# Maine car insurance: higher required limits, MedPay, UM and costs

> Maine requires higher liability limits plus MedPay and uninsured motorist coverage. See the required limits, penalties and how average costs compare.

Canonical page: https://statecover-guide.com/location/maine/  
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026 by the StateCover Guide editorial team  
General information, not legal or insurance advice.

## Quick answer

A Maine car insurance policy must include liability of at least $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident and $25,000 for property damage, plus $2,000 of medical payments coverage and uninsured motorist coverage. Even with those higher requirements, Maine drivers spend less than the national average: $856.28 a year per insured vehicle in 2023, against $1,281 nationally.

## Key facts

| Fact | Maine |
|---|---|
| Car insurance required | Yes |
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident |
| Combined single limit option | $125,000 |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | Required: $2,000 per person |
| Uninsured motorist (UM) | Required: $50,000/$100,000 |
| Underinsured motorist (UIM) | Included in required UM coverage |
| Fault system | At-fault |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Not required |
| Average expenditure (2023) | $856.28 a year (US: $1,281) |
| Uninsured drivers (2023) | 5.7% (US: 15.4%) |
| Insurance regulator | Maine Bureau of Insurance, 1-800-300-5000; (207) 624-8475 |
| Motor vehicle agency | Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (Secretary of State) |

## What a Maine policy must include

Maine requires three coverages, not just liability. The [state minimums tool](https://statecover-guide.com/tools/state-minimums/) shows how its limits compare with other states.

| Required coverage | Maine minimum | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident | Injuries you cause to other people |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 per accident | Damage you cause to other people's property |
| Medical payments | $2,000 per person | Medical bills for you and your passengers, whoever caused the crash |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist | $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident | Your injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance or too little |

Instead of split liability limits, you can carry a [combined single limit](https://statecover-guide.com/glossary/combined-single-limit/) of $125,000 for injuries and property damage together.

There is one more rule. If you buy liability limits above the minimum, your uninsured motorist limits must match them unless you reject the higher UM limit in writing. For example, if you raise liability to $100,000 per person, your UM coverage rises to $100,000 per person too, unless you sign to keep it at the minimum.

## Medical payments coverage: Maine's built-in first aid

[Medical payments coverage](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/medical-payments/) pays medical bills after a crash, for you and your passengers, regardless of fault. Maine makes every policy carry at least $2,000 per person. That is a small amount next to a hospital stay, but it can help with costs such as a health plan deductible.

Maine is still an at-fault state, not a no-fault one. It does not require [personal injury protection](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/personal-injury-protection/), and drivers keep the right to sue the person who caused a crash. MedPay simply gives everyone in the car a little immediate help.

## Maine's uninsured rate is far below the national average

The Insurance Research Council estimates that only 5.7% of Maine drivers were uninsured in 2023, compared with 15.4% nationally. UM coverage is still required. In Maine, it also pays when the other driver's limits are lower than your UM limit, which makes it underinsured coverage as well. The [location index](https://statecover-guide.com/location/) shows how every state compares.

## Driving uninsured in Maine: forfeiture and suspension

Failing to keep the required coverage is a traffic infraction in Maine, with a forfeiture of $100 to $500. The bigger consequence comes after: 30 days after the court reports the violation, the Secretary of State suspends your license, your vehicle registration or your right to apply for either. The suspension lasts until you file proof of financial responsibility, so you may need an insurer filing such as an [SR-22](https://statecover-guide.com/drivers/sr-22/).

You can show proof of insurance on paper or on a phone. Showing it on a phone does not give the officer permission to look at anything else on the device. If you were insured but could not show proof at the stop, the charge can be dismissed once you produce proof that the policy was in effect.

## Maine's below-average premiums

| Measure (2023) | Maine | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Average expenditure per insured vehicle | $856.28 | $1,281 |
| Roughly per month | $71 | $107 |
| Combined average premium (liability, collision, comprehensive) | $926.02 | $1,438 |

Both Maine figures are below the national averages. Your own quote still depends on where you live and drive, your record and your car. See [premium factors](https://statecover-guide.com/tools/premium-factors/) and [discounts](https://statecover-guide.com/saving/discounts/).

## Rural roads, winter and wildlife

Maine's crash data look different from the national picture. IIHS counted 177 traffic deaths in 2024, and 80% of them were on rural roads, against 41% nationally. The rate per person, 12.6 per 100,000 people, was above the US 11.5 per 100,000 people, while the rate per mile driven, 1.17 per 100 million miles, was slightly below the US 1.19 per 100 million miles.

Long rural drives bring risks that liability does not cover, from icy roads to animals on the highway. Collisions with animals usually fall under [comprehensive coverage](https://statecover-guide.com/coverage/comprehensive/). Read [hitting a deer](https://statecover-guide.com/blog/hitting-a-deer/) and [winter driving and car insurance](https://statecover-guide.com/blog/winter-driving-and-car-insurance/).

Moving from next door? [New Hampshire](https://statecover-guide.com/location/new-hampshire/) works very differently: it does not require drivers to buy insurance at all, but it holds them financially responsible after an at-fault crash. A Maine registration needs a Maine-compliant policy; see our [new residents guide](https://statecover-guide.com/drivers/new-residents/).

## FAQ

### What is the minimum car insurance in Maine?

$50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, $25,000 in property damage liability, $2,000 in medical payments coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage of $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident.

### Is MedPay required in Maine?

Yes. Every Maine policy must include at least $2,000 per person in medical payments coverage.

### Do I have to carry uninsured motorist coverage in Maine?

Yes. It is required at the minimum limits, and it must match your liability limits if you buy more, unless you reject the higher amount in writing.

### What happens if you drive without insurance in Maine?

You face a forfeiture of $100 to $500, and your license or registration is suspended until you file proof of financial responsibility.

### Is Maine a no-fault state?

No. Maine is an at-fault state. MedPay pays some medical bills regardless of fault, but you can still sue the driver who caused a crash.

## Sources

- [Maine Bureau of Insurance, Insurance Required by Law](https://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/consumers/auto-insurance/insurance-required-by-law) — required liability, MedPay and UM coverage
- [Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A, Section 1601](https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec1601.html) — proof of insurance, penalties and suspension
- [Alabama Department of Insurance, State Auto Insurance Laws](https://www.aldoi.gov/Consumers/StateAutoLaws.aspx), as of October 28, 2026
- [Insurance Information Institute, Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists](https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motorists), as of October 28, 2026
- [Maine Bureau of Insurance, Home page](https://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/), as of October 28, 2026
- [Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Home page](https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/), as of October 28, 2026
- [IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state](https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/state-by-state), as of June 1, 2026
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/sites/default/files/publication-aut-pb-auto-insurance-database.pdf), as of February 13, 2026
- [NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report](https://content.naic.org/article/naic-releases-20222023-auto-insurance-database-report), as of February 13, 2026
- [Insurance Research Council, Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists: 2017–2023 (press release)](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250220231032/en), as of February 20, 2025