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Maryland is an at-fault (tort) state. Drivers must carry at least 30/60/15 in coverage, and the average full-coverage premium is $4,181 a year, 43% above the national average of $2,922. This guide covers what Maryland requires, what drivers pay, the rules on fault, uninsured drivers, penalties, teen drivers and phone use, and how to pay less.
| Minimum coverage | 30/60/15 |
| Fault system | At-fault (tort) |
| Average full coverage | $4,181 a year ($348 a month), 43% above the national average of $2,922 |
| Uninsured drivers | 16.9% (2023), the 14th highest rate of 51 |
| Filing after serious violations | SR-22 |
Maryland requires $30,000 bodily injury liability per person, $60,000 per accident, and $15,000 property damage liability (CarInsurance.com, "US State Minimum Liability Car Insurance Requirements," updated April 15, 2026).
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Maryland policies include $2,500 of personal injury protection. |
| Uninsured motorist | Required, including $15,000 of uninsured motorist property damage coverage. |
The minimums are a legal floor, not a recommendation. Property damage limits in particular don't go far when a new car can cost more than the limit to replace, and anything above your limits is your personal responsibility. See how limits and deductibles work and every type of coverage explained.
The average full-coverage premium in Maryland is $4,181 a year, 43% above the national average of $2,922. That makes Maryland the most expensive of 49 (48 states plus D.C.; Alaska and Hawaii aren't in the data) (Experian, "Car Insurance Average Costs by State," published September 9, 2026; full coverage, 12 months to August 2026).
Within Maryland, prices still vary a lot by ZIP code, driving record and car, and 16.9% of drivers on Maryland roads were uninsured in 2023, so the coverage you choose matters as much as the premium.
Your own price depends on your ZIP code, age, driving record, car and coverage. Try our car insurance calculator with Maryland preselected for a personal estimate, and see what determines your car insurance cost.
Maryland follows pure contributory negligence, one of the strictest rules in the country: if you are even slightly at fault for a crash, even 1%, you generally can't recover damages from the other driver. (Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer, "Contributory Negligence/Comparative Fault Laws in All 50 States," updated June 10, 2026)
An estimated 16.9% of Maryland drivers were uninsured in 2023, the 14th highest rate among the 50 states and D.C. (Insurance Research Council, uninsured motorist estimates for 2023, via Insurance Information Institute "Facts + Statistics: Uninsured motorists"). Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage protects you when one of them hits you. See coverage types.
Maryland requires continuous coverage on every registered vehicle. If coverage lapses while the vehicle is registered, the Motor Vehicle Administration can charge the owner an administrative penalty. (Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, "Auto Insurance Violation Penalties & Payments")
The MVA can assess an administrative penalty of $150 for each uninsured vehicle for the first 30 days of a lapse, plus $7 a day from day 31. Unpaid penalties can lead to registration suspension and flags on the vehicle, and eventually referral to the state's Central Collections Unit, which adds 17%. (Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration; Maryland Insurance Administration)
A conviction for driving uninsured also follows you into your next policy. In CarInsurance.com's rate analysis, it raised the average full-coverage premium in Maryland from $1,746 to $2,272 a year, an increase of 30% (CarInsurance.com, "Penalty for driving without insurance in every state," updated March 24, 2026; rate analysis).
Beyond the penalties, driving uninsured leaves you personally liable for any damage you cause. See what happens if you drive without car insurance.
Maryland uses the SR-22 for drivers who must prove future financial responsibility, typically after certain suspensions.
Maryland uses graduated driver licensing (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "Graduated licensing laws" table):
Adding a teen is usually the biggest single increase in a family's premium. Keeping them on the family policy, a good-student discount and a safe, modest car help most.
A distracted-driving ticket can count against your record and your premium. (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, "Electronic device laws" table)
See how to compare car insurance quotes, or get quotes for your ZIP code.
For questions about a policy, a claim or an insurer's conduct, contact the Maryland Insurance Administration. It handles consumer questions and complaints about insurers in Maryland.
AutoInsuranceQuery editorial team. Last reviewed: September 29, 2026.
