Maine Car Insurance: A Quick Guide to Car Insurance Requirements for New Residents

Since every state has a different set of guidelines regarding the purchase of car insurance it is always wise for a new resident to contact the Maine Bureau of Insurance in Augusta prior to buying a policy. This can be done either by calling them at (800) 300-5000 or visiting their website, http://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance.

There are a few things every resident should know before embarking on their quest for the perfect car insurance policy. ME requires that its residents carry both liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance. Liability will pay for bodily damage and property damage to the other party or parties in the event that the insured is involved in an accident for which they are responsible. In ME insurance minimums are fifty thousand for the medical expenses of a single driver, fifty thousand for the combined medical expenses of all of the occupants of a vehicle and twenty five thousand for any property damage resulting from the accident. This includes any repairs needed by the victim’s vehicle.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance is absolutely essential because not every state in the US required its citizens to purchase a liability policy; as a result, inevitably the day will come when a driver is involved in an accident with another who either does not have insurance or whose insurance is inadequate. In this event the insured’s own policy will cover their medical expenses and repairs to their vehicle, preventing them from finding themselves with hundreds of thousands of dollars of expenses owed.

In addition to liability and uninsured motorist insurance it is strongly recommended that every driver possess collision/comprehensive insurance. This is coverage for damages to the vehicle of the insured in that selfsame accident they were responsible for. Without collision insurance the owner of the car may find themselves solely responsible for the financing of thousands of dollars worth of repairs to their vehicle.