Instructional Bulletin 28).

Trade-ins: Trade-in allowance for a motor vehicle traded toward another motor vehicle reduces the taxable sale price (36 M.R.S. 1765).

At the DMV.

FeeAmount
Title$33.00
Registration~$35
Passenger vehicle registration $35 per year (standard plates included); municipal excise tax must be paid to the town first. Agent fees of a few dollars apply at town offices.
Annual value-based tax: {"name":"Municipal motor vehicle excise tax","rate":"MSRP x mill rate by model year: 24 mills year 1, 17.5 year 2, 13.5 year 3, 10 year 4, 6.5 year 5, 4 mills year 6 and later","notes":"A $40,000 MSRP car owes $960 in year 1, paid to the municipality before registration."}

Leasing in Maine.

upfront on total

Cities in Maine.

Pick your city for the exact combined rate where you register, plus what title and registration run there.

PortlandCumberland CountyAugustaKennebec CountyAuburnAndroscoggin CountyFreeportCumberland CountyLewistonAndroscoggin CountyBangorPenobscot CountyBiddefordYork CountyCastineHancock CountyLimestoneAroostook CountyNew PortlandSomerset County
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Questions.

How much is sales tax on a car in Maine?

5.5%. Maine applies one rate statewide on vehicles, so it does not change from city to city.

Does a trade-in lower the sales tax in Maine?

Trade-in allowance for a motor vehicle traded toward another motor vehicle reduces the taxable sale price (36 M.R.S. 1765).

What are title and registration fees in Maine?

Title is $33.00. Passenger vehicle registration $35 per year (standard plates included); municipal excise tax must be paid to the town first. Agent fees of a few dollars apply at town offices.

Is the doc fee capped in Maine?

No. Maine sets no statutory cap, and dealers typically charge around $499. No statutory cap. Typical from CarEdge 2026 (secondary).

How is a lease taxed in Maine?

upfront on total

Where these numbers come from.

Rates, fees, and rules change. These figures are estimates for planning, not tax advice; confirm the final numbers with the dealer and your state's motor vehicle agency before you buy.