The Cheapest Auto Insurance in Maryland in 2023

Maryland has higher car insurance requirements than most states — and going without the minimum coverage can result in expensive penalties. Fortunately, there are still savings out there — and the best way to save big is by comparing quotes from multiple companies.

We analyzed quotes from dozens of the best Maryland auto insurance companies to find the lowest rates for different driving profiles, coverage levels, and other rating factors. Keep reading to find out which companies are the cheapest for drivers like you.

Key Takeaways:

• GEICO is often the cheapest company in MD for different ages and driver profiles.
• Maryland drivers must carry 30/60/15 liability insurance, plus personal injury protection and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages.
• Driving without insurance could mean up to $2,500 in fines, vehicle registration suspension, and jail time.

Maryland’s Cheapest Car Insurance Companies

The state average auto insurance rate in Maryland is $173 per month. With these higher-than-average premiums, finding ways to save is crucial.

Let’s take a look at which companies offer the cheapest average rates in all of Maryland.

GEICO offers some of the cheapest car insurance rates in the Old Line State, averaging $76 monthly. However, it might not be the cheapest option for everyone.

We analyzed Maryland auto insurance companies to find the lowest rates for the top rating factors — such as age and driving record — in the sections below.

The Average Cost for Maryland Car Insurance

Maryland drivers pay an average monthly cost of $173 for car insurance. Maryland’s average rate is 34% higher than the national average, and the neighboring states of Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia all boast cheaper average rates.

Higher minimum coverage requirements and more expensive vehicle repair costs contribute to Maryland being one of the most expensive states in the country for auto insurance. But the good news is we’ve found the cheapest insurance companies in Maryland for different driver profiles, as outlined in the sections to come.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for State-Minimum Insurance: GEICO

How much insurance coverage you choose affects how much you pay in Maryland. And the minimum mandated coverage levels in your state make up the cheapest possible policies.

Maryland drivers are required to carry at least $30,000 in bodily injury liability per person, $60,000 in bodily injury liability per accident, and $15,000 in property damage liability coverage. The state also mandates the same coverage amounts in uninsured motorist coverage, as well as $2,500 in personal injury protection.

We’ll go into those requirements more later, but first, let’s take a look at which companies offer the cheapest state-minimum liability coverage in Maryland.

GEICO is the cheapest insurance company for state-minimum coverage car insurance, with average rates of just $54 per month. Minimum coverage offers basic protection if you’re on a budget, but it doesn’t protect your vehicle.

Low-income and uninsured drivers can also get minimum liability coverage from the government-backed Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF). However, average rates are higher, at $102 monthly.

Cheapest Car Insurance Rates for Full-Coverage Insurance: GEICO

Buying full coverage is more expensive, but it protects you and your vehicle if you’re involved in an accident, regardless of fault. Full coverage usually includes state-minimum liability, comprehensive, collision, and, in Maryland, personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage.

You can get the lowest rates for full coverage from GEICO, which averages $97 per month. GEICO is one of the few insurers offering mechanical breakdown insurance, providing valuable coverage for drivers on a budget.

Kemper is another cheap option, costing only $17 more per month than GEICO.

Compare Maryland Auto Insurance Rates by Age

Age is one factor that greatly affects your auto insurance rates in Maryland. Young drivers are the riskiest to insure since they have the least driving experience, which means they pay more than other age groups for auto insurance.

We compared different age brackets to help Marylanders find the cheapest Maryland insurance company for each group.

Cheapest car insurance for Maryland teens: GEICO

Teen drivers are the most expensive age group to insure. Despite making up just 5.1% of licensed drivers, young drivers were involved in 8.5% of fatal accidents in 2020, according to NHTSA data.

However, teens who maintain a clean driving record typically see their rates drop around age 25.

The table below shows Maryland’s cheapest car insurance companies for 18-year-old drivers.

Maryland teens can find the cheapest rates for both liability and full coverage from GEICO. It offers savings opportunities for young drivers, such as discounts for good grades, clean driving records, and being part of student organizations.

Cheapest car insurance for Maryland seniors: GEICO

Retirement is an exciting time for many reasons, and approaching retirement age has the added incentive of the cheapest car insurance rates around. Maryland seniors can get even lower rates if they drive less than when they commuted to work.

The table below shows the most affordable insurance companies for 65-year-old drivers in Maryland.

Retirees looking to save as much money as possible should consider GEICO. With average rates of just $60 per month for liability-only and $107 for full coverage, GEICO can help keep your budget in check. Some can save even more with GEICO’s Prime Time contract, which is available to Maryland drivers 50 and older with no recent accidents or moving violations.

Compare Maryland Auto Insurance Rates by Driving Record

Your driving record is the most important factor determining your auto insurance policy rates. Traffic violations and accidents can cause your premiums to increase — though the amount can vary by insurance company.

If you’ve recently gotten an infraction on your driving record, knowing which Maryland car insurance company is the cheapest can help keep rate increases to a minimum.

We break down the cheapest Maryland auto insurance companies for each type of driving record below.

Cheapest car insurance for good drivers in Maryland: GEICO

Being a good driver is the best way to get low rates in Maryland. A good driver has a clean driving record with no accidents or tickets in the last three to five years.

Let’s take a look at which companies offer the best rates for Maryland drivers with clean records.

GEICO once again offers cheap car insurance in Maryland if you’re a good driver. Practicing safe driving habits can pay off even more if you participate in GEICO’s DriveEasy program. This telematics program tracks your driving habits and rewards you for making safe decisions behind the wheel.

Cheapest car insurance in Maryland after a ticket: GEICO

Getting a speeding ticket or moving violation increases your car insurance rates by an average of 23%, according to Compare.com data. We analyzed rates for Maryland drivers with one speeding ticket to find the cheapest insurance companies, as shown in the table below.

If you have a recent speeding ticket conviction, GEICO might be the best option for cheap auto insurance in Maryland. Its average rates are $67 per month for state-minimum policies and $122 for full coverage.

To avoid further rate hikes, prevent tickets by obeying traffic laws, driving at a safe speed, and avoiding distracted driving.

Cheapest car insurance in Maryland after an accident: GEICO

If you cause an accident in Maryland, expect a rate increase at your next renewal. The national average premium increase after an at-fault accident is 43%, according to Compare.com data.

The table below shows Maryland’s most affordable insurance companies for a driver with one at-fault accident.

GEICO also has the cheapest rates for Marylanders after an at-fault accident. If you have a clean driving record for at least five years before the accident, you could even earn accident forgiveness from GEICO. This benefit can prevent a surcharge on your insurance policy, avoiding the large rate increase many drivers see after causing an accident.

Cheapest car insurance in Maryland after a DUI: GEICO

A DUI conviction in Maryland comes with a rate increase and other severe consequences. You can face up to a six-month license suspension and may even get dropped by your insurance company.

National average rates increase by an average of 92% after a DUI conviction, according to Compare.com data, so finding the cheapest rates is even more important if you’ve recently been convicted of driving under the influence.

The table below shows the cheapest auto insurance companies for a Maryland driver with one DUI.

GEICO offers the cheapest liability-only car insurance rates for Maryland drivers with a DUI on their record, averaging $74 monthly. On the other hand, Kemper is the most affordable for full coverage, with average rates at $115 per month. Kemper offers coverage perks to customize your full-coverage package, such as vanishing deductible, gap insurance, and new car replacement.

The Cheapest Cities for Car Insurance in Maryland

Where you live can affect how much you pay for car insurance. Medical expenses, vehicle repair bills, weather events, and crash statistics can cause rates to vary substantially from one ZIP code to the next.

Let’s take a look at which Maryland cities have the cheapest average rates.

The Old Line State’s cheapest cities for auto insurance are Frederick ($67 per month), Bethesda ($69), and Hagerstown ($72). These cities have smaller population densities than places like Laurel or College Park, which can contribute to their cheaper car insurance premiums.

The largest cities in Maryland by population are Baltimore, Frederick, and Gaithersburg. Baltimore is one of the smallest and most urbanized cities and is also one of the most expensive cities for insurance. Baltimore has the highest instance of motor vehicle theft — contributing to its higher-than-average rates of $177 per month — while Frederick and Gaithersburg have significantly lower theft rates.

Frederick has a much smaller population, helping make it the cheapest city in Maryland for auto insurance.

5 Ways to Get Cheap Car Insurance in Maryland

Follow these five tips to get cheaper car insurance in Maryland:

• Improve your credit score. “Data proves that drivers with better credit tend to have fewer claims,” says John Scalley, agency owner of Scalley Insurance Agency in Millersville, Maryland. Raising your credit score can save you as much as $150 per month on your insurance premiums, according to Compare.com data.
• Drive fewer miles. Driving less can lower gas costs and help keep your insurance premiums low.
• Bundle your policies. Scalley says, “You can bundle your car insurance with home insurance, life insurance, business insurance, or umbrella coverage to get large discounts.”
• Raise your deductibles. “Increasing your comprehensive and collision deductibles can lower your premiums,” Scalley adds.
• Shop frequently and compare quotes. Comparing car insurance quotes from different companies can help you get the best rate in Maryland.

Maryland Auto Insurance Requirements

Maryland has the following auto insurance requirements:

• $30,000 in bodily injury liability per person
• $60,000 in bodily injury liability per accident
• $15,000 in property damage liability per accident
• Identical coverage limits for uninsured motorist coverage
• $2,500 in personal injury protection (PIP)

Although Maryland allows you to waive PIP, Scalley doesn’t recommend it.

“You can use PIP to cover medical bills and lost wages if you’re injured in an accident as a driver, passenger, or pedestrian, regardless of fault,” Scalley says. “The overall cost of PIP is small compared to other coverage on an auto policy. PIP provides first-dollar coverage, which can go towards your health insurance deductible.”

Penalties for driving without auto insurance in Maryland

Even though auto insurance is required in Maryland, an estimated 14.1% of drivers go without it, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The Maryland MVA has steep penalties for driving without auto insurance:

• Vehicle registration suspension with a $25 restoration fee
• $150 fine for the first 30 days, $7 per additional day
• Up to one year of jail time
• $1,000 fine

You can only register new vehicles or restore your suspended registration once all penalties have been paid. And if you’re caught again, your jail time can increase to up to two years.

SR-22 auto insurance in Maryland

Maryland is one of the few states that don’t require an SR-22 form to be filed with the Motor Vehicle Administration. This form must be provided by insurance companies to the state to prove you have minimum auto insurance coverage.

But if you move to Maryland from another state with an SR-22 requirement, you must still comply with your prior state’s SR-22 rules. Ohio, for example, requires an SR-22/bond to be written for the state to fulfill your suspension requirement.

Maryland Auto Insurance FAQs

Getting cheap car insurance in Maryland can be easy when the right information is available. We answered some of the most common questions Marylanders ask about auto insurance.

Who is the cheapest auto insurance company in Maryland?

GEICO, Kemper, Erie, Penn National, and State Farm are the cheapest auto insurance companies in Maryland, according to Compare.com data. Getting quotes from at least three Maryland insurance companies can help you find the cheapest company for your unique profile.

How much is car insurance in Maryland?

The average cost of car insurance in Maryland is $173 per month, according to Compare.com data. However, many personal factors, such as your age, claims and driving history, credit score, and marital status, can affect your cost of auto insurance.

Which city has the cheapest car insurance in Maryland?

Compare.com data shows Frederick has the cheapest car insurance in Maryland, averaging $67 monthly. The ZIP code you live in is just one factor that insurance companies use to determine how much you pay for auto insurance.

How much car insurance is required in Maryland?

Maryland drivers must carry liability, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist coverages. State-minimum liability coverage requirements are 30/60/15, and uninsured motorist coverage must match. You also need $2,500 in PIP coverage, though you can sign a form to waive this coverage for yourself.

What happens if you get caught driving without insurance in Maryland?

If you’re caught driving without insurance in Maryland, you can face fines, jail time, and vehicle registration suspension. The maximum penalty is $2,500 per year. You’re also barred from registering a new vehicle or renewing your current vehicle’s registration until the fines are cleared.

Methodology

Data scientists at Compare.com analyzed more than 50 million real-time auto insurance rates from more than 75 partner insurance providers in order to compile the quotes and statistics seen in this article. Compare.com’s auto insurance data includes coverage analysis and details on drivers’ vehicles, driving records, insurance histories, and demographic information.

All the quotes listed in this article have been gathered from a combination of real Compare.com quotes and external insurance rate data gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. Compare.com uses these observations to provide drivers with insight into how auto insurance companies determine their premiums.

Sources

1. CarMD. “2022 State Repair Cost Rankings.” Accessed July 18, 2023.
2. Insurance Information Institute. “Automobile Financial Responsibility Laws By State.” Accessed July 18, 2023.
3. Maryland Department of State Police. “Crime in Maryland 2020 Uniform Crime Report.” Accessed July 18, 2023.
4. Maryland Department of Transportation. “Maryland Impaired Driving Laws.” Accessed July 18, 2023.
5. Maryland Insurance Administration. “A Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance.” Accessed July 18, 2023.
6. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “Young Drivers Traffic Safety Facts 2020 Data.” Accessed July 13, 2023.
7. World Population Review. “Maryland Cities by Population (2023).” Accessed July 18, 2023.