What is the vehicle sales tax rate in Maine?

Maine's base state vehicle sales/use tax rate is 5.50%. Local counties or cities may add their own vehicle tax on top, which this calculator does not include.

Does a trade-in reduce car sales tax in Maine?

Yes. In Maine the trade-in allowance is subtracted from the price before tax is applied. On a $35,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in, you are taxed on $25,000, so the tax is about $1,375.00 at 5.50%.

How much is sales tax on a $35,000 car in Maine?

With no trade-in, 5.50% of $35,000 is $1,925.00. A trade-in lowers the taxable amount, reducing the tax owed.

Is the out-the-door price the same as the taxed amount?

No. The out-the-door total is the price minus any trade-in, plus the 5.50% sales tax, plus title, registration and dealer fees. This tool lets you add those fees separately.

Maine Vehicle Sales Tax Calculator

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Maine Vehicle Sales Tax Calculator

Estimate the sales tax and out-the-door price on a car purchase in Maine. The state applies a base vehicle sales/use tax rate of 5.50% to the taxable amount. Enter the price, any trade-in allowance, and optional title and registration fees to see what you will actually owe.

How it works

Maine taxes the price of the vehicle after subtracting any trade-in allowance:

taxable amount = price − trade-in
sales tax      = taxable amount × 5.50%
out-the-door   = (price − trade-in) + sales tax + fees

The base state rate used here is 5.50%. Many Maine localities add a county or city vehicle tax on top of the state rate; those local add-ons are not included in this estimate.

Example

A $35,000 car with a $10,000 trade-in:

Taxable amount: $35,000 − $10,000 = $25,000
Sales tax at 5.50%: $1,375.00
Out-the-door (before fees): $25,000 + $1,375.00 = $26,375.00

Without a trade-in, the same car is taxed on the full $35,000, giving $1,925.00 in Maine sales tax.

Notes

Estimate only — not tax advice. This calculator uses Maine’s 5.50% base state rate and assumes the trade-in reduces the taxable amount. Local county and city vehicle taxes, special excise taxes, and fee schedules vary; confirm the exact figure with the Maine Department of Revenue or your local DMV before purchase. All math runs in your browser.