02 DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION

031 BUREAU OF INSURANCE

Chapter 391: Motor Vehicle Insurance Identification Cards

Section 1. Definitions

1. Section 2. Purpose

Section 3. Identification Card Standards

Section 4. Electronic Insurance Identification Cards

Section 5. Paper Insurance Identification Cards

Section 6. Severability

Section 7. Effective Date

SUMMARY: This chapter defines the standards for motor vehicle insurance identification cards used as evidence of liability insurance or financial responsibility.

1. Section 1. Definitions
   1. 1. “Insurance identification card” is as defined in 29-A M.R.S. §1551(4).
      1. 2. “Portable electronic device” is as defined in 29-A M.R.S. §1551(11-A).

      Section 2. PURPOSE

      1. 1. The purpose of this Rule is to prescribe, pursuant to 24-A M.R.S. §2412(7), paper and electronic formats and content for the motor vehicle insurance identification card required under Title 29-A as evidence of liability insurance or financial responsibility, and pursuant to 29-A M.R.S. §1601(10) identification of persons excluded from coverage.

      Section 3. Insurance identification Card Standards

1. An insurer that delivers, issues for delivery, or renews in this State a policy insuring against liability arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of any motor vehicle must provide the named insured with a form of insurance identification card for each vehicle for which the policy provides liability coverage satisfying the requirements of 29‑A M.R.S. §1605.

1. 2. An insurance identification card may be provided in the following formats:
   1. A. An image capable of displaying in a readable manner the information required in paragraphs 3 through 6 below on a portable electronic device as described in Section 4 below; or
      1. B. The card described in Section 5 below.
         1. 3. The following information must appear on an insurance identification card:
         2. A. The heading or title “Maine Motor Vehicle Insurance Identification Card”;
         3. B. A statement that the card should be kept in the insured vehicle and presented upon the demand of a law enforcement officer;
         4. C. The name of the insurer;
         5. D. The name of the insured;
         6. E. The policy number;
         7. F. The policy effective date and expiration date;
         8. G. A statement that the policy provides the minimum liability insurance coverage required by law;
         9. H. A description of the covered vehicle, including its year, make, model, and identification number assigned by the manufacturer. If the policy covers all vehicles owned by the policyholder on a blanket basis, and the policyholder owns five or more vehicles, the insurer may substitute the phrase “all owned vehicles” for a description of the vehicle; and
         10. I. Except for policies insuring commercial vehicles, the name of each person excluded from coverage by an endorsement to the policy made under 24-A M.R.S. §2916-B.
         11. 4. Other information may appear on the front or reverse of an insurance identification card, such as a security watermark, the insurer’s logo, the insured’s address, or the agent or broker office. Instructions regarding the card may appear on a tear-off, carrier strip, or either face of the card. However, no such other information may obscure in any way the information required in paragraph 3 above.
         12. 5. An insurer may issue a temporary insurance identification card pending the issuance of a permanent card. A temporary insurance identification card must comply with this Rule and include the word “temporary” in its heading or title.
         13. 6. An insurance identification card provided for a continuous policy must indicate that the policy is continuous. The insurer must provide the named insured with a new card before each anniversary of a continuous policy.
         14. 7. The filing requirements of Title 24-A M.R.S. Chapter 27 do not apply to insurance identification cards.

      Section 4. Electronic Insurance Identification Cards

Upon receiving the named insured’s agreement in compliance with the Maine Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, 10 M.R.S. §§ 9401 – 9420, an insurer may provide the information required by Section 3 above in an electronic format that is displayable on a portable electronic device. In lieu of the statement required in paragraph 3(3)(B) above, an electronic insurance identification card shall include a statement that the operator of the insured vehicle must be able to display evidence of liability insurance or financial responsibility on the demand of a law enforcement officer.

1. Section 5. Paper Insurance Identification Cards
   1. 1. An insurer may provide the information required by Section 3 in paper format that complies with this Section.
      1. A. A paper insurance identification card must be at least 2⅛ inches by 3⅛ inches. An insurer may provide a paper insurance identification card that is printed on an 8½ inch by 11 inch sheet.
         1. B. A paper insurance identification card must display the required information substantially as follows:

Maine Motor Vehicle Insurance Identification Card

[Insurance Company Name]

The coverage provided by this policy meets the minimum limits prescribed by law.

INSURED

EXCLUDED OPERATOR(S)

POLICY NUMBER

EFFECTIVE DATE EXPIRATION DATE

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION

YEAR VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

MAKE/MODEL

This card should be kept in the insured vehicle and presented on the demand of a law enforcement officer.

1. Section 6. Severability
   1. 1. If any section or provision of this Rule is adjudged invalid for any reason, the judgment shall not impair or invalidate any other section or provision of this Rule, and the Rule shall otherwise remain in full force and effect.

      Section 7. Effective Date

      1. This rule is effective June 21, 2014 (filing 2014-116).
         1. The 2021 amendment is effective January 1, 2022 (filing 2021-258).

(APA Office Note: this rule replaces Chapter 390, which was simultaneously repealed.)

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

24-A M.R.S. §§ 212, 2412(7)

EFFECTIVE DATE:

June 21, 2014 – filing 2013-116

CORRECTION:

June 23, 2014 – Section 5(A) 1^st sentence dimensions corrected

AMENDED:

December 21, 2021 – filing 2021-258

APAO ACCESSIBILITY CHECK: July 25, 2025