1. Vehicle sold by dealer. A vehicle that is sold by a dealer must be accompanied by a properly assigned and valid certificate of title or certificate of salvage at the time of its sale. A dealer may retain and process certificates of title and certificates of salvage at the dealer’s primary facility if in the case when the dealer displays a vehicle at an annex facility the dealer maintains a copy of the certificate of title or certificate of salvage at the annex facility. A dealer selling a vehicle to a lessee who elects to purchase the leased vehicle at the end of the lease term is exempt from this provision.

[PL 2021, c. 216, §17 (AMD).]

Attorney's Note

Under the Maine Revised Statutes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:
ClassPrisonFine
Class E crimeup to 6 monthsup to $1,000
For details, see Me. Rev. Stat. Title 17-A § 1604

Terms Used In Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 664-A

  • Dealer: means a person engaged in the business of buying, selling, exchanging or offering to negotiate, negotiating or advertising the sale of, a vehicle and who has:
A. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 602
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Security interest: means an interest in a vehicle reserved or created by agreement and that secures payment or performance of an obligation, including, but not limited to, the interest of a lessor under a lease intended as security. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 602
  • State: means a state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or a province of the Dominion of Canada. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 602
  • Vehicle: means a vehicle, as defined in section 101, or the body or chassis of any vehicle that is to be dismantled, scrapped or rebuilt. See Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A Sec. 602
  • 2. Vehicle held by dealer. If a dealer holds a vehicle for resale and obtains the certificate of title or certificate of salvage, the dealer is not required to deliver the certificate to the Secretary of State.

    [PL 1997, c. 437, §20 (NEW).]

    3. Transfer. When transferring possession of a vehicle held for resale to a retail purchaser or selling a leased vehicle to the lessee, a dealer shall comply with section 654.

    [PL 2021, c. 216, §18 (AMD).]

    4. Unreleased security interest. If a certificate of title shows an unreleased security interest, a dealer may not transfer possession of the vehicle unless the dealer possesses a properly released certificate of lien or the Secretary of State has issued a replacement certificate omitting the security interest under section 705.

    [PL 2001, c. 671, §14 (AMD).]

    5. Sold at auction. Except for a vehicle sold to a dealer at a vehicle auction licensed under section 1051, a vehicle that is sold at an auction must be accompanied by a valid certificate of title or salvage at the time of its sale. The seller of a vehicle sold to a dealer at a vehicle auction licensed under section 1051 must provide the purchasing dealer with a valid certificate of title or certificate of salvage within 30 days.

    [PL 2021, c. 216, §19 (AMD).]

    6. Documentation. A vehicle that is exempt under section 652 or a vehicle from a jurisdiction that does not issue certificates of title must be accompanied by information and documents to establish the ownership of the vehicle and the existence or nonexistence of a security interest in it.

    [PL 1997, c. 437, §20 (NEW).]

    7. Penalty. Violation of this section is a Class E crime.

    [PL 1997, c. 437, §20 (NEW).]

    SECTION HISTORY

    PL 1997, c. 437, §20 (NEW). PL 2001, c. 671, §14 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 598, §29 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 556, §6 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 216, §§17-19 (AMD).