Maine Car Insurance Basics

By Javier Marín, Editor·Last reviewed September 2026·How we check this

Maine follows the standard fault-based auto-insurance model used in most northeastern states, but with one of the most demanding minimum-coverage requirements in the country. Drivers must carry liability insurance plus mandatory medical-payments and uninsured-motorist coverage, and proof of coverage has to be provided when registering a vehicle, when renewing tags, and during any traffic stop. Maine's 50/100/25 liability floor is among the highest in the United States.

Minimum coverage requirements

Maine's mandatory auto coverage is layered:

$50,000 bodily injury per person.
$100,000 bodily injury per accident.
$25,000 property damage per accident.
$2,000 medical payments (MedPay) coverage per person.
$50,000 / $100,000 uninsured motorist (UM) bodily injury coverage matching liability limits.

Most states require only the basic liability tier; Maine effectively bundles three coverages into the legal floor, which makes Maine's minimum policy more comprehensive than nearly any other state's. Drivers can — and many should — carry higher liability limits because medical and vehicle-repair costs often exceed even the 50/100/25 statutory minimum.

Optional coverages

Coverages Maine doesn't require but most drivers should consider:

Underinsured motorist (UIM) — protects against drivers whose policies are too small to cover the loss; carriers usually offer it bundled with UM.
Collision — covers damage to your own vehicle in a crash; required by lenders and almost universally recommended.
Comprehensive — covers theft, fire, hail, glass, and animal strikes; also typically required by lenders.
Rental reimbursement and roadside — small premium, often worthwhile.

Maine's weather makes comprehensive coverage especially valuable: deer and moose strikes, ice and snow loss, falling branches, and winter rollovers are common claim types.

Proof of insurance

Drivers must show proof of insurance:

At every traffic stop in Maine.
At the time of vehicle registration and renewal.
At the scene of an accident.
On request from BMV during random electronic verification.

Maine accepts a printed insurance card, the digital ID card from the carrier's app, or a declarations page. The card must show the policy is active on the date of the request.

Penalties for driving uninsured

Maine treats no-insurance as a serious violation. Penalties typically include:

Fines that can reach several hundred dollars for a first offense, scaling with subsequent offenses.
A BMV administrative license suspension until insurance is obtained.
SR-22 financial-responsibility filing for a minimum of 3 years to reinstate.
A reinstatement fee paid to BMV.

The cumulative cost of a no-insurance citation often runs several times the cost of a year of basic liability coverage.

SR-22 filings

An SR-22 is a financial-responsibility certificate filed by your insurance company with Maine BMV that verifies coverage at or above the Maine minimum. SR-22s are required after:

An OUI conviction or administrative suspension.
A no-insurance conviction.
Certain serious moving-violation convictions.
A point-based suspension.

The SR-22 must remain in force for at least 3 years with no lapses. If your carrier cancels the SR-22 for any reason, BMV automatically re-suspends the license while a new filing is sourced. Several carriers specialize in SR-22 policies, and rates are typically higher than standard policies for the duration of the filing period.

Insurance verification

Maine operates an electronic insurance verification program that allows BMV and law enforcement to confirm coverage in real time. Carriers transmit policy data to a state database, which is queried during traffic stops, accident reports, and registration renewals. If the database doesn't show active coverage, BMV typically mails a verification request to the registered owner; failure to respond can trigger an administrative suspension of registration.

Shopping for Maine coverage

Maine rates depend on where you live, your driving record, the vehicle you drive, and your insurance history. Portland, Lewiston-Auburn, and Bangor typically carry slightly higher premiums than rural Aroostook and Washington counties. A clean 3-year driving record is one of the strongest discounts available, often bigger than the multi-policy and good-student discounts combined. Compare at least three carriers at every renewal and reshop after any major life event.