FAQ's
Q. Who may use the Driver's License Reinstatement Fees online service?
A. Anyone who owes a driver's license reinstatement fee to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles may use the service. The service is only for the payment of driver's license reinstatement fees; it may not be used for other motor vehicle-related fees, or for the payment of any court fines or fees.
Q. What payment methods are accepted?
A. You may use a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express debit or credit card.
Q. Is there a fee to use the service?
A. A $5.00 processing fee is charged for each payment through the service, regardless of the total amount paid. This fee is used to develop, maintain and enhance the State's official web portal, Maine.gov, and Maine.gov online services like this one. There is currently no fee to pay a reinstatement fee by mail, by phone, or in person.
Q. How do I know how much my reinstatement fee is?
A. The service will show you the total fee due before you proceed to the payment screen. You may also call the Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 207-624-9000 ext 52100 to verify the amount of your reinstatement fee.
Q. What other information do I need to use the service?
A. The service requires you to enter your first and last name and date of birth exactly as they appear in the records of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. You must also provide either your Social Security number or your Bureau of Motor Vehicles history number. Please note that your Social Security will only work with this service if it has previously been provided to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Your history number will always work. Your history number is your Maine driver's license or identification number if you have either of those credentials; it will also appear on most Bureau correspondence related to driver's licenses or operating privileges. For assistance in locating your history number for use with this service, you may call the Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 207-624-9000 ext. 52100.
Q. What if my address has changed?
A. You may change your mailing address on the driver's license related records of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles as part of making a payment through this service. The mailing address you list on this service will automatically be used to change the Bureau's drivers license related records, so make sure to provide your full address including any apartment or lot number and to double-check that it has been entered accurately. Address changes made on this service will not be used to update any titles, registrations, or placards you may hold. You will not receive an updated driver's license or identification card automatically because you have changed your address through this service. There is no requirement to have your new address appear on your driver's license or identification card as long as your address is updated on the driver's license related records of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles within 30 days of any change. You must separately purchase an updated driver's license or identification card if you want one and are eligible for one. You may be able to use the Bureau of Motor Vehicles' online service to renew or replace your driver's license or identification card. For questions about the online renewal/replacement service or for more information about your eligibility for an updated driver's license or identification card, contact the Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 207-624-9000 ext. 52114.
Q. What other payment options do I have?
A. You may pay your reinstatement fee:
In person at any Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch office by cash, check, money order, debit card, or credit card. Cardholder must be present to authorize use of debit or credit card;
By phone via debit or credit card to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 207-624-9000 ext 52100. Cardholder must be on the line to authorize use of debit or credit card;
By mail via check, money order, or credit/debit card. Please do not mail cash as there is no way to trace or replace it if it is lost in the mail. If you have the reinstatement fee slip and return envelope that accompanied a notice of suspension you received from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, you may use them. Otherwise, include a note with your name, date of birth, license/history number, and current mailing address as it should appear in the Bureau's records. If you wish to pay by mail using your debit or credit/card, provide the card number, expiration date, billing address, and cardholder name as it appears on the card, and a signed note from the cardholder indicating the amount to be paid and authorizing the Bureau to charge that amount to the card.
Reinstatement fees may not be paid at Bureau of Motor Vehicles mobile unit locations.
Q. How much or how little may I pay at one time?
A. In most cases, you may pay any amount between $50.00 and your total reinstatement fee in increments of $50.00. If your total includes a $200 reinstatement fee for a major offense on a juvenile provisional offense, that $200 must be paid at one time and cannot be broken down further. Please note that the $5.00 processing fee for this service is per transaction, so that the more separate payments you make, the more you will pay in processing fees. There is no upper limit on payments the service can accept. Your card may have per-day or per-transaction limits; you may wish to contact your credit/debit card company for more information on this.
Q. How will I know that my payment has been processed?
A. You will receive a confirmation email from a maine.gov email address indicating the total amount paid, including the processing fee.
Q. How will I know when my license has been reinstated?
A. A letter will be mailed to you when you are reinstated. If you want to find out without waiting to receive the letter, you must call the Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 207-624-9000 ext 52100 during normal business hours to check the status of your license. Do not assume that you are reinstated simply because your payment has been processed. After receiving notice of your payment, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles must review your record and determine whether all requirements for reinstatement have been met. Do not drive until you have received verbal or written confirmation from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles that you have been reinstated and are legal to drive.
Q. Who should I contact if I have further questions?
A. Questions about driver's license suspension and restoration should be referred to the Court Records Unit of the Main Office of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 207-624-9000 ext. 52100, which will determine which unit is best equipped to respond to the question. Technical questions about the reinstatement fee service should be referred to Informe.
