Collector and Antique Car Insurance in Maine

By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO

Maine changed the rules for antique plates. For new registrations, an antique auto now generally has to be more than 35 years old, up from 25. That change matters for owners of 1990s and early-2000s cars that have just become collectible. Maine also has some of the most specific hobbyist plates in New England, with separate plates for street rods, custom vehicles and horseless carriages. This page covers what is specific to insuring a collector car in Maine. For how collector car insurance works in general, start with our classic and collector car insurance guide.

We shop collector car coverage with carriers including Hagerty, J.C. Taylor, Liberty Mutual, Cincinnati and American Modern. We’re a family-owned independent agency founded in 2005, and we serve Maine collectors from our Portsmouth, NH office. We’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle before you rely on a policy.

Maine’s new 35-year antique auto rule

Under Maine law, an antique auto is an automobile or truck from model year 1916 or later that is:

• More than 35 years old, or more than 25 years old if it was registered in Maine as an antique before January 2025
• Equipped with an engine made at the same time as the vehicle or to the original engine’s specifications
• Substantially maintained in original or restored condition, mainly for exhibitions, club activities, parades and other functions of public interest
• Not used as the owner’s primary transportation
• Not a reconstructed or altered vehicle

If your car is between 25 and 35 years old and wasn’t registered as an antique before 2025, it won’t qualify for antique plates under the new rule. That doesn’t settle the insurance question. Collector insurers set their own rules based on the car’s condition, value, use and storage. Our guide to antique vs. classic car insurance compares Maine’s rule with New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Hobbyist plates: street rods, custom vehicles and horseless carriages

Maine issues hobbyist plates marked Antique Auto, Custom Vehicle, Horseless Carriage or Street Rod, and owners of qualifying vehicles can use contemporary plates from the car’s year of manufacture, mounted front and rear. Because Maine antique autos can’t be altered, many modified cars register as street rods or custom vehicles instead. Insurers usually treat modified cars differently too; see modified car insurance for hot rods, street rods and kit cars.

Registering an antique auto: insurance comes first

To register an antique auto in Maine, you pay excise tax at your town office and provide evidence of insurance, such as an ID card, policy or binder, along with an antique auto affidavit. Maine requires insurance on registered vehicles, so set up your collector policy before you head to the town office or BMV. We can have proof of insurance ready once the policy is in place.

Camps, coastal homes and storage

Some Maine collectors keep a car at a summer camp or coastal home, then move it to a heated garage for the winter. Collector policies usually require a locked, fully enclosed building when the car isn’t in use, and the insurer needs to know where it’s kept. Tell us about every location. Salt air on the coast is hard on older cars, and camp roads in mud season are hard on everything, so plan your driving season around both. Our guide to collector car winter storage covers the off-season.

Driving season in Maine

Collector policies are written for hobby use: shows, club events, parades, tours and occasional pleasure drives. A summer drive up Route 1, a club tour through the western mountains or a show on the coast usually fits. Commuting, errands and business use usually don’t. If you trailer your car to events, see car shows and trailering.

Southern Maine collectors and our Portsmouth office

We don’t have a Maine office. Our Portsmouth, NH office at 601 Islington St, Unit 206 is a short drive from Kittery and York, and we work with Maine collectors across the state. We coordinate collector policies with your daily-driver auto insurance, home insurance and umbrella.

• We don’t charge any fees.
• We are New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials.
• We’re licensed in 10 states, including Maine, with access to 40+ carriers.

Frequently asked questions

How old does a car have to be for Maine antique plates now?

Maine now generally requires an antique auto to be more than 35 years old. Cars more than 25 but no more than 35 years old qualify only if they were registered in Maine as antiques before January 2025. The car also needs an original or original-spec engine, must be kept in original or restored condition, and can’t be the owner’s primary transportation.

My car is 30 years old and wasn’t registered as an antique before 2025. Can I still get collector insurance?

Possibly. Antique registration and collector insurance are separate decisions. An insurer looks at the car’s condition and value, how you use it, where you store it and who drives it. We’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle, whatever plates it wears.

What plates can a street rod or custom car get in Maine?

Maine issues hobbyist plates marked Antique Auto, Custom Vehicle, Horseless Carriage or Street Rod, depending on the vehicle. Street rods and custom vehicles have their own definitions in Maine law. Modified cars are often insured differently from original ones, so tell us about every change.

Do I need insurance to register an antique auto in Maine?

Yes. Maine requires evidence of insurance to register an antique auto, along with the excise tax paid at your town office. A collector policy can provide the required coverage and insure the car at an agreed value.

Do you have an office in Maine?

No. We serve Maine clients from our office at 601 Islington St, Unit 206, Portsmouth, NH 03801, a short drive from Kittery and York. We work with collectors across southern and coastal Maine and beyond.

Can I keep my collector car at my camp or summer place?

Often, if the building is fully enclosed and locks. Collector policies usually require a locked, enclosed building when the car isn’t in use, and the insurer needs to know where the car is kept. Tell us if the car splits time between two places.

What our clients say

From our client surveys. Comments are lightly edited for typos only.

“

Jon is super helpful and amazingly communicative. He responds fast with well thought out answers making the process of getting insurance for my home and car super simple.

“

Very informative, responsive, and helpful with answering any questions we had. Helped us get the best deal and coverage, explained the differences between coverage options, and let us choose what worked best for us. Highly recommend!

“

Excellent guidance on insurance options and fantastic quoting and onboarding experience. We trust their recommendations and feel that we have best coverage for peace of mind at best possible cost.

Read more client testimonials

Sources

• Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A, Sec. 101, definitions (antique auto)
• Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A, Sec. 457, hobbyist registration plates
• Maine BMV, Register an antique auto or motorcycle