Maine Hired and Non-Owned Auto Coverage

Maine makes a person in the business of renting vehicles jointly and severally liable with the renter for damage caused by the renter’s negligence and for damage caused by a person driving with the renter’s permission. The rule applies to a rental for use on a public way, but excludes rentals made as part of a bona fide vehicle sale, does not give a passenger a right of action against the owner, and preserves contributory negligence as a defense. Maine separately requires the rental vehicle’s owner to procure insurance or a bond covering operation before the vehicle can be registered or operated for rent, lease, hire, or livery. Neither statute decides what an employer’s policy covers.

What Is Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance?

Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) liability protects the business when rented cars or employees’ own cars are used for work. It does not pay for damage to those vehicles, and it is not a substitute for commercial auto on vehicles the business owns. Read the national Hired and non-owned auto guide.

Maine Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance Requirements

RequirementDetails
Rental owner has a vehicle-specific dutyFor vehicles registered or operated for rent, lease, hire, or livery, Maine requires the owner to procure insurance or a bond covering operation of that vehicle under § 1611. That duty concerns the rental owner and does not establish coverage for the employer or employee’s other policies. 2

What to Watch for With Hired and Non-Owned Auto in Maine

  • A rental can expose both owner and renter

    Under 29-A M.R.S. § 1652, a commercial rental owner is jointly and severally liable with the renter for damage caused by the renter’s negligent operation on a public way, and for damage caused by a person operating with the renter’s permission. The statutory rule addresses legal responsibility; it does not specify that an employer’s HNOA policy responds. 1

  • The Maine rental rule has stated boundaries

    Section 1652 does not apply to a rental made as part of a bona fide sale transaction; it gives a passenger in the rented vehicle no right of action against the owner; and it does not remove contributory negligence as a defense. Preserve these limits when evaluating a rental-related claim. 1

  • Rental-car owner security and employer protection are separate

    Maine § 1611 requires the owner of a vehicle offered for rent, lease, hire, or livery to procure insurance or a bond covering operation before registration or public-way use. Ask the rental company for the required vehicle evidence and ask the employer’s broker separately about HNOA liability, contractual obligations, and damage to the rental car. 2

Which Hired and Non-Owned Auto Providers Have Maine License Records?

These providers publish a national listing for Hired and non-owned auto; the license records below name the licensed entities and roles. Some records rely on company-reported information rather than independent regulator verification. A national listing does not confirm the product is available in Maine. Check the regulator’s license lookup and confirm state availability for your business when requesting a quote.

  • Corgi

    Insurance producer · checked 2026-09-28

    Corgi Insurance Services, Inc.

    Corgi’s company producer-license table lists 50 jurisdictions: 49 states and the District of Columbia, including DC license 3003091619. New Mexico does not appear in the table and is not included here; the omission does not establish that Corgi is unlicensed there. The company-reported table has no stated as-of date and does not establish product availability. 11

    Corgi lists hired and non-owned auto liability for employees using rented or personal vehicles for company business.

Who Regulates Insurance in Maine?

Maine Bureau of Insurance

The Maine Bureau of Insurance licenses producers and companies, enforces Maine insurance laws, and investigates property and casualty complaints including commercial coverage complaints. You can use its state lookup or complaint service to check a license or raise an insurance issue. 3,4,5

Surplus-Lines Tax and Stamping Office in Maine

Reported tax rate. 3% of gross direct premium when Maine is the insured's home state 6,7,8

Maine charges 3% of gross direct premium when it is the insured's home state; your broker handles the tax and may include it with the premium. Surplus-lines policies are outside Maine guaranty-association protection. Maine generally requires a diligent search, with an exempt-commercial-purchaser exception requiring broker disclosure and the purchaser's written request.

Questions to Ask Before You Buy Hired and Non-Owned Auto in Maine

  1. Is the vehicle rented by a business for use on a Maine public way, and is there written proof of the vehicle’s required insurance or bond?
  2. Was the damage allegedly caused by the renter’s negligence or by a person operating with the renter’s permission?
  3. Does the claim involve a passenger in the rented vehicle, a bona fide sale transaction, or contributory negligence—limits preserved by § 1652?

Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance in Maine: FAQ

Can a Maine rental owner share liability for an employee’s negligent driving?

If the owner is in the business of renting motor vehicles for public-way use, 29-A M.R.S. § 1652 makes the owner jointly and severally liable with the renter for damage caused by the renter’s negligence and for damage caused by a person driving with the renter’s permission. The section has stated exceptions and limits, and it does not decide insurance coverage. 1

Who must provide insurance for a Maine rental vehicle?

Under 29-A M.R.S. § 1611, the rental vehicle’s owner must procure insurance or a bond covering operation before the vehicle may be registered or operated for rent, lease, hire, or livery. That owner requirement is separate from an employer’s policy for work-related use. 2

Hired and Non-Owned Auto Insurance Guides for Other States

Other coverage in MaineEvery coverage guide for Maine, plus the regulator and surplus-lines details.

Updated .

This guide is informational and does not determine whether a policy is available or meets your needs. Editorial policy. To suggest a correction, contact Spot with a supporting source.

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