Maine Auto Insurance Requirements: 50/100/25 Plus Mandatory UM Coverage (2026)

Maine Has Some of the Most Complete Auto Insurance Minimums in the US

Maine requires 50/100/25 minimum liability — tied with Alaska for the highest bodily injury minimums in the country. What distinguishes Maine is that the state goes further than most: mandatory uninsured motorist coverage at $50,000/$100,000 (cannot be waived) and mandatory medical payments coverage of $2,000 (one of only a handful of states requiring MedPay).

That combination — high BI minimums, mandatory UM, and mandatory MedPay — gives Maine one of the most comprehensive baseline protection frameworks among all 50 states. Maine's estimated uninsured driver rate of 4–6% is among the lowest in the country, likely reflecting both the strength of the law and active insurance verification by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Quick Answer: Maine Minimum Coverage Requirements

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Maine's Minimum Coverage in Detail

$50,000 bodily injury per person is the maximum your liability policy pays toward any single injured person's medical expenses, lost wages, and damages in a given accident. Maine's rural geography means many accidents occur on roads where emergency response and transport to a hospital add significant cost before any treatment begins.

$100,000 bodily injury per accident caps total liability payments for all injured parties combined in one collision. A multi-occupant vehicle crash divides the $100,000 limit across all claimants.

$25,000 property damage covers damage to other vehicles, structures, road barriers, and property. Like Alaska's matching $25,000 floor, this minimum may be insufficient for total-loss accidents involving newer trucks or SUVs valued above $45,000–$60,000. Many Maine drivers carry $50,000–$100,000 in property damage coverage.

Why Maine Requires High Minimums

Maine's elevated minimum reflects several factors:

Rural isolation and slow emergency response. A significant portion of Maine's geographic area is rural or remote. Emergency medical response times in northern and western Maine can exceed 30 minutes. Serious accident injuries during that window increase in severity — and the subsequent medical transport, emergency treatment, and rehabilitation costs are proportionally higher.

Moose collision hazard. Maine has one of the highest vehicle-moose collision rates in the continental United States. Moose collisions at highway speed are frequently fatal or catastrophically injurious — a fully grown moose can weigh 900–1,500 lbs, and at vehicle height, the animal's mass strikes the windshield and passenger compartment rather than the bumper. Maine's $50,000 per person minimum reflects realistic injury costs in a state where this specific hazard is endemic.

Severe winter driving. Ice, snow, and low-visibility conditions on rural Maine roads increase accident frequency and severity from November through April. The six-month high-risk window annually creates a sustained exposure profile distinct from moderate-climate states.

No PIP system. Maine is an at-fault state. Without a mandatory PIP layer to pay the injured driver's own medical bills, all accident medical costs flow through the at-fault driver's liability policy. The 50/100 floor must bear that entire load.

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Mandatory Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Maine is one of a minority of states that mandates uninsured motorist (UM) coverage — and at a high minimum. Maine drivers cannot waive UM coverage entirely.

Under Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A §2902, every auto policy issued in Maine must include uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage at $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident — matching the liability minimums. Drivers who purchase higher liability limits receive correspondingly higher UM coverage unless they request reduced UM limits in writing.

Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage — which pays when an at-fault driver's liability limits are insufficient — is available but not required. Most Maine carriers bundle UM and UIM together; verify your policy includes both.

Why mandatory UM matters. Maine's uninsured driver rate (~4–6%) is low by national standards, but the mandatory UM requirement ensures that the 4–6% of uninsured drivers who exist do not leave accident victims without recourse. In a serious injury accident caused by an uninsured driver, mandatory UM means the injured party's own insurer pays — no collection effort, no civil judgment, no financial gap.

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Mandatory Medical Payments (MedPay) Coverage

Maine stands out nationally by requiring MedPay — a $2,000 minimum medical payments benefit that pays for medical expenses for drivers and passengers injured in accidents regardless of fault.

MedPay activates immediately after an accident. It does not require establishing fault. It pays for emergency treatment, ambulance transport, hospitalization, and follow-up care up to the policy limit, regardless of whether the policyholder caused the accident or was an innocent victim.

The $2,000 minimum is a floor — drivers may purchase higher MedPay limits ($5,000, $10,000, or more). MedPay complements the at-fault liability system: it covers the injured driver's initial costs immediately, while the fault-based claim resolves over a longer timeframe.

Only a small number of states — including Maine and a few others — require MedPay as a minimum policy component. Most states leave MedPay as an optional add-on.

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Who Must Carry Auto Insurance in Maine

All owners of registered motor vehicles in Maine must maintain minimum liability coverage. This includes:

• Passenger cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks
• Motorcycles (same 50/100/25 minimums, plus mandatory UM and MedPay)
• Commercial vehicles operated in Maine (FMCSA minimums may additionally apply for interstate for-hire carriers)

Maine uses the Insurance Verification System (IVS), which receives coverage data from licensed insurers and cross-references it against registration records. The system identifies lapses without requiring a traffic stop.

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Exemptions and Alternatives

Maine permits self-insurance for persons or entities with 25 or more vehicles under Title 29-A §1601. The self-insurer must file evidence of financial responsibility with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and receive approval. No individual private driver exemption from mandatory minimum coverage exists.

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Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Maine

Maine's IVS monitors coverage in real time. When the system identifies a registration without corresponding insurance:

Civil and administrative penalties:

• Fine up to $500 for operating without required insurance (Title 29-A §1604)
• License suspended until proof of current insurance is provided and a $35–$50 reinstatement fee is paid
• Registration suspended concurrently
• SR-22 required on reinstatement after certain violations (typically DUI-related or after an uninsured at-fault accident)

A driver involved in an at-fault accident without insurance faces additional consequences:

• License suspended for up to 90 days
• SR-22 filing required on reinstatement, typically for 3 years
• Personal liability for all damages caused — including medical costs that can exceed $100,000 for serious injuries

The combined exposure from fines, reinstatement fees, and personal accident liability substantially exceeds the cost of maintaining a policy meeting Maine's minimums.

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SR-22 Requirements in Maine

An SR-22 certificate is filed by an insurer with the Maine BMV demonstrating that the driver maintains required insurance. Maine requires SR-22 after:

• DUI or OUI conviction (Operating Under the Influence — Maine's terminology)
• Reckless driving conviction
• At-fault accident while uninsured
• Failure to satisfy a civil judgment from an accident
• Certain serious moving violations specified by the BMV

Filing period: Typically 3 years from the triggering event. The SR-22 must remain in force continuously — any lapse triggers immediate BMV notification and license re-suspension.

OUI in Maine. An OUI conviction in Maine carries serious license consequences beyond SR-22. First-offense OUI results in a 150-day license suspension; second offense, 3-year suspension; third, 6-year suspension. The SR-22 filing requirement runs concurrent with the reinstatement process.

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How Maine Compares to Neighboring States

Maine and Alaska hold the highest BI minimums in the US. Maine adds mandatory UM and mandatory MedPay that Alaska does not require:

Among New England states, Maine's 50/100 BI minimum is the highest. Vermont mandates UM/UIM at 50/100 (above its liability minimum of 25/50), making Vermont notable in a different way. Massachusetts operates a no-fault PIP system with lower liability floors. New Hampshire has no mandate at all.

A driver relocating from Massachusetts to Maine must increase bodily injury coverage from 20/40 to 50/100 — a 2.5× increase — and also add mandatory UM and MedPay components that Massachusetts does not require.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Maine have such high auto insurance minimums?

Maine's rural geography creates long emergency response times and high medical transport costs. Moose collisions are a genuine hazard — an adult moose can weigh 1,500 lbs and strikes at windshield height, producing catastrophic injuries. Maine also has no PIP system, so the liability policy bears the full medical cost burden without a no-fault layer sharing the load. The 50/100 floor reflects realistic serious-accident costs in this specific environment.

Does Maine require uninsured motorist coverage?

Yes. Maine mandates UM coverage at $50,000/$100,000 — matching the liability minimum — under Title 24-A §2902. It cannot be waived. Underinsured motorist coverage is available but not required.

What is Maine's MedPay requirement?

Maine requires a minimum of $2,000 in medical payments (MedPay) coverage on every auto policy. MedPay pays medical expenses for injured drivers and passengers regardless of fault, activating immediately after an accident without waiting for fault to be established. Maine is one of the few states with a mandatory MedPay minimum.

Does Maine have no-fault auto insurance?

No. Maine is an at-fault (tort) state — injured parties establish fault and pursue the at-fault driver's liability policy. The mandatory MedPay provides some immediate first-party medical coverage, but Maine has no comprehensive PIP/no-fault system.

What happens if I drive without insurance in Maine?

Maine's Insurance Verification System detects coverage lapses through continuous electronic insurer reporting. Driving uninsured can result in a fine up to $500, license and registration suspension, and a $35–$50 reinstatement fee. An at-fault accident while uninsured adds a 90-day license suspension and a 3-year SR-22 requirement on reinstatement.

Do motorcycles need the same coverage as cars in Maine?

Yes. Maine motorcycles are subject to the same 50/100/25 liability minimums, mandatory UM at 50/100, and mandatory MedPay of $2,000. A separate motorcycle policy is required rather than endorsing the motorcycle onto an auto policy.

How long must an SR-22 be maintained in Maine?

Maine's standard SR-22 filing period is 3 years from the triggering event (OUI conviction, at-fault uninsured accident, reckless driving, or judgment failure). The filing must remain continuous — any lapse resets the clock and triggers re-suspension.

What is Maine's uninsured driver rate?

Maine's estimated uninsured driver rate is approximately 4–6%, among the lowest in the country. The mandatory UM requirement, active IVS monitoring, and strong compliance culture in a relatively small state all contribute to this low rate.

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Key Takeaways

• Maine requires 50/100/25 liability — tied with Alaska for the highest bodily injury minimums in the US
• Uninsured motorist coverage at 50/100 is mandatory and cannot be waived — one of the strongest UM requirements in the country
• Maine uniquely requires $2,000 MedPay on every auto policy — one of only a few states with a mandatory MedPay minimum
• Maine is an at-fault state — no PIP or no-fault system exists; liability and MedPay carry the full cost burden
• Moose collision risk is a genuine, state-specific hazard that contributes to Maine's elevated minimum requirements
• Driving without insurance can result in fines up to $500, suspension, and a 3-year SR-22 requirement after an at-fault uninsured accident
• Maine has one of the lowest uninsured driver rates in the US (~4–6%) reflecting active IVS monitoring and mandatory UM enforcement
• OUI (drunk driving) in Maine carries serious suspension penalties beyond SR-22: 150 days for a first offense, up to 6 years for a third offense

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Sources

• Maine Revised Statutes Title 29-A §1601 — Motor Vehicle Financial Responsibility
• Maine Revised Statutes Title 24-A §2902 — Uninsured Motorist Coverage Requirement
• Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles — Insurance Verification System (IVS)
• Maine Bureau of Insurance — Required Minimum Auto Coverage

Last verified: 2026-05

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Important Disclaimer

This guide provides general information about insurance requirements based on publicly available sources as of the "Last verified" date above. It is not legal, insurance, or financial advice. Requirements, penalties, and statutes can change; individual circumstances vary. Always confirm current rules with your state's Department of Insurance or DMV, and consult a licensed insurance professional for advice specific to your situation.