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Last updated: November 16, 2024
Driving Without Insurance in Maine
Maine has higher minimum coverage but lighter penalties for forgoing insurance than most states.
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Maine requires all drivers to have car insurance, with greater liability requirements compared to other states. The state has one of the lowest uninsured motorist rates in the country,1 which helps keep premiums low. Between 2019 to 2022, however, the state’s vehicle crash rate increased by 19 percent, highlighting the importance of maintaining coverage.2 Not only can driving without insurance lead to fines and hefty out-of-pocket costs, you could also face a suspension of your license and vehicle registration.
Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Maine
Driving without car insurance in Maine is considered a traffic infraction. If you’re caught driving without coverage, you could face the following penalties:
- Fines: Between $100 to $500
- License suspension: Until you provide proof of insurance3
- Vehicle registration suspension: Your registration will be suspended until proof of insurance is provided.
Even if you had a registered license and registration prior to the infraction, you’ll need to go through the registration process again. In addition to these consequences, you’ll also be responsible for the following fees to reinstate your driving privileges:
- $50 reinstatement fee4
- $20 to $30 license fee
- $35 registration fee
Although jail time is not a penalty for driving uninsured in Maine, you will be considered a high-risk driver after the infraction. As a result, your car insurance premiums will increase significantly in the future.
If your vehicle is properly insured but you didn’t have proof of insurance at the scene, you can appeal your fine.
What Proof of Insurance Is Required?
Some situations, such as getting into a car accident or being pulled over for a traffic violation, require you to show proof of insurance. In that case, you can use an insurance ID card, a copy of your car insurance policy, or an official letter from your provider verifying your coverage.5 Keep proof of insurance in your car at all times, since it has important details including your policy number and vehicle information.
Paper or Electronic?
Maine allows drivers to present either a paper or electronic copy of their insurance card as proof. Many insurance providers have mobile apps that let you download your electronic ID card. If your provider doesn’t have an app, you can log into your account online and download an electronic insurance card. But it’s best to have a physical copy of your ID card in your car, in case your phone runs out of battery or is damaged in an accident.
What Proof of Insurance Is Required?
Some situations, such as getting into a car accident or being pulled over for a traffic violation, require you to show proof of insurance. In that case, you can use an insurance ID card, a copy of your car insurance policy, or an official letter from your provider verifying your coverage.5 Keep proof of insurance in your car at all times, since it has important details including your policy number and vehicle information.
Paper or Electronic?
Maine allows drivers to present either a paper or electronic copy of their insurance card as proof. Many insurance providers have mobile apps that let you download your electronic ID card. If your provider doesn’t have an app, you can log into your account online and download an electronic insurance card. But it’s best to have a physical copy of your ID card in your car, in case your phone runs out of battery or is damaged in an accident.
SR-22s
If you’re caught driving without insurance in Maine, you may be required to file an SR-22, which is a certificate of financial responsibility. This is necessary for certain violations, including driving without insurance or being involved in an accident while uninsured. In Maine, you must maintain your SR-22 for at least three years after your violation.6
DID YOU KNOW
Once your SR-22 requirement ends, you can request that the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles remove it from your record. This can help lower your premiums, provided your driving record remains clean.
How to Get Insurance After a Lapse in Coverage
If you experience a lapse in coverage and are now considered a high-risk driver, you can still find car insurance. If the lapse was short, you might be able to get your provider to reinstate your previous policy.
You also can shop for coverage with the best high-risk insurance providers in Maine. Though your premiums will be higher, many insurers offer discounts that don’t require a good driving record. Providers such as State Farm and Auto-Owners are known for offering competitive rates for high-risk drivers.
Getting continuous coverage will help improve your driving record over time, potentially lowering your insurance premiums in the future.
Maine Automobile Insurance Plan (MAIP)
If you’re having trouble finding coverage through standard insurers, consider applying for the Maine Automobile Insurance Plan. This state-mandated program offers car insurance to high-risk drivers who have trouble obtaining coverage.
You’re eligible for MAIP if you can provide evidence that you’ve been unable to get car insurance in Maine for the past 60 days. To start the application process, contact meaip@aipso.com to get in touch with someone who can help you submit your application.7
Appealing Your Fine
If you can provide proof that you had insurance on the date of the citation, you can appeal your fine for driving without insurance. Maine allows drivers to contest tickets within 30 days of receiving the citation. The policy must be effective during the time you were pulled over — you cannot buy a policy afterward and apply it retroactively.
All traffic trials in Maine are held remotely, so you can submit your proof online or mail it to the Maine Judicial Branch Violations Bureau. You’ll need to upload your documents or send them via the Maine eCourts online portal.8
Other Car Insurance Laws in Maine
Here are some other important things to know about car insurance in Maine.
Minimum Coverage Requirements
- Bodily Injury Liability: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property Damage Liability: $25,000 per accident
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Medical Payments: $2,000 per person
GOOD TO KNOW
Maine allows drivers to stack uninsured/underinsured Motorist (UI/UIM) coverage. Stacking allows you to combine the coverage limits of multiple vehicles in your household for a single claim. For example, if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver and the damages exceed your $50,000 limit, you can “stack” your coverage by drawing on the uninsured motorist coverage of another vehicle in your household. This increases the total amount available to cover damages. Additionally, UI/UIM pays for damages if someone hits your car and leaves the scene. Learn more about what to do after a hit-and-run in Maine.
Vehicle Registration
If you’re a new resident of Maine, you are required to register your vehicle within 30 days of establishing residency. This requires visiting the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in person. If you’re renewing your registration, you can do so online via Maine’s Rapid Renewal Service.
For both new registrations and renewals, you’ll need to provide the following documents:
- Proof of insurance
- Vehicle title
- Bill of sale (if the car is newly purchased)
- Registration application
- Excise tax receipt
There’s a $35 registration fee for passenger cars and a $33 title application fee for new residents.9
The Bottom Line
Maine has higher liability coverage requirements than many states, but it doesn’t impose jail time for driving without insurance. Instead, expect to pay fines for the infraction and reinstatement fees, along with an SR-22 filing. With the state’s crash rates on the rise, it’s important to maintain insurance to avoid severe penalties, major premium hikes, or having a coverage lapse on your driving record.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does car insurance follow the car or the driver in Maine?
In Maine, car insurance follows the vehicle, so your car is still covered by your policy if someone else drives your car and gets into an accident. Additionally, the other driver’s insurance can provide extra coverage if the damages exceed your policy’s limits.<10>
Is Maine a no-fault state?
Maine is an at-fault state. Under Maine’s modified comparative negligence law, the party that is more than 50 percent at fault for an accident is responsible for paying the damages. This means you can sue another driver only if they are more than 50 percent at fault for the accident.
Can I have out-of-state car insurance in Maine?
You cannot have out-of-state car insurance in Maine because each state’s minimum liability requirements are different. Maine has higher coverage limits than many other states, so you’ll need to ensure your insurance meets Maine’s minimum standards. In general, you need to insure your car where you live.
Maine’s minimum liability limits are $50,000 for per person and $100,000 per accident for bodily injury and $25,000 for property damage per accident. Maine also requires $50,000 per person and $100,000 per accident for uninsured/underinsured motorists and $2,000 per person for medical payments.
Is there a grace period for auto insurance in Maine?
There is a grace period for auto insurance in Maine. If you’ve purchased a new car, you have between seven to 30 days to insure it. Keep in mind that Maine requires proof of insurance to register your car, so it’s best to secure coverage as soon as possible.
Senior Staff Writer
Jacqueline Quach holds years of experience in content writing, blogging, and copywriting, and has a professional background in user experience design, helping clients and businesses develop their content strategy. Jacqueline writes for multiple brands and websites, empowering customers in their purchase process through content. She also contributes to Savings.com and has written for Angi and SeniorLiving.org. Her work has been featured on MSN.com and Dayspa Magazine. Jacqueline holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Citations
Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists. Insurance Information Institute. (2024).
https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-uninsured-motoristsNews Release: Maine Traffic Fatalities Increased 17 Percent from 2019 to 2022. TRIP. (2023, Jun 21).
https://tripnet.org/reports/traffic-safety-maine-news-release-06-21-2023/§1601. Required maintenance of financial responsibility. Maine Legislature. (2024).
https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/29-a/title29-asec1601.html§2486. Reinstatement fee. Maine Legislature. (2024).
https://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/29-a/title29-Asec2486.html§402. Insurance required prior to registration. Maine Legislature. (2024).
https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/29-a/title29-Asec402.htmlAuto Insurance FAQs. Maine Bureau of Insurance. (2024).
https://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/frequently-asked-questions/auto-insuranceMaine Automobile Insurance Plan. AIPSO. (2024).
https://www.aipso.com/Plan-Sites/MaineContest a Ticket. Maine Judicial Branch. (2024).
https://www.courts.maine.gov/courts/traffic/contest.htmlREGISTRATION FEES. Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. (2024).
https://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/registration/regfees.htmlNavigating Maine’s Automobile Insurance Regulations. Enjuris. (2024).
https://www.enjuris.com/maine/car-accident-laws/minimum-insurance-requirements/
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