For a driver with decent driving history, the overall cheapest auto insurance in Maryland is with USAA, Progressive, and Nationwide.
Depending on your age and location, each carrier can offer quotes from 14 to nearly 25% lower than the median rate for similar age drivers.
Other carriers which are competitive are Cumberland Group and 21st Century.
Again, depending on your driver history each carrier can offer quotes from 12 to nearly 20% lower than the average rate.
Peninsula Group (owned by Donegal Group), Allstate and Elephant are companies you may want to put on your bucket list of quotes.
Each can offer rates from 8 to 15% lower than the median quote.
In this article, I am going to cover the minimum requirements in Maryland, the least expensive insurers by age, and cost-saving tips to help you save on your premium.
If you would like to skip to a certain portion of the article, there is a table of contents down a little and to the right.
Note: The average rate for a 25-year-old driver in Maryland is $2,483 per year. As illustrated, the cheapest insurance providers with USAA, Progressive, and Nationwide. Or approximately 23% lower than the median quote for similar age drivers. Cumberland Group and 21st Century are well below the average premium with quotes at $1,909 and $1,923 respectfully.
Minimum Car Insurance Requirements in Maryland
The current minimum is 30,000/60,000/15,000.
| Coverage | Maryland Minimum Liability Coverage | Recommended Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily Injury Protection | $30,000 / $60,000 | $100,000 / $300,000 |
| Property Damage | $15,000 | $50,000 |
| Personal Injury Protection | $2,000* | $5,000 |
| Uninsured Motorist Coverage BIL** | $30,000 / $60,000 | $50,000 / $100,000 |
| Uninsured Motorist Coverage PD*** | $15,000 | $25,000 |
| Comprehensive Coverage | Optional | $500 deductible |
| Collision Coverage | Optional | $500 deductible |
*Note: Maryland allows you to waive Personal Injury Protection and choose a limited PIP option.
**Bodily Injury Coverage
***Property Damage Coverage
Bodily Injury & Property Damage Liability
The first two numbers are for bodily injury liability and the last number is for property damage liability.
In simple terms, the requirements for liability insurance the insurer will pay $30,000 to the injured driver in the other vehicle and up to $60,000 dollars to the injured passengers in the other vehicle.
The insurer will pay a maximum of $15,000 dollars to any property that may have been damage in the accident to the other vehicle.
Note: For a 30-year-old driver in Maryland the best options are with USAA, Progressive, and Nationwide. All three carriers are at least 18% lower than the average premium of $2,019 per year. Cumberland Group and 21st Century are as competitive with quotes at $1,660 and $1,720 respectfully per year.
Cheapest Auto Insurance Companies in Maryland
Below is a list of insurance companies in Maryland from the cheapest to the most expensive.
The overall least expensive auto insurance companies are USAA, Progressive, and Nationwide.
Depending on your age and location each carrier can offer quotes from 14 to 25% lower than the median rate for drivers of similar profile.
Cumberland Group is a company which has been around since 1844 and offers quotes from 12 to 18% lower than the average premium.
21st Century offer quotes from 12 to 20% lower than the “mean” quote for similar age drivers.
Peninsula Group, owned by Donegal Group, is a company you may want to put on your list to get quotes.
Peninsula can offer quotes from 8 to 14% cheaper than the median rate for similar age drivers.
Allstate, State Farm, and Elephant offer quotes from 8 to 15% lower than the median rate.
Again, depending your age and location.
With the list you have nine carriers and a blend of regional and national insurers to help you find the lowest premium possible while maximizing coverage.
| Maryland Company | Average Premium 25 Y/O Driver | 30 Y/O Driver | 35 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver | 55 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,836 | $1,609 | $1,504 | $1,355 | $844 |
| USAA | $1,845 | $1,612 | $1,514 | $1,359 | $889 |
| Progressive | $1,878 | $1,644 | $1,543 | $1,408 | $900 |
| Nationwide | $1,899 | $1,650 | $1,589 | $1,421 | $910 |
| Cumberland | $1,909 | $1,660 | $1,600 | $1,444 | $922 |
| 21st Century | $1,923 | $1,720 | $1,643 | $1,463 | $956 |
| Peninsula | $1,966 | $1,727 | $1,663 | $1,482 | $988 |
| Allstate | $2,004 | $1,755 | $1,670 | $1,488 | $993 |
| Elephant | $2,004 | $1,787 | $1,689 | $1,492 | $1,004 |
| State Farm | $2,021 | $1,809 | $1,700 | $1,512 | $1,010 |
| Encompass | $2,023 | $1,822 | $1,719 | $1,544 | $1,021 |
| Farmers | $2,132 | $1,844 | $1,721 | $1,555 | $1,039 |
| Safeco | $2,156 | $1,889 | $1,790 | $1,561 | $1,076 |
| Liberty Mutual | $2,166 | $1,911 | $1,803 | $1,573 | $1,088 |
| Amica | $2,256 | $1,923 | $1,822 | $1,589 | $1,094 |
| MetLife | $2,411 | $2,035 | $1,919 | $1,754 | $1,103 |
| AIG | $2,455 | $2,054 | $1,932 | $1,759 | $1,142 |
| Ameriprise | $2,487 | $2,087 | $1,945 | $1,760 | $1,156 |
| Bankers | $2,499 | $2,129 | $2,011 | $1,783 | $1,178 |
| Erie | $2,500 | $2,138 | $2,020 | $1,791 | $1,241 |
| Penn National | $2,500 | $2,165 | $2,025 | $1,805 | $1,244 |
| Fireman's Fund | $2,506 | $2,189 | $2,079 | $1,823 | $1,248 |
| Travelers | $2,566 | $2,287 | $2,139 | $1,878 | $1,244 |
| National General | $2,598 | $2,344 | $2,198 | $1,903 | $1,249 |
| Main Street America | $2,612 | $2,350 | $2,202 | $1,909 | $1,250 |
| Esurance | $2,633 | $2,369 | $2,212 | $1,943 | $1,261 |
| Horace Mann | $2,711 | $2,398 | $2,253 | $1,958 | $1,269 |
| Foremost | $2,717 | $2,417 | $2,255 | $1,979 | $1,270 |
| Kemper | $2,788 | $2,477 | $2,319 | $1,992 | $1,271 |
| Paramount | $3,008 | $2,698 | $2,408 | $2,028 | $1,289 |
| Maryland Automobile Fund | $3,022 | $2,699 | $2,414 | $2,029 | $1,290 |
| Agency Company | $3,043 | $2,789 | $2,505 | $2,038 | $1,299 |
| Brethren Mutual | $3,132 | $2,858 | $2,587 | $2,047 | $1,305 |
| Victoria | $3,133 | $2,891 | $2,589 | $2,054 | $1,388 |
| State Auto | $3,146 | $2,972 | $2,631 | $2,257 | $1,408 |
| Dairyland | $3,276 | $2,987 | $2,654 | $2,365 | $1,444 |
| Hanover | $3,316 | $3,047 | $2,740 | $2,487 | $1,509 |
Note: A 35-year-old driver with a decent driving record can find quotes nearly 20% lower than the average premium of $1,943 per year. The least expensive are with USAA, Progressive, and Nationwide. I queried each at $1,514, and $1,543, and $1,589 respectfully per year for full coverage.
No-Fault Rules
Maryland has implemented “no-fault” rules to help keep the price of insurance charges low as well as lowering the quantity of court actions which are being filed annually by drivers.
Under the no fault rules, each person’s insurance will cover their doctor’s bills with no regard for who was to blame in the accident.
Note: As illustrated, the best options for a 45-year-old driver is with USAA, Progressive, and Nationwide. All three carriers are 17% lower than the average premium of $1,708 per year. Cumberland Group and 21st Century are competitive with quotes at $1,444 and $1,463 respectfully.
Personal Injury Protection Requirements
Since the state is no-fault then each driver is required to carry Personal Injury Protection or (PIP) insurance.
Personal Injury Protection coverage supplies the advantages for medical and any disability expenses up to $2,500 for all reasonable costs from an accident.
Note: For a 55-year old I found the quotes clustering between $889 and $956 per year for full coverage. The lowest quotes are with USAA, Progressive, and Nationwide. All three are 16% lower than the average premium of $1,082. 21st Century and Cumberland Group are at least 12% lower than the median quote for similar profile drivers.
In Maryland full (PIP) insurance provide protection for you, your passengers, and members of your family.
Limited Personal Injury Protection Option
If you elect to have limited PIP then you, your family members, and other passengers are not protected under limited PIP; however, in this instance, the state would need knowledge of an existing health insurance plan you may have.
There are instances where the other driver can bring the at-fault driver to court or litigation.
If the doctor’s expenses surpass anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000 amount or if the accident is presumed too harsh, the at-fault party can be held responsible for the other driver’s damages.
Best Car Insurance Firms in Maryland
Below is a list of insurers by written premiums, complaints, rate change over a 12 to 18 month period, and consumer rating.
Typically national carriers, such as Allstate or State Farm, will have more complaints then regional or local carriers, such as Elephant.
The ratio of written premiums to complaints is the important data.
None of the carriers below have anything out of the norm.
The rate change is from 1.9 to 3.3% which is normal.
However, if you get a traffic violation you might see a rate increase or change from 10 to over 30% depending on the violation.
You can get a rate increase from a lapse or non-payment of a premium.
All data is compiled from JD Power & Associates, AM Best, and Insurance Information Institute (III.org).
Consumer rating data is compiled from reputable online sources to get an average.
| Maryland Company | Written Premiums | Rate Change | # of Complaints | Rating out of 5 Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esurance | $17,268,667 | +2.2% | 3 | 4.4 |
| Nationwide | $333,621,824 | +2.1% | 29 | 4.5 |
| Progressive | $211,462,009 | +1.9% | 23 | 4.6 |
| GEICO | $847,126,674 | +1.9% | 97 | 4.6 |
| Allstate | $425,681,962 | +2.0% | 43 | 4.5 |
| Titan | $10,640,895 | +2.7% | 1 | 4.2 |
| State Farm | $754,830,184 | +2.5% | 88 | 4.5 |
| Safeco | $24,789,714 | +2.6% | 6 | 4.1 |
| Kemper | $20,575,518 | +2.8% | 3 | 4.0 |
| Encompass | $53,018,622 | +2.8% | 2 | 3.9 |
| Brethren Mutual | $14,913,497 | +2.8% | 1 | 3.9 |
| Agency Company | $26,413,860 | +3.3% | 0 | 3.9 |
| Liberty Mutual | $136,487,863 | +2.4% | 29 | 4.2 |
| Ameriprise | $12,310,715 | +2.6% | 4 | 4.0 |
| USAA | $278,918,033 | +2.0% | 11 | 4.7 |
| Erie | $267,418,458 | +2.3% | 14 | 4.4 |
| Hartford | $46,809,559 | +2.5% | 19 | 4.3 |
| 21st Century | $11,481,682 | +2.6% | 5 | 4.4 |
| State Auto | $24,167,553 | +2.6% | 7 | 3.8 |
| Amica | $19,351,889 | +2.1% | 9 | 4.1 |
| Peninsula | $17,878,644 | +2.8% | 2 | 4.1 |
| Penn National | $11,874,871 | +2.9% | 1 | 4.1 |
| MetLife | $22,680,583 | +2.4% | 4 | 4.3 |
| Travelers | $62,774,829 | +2.6% | 8 | 4.1 |
Lending Institutions & Banks Full Coverage Requirement
When you are comparing auto insurance quotes you want to realize banks and lending institutions require all drivers to have full coverage for the automobiles if they are going to be financed.
Also, to avoid any penalties or fees you want to be sure to return your license plate and registration card to the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) when you have canceled your insurance premium.
Average Premium by City
Below is a list of the average premium by city for a 40-year-old driver.
Location is a primary determining factor for insurers to determine your rate.
The average premium cost is from $1,093 to $1,411 per year for a 40 year old driver.
If you move to another location you could see a decrease or increase in your premium.
Each insurer has the own method to determine risk.
Therefore each may or may not increase or decrease your premium when you move.
Or you may have one insurer offering a lowering rate in one location and higher in another.
You best option to maintain the lowest premium possible is to keep a clean driving record.
To maintain even further is to compare rates every couple of years to find a company offering a lower quote.
If you would like a comparison of the cheapest car insurance by city please read further below.
| City | Average Rate | City | Average Rate | City | Average Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annapolis | $1,399 | Crisfield | $1,123 | Fruitland | $1,315 |
| Baldwin | $1,319 | Cumberland | $1,187 | Galena | $1,392 |
| Barton | $1,358 | Damascus | $1,244 | Gambrills | $1,407 |
| Bowie | $1,119 | Easton | $1,307 | Glen Burnie | $1,411 |
| Boyds | $1,231 | Eldersburg | $1,104 | Potomac | $1,311 |
| Chester | $1,211 | Elkridge | $1,093 | Salisbury | $1,362 |
| Clinton | $1,344 | Fallston | $1,127 | Towson | $1,231 |
| Cresaptown | $1,301 | Forestville | $1,258 | Waldorf | $1,251 |
Baltimore, MD
The cheapest car insurance in Baltimore is with USAA, Progressive, and Nationwide.
Each queried at $1,913, $1,945, and $1,967 respectfully per year for a 30-year-old driver.
Each carrier is over 22% lower than the median rate for drivers of similar age and profile.
Cumberland Group and 21st Century are worth getting quotes from since each are over 20% cheaper than the “mean” rate for drivers.
A 45 year old can find the lowest quotes with USAA, Progressive, and Nationwide.
Each queried at $1,334, $1,367, and $1,424 respectfully for full coverage.
Or approximately 21 to 24% lower than the median rate for similar age drivers.
With quotes clustering between $1,334 and $1,469, both Cumberland Group and 21st Century and worth getting quotes from.
| Baltimore Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,911 | $1,321 |
| USAA | $1,913 | $1,334 |
| Progressive | $1,945 | $1,367 |
| Nationwide | $1,955 | $1,424 |
| Cumberland | $1,967 | $1,448 |
| 21st Century | $1,989 | $1,469 |
| Allstate | $2,004 | $1,499 |
| State Farm | $2,008 | $1,589 |
Columbia, MD
Drivers in Columbia should consider getting quotes from USAA, Progressive, and Nationwide.
I queried each at $1,813, $1,876, and $1,911 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
All three insurers are over 20% lower than the “mean” quote for drivers.
Both Cumberland Group and 21st Century are as competitive with quotes just under $2,000 per year.
For a 45-year old the cheapest options are with USAA, Progressive, and Nationwide.
Each queried at $1,134, $1,156, and $1,245 per year for full coverage.
Both USAA and Progressive and 26% lower than the average rate while Nationwide is 22% lower.
| Columbia Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,821 | $1,121 |
| USAA | $1,813 | $1,134 |
| Progressive | $1,876 | $1,156 |
| Nationwide | $1,911 | $1,245 |
| Cumberland | $1,988 | $1,278 |
| 21st Century | $1,999 | $1,308 |
| Allstate | $2,010 | $1,411 |
| State Farm | $2,023 | $1,432 |
Germantown, MD
Drivers can find inexpensive auto insurance with Nationwide, Progressive, and USAA.
I queried each at $1,788, $1,808, and $1,855 per year for a-30-year-old driver.
All three carriers are 18% lower than the median rate for drivers of similar profile.
Allstate and Cumberland Group are nearly as competitive with low quotes at $1,886 and $1,898.
A 45-year old can find the best quotes with USAA, Nationwide, and Progressive.
I queried each at $1,210, $1,233, and $1,248 respectfully for full coverage.
Cumberland Group and Allstate offer competitive quotes with prices at $1,281 and $1,278.
| Germantown Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,779 | $1,207 |
| USAA | $1,788 | $1,210 |
| Nationwide | $1,808 | $1,233 |
| Progressive | $1,855 | $1,248 |
| Allstate | $1,886 | $1,278 |
| Cumberland | $1,898 | $1,281 |
| 21st Century | $1,922 | $1,294 |
| State Farm | $1,956 | $1,307 |
Silver Spring, MD
As illustrated, to find the least expensive premium in Silver Spring start with USAA, Nationwide, and Progressive.
I queried each at $1,723, $1,745, and $1,769 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
All three carriers are 21% lower than the median rate for similar age drivers.
Allstate and Cumberland Group are slightly higher with quotes at $1,809 and $1,865 respectfully.
A 45-year old can find the cheapest quotes with USAA and Nationwide.
Each queried at $1,207 and $1,223 per year for full coverage.
If you don’t qualify for USAA your next best option is with Progressive.
I queried Progressive at $1,226.
Which is equally competitive with Nationwide.
It would be smart to get quotes from all companies illustrated to find the most savings while maximizing coverage.
| Silver Spring Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,721 | $1,201 |
| USAA | $1,723 | $1,207 |
| Nationwide | $1,745 | $1,223 |
| Progressive | $1,769 | $1,226 |
| Allstate | $1,809 | $1,287 |
| Cumberland | $1,865 | $1,289 |
| 21st Century | $1,911 | $1,309 |
| State Farm | $1,923 | $1,378 |
Ellicott City, MD
The average car insurance rate in Ellicott City is $2,000 per year.
The least expensive option is with USAA queried at $1,747 per year for a 30-year old.
Which is 21% lower than the median rate.
Nationwide and Progressive offered quotes at $1,865 and $1,874 respectfully per year.
Or approximately 17% lower than the “mean” quote for similar age drivers.
Allstate and Cumberland Group offer competitive quotes for a 30-year old.
A 45-year old can find the best options with USAA, Nationwide, and Progressive.
I queried each at $1,154, $1,165, and $1,179 respectfully for full coverage.
All three are 22% lower than the median quote for similar profile drivers.
Allstate and Cumberland Group offer competitive quotes with prices at $1,234 and $1,247.
| Ellicott City Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,721 | $1,111 |
| USAA | $1,747 | $1,154 |
| Nationwide | $1,865 | $1,165 |
| Progressive | $1,874 | $1,179 |
| Allstate | $1,890 | $1,234 |
| Cumberland | $1,923 | $1,247 |
| 21st Century | $1,934 | $1,268 |
| State Farm | $1,976 | $1,309 |
Frederick, MD
To find inexpensive car insurance in Frederick start with USAA, Nationwide, and Progressive.
I queried each at $1,587, $1,654, and $1,689 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
For USAA the quotes are 25% lower then the median rate.
While Nationwide and Progressive are 20 to 21% lower.
There is a wide variance between the higher and lowest insurer.
Making it important to compare quotes.
A 45-year old can find the cheap quotes from all carriers illustrated.
The lowest is USAA at $948. If you aren’t former military the best options are with Nationwide and Progressive.
Allstate and Cumberland offer quotes at $1,003 and $1,006 respectfully.
All carriers illustrated are over 16% lower than the median rate for similar profile drivers.
| Frederick Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,532 | $944 |
| USAA | $1,587 | $948 |
| Nationwide | $1,654 | $968 |
| Progressive | $1,698 | $989 |
| Allstate | $1,789 | $1,003 |
| Cumberland | $1,852 | $1,006 |
| 21st Century | $1,873 | $1,087 |
| State Farm | $1,938 | $1,127 |
Rockville, MD
If you are in the market for the least expensive premium in Rockville then get quotes from USAA, Nationwide, and Progressive.
I queried each at $1,848, $1,903, and $1,956 per year for a 30-year-old driver.
All three carriers are 17% lower than the median rate for drivers.
Allstate and Cumberland Group are competitive with low quotes at $1,956 and $1,983 respectfully for full coverage.
A 45 year old can find the best quotes with USAA, Nationwide, and Progressive.
Each queried at $1,232, $1,248, and $1,302 per year for full coverage.
And approximately 19% lower than the median rate for similar age drivers.
Allstate and Cumberland Group offer competitive options with cheap quotes at $1,337 and $1,353 respectfully.
| Rockville Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,821 | $1,208 |
| USAA | $1,848 | $1,232 |
| Nationwide | $1,903 | $1,248 |
| Progressive | $1,948 | $1,302 |
| Allstate | $1,956 | $1,337 |
| Cumberland | $1,983 | $1,353 |
| 21st Century | $2,017 | $1,359 |
| State Farm | $2,141 | $1,436 |
Bethesda, MD
A 30-year-old driver in Bethesda can find cheap car insurance with USAA, Nationwide, and Progressive.
I queried each at $1,848, $1,903, and $1,948 per year for full coverage.
All three are approximately 12% lower than the median rate for drivers.
Cumberland Group and Allstate offer competitive choices with low quotes at $1,956 and $1,983 respectfully.
A 45-year old can competitive rates with USAA, Nationwide, and Progressive.
Each queried at $1,232, $1,248, and $1,302 per year for full coverage.
Or nearly 15% lower than the median rate for similar age drivers.
Cumberland Group and Allstate are competitive offering quotes at $1,337 and $1,353 respectfully per year.
| Bethesda Company | 30 Y/O Driver | 45 Y/O Driver |
|---|---|---|
| GEICO | $1,821 | $1,208 |
| USAA | $1,848 | $1,232 |
| Nationwide | $1,903 | $1,248 |
| Progressive | $1,948 | $1,302 |
| Allstate | $1,956 | $1,337 |
| Cumberland | $1,983 | $1,353 |
| 21st Century | $2,017 | $1,359 |
| State Farm | $2,141 | $1,436 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the least expensive car insurance in Maryland?
A driver with decent driving history can find the best rates with Progressive and Nationwide if you prefer national companies.
Regional companies offering competitive quotes are Peninsula and Cumberland.
Your best option is to get quotes from regional and national companies to compare coverage and price.
How much is coverage per month in Maryland?
It will depend on the type and amount of coverage you get.
A 30-year-old driver will pay approximately $118 – $145 per month for full coverage.
The same driver will pay $49 – $75 for minimum coverage.
If you have poor driving history you could pay more.
Is full coverage worth it in Maryland?
If you want to replace your vehicle when it’s totaled you will need full coverage.
When you finance your vehicle the lender requires you to carry full coverage.
If you get into an automobile accident with an at-fault driver without insurance, you will need full coverage.
Minimum or liability coverage does not cover your injuries or vehicle.
It is recommended to get full coverage to protect you and your assets.
Resources & Department of Motor Vehicles
| Department of Insurance | Department of Transportation | Department of Motor Vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| 200 St Paul St #2700, Baltimore, MD 21202 (800) 492-6116 | 7491 Connelley Dr, Hanover, MD 21076 (410) 582-5505 | 10251 Central Ave, Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 (410) 768-7000 |
| Website | Website | Website |
Sources
https://insurance.maryland.gov/Consumer/
https://www.nationwide.com/maryland-auto-insurance.jsp
