Uninsured Motorist Coverage for Seniors in Maine
Maine requires uninsured motorist coverage on every policy, and it matters more as medical costs from an at-fault driver without insurance fall to you to recover.
Maine requires it, and most drivers keep more than the minimum
Maine law requires every auto policy sold in the state to include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. You can't buy a policy in Maine without it, and your insurer can't leave it off unless you reject it in writing.
For an older driver, this coverage matters because it pays for your injuries and your passengers' injuries when the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough. It doesn't depend on your age. It depends on what limits you carry and whether you've signed anything waiving the higher amounts.
Your limits matter more than the fact you have the coverage
Maine sets a minimum for uninsured motorist coverage, but the minimum is often the same number as the state's minimum liability limit, which can be low next to real medical costs. If you're hit by a driver with no insurance and your injuries exceed your limit, you cover the rest yourself.
Many drivers carry uninsured motorist limits that match their liability limits without ever deciding to. Check your declarations page for the actual numbers next to uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. If you don't recognize them, ask your agent what they mean in a real claim.
As a driver gets older, recovery from an injury tends to take longer and cost more, which is a reason to look at raising this limit rather than leaving it where it was set years ago. Your insurer can tell you what raising it would cost and what limits are available in Maine.
If you were asked to sign a form rejecting or reducing this coverage at some point, that form is still in effect until you change it. Ask your insurer whether you signed one and what it says.
What counts as uninsured isn't only a driver with no policy
Uninsured motorist coverage in Maine also applies to hit-and-run accidents, where there's no driver to identify at all, and in some cases to underinsured drivers, who have a policy but not enough coverage to pay for what happened. These situations come up more than people expect.
The coverage also typically extends to you as a pedestrian or as a passenger in someone else's car, not just while you're driving your own. If you've stopped driving as much but still ride with family or walk in your neighborhood, this is worth knowing.
One thing people get wrong is assuming this coverage only matters if they're the one driving when the accident happens. It follows you, within the terms of your policy, in more situations than that. Ask your insurer directly what situations your policy covers before you assume it doesn't apply.
Questions people ask about this
Does uninsured motorist coverage in Maine cover my spouse if we're on the same policy?
Usually yes, if your spouse is a listed driver or household member on your policy, but confirm this with your insurer rather than assuming it. Policies vary in how they define who's covered, and a household member not listed on the policy may be treated differently.
Can I drop uninsured motorist coverage in Maine to lower my premium?
You can reject it in writing, but Maine requires insurers to offer it on every policy first. Before you reject or reduce it, ask your insurer what you'd be giving up, since this coverage often pays out in situations your regular liability coverage doesn't touch.
What happens if the uninsured driver who hits me has no assets either?
Your uninsured motorist coverage pays regardless of whether the other driver could ever pay you back themselves. That's the point of the coverage: it protects you even when there's no one to collect from.
Do I need a police report to use uninsured motorist coverage in Maine?
Most insurers expect a police report, especially for a hit-and-run, since there's no other driver's insurance to confirm what happened. Ask your insurer what documentation they require before you file, so you have it ready.
Will my uninsured motorist claim raise my rates even though it wasn't my fault?
This depends on your insurer's rules, not on who was at fault. Ask your agent directly how a claim like this is treated before you file, since insurers handle not-at-fault claims differently from each other.
See what uninsured motorist limits look like from other insurers before you decide whether to raise yours.
Pull out your current policy's declarations page and find the line for uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. Call your insurer and ask what those numbers mean in a real claim, and whether you ever signed a form rejecting or reducing this coverage. Ask what it would cost to raise the limit, and whether Maine allows a higher limit than what you have now. If you ride with family members often or walk in your neighborhood, ask whether the coverage follows you in those situations too. Write down what you're told, since this is the kind of answer worth having in writing before you need it.
