Maine Revised Statutes
Subchapter 2: CERTIFICATE OF TITLE AND CERTIFICATE OF SALVAGE
29-A §654. Application for certificate of title and certificate of salvage

§654. Application for certificate of title and certificate of salvage
1. Contents. An application to the Secretary of State for a certificate of title or a certificate of salvage must be made on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, be signed by the owner of the vehicle and contain the following information:
A. The name, residence and mailing address of the owner; [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. A description of the vehicle, including, as far as data exists, its make, model, model year, vehicle identification number, type of body, current mileage, whether new or used and whether repaired or rebuilt; [PL 1995, c. 482, Pt. A, §11 (AMD).]
B-1. Beginning January 1, 2002, the manufacturer's suggested retail price pursuant to Title 36, section 1482, subsection 4, paragraph A minus the destination charge must be included on the certificate of title application for a new vehicle. For a used vehicle sold in this State after January 1, 2002 or sold in another state or country, the manufacturer's suggested retail price must be included on the certificate of title application if it appears on the original certificate of title issued by the State. [PL 2001, c. 671, §13 (AMD).]
C. The date of purchase by the applicant, the name and address of the person from whom the vehicle was acquired; [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
D. If for a certificate of title, the names and addresses of lienholders in the order of their priority and the dates of their liens; [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
E. If for a new vehicle, a certificate of origin; [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
F. If for a used vehicle, a previous certificate of title; [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
G. Any further information that the Secretary of State requires to identify the vehicle and to enable determination of whether the owner is entitled to a certificate and the existence of security interests in the vehicle; and [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
H. The required fee. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 2001, c. 671, §13 (AMD).]
2. Purchased from the dealer. If the application is for a vehicle purchased from a dealer, in addition to the requirement set forth in subsection 1, the application must be signed by the dealer and must contain the name and the address of any lienholder or assignee holding an interest created or reserved at the time of sale and the date of the lien. The dealer shall, within 30 days after the sale, deliver the application to the Secretary of State. The dealer must deliver a copy of the application to the lienholder.

A. Violation of this subsection is a traffic infraction when the application is delivered to the Secretary of State more than 30 days but less than 90 days after the date of sale. [PL 2017, c. 229, §15 (NEW).]
B. Violation of this subsection is a Class E crime when the application has not been delivered to the Secretary of State 90 days or more after the date of sale. [PL 2017, c. 229, §15 (NEW).]
[PL 2017, c. 229, §15 (AMD).]
3. Registered in another state. If the application is for a vehicle last registered in another jurisdiction, in addition to the requirements set forth in subsection 1, the application must include:
A. A certificate of title or a certificate of salvage issued by that jurisdiction; and [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. The certificate of a person authorized by the Secretary of State that the identification number of the vehicle has been inspected and found to conform to the description given in the application, or other proof of the identity of the vehicle required by the Secretary of State. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
[PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
4. Vehicle declared total loss. If a vehicle is declared a total loss by an owner or insurer, the owner or insurer shall file an application for a certificate of salvage pursuant to section 667. The application must be on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State and, in addition to the requirements set forth in subsection 1, must include:
A. A certificate of title or a certificate of origin; and [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
B. Any other information or documents the Secretary of State requires to administer the provisions of this section. [PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 683, Pt. B, §5 (AFF).]
The Secretary of State shall act on an application for a certificate of salvage within 20 days of receipt of an application submitted in accordance with section 603, subsection 3-A or section 655.
[PL 1997, c. 437, §15 (AMD).]
5. Manufactured housing. The following provisions govern applications for a certificate of title for manufactured housing.
A. An application for new single-unit manufactured housing must be submitted to the Secretary of State by the retail seller. If the manufactured housing is purchased new out of state, the application must be submitted by the lienholder or the owner. The application must be accompanied by the manufacturer's certificate of origin. [PL 2005, c. 678, §8 (NEW); PL 2005, c. 678, §13 (AFF).]
B. An application for used single-unit manufactured housing must be submitted by the retail seller. In the absence of a retail seller located in this State, the application must be submitted by the lienholder. In the absence of a retail seller and a lienholder, the application must be submitted by the owner. The application must be accompanied by the previous State of Maine certificate of title. [PL 2005, c. 678, §8 (NEW); PL 2005, c. 678, §13 (AFF).]
[PL 2005, c. 678, §8 (NEW); PL 2005, c. 678, §13 (AFF).]
6. Tiny homes. The following provisions govern application for a certificate of title for a tiny home.
A. An application for a tiny home must be submitted to the Secretary of State by the retail seller. If the tiny home is purchased new out of state, the application must be submitted by the lien holder or the owner. The application must be accompanied by the manufacturer's certificate of origin. [PL 2019, c. 650, §6 (NEW).]
B. An application for a used tiny home must be submitted by the retail seller. In the absence of a retail seller located in this State, the application must be submitted by the lienholder. In the absence of a retail seller and a lienholder, the application must be submitted by the owner. The application must be accompanied by any previous State of Maine certificate of title. [PL 2019, c. 650, §6 (NEW).]
[PL 2019, c. 650, §6 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 683, §A2 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 683, §B5 (AFF). PL 1995, c. 482, §A11 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 437, §15 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 18, §1 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 671, §13 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 652, §A4 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 652, §A7 (AFF). PL 2005, c. 678, §8 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 678, §13 (AFF). PL 2011, c. 356, §16 (AMD). PL 2017, c. 229, §15 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 650, §6 (AMD).