Short answer: Maine requires liability of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $25,000 for property damage—or a $125,000 combined single limit. You must also carry at least $2,000 of medical payments coverage and $50,000/$100,000 of uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Proof is required to register and at many traffic stops.
The required package
The Maine Bureau of Insurance "Insurance Required by Law" page lists three mandatory pieces:
| Coverage | Maine minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 / $100,000 (or $125,000 CSL with PD) |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 |
| Medical payments | $2,000 per person |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | $50,000 / $100,000 |
Those liability and medical-payment figures also appear in 29-A M.R.S. §1605, which defines acceptable proof of financial responsibility. Section 1605 also lists a $500 towing-and-storage component for proof policies.
Registration and roadside proof
Under 29-A M.R.S. §402, you may not register a vehicle unless you show that it is covered by a liability policy. Electronic images on a portable device are acceptable at registration.
29-A M.R.S. §1601 requires owners and operators of vehicles registered (or required to be registered) in Maine to maintain those amounts. When an officer stops you for a moving violation or you are in a reportable accident, the officer must ask for evidence of liability insurance or financial responsibility. Failing to produce it is prima facie evidence that you are uninsured. Producing a card for a policy that is not in effect is also a violation.
Penalties
Violation of §1601 is a traffic infraction with a forfeiture of not less than $100 and not more than $500. Thirty days after adjudication, the Secretary of State suspends the person's license, the registration of a vehicle the person owns, or the right to apply for a license or registration, until proof of financial responsibility is filed under §1605. The charge can be dismissed if you show the coverage was actually in force at the time of the stop.
UM must track your liability limits
Maine law requires your UM limit to equal your liability limit when liability is higher than the minimum, unless you reject the higher UM limit in writing. That written-rejection rule is easy to miss when you raise liability limits at renewal.
Where the minimum falls short
The Bureau warns that many vehicles cost more than $25,000 to replace and that a serious injury can exhaust 50/100 quickly. Medical payments at $2,000 covers little more than a single urgent-care visit. Higher MedPay limits of $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000 are commonly available.
Towing and storage on proof policies
Section 1605's proof-of-financial-responsibility policy must also address towing and storage charges of $500. That line item is easy to overlook when you compare a standard personal-auto quote to a filing policy after a violation. If the Secretary of State has suspended your license or registration under §1601, the reinstatement path runs through §1605 proof, not through a verbal promise to buy coverage later.
Shopping above the floor
The Bureau of Insurance emphasizes that minimum limits are a starting point. A crash that injures several passengers, or that totals a newer vehicle worth more than $25,000, can leave you personally exposed above the policy limits. Ask for quotes at higher liability and MedPay limits before you assume the statutory package is enough for your assets.
Excluded drivers on the ID card
Beginning January 1, 2022, if a person is explicitly excluded by endorsement from a policy that serves as proof of financial responsibility, §1601 requires the evidence of insurance to list that excluded person. The rule does not apply to commercial policy forms approved for use in Maine. Households that exclude a teen or high-risk driver should make sure the card or electronic image actually names the exclusion so a roadside check matches the policy.
Keeping registration and roadside proof aligned
Because registration requires proof up front and §1601 requires you to maintain coverage afterward, a mid-term cancellation can create both a registration problem and a roadside violation. If you switch carriers, make sure the new ID card is in the vehicle before the old policy expires.
Bottom line
Maine pairs high liability minimums with mandatory MedPay and UM. Keep proof available for registration and roadside stops. Compare states in our car insurance minimums by state table.
Questions? Contact Alishahi Insurance or call (877) 711-4545. See insurance in Maine and auto insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum car insurance in Maine?
Liability of $50,000/$100,000 bodily injury and $25,000 property damage (or $125,000 CSL), plus $2,000 MedPay and $50,000/$100,000 UM/UIM.
Is medical payments coverage required in Maine?
Yes. The law requires at least $2,000 per person of medical payments coverage.
Must Maine UM limits match my liability limits?
Yes, when liability exceeds the minimum, unless you reject the higher UM limit in writing.
What is the fine for driving uninsured in Maine?
A traffic-infraction forfeiture of $100 to $500, plus suspension of license or registration until proof of financial responsibility is filed.
Can I show electronic proof of insurance in Maine?
Yes. Electronic images on a portable device are accepted at registration and for roadside proof under §§402 and 1601.
Alishahi Insurance · 439 N Canon Dr, Penthouse, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 · (877) 711-4545 · CA License #4348151. General information only. This isn't legal, tax or financial advice or a coverage determination. Coverage depends on policy language and underwriting, and rules vary by state.