Do I need a special bill of sale for a used side by side in Maine?
Maine requires a bill of sale for all private party vehicle sales. A used side by side may have additional disclosure requirements around condition, mileage, or title status.
Used vehicle bill of sale
Selling a used side by side in Maine? Pre-owned vehicle private party sale — generate the right bill of sale for your transaction.
When selling a used side by side through a private party sale in Maine, a bill of sale protects both the buyer and seller by documenting the transaction details and the vehicle's condition at the time of sale.
Standard private party used vehicle sales require both parties to sign a bill of sale documenting the transaction. Federal odometer disclosure is required for vehicles under 10 years old or with fewer than 160,000 miles under 49 CFR Part 580. No special title branding applies to standard used vehicles.
The seller must provide an accurate odometer statement for eligible vehicles, disclose any known mechanical defects, and confirm the title is free of salvage, flood, or other branding.
Used vehicles sold privately are typically sold "as-is" with no implied warranty. Verify the title is clean and free of liens before completing the purchase.
In Maine, the title transfer fee is $33 and registration costs $35 for passenger vehicles. Side by Side sales are subject to 5.5% sales tax on vehicle purchase price. Maine does not require notarization for private-party side by side transfers. Emission testing is required in Maine — verify the side by side passes before completing the sale.
Maine has a 5.5% state sales tax rate. Flat 5.5% statewide; no additional local vehicle taxes. Private-party side by side sales in Maine are subject to sales tax. Sales tax applies to private party vehicle purchases. The title transfer fee is $33.
The most common side by side makes in private-party sales are Polaris, Can-Am, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki. Average private-party side by side prices range from $5,000–$30,000. Side by sides average 2.6 NHTSA recalls per model across categories including Steering, Fuel System, Fire Hazard.
Before completing a side by side bill of sale in Maine, verify these safety items:
Insurance averages $200–$600/year. Multi-passenger models cost more. Required for on-road use. Side-by-sides depreciate 30–40% in 3 years. Sport models (RZR, Maverick) depreciate faster than utility models (Ranger). Peak season for private side by side sales is spring for recreation, fall for hunting season, with an average of 25 days on market.
Side by Sides are classified as "Off-highway vehicle (OHV) — some states allow street-legal conversion" for registration purposes. Side-by-sides range from 1,000–2,000 lbs. Multi-seat crew models weigh more. Federal odometer disclosure does not apply to side by sides.
Side-by-side (SxS) UTV title transfer follows off-highway vehicle (OHV) rules in most states. Many states issue an OHV title or registration card rather than a standard motor vehicle title. A signed bill of sale is critical because some states do not title SxS units at all and rely on the bill of sale as primary proof of ownership. States that title SxS units typically use the same title format as ATVs. States that do not title them rely on the bill of sale and the manufacturer's certificate of origin (MCO). Always transfer the MCO if it has not been previously surrendered to a state.
When selling a side by side in Maine, the following disclosures apply:
When selling a used side by side in Maine, the bill of sale should clearly document the vehicle condition. Insurance averages $200–$600/year. Multi-passenger models cost more. Required for on-road use. Average side by side prices range from $5,000–$30,000 — used vehicles typically fall in the lower range.
BillOfSaleNow has generated 348 bill of sale documents for Maine transactions, with 10 generated this month alone. The most popular vehicle type is car.
Generate a Maine side by side bill of sale with condition details included.
Create Maine Side by Side Bill of SaleMaine requires a bill of sale for all private party vehicle sales. A used side by side may have additional disclosure requirements around condition, mileage, or title status.
Include buyer and seller details, vehicle identifiers (VIN, year, make, model), sale price, date, signatures, and a clear description of the vehicle condition as used.
Yes. A properly completed bill of sale is a legal document in Maine. For used vehicles, disclosing the condition protects both buyer and seller.
Maine charges a $33 title transfer fee. Registration costs $35 for passenger vehicles. Sales tax: 5.5% sales tax on vehicle purchase price. Notarization is not required.
Average private-party side by side prices range from $5,000–$30,000. Used vehicles typically fall in the lower range. The most common makes are Polaris, Can-Am, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki.
Verify ROPS (cage) is intact and meets manufacturer specifications Check all seat belts and door/net latching mechanisms
45% faster sale
Vehicles whose listings include a history report spend ~45% less time on site before selling, and report-viewers are 5x more likely to become a lead.
Source: Experian / AutoCheck
$4,000 avg loss
NHTSA estimates 450,000+ vehicles per year are sold with rolled-back odometers — the average victim loses about $4,000 in downstream repair costs.
Source: NHTSA
17.5M private sales/yr
About 17.5 million private-party vehicle transactions happen in the U.S. each year — roughly 47% of the used market.
Source: Cox Automotive 2024
1 in 3 buyers
Roughly 1 in 3 used-car buyers say they suspect private sellers are hiding mechanical problems — documentation closes that trust gap.
Source: JW Surety Bonds (n=3,000)
$60–$85 mobile notary
Mobile notary visit minimums run $60–$85 — higher on weekends, plus per-mile travel fees. State-formatted documents skip the trip.
Source: Thumbtack / NNA