Maine is an at-fault (tort) state with 50/100/25 minimum liability. Here's exactly what the law demands, what it costs to ignore it, and how SR-22 filings work — with statutes cited.
| Coverage ME law requires | Minimum |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability — per person | $50,000 |
| Bodily injury liability — per accident | $100,000 |
| Property damage liability | $25,000 |
| UM/UIM | Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage of at least $50,000 per person / $100,000 per acc |
| MedPay | Medical payments coverage of at least $2,000 per person is mandatory (Maine Bureau of Insu |
Effective Current under 29-A M.R.S. §1605; a combined single limit of $125,000 can satisfy the liability requirement (Maine Bureau of Insurance). Source: Maine Bureau of Insurance - Insurance Required by Law · 29-A M.R.S. §1601 and §1605 (Required maintenance and proof of financial responsibility)
First offense: Driving without insurance is a traffic infraction carrying a fine (forfeiture) of not less than $100 and not more than $500 (29-A M.R.S. §1601(5)).
Repeat offenses: Each violation is subject to the same $100-$500 infraction fine, and producing evidence of insurance that is not in effect is itself a violation (29-A M.R.S. §1601(3-A)); continued violations lead to ongoing license and registration suspension.
License impact: Thirty days after an adjudication is reported, the Secretary of State suspends the driver's license and registration until proof of insurance or financial responsibility is provided (29-A M.R.S. §1601(6)). (source: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 29-A §1601 (Maine Legislature))
Maine's Bureau of Motor Vehicles requires an SR-22 filing from an insurer licensed in Maine after OUI convictions, uninsured accidents, or other serious violations; the required period depends on the conviction and is commonly about three years, and the BMV suspends the license if the filing lapses (SR-26 notice) (Maine Criminal Defense Group).
Typically required after: OUI (operating under the influence) convictions, accident while uninsured, serious driving violations, license suspension reinstatement. Filing period: 3 years in most cases. Non-owner option: available — you can file without owning a car.
Need one filed? Our SR-22 service page explains the process; a licensed professional at (866) 370-6395 can usually file the same day.
Maine is an at-fault (tort) state with no PIP requirement; instead it mandates at least $2,000 per person in medical payments (MedPay) coverage.
Maine also requires $500 per accident in coverage for towing and storage charges when a vehicle is towed at law enforcement's request, on policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2024 (29-A M.R.S. §1605-B; Maine Bureau of Insurance Bulletin 473).
A combined single limit policy of $125,000 satisfies Maine's split liability minimums (Maine Bureau of Insurance).
License and registration consequences: Thirty days after an adjudication is reported, the Secretary of State suspends the driver's license and registration until proof of insurance or financial responsibility is provided (29-A M.R.S. §1601(6)).
| City | Population | Median income | 30+ min commute | No-vehicle households |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | 68,854 | $79,540 | 18.3% | 15.4% |
| Lewiston | 38,324 | $55,393 | 28.4% | 17.2% |
| Bangor | 31,938 | $59,942 | 11.9% | 14.8% |
| South Portland | 26,930 | $86,838 | 13.4% | 7.8% |
| Augusta | 19,077 | $47,979 | 17.8% | 13.6% |
Source: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-year estimates.
Southern Maine driving means I-295 threading through Portland, the Turnpike carrying the long hauls, and Route 1 crawling through summer tourist traffic from Scarborough to Freeport. Winter is the coverage story: nor'easters, frost heaves that make spring roads a slalom, and snowbank-narrowed streets in Portland and Lewiston where on-street parking bans send everyone scrambling. North and west of Augusta, moose and deer are genuine highway hazards — the kind that make comprehensive coverage a Maine conversation, not a sales pitch. Salted roads and sand-chipped windshields add glass-coverage questions. Locals balancing an old winter car against a good one will find that agents here get it.
Northern and Downeast Maine driving is defined by distance, winter, and moose. Bangor is the hub where I-95 effectively hands off to two-lane US routes — Route 1 up the coast, Route 9 across the Airline to Calais, and I-95's lonely run north to Houlton. Moose collisions are the region's signature claim, catastrophic enough that comprehensive coverage is treated as essential rather than optional; deer fill in the dusk risk everywhere else. Winters bring ice storms, frost heaves that turn spring pavement into washboard, and long stretches with no cell signal, so towing and roadside coverage earn their keep. Logging trucks set the tempo on the Airline, and locals give them room. Snow tires are simply assumed.
Every legal claim on this page traces to:
Laws change. We refresh state pages on a rolling schedule and date-stamp every change; verify with your state before acting.