Maine car tax
Maine charges an excise tax every year when you register a car, and you pay it to your town office before the state registration. The tax is a mill rate on the manufacturer's list price that drops over the car's first six model years. The rates are set statewide, so the same car costs the same in every town.
36 M.R.S. §1482(1)(C). The rate is 24 mills in the first or current model year, then 17.5, 13.5, 10 and 6.5, and 4 mills from the sixth year on. The minimum is $5.
Maine car tax calculator
- $35,000 MSRP × 13.5 mills (vehicle age 2 yr) = $472.50
Based on the manufacturer's original list price (MSRP), not what you paid. Your bill may be prorated for months you owned the car.
How the tax drops as a $35,000 car ages in Maine
Same car, each year of ownership. The rate falls as the car gets older.
Buying a car in Maine: one-time tax
Maine sales/use tax on motor vehicles — 5.5%. Your trade-in is subtracted before tax.
Registration and due dates
State registration for a passenger car is $35 a year. Title costs $33, and municipal agent fees are a few dollars.
Paid at your town office on each yearly registration renewal (and when you first register the car).
Cut what your car costs in Maine
Car tax is set by your town, but your loan and insurance aren't. Refinancing a car loan at a lower rate often saves more each year than the tax itself.
Questions
How is the Maine excise tax calculated?
Multiply the MSRP by the mill rate for the car's model-year age and divide by 1,000. The rates are 24, 17.5, 13.5, 10, 6.5, and 4 mills from year 6 on.
Does my town set the excise rate?
No. The rates are set statewide in 36 M.R.S. §1482, and the town collects and keeps the money.
Do I get credit if I replace my car mid-year?
Yes. The unused excise on the old car can be credited toward the new car in the same town.
Sources
Last checked October 14, 2026. Rates are for passenger cars owned by individuals; leased, business and specialty vehicles can differ. Confirm with your tax collector or commissioner of the revenue.