1 Best Auto Transport Companies in Maine For 2024

Are you excited about taking your first road trip in Maine? Make sure you got all your bases covered first. Check out the steps below to ensure you’re ready to hit the road!

1. Understand Maine Residency

If you’re moving to the state of Maine from another state and plan to establish permanent residence here, you’ll need to take a few necessary steps. It can be challenging to establish a precise date of residency, but there are several ways to help prove you are a resident of the Pine Tree State:

• You establish legal domicile (permanent home)
• You obtain a Maine driver license or ID
• You title and register your car in the state
• You register to vote (and actually vote)
• You establish a Maine mailing address
• You open a bank account in ME
• You buy or rent a home here
• You file state income taxes
• You update your passport to reflect your residency

2. Update Insurance to Comply with ME Laws

Each state sets its own laws regarding auto insurance minimums. In Maine, you must purchase an insurance policy from a licensed ME insurance agent with the following coverage:

• $2,000 medical payments coverage: Also referred to as MedPay, this coverage helps pay for hospital expenses resulting from a car accident.
• $25,000 property damage liability per accident: Property liability coverage pays for any damage done to another car or property in an accident in which you are the at-fault driver.
• $50,000 bodily injury liability per person/$100,000 per accident: Bodily injury liability coverage helps to cover another person’s injuries for which you are at fault.
• $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person/$100,000 per accident: UIM covers your medical bills and the cost to repair or replace your vehicle when hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver.

3. Title and Register Your Vehicle

If you ship a car into Maine from out of state and plan to live here permanently, you must apply for title and registration within 30 days of establishing residency. Visit a local Maine municipal office or BMV office (if your town doesn’t handle new registration) and do the following:

• Pay excise tax
• Provide proof: current title & registration, proof of insurance, white & yellow copy of registration application, and excise tax receipt
• Provide lien info (if applicable)
• Pay title application fee (1995 model year and newer)
• Pay applicable registration fees

Note: The state of Maine requires an annual car inspection. Find out more info on titling and registration here.

4. Obtain a Valid Maine Driver License

You must obtain a Maine license within 30 days of establishing residency. You must apply for a new one at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) office. During the application process, you’ll need to:

• Provide proof: ID, Maine residency, legal presence in the US
• Pass vision screening
• Pass written and road tests (if applicable)
• Surrender current driver license
• Pay applicable fees

Learn more about getting your Maine driver license here.

5. Winter Driving Recommendations

As the most northeastern state in the country, Maine is predictably a frigid, snowy place during wintertime. MaineDOT offers several suggestions to keep safe on the wintery roads. These include:

• Avoid sudden steering input, braking, or acceleration
• Take it slow whenever possible
• Allow extra room between snowplows and other vehicles
• Take your time pulling out into traffic
• Try to avoid using cruise control
• Brake early and slowly
• Keep active and alert

6. Sign Up for an E-Z Pass

The Maine Turnpike is the only toll road in the state and stretches along I-95, from Portsmouth, past Portland, and up to Augusta. If you frequent this stretch of interstate, you may want to sign up for an E-Z Pass account. With an E-Z Pass transponder, you can move seamlessly through toll plazas and enjoy discounted tolls. Plus, the E-Z Pass works for tolls across 17 other states on the Eastern Seaboard and in the Midwest. Learn more about Maine’s E-Z Pass here.

Are you looking to ship your vehicle to Maine from another part of the country? Caravan Auto Transport’s network of vetted, licensed, and insured auto transporters offers safe, efficient transport of your automobile to its destination without running up the miles on the odometer. These reputable Maine car shipping companies provide the following services:

Open Car Transport

The most common car transportation method, open transport carriers are ideal if you’re looking for an affordable shipping option with speedy delivery. As the name suggests, your car is loaded onto an open-air trailer along with several other vehicles headed to the same destination.

Enclosed Auto Transport

If you desire enhanced security or protection for your vehicle, you may wish to arrange enclosed carrier shipping. Inside a covered trailer, your car enjoys protection from harsh weather conditions and road hazards like dust and dirt. Shipping your vehicle in a closed carrier also enhances its safety during transit by keeping the car concealed.

Door-to-Door Car Shipping

With a door-to-door car shipping service, you choose the desired pick-up and drop-off locations rather than having to arrange getting your vehicle to or from a transport terminal. Door-to-door shipping is the most convenient choice for shipping your car to or from Maine, saving you time and effort.

Expedited Shipping

In a hurry to get your car from one location to the next? Upgrading to expedited shipping ensures a seamless pick-up and drop-off of your vehicle on your schedule. As a priority customer, you receive fast, timely service, so you can get back to driving that much quicker.

Classic and Antique Car Transport

When it comes to transporting a classic car, you want an auto transport company that can deliver your vehicle without a single dent or scratch. From vintage Mustangs to antique DeVaux Sports Coupes, our network of classic auto transporters has the expertise and equipment to transport your classic car safely, so it arrives in pristine condition.

High End and Luxury Auto Shipping

Exotic car transporters use specialty equipment, like hydraulic lifts and sophisticated tie-downs, along with enclosed trucks, to keep your valuable car safe during every mile of transit. An enclosed car hauler ensures the ultimate protection for your high-end or luxury vehicle, protecting it from dirt, dust, and debris along the way.

From moving off to college to enjoying your golden years in the New England state, there are so many reasons you may be interested in shipping a car to Maine or somewhere outside of the Pine Tree State. Caravan Auto Transport’s auto shippers network streamlines the car hauling process no matter your reason for transporting your vehicle to or from ME.

Moving and Relocation

When moving cross-country or out-of-state, many people choose to ship their cars rather than add a long road trip to an already stressful and exhausting relocation experience. Leave the logistics of moving your vehicle in the hands of professionals with either open or enclosed vehicle shipping services.

Unlimited Outdoor Recreation

Are you dreaming of all the nature adventures in Maine? The Pine Tree State does not disappoint! From colorful fall foliage to nearly 3,500 of amazing coastline, there’s an endless list of things to do in the great outdoors: boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, sightseeing, and so much more. Begin your adventures that much sooner by shipping your car and meeting it at your Maine destination – whether you’re home base is in the capital city of Augusta or the coastal town of Portland.

Military

Maine is home to two military bases. From NAS Brunswick Navy Base in Brunswick to NS Portsmouth Navy Base in Portsmouth, thousands of military personnel call the Pine Tree State home. If you are one of the brave men and women serving our country, we’re happy to serve you with top-notch car transportation to or from Maine.

Snowbirds

Do you fly South for the winter? Given Maine’s frigid winter temps along with snow and ice, it’s not hard to understand why. Start enjoying your escape from frozen North that much sooner by shipping your car and meeting it at your destination -- whether you’re wintering on the beach in balmy, laid-back Florida or on the golf course in the Arizona desert.

Online Car Buyers

Whether you’ve found the perfect vehicle on Craigslist, eBay, or AutoTrader, you may need some assistance getting it home, especially if it’s sitting on the other side of the country. Instead of flying out to pick it up and putting hundreds or thousands of miles on the odometer just to get it to your driveway, arrange for a hauler to transport your new car for you.

College Students

From the University of Maine to the more intimate Bowdoin College, Maine is home to top-tier colleges and universities for those seeking to further their education. If you have a college student moving to Maine from out-of-state (or vice versa), have their vehicle shipped straight to campus with a fast, affordable auto transport service.

On average, it costs between $500-$1500 to ship a car to Maine. Anticipate paying around $1 per mile for the first 1-500 miles, then approximately $.75 for every mile after that. Several factors influence the final cost of shipping your vehicle, including the origin and destination zip codes, the method of transport (open vs. enclosed), the speed of shipment, the type of vehicle, and the time of year. The best way to get an accurate estimate of car shipping costs is by requesting free quotes from our network of auto transport companies.