Maine · Handbook chapter 2 · 4 min read

Maine rules for titling, registering, insuring and inspecting a vehicle, the yearly safety inspection items, routine maintenance, emergency supplies and the sound-system noise law.

Why this chapter matters

Owning a car in Maine means keeping it titled, registered, insured and inspected. The test can ask what you must carry, how often a vehicle is inspected and what an inspection checks. Key figures: 30 days, once a year, 200 feet, 30 feet at 20 mph, 2/32 of an inch, 25 feet and 85 decibels.

Title and registration

A title is the legal document that proves who owns a vehicle and shows any liens (loans) on it. Keep it somewhere safe, never in the vehicle. If a bank or credit union lent you the money, the lender holds the title. The online study guide and the PDF manual give different age limits for vehicles that need no title, so check with the BMV if it matters to you.

To register, you first pay the excise tax to your town's tax collector; the receipt serves as your registration application. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian must also sign. A first registration needs a Use Tax Certificate to settle any sales tax. A passenger car registration costs $35.00 and is valid for one year. New residents must apply for a Maine registration within 30 days.

Insurance

Every owner and operator must carry liability insurance and show proof to a police officer on request. A vehicle you drive must be insured even if you do not own it, so keep proof in the car. Proof can be an insurance card, a letter from the insurer or agent, a binder, or a policy summary. Failing to produce proof can mean a charge of uninsured operation, suspension of your license and registration, and an SR-22 filing. Displaying fake or altered proof is a crime. All Maine liability policies include uninsured motorist coverage, and drivers who cannot get insurance normally can buy it through the Maine Automobile Insurance Plan.

Inspection

Every Maine-registered vehicle needs a current inspection, done at an official station once a year. Motorcycles need a sticker too, and police may inspect a vehicle at any time. Inspection standards include:

• Horn loud enough to be heard from 200 feet.
• Foot brake able to stop the vehicle within 30 feet at 20 mph; a parking brake that holds on a hill.
• Tires with at least 2/32 of an inch of tread.
• Working wipers, defroster, lights and signals; mirrors and glass that are not cracked or clouded; an exhaust free of holes and leaks; an untouched VIN, odometer, fuel inlet and catalytic converter.

The road test vehicle gets a safety check too: no test if a door does not work, a seat is loose or the glove box will not stay shut.

Keeping the car in shape

• Dirty headlight lenses can cut your night vision by more than half.
• If the steering wheel turns two inches or more before the wheels respond, there is too much play.
• If the car bounces more than twice when you push down on it, the shocks may be worn.
• A leaking exhaust can let in carbon monoxide, a deadly gas you cannot smell.
• A gasoline vehicle may not give off visible smoke (other than water vapor) for more than 5 seconds in a row.
• Change oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

Useful supplies to carry: the owner's manual, spare tire, jack, lug wrench, first aid kit, blanket, flashlight and road maps.

Sound systems

You may not play a sound system so loud that it can be heard more than 25 feet away and exceeds 85 decibels. Fines are $50, $100 and $150 for first, second and later offenses.