Maine car insurance requirements and laws

Minimum car insurance requirements

Maine has some of the highest required limits in the country. Insurance is required on all motor vehicles used in the state, and you must show proof to register (Maine Bureau of Insurance). A policy that counts as proof of financial responsibility must carry at least the amounts in 29-A M.R.S. §1605. Compare states with the state car insurance requirements lookup.

The towing requirement is the newest piece: a 2023 law (P.L. 2023, chapter 395) added 29-A M.R.S. §1605-B, which requires policies on Maine-registered vehicles to pay up to $500 per accident for reasonable towing and storage when a law enforcement officer has the car towed after a crash.

What the minimums mean in practice. If you cause a crash and the other driver has $40,000 in medical bills and lost pay, Maine's $50,000 per-person limit covers it, which is not true in most states. But if you injure three people with $45,000 in damages each, the $100,000 per-accident cap leaves $35,000 unpaid, and the $25,000 property damage limit will not replace a new pickup. how much liability coverage do you need? can help you decide whether to go higher.

Fault system and what it means after a crash

Maine is an at-fault state. The driver who causes the crash, through their liability insurer, pays the other side's medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering and vehicle repairs. Your own required medical payments coverage pays the first $2,000 of medical bills for you and your passengers regardless of fault. See no-fault vs at-fault states.

When both drivers share blame, Maine's comparative negligence statute reduces your damages by the amount the jury considers fair for your share, and bars recovery entirely if you are found equally at fault (14 M.R.S. §156). That works like a 50% bar (comparative vs contributory negligence).

Maine's general six-year limitation period applies to civil actions, including car accident injury and property damage suits (14 M.R.S. §752). That is unusually long, but waiting makes evidence harder to gather. See statutes of limitations for car accident claims.

Optional coverage worth considering here

• Higher UM limits. Maine requires UM of at least 50/100, and if you buy higher liability limits your UM must match them unless you reject the higher amount in writing. The Insurance Research Council estimates only 5.7% of Maine drivers were uninsured in 2023, the lowest rate in the country, but underinsured drivers are a bigger risk (uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage explained).
• More medical payments coverage. $2,000 covers an emergency visit at most; higher MedPay limits are inexpensive.
• Comprehensive. Deer and moose collisions, falling limbs and winter storms make comprehensive coverage especially useful (comprehensive coverage explained).
• Collision for newer or financed cars, plus gap insurance if you owe more than the car is worth.

What drives rates in Maine

The NAIC puts Maine's average annual expenditure at $856 in 2023, one of the lowest in the country and well below the national $1,282 (What NAIC auto insurance data measures).

Maine's low population density, light traffic outside Portland and Bangor, and very low uninsured rate keep claim costs down even with high required limits. Offsetting factors include long winters with snow and ice, frequent deer and moose collisions, and higher parts and repair costs for modern vehicles (why car repairs cost so much more than they used to). Rates still vary by town, driving record and credit-based insurance score (how car insurance rates are calculated).

Penalties for driving uninsured

Operating without the required insurance is a traffic infraction with a forfeiture of $100 to $500 (29-A M.R.S. §1601). Failing to show proof when stopped for a moving violation or after a reportable crash is treated as evidence that you are uninsured, though the charge is dismissed if you later show coverage that was in force at the time. The Secretary of State can also suspend your license and registration until you file proof of financial responsibility. See penalties for driving without insurance.

SR-22 and high-risk drivers

Maine's financial responsibility law lets the Secretary of State demand proof of insurance (commonly an SR-22 certificate filed by your insurer) after a reportable accident in which you may have been at fault, after certain motor vehicle convictions and after operating-under-the-influence (OUI) convictions (29-A M.R.S. §§1602–1603). The Bureau of Motor Vehicles tells you how long the filing must stay in place. See SR-22 insurance explained, Car insurance after a DUI and high-risk car insurance: options when insurers say no.

Insurers with a strong presence in Maine

National carriers Progressive, GEICO, Allstate and State Farm write a large share of Maine policies. New England-based companies are also prominent: Boston's Liberty Mutual, Worcester's The Hanover, Safety Insurance and Rhode Island's Amica. Several smaller Maine mutuals sell through independent agents; see regional car insurers: when smaller carriers can beat the giants. The Bureau of Insurance publishes policy comparisons for the state's largest auto insurers.

Where to get help

The Maine Bureau of Insurance answers consumer questions and investigates complaints about claims, cancellations and rates. Call 800-300-5000 (toll free) or 207-624-8475, use the online complaint form at maine.gov/pfr/insurance, or mail 34 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0034. Private deliveries go to 76 Northern Avenue, Gardiner. how to file a complaint against a car insurance company explains what to include. For an injury lawsuit, consult a licensed Maine attorney.