Best Cheap Car Insurance in Maryland for 2019

When it comes to getting low rates on auto insurance in Maryland, shopping around is key. Prices can swing dramatically from one insurer to the next and depend on personal factors such as age, marital status and credit.

To help drivers simplify their shopping and find cheap car insurance in Maryland, NerdWallet looked at quotes from the eight largest insurers in the state to find the three cheapest options for the following groups:

» FIND YOUR MATCH: Who’s the cheapest carrier for you?

Cheapest for good drivers

Erie was the cheapest auto insurer we found for good drivers in Maryland with clean credit histories at $80 per month, on average. State Farm and Progressive also make the list.

For this calculation, NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-old men and women with a clean driving record and good credit. With the exception of age, a large portion of drivers are closest to this profile, which carries standard "full coverage" insurance, including state-required coverage.

Cheapest for drivers with poor credit

For Maryland drivers with spotty credit, Erie came out cheapest, on average, at $139 per month. Rates rise by over $100 per month from there, with Progressive and Geico rounding out the cheapest insurers for this group.

Poor credit can have a bigger effect on car insurance premiums than even a DUI conviction or a recent accident. To calculate these figures, NerdWallet averaged rates for 40-year-olds with a clean driving record, poor credit as reported to their insurer, and standard "full coverage" insurance.

Cheapest for drivers with one at-fault crash

Maryland drivers who have recently caused a wreck might want to get a quote from Erie, which had the cheapest average rate we found for this group at $107 per month. State Farm and Allstate come in second and third, respectively.

To get these figures, we averaged rates for 40-year-olds with one recent at-fault crash and the typical "full coverage" insurance. Your rates will remain high for three to five years after you cause an accident or have a moving violation. If you fall into this category, be sure to shop for new insurance rates just after the three-year and five-year anniversaries of your infraction.

Cheapest for low-mileage drivers

For Marylanders who drive few miles annually, Erie was the cheapest insurer we found, with an average rate of $68 per month, a decent price break for low mileage. State Farm also gives a lower rate for this group, while Progressive, in third, has the same average price as it does for higher-mileage drivers.

Whether you're retired, work at home or often use public transportation, you may be able to get cheaper car insurance simply because you drive less. The rates above are for 40-year-olds with typical "full coverage" insurance and a clean driving record who drive 5,000 miles per year instead of the standard 12,000.

Cheapest for minimum coverage

Erie makes it a sweep in Maryland, coming in as the cheapest carrier for minimum coverage auto insurance. It had an average rate of $42 per month, with State Farm and progressive completing the list.

We calculated these numbers by averaging rates for 40-year-old good drivers who have only the minimum mandatory insurance in their state. Such light coverage isn't typically recommended, since it might not cover all the bills resulting from a car accident, but it's better than nothing — especially if you can't afford much more.

Cheap for military families

If you’re an active member of the military or a veteran — or have an immediate family member who is — chances are high you’ll get a good rate with USAA. We don’t rank it alongside the others because it isn’t available to the general public. USAA is among the three cheapest auto insurance options for every driver type we analyzed for those who qualify.

Minimum auto insurance limits required in Maryland

Maryland car insurance policies must include liability insurance. This pays for other people’s injuries or property damage, up to your chosen limit, when you cause an accident.

The minimum auto insurance coverage levels you must purchase in Maryland are:

• $30,000 bodily injury liability per person.
• $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident.
• $15,000 property damage liability per accident.
• $30,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per person.
• $60,000 uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage per accident.
• $15,000 uninsured/underinsured property damage coverage per accident.

It’s often smart to buy more than the legal minimum to ensure you don’t have to pay out of pocket in case of a severe crash. You may also want to consider optional coverages such as collision and comprehensive insurance.

Check out NerdWallet’s guide to state car insurance requirements for more detail on the various parts of a Maryland auto policy.

Alternative car insurance in Maryland

Drivers who have been denied coverage by at least two car insurance companies could qualify for a policy through the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund. The organization was created to help drivers who can’t get standard insurance because of a checkered accident history, poor credit rating or other factors.

For more help finding Maryland car insurance at the most competitive price, try NerdWallet’s car insurance comparison tool.

Here’s a summary of where you’ll find the cheapest insurance, by category: