The Best Maine Auto Insurance
Despite having the nation’s highest minimum coverage requirements, Maine’s typical auto insurance premium sits about $300 below the national average. That’s largely due to Maine’s few uninsured drivers and the low number of miles driven each year. But your rates are highly personalized and will vary between providers. The only way to know for sure is to get quotes and compare your options to see which company offers you the greatest value and the coverage options that best suit you.
How We Found the Best Maine Auto Insurance
We chose the best auto insurance providers in Maine using a methodology similar to the one in our national auto insurance review. First, we found the largest auto insurers in the state by market share. Then, we verified their financial strength with independent rating agencies like A.M. Best and Moody’s to ensure that the provider will be able to pay out claims when necessary. From there, it became about what each company had to offer. We looked at liability coverage limits and endorsements to see which had the most useful options for Maine drivers. We also compared discounts and got quotes to get a sense for their rates and savings opportunities. To make sure our impressions were correct, we also looked at the J.D. Power and Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys to see what real policyholders think of their insurance company’s service and claims handling.
The 5 Best Auto Insurance Companies in Maine
State Farm
State Farm enables you to purchase up to 500/500/500 coverage. That should be enough to cover even the most serious accidents without forcing you to pay any extra out of pocket. No other company on this list offers liability coverage limits higher than this, so State Farm should be your first stop if you’re interested in purchasing the most protection possible.
It’s also worth getting a quote from State Farm if you drive for Uber or Lyft. It’s the only one of our top picks besides Allstate that offers a ridesharing endorsement, which protects your vehicle when you’re using it for work. This is not covered under a traditional auto insurance policy.
There aren’t as many ways to save on your auto insurance, but our quote from State Farm was still competitive. There are the standard multi-policy and safe driver discounts, but beyond that, your best chance of saving is to participate in one of State Farm’s driving programs. The Drive Safe & Save program monitors your driving through an app and gives you savings for being responsible on the road. The Steer Clear program is a driver refresher course available to drivers under 25. You can also save by choosing a higher deductible, but State Farm only gives you five choices between $100 and $2,000.
Allstate
Allstate stands out for its unique endorsements, many of which are designed to reward you for driving safely. With Deductible Rewards, your deductible will decrease by $100 every year you go without an accident (up to $500). You can also sign up to get a Safe Driving Bonus Check for every policy period you go without a claim. When you sign up, you’re automatically enrolled in the Allstate Rewards program, which enables you to earn points that can be redeemed for gift cards and products.
It’s also worth checking out if you’re interested in rare endorsements, like new car replacement. This pays to replace your totaled new car with one that is the same make and model, regardless of how much it has depreciated. There’s also sound system coverage, which will replace your stereo if it’s stolen or damaged, and personal property protection, which replaces any personal belongings that were damaged in an accident.
Despite having the most discounts of any company on this list, our Allstate quote was our second-most expensive option. That said, you may get different results for your unique circumstances, and it’s worth getting a quote from Allstate, especially if you’re interested in a policy with high coverage limits. It’s the only company apart from State Farm that lets you purchase as much as 500/500/500 coverage, and it gives you a greater choice of deductibles, with 12 options ranging from $50 to $2,000.
Progressive
Progressive gave us our most expensive quote, but it may be more affordable for you, especially if you take advantage of some of its unique discounts. You can save for being a homeowner, purchasing a policy online, and enrolling in auto-pay. Earn even more savings by enrolling in Progressive’s Snapshot program, which monitors your driving for several months and gives you discounts for being a safe driver.
You may also want to take a look at Progressive if you owe money on your car or you’ve made custom upgrades to it. Progressive is the only company on this list to offer GAP coverage. This pays for the balance of your lease or loan if your car is totaled in an accident, so you aren’t stuck paying for a vehicle you can no longer drive. It’s also the only company that covers custom parts so that all the money you invested in your vehicle isn’t lost if you get into an accident.
Progressive isn’t the right choice if you’re looking for high coverage limits, though. The most you can purchase is 250/500/100. If you’re concerned that this may not be enough to cover damages in a serious accident, you may feel more comfortable choosing a company like State Farm or Allstate.
Liberty Mutual
Liberty Mutual should be high on your list if you own a new car, as it’s one of the only companies on this list to offer new car replacement. It also takes this coverage a step further and offers better car replacement. If you have this coverage and your vehicle is totaled, Liberty Mutual will replace it with one that is a model year newer with 15,000 fewer miles on it.
There are also endorsements designed to help you save money over the long term. The Deductible Fund option will lower your collision deductible by $100 every year you go without an accident (up to a maximum of $500). There’s also a lifetime repair guarantee endorsement. If you get your vehicle repaired at one of Liberty Mutual’s approved repair facilities, the parts that were fixed are guaranteed for the life of your vehicle. Should they break again, you can bring your car back and you won’t pay a dime out of pocket for the repairs.
Liberty Mutual fell a little behind the others in terms of claims handling. It only received 2/5 from J.D. Power with the most common complaints being the efficiency of the process and the fairness of the settlement. Consumer Reports also gave it low scores in these areas. This isn’t a guarantee that you’ll run into problems if you go with Liberty Mutual, but if you don’t want to run the risk of a slow and possibly unsatisfying resolution in the event of a claim, you may feel more comfortable going with a company like State Farm.
USAA
While Maine doesn’t have the largest population of active service members, military-only insurer, USAA, remains the sixth largest provider in the state. Catering specifically to both active service members and veterans, USAA provides all kinds of insurance coverage, including auto. Along with mainstays like safe driver and multi-vehicle discounts, there are other ways to save money specific to service members. One of these includes a military installation discount of up to 15% when you garage your vehicle on base.
In addition to great discounts, USAA also has tremendous financial standing according to A.M. Best, which means you shouldn’t have any trouble settling up a claim. Furthermore, USAA consistently scores the highest marks from Consumer Reports for dealing with agents, filing claims, and the turnaround on claims payments.
Guide to Maine Auto Insurance
Maine is one of the safest states for owning a vehicle
According to a study by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Maine drivers spend less time on the road than most other states, and its traffic density is lower than most other New England states. This decreases the risk of accidents, which enables insurance companies to offer more affordable rates. It also has the fifth-lowest rate of theft nationwide, with fewer than one of every 1,000 vehicles getting stolen each year.
And despite the high state-minimum coverage, Maine has the fewest uninsured drivers in the nation. This means that insurance companies don’t have to worry as much about paying out claims that their drivers didn’t cause, and less risk for them means lower prices for you.
Maine requires medical coverage
Maine is one of the few states in the nation that requires its drivers to have medical payment coverage. This pays for your medical expenses if you are found to be at fault in the accident. If the other driver is at fault, their liability coverage will pay for your doctor bills. While state law only requires you to have $2,000 worth of coverage, it’s a good idea to add more if you can afford it. Car crashes can cause serious injury, and with the cost of healthcare continually rising, it won’t take long for you to use up $2,000.
Compare quotes
Every insurance company weighs your application a little differently, which is why you’ll get different quotes. Set aside some time to compare your options Figure out how much you can reasonably afford and go with the company that offers you the most coverage for that amount. We recommend starting with the companies listed above, but you can find solid options elsewhere, too.
