Overview
This calculator applies the right Maine rule for each case, including the trade-in restriction that trips people up: Maine's credit only applies when you're trading one self-propelled road vehicle for another, not a boat, a snowmobile, or cash-equivalent property against a car purchase.
01 - Official fees
Maine car sales tax fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard rate | 5.5% | dealer and private sales, statewide, no local tax |
| Dealer sale base | price − qualifying trade-in | |
| Private ('casual') sale base | price on bill of sale | use tax, paid at your town office |
| True gift (no consideration) | $0 | excise, title, and registration still apply |
| Gift where debt is assumed | 5.5% of fair market value | assuming a loan balance counts as consideration |
Figures verified June 2026 against official sources (listed below). Always confirm the final amount with your town office (Maine BMV) - counties can add small local fees.
03 - Same state, other costs
More Maine vehicle costs
04 - Common questions
Maine car sales tax FAQ
Is a private-party car sale really tax-free in Maine?
No - that's the most common misunderstanding. A 'casual sale' between individuals is still taxed at 5.5%, collected as a use tax at your town office when you register, based on the bill of sale price. Only a true gift with no payment or assumed debt avoids the tax.
Does Maine have city or county sales tax on top of the state rate?
No. Maine is one of the few states with no local option sales tax at all - 5.5% is the entire rate everywhere in the state, on vehicles or anything else.
How does the trade-in credit actually work?
Under 36 M.R.S. §1765, tax applies only to the difference between the new vehicle's price and your trade-in's value - but only when you're trading a self-propelled road vehicle for another self-propelled road vehicle. Trade a boat or a snowmobile toward a car and you get no credit; the full price is taxed.
My daughter is taking over my car loan - is that still a gift?
No. If the recipient assumes a loan balance or pays anything of value, Maine treats that as consideration, and the transfer is taxed at 5.5% of fair market value, not treated as a gift - regardless of the family relationship.
Who collects the 5.5% - the dealer or the state?
Dealers collect and remit sales tax at the point of sale on new and dealer-sold vehicles. On a private sale, nobody collects it until you register: you bring the bill of sale (or a signed Use Tax Certificate, Form STMV6U) to your town office and pay the 5.5% there, alongside excise and registration.
Are any vehicle transfers fully exempt in Maine?
Yes - true gifts, transfers between spouses, inheritances, and a handful of government/nonprofit transactions are exempt under 36 M.R.S. §1483. Everything else, including low-dollar private sales, is taxed on the actual sale price shown on the bill of sale.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.