Maine, “The Pine Tree State”, earns its nickname from its heavily-forested, beautifully-preserved interior. The epitome of America’s New England Region, this state’s attractions include world-class seafood, picture-perfect waterways and beach cliffs bordering the Atlantic Ocean. Scenic drives abound along the U.S.’s northeast extremity, and drivers from all over flock for its quaint charm. To help drivers living in and visiting “Vacationland”, CheapCarInsurance.net has arranged all the pertinent car insurance for the state in this easy-to-follow article.
Average Cost for Auto Insurance in Maine
The cost of car insurance in Maine can vary based on a number of factors, including your driving record, the type of car you drive, your age, your gender, your location, and the amount of coverage you need. The average annual cost of car insurance in Maine is $825 for minimum coverage and $1,492 for full coverage.
It’s important to shop around and compare quotes from multiple insurance providers to find the best rate for you. Additionally, you may be eligible for discounts based on factors such as being a good student, having multiple policies with the same provider, or having certain safety features installed in your car. It’s important to compare multiple quotes.
Here is a list of the cheapest average car insurance costs in Maine based on the type of vehicle you drive as well as the current city you live:
Maine County:
Sedan:
SUV:
Coupe:
Truck:
Hybrid:
Androscoggin
$477
$366
$465
$407
$438
Aroostook
$418
$325
$445
$358
$387
Cumberland
$414
$323
$434
$351
$383
Franklin
$469
$366
$485
$400
$433
Hancock
$398
$310
$422
$335
$372
Kennebec
$448
$348
$474
$381
$411
Knox
$404
$313
$428
$343
$374
Lincoln
$435
$337
$461
$372
$401
Oxford
$472
$367
$502
$404
$435
Penobscot
$435
$338
$450
$371
$400
Piscataquis
$443
$344
$468
$376
$408
Sagadahoc
$475
$345
$438
$407
$437
Somerset
$436
$339
$461
$368
$404
Waldo
$428
$333
$452
$363
$395
Washington
$425
$331
$450
$361
$395
Minimum Requirements for Car Insurance in Maine
The Maine Insurance Bureau makes it mandatory for every driver to be covered under liability insurance coverage, uninsured motorist coverage and medical payments coverage.
Liability Coverage minimums:
$50,000 per single bodily injury or death.
$100,000 per multiple bodily injury or deaths.
$25,000 for property damage.
Medical Payments minimums:
$50,000 for individual medical payments.
$100,000 for multiple medical coverage
Uninsured Motorist minimums:
$50,000 per person
$100,000 per accident
New Driver Licensing Requirements:
Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) states that all drivers have 30 days from the date of residency to obtain a Maine drivers license. A driver over 21 years of age will be first issued a 1-year provisional license. Every applicant must pass a vision screening, a knowledge test and a road skills test to hold a regular license.
Residents 15 years old must first obtain a permit to gain driving experience. The permit is valid for 18 months, and includes the following guidelines and requirements:
The applicant must complete a driver education course
The applicant must complete the vision and knowledge exams
The applicant must be accompanied by a licensed driver age 20 or older who has held a license for at least 2 years.
The applicant must complete 35 hours of supervised driving with 5 hours of night driving.
The driver must hold the permit for at least 6 months before applying for a regular drivers license.
The applicant must pass the road skills test to receive the regular drivers license, and drivers under 18 who hold a license may not, for the first 180 days:
drive between 12 am and 5 am
carry passengers. Exceptions include immediate family members, foreign exchange students living with the family or a licensed driver age 20 or older who has held a license for more than 2 years.
Vision Exam. The vision exam evaluates an applicant’s visual acuity and peripheral vision. A visual acuity of 20/40 and field of vision of 140 degrees is required to drive without restrictions. Applicants possessing a peripheral vision of less than 140 and greater than 110 are required to equip their vehicle with outside left and right mirrors. Drivers with a visual acuity worse than 20/50 must drive in daylight only.
Knowledge Test. The knowledge test covers traffic laws, traffic rules, driving skills, vehicle handling, highway signs and Maine’s drinking and driving laws.
Road Skills Test. The road test covers a variety of driving maneuvers to test the applicant’s ability to control his/her vehicle. The test will require the applicant to:
Back the vehicle
Maintain proper lane control
Turn left and right
Drive straight ahead
React to traffic, traffic signs and traffic signals
Fees. The following fees apply for every applicant:
Written test: $10
Road skills test: $35
Regular license, under 65 years of age: $30
Regular license, over 65 years of age: $21
DUI & DWI Laws in Maine
BAC limit: .08 Maine’s Bureau of Highway Safety requires a BAC of .08 for drivers 21 and older while drivers under 21 require a BAC of .02 for a DUI violation. Penalties for under-21 DUI offenses vary in severity. Following is an outline of the major penalties resulting from a Maine DUI with no aggravating factors:
First Offense:
Fine: $400
License suspension: 150 days
Second Offense:
Imprisonment: 7 days
Fine: maximum $600
License suspension: 3 years
Third Offense:
Imprisonment: 30 days
Fine: maximum $1,000
License suspension: 6 years
Aggravated factors and refusals greatly increase the penalties for Maine’s DUI convictions.