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

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Progressive offers significantly cheaper premiums than Maryland Automobile
• Progressive tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday
• Progressive offers more affordable average rates for residents of suburban areas

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

So, you're considering switching your auto insurance. 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 have narrowed your search down to Maryland Automobile or Progressive, but between the two, which carrier will save you the most?

As you can see, Progressive has average rates that are about 30% per month less expensive than those from Maryland Automobile when looking at the national average rates for auto insurance.

But Progressive may not be the cheapest or best option for each driver out there. Car insurance companies use a ton of complex algorithms to calculate premiums, so depending on how clean your driving record is or how old you are (among a lot of other factors), you could see wildly different prices from the ones above.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Maryland Automobile and Progressive by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which carrier is the best for you.

Maryland Automobile or Progressive: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Maryland Automobile and Progressive only compete against each other in Maryland, where Progressive offers the cheaper average premiums. For Maryland residents, Progressive offers insurance for $241 per month on average. Maryland Automobile's average prices come out to be more expensive, at $256 monthly.

There are plenty of other factors that go into your car insurance cost than just where you live. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

Teen drivers will almost always have the most expensive auto insurance rates of any other group of drivers. The reason is that young, inexperienced drivers are statistically much more likely to get into accidents since they have less experience on the roads.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high premiums, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of more than $70 less a month by choosing Maryland Automobile over Progressive.

That being said, both carriers will lower prices by the time you turn 25. For example, average premiums for Maryland Automobile policyholders reduce over $100 and Progressive's rates drop around $300 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the lowest insurance prices you can find. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly premiums for car insurance.

When looking at Maryland Automobile and Progressive specifically, which company is best for retired drivers? Progressive gets the edge here, with average prices coming in at about $131 a month compared to Maryland Automobile's $224.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Married policyholders tend to get slightly more affordable insurance rates than those who are single. That's typically because married couples tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, Progressive is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $59 per month cheaper than Maryland Automobile, on average. The advantage for married drivers with Progressive is also obvious, where drivers save more than $95 a month.

Maryland Automobile vs. Progressive: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding. That means when it comes to auto insurance men will normally end up paying a little more.

On average, men see prices about $15 per month higher with Maryland Automobile, while with Progressive, the difference is closer to $5 a month.

When it comes to the most affordable rates for each gender, Progressive comes out on top for both men and women. On average, women save about $69 per month and men save around $81 with Progressive compared to the average Maryland Automobile policyholder.

Maryland Automobile or Progressive: 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 a complicated subject for most people. Everyone needs auto insurance, but there are so many different terms and limits that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies end up falling into two different types of coverage -- liability only (which provides property damage and bodily injury coverage for other drivers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which generally refers to having comprehensive and collision coverages in addition to what you get with liability).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, Progressive normally offers significantly more affordable premiums of $111 compared to Maryland Automobile's $168. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, Progressive again has the edge, with policies about $95 a month less expensive than Maryland Automobile, on average.

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

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

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

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

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

However, Progressive is typically the cheaper option for both drivers who have clean records and those with a recent ticket. Drivers with a clean record can save around $71 per month with Progressive, and the same can be said for those with a speeding ticket, too.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Maryland Automobile policyholders who get in an accident can expect to see their rates rise by over $60, while those who have insurance through Progressive will see about a $65 increase.

Overall, the less expensive prices come from Progressive, with monthly rates averaging $214 compared to Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund's $281.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

On average, a DUI offense is going to cost you much more than a single accident or ticket when it comes to your insurance bill. For example, Maryland Automobile increases average premiums by over $80 a month -- that's over a 25% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Maryland Automobile and Progressive Rates?

You may not realized it, but your credit score can be used as one of the factors to determine your monthly car insurance prices. This isn't always the case (Hawaii, for example, has banned the use of credit score as a rating factor) but it does affect several drivers out there.

The reasoning insurance companies use is that policyholders with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so generally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper rates.

So, which carrier offers the lowest prices for drivers with poor, average, or good credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

How much you drive can have a sizable impact on your monthly premiums. Usually, the more miles you put on your vehicle, the more you can expect to pay for coverage.

In this case, neither Maryland Automobile or Progressive report increasing prices for drivers with higher annual mileage figures. Progressive comes out as the most affordable for drivers at both intervals, whether they put 6,000 or 12,000 miles on their car each year, with average premiums of $180 per month for both.

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

Where you park your vehicle can play a considerable role in how much you pay for car insurance. Normally, policyholders who live in less densely populated rural areas will pay quite a bit less than urban drivers because of the small number of cars that are on the roads in those areas.

Progressive boasts the cheapest average prices for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

Policyholders in rural ZIP codes see the most affordable rates from both carriers, but Progressive comes out on top with average prices around $154 monthly. Progressive also has more affordable average rates for drivers in urban and suburban ZIP codes -- a $201 and $18 a month respective difference when compared to Maryland Automobile policyholders in similar areas.

Maryland Automobile vs. Progressive Discounts

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

The difficult part is finding all of the discounts you're eligible for, since it can feel sometimes like every carrier has different discounts and each one is advertised differently.

Below, we've compared all of the different discounts offered by Maryland Automobile and Progressive so that you can find the one that has the most discounts and, therefore, the biggest savings.

Progressive knocks Maryland Automobile out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering 32 more discounts than Maryland Automobile.

There are a couple discounts both companies offer, but Progressive also offers ABS discounts, advance quote discounts, advanced safety feature 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 Maryland Automobile or Progressive Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your auto insurance premiums. We've shown you all the discounts each company offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Maryland Automobile or Progressive the best company for you and your specific profile and needs?

Progressive might be best for you if....

• You have an at-fault collision on your record.
• Your credit score is high.
• You're married and plan to have both of your names on the vehicle's insurance policy.

Maryland Automobile might be best for you if...

• You're buying car insurance for a teen and looking for a wallet-friendly option.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Maryland Automobile and Progressive. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to 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 a handful of carriers, not just Maryland Automobile and Progressive. Luckily, Compare.com does all the hard work for you. Simply enter your ZIP codes below and get multiple quotes from some of the best car insurance companies in your area, all for free.

Maryland Automobile vs. Progressive FAQs

Is Maryland Automobile or Progressive cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, Progressive is the cheaper of the two carriers, offering average rates of $180 per month compared to $256 for Maryland Automobile. Even so, Progressive won't necessarily be the lowest carrier for every policyholder, since there are several different factors that are considered when it comes to your auto insurance payment.

Who is better, Maryland Automobile or Progressive?

Unfortunately, the only answer we can give you is "it depends.". Neither company is necessarily "better" for everyone -- it all depends on the makeup of your unique insurance profile.

Why do Maryland Automobile and Progressive offer me different rates?

Auto insurance companies take a look at quite a few different variables when calculating the premiums they charge drivers. Things like gender, where you live, age, your driving record, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all come into play. Both Maryland Automobile and Progressive calculate prices using different factors, so each one will most likely offer different rates. The only real way to see which carrier is the most affordable for you is by comparing personalized quotes from multiple different carriers.

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

The only way to find the car insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best insurance carriers in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the best price. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Maryland Automobile or Progressive 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.