Even the loveliest afternoon drive can turn perilous on Maine’s winding roadways, and inclement weather in New England can sneak up on you. So it’s really no wonder the Pine Tree State requires higher car insurance minimums than many other states.
But more coverage doesn’t necessarily mean paying top dollar for your insurance. Look for custom quotes from reputable insurers offering discounts that apply to your situation. You might be surprised at how much you can save — even while meeting hefty coverage requirements.
Jump to:
- Costs of insurance in Maine cities
- Minimum insurance requirements in Maine
- What happens after an accident?
- Who’s at fault after an accident?
- How to report an accident
- Uninsured drivers in Maine
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Average insurance costs in Maine
This state is routinely ranked as one of the cheapest in the country for car insurance — most motorists pay less than $1,000 annually for their coverage. This is significantly less than the national average of $1,200-$1,300, and a far cry from average car insurance costs in Michigan, which can top $2,200 a year.
However, because insurance rates are determined by a lot more than location, you could still wind up paying significantly more or less than Maine’s state average. Taking control of your finances and making smart choices can help keep your costs down without eliminating the coverage you need.
What affects my car insurance costs?
- Age. Young drivers under 25, as well as seniors, will pay more for car insurance. Drivers under 25 — and especially male drivers under 25 — are statistically at a high risk for car accidents. This means the older you get, the lower your car insurance rates will tend to be, until you reach a certain age.
- Gender. Men can often expect higher premiums. This is sometimes further modified by age and marital status; the differences in cost between men and women mostly disappear by the age of 35.
- Driving experience. L platers and P platers typically pay more, which often compounds the effect of age on premiums.
- Type of car. You might think screaming down the highway in a drop-top Porsche sounds like fun, and you’re probably right, but luxury and sports cars are more costly to insure than sedans and minivans. This is for several reasons, but mostly because fast cars tend to be driven fast. These cars and their drivers are statistically at a higher risk for accidents.
- Occupation. People who have long commutes or who drive around all day for work — say, outside sales representatives or transporters — can expect higher premiums. However, many professionals who drive a lot have work vehicles, or else have car insurance coverage through their employers.
On the other side of the coin, people with typically stable jobs — educators, healthcare workers, accountants — are likely to get cheaper insurance rates than lawyers, stock brokers or other professionals who work long hours in high-stress environments. - Marital status. Single people are seen by insurers as less stable than their married counterparts. If you get married, you should see your premiums decrease right away.
- Location. Some places are at higher risk of theft, vandalism and other potential hazards, which incurs higher costs. Urban drivers are at higher risk for an accident than people who live far outside the city limits. Similarly, if one area is more prone to flooding or storms you may expect this to impact your premiums.
- Claims history. The more car insurance claims you have made in the past, the higher your premiums will generally be.
- Driving record. The more violations you have on your driving record, the more you can expect to pay for your car insurance. If you’re notorious for speeding, driving under the influence or trying to start a drag race at every red light, your insurer will likely know about it and raise prices accordingly.
- Credit score. Like it or not, nearly all auto insurance providers use your credit score to help calculate your risk before arriving at a policy cost. This is because multiple independent studies indicate that if your credit score is low, you’re more likely to be involved in an accident.
- Other drivers. Any additional drivers listed on your policy will impact the cost. Even if you’re a superb driver with a great record, you can expect a substantial price hike by listing another less-safe driver on the policy.
- Typical driving habits. How often you get behind the wheel, how many miles you put on and where you drive are all things that can play a part in your car insurance prices.
8 tips for cheap car insurance in Maine
- Drive something safe and reliable. When insurers use the kind of car you drive to help calculate rates, they usually account for whether it’s a sports car — fast cars tend to be driven fast, and are at a higher risk for accidents.
Other factors include the overall value of the vehicle and how much it will cost to fix after a crash. Since Ferraris are some of the most expensive production cars around and small parts routinely run in the thousands of dollars to replace, you can imagine how driving one of those would jack up your insurance rates. - Lower your coverage amounts and extras. If your vehicle’s resale value is below $5,000 — that number might change, depending on what your priorities are — you probably don’t need expensive extras on your policy like comprehensive or collision coverage. While they’re nice to have, these extras can cost you a lot every month, and what you pay in premiums plus a deductible could end up being more than the value of the car when it’s all said and done.
- Increase your deductible. If you do this, your provider will lower monthly premiums to reflect that the driver (that’s you) is bearing slightly more financial responsibility. However, you probably don’t want to increase your policy’s deductible too much; you could be left exposed to too much financial cost when you do need to file a claim, and if you can’t pay your portion — the deductible — your insurance provider won’t pay theirs either.
- Clean driving records make for better rates. You’re better off with no accidents, no traffic tickets, and few if any insurance claims — especially when it comes to auto insurance rates. Nobody’s perfect, but the closer your record is to being spotless, the lower your rates will typically be.
- Consider local providers. While the small insurance company on Main Street might not have all the extras and options you would find at State Farm or Liberty Mutual, it might have a special deal for you. Small local businesses often provide better customer service than national providers, and you stand a much better chance of talking with a real person face to face when you need a claim resolved if their office is a short drive from your home.
- Use car alarms and anti theft devices. Decreasing risk of theft or vandalism is a good way to help lower your insurance rates, because insurance providers like to see the chances of a claim go down.
It’s a good start to have a car alarm installed. But when you add a kill switch, coded door locks, or something more manually involved like a steering wheel or tire lock, you can help deter theft and break-ins without spending more than a couple hundred dollars. Any one of these options might be a good improvement to make, especially if you live in Portland, where car theft is becoming more and more common in recent years. - Stay current on your bills. Your credit score is likely to impact your insurance rates, and your payment history with your insurer can have an even more direct impact. By paying all your bills on time and keeping that credit score high, you stand a greater chance of getting the car insurance rates you want.
- Bundle your policies with one provider. Talk to your insurance provider to see how much you’ll save by bundling your car insurance, life insurance and renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policies with a single company. Typically, these discounts range from 15-25% off the total — and that can mean a lot of savings over the course of a few years.
Car insurance providers in Maine
Driving requirements in Maine
To legally drive in Maine, you’re required to carry liability insurance that includes at least:
- $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per person.
- $100,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident.
- $25,000 of property damage coverage per accident.
When shopping for auto insurance, you may see these liability limits written as 50/100/25. In Maine, you have the option to choose a combined single-limit policy that includes both bodily injury and property damage liability of $125,000 per incident.
Unlike many other states, you’re also required to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance that includes at least:
- $50,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person.
- $100,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident.
- $2,000 medical expenses coverage to help with accident-related medical bills.
Uninsured drivers statistics in Maine
According to the Insurance Research Council, only 4.7% of Maine’s drivers are uninsured — which is far below the 12.6% national average.
To fully protect yourself, your vehicle and potential victims in a car accident, consider purchasing the highest coverage you can comfortably afford. And to learn about uninsured motorist insurance and why you might want it, even when it isn’t required by the law, visit our guide.
What if I don’t have car insurance?
If you’re stopped by police or are involved in an accident in Maine and you don’t have car insurance, you’ll pay up to $500 for your first violation and $2,000 for any following violations.
Your driving privileges will be suspended temporarily, requiring some $100 in fees to reinstate them. You may also be required to carry SR-22 insurance for three years.
Can I get temporary car insurance?
Yes, you can. However, most major insurance providers won’t be willing to provide it, and it tends to cost significantly more per month than conventional insurance would. If you need it for a short period, it’s a far better option than not getting insurance at all. To learn more about temporary car insurance, visit our guide on the subject.
What driving laws do I need to follow in Maine?
Most states share a pretty common set of laws when it comes to drivers and traffic. But Maine, like any state, has a few regulations you might want to take notice of.
- Drivers under 18 are not allowed to use a cell phone to talk, text, or otherwise be distracted from the road. Fines range from $50 for the first offense to $250 for habitual offenders.
- Adults over 18 are allowed to use their phones while driving, but are still prohibited from texting — fines range from $250 to $500 for drivers caught multiple times. Texting while driving is also a primary offense, meaning you can be pulled over for that alone.
- In the town of South Berwick, it’s illegal to park in front of the Dunkin Donuts.
While not every law in every state is going to apply to you, it’s usually a good idea to familiarize yourself with the rules of the road before you get behind the wheel.
What is the blood alcohol limit in Maine?
Maine’s BAL is the same as in every US state: 0.08% for normal drivers and 0.04% for commercial drivers. In addition, if you’re under 21, your limit is 0.0% — if you’re caught driving after drinking even the smallest amount, and it registers on a portable breath test or breathalyzer, you can lose your license for up to a year.
Can I get SR-22 insurance in Maine?
Yes, you can get an SR-22 insurance filing in Maine. You might need this if you’ve been convicted of DUI, if you were caught driving without car insurance or if you’ve accumulated too many violation points on your record. Learn more about filing for SR-22 insurance in Maine.
What should I do after an accident in Maine?
While every driver hopes they won’t find themselves involved in an accident, it’s best to prepare just in case. If you’re in an accident, follow a few simple steps to ensure that you’re safe and to protect yourself against unnecessary worry when processing your car insurance claim.
- First and foremost — safety. Take a look around to survey the scene. If you or anybody else needs assistance, call the police immediately.
- Call your insurance provider. After you’ve confirmed that everybody’s OK, call your agent to report the accident. They will walk you through questions to start your claim.
- Document the accident. Gather as much information as you can, taking pictures of each car involved. Talk to any witnesses you may be able to contact for your info.
- Exchange information. Get the full name, contact details and insurance policy IDs from other drivers. Note their car type, color, model and license plate number.
When speaking with other drivers or witnesses, do not admit fault — even if you feel it’s an accurate admission. If you do, your car insurance company could refuse to pay your claim.
When should I report an accident to the authorities?
In Maine, you’re legally required to report any “reportable accident” to the authorities. According to Maine’s Motor Vehicles Department, these are accidents that result in injury, death or property damage of $1,000 or more. If you fail to report an accident, you could face up to six months in jail.
Report your car accident as quickly as possible to the police or any other public official. That official or their department will advise you on the forms and documentation required to file your report.
What if nobody was injured in the crash/accident?
In the case that nobody was injured or hurt, it’ll depend on whether your accident caused more than $1,000 in total combined damage to the impacted cars and properties. In such a case, failure to report a car accident could result in the state suspending your license or canceling your vehicle’s registration.
Am I covered if I was at-fault for an accident in Maine?
No, Maine is not one of the 12 states that requires its drivers to carry no-fault insurance. In states without no-fault coverage, typical insurance claims are paid out:
- If you’re injured in an accident caused by another driver. The at-fault driver’s bodily injury liability coverage could help reimburse your medical expenses up to policy limits.
- If you’re injured in an accident you cause. Your medical payments coverage, if you have it, could help reimburse your medical expenses up to your limits.
Maine is a tort state, which means that if you’re at fault for an accident, you’re required to pay the medical expenses of any victim involved in that accident. Victims can also pursue compensation for additional lost wages and “pain and suffering” — the legal term for physical and emotional stress that’s the result of an injury.
Bottom line
Afternoon drives in Maine are lovely and beautiful. But there’s something to be said for knowing you’re covered in the event of an emergency.
Get the best price on your car insurance by shopping around for the coverage — and discounts — that are right for you.
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Frequently asked questions
Will an accident still show up on my driving record if it’s not my fault?
Yes. Regardless of fault, crash reports are included on on your driving record. You can request a copy of your crash report from any Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Maine for a $10 processing fee.
Will my rates go up if I file a claim through my insurance company?
It could. Your car insurance rates may increase if you file a claim. Insurance companies reserve the right to increase your rates or even cancel your coverage after a claim. But these actions are typically reserved for drivers exhibiting risky driving behaviors, filing multiple claims in a short time period or receiving multiple tickets or DUI/DWIs. You’ll receive notification before any cancellation.
Is mileage based car insurance available in Maine?
Unfortunately, true mileage based car insurance isn’t available in this state. But it could be soon. Growing insurance provider Metromile is attempting to expand its operations into more states soon — its services are currently available in 7 states — and Esurance is testing this kind of coverage by offering it in Oregon first.
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