An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding Motor Vehicle Fees
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1528
Committee: Transportation
Sponsors: DIAMOND, CHIPMAN
Amends: 29-A MRSA §461, 29-A MRSA §502, 29-A MRSA §1353, 29-A MRSA §1354, 29-A MRSA §1405, 29-A MRSA §1406-A

Legislative Document
No. 1528
S.P. 478
In Senate, April 9, 2019
An Act To Amend the Laws Regarding Motor Vehicle Fees
Submitted by the Secretary of State pursuant to Joint Rule 204.
Reference to the Committee on Transportation suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator DIAMOND of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Senator: CHIPMAN of Cumberland.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  29-A MRSA §461, as amended by PL 1999, c. 470, §4, is further amended 
to read:
§461.  Reservation of same number
1.  Plate issue year.  In a year in which new registration plates are issued, the 
Secretary of State shall reserve until July 1st the same registration number for the 
succeeding registration year for a person who notifies in writing the Secretary of State 
prior to May 1st of that person's desire to retain that registration number.  The fee for 
retention of the same registration number is $15 $25.
The Secretary of State may issue a facsimile plate that is valid for a 90-day period during 
production of a reserved plate.  A facsimile plate must be attached to the rear plate 
bracket.
If a person does not have a vehicle to register on May 1st, a registration number may be 
held for a maximum of 2 registration years by depositing with the Secretary of State $15 
$25 for each year; except that the registered owner of an antique vehicle may reserve the 
antique registration assigned to that person for 4 years by depositing the sum of $15 for 
each registration year.  These fees are This fee is not refundable and may not be applied 
against the registration fee.
All numbers other than those reserved must be released and may be issued in rotation 
after July 1st.
A person wishing to select a number out of rotation may do so by paying the registration 
fee and a reserved number fee of $15 $25.
A holder of vanity registration plates must pay the sum of $15 to reserve those letters or 
combination of letters and numbers, which is credited toward the renewal fee.
2.  Nonplate issue year.  In other than a plate issue year, when a person fails to 
reregister and the registration remains expired for 6 consecutive months, the reservation 
of the same number ceases and the number becomes available for reissuance.
For a maximum of 2 registration years, a person may reserve the registration number 
assigned to that person by depositing with the Secretary of State the sum of $15 $25 for 
each year; except that the registered owner of an antique motor vehicle may reserve the 
antique registration assigned to that person for 4 years by depositing with the Secretary of 
State the sum of $15 for each year.  A person wishing to select a number out of rotation 
may do so by paying the registration fee and a reserved number fee of $15 $25.
Sec. 2.  29-A MRSA §502, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2017, c. 67, §3, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Transferring registration.  A person who transfers the ownership or discontinues 
the use of a registered motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer and applies for registration of 
another motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer in the same registration year may use the 
same number plates on payment of a transfer fee of $8, as long as the registration fee is 
the same as that of the former vehicle.  If the fee for the vehicle to be registered is greater 
than the fee for the vehicle first registered, that person must also pay the difference.  If 
application is made for a trailer with a gross weight of 2,000 pounds or less, the transfer 
fee is $5.
Sec. 3.  29-A MRSA §1353, as amended by PL 2017, c. 229, §24, is repealed and 
the following enacted in its place:
§1353.  Motorcycle rider education fees
1.  Instructor fee.  The motorcycle rider education instructor license fee is $100 and 
expires one year from date of issuance.  The renewal fee is $100.
2.  School license fee.  The motorcycle rider education school license fee is $150 and 
expires December 31st annually.  The renewal fee is $150.
Sec. 4.  29-A MRSA §1354, sub-§5-A, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 505, §15 
and affected by §22, is amended to read:
A.  The fee for a driver education school license is $125 $150.
Sec. 5.  29-A MRSA §1354, sub-§5-A, ¶¶B and C, as amended by PL 2011, c. 
556, §15, are further amended to read:
B.  The fee for an instructor license is $100 $200.
C.  A driver education school license expires one year from the date of issuance.  The 
fee for the renewal of a driver education school license is $125 $150.  An instructor 
license expires 2 years from the date of issuance.  The fee for the renewal of an 
instructor license is $100 $200.
Sec. 6.  29-A MRSA §1405, sub-§3-A, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 475, Pt. A, §48 
and affected by §49, is amended to read:
3-A.  Fee.  The fee for a duplicate registration certificate is $2 $5.  The fee for a 
duplicate learner's permit, duplicate license or duplicate nondriver identification card is 
$5.  The fee for a duplicate license or duplicate nondriver identification card under 
section 1260 is $30.  The fee for the expedited issuance of a duplicate license or 
nondriver identification card, including the expedited issuance of a duplicate license or 
nondriver identification card under section 1260, is an additional $10.  The reason for the 
expedited issuance must be provided, and the Secretary of State shall determine if 
expedited issuance is warranted.
Sec. 7.  29-A MRSA §1406-A, sub-§2, ¶¶A to D, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 27, 
§5 and affected by §10, are amended to read:
A.  The fee for the 4-year noncommercial driver's license is $21 $20.
B.  The fee for the 4-year noncommercial driver's license under section 1260 is $41 
$40.
C.  The fee for the 4-year commercial driver's license is $28 $27.
D.  The fee for the 4-year commercial driver's license under section 1260 is $48 $47.
SUMMARY
This bill:
1.  Increases the one-time fee for an out-of-rotation registration plate and for a 
reserved registration number from $15 to $25, the same as for a vanity registration plate 
fee;
2.  Increases the registration transfer fee for a trailer under 2,000 pounds from $5 to 
$8, making the fee the same as for other registration transfers;
3.  Increases the motorcycle rider education school and instructor license fees to 
match fees for other business licenses issued by the Department of the Secretary of State, 
Bureau of Motor Vehicles, such as certain dealer licenses;
4.  Increases driver education school and instructor license fees to match other 
business license fees;
5.  Increases the fee for a duplicate registration certificate from $2 to $5; and
6.  Reduces the driver's license fees for persons 65 years of age and over by $1 to 
provide equity in the fees assessed on driver's licenses issued to this demographic.