Total loss · ME
Maine total loss claims
Maine sets no percentage. The motor vehicle code treats a vehicle as salvage when an insurer or owner declares it a total loss, and the Bureau of Insurance says the Insurance Code does not require any particular method to decide when a vehicle is a total loss. If the insurer’s value looks low, the dispute comes down to evidence: the right trim and options, fair comparable vehicles and explained condition adjustments.
Total loss rule
Insurer decides
Taxes and fees
Addressed by state rule
Appraisal clause
State rule found
Insurance regulator
Maine law
When a vehicle is a total loss in Maine
Insurer decides
Maine sets no percentage. The motor vehicle code treats a vehicle as salvage when an insurer or owner declares it a total loss, and the Bureau of Insurance says the Insurance Code does not require any particular method to decide when a vehicle is a total loss.
Authority: 29-A M.R.S. § 602(13) and (19)
What a Maine settlement has to include
Maine auto policies must cover the value of the sales tax credit that would have been available on trading in the vehicle, and the Bureau of Insurance's position (Bulletin 194) is that a cash settlement of a total loss must include sales tax whether or not the owner replaces the vehicle. No rule on title or registration fees was found.
Authority: 24-A M.R.S. § 2907; Maine Bureau of Insurance Bulletin 194 (Oct. 21, 1991)
How the insurer has to value your vehicle
The Insurance Code does not prescribe a valuation method. The Bureau of Insurance says the owner is entitled to actual cash value, which depends on mileage, condition and prior damage, and that value can be supported with the NADA guide, market value reports of comparable sales in the area, or a survey of local dealers.
Authority: Maine Bureau of Insurance, Making the Auto Claim Process Easier (Oct. 2016)
The appraisal clause in Maine
No statute was found. The Bureau of Insurance says most auto policies have an appraisal clause: each side picks an appraiser at its own expense, and if they cannot agree the parties choose an umpire who makes the final decision, with the umpire's fee shared. It is available only in a dispute with your own insurer.
Authority: Maine Bureau of Insurance, Making the Auto Claim Process Easier (Oct. 2016)
Keeping a totaled vehicle: Maine title rules
An insurer that declares a total loss must surrender the title and apply for a certificate of salvage within 30 days after the claim is settled; if the owner keeps the vehicle, the insurer assigns the salvage certificate to the owner. A repaired or rebuilt salvage vehicle can be titled and registered again only after its identification number and parts are inspected, and the new title carries a legend such as "rebuilt salvage," "rebuilt" or "repaired."
Authority: 29-A M.R.S. § 667
If you and the insurer cannot agree
- Dispute the valuation in writing with evidence. How to challenge comparables and condition deductions.
- If your policy has an appraisal clause, you can invoke it. The appraisal clause, step by step.
- File a complaint with the Maine Bureau of Insurance.
- Small claims court: Maine small claims court, for claims up to $10,000.
Official guide: Maine Bureau of Insurance: Making the Auto Claim Process Easier
Sources
- 29-A M.R.S. § 602(13) and (19)
- 24-A M.R.S. § 2907; Maine Bureau of Insurance Bulletin 194 (Oct. 21, 1991)
- Maine Bureau of Insurance, Making the Auto Claim Process Easier (Oct. 2016)
- 29-A M.R.S. § 667
Researched October 11, 2026. General information from an appraisal perspective, not legal advice.
Autoloss in ME
Total loss appraisals for Maine vehicles
An independent valuation of your Maine vehicle just before the loss, from comparable vehicles, your records and photos, reviewed by Monica Fisher. The claim review is free and the fee is quoted after we review your situation. You, or your attorney, present the report.
What the appraisal includesMaine total loss questions
When is a car a total loss in Maine?
Maine sets no percentage. The motor vehicle code treats a vehicle as salvage when an insurer or owner declares it a total loss, and the Bureau of Insurance says the Insurance Code does not require any particular method to decide when a vehicle is a total loss.
Does a Maine total loss settlement include sales tax and fees?
Maine auto policies must cover the value of the sales tax credit that would have been available on trading in the vehicle, and the Bureau of Insurance's position (Bulletin 194) is that a cash settlement of a total loss must include sales tax whether or not the owner replaces the vehicle. No rule on title or registration fees was found.
Can I keep my totaled car in Maine?
Usually you can ask to, and the insurer deducts the salvage value. An insurer that declares a total loss must surrender the title and apply for a certificate of salvage within 30 days after the claim is settled; if the owner keeps the vehicle, the insurer assigns the salvage certificate to the owner. A repaired or rebuilt salvage vehicle can be titled and registered again only after its identification number and parts are inspected, and the new title carries a legend such as "rebuilt salvage," "rebuilt" or "repaired."
How does the appraisal clause work in Maine?
No statute was found. The Bureau of Insurance says most auto policies have an appraisal clause: each side picks an appraiser at its own expense, and if they cannot agree the parties choose an umpire who makes the final decision, with the umpire's fee shared. It is available only in a dispute with your own insurer.
Does Autoloss prepare total loss appraisals for Maine vehicles?
Yes. We prepare an independent valuation from your records, photos and the insurer’s report. The claim review is free, and the fee is quoted after we review your situation.
Low total loss offer in Maine?
The claim review is free: we look at your situation and tell you whether an appraisal is likely to help. The appraisal itself is a paid report. We help from start to finish, including a custom demand letter, and our support staff is a phone call away throughout the process.