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

Quick Facts

• In general, State Farm offers significantly more affordable prices than Maryland Automobile
• State Farm has less expensive premiums for policyholders who drive a short distance to work everyday
• State Farm offers more affordable prices for residents of rural areas

Maryland Automobile vs. State Farm: 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 hefty discounts. But exactly how much can you save by switching?

You might have narrowed your search down to Maryland Automobile or State Farm as your top options, but which one will offer you cheaper rates?

Looking at nationwide averages, Maryland Automobile is quite a bit more expensive than State Farm, with premiums averaging $256 per month compared to just $158 with State Farm.

That being said, State Farm may not be the lowest or best option for every single driver out there. Car insurance companies use a variety of complex algorithms to calculate prices, so depending on how good your credit score is or where you live (among a variety of other factors), you could see wildly different premiums from the ones above.

So, if you want to find out which of Maryland Automobile or State Farm is really the best for you, keep reading to see average rates for each carrier broken down by many different rate factors.

Maryland Automobile or State Farm: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Maryland Automobile and State Farm only compete against each other in Maryland, where State Farm offers the cheaper average premiums. For Maryland residents, State Farm offers auto insurance for $227 monthly on average. Maryland Automobile's average prices come out to be over 10% more expensive, at $256 per month.

But there's more to calculating insurance rates than just the state you live in. Read on to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers normally pay a lot more for car insurance than any group on the road. The reason is that 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.

Even so, that doesn't mean that teen drivers have to just accept sky-high insurance premiums. Just look at the table above -- where 18-year-old drivers who have State Farm for their auto insurance pay more than $25 less than those who use Maryland Automobile.

However, with both carriers, you'll see your prices reduce significantly by the time you turn 25. For example, average rates for Maryland Automobile policyholders drop over $100 and State Farm's premiums lower about $200 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

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

But who has the best prices for retired drivers between Maryland Automobile and State Farm? State Farm gets the edge, with premiums for drivers 65 and older more than 50% more affordable than the national average for Maryland Automobile.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

Did you know that auto insurance rates are usually more expensive for single drivers than they are for married couples? That's generally because married policyholders tend to own and insure more than one car, which can often earn you a discount.

When it comes to relationship status, State Farm is the clear winner for single policyholders, with premiums around $97 a month less expensive than Maryland Automobile, on average. For married drivers, the advantage is clear again - State Farm has the edge when it comes to average rates.

Maryland Automobile vs. State Farm: Average Rates by Gender

Men are statistically more likely than women to get into an accident or get pulled over for speeding, which means they'll usually end up paying more for car insurance than women.

Men typically pay over $15 per month more than women with Maryland Automobile, and about $10 with State Farm.

When it comes to the most affordable prices for each gender, State Farm comes out as the cheapest option for both genders. On average, male drivers save about $100 a month and women save around $95 with State Farm compared to the average Maryland Automobile policyholder.

Maryland Automobile or State Farm: 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.

For most people, insurance can be pretty complicated. Everyone needs car insurance, but there are so many different limits and coverages that it can be hard to find the right policy.

The two most common policies that many drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability only (that covers property damage and bodily injury for other drivers and passengers if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which includes two additional coverages -- comprehensive and collision -- alongside liability coverage).

If you're looking for state minimum limits for liability insurance, State Farm normally offers significantly cheaper rates of $99 compared to Maryland Automobile's $168. When it comes to full coverage policies with similar limits, State Farm again has the edge, with policies about $150 per month more affordable than Maryland Automobile, on average.

Is Maryland Automobile or State Farm Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from 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.

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and tickets lead to higher premiums, but which company -- Maryland Automobile or State Farm -- has the most affordable rates for 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 State Farm policyholders can expect to see their monthly bill increase by.

But State Farm has less expensive prices for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are $86 and $65 cheaper, respectively, compared to Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Both carriers will raise prices pretty significantly if you get into an at-fault accident with Maryland Automobile climbing by over $60. State Farm has a less extreme climb, but you can still expect to pay just under $30 more than you were prior to your first collision.

Overall, the less expensive premiums come from State Farm, with monthly prices averaging $163 compared to Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund's $281.

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 ticket or even an accident. Maryland Automobile drivers usually see a 27% increase in their car insurance rates after a DUI charge, while State Farm will generally raise premiums by around 25%.

How does Credit Score Impact Maryland Automobile and State Farm Rates?

Did you know that many auto insurance companies take into account your credit score when calculating prices? This isn't always the case (for example, Massachusetts and Michigan are two states that ban the practice entirely), but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

The reasoning insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with more affordable premiums.

Looking at Maryland Automobile and State Farm specifically, which carrier has the best rates for policyholders at different credit levels?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

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

Did you know that the amount of time you spend in your car have a big impact on how much car insurance companies will charge for coverage? That's because the fewer miles you put on your vehicle each year, the less likely you are to get into a collision 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 premiums for State Farm, with policyholders who drive the least paying about $13 less each month compared to those who drive 12,000 miles yearly. Still, State Farm is the cheaper option for drivers in both categories.

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

Where you park your car can have a considerable impact on your monthly insurance bill. Typically, if you live in a rural area with fewer cars on the road, you'll pay a little less for auto insurance, while the opposite is true for people in urban areas.

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

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, State Farm offers prices around $185 a month compared to Maryland Automobile's $408. People who live in suburban ZIP codes can expect to pay about $161 a month for State Farm and $197 for Maryland Automobile. Lastly, those in rural areas tend to get the lowest rates from both carriers, with average monthly premiums coming in at $127 and $162 for State Farm and Maryland Automobile respectively.

Maryland Automobile vs. State Farm Discounts

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

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be difficult to find all the ones you're eligible for or to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile.

Below, we've broken down all of the different discounts offered by both Maryland Automobile and State Farm so that you can see which company offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

State Farm blows Maryland Automobile away when it comes to the sheer amount of discounts available, offering 23 different discounts to Maryland Automobile's two.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like discounts for being a good driver. State Farm also offers ABS discounts, annual mileage discounts, anti-theft discounts, and more that Maryland Automobile does not.

On the flip side, Maryland Automobile has a unique discount of its own -- a paid in full discounts.

Final Thoughts: Is Maryland Automobile or State Farm Best for You?

So, you've seen how different factors can affect your car insurance prices. 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 insurance company is the right carrier for you and your specific driver profile?

State Farm might be best for you if....

• Your driving record contains an at-fault accident.
• You already have a great credit score.
• You've started working from home and don't have much of a commute.

Maryland Automobile might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

We hope this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Maryland Automobile and State Farm and that you can now make a more informed 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 multiple companies, not just Maryland Automobile and State Farm. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get multiple free quotes from some of the best auto insurance carriers in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Maryland Automobile vs. State Farm FAQs

Is Maryland Automobile or State Farm cheaper?

Looking just at the national average rates, State Farm is the more affordable of the two companies, offering average rates of $158 per month compared to $256 for Maryland Automobile. However, State Farm won't necessarily be the most affordable carrier for every policyholder, since there are a variety of different variables (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Maryland Automobile or State Farm?

Unfortunately, the real answer is "it depends.". No one company is "better" for each driver -- it all comes down to what your unique car insurance profile looks like. For example, State Farm offers cheaper prices for policyholders with an at-fault collision on their record, while Maryland Automobile is less expensive for drivers who have less-than-stellar credit scores.

Why do Maryland Automobile and State Farm offer me different rates?

Auto insurance carriers take a look at quite a few different factors when determining the premiums they charge drivers. Things like your driving record, gender, where you live, age, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be used. Both Maryland Automobile and State Farm calculate rates 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 multiple different companies.

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

The only way to find the insurance company that's right for you is by getting quotes from several carriers 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 information once and you'll get free quotes from dozens of the best car insurance companies in your area. That way, you can guarantee you're getting the most affordable premium. And who knows, the best carrier for you might not be Maryland Automobile or State Farm 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.