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 the three lowest estimates in the state for the following groups:

Good drivers

Young drivers

Drivers with poor credit

Drivers with one at-fault accident

Retired drivers

Drivers with a military connection

also in this article

Minimum car insurance requirements in Maryland

Alternative car insurance in Maryland

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

Cheapest for good drivers

For drivers with no accidents, DUIs or moving violations.

The three cheapest insurers for good drivers in Maryland offer plentiful discounts and similar coverage options, but Erie has the lowest rate at $838 per year, or about $70 per month.

Cheapest for young drivers

For drivers in their early 20s.

Drivers in their early 20s, who tend to have lower coverage needs compared with older drivers, can find relatively cheap car insurance in Maryland. Among the three cheapest options, Geico had the lowest rate at $637 per year, or $53 per month. That’s $201 less per year than the lowest rate for 30-year-old good drivers in Maryland with fuller policies.

Cheapest for drivers with poor credit

For drivers placed in the “poor credit” tier.

Under Maryland law, insurers aren’t allowed to refuse or cancel a policy based on drivers’ credit, but they can use credit as a factor in pricing. Drivers with poor credit in our analysis got the best rate with Erie, but that’s still $624 more per year than the cheapest rate we found for drivers with no credit issues. Each insurer uses credit a bit differently in pricing, so it helps to compare estimates from a few companies: Some rates we found for Maryland drivers with poor credit exceeded $3,000 a year.

Cheapest for drivers with one at-fault accident

Causing a car accident usually leads to a higher premium. Exactly how much higher depends largely on the insurer. Erie delivered the lowest rate in this category, at about $92 per month.

Cheapest for retired drivers

For drivers in their mid- to late-60s.

Given their years of experience and reduced annual mileage, retired drivers should have little trouble in finding cheap car insurance in Maryland. But shopping around can still pay off. We found a gap of more than $2,300 per year between the lowest and highest average rates, proving retired drivers have as much incentive to compare quotes as those with a daily commute.

Cheapest for drivers with a military connection

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, an option that isn’t available to the general public. USAA is one of the three cheapest auto insurance options for every driver type we analyzed. USAA customers also benefit from the insurer’s top-rated customer service.

Minimum car insurance requirements 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 coverage levels in Maryland are:

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

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: