If you want to register a motor vehicle in Maine, you are going to need a bill of sale. The bill of sale will be required to prove ownership in the absence of a title, as well as to compute sales tax―which must be paid before a registration can be issued.

Vehicles Bought from a Dealer

If you purchase your vehicle new or used from a dealer, the dealer is required to give you an official bill of sale. This bill of sale will include the purchase price of the vehicle, which will be used to compute the sales tax. (The sales tax will usually be 5% of the price shown on the bill of sale.)

You must have the dealer's bill of sale with you when you visit your municipal office or BMV office to register the vehicle.

Private Sales

If you purchase your vehicle used from a private party, you and the seller will need to create your own bill of sale. The bill of sale needs to have the following information:

• Date of sale

• Description of vehicle (year, make, and model)

• Vehicle identification number (VIN)

• Name of buyer

• Amount of sale

• Name, address, and signature of seller(s)

Generic Bill of Sale

To assist you in finding a form, we provide links to generic forms from our sponsors.

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