Maine Bill of Sale Template

A Bill of Sale in Maine records the transfer of personal property from a seller to a buyer.

It typically includes:

• Full names and signatures of both parties
• Clear description of the item being sold
• Final sale price

This legal document serves as proof that the buyer lawfully acquired the item and that the seller relinquished all rights. Bills of Sale are commonly used in Maine for motor vehicles, boats, and firearms.

While not always mandated by statute, they are often needed when registering these items with state agencies. Below are the main types and steps for registration.

Maine Bill of Sale Sample

To register a vehicle bought or sold with a Bill of Sale in Maine, provide the following to your local Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) municipal office:

• Car Bill of Sale or dealer sales agreement
• Blue title application (vehicles 25 model years old and newer)
• Proof of insurance meeting Maine requirements
• Yellow and white copies of the registration application and excise tax receipt (paid at your town office before registration, per Maine law)
• VIN inspection (Form MVT-10) only if required e.g., for vehicles 25 model years old and newer previously registered/titled in another country, or when the VIN is in question Maine

You must also pay Maine sales/use tax (when applicable), title fees (for titled vehicles), and registration fees. Many municipalities support Rapid Renewal for online registration renewals (not new registrations).

All motorized watercraft operated on Maine’s inland or coastal waters must be registered through the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife (MDIFW), typically via municipal agents. You must submit the following documents:

• Bill of Sale with full vessel description
• Boat Registration Form (with Use Tax Certificate for new registrations)
• Proof of payment of excise/use tax as applicable (collected through municipal agents)
• Proof of identity as required by the agent/MDIFW

Registration fees vary by horsepower/boat details and excise factors. Boat registrations are valid January 1–December 31 and you must reregister annually.

Online renewal is available in participating municipalities, and a temporary registration is provided immediately.

For invasive-species compliance, Maine’s Lake & River Protection sticker is included with Maine registrations. Non-Maine-registered boats must purchase and affix the sticker before operating on inland waters.

Maine does not require firearm registration. State law prohibits agencies from maintaining a comprehensive registry of privately owned firearms and their owners.

Private transfers must follow Maine’s background-check rules where applicable: for advertised private sales (including gun shows), a federally licensed firearms dealer (FFL) must conduct the background check using NICS as provided in Maine law. It’s prudent to use a Bill of Sale for proof of transfer.