Best Car Insurance in Maryland
Last Updated on June 21, 2021
You must carry car insurance to legally drive in Maryland. Fortunately, Maryland drivers have plenty of options for car insurance, including regional providers and nationwide firms.
Statewide, the average Maryland driver pays around $1,479 per year for full coverage car insurance, which is very close to the nationwide average of $1,450 per year. Maryland is squarely in the middle of the pack for car insurance prices.
Want to find the best car insurance in Maryland? We can help.
Table of Contents
- Best Auto Insurance Companies in Maryland
- Maryland Auto Insurance Requirements
- Driving Without Insurance in Maryland
- Car Insurance in Maryland with a DUI
- Car Insurance in Maryland with At-Fault Accidents
- Car Insurance in Maryland with Speeding Tickets
- Car Insurance in Maryland for Young Drivers
- Car Insurance in Maryland with Poor Credit
- SR-22 Insurance in Maryland
Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in Maryland
Maryland drivers have hundreds of options for car insurance, including large providers and smaller firms. The best car insurance companies in Maryland charge reasonable prices while maintaining high standards for customer service and claims satisfaction. The top 10 auto insurance companies in Maryland include all of the following:
1. USAA
If you qualify for USAA membership, then you can buy some of the best car insurance in Maryland with USAA. USAA charges competitive rates while providing top-tier levels of customer service and claims satisfaction. The average USAA driver pays just $721 per year for full coverage car insurance in Maryland.
USAA | |
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Company Address | 9800 Fredericksburg Road San Antonio, TX 78288 |
Phone Number | 1-210-531-USAA |
Website URL | http://www.usaa.com/ |
2. Erie
Erie offers high-quality car insurance at a reasonable rate throughout Maryland. Although Erie isn’t available nationwide, they’re the best-rated insurance provider in many states, and Erie has taken home several top prizes from J.D. Power in recent years. In Maryland, the average Erie policyholder pays around $745 per year for car insurance according to our model driver portfolio.
Erie | |
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Company Address | 100 Erie Insurance Place Erie, PA 16530 |
Phone Number | 1-800-458-0811 |
Website URL | https://www.erieinsurance.com/ |
3. State Farm
State Farm is available throughout Maryland, insuring thousands of drivers across the state. State Farm is America’s largest car insurance company, so it’s no surprise the company has a strong presence. They also manage to charge some of the most affordable rates in Maryland, with drivers paying around $799 per year for car insurance with State Farm.
State Farm | |
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Company Address | 1 State Farm Plaza Bloomington, IL 61701 |
Phone Number | 1-309-766-2311 |
Website URL | https://www.statefarm.com/ |
4. GEICO
GEICO is one of the most popular car insurance companies in Maryland, and the company continues to offer low rates and good value on car insurance across the state. Expect to pay approximately $854 per year for full coverage car insurance with GEICO in Maryland.
GEICO | |
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Company Address | 5260 Western Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815 |
Phone Number | 1-800-861-8380 |
Website URL | https://www.geico.com/ |
5. Progressive
Progressive is popular in urban and rural areas of Maryland, offering competitive prices and a range of insurance products. They’re not quite as affordable as competing companies above, but Progressive charges around $982 per year for car insurance.
Progressive | |
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Company Address | 6300 Wilson Mills Road Mayfield Village, OH 44143 |
Phone Number | 1-800-776-4737 |
Website URL | https://www.progressive.com/ |
6. Allstate
Allstate charges around $1,009 per year for car insurance in Maryland, based on our average across multiple driver profiles. Allstate is one of the largest car insurance companies in Maryland and the United States, making them a popular option for thousands of drivers.
Allstate | |
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Company Address | 2775 Sanders Road Northbrook, IL 60062 |
Phone Number | 1-800-255-7828 |
Website URL | https://www.allstate.com/ |
7. Esurance
Esurance was launched in 1999 to offer low prices on car insurance with low overhead costs and an easy-to-use website. Today, Esurance continues to be one of the most popular options nationwide, particularly for drivers who want hassle-free car insurance without a personal agent. If you don’t mind dealing with a faceless firm, Esurance charges around $1,021 per year for full coverage car insurance in Maryland.
Esurance | |
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Company Address | 650 Davis St San Francisco, CA 94111 |
Phone Number | 1-800-378-7262 |
Website URL | https://www.esurance.com/ |
8. Farmers
Farmers has insured vehicles across the United States for over 100 years. Today, it’s one of America’s top 20 largest insurance providers. Farmers is a great option for drivers in rural and urban areas of Maryland, with average policies starting around $1,034 per year.
Farmers | |
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Company Address | 4680 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90010 |
Phone Number | 1-888-327-6335 |
Website URL | https://www.farmers.com/ |
9. The Hartford
If you want to pay a little bit extra for a significantly better insurance experience, then The Hartford may be the right option for you in Maryland. Like Erie, The Hartford frequently ranks among the best insurance companies in multiple regions according to J.D. Power rankings. Expect to pay around $1,198 per year for full coverage car insurance in Maryland while enjoying high levels of customer service and claims satisfaction.
The Hartford | |
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Company Address | One Tower Square Hartford, CT 06183 |
Phone Number | 1-800-413-8970 |
Website URL | https://www.thehartford.com/ |
10. MetLife
MetLife has a strong presence along the east coast, including in Maryland and neighboring states. MetLife’s prices tend to be competitive with other providers listed here, with the average Maryland driver paying $1,209 per year based on our model portfolios.
MetLife | |
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Company Address | 200 Park Avenue New York City, NY 10166 |
Phone Number | 1-800-638-5433 |
Website URL | https://www.metlife.com/ |
Maryland Insurance Requirements
You must have car insurance to drive in Maryland. Like other states, Maryland requires drivers to carry a certain minimum amount of liability insurance. This liability insurance protects other drivers on the road, covering property damage (like vehicle repairs) and bodily injury expenses (like medical bills and lost wages).
You must maintain the following minimum insurance limits to legally drive in Maryland:
- $30,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per person
- $60,000 of bodily injury liability coverage per accident
- $15,000 of property damage liability coverage
- $30,000 of uninsured motorist bodily injury liability coverage per person, $60,000 of uninsured motorist bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $15,000 of uninsured motorist property damage liability coverage
- $2,500 of personal injury protection (PIP) coverage
Overall, Maryland has higher car insurance requirements than other states, with drivers required to carry uninsured motorist coverage, PIP coverage, and other items not required in other states. Despite requiring more car insurance than other states, Maryland has average premiums compared to the nationwide average.
If you find yourself unable to obtain auto insurance through traditional auto insurance companies, you can apply for insurance through the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund, which helps high-risk drivers maintain the legally required insurance.
Driving Without Insurance in Maryland
Drivers cannot legally drive in Maryland without insurance. If you are caught driving without insurance in Maryland, then you could face financial penalties, vehicle impoundment, license suspension, and other penalties.
In Maryland, driving without car insurance is a misdemeanor criminal citation. That means you could face jail time and lose your license in addition to paying severe fines.
Penalties vary depending on how many times you were caught driving without insurance:
- First Offense: 5 license points, a $1,000 fine, and up to 1 year in prison.
- Second and Subsequent Offense: 5 license points, a $2,000 fine, and up to 2 years in prison.
Drivers could also lose their driver’s license and vehicle registration if caught driving without insurance. You will need to pay a fee of $150 to reinstate your license and registration. If you do not reinstate your license and registration within the first 30 days, then you pay an additional fee of $7 per day of lapsed coverage, up to a maximum of $2,500.
Drivers also need to pay a $25 fee to re-register a vehicle.
Many insurance companies in Maryland increase rates after a lapse in coverage. Lapsed insurance coverage is considered high risk, which means you could pay higher premiums for years.
Car Insurance in Maryland with DUI
You will pay higher car insurance premiums in Maryland after a DUI or DWI conviction. However, not all car insurance companies treat DUIs the same way. Some companies treat a DUI very seriously, instantly doubling your premiums and keeping them high for years. Others treat a single DUI conviction like an at-fault accident, charging relatively low rates compared to other providers.
If you have a DUI, request a quote from any of the following Maryland insurers:
- GEICO: $1,802 per year
- State Farm: $1,967 per year
- Esurance: $2,021 per year
- Progressive: $2,309 per year
- Erie: $2,311 per year
Car Insurance in Maryland with At-Fault Accidents
If you cause one or more accidents in Maryland, then your car insurance premiums will rise. Some companies have accident forgiveness, while other companies ignore one at-fault accident on an otherwise clean driving record:
- GEICO: $1,823 per year
- Nationwide: $1,902 per year
- Erie: $1,913 per year
- Progressive: $1,918 per year
- State Farm: $2,002 per year
Car Insurance in Maryland with Speeding Tickets
A single speeding ticket on a clean driving record is unlikely to impact rates significantly. However, multiple speeding tickets on your driving record could lead to issues. If you have a speeding ticket in Maryland, any of the following insurance companies seem to offer relatively low rates compared to competing providers:
- GEICO: $1,223 per year
- Nationwide: $1,302 per year
- Progressive: $1,451 per year
- Erie: $1,456 per year
- State Farm: $1,508 per year
Car Insurance in Maryland for Young Drivers
Young drivers in Maryland pay high rates for car insurance – just like they pay high rates in every state. If you’re under age 25, you’re the riskiest driver to insure according to statistics. That means high rates until you prove you’re a safe driver. Fortunately, some Maryland insurance companies welcome young drivers into their pools, charging comparatively cheap rates:
- Erie: $1,609 per year
- USAA: $1,698 per year
- GEICO: $1,701 per year
- State Farm: $1,726 per year
- Allstate: $1,731 per year
Car Insurance in Maryland with Poor Credit
Your credit score impacts insurance rates in Maryland. Drivers with a bad credit score could pay double the premiums of drivers with a good credit score. Statistically, a bad credit score means you’re riskier to insure. Fortunately, some car insurance companies in Maryland treat credit score less seriously than others, including:
- Progressive: $1,998 per year
- GEICO: $2,021 per year
- USAA: $2,134 per year
- Esurance: $2,918 per year
- State Farm: $3,001 per year
SR-22 Insurance in Maryland
Some Maryland drivers require SR-22 insurance. SR-22 insurance is a certificate verifying you have enough liability coverage to legally drive in Maryland.
If you have multiple at-fault accidents, a history of insurance lapses, a DUI, or other serious incidents on your driving record, then you may need to obtain an SR-22 certificate. Maryland’s Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) will notify you of any SR-22 requirements, and the MVA may suspend your license and registration until you provide the SR-22 certificate.
All major insurance companies in Maryland offer SR-22 insurance. Contact your insurer and request an SR-22 certificate. Or, compare quotes for SR-22 insurance online. Although you’ll pay higher rates for SR-22 insurance in Maryland, SR-22 requirements do not last forever, and you can eventually avoid carrying SR-22 insurance.
Maryland also might require you to submit an FR-19 form. Maryland and Delaware are the only two states in America that have the FR-19 form. In Maryland, the MVA may require you to submit an FR-19 to certify you meet the state’s minimum liability auto insurance coverage on your registered vehicle. Only your insurer can submit the FR-19. After submitting the FR-19, the MVA may reinstate your license or validate your driving privileges.
Call your insurance company to inquire about the SR-22 or the FR-19 form today. Alternatively, you can compare SR-22 insurance quotes online today to find the best SR-22 insurance in Maryland.
Conclusion: How to Find the Best Auto Insurance in Maryland
Drivers in Maryland pay average rates for car insurance compared to the rest of the country. Maryland car insurance isn’t the cheapest in the country, but it’s far from the most expensive.
To find the best car insurance in Maryland, compare quotes online today. By researching the best insurance companies in the state, you can get the best coverage in Maryland at a reasonable price.