Cheap Car Insurance in Maryland 2023

Maryland drivers live in the ninth most-expensive state for buying car insurance, and they pay an average of $320 per month, based on our internal data. The average national rate, for comparison, is just $233 per month. But finding cheap car insurance is possible by comparing quotes online, even in a state with higher-than-average premiums. 

Seventy-seven percent of drivers are actively shopping for car insurance to find the best rates, according to J.D. Power.^[1] Maryland is sometimes referred to as America in Miniature for its wide range of topography, including oak forests, mountains, marshlands, and sandy dunes.^[2]

Best cheap car insurance in Maryland: Travelers

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Travelers

Best Cheap Car Insurance in Maryland

The best cheap car insurance companies in Maryland are Travelers, USAA, and GEICO. All three insurance providers boast high Insurify Composite Scores (ICS) and offer significantly lower monthly insurance premiums than Maryland’s average of $320. The table below shows additional insurance providers in Maryland with low rates and high ratings.

Learn More: Best Car Insurance Companies

Insurify Composite Score

Insurify’s data scientists generate the Insurify Composite Score, a proprietary rating, by weighing multiple factors that reflect the quality, reliability, and health of an insurance company.

Inputs to the score include J.D. Power ratings, Consumer Reports customer satisfaction surveys and customer complaints, mobile app reviews, user-generated company reviews, and financial strength ratings from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s, and Fitch.

Minimum car insurance requirements in Maryland

Maryland requires insurance for all motor vehicles operated or parked on the state’s roadways. You must carry proof of insurance in your car at all times and must have it available when:

• Requested by law enforcement

• Renewing vehicle registration

• The vehicle is involved in a car accident

The minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in Maryland^[3] are:

• $30,000 per person/$60,000 per accident for bodily injury: As a major part of your liability insurance, bodily injury coverage covers medical bills for people other than the policyholder who are injured during an accident. Maryland is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who is responsible for the collision is also responsible for paying for any resulting expenses, either through their car insurance provider or out of pocket.

• $15,000 per accident for property damage: If the authorities determine an insured driver is at fault for an accident, this coverage pays for repairs to the property of the other involved parties. Additionally, property damage coverage can cover legal costs if the insured driver is involved in a lawsuit following the accident.

• $2,500 per accident for PIP: Personal injury protection coverage, also referred to as PIP coverage, will cover you for medical payments you incur in the event of an accident. Depending on your plan, you may also receive non-medical benefits, compensating you for lost wages, household expenses, and even funeral costs.

• $60,000 per accident for uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury and $15,000 per accident for uninsured/underinsured motorist property damage: Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage pays for costs caused by a driver with little or no insurance. Maryland requires you to purchase this coverage for both bodily injury and property damage.

Maryland DMV information

At the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, or MVA, residents can access services like registering and renewing their driver’s licenses and identification cards, vehicle registration, and license plate pickup. The MVA has branches throughout the state and operates during regular office hours, typically from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The MVA also offers online services.

Public transportation in Maryland

The Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) provides 80 bus lines that cater to Baltimore’s public transportation needs. Baltimore also offers additional services like the Light-Rail, Metro Subway, and MARC Train. The Charm City Circulator also operates no-cost options. This fleet of 24 shuttles is completely free and travels four routes in Baltimore’s central business district.

Tips for getting cheap car insurance in Maryland

While car insurance in Maryland is more expensive than the national average, drivers in the state can find affordable rates. Maintaining a clean driving record, having a good credit score, and comparing car insurance quotes before purchasing a policy are some ways that Maryland drivers can save on their car insurance costs.

You may also qualify for certain discounts, such as:

• Paying your premium in full, rather than monthly

• Bundling your home and auto insurance with the same company

• Loyalty discount

• Safe driver discount

• Good student discount

Liability-only vs. full-coverage insurance in Maryland

If you live in Maryland, you can opt to carry liability-only auto insurance, which pays for expenses related to injuries and damage to the other party’s car if you cause an accident. Each state sets its own minimums for how much liability insurance it requires drivers to carry. Liability-only insurance can make sense if:

• You have a low-value vehicle.

• You can afford to repair or replace your car out of your own pocket.

• Getting the cheapest insurance possible is your top priority.

For a higher level of protection, you can choose full-coverage insurance, which includes basic liability plus collision and comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage pays for damages to your car, even if you’re at fault for an accident. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages caused by events out of your control, like vandalism, weather, and animals. Auto lenders and leasing companies typically require drivers to carry full coverage on a car they’ve financed.

You may also opt for full coverage if:

• You have a high-value vehicle.

• You wouldn’t be able to afford to repair or replace your car out of pocket.

• Your car’s actual cash value (the payout you’d likely get if your car is totaled) exceeds your annual premium to carry full coverage.

Here’s a look at the cheapest auto insurance in Maryland by policy type.

How your driving history affects Maryland car insurance rates

Your driving history is the factor that most influences your car insurance costs. Good drivers — whose records are free of serious traffic violations like speeding tickets or reckless driving — tend to get the best car insurance rates in Maryland. But infractions like driving under the influence or at-fault accidents can significantly increase insurance costs.

Here’s a look at average monthly quotes for the cheapest car insurance in Maryland based on driving and accident history.

See More: High-Risk Car Insurance Maryland

See More: DUI Car Insurance Maryland

SR-22 insurance in Maryland

An SR-22 is a form that you or your car insurance company can file with your state to prove that your auto insurance policy meets the minimum coverage required by state law. Some states — including Maryland — require drivers to get this. Or, courts may order drivers to secure an SR-22 if their license has been suspended or revoked. The insurance companies below offer SR-22 forms in Maryland:

How credit scores affect Maryland car insurance quotes

In Maryland, car insurance companies can consider credit scores only when setting rates on new policies. But they can’t use them to deny coverage, cancel coverage, refuse a renewal, or increase rates at renewal time. Generally, people with excellent or good credit scores can qualify for lower car insurance premiums than people with average or poor credit scores.

See More: Bad Credit Car Insurance Maryland

How your city affects Maryland insurance quotes

Car insurance costs in Maryland vary from city to city because ZIP code is another factor that insurance companies take into account when calculating rates. Drivers who live in more densely populated or urban areas, like Baltimore, will likely pay more than residents in less densely populated suburban areas.

How your age affects your Maryland car insurance rates

Because insurers generally equate age with experience level, your age will significantly affect how much you pay for car insurance. New drivers, who tend to be teens or people in their early 20s, typically pay more for insurance than drivers 25 and older.

The following table gives a high-level view of how age can affect insurance rates.

Quotes for younger drivers

Multiple other factors influence how much drivers in each age group will pay for car insurance. Some increase rates for one age group more than another, while others impact all age groups evenly.

The following table compares how different insurance factors affect average monthly rates for drivers younger than 30. Safeco, Travelers, and State Auto offer young drivers in Maryland the lowest average rates for liability insurance. Travelers also provides the cheapest average rate for full-coverage policies. 

Quotes for middle-aged drivers

The following table compares how different insurance factors affect average monthly rates for drivers between 30 and 59. Middle-aged drivers in Maryland find the cheapest average rates for full-coverage insurance from Travelers, SafeAuto, and Kemper Preferred. On average, middle-aged drivers in Maryland pay between $245 and $298 per month. 

Quotes for senior drivers

The following table compares how different insurance factors affect average monthly rates for drivers 59 and older. Drivers in their 60s, 70s, and 80s pay the lowest rates by age group in Maryland. The cheapest average monthly rates for liability insurance include $109 from Travelers, $115 from Safeco, and $120 from Liberty Mutual.

Maryland car insurance FAQs