Maryland Auto Insurance

Last updated : June 2024

Published By : Direct Auto

Whether you live near our nation’s capital or on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland residents have plenty to see and do. But whether you’re driving to a museum or on the way to eat crabs at your favorite waterfront restaurant, affordable auto insurance coverage can help protect you on every adventure.

Direct Auto Insurance is proud to offer cheap car insurance in Maryland, and in this guide, we’re teaching you which coverages are mandatory, which ones are optional, and how Direct Auto can help you find cheap Maryland car insurance. Get a free quote to see how much money you can save with Direct.

Maryland Car Insurance Laws

Do you have to have car insurance in Maryland?

Maryland law requires drivers to carry an insurance policy that meets all state coverage requirements. Maryland auto insurance policies must at least meet the minimum liability limits, typically expressed as three numbers representing thousands of dollars. For example, the liability limits in Maryland are 30/60/15, as shown below under Maryland Minimum Car Insurance Requirements.

In addition to liability coverage, Maryland drivers must also carry uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage, uninsured motorist property damage coverage, and personal injury protection.

Maryland Minimum Car Insurance Requirements

Still wondering what your insurance policy needs to meet Maryland’s requirements? Here’s a quick breakdown by coverage type.

Coverages	Is It Required by Law?
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage provides financial protection if you cause an accident that injures another person. It helps pay for their medical expenses and your legal services (if necessary).	Yes. $30,000 bodily injury per person/$60,000 bodily injury per accident.
Property Damage Liability Coverage helps pay to repair or replace other people’s property that is damaged in an accident you cause. It typically involves damage to another vehicle, but it could help pay to repair a house, fence, mailbox, and more.	Yes. $15,000 property damage per accident.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) helps pay for your medical bills and related expenses if the other driver has no coverage (UM), insufficient coverage (UIM), or can’t be identified due to hit and run. In some states, UM/UIM can also help pay for property damage.	Yes. $30,000 UM bodily injury per person/$60,000 UM bodily injury per accident. $15,000 UM property damage per accident.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP) helps pay for your medical and related expenses stemming from an accident, regardless of fault.	Yes. $2,500 PIP coverage. In some certain instances, you may be able to waive this coverage.
Collision Coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle if you collide with another car, tree, guardrail, or another object, regardless of fault.	Not required.¹
Comprehensive Coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle if it’s damaged by something other than a collision, like fire, floodwaters, falling branches, vandalism, or contact with an animal.	Not required.¹

IMPORTANT NOTE: While purchasing liability insurance and other required coverages helps you follow Maryland’s insurance laws, it doesn’t necessarily protect you and your vehicle in every circumstance. You would need to add additional coverage, like comprehensive and collision, to protect yourself and your vehicle more fully.

¹Your lender may require these coverages if you lease or finance your vehicle.

Are there additional coverage options?

For added peace of mind, Direct Auto offers add-on services and other insurance products for Maryland drivers:

Maryland Proof of Financial Responsibility and Penalties

What if I don't meet Maryland minimum car insurance requirements?

It’s illegal to drive without insurance in Maryland, and the penalties can be severe. Whenever an insurer cancels an auto policy or a person doesn’t renew their policy, the insurance company must notify the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), according to the Maryland Insurance Administration. If the MVA suspects you don’t have active insurance coverage that meets the state’s minimum requirements, they will request for you to file a form called an FR-19 proving you’ve had proper coverage since the vehicle’s registration date. If you can’t verify you’ve been carrying at least the state-required coverage, you could end up:

Losing your license plate and registration
Paying an uninsured motorist fee for coverage lapses – $150 for the initial 30 days uninsured and $7 per day for every additional day
Having to pay a fee ($25) to get your registration restored after you clear up previous violations
Being barred from registering a new vehicle until you clear up previous violations
Losing your license plate if your registration is suspended
Paying up to $1,000 and facing jail time (up to a year) if you try to deceive insurance officials into thinking you were covered

If these potential penalties aren’t enough, it’s also worth pointing out that if you let your coverage lapse, you might be forced to pay higher premiums in the future when you decide to purchase insurance coverage again.

Penalties for Driving with a Suspended License in Maryland

It’s against the law to operate a vehicle without a valid driver’s license in Maryland. The exact penalties for driving while suspended, revoked, or unlicensed depends on a few factors, but it typically includes fines, potential jail time, and possible vehicle impoundment. Punishment is typically more severe for repeat offenders.

SR-22 Insurance in Maryland

In many states, high-risk drivers are also required to keep an SR-22 (also known as a certificate of financial responsibility) on file with the state verifying they have purchased auto insurance coverage that satisfies the state’s minimum coverage requirements. Maryland doesn’t require drivers to file SR-22s. However, moving from Maryland to a new state could lead to SR-22 requirements if a driver has been:

Caught not maintaining proper insurance coverage
Convicted of a DUI/DWI
Convicted of other serious driving violations

If you have any questions about SR-22 filings, we’d be happy to help. Our agents specialize in helping people find affordable car insurance coverage, regardless of their history.

High-Risk Auto Insurance in Maryland

Many individuals do not have a perfect driving record, and after a certain number of violations or a serious enough violation, drivers can be considered a major risk to insure. While some companies try to steer clear of these individuals, other insurance companies offer non-standard insurance (another name for high-risk auto insurance) to provide financial protection for these drivers.

We believe your driving history shouldn't define you forever, and we work hard to find quality, affordable coverage for every driver, regardless of their past.

Where can I find the cheapest car insurance rates in Maryland?

Car insurance costs vary depending on a number of factors, including:

The amount & type of coverage you choose
The year, make and model of the vehicle you drive
How much you drive, where you drive and where you live
Your demographics
Your driving record
Your credit history

Maryland Regional Auto Insurance

Depending on where you live, you might have specific wishes and “must-haves” in mind for your car insurance policy. After all, some cities have busy traffic and others offer quiet streets with far fewer accidents. But no matter what city you call home in Maryland, we’re here to help you get covered.

Baltimore Auto Insurance

Columbia Auto Insurance

Germantown Auto Insurance

Silver Spring Auto Insurance

Waldorf Auto Insurance

Other Maryland Auto Insurance Resources

Find Cheap Car Insurance in Maryland with Direct Auto!

Looking for affordable car insurance in Maryland? Get a free car insurance quote for a policy that meets your state’s requirements, fits your needs, and includes any discounts you’re entitled to receive so your premium is the lowest price possible.

*Emergency Protection Plans (EPP) and Roadside Assistance are not insurance and are administered through Nation Safe Drivers, Boca Raton, FL. Not all benefits available in all states.

** The “Direct Auto Insurance” brand is used by insurers in the National General Group, Winston-Salem, NC to describe their direct-to-consumer auto insurance programs. Direct Auto Insurance branded policies are produced by Direct General Insurance Agency, Inc. dba “Direct Auto Insurance” and by National General Insurance Marketing Inc

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