InSure

The primary purpose of the insurance requirement is to ensure that you have the financial means to pay for any damages or expenses you create while behind the wheel.

You should be aware that Maryland has a financial responsibility law that makes you responsible for paying for the following if you cause an accident:

• Medical bills
• Vehicle repair bills
• Other expenses

Make sure to have the coverage you need to protect you financially in case of an accident. Enter your ZIP code into our free car insurance comparison tool above to find the best rate for the coverage you need.

How to Read Car Insurance Requirements

In Maryland, drivers may face significant penalties if you are caught driving without adequate car insurance. However, before you can shop for new coverage or update your existing auto insurance policy, you need to know how to read insurance requirements.

Insurance requirements usually list a numerical value beside a description for a type of insurance.

The numerical value is the maximum limit of the coverage, so the insurance company will not pay out more than that specified amount per claim.

There are many types of auto insurance that you can purchase, and each type will pay for different aspects of an accident. These coverage types include:

• Collision – Collision insurance pays for repairs or a full replacement of your vehicle if it is damaged in a collision only. While this type of coverage is not required by law in Maryland, some auto lenders require their customers to have collision insurance at least until their auto loan balance is paid off.
• Comprehensive – Comprehensive insurance pays for repairs or a full replacement of your vehicle if it is damaged by something other than a collision, such as a bad weather event, a flood, a fire, theft, and more. As is the case with collision coverage, some lenders require comprehensive insurance until the loan balance is paid in full. However, this is not a state-required type of auto insurance.
• Bodily Injury Liability – A minimum amount of bodily injury liability insurance is required by law in Maryland. It pays benefits to other parties who are injured in an accident that you cause while driving, including for their medical bills.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP)/Medical Payments – Personal injury protection insurance is required by law in this state as well. While bodily injury liability insurance pays for other parties’ medical expenses if you cause a damaging event, this coverage pays for your own medical expenses related to an accident.
• Property Damage Liability – This is another type of required insurance for Maryland drivers. It pays for the vehicle repairs or full replacement of a vehicle that is damaged in an accident that you cause, but it does not pay for damages to your own vehicle or property.
• Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage – Maryland also requires its drivers to purchase uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. This type of car insurance offers benefits if you are hit by an uninsured driver or in a hit and run accident.

What Minimum Coverage is Required for Maryland?

Now that you are more aware of what the many types of auto insurance available in Maryland are, you may be wondering what the coverage requirements are. To comply with the state’s minimum auto coverage requirements, your policy needs to include at least:

• $30,000 for bodily injury per person and $60,000 per accident
• $15,000 for property damage liability per accident
• Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage that complies with these limits
• $2,500 for personal injury protection

If you are preparing to shop for new auto insurance coverage in Maryland, be aware that these requirements are relevant for a personal-use vehicle.

If you have a special use car or if your vehicle is used for commercial purposes, you may need to research other insurance requirements that apply to you.

Penalties for Being Uninsured

In Maryland, your insurance coverage is compared against vehicle registration records electronically, and any lapse in coverage or cancellation of coverage is usually identified by the state quickly. You may initially be fined for not complying with insurance requirements. If you fail to take action, your vehicle registration and plates may be suspended.

You should also be aware that Maryland has hefty penalties related to auto insurance fraud. If you are convicted or car insurance fraud, you may have to pay a fine of up to $1,000, and you may be sentenced to spend up to one year in jail.

Minimum Requirement vs. Recommended Coverage

You may have heard that some drivers in this state purchase more than the minimum amount of car insurance required by law. This can make your premium higher, so you may wonder what the financial benefit associated with buying more insurance may be.

Any expenses that you cause for yourself or for others while you are driving in this state are yours to pay for, and if you do not have adequate coverage, you will need to pay for the expenses out of your own funds.

Drivers who want to minimize their exposure to potential expenses may purchase additional auto insurance.

The state’s requirements and your lender’s requirements for car insurance should be considered the absolute minimum amount of insurance that you need to buy.

You should openly examine the benefits associated with increasing your limits and buying different types of auto insurance.

Getting Auto Insurance in Maryland

Buying auto insurance in Maryland is usually a fast, straightforward process. After you have decided on the coverage types and limits that you want to buy, you can search for a few reputable auto insurance providers to get quotes from.

Pay close attention to each provider’s financial rating and customer service satisfaction rating, and ensure that you only request quotes from top car insurance companies.

If you plan to get new car insurance in Maryland, request quotes via the Internet to save time and effort. When you request quotes that have the same coverage types and limits, you can easily identify the best deal possible on the coverage you need.

Get quotes today by entering your ZIP code into our free rate comparison tool below.

Auto Insurance Laws

11.10.2020 / Maryland / state minimum