How is Maine excise tax calculated?

Maine excise tax equals the vehicle MSRP multiplied by a mill rate that drops each year of the vehicle's age. The schedule is 24 mills the first year, then 17.5, 13.5, 10, 6.5, and finally 4 mills per $1,000 of MSRP for the sixth year and beyond.

What is the base registration fee in Maine?

A standard passenger vehicle costs $35 per year to register with the state. That fee is separate from the town excise tax, which you also pay each year when you register at your municipal office.

Is excise tax based on what I paid for the car?

No. Maine excise tax is based on the manufacturer suggested retail price when the vehicle was new, not the price you paid. A used car still uses its original MSRP, reduced only by the lower mill rate for its age.

Does Maine charge a title fee?

Yes. Titling a vehicle costs $33, charged when you first title a car in Maine, such as a new purchase or a vehicle brought in from another state. Annual re-registration of an already-titled car does not repeat the title fee.

Why does my excise tax keep dropping each year?

Maine's mill rate falls as the vehicle ages, so a six-year-old or older car pays only 4 mills per $1,000 of original MSRP. Newer vehicles cost much more in excise tax, which is why a brand-new car is the most expensive to register.

Maine Vehicle Registration Fee Calculator

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Registering a vehicle in Maine means paying three things at once: the state registration fee, a possible title fee, and the town excise tax. The excise tax is usually the largest piece, and it depends on the car’s original sticker price and how old it is. This calculator adds all three together.

How it works

Maine excise tax uses the manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) — the original sticker price, not what you paid — multiplied by a mill rate that falls each year the vehicle ages:

Year 1:  24.0 mills per $1,000 of MSRP
Year 2:  17.5 mills
Year 3:  13.5 mills
Year 4:  10.0 mills
Year 5:   6.5 mills
Year 6+:  4.0 mills

A mill is one-thousandth, so 24 mills means 0.024 of MSRP. On top of excise the state charges a 35 dollar annual passenger registration fee, plus a one-time 33 dollar title fee when you first title the vehicle.

Example

A two-year-old car with a 30,000 dollar MSRP is in its second year, so excise is 30,000 times 17.5 mills, or 525 dollars. Add the 35 dollar registration fee and, if titling, the 33 dollar title fee, for roughly 593 dollars total.

Notes

This estimate covers a standard passenger vehicle. Trucks, commercial plates, specialty plates, agent fees, and the separate Sales and Use Tax on a purchase are not included. Confirm your exact municipal excise and any local surcharges with your town office and maine.gov/sos/bmv.