By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO, Licensed Insurance Advisor
Maine sets some of the highest minimum auto insurance limits in New England, and it adds required medical payments and uninsured motorist coverage on top. Here’s what Maine law requires, why the state’s rural roads and wildlife shape the coverage choices that matter, and how we help Maine drivers compare auto insurance options from our New Hampshire office by phone, email and online.
Maine auto insurance: key facts
- Liability insurance is required to register a vehicle in Maine.
- Minimum liability: $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident bodily injury and $25,000 property damage, or a $125,000 combined single limit (29-A M.R.S. §1605).
- Medical payments coverage of at least $2,000 per person is required (29-A M.R.S. §1605-A).
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of at least $50,000/$100,000 is required, and it must equal higher liability limits unless you reject that in writing (24-A M.R.S. §2902).
- The financial responsibility statute also lists $500 for towing and storage charges (29-A M.R.S. §1605).
Maine Minimums
What Maine Law Requires on Every Policy
Maine’s Bureau of Insurance lists three coverages required by law: liability, uninsured motorist and medical payments. You can’t register a vehicle without proof that you carry at least the minimums, and the Bureau itself cautions that a serious injury, or several injured passengers, can quickly exhaust them.
50/100/25 liability
Maine’s minimums are double New Hampshire’s bodily injury figures. The state notes many vehicles on the road are worth more than $25,000, so property damage limits deserve a second look.
$2,000 medical payments
Med pay covers medical costs for the driver and passengers after a crash, no matter who caused it. The Bureau notes higher limits such as $5,000 or $10,000 are available.
Matching UM/UIM
Maine law sets uninsured/underinsured limits equal to your liability limits unless you sign a specific state rejection form choosing lower limits.
Towing and storage
Maine’s statute includes a $500 towing and storage amount among the financial responsibility requirements, which is unusual in New England.
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UM/UIM in Maine
Underinsured Drivers: Maine’s Equal-Limits Rule
Maine defines an underinsured vehicle as one whose coverage falls below either the state’s minimum or the limits of your own uninsured vehicle coverage. Because your UM limit follows your liability limit by default, raising your liability limits also raises the protection you have for your own injuries when the other driver comes up short. If you want lower UM limits, Maine requires a signed and dated rejection on the insurer’s form with specific statutory wording. We’ll explain the trade-off before you decide.
Local Context
Driving Maine: Moose, Distance and Winter
Maine driving often means long distances on two-lane roads, Route 1 summer traffic along the coast, and I-95 and I-295 commutes into Portland and Augusta. Moose collisions are a serious hazard in the north and west, especially at dusk, and deer are common statewide. Long winters bring heavy snow, frost heaves and early darkness. Comprehensive coverage handles animal strikes, and towing or roadside coverage matters when the nearest shop may be far away.
Many Seacoast households live in York or Kittery and work in Portsmouth, or the reverse. We help families who register cars in both states keep their coverage consistent. Please note we serve Maine drivers from our New Hampshire office; we don’t have a Maine office.
Your Options
Carriers We Work With for Maine Auto
For Maine drivers, we can compare auto coverage from carriers including the ones below, which are among the 40+ carriers we work with. Availability depends on the driver and vehicle, so we’ll tell you which options fit your situation.
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About 90% of quotes within 24 hours. We don’t charge any fees. Prefer to talk? Call (603) 431-4020.
Related Pages
More Maine Coverage From PAI
Own a classic or antique car? See collector car insurance in Maine. To compare coverage types in general, visit our auto insurance hub.
Questions
Maine Auto Insurance FAQs
What are the minimum car insurance requirements in Maine?
Maine requires $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, $25,000 in property damage liability (or a $125,000 combined single limit), at least $2,000 of medical payments coverage, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of at least $50,000/$100,000.
Do I need uninsured motorist coverage in Maine?
Yes. It’s required, and Maine law sets your UM limit equal to your liability limit unless you reject the higher amount in writing on a state-required form.
Is medical payments coverage required in Maine?
Yes. Maine requires at least $2,000 per person in medical payments coverage, which helps pay medical costs for the driver and passengers in your vehicle regardless of fault.
Does Maine car insurance cover moose and deer collisions?
Animal strikes are generally handled under comprehensive coverage, which is optional unless your lender requires it. Liability alone won’t repair your own car after hitting a moose or deer.
Can you insure my car if I live in Maine but work in New Hampshire?
Yes. We’re licensed in Maine and serve Maine drivers by phone, email and online from our Portsmouth, NH office. Your policy is written for the state where the car is registered and garaged.
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Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is a family-owned independent agency founded in 2005 and licensed in 10 states. We compare auto coverage from 40+ carriers, hold an A+ BBB rating, and have earned 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials. We don’t charge any fees.
If you’re new to Maine, adding a teen driver, or want a second opinion on your limits, we’ll compare options and explain them in plain language. Call (603) 431-4020 or request a quote online.
Get Your Auto Insurance Quote(603) 431-4020
Compare options from 40+ carriers. No obligation. We don’t charge any fees.