Cheap Car Insurance Quotes in Maryland Starting at $105 (2024)

The average cost of car insurance in Maryland is $257 per month, or $3,088 per year. Car insurance rates in Maryland are higher than the U.S. national average of $160 per month.

Because Maryland’s coastal location makes it prone to tropical storms and flooding, car insurance companies charge drivers more for coverage to offset the higher risk.^[1] Additionally, Maryland has one of the highest population densities in the U.S., which can increase the likelihood of accidents.^[2]

Here’s what you need to know about getting cheap car insurance in Maryland and how to compare quotes to find the best deal for your needs.

3 of the cheapest car insurance companies in Maryland

Drivers have many options for cheap car insurance in Maryland. However, the best auto insurance in Maryland is different for every driver. The right insurer for you will depend on your individual situation, coverage needs, and budget.

Below are three of the cheapest options for affordable auto coverage in Maryland.

Best insurer for coverage options: Safeco

Best insurer for military members: USAA

Best insurer for fast claims: Clearcover

How to get the cheapest car insurance in Maryland

Car insurance premiums are different for every driver. Factors like your age, credit score, ZIP code, gender, and vehicle type can all affect your personalized premiums.

However, Maryland drivers can reduce their car insurance premiums in the following ways:

• Choose high deductibles. For policies that require a deductible — such as collision insurance and comprehensive insurance — selecting a higher deductible will lower your monthly premium. However, make sure you can afford a higher deductible if you need to file a claim.

• Look for discounts. Most Maryland car insurance companies offer discounts that can reduce your insurance costs. Every insurer has different discounts, but some common ones are good student discounts, defensive driving course discounts, payment discounts, and safe vehicle discounts.

• Bundle your policies. Purchasing two or more insurance policies from the same company, like car insurance and home insurance, can help you qualify for a bundling discount.

• Shop around. The cost of car insurance will differ among insurance companies. To find the most affordable car insurance in Maryland for your situation, shop around and compare personalized quotes from several insurance companies.

Cheapest liability-only car insurance in Maryland: USAA

Maryland requires liability-only car insurance for all drivers. It covers your financial responsibilities when you injure someone else or damage their property in an accident you cause. Liability-only insurance doesn’t provide any coverage for your injuries or vehicle damages.

Liability-only policies in Maryland cost an average of $184 per month, according to Insurify data.

The table below shows the cheapest car insurance in Maryland for liability-only coverage.

Cheapest full-coverage car insurance in Maryland: USAA

Full-coverage car insurance provides more protection than minimum coverage. A typical full-coverage policy usually includes liability insurance, collision insurance, and comprehensive insurance.

Full coverage is optional for most Maryland drivers, but you may need it if you lease or finance your vehicle. Even if you own your vehicle, full coverage is a good idea if you drive a high-value or specialty vehicle.

Maryland drivers pay $331 per month for a full-coverage policy, on average. Below are other cheap full-coverage car insurance options in Maryland.

Car insurance requirements in Maryland

Car insurance is a legal requirement for all drivers in Maryland. Maryland is an at-fault state, which means the driver responsible for causing an accident must compensate others for their bodily injuries and property damages, usually through their liability coverage.

Drivers must carry liability insurance with coverage limits of at least 30/60/15. Here’s what those numbers translate to:^[3]

In addition to the required coverages, many Maryland drivers can also benefit from endorsem*nts. These optional coverages fill gaps in your standard policy. Below are some of the most common additional coverages available in Maryland, depending on your insurance company:

• 

  Collision coverage

  Collision insurance covers your vehicle repairs after you hit a stationary object or another vehicle, regardless of fault.

• 

  Comprehensive coverage

  Comprehensive insurance pays for vehicle damages from non-collision events, like severe weather, falling objects, theft, and vandalism.

• 

  Gap coverage

  Gap insurance pays the difference between a lease or auto loan balance and insurance settlement if your insurance company totals your vehicle.

• 

  Roadside assistance coverage

  Roadside assistance covers the cost of basic roadside repairs, like flat-tire changes, new batteries, fuel delivery, and towing.

• 

  Accident forgiveness coverage

  With accident forgiveness, your car insurance premium won’t go up after your first at-fault accident.

• 

  Maryland Auto Insurance

  If car insurance companies in Maryland deny you coverage, you can get guaranteed coverage through Maryland Auto Insurance.

  This program, formally known as the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund (MAIF), insures drivers who can’t get car insurance through the private market due to their credit score, lapses in coverage, or similar issues. Maryland Auto Insurance provides state-minimum and full-coverage policies, as well as several add-ons, including rental car coverage and towing insurance.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an incident

Car insurance companies usually consider drivers with incidents on their record as high-risk drivers. If you have incidents such as speeding tickets or at-fault accidents, you’ll probably pay more for car insurance than someone with a clean record. More serious violations, such as driving under the influence (DUI) convictions, usually have the biggest effect on rates.

For example, people with a clean driving record in Maryland pay $184 per month for car insurance, on average. But after a speeding ticket, that average rate increases to $244 per month. And a DUI can cause it to jump to $290 per month.

These increases in premiums after driving infractions and violations are why it’s important to always drive safely and obey traffic laws.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a speeding ticket: USAA

While speeding is often a minor offense, getting a speeding ticket can affect your car insurance premium. If you get a speeding ticket, you might see your insurance premium increase when the policy renews.

The cheapest insurance company for drivers with a speeding ticket in Maryland is USAA, but here’s how average rates vary among other companies.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with an at-fault accident: USAA

Maryland reported more than 500 fatal crashes in 2023.^[4] If you cause an accident, you can expect your insurance premium to increase when your policy renews.^[5]

Drivers with an accident on their record can still find affordable rates — starting with USAA, which has the cheapest rates in Maryland. Other cheap car insurance companies in Maryland for drivers with an at-fault accident are listed below.

Cheapest car insurance for drivers with a DUI: USAA

A DUI is one of the most serious violations, and more than 100 fatal crashes in Maryland involved impairment in 2023.^[4] If you have a DUI conviction on your record, your car insurance premiums will likely increase significantly. Depending on the situation, your insurance company could even refuse to renew your policy.

Although you can expect a big rate increase after getting a DUI, some insurers have lower rates than others. Below are the cheapest car insurance companies in Maryland for drivers with a DUI on their record.

Cheapest car insurance for seniors: USAA

Senior drivers typically pay more expensive car insurance rates than middle-aged adults. For most drivers, car insurance rates decrease around age 35 and increase around age 70. Older people may have changes to driving abilities, and they have higher crash rates than drivers in younger age groups.^[6]

The table below shows cheap car insurance companies for seniors in Maryland for liability-only coverage and full coverage.

Cheapest car insurance for teens: USAA

Teen drivers typically pay the most expensive car insurance rates. Drivers ages 16 to 19 have a higher accident rate than any other age group. Young drivers are also more likely to make critical driving errors that can result in collisions.^[7]

However, teen drivers can reduce their car insurance premiums in a few ways. For example, teens who stay insured on a parent’s policy pay significantly less than getting their own policy. Additionally, many insurers offer discounts for smart students, taking a defensive driving course, and insuring a safe vehicle.

Teen drivers shopping for auto insurance should compare rates from several insurers. These are the cheapest car insurance companies for teens in Maryland for minimum coverage and full coverage.

Maryland car insurance quotes by credit tier

In Maryland, car insurance companies can use credit-based insurance scores when underwriting policies.^[8] When you apply for a policy, the insurance company may check your credit history to help determine your premium. Drivers with good credit scores usually pay cheaper rates than drivers with poor credit scores.

Here’s how credit scores affect average rates in Maryland.

Maryland car insurance FAQs

Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 90 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 50+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.

Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).

Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:

• Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
• Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
• No additional coverage

Full-coverage premium averages correspond to the same bodily injury and property damage limits in addition to:

• Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
• Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible

Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.

1. Maryland State Climatologist Office. "Hurricanes."
2. U.S. Census Bureau. "Highest Density."
3. Motor Vehicle Administration. "Insurance Requirements for Maryland Vehicles."
4. Zero Deaths Maryland. "Fatal Crash Dashboard."
5. III. "Do auto insurance premiums go up after a claim?."
6. Centers for Disease Control. "Older Adult Drivers."
7. Centers for Disease Control. "Teen Drivers and Passengers: Get the Facts."
8. Maryland Insurance Administration. "Use of Your Credit History for Auto Insurance."

Elizabeth Rivelli is a freelance writer covering insurance and personal finance. She has extensive knowledge of various insurance lines, including property and casualty, health, and life insurance. Her byline has been featured in dozens of publications, including Investopedia, Forbes, Bankrate, NextAdvisor, and Insurance.com.