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

Quick Facts

• Based on national averages for car insurance, Penn National offers cheaper prices than Maryland Automobile
• Maryland Automobile offers more affordable rates for residents of rural areas
• Penn National has less expensive premiums for people who are single and purchasing insurance by yourself

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. You've probably seen commercials and billboards from companies offering hefty discounts, but exactly how much money can you save by switching?

You might be considering Maryland Automobile or Penn National as your top options, but between the two, which company will save you the most?

As you can see, Maryland Automobile has average rates that are about 15% per month more expensive than those from Penn National when looking at the national average rates for car insurance.

But that doesn't mean Penn National will necessarily be more affordable than Maryland Automobile for every driver. Auto insurance companies vary their prices depending on things like how clean your driving record is, how good your credit score is, where you live, how old you are, and tons of other factors, so rates could differ drastically from person to person.

So, if you want to find out which of Maryland Automobile or Penn National is really the best for you, keep reading to see average prices for each carrier broken down by a variety of different rate factors.

Maryland Automobile or Penn National: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Maryland Automobile and Penn National only compete against each other in Maryland, where Maryland Automobile offers the cheaper average premiums. For Maryland residents, Maryland Automobile offers insurance for $256 per month on average. Penn National's average prices come out to be over 40% more expensive, at $367 a month.

But there's more to car insurance than just the state you live in. As we mentioned above, there's a lot of things that go into how insurance carriers calculate your premiums. Read on to learn more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers typically pay a lot more for auto insurance than any other group of drivers. It's because young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

That being said, that doesn't mean teen drivers can't still save money on their insurance. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have Maryland Automobile for their auto insurance pay nearly $95 less than those who use Penn National.

However, both companies will offer you dramatically lower rates once you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Maryland Automobile policyholders reduce more than $100 and Penn National's rates decrease almost $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

When it comes to car insurance, patience and experience pay off, with drivers around retirement age paying some of the cheapest prices you'll ever see.

So, which company offers the best rates to retired drivers? Penn National gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at around $163 monthly compared to Maryland Automobile's $224.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married couples tend to get slightly less expensive auto insurance premiums than single drivers. That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Penn National is the clear winner for those who are single, with rates about $29 a month more affordable than Maryland Automobile, on average. The advantage for married policyholders with Penn National is also obvious, where drivers save over 20% per month.

Maryland Automobile vs. Penn National: Average Rates by Gender

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

Typically, women see premiums around $15 a month cheaper with Maryland Automobile, and about $5 with Penn National.

When it comes to the lowest prices for each gender, Penn National comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $32 per month and men save around $44 with Penn National compared to the average Maryland Automobile policyholder.

Maryland Automobile or Penn National: 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 insurance can be pretty complicated. There are multiple different coverages that account for many 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.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (that covers bodily injury and property damage for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes comprehensive and collision coverages that protect your own vehicle, alongside what you get with a liability policy).

If you're looking for state minimum liability limits, Penn National generally offers more affordable premiums of $144 compared to Maryland Automobile's $168. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Penn National again has the edge, with policies about $50 a month cheaper than Maryland Automobile, on average.

Is Maryland Automobile or Penn National Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

It's no big secret that drivers who are accident-free get better deals on their car insurance. But even if you have a spotty record, you can still find plenty of ways to save some cash on your monthly bill.

You'll probably end up paying more with accidents and tickets on your record, but which of these two carriers offers the most affordable rates to drivers with less-than-ideal driving records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Drivers with Maryland Automobile insurance policies don't report seeing their prices increase after getting a ticket, but Penn National policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by around 20%.

Even so, Penn National is typically the less expensive option for both drivers who have a recent ticket and those with clean records, offering rates that are 37% and 19% cheaper, respectively, compared to Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

After an accident, drivers who have their auto insurance through Maryland Automobile can expect to see about an $61 -- or around 22% -- increase in their car insurance premiums. Drivers who use Penn National for their auto insurance will see a monthly bill about $67 (or 33%) more expensive after reporting an accident to their insurance carrier.

Overall, the less expensive prices come from Penn National, with monthly rates averaging $206 compared to Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund's $281.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly auto insurance bill -- usually a lot more than a collision or speeding ticket. Penn National drivers usually see a 60% climb in their car insurance prices after a DUI charge, while Maryland Automobile will generally raise premiums by around 27%.

If you have a DUI on your record and are looking for more affordable rates, Maryland Automobile tends to be the much more affordable option with average premiums of $301 a month compared to $346 from Penn National.

How does Credit Score Impact Maryland Automobile and Penn National Rates?

Did you know that many insurance companies take your credit score into account when calculating prices? Certain states and carriers do not allow for credit score to be used as a rating factor, but it might come into play for quite a few policyholders.

Car insurance companies argue that someone with bad credit is less likely to pay their bills on time, which makes them riskier to insure. Because of that, drivers with bad credit will often be forced to pay more.

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

If you have great credit, you'll usually find a better deal with Penn National. Drivers with "excellent" credit can save over 35% compared to Maryland Automobile, and those with "good" scores can also expect to see savings -- about $74 or 29% cheaper each month.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

If you have less-than-perfect credit, it can be somewhat of a toss-up as far as which company offers you the best premiums. Drivers with "fair" credit pay around $48 less with Penn National than Maryland Automobile, but those whose credit is considered "poor" have it flipped -- saving about $64 per month with Maryland Automobile.

Is Maryland Automobile or Penn National 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 how much auto insurance carriers will charge for coverage. Normally, the more miles you drive, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

In this case, neither Maryland Automobile or Penn National report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Even so, Penn National comes out as the cheapest for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car every year, with average premiums of $218 a month for both.

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

Where you live can have a sizable impact on your monthly car insurance bill. Usually, those who live in rural areas will pay less than policyholders in urban areas due to the small number of vehicles that are on the roads in those areas.

When comparing these two companies side-by-side, Maryland Automobile tends to offer the most affordable option for drivers in rural and suburban areas, while Penn National wins in urban areas.

Those in rural areas can expect to pay around $162 per month with Maryland Automobile and $165 with Penn National. People in suburban areas pay about $197 with Maryland Automobile compared to Penn National's $212 monthly. For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Penn National's average prices are around $275 per month compared to Maryland Automobile's $408.

Maryland Automobile vs. Penn National Discounts

Regardless of why you might be in the market for a new insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as possible, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many auto insurance discounts as you can.

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

Below, we've taken a look at all of the different discounts Maryland Automobile and Penn National offer their customers so that you can find the carrier that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Penn National blows Maryland Automobile away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 16 different discounts to Maryland Automobile's two.

There are a couple discounts both carriers offer, but Penn National also offers ABS discounts, added pip option discounts, advance quote discounts, and more that Maryland Automobile does not.

On the flip side, Maryland Automobile has a unique discount of its own -- a good driving discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Maryland Automobile or Penn National Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance rates. We've broken down the different discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, which company is the right one for you and your specific profile and needs?

Penn National might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault accident on your record.
• You're looking for more protection with "full coverage" auto insurance.
• You are purchasing your insurance with a spouse.

Maryland Automobile might be best for you if...

• You live in an suburban area.
• You live in a rural neighborhood.
• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide helps you get a good idea of the differences between Maryland Automobile and Penn National and that it aids in making a more informed decision about your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the best way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from several companies, not just Maryland Automobile and Penn National. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all for free.

Maryland Automobile vs. Penn National FAQs

Is Maryland Automobile or Penn National cheaper?

Looking just at the national average premiums, Penn National is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $218 a month compared to $256 for Maryland Automobile. However, Penn National won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for everyone, since there are several different variables that come into play when it comes to your car insurance cost.

Who is better, Maryland Automobile or Penn National?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No single company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all comes down to what your unique insurance profile looks like. For example, Maryland Automobile offers less expensive prices for drivers with a recent DUI, while Penn National is more affordable for drivers with excellent credit.

Why do Maryland Automobile and Penn National offer me different rates?

Car insurance carriers take a look at lots of different factors when determining the rates they charge drivers. Variables like age, where your home is, your driving record, gender, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Maryland Automobile and Penn National calculate prices differently, so each one will most likely offer different premiums. The only real way to see which carrier is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a bunch of different companies.

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

The only way to find the auto insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from a handful of carriers and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, sites like Compare.com do all the hard work for you. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance companies in your area. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the best rate. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Maryland Automobile or Penn National 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.