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If you're planning to spend time on Maine's waterways, you'll need to register your boat. All motorboats of any size, including airmobiles and personal watercraft, must be registered in Maine to be used in the state. New registrations must be done in person at the Town Office, and you'll need to bring a bill of sale, the Maine registration numbers if the boat was previously registered in Maine, and pay the state sales tax and excise tax. Boat registrations are valid from January 1 through December 31 and can be renewed online if your town is part of the program.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Where to register a boat in Maine | The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's (MDIFW) main office in Augusta is the central location for boat registrations and registration records. Maine municipal tax collectors or town clerks are Recreational Vehicle Agents for MDIFW. |
| How to register a boat in Maine | New boat registrations must be completed in-person at the Town Office. Re-registrations may be done at the Town Office or online. |
| Requirements for new boat registration | Bill of sale, Maine registration numbers on the boat if it was previously registered in Maine, state sales tax on the purchase price if it was a private sale, excise tax, state registration fee, and agent fee of $1. |
| Requirements for boat registration renewal | Copy of the prior registration or the Maine registration numbers on the boat, excise tax, state registration fee, and agent fee of $1. |
| Boat registration expiry date | All boat registrations expire on December 31 of each year. |
| Boat registration fees | Fees vary depending on the length, model year, use, and horsepower of the boat being registered. |
| Additional requirements for private sale | The bill of sale should include the seller's name and address, the buyer's name and address, the serial number, a description of the boat (length, motor size, and year), and the purchase price. A 5.5% Maine sales tax will be collected based on the purchase price on the bill of sale. |
| Additional requirements for Maine dealer sale | A receipt or bill of sale from the dealer, indicating sales tax was paid is required. You will also need to know the length of the boat and the horsepower of the motor. |
| Lake and River Protection Sticker | Required by law if the boat will be used in freshwater. The cost is $10 for Maine residents and $20 for non-residents. |
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What You'll Learn
New boat registration requirements
The following requirements are for new boat registrations in the state of Maine. New boat registrations must be completed in-person at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's (MDIFW) main office in Augusta or at your local Town Office.
For new registrations, you will need:
- A bill of sale
- The Maine registration numbers on the boat if it was ever registered in Maine before
- State sales tax on the purchase price if it was a private sale (for dealer sales, sales tax is collected at the time of sale)
- Excise tax, which is computed based on the boat's age, length, and engine horsepower
- State registration fee, which is based on the engine horsepower
- Agent fee of $1.00
Boat excise tax must be paid by a resident to the tax collector of their town before registration. A non-resident, prior to registering a motorboat which is located in Maine for more than 75 days during a calendar year, must pay an excise tax to the Maine town where the boat is principally moored, docked, or located. If the boat is exempt from tax, a tax exemption form must be completed by the owner and submitted with the registration application and registration fee.
Proof of payment of sales tax is required for new registrations (resident and non-resident). Registrations may be obtained from licensing agents or by mail.
All motorboats of any size, including airmobiles and personal watercraft, must be registered in Maine to be used on the waters of this state. Watercraft with valid registration from another state can be used in Maine waters as long as the watercraft registration number is displayed on the motorboat and the motorboat will not be in Maine for more than 60 consecutive days after the state of principal use has been changed.
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Boat registration renewal
Boat registrations are valid from January 1 through December 31 of the year issued. Registrations done after December 1 will be for the following calendar year. Fees vary depending on the length, model year, use, and horsepower of the boat being registered. This service allows you to pay both state registration fees and municipal excise tax fees in one transaction. Before submitting payment, you will have the opportunity to review all fees.
To complete the online transaction, you will need the following:
- Registrant Information
- Boat Information, including Serial Number or Registration Number
- Credit/debit card (MasterCard, Visa & Discover)
- A printer, if you wish to print a copy of your temporary registration
It is important to note that boats registered by non-residents in Maine that are in Maine less than 75 days are not required to pay excise tax and cannot use the online application. Additionally, boats owned by businesses cannot be renewed online.
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Excise tax and sales tax
To register your boat in Maine, you will need to pay an excise tax and a state registration fee. The excise tax is based on the length of the boat, the horsepower of the motor, and the age of the boat. The state registration fee is based on the size of the motor and there is also a $1 agent fee.
If you are a Maine resident, you must pay the excise tax to the tax collector of your town before registration. If you are a non-resident, you must pay the excise tax to the Maine town where the boat is principally moored, docked, or located, but only if the boat will be in Maine for more than 75 days during the calendar year.
For new registrations, you will need to provide a bill of sale, the Maine registration numbers if the boat was previously registered in Maine, and proof of payment of the state sales tax on the purchase price if it was a private sale. If it was a dealer sale, you will need to provide a receipt or bill of sale showing that sales tax was paid.
For renewal registrations, you will need a copy of the prior registration or the Maine registration numbers on the boat.
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Boat registration fees
For new registrations, you will need to provide the bill of sale, the Maine registration numbers if the boat was previously registered in Maine, state sales tax on the purchase price if it was a private sale, excise tax, and the state registration fee. The excise tax is computed based on the boat's age, length, and engine horsepower, while the state registration fee is based on the engine horsepower.
For renewal registrations, you will need a copy of the prior registration or the Maine registration numbers on the boat, excise tax, and the state registration fee.
Boat excise tax must be paid to the tax collector of the boat owner's town before registration. Non-residents must pay an excise tax to the Maine town where the boat is principally moored, docked, or located if the boat is located in Maine for more than 75 days during a calendar year.
In addition to the excise tax and state registration fee, there is also a $1 agent fee for renewals and duplicates and a $2 agent fee for new registrations, rollovers, or transfers.
Lake and River Protection Stickers are required by law if the boat will be used in freshwater. The cost is $10 for Maine residents and $20 for non-residents.
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Maine boating laws and safety courses
Boating safety is a key priority in Maine, and the state has a comprehensive set of laws and safety guidelines in place to ensure that anyone on the water is kept safe. The state has adopted the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) educational standards, which are recognised across the United States and its territories.
Boating Safety Courses
The Boating Safety Education Course is available online and in-person, and teaches students how to safely operate and maintain a boat, as well as introducing them to Maine-specific boating laws and resources. The course takes around six hours to complete, and covers the following subjects:
- Before you get underway
- The legal requirements of boating
- Environmental concerns
- Enjoying watersports with your boat
There are several providers of the course, including:
- BoatUS Foundation: a non-profit organisation that champions boating safety. This course is free, but requests a $10 donation.
- Boat-Ed: an online course costing $34.95.
- Boattests101: an online course costing $24.95.
- In-person courses: taught by volunteers from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW).
Maine Boating Laws
In addition to the safety courses, there are a number of laws that boaters in Maine must follow. These include:
- Always wearing a life jacket.
- Staying alert and being aware of others on the water.
- Operating your boat at a safe and reasonable speed for your surroundings.
- Operating at "headway speed" within 200 feet of any shoreline, including islands, and within a marina or approved anchorage.
- Maintaining a distance of at least 300 feet from the shoreline when wakesurfing.
- Never drinking and driving.
- Always wearing an engine cutoff switch.
- Watching out for wildlife.
- Checking the weather before leaving shore and carefully observing changing weather conditions.
- Telling someone where you are going and when you will be back.
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Frequently asked questions
New registrations must be done in person at the Town Office. For new registrations, you will need a bill of sale, the Maine registration numbers on the boat if it was previously registered in Maine, state sales tax on the purchase price if it was a private sale, excise tax, a state registration fee, and an agent fee of $1.
Yes, boat registrations can be renewed online if your town is part of the program. You will need a copy of the prior registration or the Maine registration numbers on the boat, excise tax, a state registration fee, and an agent fee of $1.
Fees vary depending on the length, model year, use, and horsepower of the boat being registered. The excise tax is computed based on the boat's length, horsepower of the motor, and age. The state registration fee is based on the size of the motor.
