Maryland car insurance

Car insurance in Maryland costs an average of $96 per month for state minimum coverage and $211 per month for full coverage in 2026. Maryland is an at-fault state with a robust required coverage package: 30/60/15 liability limits plus mandatory uninsured motorist coverage and $2,500 in personal injury protection (PIP) unless waived. 

Comparing quotes, using discounts, and choosing the right coverage level can help you get the protection you need at the best price.

Car insurance in Maryland costs an average of $96 per month for minimum coverage and $211 per month for full coverage. Maryland’s required coverage package bundles more protection than most states mandate, and dense Baltimore–Washington corridor commuter traffic adds claim frequency, both showing up in premium cost.

“Full coverage” isn’t a standardized policy type. It generally refers to a policy that combines the state-required coverages with collision and comprehensive coverage, which pays for damage to your own vehicle. Exact inclusions vary by insurer.

Your individual rate depends on your driving history, age, vehicle, ZIP code, and coverage selections. Comparing personalized quotes through Luva shows you rates matched to your own profile.

Maryland law requires liability insurance with limits of at least 30/60/15 under Maryland Transportation Code § 17-103.¹ Maryland policies must also include uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage, and insurers must offer $2,500 of personal injury protection (PIP).²

Your UM/UIM limits match your liability limits by default; you can only reduce them to the state minimum with a written waiver.² PIP pays immediate medical costs and lost wages for you and your passengers regardless of fault, and can be waived entirely in writing.

Maryland also offers enhanced underinsured motorist (EUIM) coverage as an alternative to standard UIM. With EUIM, your coverage isn’t reduced by what you collect from the at-fault driver’s policy. You can recover up to your full EUIM limits on top of their payment.³ That makes it meaningfully stronger protection. The cost difference varies by insurer.

The MVA monitors coverage continuously, and letting a policy lapse triggers escalating daily fines. Note that the $15,000 property damage minimum can be exhausted quickly in a serious accident involving a newer vehicle — one reason many Maryland drivers choose higher limits.

Is Maryland a no-fault or at-fault state?

Maryland is an at-fault (tort) state, meaning the driver who causes an accident is financially responsible for the resulting damages. The at-fault driver’s liability coverage pays the other party’s medical bills and repair costs up to the policy limits.

Maryland pairs that tort system with first-party protections, including UM coverage, which every policy must include, and PIP, which is included unless you waive it in writing. This makes it so injured drivers can access some funds quickly without waiting for fault to be resolved. 

Maryland is also one of the few remaining contributory negligence states: if you’re found even partially at fault for a crash, you can be barred from recovering damages from the other driver, which makes your own coverage limits especially important.

Average rates vary widely among the carriers writing auto insurance in Maryland, from national groups to regional carriers like Erie Insurance. The table below shows average monthly premiums by company.

The gap between the cheapest and priciest carriers here runs into the hundreds per month, and no single company wins for everyone. Luva compares Maryland's carriers on your details so you can find where your profile lands.

Maryland insurers set premiums using several rating factors. The most influential include your driving record, age, annual mileage, vehicle make and model, ZIP code, and the coverage limits and deductibles you choose.

How does location affect Maryland car insurance rates?

Location weighs heavily in Maryland. Drivers in Baltimore and the Washington, D.C. suburbs typically pay far more than drivers on the Eastern Shore or in Western Maryland, reflecting differences in traffic density, theft, and claim frequency.

How does credit affect Maryland car insurance rates?

Credit works differently in Maryland than in most states. Insurers may use a credit-based insurance score when writing a new policy, but they cannot raise your premium at renewal because of your credit.⁴

Here’s a look at the average monthly Maryland car insurance premiums by credit tier:

How do violations affect Maryland car insurance rates?

A clean driving record is the most reliable path to lower car insurance rates in Maryland. Tickets, at-fault accidents, and major offenses like DUI signal a higher risk to insurers and trigger significant surcharges, as the table below shows.

A DUI carries consequences well beyond the premium increase, including license suspension and years of elevated rates once your driving record follows you to every quote.

Maryland’s rates run high, which makes comparing options and claiming discounts more valuable. These steps can lower your costs:

1. Shop and compare quotes. Rates for identical coverage vary dramatically between Maryland carriers. Luva compares regional and national insurers in one place, so you see your full set of options.

2. Bundle your policies. Insuring your auto and home, condo, or renters policies with the same carrier typically earns a multi-policy discount.

3. Enroll in a telematics program. Usage-based programs track habits like braking, speed, and mileage, and reward safe drivers with lower premiums.

4. Review your PIP selection carefully. Maryland allows you to waive PIP in writing, but consider what you would lose before doing so. PIP pays medical expenses and lost wages regardless of fault, and Maryland’s contributory negligence rule can limit your other recovery paths.

5. Raise your deductibles. Higher collision and comprehensive deductibles reduce your monthly premium, just make sure you can comfortably pay the deductible if you file a claim.

6. Ask about every discount. Multi-car, good student, defensive driving, pay-in-full, and paperless billing discounts are widely available in Maryland. Each is small on its own, but they stack.