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Maine sets one of the highest liability minimums in the country at 50/100/25, and the required package goes beyond liability. Every policy must also include uninsured and underinsured vehicle coverage, at least $2,000 in medical payments for people in your car, and, under a 2023 law, up to $500 for towing and storage if an officer has your car towed after a crash.

Maine is an at-fault state with a modified comparative negligence rule that blocks recovery if you are equally at fault. State law also limits how credit-based insurance scores may be used: they cannot be built on factors such as zip code or marital status, and they cannot be the sole reason an insurer cancels, refuses to renew or raises your renewal rate. Winter weather and long rural drives make coverage choices worth reviewing with a licensed agent.

Maine at a glance
Minimum liability50/100/25 (BI per person / BI per accident / PD, in $1,000s)
Other required coverageUninsured/underinsured vehicle coverage: not less than $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident, and generally equal to your bodily injury liability limits unless you reject that amount in writing; Medical payments: at least $2,000 per person for the driver and passengers in the insured vehicle, for costs incurred within one year of the injury; Towing and storage: up to $500 per accident when the insured vehicle is towed at an officer's request
Fault systemAt-fault (tort)
Credit-based insurance scoresRestricted
SR-22 / proof of financial responsibilityAfter a violation of the insurance requirement, you must show proof of financial responsibility to the Secretary of State, typically through a certificate filed by your insurer. Ask the Bureau of Motor Vehicles how long your filing must be maintained.

Maine minimum liability limits

To register and drive a car in Maine you need at least this much liability coverage:

  • $50,000 for injuries to one person in an accident you cause.
  • $100,000 in total for injuries to everyone in that accident.
  • $25,000 for damage to other people's property, such as their car.

Maine's required liability limits are $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage, among the highest minimums in the country.

Tip: The minimum is a legal floor, not a recommendation. If a serious crash costs more than your limits, you could be personally responsible for the rest. See how much liability coverage you may need.

Other required and offered coverage

Besides liability, Maine requires:

  • Uninsured/underinsured vehicle coverage: not less than $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident, and generally equal to your bodily injury liability limits unless you reject that amount in writing
  • Medical payments: at least $2,000 per person for the driver and passengers in the insured vehicle, for costs incurred within one year of the injury
  • Towing and storage: up to $500 per accident when the insured vehicle is towed at an officer's request

You can choose uninsured vehicle limits lower than your liability limits by signing a rejection form provided by the insurer, but never below the 50/100 minimum. The medical payments and towing requirements do not apply to policies covering more than four vehicles.

Learn more about uninsured motorist coverage and personal injury protection.

Is Maine a no-fault state?

Maine is an at-fault (tort) state. The driver who causes a crash is responsible for the other people's injuries and property damage, which is normally paid by that driver's liability insurance. Injured people can claim against the at-fault driver's insurer or, in some cases, sue.

Maine uses a modified comparative negligence rule: your recovery is reduced by your share of fault, and if you are found equally at fault, you may not recover. Maine's jury instructions reduce damages in dollars, not percentages.

Read more: at-fault vs. no-fault states explained.

Can insurers use your credit in Maine?

Status: Restricted. Maine allows insurers to use credit-based insurance scores, but they may not use scores calculated with factors such as race, sex, income, address, zip code or marital status. Insurers also may not deny, cancel or refuse to renew a policy, or base renewal rates, solely on credit information.

See how credit affects car insurance for the bigger picture.

Penalties for driving uninsured in Maine

Failing to maintain required insurance is a traffic infraction with a forfeiture of $100 to $500. Thirty days after a conviction, the Secretary of State suspends your license, vehicle registration or right to apply for either, until you provide proof of financial responsibility. A violation is dismissed if you show coverage that was in effect at the time.

Officers ask for evidence of insurance when they stop a driver for a moving violation or when a driver is in a reportable crash, and evidence may be shown electronically on a phone. Failure to produce evidence is prima facie evidence that the driver is uninsured, and showing a policy that is not in effect is also a violation.

After a violation of the insurance requirement, you must show proof of financial responsibility to the Secretary of State, typically through a certificate filed by your insurer. Ask the Bureau of Motor Vehicles how long your filing must be maintained.

If you are ordered to file proof of insurance, see what SR-22 insurance is.

Tips for Maine drivers

  • Check your uninsured vehicle coverage limits. Maine requires them to equal your bodily injury liability limits unless you sign a rejection form, so lower limits on your declarations page should trace back to a signed form.
  • Know that medical payments coverage of at least $2,000 applies to the driver and passengers for costs incurred within one year of the injury, and that Maine also requires up to $500 for towing and storage when an officer orders a tow.
  • Carry proof of insurance in your vehicle. Maine allows electronic evidence on a phone, and an officer can request it at a moving-violation stop or after a reportable crash; showing a policy that is not in effect is also a violation.
  • If you receive a Maine insurance citation but were covered, bring proof of coverage in effect at the time of the violation to the District Court Violations Bureau before your answer date, since the court must dismiss the complaint.
  • If you are moving to Maine from a state with lower minimums, such as the 25/50 structure common elsewhere, update your policy. Maine's required liability limits are 50/100/25, plus uninsured vehicle coverage and medical payments.

When you shop, compare quotes from several insurers using the same limits and deductibles, so the prices are like-for-like.

Official resources

Your state insurance department can answer questions about your rights and handle complaints about insurers.

Frequently asked questions

What are Maine's minimum car insurance requirements?

Maine requires liability coverage of at least $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, $25,000 for property damage, and at least $2,000 in medical payments. Policies must also provide uninsured and underinsured vehicle coverage and up to $500 for towing and storage when an officer orders a tow.

What is the penalty for driving without insurance in Maine?

Failing to maintain required insurance is a traffic infraction with a forfeiture of $100 to $500. Thirty days after an adjudication, the Secretary of State suspends your license, vehicle registration or right to apply until you give proof of financial responsibility. The violation can be dismissed if you show that coverage was in effect when you were cited.

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Maine?

Yes. Maine requires uninsured, underinsured and hit-and-run vehicle coverage on auto liability policies. The amount must equal your bodily injury liability limits unless you sign a written rejection form, and it can never be lower than the $50,000/$100,000 liability minimum. Check your declarations page to see which limits you have.

Can insurers use my credit to set auto rates in Maine?

Maine allows insurers to use credit-based insurance scores, but with limits. They cannot use scores calculated with race, sex, income, address, zip code or marital status, and cannot deny, cancel or refuse to renew a policy, or set renewal rates, based solely on credit information.

Can I recover damages if I was partly at fault in Maine?

Usually yes, but your damages are reduced by your share of responsibility. Under Maine's comparative negligence law, a claim is not defeated by your own fault unless you are found equally at fault; in that case you may not recover. Juries reduce damages by a dollar amount rather than a percentage.

Sources

General information only. State rules change. Confirm current requirements with the Maine Bureau of Insurance or your insurer before you buy. This page is not insurance or legal advice.