Baltimore, MD Auto Insurance

Last updated : June 2024

Published By : Direct Auto

Vibrant, bustling, and abundant with blue crab, Baltimore is a seafood and music lover’s dream to live in. But whether you’re commuting to work in Washington D.C. or simply driving down the street to your favorite restaurant, you need affordable auto insurance coverage for any adventure you’re not taking the train.

Since 1991, we’ve helped people find the right insurance to match their needs, no matter what their credit or insurance histories look like. If you’re searching for cheap car insurance in Baltimore, MD, get a quote from Direct Auto.

Baltimore, MD Minimum Car Insurance Requirements

Maryland auto insurance policies must at least meet the state’s minimum liability coverage limits, typically expressed as three numbers (representing thousands of dollars) separated by slashes. For example, the liability limits in Maryland are 30/60/15, and they help pay for bodily injury and property damage claims after an accident that is primarily your fault. In addition to liability coverage, Maryland drivers must also carry uninsured motorist coverage (UM) and personal injury protection (PIP).

If you’re still confused about what your insurance policy must include, please refer to the chart below.

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 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

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

Baltimore, MD Proof of Financial Responsibility & Penalties

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.

SR-22 Insurance in Baltimore, MD

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.

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.

Columbia, MD, Auto Insurance

Germantown, MD, Auto Insurance

Silver Spring, MD, Auto Insurance

Waldorf, MD, Auto Insurance

Other Maryland Auto Insurance Resources

Get Covered with Direct Auto Insurance!

Looking for cheap car insurance in Baltimore? 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.