Maine Car Sales Tax (2026): 5.5% + Excise Tax & Fees

State base sales/use tax

5.5%

Dealer doc fee

Varies by dealer

Title fee

$33

Registration

$35

Title fee

$33

Registration

$35

State sales tax is 5.5%; standard passenger registration is $35, plus municipal excise tax that varies by original value and age. Dealer document-processing fees must be disclosed before final sale.

A standard passenger-car or light-pickup registration is $35, but Maine also requires municipal excise tax before registration. That tax varies by the vehicle’s original value and age, so ask your town office for the exact amount.

Maine does not publish a universal dealer doc-fee amount. Any dealer document-processing fee must be disclosed before the final sale and clearly posted on the vehicle.

1. Ask for the selling price, 5.5% sales tax, municipal excise tax, title, registration, dealer doc fee, and final total in writing.
2. Ask your town office for the municipal excise-tax amount for the exact vehicle before treating a dealer estimate as final.
3. Check whether the $33 title fee applies to the vehicle; Maine requires titles for model years 1995 and newer.
4. Compare the same itemized lines across written quotes before choosing a dealer.

Reviewed 2026-08-17. These primary sources support the state-specific claims above.

• Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles: Register a passenger vehicle ↗

  Supports: 5.5% sales tax on vehicle purchase price; $33 title application fee for eligible vehicles; municipal excise tax paid before registration.

• Maine Legislature: Registration fees for motor vehicles ↗

  Supports: $35 annual registration fee for standard automobiles, light pickups, and passenger SUVs.

• Maine Legislature: Title fees and dealer document-processing disclosures ↗

  Supports: $33 title fee; dealer document-processing fees must be disclosed before final sale and posted on the vehicle.

What is the car sales tax in Maine?

Maine charges 5.5% sales tax on the vehicle purchase price. Municipal excise tax is also due when you register, and it varies with the vehicle and its age.

What is the dealer doc fee in Maine?

Maine does not publish a universal dealer doc-fee amount. Any dealer document-processing fee must be disclosed before the final sale and clearly posted on the vehicle.

What taxes and fees do I pay when registering a car in Maine?

A standard passenger-car or light-pickup registration is $35, but Maine also requires municipal excise tax before registration. That tax varies by the vehicle’s original value and age, so ask your town office for the exact amount.