Scrapping an old car in Maine: the 2026 title rules

Published 24 September 2026

Whether you need a title to scrap an old car in Maine depends on its model year. Since January 1, 2026, the BMV has required a title for model year 2001 and newer vehicles, while a vehicle more than 25 years old needs none. For titled cars at least 20 model years old, a separate rule lets a recycler, salvage dealer or scrap processor buy the car without the title, as long as the paperwork is done right.

We tow junk cars, and a scrap sale goes more smoothly when the paperwork is sorted before the truck arrives. Here is how the 2026 rules work, what a scrapyard has to collect from you, and what to do before a tow truck in Portland hauls the car away.

Model year 2001 and newer. The Maine BMV's titles page says that as of January 1, 2026, vehicles with a model year of 2001 or newer must have a title, and that from January 1, 2027 the cutoff moves to model year 2002 and newer. So in 2026, model year 2001 is the oldest that still needs one. The exemption is tied to age, so the line moves; check it in the year you sell.

For a scrap sale, that sorts cars into three groups:

• Under 20 model years old: the title goes with the car. The no-title route described below does not apply.
• At least 20 model years old, but model year 2001 or newer: the car is titled, but a recycler, salvage dealer or scrap processor may buy it without the title under 29-A M.R.S. section 652(18), with extra paperwork.
• More than 25 years old: no title is required, and a bill of sale does the job.

No. Maine law exempts vehicles more than 25 years old from the title requirement (29-A M.R.S. section 652(13)). The BMV's salvage guide says the same thing by age: a vehicle under 26 years old needs a certificate of title, and one 26 years or older does not. The guide adds that a recycler may buy a vehicle that does not require a Maine title with a bill of sale only.

For an older car, then, the document that matters is a bill of sale from you to the buyer. Put the car's VIN on it, keep a copy, and if an old title turns up in a drawer, hand it over too.

Yes, if the car is at least 20 model years old and the buyer is a recycler, salvage dealer or scrap processor. Maine law allows that purchase under 29-A M.R.S. section 652(18), and it measures the age by the car's model year at the time of the sale. For anything newer the no-title route is closed and you will need the title, so sort that out with the BMV before you book a tow.

Most of the paperwork falls on the buyer, but you are part of it: bring a government-issued photo ID, because the buyer has to record your name and home address from one. The BMV's salvage guide sets these conditions for a no-title purchase:

• The buyer takes the seller's name and home address from a government-issued photo ID.
• The buyer keeps those records, with the vehicle's VIN, for 5 years.
• The buyer reports the vehicle's destruction to the Secretary of State on form MVT-54 within 30 days.

It goes back to the state for cancellation. The BMV's salvage guide says a recycler that scraps or dismantles a vehicle must surrender the certificate of title, or the certificate of salvage, to the Secretary of State. That step is the recycler's job, not yours, but it means the title leaves with the car, so photograph it for your records before you hand it over.

Before you sign anything, check who is buying. The no-title rule in section 652(18) is written for recyclers, salvage dealers and scrap processors, and only for cars at least 20 model years old. If the car needs a title and either condition is not met, plan on handing the title over. Either way, ask the buyer for a receipt that shows the date and the VIN.

Sort the paperwork first: the title if the car needs one, a bill of sale if it does not, and a photo ID. Then empty the car. Check the glove box, the trunk, under the seats and the spare-tire well, and take out garage door openers, toll transponders and anything with your name on it. Once the car goes to a recycler, it is not coming back.

Take the license plates off before the car leaves and ask the BMV what to do with them. Call your insurance company once the car is actually gone, not before.

When you call us, say where the car sits, whether it rolls and steers, whether the tires hold air, whether there are keys, and where it is going. A car that has not moved in years can still be towed; which truck we send depends on those answers. Our junk car towing page explains the rest, and we quote the total on the call.