Cheap Car Insurance in Maryland: Cost and Companies (2022)

We at the Home Media reviews team took an in-depth look at some of the country’s top auto insurance providers by examining policies, prices, ratings and customer reviews. We then tailored that list to name the cheapest car insurance providers in Maryland. Use our findings to make an informed decision about the policy that best suits your needs, starting by getting free car insurance quotes from providers.

Car insurance rates are slightly more expensive than the national average in the Old Line State. But that doesn’t mean Maryland drivers can’t find great car insurance coverage.

Below, we’ll look at the cheapest car insurance companies and coverage options in Maryland, beginning with the most affordable providers in the state.

Cheap Car Insurance Companies in Maryland

Geico, USAA, Erie Insurance, State Farm and Progressive are the cheapest car insurance companies in Maryland. We considered coverage options, average statewide premiums and customer satisfaction scores when ranking the cheapest providers in the state.

*Our research team considers nationwide factors when scoring providers. The ranking of providers in this table is specific to car insurance in Maryland.

Each car insurance company has its own calculation methods for insurance premiums. That’s why we recommend reaching out to several car insurance providers if you want to find the cheapest car insurance in Maryland.

Cheapest Maryland Car Insurance Coverage

The coverage level you choose will impact your car insurance rates. Many car insurance quotes from providers include estimates for minimum liability and full coverage car insurance. While minimum liability is what you are required to carry under state law, it’s a good idea for drivers to consider a full coverage policy.

Below, we provide the cheapest auto insurance options in Maryland for both coverage types.

Cheap Liability Insurance Maryland

At $32 per month or $380 per year, USAA offers the cheapest minimum liability car insurance in Maryland on average. Geico, Travelers, Erie Insurance and Kemper also provide affordable car insurance for motorists.

Cheap Full Coverage Car Insurance Maryland

According to our research, USAA provides the cheapest full coverage car insurance rates in Maryland, costing $77 per month or $920 per year. Geico, Travelers, Erie Insurance and Kemper, are also good choices for Maryland motorists.

*These rate estimates are based on the profile of a 35-year-old driver with a clean driving record and a good credit score.

Several factors impact the cost of car insurance in Maryland, including age, driving history and a person’s credit scores. We’ll compare cheap car insurance estimates for Maryland drivers in these categories below.

Cheap Car Insurance in MD for Young Drivers

Young drivers pay substantially more for car insurance than older adults. The tables below show the cheapest car insurance for young drivers in Maryland, along with estimated monthly and annual costs.

Cheap Maryland Car Insurance for 16-Year-Olds

Geico tends to offer the cheapest coverage for 16-year-old drivers in Maryland at an estimated cost of $3,444 per year, or $287 per month. The average rate estimate for 16-year-old Maryland drivers is $14,981 per year, or $1,248 per month. That’s more than 389% higher than the average rate for a 35-year-old driver in the state.

Cheap Maryland Car Insurance for 17-Year-Olds

When it comes to 17-year-old Maryland drivers, USAA tends to offer the cheapest rates, with an average estimate of $2,891 per year, or $241 per month. The average rate estimate for 17-year-old drivers in Maryland is $11,527 per year, or $961 per month. This rate is 276% higher than the average for a 35-year-old driver in the state.

Cheap Maryland Car Insurance for 18-Year-Olds

USAA typically offers the lowest car insurance rates for 18-year-olds in Maryland, with an estimate of $2,741 per year, or $206 per month. The average estimate for an 18-year-old Maryland driver is $9,889 per year, or $824 per month. This figure is 223% higher than the state average for a 35-year-old driver.

Cheap Maryland Car Insurance for 21-Year-Olds

For 21-year-old Maryland drivers, USAA tends to offer the lowest rates at an estimated cost of $1,237 per year, or $103 per month. The average rate in Maryland for a 21-year-old driver is $5,357 per year, or $446 per month. This is nearly 75% more than the average rate for a 35-year-old Maryland driver.

Cheap Maryland Car Insurance for 25-Year-Olds

USAA tends to offer the cheapest car insurance in Maryland for 25-year-old drivers with an estimated cost of $1,045 per year, or $87 per month. The average estimated rate for a 25-year-old Maryland driver is $3,631 per year, or $303 per month. That’s nearly 19% more than the average rate for a 35-year-old driver in the state.

Cheapest Maryland Car Insurance for High-risk Drivers

High-risk drivers with a speeding ticket or recent accident can expect to pay more for car insurance coverage overall in Maryland. The sections below provide estimates for the cheapest car insurance rates for drivers who may fall into these categories.

Cheapest Maryland Car Insurance for Drivers With a Speeding Ticket

A speeding ticket can raise your auto insurance rates dramatically. The following providers offer the cheapest prices for car insurance in Maryland to drivers with a recent speeding ticket on their record.

Cheapest Maryland Car Insurance for Drivers With a Recent Accident

You’ll see your rates jump if you’ve been found at fault for a recent accident. Below are some of the cheapest rates for Maryland drivers with an accident on their driving record.

Cheapest Maryland Car Insurance for Drivers With Poor Credit

Your credit score can greatly affect how much you pay for car insurance in Maryland. Generally, the lower your credit score, the higher your premiums. These auto insurance providers commonly offer some of the lowest rates to Maryland drivers with poor credit scores.

For those who want to know more about the cheapest car insurance providers in the Old Line State, the sections below contain more detailed information.

#1 Geico: Affordable for Most Drivers

When Geico was founded in 1936, it was called Government Employees Insurance Company and was only available to employees of the federal government. Nowadays, Geico coverage is available to drivers in all 50 states and the nation’s capital.

That should be good news for drivers in the Old Line State, since Geico was named Editor’s Choice in our nationwide review of insurers and is our top choice for Maryland auto insurance. Our team found that Geico provides top-tier service alongside multiple coverage options and affordable add-ons.

While it has not accredited the company, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) issues Geico an A+, the highest rating possible. Geico also holds an A++ financial strength score from AM Best, also the group’s top rating.

#2 USAA: Low Rates for Military

USAA easily provides the lowest prices for high-quality car insurance in Maryland. The main reason it isn’t our top choice is that the company only offers products to military members, veterans and their families. That means not everyone in Maryland can receive coverage.

If you are eligible for USAA car insurance, request a quote from the company. USAA’s rates for car insurance in Maryland tend to be significantly lower than from any other provider, often by hundreds of dollars per year.

Those rates buy you excellent service too, according to industry experts. USAA scored 896 out of 1,000 points in the Mid-Atlantic region in the J.D. Power 2021 U.S. Auto Insurance Study℠, nearly 30 points better than the competitor with the next-highest score.

USAA holds a “Superior” A++ rating from AM Best, indicating the company sits in excellent financial shape. And while it does not hold BBB accreditation, USAA receives a stellar A+ rating from the organization.

#3 Erie Insurance: Affordable for Basic Coverage

Erie Insurance is only available in 12 states, but one of those states is Maryland. The regional provider offers one of the best selections of discounts in the industry on top of relatively cheap rates for car insurance in Maryland.

In addition to affordable auto insurance rates, customers in Maryland are quite satisfied with Erie Insurance coverage. The company scored an impressive 856 out of 1,000 points in the Mid-Atlantic region in the latest J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study, earning it second place.

Erie’s glowing reputation isn’t limited to customers. The company holds an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best to match its A+ rating from the BBB.

#4 State Farm: Editor’s Choice

Maryland is one of the 48 states in which State Farm, the country’s largest auto insurance provider, offers coverage. And while it doesn’t provide the cheapest car insurance in Maryland, the company has its selling points.

State Farm offers significant discount opportunities for teen drivers and students, who typically pay the most for auto insurance coverage. For Maryland residents with such motorists in their households, this could be a strong reason to consider State Farm. The company’s mobile app also has strong reviews on both Google Play and the Apple Store, with many citing the State Farm app’s convenience and user-friendly features as highlights.

State Farm is not accredited by the BBB, but holds an A+ rating from the organization. State Farm’s A++ financial strength rating from AM Best and its overall popularity and status show it’s a good choice.

#5 Progressive: Low Rates for High-Risk Drivers

Progressive offers some of the lowest rates on car insurance in Maryland for specific types of motorists. Drivers with poor credit, for example, will find some of their cheapest car insurance premiums with Progressive. While that isn’t the case for people in all categories, the company is certainly worth consideration.

Customers in the Mid-Atlantic expressed a high rate of satisfaction with Progressive as their insurer in the most recent J.D. Power Auto Insurance Study. The company scored a solid 834 out of 1,000 points, placing it above many other highly reputable car insurance companies.

Progressive does not have accreditation from the BBB, and the organization gives the company an F rating. You won’t have to worry about Progressive being able to pay out claims though, as the company holds an A+ financial strength rating from AM Best.

Drivers pay an average of $1,818 per year, or $152 per month, for car insurance in Maryland, according to our rate estimates for a 35-year-old driver with good credit and a clean driving record. These premiums are about 5% higher than the national average of $1,730, making Maryland one of the more expensive states for car insurance.

Here’s how Maryland car insurance costs compare with the rest of the nation:

The average rate estimate for a minimum coverage policy for car insurance in Maryland is around $972 per year, or $81 per month. This is 53% higher than the national average of $635 per year.

Maryland Car Insurance Cost by Age

While multiple factors contribute to the rate you pay for premiums, age is perhaps the single most important one. Younger drivers — especially teen drivers — tend to pay significantly higher rates for car insurance in Maryland and other states than drivers from other age groups. The table below shows the average rates for drivers of different ages.

Maryland Car Insurance Cost by City

Rates between drivers in different cities in Maryland will vary, even with all other factors the same. That’s because insurers adjust rates based on different risk factors associated with different cities and ZIP codes. The table below shows the average full coverage rate estimates for different Maryland cities.

Factors that Affect Maryland Car Insurance Rates

The rates you receive will most likely vary from the ones you see listed in the tables. Insurance companies use a number of different variables to determine your premiums.

These are the most important factors insurers use to calculate your rates:

• Age
• Marital status
• Driving record
• Gender listed on your license
• Credit score
• Location

Most states in the U.S. require drivers to carry some combination of property damage liability insurance and bodily injury liability coverage. That list sometimes includes personal injury protection (PIP) too.

Maryland drivers are not required to carry PIP, but they do need to hold underinsured motorist and uninsured motorist coverage. Here are the minimum coverage requirements in the state, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA):

• Bodily injury liability insurance: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident
• Property damage liability coverage: $15,000 per accident
• Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident
• Uninsured/underinsured property damage coverage: $15,000 per accident

Is It Illegal To Drive Without Car Insurance in Maryland?

Driving without valid car insurance in Maryland is a misdemeanor criminal offense. That means driving without the proper insurance could result in up to one year of jail time in addition to a $1,000 fine and five points on your license.

Additional Maryland Car Insurance Coverage

While you can legally drive with this minimum coverage, you’ll likely want more auto insurance protection. That’s because Maryland is an “at-fault” state, so whoever causes a car accident is responsible for the damages incurred.

Here are some common coverage options to consider to insulate yourself from financial risk:

• Collision insurance: covers damages to your vehicle in the event of an accident
• Comprehensive coverage: takes care of damages to your vehicle for reasons such as fires, floods and incidents of theft or vandalism
• Personal injury protection (PIP): covers your medical expenses no matter who is found at fault for an accident
• Medical payments (MedPay): covers medical expenses for you and others in your vehicle similar to PIP coverage, but is more widely available and less comprehensive

Maryland Auto Insurance Policy Add-Ons

Insurance companies often offer insurance add-ons that cover extra services and even protect the value of your vehicle. If you want to keep your financial situation as safe as possible, find a provider that offers the following:

• Roadside assistance: This gives you discounted or fully covered access to emergency road services such as fluid and fuel delivery, tire repair and replacement, lockout assistance and towing.
• Guaranteed asset protection (GAP insurance): This covers some or all of the difference between the amount you owe on your car and its value if it’s totaled in an accident.
• Rideshare insurance: It covers your car when you’re not actively transporting a passenger while driving for Uber, Lyft and other similar services. This time is typically not covered by those companies’ insurance policies.

Maryland Auto Insurance Discounts

Most car insurance providers offer a number of discounts on premiums and are a great way to help you get the cheapest car insurance in Maryland. Here are some of the most common car insurance discounts you may be eligible for:

• Policy bundling discount: Getting other insurance products such as homeowners, renters or life insurance from the same provider as your car coverage can lead to lower rates.
• Military discount: Being a member of the military or a family member can get you discounts from a number of providers.
• Good student discount: Keeping your grades up can help you find auto insurance policy discounts from some car insurance companies.
• Safe driver discount: Taking a state-approved safe driver course can lead to discounts from some insurers.
• Good driver discount: Staying accident-free and avoiding getting a ticket for a certain period of time can usually lower your rates.
• Multi-car discount: Insuring two or more vehicles with the same provider can often get you a discount on your policy.

How to Get Maryland Auto Insurance

The cheapest car insurance in Maryland will almost certainly be a minimum coverage policy, but most experts recommend getting more coverage than that.

We always suggest getting car insurance quotes online from multiple providers so that you can compare and find the best rates for you.

Geico topped our list of the best insurance providers in Maryland, owing mainly to its low rates and customer service. However, we feel comfortable recommending any of the providers that made our top-five list.

Cheapest Car Insurance in Maryland: FAQ

Below are frequently asked questions about cheap car insurance in Maryland:

Our Methodology

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

• Cost (30% of total score): Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
• Coverage (30% of total score): Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
• Reputation (15% of total score): Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
• Availability (10% of total score): Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
• Customer Experience (15% of total score): This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.

*Data accurate at time of publication.