RV & Motorhome Registration

In Maine, a recreational vehicle (RV) is a motor home, which is driven on Maine roads like a truck and is registered in a similar fashion with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). An ATV is an all-terrain vehicle, which is treated similarly to a snowmobile in terms of registration and licensing and is registered with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. We'll go over basic registration information for RVs and motor homes here.

How to Register

Registering an RV is similar to registering a car or truck. Registration is administered by the BMV, but residents may turn in applications and make payments either at the BMV or at their municipal offices (if their city participates in the BMV's New Registration Program).

Either way, you'll need to pay the excise tax first at your city office, so if you can, it makes sense to register there while you're at it.

Here's how the basic procedure works:

• If you purchased from a dealer:

• Go to the municipal offices where the motor home will be principally located. Bring your green dealer's certificate to show that you paid sales tax, a blue title application, evidence of insurance, and the white and yellow copies of the registration application. The dealer should supply you with all needed paperwork, except for the insurance card.

• Pay excise tax on the vehicle. Excise tax varies by municipality and usually starts at about $24 per $1,000 on the vehicle sticker.

• Pay registration and titling fees. The title is a flat fee of $23. The registration fee is based on gross vehicle weight and can get expensive if you have a big RV.

• Vanity plates are available for an additional annual fee of $15. You may check the availability of a vanity plate online. Disability plates are also available.

• If you purchased from a private seller:

• Go to the municipal offices where the motor home will be principally located. Bring your signed bill of sale, the current title (if the vehicle is newer than 16 years old), evidence of insurance, and the white and yellow copies of the registration application.

• Pay excise tax and sales tax on the vehicle. Excise tax varies by municipality and usually starts at about $24 per $1,000 on the bill of sale. Sales tax is a flat 5% of the purchase price of the vehicle.

• Pay registration and titling fees. The registration fee is based on gross vehicle weight and can get expensive if you have a big RV. The fee for a new title is $23.

• Vanity plates are available for an additional annual fee of $15. You may check the availability of a vanity plate online. Disability plates are also available.

Registration Fees and Taxes

To register an RV, you will need to pay the following:

• Excise tax: yearly; varies by municipality

• Sales tax: one-time; 5% of purchase price

• Registration fee: yearly; based on gross vehicle weight

• Titling fee: one-time; $23

Renewing Your Registration

Renewing an RV registration is similar to renewing a car or truck registration, except you cannot renew online and must go to the municipal office in the city or town where the RV or motor home is principally located.

Registrations are good for one year and must be renewed annually by the last day of the 12th month of previous registration. Here's the basic process:

• Go to the municipal offices where the motor home will be principally located. Bring evidence of insurance and the white and yellow copies of the registration application.

• Pay the yearly excise tax to the city or town.

• Pay the registration fee based on gross vehicle weight.

Replacing a Lost or Stolen Registration

If you've lost your Maine RV or motor home registration, you can only replace it by visting your city or town offices,or the BMV, and requesting a replacement. You will need to pay a $2 fee. You cannot replace a lost registration online.