Looking for information about buying cheap auto insurance in Maryland? We can help you out! Here’s everything you need to know about insuring your car, including information on car insurance discounts, licensing and insurance options, minimum coverage requirements for Maryland and other valuable insurance information.
Plus, we show you where to go to find the most affordable coverage whether you’re married, single, have tons of driving experience or none at all.
Now let’s get started.
Maryland Car Insurance Requirements
Driving legally in Maryland requires you to display a certain level of financial responsibility; usually people show this responsibility by carrying a car insurance policy that meets certain standards.
In Maryland, those state minimum standards for auto insurance are:
- Body Injury Liability: $30,000 for one person; $60,000 total for two or more people
- Property Damage Liability: $15,000 per accident
- Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage: $30,000 for one person; $60,000 for all injuries per accident; $15,000 in property damage.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): $2,500
For more information on the different types of auto insurance coverage, check out our liability coverage page.
Medical payments, collision insurance, and comprehensive coverage (other than collision) are not required in Maryland. But, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater just yet. Just because they aren’t required doesn’t mean they aren’t a good idea to have. Sometimes, the cost of an accident is far greater than what your minimum coverage requirements will cover. That’s why having additional coverage may be beneficial in the long run so you can pay less out of pocket. See our Auto Insurance Guides for more information.
Maryland Car Insurance Penalties
Failure to meet the minimum state requirements in Maryland may result in an array of costly and time consuming penalties. These include:
- $150 fine the first 30 days you’re uninsured, followed by an additional $7 in fees for every day you remain uninsured
- Suspension of your registration and license plates
- $25 fee to reinstate your license
- If you provide falsified evidence of insurance, you can be fined up to $1,000 and face up to a year in jail.
Cheapest Car Insurance for Teen Drivers in Maryland
If you’re a teen driver in Maryland be prepared to pay a pretty penny to be insured. This is because auto insurance companies know you’re less experienced and more likely to be involved in risky driving behaviors.
Thankfully, there is one auto insurance company that covers Maryland teens at a cheaper rate. Liberty Mutual charges an average of $352/mo for a liability policy.
While this is the most affordable rate we found, it’s always important to do your own research. You can compare the auto insurance rates of companies that insure teen drivers in Maryland to get the most accurate idea of what you can expect to pay.
Just enter your zip code below to get started.
Cheapest Car Insurance for Young Drivers in Maryland
Until you’re 25 years old, you can expect auto insurance rates to be higher than normal. So, young drivers 18-24 years old are thankfully paying less than teen drivers, but more than they will in the future. Here are 4 auto insurance companies offering the cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Maryland.
| Insurance Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Clearcover | $189 |
| SafeAuto | $215 |
| Esurance | $257 |
| Liberty Mutual | $277 |
Clearcover charges an average of $189/mo to insure a teen driver in Maryland. The rate then increases to $215/mo with SafeAuto and $257/mo with Esurance. Liberty Mutual offers the highest rate on this list at $277/mo.
This is just a starting point on your road to discovering the best car insurance for young drivers in Colorado. Invest a little time and energy into shopping around to find the best auto insurance for your budget and coverage needs.
Cheapest Car Insurance for Married Drivers in Maryland
Being married has many perks – one being that you pay less for auto insurance than when you were single. This is typically because auto insurance companies assume you’re less likely to engage in risky driving behavior and more likely to have multiple vehicles under one policy so you can enjoy a multi-policy discount
| Insurance Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Clearcover | $122 |
| Liberty Mutual | $154 |
| Esurance | $176 |
Clearcover offers the most affordable rate at $122/mo for liability insurance in Maryland. Premiums then increase to $154/mo with Liberty Mutual and again to $176/mo with Esurance.
But keep in mind, there are times when joining insurance policies with your spouse may not work out in your favor. Since car insurance companies often use your credit score as a factor when determining your premium, if your spouse has a less than stellar driving record or poor credit score, your car insurance rates may increase.
Before you start your search for joint car insurance with your spouse, be sure to review your driving record and credit score to see how they compare.
Cheapest Car Insurance for Single Drivers in Maryland
While auto insurance rates might be higher when you’re single, it doesn’t mean you can’t find a policy that fits your budget.
Here are 6 insurance companies offering the cheapest car insurance for single drivers in Maryland.
| Insurance Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Clearcover | $150 |
| Safe Auto | $154 |
| Travelers | $160 |
| Safeco | $177 |
| Elephant | $219 |
| Esurance | $219 |
Clearcover offers the most affordable rates for single drivers at $150/mo. Safe Auto then offers a similar rate of $154/mo followed by Travelers at $160/mo. Rates then increase more to $177 with Safeco and again to $219 with both Elephant and Esurance.
Ultimately, whether you’re single or married, finding the most affordable auto insurance that fits both your budget and your coverage needs is crucial. The best way to do this is to compare auto insurance rates of companies offering coverage in your area. And beyond that, look at the available discounts. You can easily save an additional 5-40% on your premiums depending on the discounts you qualify for.
Cheapest Car Insurance for Men vs. Women in Maryland
Who pays more for auto insurance in Maryland, men or women? When you look at the numbers, you’ll find that men pay just $1/mo less on average than women, so rates are relatively similar.
Men pay an average of $182/mo, while women pay an average of $183/mo.
5 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for Men in Maryland
| Insurance Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Clearcover | $142 |
| SafeAuto | $149 |
| Safeco | $168 |
| Liberty Mutual | $180 |
| Esurance | $208 |
| Elephant | $221 |
5 Cheapest Car Insurance Companies for Men in Maryland
| Insurance Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Clearcover | $152 |
| Safe Auto | $152 |
| Safeco | $182 |
| Liberty Mutual | $184 |
| Esurance | $216 |
In looking at the difference between the cheapest car insurance for men vs. women in Maryland, you can see that men start off with the most affordable rates at $142/mo with Clearcover compared to women at $152/mo with both Clearcover and Safe Auto.
Rates then remain fairly similar between both men and women.
Other affordable companies for men are SafeAuto at $149/mo, Safeco at $168/mo, Liberty Mutual at $180/mo, Esurance at $208/mo and Elephant at $221/mo.
On the other end, additional cheap car insurance companies for women include Safeco at $182/mo, Liberty Mutual at $184/mo and Esurance at $216/mo.
Ultimately, no matter your gender, you want to be sure to compare auto insurance rates of other companies on the market to be sure you’re getting the best rate available. You can get started by typing in your zip code below and in just 5 minutes you’ll have a personalized list of the most affordable rates for you.
Cheapest Car Insurance for Maryland Drivers with Spotty Records
Have a spotty driving record? Don’t fret!
While having a history of tickets or accidents will likely increase your insurance premium, the increase will depend entirely on your record and which auto insurance company you select. Some companies are more lenient than others and won’t increase your rate when you get in an accident or ticket, while others might give you a substantial increase.
The insurance companies listed below and known for offering cheap auto insurance rates even if your record is spotty.
Cheap Car Insurance for Drivers with a Ticket on their Record
| Insurance Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Clearcover | $149 |
| Liberty Mutual | $215 |
Cheap Car Insurance for Drivers with Multiple Tickets on their Record
| Insurance Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Liberty Mutual | $228 |
| Esurance | $258 |
The rate difference between having one ticket on your record and multiple tickets is major! As you can see, Clearcover offers rates averaging $149/mo if you have one ticket, while the lowest rate if you have multiple tickets is $228/mo with Liberty Mutual. The pattern continues with the second most affordable – Liberty Mutual charges $215/mo if you have one ticket and $258/mo with Esurance.
Cheap Car Insurance for Drivers with an Accident on their Record
| Insurance Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Safe Auto | $183 |
| Clearcover | $186 |
Cheap Car Insurance for Drivers with Multiple Accidents on their Record
| Insurance Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Esurance | $271 |
| Liberty Mutual | $295 |
Having an accident on your record is going to shoot up your insurance rates even more than when you have a ticket.
Safe Auto charges $183/mo if you have one accident, while Esurance charges a whopping $271/mo if you have multiple accidents. That’s almost $100/mo more or close to $1,200 per year! Clearcover then charges $186/mo if you have one accident and Liberty Mutual charges $295/mo if you have multiple accidents.
Cheapest Maryland State Minimum Coverage
Looking to secure state minimum car insurance to meet Maryland’s requirements to drive legally in the state? Then this list is for you. State minimum car insurance is typically the most affordable insurance you can find because you’re getting bare minimum coverage.
Here are 6 insurance companies you can turn to for the cheapest state minimum car insurance in Maryland.
| Insurance Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Clearcover | $125 |
| Safeco | $135 |
| Safe Auto | $139 |
| Liberty Mutual | $151 |
| Elephant | $163 |
| Esurance | $193 |
Clearcover charges the most affordable rate at $125/mo followed by Safeco at $135/mo and Safe Auto at $139/mo. Liberty Mutual ($151/mo) and Elephant ($163/mo) are also great options to consider, with Esurance rounding out the list at close to $200/mo.
Cheapest Full Coverage Car Insurance in Maryland
While not required, full coverage car insurance provides far more protection for your vehicle and yourself. You’ll be sure to pay more for your premiums, but it just might be worth it if you can afford to spend the extra money.
Here are 5 companies offering the most affordable full coverage car insurance in Maryland.
| Insurance Company | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| Safe Auto | $176 |
| Clearcover | $195 |
| Safeco | $213 |
| Esurance | $215 |
| Liberty Mutual | $265 |
Safe Auto kicks off the list with the most affordable full coverage car insurance in Maryland at $176/mo. Next you have Clearcover charging $195/mo. Safeco and Esurance charge similar average rates of $213/mo and $215/mo respectively. Finally, Liberty Mutual rounds out the list at $265/mo.
The Best Rated Car Insurance Companies in Maryland
When looking for auto insurance you might just be seeking out the cheapest policy you can find and there’s nothing wrong with that. Alternatively, you could be seeking out the best overall auto insurance company which might cost a little more, but provide a better experience. These are the 3 top rated car insurance companies in Maryland based on several factors including average premiums, customer satisfaction scores, available coverage and discount availability.
The scores are out of a 1,000 point scale according to the J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey.
- GEICO – 871
- State Farm – 881
- Progressive – 856
While you might not get the cheapest premiums in Maryland with one of these 3 companies, you’re sure to enjoy your experience overall.
Maryland Car Insurance Discounts
When you’re on the hunt for cheap auto insurance in Maryland, you should certainly compare rates to save money, but you can take it a step further by looking for discounts that can offer you 5-40% on your auto insurance. Not sure whether your insurance company offers these discounts? All you have to do is ask!
Here are some of the most common car insurance rates, but it certainly doesn’t include every possible discount that might be available to you, so be sure to ask your car insurance company about what’s available.
- Multi-Car Discounts: If you insure multiple vehicles on your policy you can save up to 25% on your premium.
- Multi-Policy Discount: If you need insurance for your home or apartment, you could bundle it with your auto insurance to secure a multi-policy discount that can save you up to 25%.
- Pay in Full Discount: Insurance companies reward you for paying your premium in full by offering a pay in full discount. Not only do you get a cheaper insurance rate, but you also don’t have to worry about making a payment each month.
- Vehicle Safety Discount: When your vehicle has the latest safety features, you might qualify for a vehicle safety discount. Insurance companies are looking for features such as anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control to offer this.
- Good Driving Discount: You can save up to 40% on your insurance premium when you demonstrate good driving habits and secure a good driving discount. You’ll likely need to add a telematics tracking system to your vehicle or install an app on your mobile device, but the savings can be worth it if you can meet the standards.
- Defensive Driving Course Discount: A defensive driving course can save you 10% or more on your auto insurance. You’ll need to complete a state approved course in order to enjoy this discount.
- Usage-Based Discount: If you drive fewer miles on average, you might be able to save on auto insurance with a usage-based discount.
Before you look for discounts, be sure to compare your insurance rates to be sure you’re getting the best premium. Just enter your zip code below to get started.
Recent Maryland Car Insurance Rate Trends
Since 2017, auto insurance rates in Maryland have fluctuated. Based on recent trends, it’s unknown whether rates are likely to increase or decrease in 2022 and beyond, but we’ll be sure to keep an eye out on the average rates.
| 2017 | $178 |
| 2018 | $182 |
| 2019 | $192 |
| 2020 | $189 |
| 2021 | $174 |
In 2017 auto insurance rates averaged $178/mo in Maryland. Rates then increased slightly to $182/mo in 2018 followed by another increase in 2019 to $192/mo. Next we saw rates decline two years in a row to $189/mo and $174/mo in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Compare Car Insurance Rates by Maryland Cities
The area you live in is one of the main factors that determine how much or how little you pay for car insurance. If your area has a high auto theft rate, you may pay more. If there is very little traffic on your way to work, you may end up paying less. To help you see how rates vary from city to city, check out our rate comparison table below.
| City | Average Monthly Car Insurance Premium |
| Annapolis | $97 |
| Baltimore | $177 |
| Beltsville | $94 |
| Bethesda | $69 |
| Bowie | $116 |
| Brooklyn | $131 |
| Capitol Heights | $137 |
| Catonsville | $123 |
| Clinton | $112 |
| College Park | $102 |
| Columbia | $98 |
| District Heights | $126 |
| Dundalk | $143 |
| Edgewood | $113 |
| Elkton | $82 |
| Ellicott City | $93 |
| Essex | $146 |
| Ft. Washington | $110 |
| Frederick | $67 |
| Gaithersburg | $91 |
| Germantown | $84 |
| Glen Burnie | $106 |
| Greenbelt | $103 |
| Gwynn Oak | $193 |
| Hagerstown | $72 |
| Halethorpe | $128 |
| Hyattsville | $125 |
| Lanham | $115 |
| Laurel | $104 |
| Lutherville Timonium | $86 |
| Middle River | $157 |
| Montgomery Village | $93 |
| Nottingham | $115 |
| Owings Mills | $142 |
| Oxon Hill | $129 |
| Parkville | $136 |
| Pikesville | $146 |
| Randallstown | $156 |
| Reisterstown | $111 |
| Rockville | $81 |
| Rosedale | $167 |
| Salisbury | $78 |
| Silver Spring | $100 |
| Suitland | $139 |
| Temple Hills | $148 |
| Upper Marlboro | $120 |
| Waldorf | $111 |
| Westminster | $83 |
| Windsor Mill | $174 |
Click on the name of each city in the table above to find detailed breakdowns on all the factors that go into calculating your monthly premium. Here, you’ll find all the information you need on how things like driving record, age, gender, vehicle make and model, and more will affect how much you pay for car insurance in each locality.
And if you want to jump right in and see how much you’ll pay, simply enter your ZIP code below and find your best rate in minutes!
Maryland Vehicle Registration Fees and Other Costs
If you’re in the market for a new or used car, you’ll need to budget for more than just the vehicle’s sticker price. You’ll be on the hook for basic DMV fees like title, license plate, and registration fees no matter where and how you purchase your new car, truck or SUV, as well as buying a new car insurance policy for your car. But some buyers will find themselves with additional fees such as sales tax, documentation fees, personal property tax, emissions and inspection fees, hybrid and electric vehicle fees, lien recording fees and a slew of other costs.
Check out Compare.com’s comprehensive vehicle costs breakdown to make sure you account for all the added fees you might be on the hook for when buying a car in Maryland.
Maryland Auto Insurance FAQs
What car insurance is required in Maryland?
In order to drive legally in Maryland, here’s the state minimum insurance requirements:
- Body Injury Liability: $30,000 for one person; $60,000 total for two or more people
- Property Damage Liability: $15,000 per accident
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage: $30,000 for one person; $60,000 for all injuries per accident; $15,000 in property damage.
- Underinsured motorist: covered under uninsured motorist.
- Personal Injury Protection: $2,500
How much is car insurance in Maryland?
The average cost of car insurance in Maryland is $183/mo.
What happens if you drive without car insurance in Maryland?
Does Maryland require full coverage insurance?
No, Maryland doesn’t require you to have full coverage insurance. Instead you just need to meet their state minimum insurance requirements.
Can you get car insurance without a license in Maryland?
To secure car insurance without a license in Maryland, you’ll need to secure non-owner car insurance. Keep in mind that not all insurance companies offer this option.
Methodology
All data referenced in this article comes from a combination of proprietary data — which is aggregated from millions of real customer quotes through Compare.com — and additional data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant.
