The Registration Window Reality
You arrive at the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles to register your vehicle, and the clerk asks for proof of insurance. You hand over your current policy from another state. The question you need answered: does Maine accept this policy, or must you buy a new one before you can register?
Maine accepts out-of-state insurance policies during the initial registration process, but only if the policy meets Maine's specific coverage requirements. The state does not require you to switch carriers immediately, but it does require that your existing policy carry the same minimums and mandatory coverages Maine law imposes on its own residents. If your out-of-state policy falls short on any required coverage, the BMV will not accept it as proof of financial responsibility.
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Get Your Free QuoteMaine Liability Minimums
$50,000/$100,000/$25,000
Maine requires $50,000 bodily injury per person, $100,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage. Your out-of-state policy must meet or exceed these limits to satisfy Maine registration requirements.
Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles
What Maine Actually Requires
Maine law mandates three coverage components that many states do not require together: liability insurance at the minimums stated above, Personal Injury Protection (PIP), and Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage. Your out-of-state policy may carry liability limits that meet or exceed Maine's thresholds, but if it does not include PIP and UM, it does not satisfy Maine's requirements.
Most states do not mandate PIP. Many do not mandate UM. If you moved from a state that does not require either, your policy likely does not carry them. The BMV will identify the gap when you present your insurance card, and you will need to add the missing coverages before registration proceeds.
The liability limits themselves vary widely by state. If your previous state required lower minimums than Maine, your policy may carry only those lower limits. You must increase the limits before the BMV accepts the policy as proof.
Your out-of-state policy must carry Maine's exact mandatory coverages—liability at state minimums, PIP, and UM—or the BMV will not accept it for registration.
How to Verify Your Policy Meets Maine Requirements
Pull your declarations page and locate three sections: liability limits, Personal Injury Protection, and Uninsured Motorist coverage. Check that liability limits meet or exceed $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident, and $25,000 property damage. Confirm that PIP and UM appear as active coverages with specific dollar limits listed. If any of these three components is absent or falls below Maine's thresholds, your policy does not satisfy Maine requirements.
Contact your current carrier and ask whether they write policies in Maine. If they do, request that they add PIP and UM and adjust your liability limits to meet Maine minimums. Most carriers can make these changes immediately and issue an updated declarations page the same day. If your carrier does not write in Maine, you must switch to a carrier licensed in the state before the BMV will accept your proof of insurance.
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When You Must Switch Carriers
If your current carrier does not write policies in Maine, you cannot keep the policy once you establish residency. The carrier will typically cancel the policy when you notify them of your move, or the policy will lapse when your registration address no longer matches the garaging state. You must obtain a new policy from a carrier licensed in Maine before you can register your vehicle.
Carriers licensed in Maine include Allstate, Amica, Auto Club Enterprises, Bristol West, Dairyland, Farmers, Geico, Hartford, Liberty Mutual, National General, Nationwide, Progressive, State Farm, The General, Travelers, and USAA. Each writes policies that meet Maine's mandatory coverage requirements. Compare quotes from multiple carriers to find the policy that fits your household's vehicle count and coverage needs.
When you switch carriers, the new policy must be active before you cancel the old one. Maine requires continuous proof of insurance, and a lapse between policies can trigger a registration suspension. Coordinate the effective date of the new policy with the cancellation date of the old policy to avoid any gap in coverage.
Maine-Licensed Auto Insurers
16 carriers
Sixteen major carriers write auto insurance policies in Maine, each offering coverage that meets the state's mandatory liability, PIP, and UM requirements. Compare quotes across multiple carriers to find the best fit for your household.
Maine Bureau of Insurance
The Residency Timeline
Maine does not impose a specific deadline by which new residents must obtain Maine insurance, but the state does require that your insurance policy reflect your actual garaging address. Once you establish residency—typically defined as living in the state for more than 30 days or registering to vote—your vehicle must be garaged at your Maine address, and your insurance policy must list that address as the garaging location.
Your out-of-state carrier may allow you to update the garaging address to Maine if they write policies in the state. If they do not, the policy becomes invalid the moment your garaging address changes, and you must obtain a new policy from a Maine-licensed carrier. Do not delay this step: driving without valid insurance in Maine carries penalties including fines, license suspension, and registration revocation.
Compare Carriers That Write in Maine
Whether your current carrier writes in Maine or you must switch, the next step is to compare quotes from carriers licensed in the state. Each carrier prices policies differently based on your driving history, vehicle type, and coverage selections. Request quotes that include Maine's mandatory liability minimums, PIP, and UM coverage, and compare the total premium across multiple carriers to identify the policy that fits your budget and coverage needs. Use the site's comparison tool to request quotes from carriers writing in your county.