Maine car insurance at a glance
| Requirement | Maine rule |
|---|---|
| Minimum liability | 50/100/25 ($50,000 bodily injury per person, $100,000 per accident, $25,000 property damage) |
| Fault system | At-fault (tort) |
| Uninsured motorist coverage | Required, 50/100 minimum, including underinsured |
| Medical payments | Required, $2,000 minimum |
| SR-22 | Required to reinstate after DUI, driving uninsured, or serious violations |
What Maine requires by law
Maine requires the strongest standard coverage package in the country: liability of at least $50,000 per injured person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 for property damage, plus uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage at 50/100, plus $2,000 of medical payments coverage. Tied with Alaska for the highest bodily injury minimums in the nation.
Here is the part the low-minimum states should sit with. Maine also has the lowest uninsured driver rate in America (5.7 percent in 2023, per the Insurance Research Council) and some of the lowest premiums. Requiring real coverage did not price people out of insurance. It built a market where almost every claim has a payer, and everyone’s rates reflect that.
Driving uninsured brings fines and license and registration suspension. Since Maine requires proof of insurance to register a vehicle, lapses are hard to sustain by accident.
Is the minimum enough? Mostly yes, and we do not say that often. The $25,000 property damage limit is the one soft spot given vehicle prices. If you have substantial assets, 100/300/50 remains cheap peace of mind. But Maine drivers carrying the state minimum are genuinely covered, not nominally covered.
What drives premiums in Maine
- Almost nothing, comparatively. Low traffic density, low theft, low litigation, and nearly universal insurance participation keep Maine at or near the bottom of national premium rankings.
- Winter. Ice, snow, and long dark commutes raise crash frequency from November through April. Winter is the main seasonal pressure on Maine rates.
- Wildlife. Deer and moose collisions are a steady comprehensive claim source, and a moose strike is a severe one. Comp coverage earns its keep on Maine roads.
- Rural distances. Longer tows and fewer body shops add modest cost to rural claims, partially offsetting the low-frequency advantage.
How to pay less in Maine
- Shop a few carriers at renewal. Even in a cheap market, spreads exist, and northeastern regional insurers price Maine well. Start with our cheapest auto insurance guide.
- Keep comprehensive for the wildlife, with a higher deductible. The moose does not care about your premium savings.
- Bundle home and auto. Maine’s high homeownership makes the multi-policy discount widely available.
- Ask about low-mileage pricing if a vehicle hibernates for the winter or you drive few miles.
- Protect the clean record that Maine’s pricing rewards. One avoidable ticket outweighs every discount on the policy. More in how to lower your premium.
For coverage basics and the other 49 state guides, visit the auto insurance hub, then pull quotes for your ZIP code.