Selling or junking a car in Maine, step by step
- Find your title (or replace it). If the title is lost or damaged, request a duplicate from the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles using MVT-8 Duplicate Title Application; it can be done online.
- Pay off any loan. If a lender is listed on the title, it must release the lien before the car can change hands. See our guide to junking a car with a lien.
- Sign the title over at pickup. Fill in the seller section of the title exactly as the buyer instructs, with the sale date and odometer reading where required.
- Deal with your plates. Ask the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles whether you keep, transfer or return your plates.
- Tell the state and your insurer. Maine has no separate seller notice that we could confirm. Keep a copy of the signed title and receipt, then cancel your insurance and registration.
Lost title? Getting a duplicate in Maine
Request a duplicate title online through Maine's Online Duplicate Title service, which is for Maine driver's license holders, or mail in Form MVT-8.
More background: how to get a duplicate title before junking.
License plates after you sell
We couldn't confirm Maine's plate rule on an official page. Ask the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles before pickup, and see plates and insurance when junking a car.
Junk and salvage titles in Maine
A salvage title (Form MVT-102) applies when salvage value plus repair cost is more than the vehicle's market value. A vehicle damaged so badly that repairs would cost more than 75% of its pre-damage value is classed as junk.
Official page: maine.gov. Background: salvage vs. rebuilt vs. junk titles.
Selling a car without a title in Maine
Maine requires titles only for vehicles from the last 25 model years (2001 and newer as of January 1, 2026), so older vehicles are title-exempt. BMV salvage guidance also lets licensed recyclers buy a vehicle at least 20 years old without a title using Form MVT-54, but only to process it for scrap materials, not to sell parts (https://www.maine.gov/sos/sites/maine.gov.sos/files/inline-files/Salvage%2002-26.pdf).
Official page: maine.gov
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Maine title questions
How do I replace a lost car title in Maine?
Request a duplicate title online through Maine's Online Duplicate Title service, which is for Maine driver's license holders, or mail in Form MVT-8. The form is MVT-8 Duplicate Title Application.
Do I need to notify Maine when I sell my car?
We couldn't confirm a separate notice-of-sale form for Maine. Keep a copy of the signed title and bill of sale, cancel your registration if required, and check with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
What happens to my license plates when I sell a car in Maine?
Check with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles; plate rules vary by state.
Can I junk a car without a title in Maine?
Maine requires titles only for vehicles from the last 25 model years (2001 and newer as of January 1, 2026), so older vehicles are title-exempt. BMV salvage guidance also lets licensed recyclers buy a vehicle at least 20 years old without a title using Form MVT-54, but only to process it for scrap materials, not to sell parts (https://www.maine.gov/sos/sites/maine.gov.sos/files/inline-files/Salvage%2002-26.pdf). Confirm the details with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Official sources
- Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles — homemaine.gov
- Duplicate or replacement title (MVT-8 Duplicate Title Application)maine.gov
- MVT-8 Duplicate Title Application formmaine.gov
- Selling without a titlemaine.gov
Summarized from official Maine government websites in October 2026. Fees and procedures change; always confirm with the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles before you sell. This guide is general information, not legal advice.