Excise Tax & Vehicle Registration

What Is Excise Tax?

Excise tax is an annual local town tax paid at the Town Hall where the the vehicle resides for over six (6) months of the year.  Except for a few statutory exemptions, all vehicles registered in the State of Maine are subject to excise tax.  You must always come to Town Hall first to pay your excise tax. You then have the option to register at Town Hall or go to a Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) branch to complete the registration.

How to Calculate your Vehicle Excise Tax

For new vehicles purchased from a dealer, take you final window sticker price, subtract destination charges, and multiply times .024. For example, if the final window sticker of my new vehicle was $20,000.00 and I paid $500 for destination charges, then this would be the calculation:

Registration Information for Current Wells Residents 

Are you here to renew your vehicle registration?

You might be able to renew your vehicle registration online through the State of Maine’s Rapid Renewal Service using the Register My Vehicle link on the left of this page.  If that website does not allow you to do so, come see us at the Town Hall so we can renew your registration in person.  

Please bring the following:

1. Prior vehicle registration
2. Proof of insurance
3. Current mileage
4. Payment of cash, check or credit/debit card (fees apply when using credit/debit cards).  Town policy requires that the person the credit/debit card is issued to must be present to sign for the charge. 

Are you here to register a vehicle you just purchased?

Please bring the following:

1. Bill of sale
2. Blue copy of title application (if purchased from a dealership) or title from seller with back filled out
3. Window sticker (if you purchased a BRAND NEW vehicle)
4. Proof of physical address
5. Proof of insurance
6. Current mileage
7. If you have license plates you want to reuse on your new vehicle, bring the registration associated with those plates as well
8. Payment of cash, check or credit/debit card (fees apply when using credit/debit cards).  Town policy requires that the person the credit/debit card is issued to must be present to sign for the charge.

Are you here to get a copy of your current vehicle registration?

Please bring the following:

1. Proof of insurance
2. Current mileage
3. Payment of cash, check or credit/debit card (fees apply when using credit/debit cards).  Town policy requires that the person the credit/debit card is issued to must be present to sign for the charge.

New to Wells?  Welcome!

Were you a Maine Resident but are now new to Wells?

Please bring the following:

1. Prior vehicle registration
2. Proof of insurance
3. Current mileage
4. Proof of physical address
5. Payment of cash, check or credit/debit card (fees apply when using credit/debit cards).  Town policy requires that the person the credit/debit card is issued to must be present to sign for the charge.

Did you live in another state but are now new to Wells?

Please bring the following:

1. Prior state vehicle registration
2. Title if owned (OR) lien holder information
3. Proof of insurance
4. Current mileage
5. Proof of physical address
6. Payment of cash, check or credit/debit card (fees apply when using credit/debit cards). Town policy requires that the person the credit/debit card is issued to must be present to sign for the charge.

Vanity Plates

If you wish to purchase a vanity plate for the first time you will need to go to the DMV. You may check your vanity plate request online by visiting the Department of the Secretary or the State of Maine’s Online Services website.

Insurance Card or Policy

Your insurance card or policy for Motor Vehicle Transactions should be faxed to 207-646-2935. They need to include the vehicle information for the vehicle you are going to register or re-register. The transaction date must be within the insurance card or policy listed effective dates.