Maine Personal Lines Law & Coverage Rules
This chapter covers the Maine-specific personal lines rules that sit on top of the shared national property & casualty fundamentals: who regulates insurance in Maine, the state's comparatively high minimum auto liability limits, its required medical-payments and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, its at-fault (tort) system, and the notice rules that govern cancellation and nonrenewal. The regulator and the auto minimums below were confirmed this session against the Maine Bureau of Insurance; always confirm current numbers with the Bureau before advising a client.
The Maine Bureau of Insurance
Insurance in Maine is regulated at the state level by the Maine Bureau of Insurance, which operates within the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation. The Bureau licenses producers, reviews policy forms and rates, investigates complaints, and enforces the state insurance code. There is no federal insurance department. Official site confirmed this session: https://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance.
Minimum Auto Liability Limits (50/100/25)
Maine requires among the highest minimum auto liability limits in the country: at least $50,000 bodily injury per person, $100,000 bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 property damage (written 50/100/25). A combined single limit of $125,000 also satisfies the requirement. These are minimums — producers should still explain that higher limits better protect the insured's assets. Source: Maine Bureau of Insurance (https://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance), confirmed this session; verify current figures with the Bureau.
Required Medical Payments and UM/UIM
Unlike most states, Maine requires a personal auto policy to include a minimum of $2,000 per person in medical payments coverage, which helps pay medical costs for the insured and passengers regardless of fault. Maine also requires uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage of at least $50,000 per person / $100,000 per accident, and the UM/UIM limit must match the liability limit when that exceeds the minimum, unless the insured formally declines the higher amount. Source: Maine Bureau of Insurance, confirmed this session.
At-Fault System and Cancellation Notice
Maine is an at-fault (tort) state, not a no-fault/PIP state: the driver who causes a crash is liable for the other party's injuries and damage, which is why Maine pairs high liability minimums with required medical-payments and UM/UIM coverage. State law also limits the reasons an insurer may cancel a personal auto or homeowners policy mid-term and requires advance written notice of cancellation or nonrenewal. The exact number of days depends on the reason and line — verify the current Maine notice periods directly with the Maine Bureau of Insurance.