How do I register a car?
We are agents of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) here at the Hope Town Office.
We do NEW registrations for vehicles new (and new to you!).
And we do re-registrations for your annual renewal (many re-registrations can be done online by clicking here).
Below we'll give you important tips first for Re-Registrations and then New Registrations.
If you have previously registered your car in Hope, you will need
- proof of current insurance coverage (yes, it can be on your phone)
- current mileage
-payment for excise tax, agent fee, and state registration
If you have previously registered your car in Maine, but not in Hope, you will need
- your prior registration
- proof of current insurance coverage
- current mileage
- payment for excise tax, agent fee, and state registration
If your car was previously registered out of state, you will need
- your prior registration
- proof of current insurance coverage
- current mileage
- payment for excise tax, agent fee, title fee and state registration
New registrations:
If you purchased a car at a Maine car dealer, you will need
- proof of current insurance coverage
- bill of sale (invoice)
- temporary registration
-blue title application form from dealer
- window sticker (for brand new cars)
- payment for excise tax, agent fee, and state registration
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
- make, model, year, and color of car
- proof of current insurance coverage
- bill of sale (make yourself a snazzy Bill of Sale at the BMV site)
- window sticker (if brand new car)
- prior title (see below)
- payment for excise tax, agent fee, sales tax, title fee and state registration.
Title is tricky. Here are the details:
On the back of the title, fill out all that stuff under "ASSIGNMENT OF OWNERSHIP"
- The buyer(s) name, address, date of sale
- The odometer reading at the time of sale
- The seller(s) signature, printed name, date, and address
- And, finally, the buyer's (or buyers') signature, printed name, and date
These are legal documents, so legal names are required.
A Word About Excise Tax
We collect excise tax here whether you register your wheels with us or at a BMV Office. If you wish to register or re-register your car at a Motor Vehicle Branch Office (for example, to avoid paying the $5 agent fee on a re-registration), you must first come to the Town Office to pay the excise tax.
More information: if you're still here, and want more, check out the BMV's vehicle title page.