Massachusetts vs Maine: Vehicle Registration Cost Comparison
Comparing what the same vehicles cost to register each year in Massachusetts versus Maine, computed from both states' current official fee schedules:
| Scenario | Massachusetts | Maine |
|---|---|---|
| New $45k gas SUV | $1,043.00/yr | $1,115.00/yr |
| 3-yr-old $35k gas car | $380.00/yr | $385.00/yr |
| New $55k EV | $1,268.00/yr | $1,355.00/yr |
| 10-yr-old $8k car | $80.00/yr | $115.00/yr |
For most vehicles, Massachusetts is the cheaper state to register in — though the gap varies a lot by vehicle value and age. Keep in mind annual registration is only part of the picture: sales/excise taxes at purchase, insurance, and local property taxes on vehicles can outweigh the registration difference.
Massachusetts in short
Massachusetts registration is $60 per two-year cycle, but the real annual cost is the municipal motor-vehicle excise: $25 per $1,000 of valuation, where valuation starts at 90% of MSRP in the model year and steps down to 60%, 40%, 25%, and 10% as the car ages. Enter your MSRP for the exact excise. A $75 title fee applies once.
Maine in short
Maine's $35 registration fee is the small part of the bill. The dominant cost is the municipal excise tax, computed on your vehicle's original MSRP: 24 mills ($24 per $1,000) in year one, then 17.5, 13.5, 10, and 6.5, bottoming out at 4 mills from year six on. A new $40,000 vehicle owes $960 in excise the first year — but only $160 a year once it's six years old. Maine has no EV or hybrid surcharge; the fees proposed in 2025 were never enacted.
All figures computed from official fee schedules — sources: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-motor-vehicle-excise · https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-registry-of-motor-vehicles-fees — last reviewed 2026-07-21.