Overview
Selling or buying a used vehicle in Maine? A bill of sale is your proof of the deal — it records who sold what, for how much, and on what date. Maine transfers ownership through the assigned title and the Application for Certificate of Title, Form MVT-2, and a bill of sale is part of the process — your town office uses it to calculate excise tax. It also protects both sides by locking in the price, the handover date, and the fact that the seller is no longer responsible for tickets or accidents once the keys change hands.
Maine requirements
Is a bill of sale required in Maine?
Yes, in practice. For a first-time registration after a private sale, Maine asks for a bill of sale alongside the assigned title and Form MVT-2. Your town office also uses it to figure the excise tax, so a clear, complete bill of sale keeps the process moving.
Does it need to be notarized?
No. Maine does not require a vehicle bill of sale to be notarized. You can notarize it voluntarily for extra proof, but it is not needed to transfer the title.
Title transfer deadline
Maine doesn't publish a fixed number of days for a buyer to title a vehicle after a private sale, but you should register promptly — new residents get 30 days, and you can't legally drive an untitled, unregistered vehicle. Check current timing with the BMV or your town office.
Motor vehicle sales/use tax
Maine charges 5.5% on the vehicle's purchase price. A dealer collects it at the time of sale; in a private sale the buyer pays it as use tax when registering at the town office or BMV.
Odometer disclosure
Federal law requires the odometer reading at the time of sale for vehicles under 20 model years old. Record it on both the bill of sale and the title.
How to fill it out
- 1
Enter the sale date and the Maine town where the sale takes place.
- 2
Add the seller's and buyer's full legal names and addresses.
- 3
Describe the vehicle — make, model, year, color, and 17-character VIN.
- 4
Record the odometer reading and the federal odometer disclosure.
- 5
Enter the purchase price and choose 'as-is' or add warranty terms.
- 6
Both parties sign — then the buyer pays excise tax at the town office and files Form MVT-2 with the BMV.
Ready to create your Maine bill of sale?
Fill the form, watch it build live, and download the PDF — free, no signup.
Open the free builderWhat to include
- Seller & buyer names and addresses
- Make, model, year, color & VIN
- Odometer reading + federal disclosure
- Purchase price & sales-tax note
- “As-is” statement or warranty terms
- Date of sale and signatures
Maine bill of sale by vehicle type
The same Mainebuilder works for more than cars — pick your vehicle and the form adapts: the right ID number (a VIN, a boat's HIN, or a serial number) and an odometer reading only where one applies.
- Car bill of sale
- Truck bill of sale
- SUV bill of sale
- Van bill of sale
- Motorcycle bill of sale
- ATV bill of sale
- RV bill of sale
- Camper bill of sale
- Trailer bill of sale
- Boat bill of sale
- Jet Ski bill of sale
- Snowmobile bill of sale
- Golf Cart bill of sale
- Tractor bill of sale
A few differ: boats and jet skis use a Hull ID Number (HIN) instead of a VIN and have no odometer; trailers, campers, snowmobiles, golf carts, and tractors have no odometer either; and boats, ATVs, and snowmobiles often register with a different agency (such as a wildlife, boating, or parks department) rather than the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), with excise tax paid at your town office. Confirm the details with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), with excise tax paid at your town office.
Maine bill of sale FAQ
Does a Maine motor vehicle bill of sale need to be notarized?
No. Maine does not require a vehicle bill of sale to be notarized. The transfer happens through the assigned title and Form MVT-2, with the bill of sale used to document the sale and calculate excise tax — notarizing is optional and only adds extra proof.
Do I need a bill of sale to sell a car in Maine?
Yes, in practice. Maine asks for a bill of sale to register a vehicle after a private sale, and your town office uses it to set the excise tax. It also proves the price, the sale date, and that you're no longer responsible for the vehicle after the sale.
Where do I transfer the title in Maine?
Titles are processed by the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) using Form MVT-2, while excise tax and registration are handled at your local town office. The buyer brings the assigned title, the bill of sale, proof of insurance, and payment for the excise tax and fees.
How long do I have to transfer the title in Maine?
Maine doesn't set a specific number of days for a buyer to title after a private sale, but you should do it promptly — new residents have 30 days, and you can't legally drive an unregistered vehicle. Confirm current timing with the BMV or your town office.
How much is sales tax on a used car in Maine?
5.5% of the purchase price. A dealer collects it at the sale; in a private sale the buyer pays it as use tax when registering at the town office or BMV. This is why an accurate sale price on your bill of sale matters.
Do both the buyer and seller need to sign?
Yes. Both parties should sign and date the bill of sale, and each keeps a copy. If there are two buyers or two sellers, every party signs.
Is a handwritten bill of sale valid in Maine?
Yes — Maine doesn't mandate a specific form, so a handwritten bill of sale is valid as long as it has the key details. A complete, typed document like this one is simply cleaner and far less likely to be questioned at the town office or BMV.
Is this Maine bill of sale really free?
Yes — completely. Fill it in, preview it live, and download the PDF with no signup, no credit card, and no watermark. Unlike sites that charge a fee or push a subscription to download, there's nothing to pay here.