AUGUSTA – Orrington has launched Rapid Renewal, the Department of the Secretary of State’s online service for the renewal of motor vehicle registrations.

Orrington residents now join the hundreds of thousands of Maine citizens who can renew their vehicle registrations online, at any time of the day, from the comfort and convenience of their homes or offices. Rapid Renewal is a service that allows residents to conduct business with municipal government and state government in one seamless online transaction.

While municipal participation in Rapid Renewal is optional, the service has grown to include 118 municipalities, and more than 250,000 transactions have been processed.

“Orrington joins a long and growing list of Maine communities choosing to provide their residents with the convenience of Rapid Renewal,” said Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap. “I encourage nonparticipating towns to follow the leadership of these and all the other participating municipalities. As budget-conscious municipal leaders seek new ways to provide efficient and convenient services, I’m confident Rapid Renewal will become available to an increasing number of Maine citizens.”

The 118 municipalities currently offering Rapid Renewal comprise more than 60 percent of Maine’s population. The service is being offered by municipalities from York County to Aroostook County, with populations ranging from Frye Island’s 70 residents to Portland’s 64,249. Through Rapid Renewal, residents are able to renew their vehicle registrations and pay their municipal excise taxes online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Rapid Renewal may be accessed through www.sosonline.org, the Secretary of State’s site for online services.

Municipal officials who would like more information about participating in Rapid Renewal and offering this service to residents in their community may contact John Smith in the Department of the Secretary of State at 626-8400 or by e-mail at sos.office@maine.gov.