Car Insurance Requirements in Maine (2024)
Maine requires 50/100/25 limits for liability insurance, and drivers must also purchase medical payments and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages.
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Written byJamie Johnson
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6 years experience in personal finance writing
Featured on Credit Karma and Insider
Jamie is a meticulous researcher who has published 2,000+ personal finance articles. Her expertise is trusted by major brands like Bankrate and Rocket Mortgage.
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Edited byCourtney Mikulski
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Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
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Updated November 21, 2024
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Table of contents
Like most states, Maine requires all drivers to meet minimum car insurance requirements.
In addition to 50/100/25 limits for liability insurance, Maine drivers must purchase medical payments (MedPay) and uninsured motorist coverage. Here’s how to compare liability rates and determine how much coverage you need in Maine.
Maine car insurance requirements
Most states require drivers to carry minimum liability coverage for property damage and bodily injury. However, Maine also requires drivers to carry medical payments coverage and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. You also have to provide proof of insurance before you can register your vehicle.
Liability coverage
Liability coverage pays for the medical costs and property damages other drivers sustain in an accident you cause. It doesn’t pay for your medical expenses and auto repair costs.
Liability insurance includes two types of coverages — bodily injury and property damage. Bodily injury liability covers the other parties’ injuries or medical bills, and property damage liability pays for damage to vehicles, fences, buildings, and more.
Maine’s 50/100/25 liability coverage minimum limits are higher than many other state minimums. In Maine, you must carry at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury liability. You also need at least $25,000 per accident for property damage liability. You can also purchase a single combined limit of $125,000 to meet the insurance requirements.[1]
Medical payments coverage
Medical payments coverage pays for medical costs for you and your passengers after an accident. In Maine, you must carry at least $2,000 in medical payments coverage, though higher coverage limits are relatively inexpensive.[1]
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
Only 4.9% of Maine drivers are uninsured, giving it the fourth-lowest rate of uninsured drivers in the United States.[2]
Maine law requires you to carry at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.[1] This coverage protects you if the driver who caused a car accident is uninsured or doesn’t have high enough limits to pay for all your damages and injuries. It also kicks in for hit-and-runs and if a car hits you as a pedestrian.
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Do you need more than state-minimum coverage in Maine?
In Maine, minimum coverage pays for any damages and medical costs the other driver incurs in an accident you cause, as well as your medical costs. But you’re responsible for paying for repairs to your car.
In comparison, full-coverage insurance includes liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance. Collision insurance pays for damages to your vehicle from a crash with another car or object. Comprehensive insurance pays for any damages from vandalism, theft, falling objects, or severe weather.
Full-coverage insurance provides you with the most protection if you’re involved in a car accident, but it also costs more money. On average, Maine drivers pay $155 per month for full coverage compared to $86 per month for liability-only insurance.
Important Information
Carrying the minimum amount of liability coverage will meet the state’s requirements, but most insurance professionals encourage drivers to purchase more coverage. Full coverage is especially important if you have a new car or live in an area with extreme weather conditions.
However, it may make sense to save money by purchasing liability-only insurance in some situations. If you have a vehicle more than 10 years old and own it outright, you may be able to get by with liability coverage.
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Why Is My Car Insurance So High? (2024)
The cost of liability-only car insurance in Maine
Liability insurance protects you if you’re financially responsible for another driver’s injuries or repairing their car. Liability insurance won’t cover your property damage but will pay for legal fees, up to the policy limits, if another party sues you.
On average, Maine drivers pay $86 per month for liability-only coverage, but your costs will depend on your driving history, age, ZIP code, vehicle, and insurance company.
The following table outlines the cheapest liability-only insurance companies for Maine drivers.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Friday, November 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
|---|---|
| USAA | $41 |
| State Farm | $42 |
| Safeco | $46 |
| Progressive | $51 |
| Liberty Mutual | $51 |
| Allstate | $64 |
| GEICO | $64 |
| Foremost | $73 |
| Travelers | $74 |
| Direct Auto | $75 |
| National General | $75 |
| Dairyland | $77 |
| The General | $96 |
| Bristol West | $98 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
The cost of full-coverage car insurance in Maine
Full-coverage car insurance includes liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance. It provides the most coverage and pays for car damages and injuries you and the other driver sustain, regardless of fault.
In Maine, full-coverage insurance costs $155 per month, making it more expensive than liability-only coverage. However, Maine’s average cost of full-coverage insurance is less than the national average of $204 per month.
You can save on your premiums by shopping around and comparing auto insurance quotes from different insurers. Here are the cheapest full-coverage quotes in Maine.
The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Friday, November 1 at 12:00 PM PDT.
Insurance Company ▲▼ | Average Monthly Quote ▲▼ |
|---|---|
| Safeco | $72 |
| Progressive | $74 |
| USAA | $79 |
| State Farm | $82 |
| Liberty Mutual | $111 |
| Allstate | $124 |
| GEICO | $124 |
| National General | $143 |
| Travelers | $144 |
| Direct Auto | $145 |
| The General | $168 |
| Foremost | $181 |
| Bristol West | $193 |
| Dairyland | $215 |
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.
Penalties for driving without proof of insurance in Maine
It’s illegal to drive without car insurance in Maine. If a law enforcement officer asks you to show proof of insurance at a traffic stop and you can’t, you may receive one or more of the following penalties:[3] [4] [5]
Fines: You may have to pay a fine of $100 to $500.
License and registration suspension: If you can’t show proof of insurance within 30 days, the state may suspend your license and registration.
SR-22 filing: An SR-22 filing shows you meet the minimum insurance requirements, and it’s sometimes mandatory after driving without insurance. Maine only accepts SR-22 filings from companies licensed to sell insurance in Maine.
Reinstatement fees: Once you meet the insurance requirements, you’ll need to pay a fee to reinstate your license and registration.
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Optional car insurance coverages to consider
In addition to the minimum car insurance requirements in Maine, you may want to consider the following optional coverages for more protection:
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive insurance pays for damages from a non-collision event, like vandalism, theft, or severe weather. Maine is vulnerable to severe summer storms, making comprehensive coverage an important add-on.[6]
Collision coverage
Collision insurance pays for damages from an accident with another vehicle or object, like a tree or light pole.
Gap coverage
Gap insurance covers the difference between an insurance payout and your auto loan balance after a total loss.
Accident forgiveness coverage
Accident forgiveness prevents a rate increase after your first at-fault accident. However, you’ll usually need a good driving history to be eligible.
Roadside assistance coverage
Roadside assistance is a service that helps drivers if their car breaks down unexpectedly. For example, you can contact roadside assistance if you get a flat tire or need someone to jump-start your battery. It also covers the cost of towing your vehicle to a repair shop.
Rental reimbursement coverage
If you’re involved in a car accident and your vehicle needs repairs, you may need to use a rental car for several weeks or months while your car is in the shop. Rental reimbursement covers some of the daily costs of using a rental car, depending on your policy.
Maine car insurance requirements FAQs
Driving without insurance in Maine has serious consequences, so it’s important to ensure you have the right coverage. Here’s some more information about Maine car insurance laws.
Does Maine require car insurance?
Yes. Maine requires all drivers to have at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability and $25,000 per accident in property damage liability. Alternatively, you can choose a single combined limit of $125,000.
You also must have at least $2,000 in medical payments coverage and $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in uninsured motorist coverage.[1]
Do you need car insurance to register a car in Maine?
Yes. You must meet the minimum insurance requirements and show proof of insurance to register a vehicle in Maine. If you drive without insurance, you could lose your license or have to pay fines. Once you lose your license, you’ll need an SR-22 filing to reinstate your driving privileges.
Do you need to add your child with a permit to your car insurance in Maine?
Yes, once your teen driver receives their driver’s permit, you’ll need to add them to your car insurance. Insuring a teen driver can be expensive, but your teen can find lower auto insurance rates by taking advantage of good student discounts and enrolling in a driver’s education course.[7]
Does insurance follow the car or the driver in Maine?
Insurance typically follows the vehicle, not the driver. That means if you lend your car to a friend and they cause an accident, your insurance policy covers the damages. The only exception to this rule is if someone took your car without your permission.
Sources
- Maine Bureau of Insurance. "Insurance Required by Law."
- Maine Bureau of Insurance. "The Availability of Insurance in the Maine Property & Casualty Market."
- Maine Legislature. "1601. Required maintenance of financial responsibility."
- Maine Bureau of Insurance. "Auto Insurance FAQs."
- Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. "Suspensions and Revocations."
- Maine Emergency Management Agency. "Severe Summer Storms."
- Maine Bureau of Insurance. "Insuring Youthful Drivers."
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Jamie Johnson
Jamie Johnson is a Kansas City-based personal finance writer whose work has been featured on several of the top finance and business sites in the country, including Insider, Credit Karma, Bankrate, Rocket Mortgage, Fox Business, Quicken Loans, and The Balance. For the past six years, she's dedicated more than 10,000 hours of research and writing to more than 2,000 articles about personal finance topics.
Courtney MikulskiSenior Editor, Auto
3+ years producing insurance and personal finance content
Main architect of the Insurify Quality Score
Courtney’s deep personal finance knowledge extends beyond insurance to credit cards, consumer lending, and banking. She thrives on creating actionable content.
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