Selling a car in Maine: the paperwork
| Maine seller rules at a glance | What applies |
|---|---|
| License plates | Seller removes and keeps them |
| Report the sale | No separate seller notice form |
| Duplicate title | MVT-8 (or Online Duplicate Title service, $46); $33 |
| Bill of sale | Required |
| Older cars without a title | Titles are required only for the last 25 model years. In 2026, model year 2000 and older needs no title; from January 1, 2027, model year 2001 and older. |
| Junk without a title | Allowed in some cases |
Title questions, duplicate titles and release of liability forms are handled by the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Compare these rules with other states on our seller rules by state page. After the sale, cancel your insurance once the car is gone. Our after-sale checklist covers each step.
No obligation.
Where we pick up in Maine
We buy cars in Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland and Auburn, and in every other town in Maine a tow truck can reach. Pickup is free wherever the car is, from a city driveway to a farm lot, and you're paid before it's loaded.
How it works in Maine
Get your offer
Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.
Pick a pickup time
Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in Maine, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.
Get paid on the spot
The driver checks the car and pays you. Then you sign the title, hand over the keys and the car is loaded.
Maine car selling questions
Do I need a title to sell my car in Maine?
For a titled vehicle, yes: the title is how ownership passes to the buyer. To replace a lost Maine title, apply to the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles with MVT-8 (or Online Duplicate Title service, $46). The fee is $33. For older vehicles, Maine has an exception: Titles are required only for the last 25 model years. In 2026, model year 2000 and older needs no title; from January 1, 2027, model year 2001 and older.
Can I junk a car without a title in Maine?
Sometimes. A vehicle 20 or more model years old can go to a recycler, salvage dealer or scrap processor without a title if the buyer records the seller's photo ID (29-A M.R.S. 652). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Maine title, apply to the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles with MVT-8 (or Online Duplicate Title service, $46). The fee is $33.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell a car in Maine?
In Maine, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Registration ends at sale. Seller may move plates to another vehicle; if not reused within 6 months, return them to the Secretary of State.
How do I tell the Maine DMV that I sold my car?
Maine has no separate seller notice form. In Maine, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Registration ends at sale. Seller may move plates to another vehicle; if not reused within 6 months, return them to the Secretary of State. Keep a bill of sale and a photo of the signed title as your record of the sale, in case a ticket or toll arrives later.
Is pickup really free everywhere in Maine?
Yes. Towing is free anywhere in Maine a tow truck can reach, and nothing is deducted from your offer for it.
Sources
- Maine BMV: Titles
- Maine BMV: Types of Title Certificates
- Maine BMV: Register a Passenger Vehicle
- Maine 29-A MRSA 463 (disposition of plates)
- Maine 29-A MRSA 502 (transfer of registration)
- Maine 29-A MRSA 662 (transfer of interest in vehicle)
- 29-A M.R.S. §652, exempted vehicles (subsection 18)
Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.
Last updated November 6, 2026.