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Maine car sales tax at a glance
| Maine | |
|---|---|
| Tax | sales tax |
| State rate | 5.5% |
| Average with local taxes (2026 (Tax Foundation midyear, July 1)) | 5.5% |
| Counties and cities add tax | No |
| Trade-in lowers the tax | Yes, tax is on the price minus the trade |
| Leases | Tax on all the payments, due at signing |
Checked on the state's official sources on 2026-11-02. Rates change; the state's revenue department has the last word.
How to work out Maine sales tax on a car
Multiply the taxable price by the rate. In Maine the trade-in comes off first.
A $30,000 car with a $5,000 trade: $25,000 x 5.5% = $1,375 at the state rate.
5.5% statewide (36 M.R.S. 1811), no local sales tax. A municipal excise tax is due separately at registration.
Trade-ins
When a motor vehicle is traded toward a motor vehicle, tax is levied only on the difference between the sale price and the trade-in allowance; items must be in the same category (36 M.R.S. 1765).
Leasing a car in Maine
Tax on all the payments, due at signing. Maine: for an automobile lease of one year or more, the taxable value is the monthly payment times the number of payments plus any cash down payment and trade-in equity, collected by the person who negotiates the lease (36 M.R.S. 1752(14)(A)(5)). The lease calculator uses Maine's method when you pick the state.
Dealer doc fees
No cap found.