Overview
Buying a motorcycle triggers the same trio as a car purchase: 5.5% sales tax, a $33 title fee (unless it's old enough to fall under Maine's 25-model-year title exemption), and registration - all typically settled in one visit to your town office. Mopeds register even cheaper, at $9 a year, under the same excise rules.
01 - Official fees
Maine motorcycle fees fees at a glance
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle registration | $21.00/yr | |
| Moped registration | $9.00/yr | |
| Excise tax (year 1) | 24 mills | of original MSRP |
| Excise tax (year 6+) | 4 mills | floor rate |
| Town agent fee | $4.00–$6.00 | |
| Title fee (new purchase) | $33.00 | |
| Sales tax (new purchase) | 5.5% |
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 motorcycle fees FAQ
How much does it cost to register a motorcycle in Maine?
The state fee is $21 a year, but your town's excise tax - 24 mills of the bike's original MSRP in year one, sliding to 4 mills by year six - is usually the bigger number. A new $12,000 bike owes $288 in year-one excise alone, roughly 14 times the registration fee.
Do motorcycles pay the same sales tax as cars in Maine?
Yes - the flat 5.5% rate applies identically, including the vehicle-for-vehicle trade-in credit and the true-gift exemption. There's no motorcycle-specific tax break or surcharge.
Does an older motorcycle need a title in Maine?
Only if it falls inside the rolling 25-model-year window - as of January 1, 2026, that means model year 2001 and newer. A genuinely older bike transfers on a bill of sale with no title required.
Are mopeds cheaper to register than motorcycles?
Yes - $9 a year versus $21 for a motorcycle. Mopeds still owe excise tax under the same mill schedule, but their typically lower original MSRP keeps that number small too.
Can I renew a motorcycle registration online in Maine?
Yes, through Rapid Renewal in towns that participate - it recalculates the current year's excise tax automatically and processes the $21 registration renewal together, without a counter visit.
Does Maine require a motorcycle safety inspection?
Motorcycles are subject to Maine's general annual vehicle safety inspection requirement, handled separately from registration - it isn't collected or verified at the town registration counter.
05 - Receipts
Official sources
Every number on this page comes from these documents - check them yourself.