Maine car sales tax and excise tax calculator
The sales tax in Maine is 5.50% of the taxable amount.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
By Mr. Voltage · Data checked Oct 3, 2026 · Page changed Oct 30, 2026
Where will you register the car?
Maine
Example quotes. Pick your place and type yours. Example: three quotes on one car in Harris County, Maine. Pick your own place and type your quotes.
Your deals at a glance
| Deal | Payment | All-in |
|---|---|---|
| $584.89a month | $40,093.46so far | |
| $528.05a month | $43,019.64so far | |
| $574.00a month | $39,440.32so far |
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Your numbers stay in this browser.
$584.89 a month · 60 payments
All-in $40,093.46 so far
$528.05 a month · 72 payments
All-in $43,019.64 so far
$574.00 a month · 60 payments
All-in $39,440.32 so far
Out-the-door $35,326.70 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $36,059.93 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Out-the-door $35,906.95 so far
so far: not including a doc fee yet. Enter your dealer’s.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
New · 2026 · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Model year
A new car is the current or next model year
Sticker price (MSRP)
The research’s test car: the 2026 Tucson SEL FWD’s list price without the $1,400 destination. The excise is worked from it; the window sticker has yours
New · 2026 · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Model year
A new car is the current or next model year
Sticker price (MSRP)
The research’s test car: the 2026 Tucson SEL FWD’s list price without the $1,400 destination. The excise is worked from it; the window sticker has yours
New · 2026 · change
New or used
The sheet starts with a new car; each deal sets its own
Model year
A new car is the current or next model year
Sticker price (MSRP)
The research’s test car: the 2026 Tucson SEL FWD’s list price without the $1,400 destination. The excise is worked from it; the window sticker has yours
Maine law sets no figure for this fee.
Maine calls it a fees charged for document processing.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Maine law sets no figure for this fee.
Maine calls it a fees charged for document processing.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Maine law sets no figure for this fee.
Maine calls it a fees charged for document processing.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No city or county sales tax on a car: Portland adds nothing to the 5.5%.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No lien fee on the first title: it is in the $33.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No separate plate fee: plates come with the registration.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No electric or hybrid car fee on the registration.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No inspection to pay at purchase: the dealer delivers the car with a sticker under 60 days old.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No set limit on the doc fee.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No city or county sales tax on a car: Portland adds nothing to the 5.5%.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No lien fee on the first title: it is in the $33.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No separate plate fee: plates come with the registration.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No electric or hybrid car fee on the registration.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No inspection to pay at purchase: the dealer delivers the car with a sticker under 60 days old.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No set limit on the doc fee.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No city or county sales tax on a car: Portland adds nothing to the 5.5%.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No lien fee on the first title: it is in the $33.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No separate plate fee: plates come with the registration.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No electric or hybrid car fee on the registration.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No inspection to pay at purchase: the dealer delivers the car with a sticker under 60 days old.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
- No set limit on the doc fee.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,626.70 in tax and fees first; $2,373.30 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,664.93 in tax and fees first; $2,335.07 goes toward the price.
Your $5,000.00 down covers the $2,656.95 in tax and fees first; $2,343.05 goes toward the price.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
Illustrative rate, not a quote. Your APR depends on your credit, the term, the vehicle and the lender.
60 payments, last $584.95
72 payments, last $528.09
60 payments, last $574.32
cash down plus every payment
cash down plus every payment
cash down plus every payment
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
Estimate. Your dealer’s buyer’s order and your lender’s disclosures are the numbers that count. Check them against this.
4 charges this total leaves out
4 charges this total leaves out
4 charges this total leaves out
What’s different in Maine
Maine calls it the sales tax.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Negative equity rolled into the new loan is not taxed. That point is not confirmed.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Maine’s law sets no figure for the fees charged for document processing.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Every year before you register, you pay your town an excise tax on the car’s list price: 24 mills on each dollar in the first year, falling to 4 mills from the 6th year on.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Worked examples
Each line below is worked by the same engine as the calculator, on the day this page was built (Nov 11, 2026).
A new car with a trade-in and negative equity
A new car at $32,700.00, with a trade-in allowed at $10,000.00 and $13,000.00 still owed, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Maine’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $32,700.00 |
| Trade-in allowance | $10,000.00 |
| Still owed on the trade-in | $13,000.00 |
| Equity (negative if you owe more than it is worth) | −$3,000.00 |
| Sale price maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $22,700.00 |
| Maine sales tax legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,248.50 |
| Certificate of title (first lien included) legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $33.00 |
| Registration (passenger, one year, plates included) legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $35.00 |
| Town agent fee (new registration) legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $6.00 |
| Temporary registration plate (from the dealer) legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $2.00 |
| Lemon law arbitration program fee legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.00 |
| Municipal excise tax (year one) legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $751.20 |
| Out-the-door price | $34,776.70 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $32,776.70 |
| Monthly payment | $632.14 |
| Interest over the loan | $5,151.87 |
| Total paid, interest included | $42,928.57 |
A used car from a dealer
A used car, model year 2022, at $21,500.00, $5,000.00 down, financed at 5.90% for 60 months, bought from a dealer and registered in Maine’s example market.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Price | $21,500.00 |
| Sale price maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $21,500.00 |
| Maine sales tax legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1,182.50 |
| Certificate of title (first lien included) legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $33.00 |
| Registration (passenger, one year, plates included) legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $35.00 |
| Town agent fee (new registration) legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $6.00 |
| Temporary registration plate (from the dealer) legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $2.00 |
| Consumer mediation service fee legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 | $1.00 |
| Municipal excise tax (year one): needs the car’s sticker price (MSRP), which this example doesn’t give | Not included |
| Out-the-door price | $22,759.50 |
| Cash down | $5,000.00 |
| Amount financed | $17,759.50 |
| Monthly payment | $342.52 |
| Interest over the loan | $2,791.39 |
| Total paid, interest included | $25,550.89 |
The rules in Maine
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Name of the tax | sales tax legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Maine sales tax | 5.50% of the taxable amount legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| What is taxed | Taxed: the vehicle price, the doc fee, other dealer fees on the order, accessories fitted before delivery, protection packages, service contracts and prepaid maintenance. Not taxed: loose items sold with the car, GAP and government fees. maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Trade-in | A trade-in comes off the amount taxed at its full value, so only the difference is taxed. legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Maker’s rebate | A maker’s rebate does not lower the amount taxed. maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Dealer discount | A dealer discount lowers the amount taxed. maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Negative equity | Negative equity rolled into the loan is not taxed. That point is not confirmed. legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Doc fee | The law sets no figure for the fees charged for document processing. legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Certificate of title (first lien included) | $33.00 legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Registration (passenger, one year, plates included) | $35.00 a year legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Excise credit for a car sold or traded | Excise already paid this registration year on a car you sold or traded is credited, up to the tax paid on any one vehicle, plus a $3 transfer fee. The credit is halved in the last 4 months of the old registration year. legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Private-party purchase | 5.5% use tax on the price, paid at the town office or the Bureau of Motor Vehicles when you register. legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Tax paid to another state | A credit for sales or use tax paid to another state, up to Maine’s 5.5%. If the other state’s tax was lower, the buyer pays the difference. legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| New resident | No use tax on a car bought and used while a resident of another state. Register within 30 days; the excise, the $33 title and registration still apply. legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Non-resident buying in Maine | No Maine tax on a car taken out of the state right after delivery, with affidavit ST-A-106. Use tax is due if the car is registered in Maine within 12 months. legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Electric and hybrid vehicle fees | No electric or hybrid fee was found in the registration law. That finding is not confirmed. legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
| Finance rate ceiling | The finance charge on a consumer credit sale of a motor vehicle may not exceed 18% a year on the unpaid amount financed. legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026 |
What has changed
· Watching: On January 1 every car’s excise rate steps down a year (a 2022 model goes to 4 mills in 2027), and new laws take effect, No change to the 5.5% rate, the mill rates or the fees was found; the 2026 session laws were not read one by one.
maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
· Watching: Portland’s actual agent fee for a new registration, which its page does not list, Up to the $6 the law allows; the owner’s phone check is in SETUP-TODO.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
· The rules on this page start here. Nothing earlier is loaded.
Questions people ask
How does Maine tax a car, and what is the excise tax?
Maine taxes a car in two different ways. The state’s 5.5% sales tax is paid once, on the purchase. A dealer collects it at the sale and may not let you pay it at registration instead. A private or out-of-state purchase pays the matching use tax when you register. Then, every year before you register, you pay a municipal excise tax set by the car’s list price and age. The excise formula is the same everywhere in Maine. It is paid at the town office where you live, and only the town that collects it changes.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
How is the Maine excise tax worked out?
It is a number of mills (thousandths of a dollar) on each dollar of the maker’s list price: 24 mills in the first or current model year, 17.5 in the second, 13.5 in the third, 10 in the fourth, 6.5 in the fifth and 4 from the sixth year on. The minimum is $5. The year steps down every January 1, so a 2022 model goes from 6.5 to 4 mills in 2027. On a new registration it is paid before you get plates and covers one year. For our example new car, a list price of $31,300 at 24 mills is $751.20. Whether the destination charge is part of the list price is not confirmed; we leave it out.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Is the Maine dealer doc fee capped?
No. We found no dollar limit in Maine law, and the Secretary of State’s used-car guide says “There is no limit.” The law says other fees charged for document processing must be disclosed to a purchaser prior to final sale and be clearly posted on a vehicle to which the charge applies. The fee is taxed: the dealer must charge sales tax on it. For titling itself, a dealer may not charge more than the $33 state title fee.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
Does a trade-in lower Maine sales tax, and are rebates taxed?
Yes, a trade-in lowers it. The tax is on the difference between the price and the trade-in allowance, with no dollar limit, as long as a motor vehicle is traded for a motor vehicle. If you owe more on the trade than it is worth, the payoff is financed, not taxed, on our reading of the law; Maine Revenue Services has not said so, so that is not confirmed. A maker’s rebate does not lower the tax, even if you assign it to the dealer. A discount the dealer gives does. Selling your old car yourself gives no tax credit.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
What do title, registration and the town fees cost in Maine?
The first title is $33, and that includes the first lien. Registration for a car or SUV is $35 a year, and standard plates are free with it. The town office that registers the car may charge an agent fee of up to $6 on a new registration. Portland’s actual fee is not confirmed, so our example uses the $6. A dealer’s temporary plate is $2.00 a plate, and lets you drive for 30 days before registering. The dealer also collects a $1 lemon law fee on a new car, or a $1 consumer mediation fee on a used one. There is no inspection charge at purchase: a dealer-sold car must carry an inspection sticker issued within 60 days of the sale.
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
I bought a car out of state or from a private seller. What do I pay in Maine?
A Maine resident pays Maine’s 5.5% use tax at registration, less credit for sales or use tax paid to another state. If that was less, you pay the difference. An out-of-state dealer registered with Maine may collect Maine’s tax for you. A private sale pays the same 5.5% use tax when you register, on the negotiated price; fair market value is used only if the price is not documented. A true gift is not taxed. If you bought the car while you lived in another state, no use tax is due when you move here, but excise, title and registration are.
maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026
legislature.maine.gov · checked Oct 3, 2026