Step 1: Allow the buyer to have a third party assess the vehicle.
Many private automobile buyers pay for a pre-purchase vehicle check performed by a skilled and certified auto technician of their choice. Although the buyer pays for the inspection, the seller and buyer must agree on the date and location of the inspection. If the inspection reveals any problems with the vehicle, you should save the report for your records as the seller. Maine does not require this inspection and there are no documents to fill out, but it is a good idea for the buyer to have it completed prior to the purchase.
Step 2: Organize and collect all vehicle papers
Find all maintenance records, the owner's manual, and other vehicle-related papers. If you can offer the buyer extensive and thorough maintenance documents, it will give the buyer confidence that the automobile has been properly and regularly maintained. You should also think about providing a car history record from a provider like CarFax or AutoCheck.The title certificate is the most critical document to have when selling an automobile. If a lien exists on the title, the lienholder must release interest in the vehicle before it may be sold. This can be accomplished by selling the automobile, either by paying it off or obtaining a lien release from the lienholder. A lien release section on the front of the title must also be completed by the lienholder upon release of the lien, if appropriate.
Step 3: Create a Bill of Sale
Private automobile transactions in Maine require a bill of sale. The official Maine bill of sale paperwork may be obtained here, and it needs basic information regarding the car being sold, as well as the buyer's and seller's names, addresses, and signatures. After that, it's a good idea for you, the seller, to create a copy of the bill of sale to keep as proof that the automobile has legally changed hands.
Step 4: Change the title
If the vehicle's title is lost, stolen, or severely damaged, you can request a duplicate or replacement title by submitting Form MVT-8. There is a $33 cost that must accompany this form, as well as an extra $10 fee for a rush request. Both the buyer and the seller must complete the applicable areas on the back of the title. This information contains the buyer's and seller's legal names, addresses, and signatures, as well as the date of the transaction and the odometer reading. When this is filled out correctly and legibly, the buyer can easily transfer registration and obtain a new plate. If your title does not include an odometer reading part, you must file a separate document with this information. If this pertains to you, complete the official Maine Odometer Information form (form MVT-32). The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) odometer disclosure standards, which affect some private car purchases in Maine, were amended in December 2020. Any vehicle of the model year 2011 or newer (2012, 2013, etc.) that is transferred between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2030, will require an odometer disclosure. Beginning January 1, 2031, every vehicle less than 20 model years old will be required to have an odometer disclosure. Previously, the NHTSA only mandated disclosure for the first ten years. Cars manufactured before 2010 are exempt from odometer disclosures.
If the title shows more than one owner, the following number of signatures will be required based on the link between the names: Furthermore, all individuals specified must sign. Alternatively, either vendor can sign; just one signature is necessary. Alternatively, both vendors must sign. If no connection is specified, the default will be "and," and all owners (sellers) must sign. When giving an automobile to a relative, you can transfer the title using the identical procedure explained below. It's largely the same process for inheriting a car, but you'll need to file paperwork about the inheritance with the county along with the title of the vehicle in issue. In addition, if you require it, Maine gives this information regarding dead car owners.
