Why Use a Free Maine License Plate Lookup?

A free license plate lookup from VinCheck.info gives you quick access to crucial vehicle data in Maine, helping you make smarter, safer decisions when buying or selling. Just enter the license plate number to uncover:

• Vehicle Specs: Year, make, model, trim, and body configuration.
• Title History: Rebuilt, flood-damaged, junk, or salvage titles from the Maine BMV or across the U.S.
• Accident Records: Reported crashes, airbag deployments, total loss, and frame damage.
• Mileage Logs: Check for odometer rollbacks or inconsistent readings.
• Vehicle Value: Estimate fair market price based on history and condition.
• Lien Checks: Identify any active loans or past repossessions.
• Ownership Details: Know if the car was used personally, commercially, or as a rental.
• Recall Alerts: Find open recalls that haven’t been fixed.
• Theft Reports: See if the vehicle has ever been reported stolen.
• Sales & Transfer History: Track ownership transfers, including out-of-state moves.

Whether you’re shopping in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, or Augusta, a free Maine plate lookup can help you avoid scams, confirm vehicle history, and buy with confidence — all for free, no signup required.

Sample Vehicle History Report

Maine Vehicle Registration

Looking to register your vehicle or check plate availability in Maine? Whether you’re buying from a dealer, a private seller, or moving to the state, this guide makes the Maine vehicle registration process easy to follow.

Registering a Vehicle in Maine

If You Bought From a Licensed Maine Dealer

Step 1: Pay Excise Tax
Head to your local municipal office to pay excise (municipal) tax. If you’re unsure where to go, your town office can help.

New Vehicle? Bring the Monroney Label (manufacturer’s sticker) or a copy of it.

Step 2: Register the Vehicle
If your town doesn’t issue registrations, visit a BMV branch office after paying excise tax.

What You’ll Need:

• Bill of sale or dealer sales agreement
• Blue title application (vehicles ≤25 years old)
• Proof of insurance
• White & yellow copies of the registration application and excise tax receipt

Additional Fees:

• Registration fee for your license plate
• Vanity plate? Add $25. 

If You Bought From a Private Seller or Out-of-State Dealer

Step 1: Pay Excise Tax
Visit your town office to pay the municipal excise tax.

Step 2: Register the Vehicle
If your town doesn’t handle registrations, visit a BMV branch after paying the tax.

What You’ll Need:

• Signed bill of sale
• Title signed over to you (if ≤25 years old)
• Proof of insurance
• White & yellow copies of the registration application and excise tax receipt

Additional Fees:

• Sales Tax: 5.5% of the purchase price
• Title Application Fee: $33 (vehicles ≤25 years old)
• Registration Fee: $4 – $70
• Vanity Plate (optional): +$25 

Registering as a New Resident in Maine

Just moved to Maine? You have 30 days to transfer your vehicle registration and title.

Step 1: Pay Excise Tax
Visit your town office. If they don’t handle registrations, go to a BMV branch after paying the tax.

What You’ll Need:

• Out-of-state vehicle title (vehicles ≤25 years old)
• Out-of-state registration certificate
• Lienholder info (if applicable)
• Proof of insurance
• White & yellow copies of your registration application and excise tax receipt
• Maine Use Tax Form (if exempt from sales tax)

Additional Fees:

• Title Application: $33
• Registration Fee
• Vanity Plate: +$25 

Renewing Your Maine Vehicle Registration

Option 1: Use Rapid Renewal Online

If your town participates in Rapid Renewal, you can renew your registration and pay excise tax online.

Option 2: Visit Your Local Office

If Rapid Renewal isn’t available in your town, visit your municipal office. If they don’t process registrations, go to a BMV branch office after paying the tax.

What You’ll Need:

• Proof of insurance
• White & yellow copies of the registration application and excise tax receipt
• Pay registration fees as needed
• Optional vanity or disability plates (see links above)

Need Help? Contact the Maine BMV

Phone: (207) 624-9000 ext. 52149
Email: [email protected]

Maine Vehicle Title

Looking to verify a vehicle’s title status before purchasing or registering it in Maine? Use our free Maine license plate lookup tool to access key vehicle records, including title history, ownership, liens, and more. Understanding Maine BMV title processing times and requirements is essential when checking a car’s background using a license plate.

Current Title Processing Times in Maine

The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) processes vehicle titles based on the type of request. Please note that these times reflect when an accurately completed application is received by the Title Division and do not include mailing time.

• Rush Title / Rush Duplicate Title: 3–5 business days
• Duplicate Title: 5–8 business days
• Regular Issue Title: 14 business days

Maine Title Requirements 

Maine requires titles for most vehicles, depending on the model year and vehicle type. These requirements are important when performing a Maine plate check or verifying title status.

Vehicle Age Requirements:

• Starting January 1, 2025: Titles required for vehicles from model year 2000 or newer

Vehicle Type Requirements:

• All motor vehicles (except special mobile equipment)
• Motorcycles with engines 300cc or larger
• Trailers with an unladen weight of 3,001 lbs or more

Are Title Applications (Form MVT-2) Available Online

No. The MVT-2 is a carbon-copy form and is only available at:

• Local BMV branches
• Town Halls or Municipal Offices

How Long Will It Take to Receive My Title?

• Rush Title / Rush Duplicate: 3–5 business days
• Duplicate Title: 5–8 business days
• Regular Title: 14 business days

I Got a Title from My Bank with a Lien Release. What Now?

If your title includes a signed and dated lien release, you already have a free and clear title.

If you want a new title issued without the lienholder listed, submit a new title application and pay the $33.00 fee.

Does Maine Accept Wills for Vehicle Title Transfers?

No. The Maine BMV does not accept copies of wills. A court-appointed personal representative (executor) must handle title transfers for deceased owners.

Visit the Death of an Owner page for full details.

How Can I Request a Duplicate Title?

You have two options:

1. Use the Online Duplicate Title Service
2. Fill out and mail Form MVT-8

Maine Temporary Transit Plates & Registration Permits

Need to move a vehicle in Maine but don’t have it registered yet? The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) offers a Temporary Registration Permit, also known as a Transit Plate, that lets you legally move a vehicle for up to 10 days.

Whether you’re purchasing a car out-of-state, transporting a vehicle to an inspection station, or moving a mobile home — a Maine transit plate may be exactly what you need.

What Is a Temporary Registration Permit (Transit Plate)?

A Maine Transit Plate is a short-term registration permit issued by the Secretary of State to move a vehicle that is not currently registered. It is valid for:

• One-way trips (from origin to destination)
• Round-trip journeys (from origin to destination and back)

The permit is valid for up to 10 days and must be carried in the vehicle at all times.

When to Use a Maine Transit Plate

Use a temporary registration permit in the following situations:

• Moving a recently purchased vehicle to an inspection station
• Transporting a vehicle from another state into Maine
• Hauling a trailer or mobile home
• Towing an unregistered vehicle for repair or sale
• Buying a car “as is” from a dealer and heading to inspection

A Maine transit plate is for transportation only — it cannot be used for hauling passengers or goods for hire, unless explicitly authorized.

Transit Plate Fees

• A One-way Transit Plate costs $12.
• A Round-trip Transit Plate costs $25.

Only one permit per vehicle may be issued (either one-way or round-trip). If a second move is needed, the vehicle must be registered normally.

Requirements for a Maine Temporary Plate

To apply for a Maine transit plate, you’ll need:

• Verified VIN, year, make, and model
• Maine must be either the point of origin or destination
• Proof of insurance (unless towing and noted “FOR TOWING PURPOSES ONLY”)
• Inspection permit if vehicle is not yet inspected
• MV-47 form for mobile homes (to confirm taxes, sewer, and water paid)

Out-of-state vehicles may be issued a Maine transit plate even if they were previously registered to the same owner elsewhere.

Key Rules & Restrictions

• Transit plates are not a replacement for full registration
• Cannot be used to avoid normal Maine BMV registration rules
• Vehicle must not be used for commercial purposes (e.g., Uber, cargo delivery)
• Inspection permit required if not inspected
• Towing allowed with proper notation
• No fuel decal or DOT number? Check with states you’re passing through
• Going to Canada? Transit plates are valid beyond the border with:
  • Bill of sale or ownership proof
  • Insurance card valid in the U.S. and Canada

Contact Maine BMV Registration Services

For questions or to apply for a transit plate:

• Phone: (207) 624-9000 ext. 52149
• Email: [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions