Esurance vs. Maryland Automobile: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Maryland Automobile offers less expensive rates than Esurance
• Esurance offers more affordable premiums for drivers with a DUI charge on their record
• Maryland Automobile offers more affordable average rates for residents of rural areas

Esurance vs. Maryland Automobile: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? After all, you've seen ads from all sorts of companies offering big discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might be considering Esurance or Maryland Automobile, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

Looking at the national average rates for both companies, Esurance is about $43 more per month than Maryland Automobile.

Even so, that doesn't necessarily mean Maryland Automobile will be the cheaper option for each driver. After all, auto insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to each driver depending on rating factors like your age, your credit score, your driving record, or even where you call home (among other things). So, at the end of the day, premiums from every carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Wanting to know if Esurance or Maryland Automobile is really the right company for you? Keep on reading to see how average prices can change based on all of the factors we've mentioned above.

Esurance or Maryland Automobile: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Esurance and Maryland Automobile only compete against each other in Maryland, where Maryland Automobile offers the cheaper average premiums. For Maryland residents, Maryland Automobile offers insurance for $256 a month on average. Esurance's average rates come out to be over 50% more expensive, at $404 per month.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just the state you live in. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers usually pay a lot more for insurance than any other group of drivers. It's typically because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high auto insurance prices. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Maryland Automobile for their car insurance pay nearly $350 less than those who use Esurance. It's worth noting that Esurance offers insurance in 11 different states compared to Maryland Automobile's one, which can skew the average rates a bit, but the difference here is still considerable.

However, both companies will reduce prices by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average premiums for Esurance policyholders lower almost $500 and Maryland Automobile's prices decrease more than $100 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Drivers around retirement age normally enjoy some of the most affordable auto insurance premiums you'll ever see. After all, they've likely been driving for quite some time, which generally decreases their chances of accidents and other infractions that can increase rates.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Esurance and Maryland Automobile? Maryland Automobile gets the slight edge here, with average prices coming in at around $224 monthly compared to Esurance's $232. That being said, the difference is only about 5%, so other factors will likely come into play when determining which carrier has the lowest rates for you.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but car insurance prices tend to be more expensive for single policyholders than they are for married policyholders. This usually boils down to married drivers having multiple cars on their policy -- something quite a few insurance carriers will reward with discounts.

When it comes to relationship status, Maryland Automobile is the clear winner for those who are single, with premiums around $81 a month less expensive than Esurance, on average. But for married couples, that advantage is much less clear - Esurance offers the cheapest average rates , but the difference is less than $10.

Esurance vs. Maryland Automobile: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to cause a collision and get into accidents, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

Normally, women see prices about 7% per month less with Esurance, and around 6% less with Maryland Automobile when compared to their male counterparts.

When it comes to the most affordable premiums for each gender, Maryland Automobile offers the lowest average rates for both men and women. On average, women save about $41 a month and men save about $45 with Maryland Automobile compared to the average Esurance policyholder.

Esurance or Maryland Automobile: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

It's no secret that auto insurance can be pretty complicated. There are a variety of different coverages that account for several different things. Some protect you and your vehicle, while others only provide coverage for other people's property and health if you cause an accident.

However, the most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which normally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to liability).

If you're looking for state minimum liability insurance, Maryland Automobile generally offers more affordable prices of $168 compared to Esurance's $201. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Maryland Automobile again has the edge, with policies around $55 per month cheaper than Esurance, on average.

Is Esurance or Maryland Automobile Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from insurance companies offering great rates for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

Tickets and at-fault collisions will most likely raise your premiums, but is Esurance or Maryland Automobile less expensive for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Maryland Automobile car insurance policies don't report seeing their prices increase after getting a ticket, but Esurance policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by.

But Maryland Automobile is typically the cheaper option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records -- their rates are around 9% more affordable for drivers with clean records and 23% less expensive for those with a ticket.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Esurance can expect to see about an $122 -- or around 34% -- increase in their car insurance rates. Drivers who use Maryland Automobile for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $61 (or 22%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance company.

Overall, Maryland Automobile offers the cheapest premiums for drivers with an at-fault accident on their records, with monthly rates averaging $281 compared to Esurance's $364.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge on your record, it's probably going to cost you more than a simple speeding ticket or even a collision. For example, Maryland Automobile increases average premiums by over $80 a month -- that's over a 25% increase.

Esurance has the overall most affordable prices for drivers with a DUI on their records at $301 per month, but it's worth noting that Esurance's average rates come from 11 states compared to just one for Maryland Automobile, so the data may be skewed slightly.

How does Credit Score Impact Esurance and Maryland Automobile Rates?

You may not have known, but your credit score can come into play when carriers calculate your monthly bill. This isn't always the case (Michigan, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it will come into play for lots of policyholders.

The reasoning auto insurance companies use is that drivers with good credit will be more likely to pay their bills on time; so they'll reward them with cheaper premiums, while those with poor credit will usually be forced to pay more.

So, which carrier offers the best rates for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have solid credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Esurance for an "excellent" credit score. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save more than 15% compared to Maryland Automobile, while those with "good" scores can expect to see better savings from Maryland Automobile -- around $10 or 4% cheaper than Esurance each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Maryland Automobile typically offers lower prices than Esurance when it comes to drivers with a below average credit score. Drivers with "fair" credit pay about $49 per month less with Maryland Automobile compared to Esurance, and those with "poor" scores typically save an average of around $168 monthly.

Is Esurance or Maryland Automobile Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in your monthly car insurance bill. That's because the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more likely you are to get into an accident and cause an insurance claim.

As you can see in the table above, annual mileage doesn't have much of an impact on how much Maryland Automobile charges. However, there's a small difference in monthly rates for Esurance, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $1 less every month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles each year. Still, Maryland Automobile is the more affordable option for drivers in both categories.

Esurance vs. Maryland Automobile: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

We've already mentioned how your home state can play a role in how much you pay for insurance, but the type of area you live in can have a sizable impact as well. Generally, those who live in urban areas will pay more than policyholders in rural areas because there are a lot more cars on the roads in those areas.

Maryland Automobile tends to offer the lowest option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Esurance wins in urban areas.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Esurance's average prices are around $396 while Maryland Automobile offers premiums about $408. People in suburban areas pay a monthly rate of around $197 with Maryland Automobile compared to $288 with Esurance. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $162 a month with Maryland Automobile and $211 with Esurance.

Esurance vs. Maryland Automobile Discounts

You want to save as much money as possible, right? The best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many car insurance discounts as you can.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to find all the ones you can take advantage of or to nail down the carrier that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

In the section below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Esurance and Maryland Automobile so that you can easily see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Esurance blows Maryland Automobile away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 24 different discounts to Maryland Automobile's two.

Both carriers offer several of the same discounts -- like discounts for being a good driver and paid in full discounts -- but Esurance also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, agency transfer discounts, and more that Maryland Automobile does not.

Maryland Automobile's discounts come through just two categories -- Good Driving and Paid In Full.

Final Thoughts: Is Esurance or Maryland Automobile Best for You?

You've seen the role certain variables have on your insurance and the different discounts companies offer. That's all well and good, but when it comes down to it, is Esurance or Maryland Automobile the best carrier for you and your specific needs?

Maryland Automobile might be best for you if....

• You're single and purchasing auto insurance by yourself.
• Your home is located in the suburbs.
• You don't spend much time in your car.

Esurance might be best for you if...

• You're planning on moving to another state soon -- Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund only offers policies in MD.
• You're looking for the company with the most discounts.
• You and your spouse are buying insurance together.

We hope this guide has ben a valuable resource as you compare Esurance and Maryland Automobile and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

But, at the end of the day, there's only one way to know for sure that you're getting the best possible deal on car insurance -- comparing quotes from a handful of carriers, not just Esurance and Maryland Automobile. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get free quotes from dozens of top auto insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Esurance vs. Maryland Automobile FAQs

Is Esurance or Maryland Automobile cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Maryland Automobile is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $256 a month compared to $299 for Esurance. That being said, Maryland Automobile won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every driver, since there are a bunch of different factors (things like driving record, age, gender, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Esurance or Maryland Automobile?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for each driver -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Esurance and Maryland Automobile offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies take a look at several different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Factors such as age, your driving record, gender, where you live, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Esurance and Maryland Automobile calculate prices using different variables, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Esurance or Maryland Automobile is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from multiple companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your area information and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best auto insurance carriers in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Esurance or Maryland Automobile at all!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.