Who Has the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes in Maryland? (2020)
The average cost of car insurance in Maryland for a minimum coverage policy was $1,180 per year, or $98 per month. Auto insurance quotes will vary, however, depending on how much coverage you purchase.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Your Area
Rates also vary widely depending on where drivers live and what company they choose to get coverage from. For example, Maryland drivers in Baltimore pay the most for car insurance. Furthermore, the most expensive insurer in Maryland often had auto insurance quotes more than twice the cost of the cheapest carrier.
To find your best rates, consumers should shop around. Read more below, or enter your ZIP code above to find cheap auto quotes from Maryland insurance companies.
Cheap minimum coverage car insurance quotes in Maryland
The cheapest minimum coverage auto insurance policies — which only fulfill Maryland's minimum car insurance requirements — are offered by:
- Erie
- State Farm
- Allstate
Among these three insurers, the average annual car insurance rate is $1,045 per year, or $87 per month and 11% cheaper than the Maryland state average.
Find Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes in Your Area
The quotes individual drivers will get will depend on:
- vehicle type
- coverage limits
- and other circumstances
This data illustrates how premiums can vary widely between insurers, and finding the cheapest car insurance quotes requires comparison shopping.
Nationwide, Progressive and GEICO offer the most expensive car insurance quotes in Maryland, with average annual rates of $1,478 per year, or 25% more than the state average.
| Rank | Insurer | Annual car insurance quote |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erie | $766 |
| 2 | State Farm | $1,124 |
| 3 | Allstate | $1,246 |
| 4 | GEICO | $1,392 |
| 5 | Progressive | $1,520 |
| 6 | Nationwide | $1,523 |
| NA | USAA | $691 |
Minimum coverage car insurance policies only fulfill Maryland state law's minimum requirements. Unlike full coverage car insurance, minimum coverage doesn't include comprehensive and collision insurance.
Collision and comprehensive insurance covers damage to a driver's car, regardless of who was at-fault in an accident.
While minimum coverage policies cost less than full coverage car insurance, not having comprehensive and collision coverage, as well as lower coverage limits, could leave you without adequate protection in an accident.
The difference between full and minimum coverage policies in Maryland was $1,251 per year on average.
Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Maryland
The cheapest auto insurance companies for full coverage in Maryland are:
- Erie: $1,760
- State Farm: $2,044
- Allstate: $2,686
These three insurers were the most affordable in Maryland, offering average annual quotes of $2,163 per year, or $267 less than the state average.
The insurers with the most expensive annual car insurance quotes for full coverage in Maryland are:
- Progressive: $3,178
- Nationwide: $2,878
- GEICO: $2,859
Collision and comprehensive insurance coverages, which protect drivers against damage to their vehicles, are included in a full coverage auto insurance policy.
Cheapest full coverage car insurance in Maryland with a prior accident
Maryland drivers with an accident on their driving record can find the cheapest full coverage auto insurance quotes at Erie, State Farm and Allstate.
Together, these insurers offered average annual rates of $2,996 per year, or 15% less than the Maryland average.
| Rank | Insurer | Auto quote before accident | Auto quote after accident | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erie | $1,760 | $2,311 | $551 |
| 2 | State Farm | $2,044 | $2,559 | $515 |
| 3 | Allstate | $2,686 | $4,118 | $1,432 |
| 4 | GEICO | $2,859 | $4,396 | $1,537 |
| 5 | Nationwide | $2,878 | $4,425 | $1,547 |
| 6 | Progressive | $3,178 | $4,880 | $1,702 |
| NA | USAA | $1,611 | $1,991 | $380 |
Having a single accident on your driving record can cause your auto insurance quotes to go up significantly.
The difference in annual car insurance rates in Maryland for a full coverage policy with no accident history versus a policy with one accident was $1,095.
| annual rate | |
|---|---|
| no accident history | $2,431 |
| one accident | $3,526 |
Erie and State Farm distinguished themselves by offering the cheapest quotes for drivers with an accident history, only raising rates by $551 and $515 per year respectively. In comparison, Progressive increased rates by $1,702 for just a single accident.
Best auto insurance companies in Maryland
The best car insurance companies in Maryland are:
- State Farm
- Nationwide
- Erie
These insurers had the best complaint index scores, which help measure customer reviews and service ratings from policyholders.
Allstate and GEICO received the most complaints relative to their market share, suggesting lower levels of customer satisfaction.
Below is a list of all the companies ranked by their complaint index. The lower the index number, the better.
| Rank | Insurance company | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | State Farm | 0.57 |
| 2 | Nationwide | 0.68 |
| 3 | Erie | 0.79 |
| 4 | USAA | 0.84 |
| 5 | Progressive | 0.88 |
| 6 | GEICO | 1.20 |
| 7 | Allstate | 1.21 |
To identify the best car insurance companies in Maryland, we examined complaints filed against some of the largest insurers in the state. We used the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) complaint index data, which divides a company's share of complaints by the share of premiums underwritten. A lower amount of complaints as a proportion of their market share is a good indicator of customer satisfaction.
Maryland state minimum auto insurance requirements
Maryland's Financial Responsibility Law mandates that drivers carry both liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverages.
These coverages offer financial protection in the event you harm someone else or damage their property in an accident, as well as any damage caused to you in an accident with an uninsured driver.
According to state law, drivers in Maryland are required to carry these coverages with the following minimum limits:
| Maryland car insurance requirements | Minimum coverage limits |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury (BI) | $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident |
| Property damage (PD) | $15,000 per accident |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist BI (UM/UIMBI) | $30,000 per person / $60,000 per accident |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist PD (UM/UIMPD) | $15,000 per accident, $250 deductible |
Additionally, your insurer is required to include personal injury protection (PIP), which protects you against bodily injury in an accident regardless of who was at-fault.
The minimum PIP Maryland drivers are required to carry is $2,500, though you may choose, in writing, a limited PIP option that essentially waives coverage.
- A limited PIP policy prevents you from receiving PIP benefits under any PIP policy issued in the state of Maryland.
- If you carry limited PIP coverage and are injured in an accident while driving your friend's car, for instance, you cannot receive PIP reimbursement through the car insurance policy affiliated with that vehicle.
- Limited PIP costs less and is worth considering if you have health insurance that covers car accidents.
Although your auto insurance policy may meet Maryland's minimum coverage requirements, it may not be best suited to your needs. We recommend that all Maryland drivers consider opting in for higher coverage limits, as minimum coverage may not be enough to fully cover damages in a costly accident.
Cheapest car insurance in Maryland by city
The cost of insuring a car is different for drivers, depending on where they reside. In this section, we’ll take a detailed look at the city level to see which companies have the lowest rates -- in this case, for a full coverage policy.
In every city, Erie ranked as the cheapest auto insurance company, with State Farm and Allstate frequently rounding out the top three.
Of note, USAA often offered low cost rates, but due to their eligibility requirements for current and former members of the military, we’ve excluded them below to make the list most generally applicable.
| City | Insurer | Annual car insurance quote |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | Erie | $1,708 |
| State Farm | $2,130 | |
| Allstate | $2,636 | |
| Annapolis | Erie | $1,779 |
| State Farm | $2,018 | |
| GEICO | $2,717 | |
| Baltimore | Erie | $2,583 |
| State Farm | $3,332 | |
| Allstate | $3,756 | |
| Bel Air | Erie | $1,708 |
| State Farm | $2,011 | |
| Allstate | $2,636 | |
| Berlin | Erie | $1,491 |
| State Farm | $1,572 | |
| Allstate | $2,170 | |
| Berwyn Heights | Erie | $2,064 |
| State Farm | $2,584 | |
| GEICO | $2,687 | |
| Bladensburg | Erie | $2,372 |
| State Farm | $2,903 | |
| Allstate | $3,181 | |
| Boonsboro | Erie | $1,364 |
| State Farm | $1,687 | |
| Allstate | $2,255 | |
| Bowie | Erie | $2,064 |
| State Farm | $2,269 | |
| Allstate | $2,986 | |
| Brentwood | Erie | $2,372 |
| State Farm | $2,677 | |
| Allstate | $3,181 | |
| Brunswick | Erie | $1,433 |
| State Farm | $1,786 | |
| Allstate | $2,255 | |
| Capitol Heights | Erie | $2,372 |
| State Farm | $3,058 | |
| Allstate | $3,158 | |
| Centreville | Erie | $1,491 |
| State Farm | $1,602 | |
| Allstate | $2,170 | |
| Chesapeake Beach | Erie | $1,558 |
| State Farm | $1,774 | |
| Nationwide | $2,617 | |
| Chestertown | Erie | $1,491 |
| State Farm | $1,512 | |
| GEICO | $2,226 | |
| Cheverly | Erie | $2,372 |
| State Farm | $2,922 | |
| Allstate | $3,158 | |
| Chevy Chase | Erie | $1,642 |
| State Farm | $1,921 | |
| GEICO | $2,282 | |
| College Park | Erie | $2,064 |
| GEICO | $2,687 | |
| State Farm | $2,892 | |
| Delmar | Erie | $1,491 |
| State Farm | $1,698 | |
| Allstate | $2,170 | |
| Denton | Erie | $1,491 |
| State Farm | $1,635 | |
| Allstate | $2,170 | |
| District Heights | Erie | $2,372 |
| State Farm | $2,986 | |
| Allstate | $3,158 | |
| Easton | Erie | $1,491 |
| State Farm | $1,505 | |
| Nationwide | $2,152 | |
| Elkton | Erie | $1,695 |
| State Farm | $2,182 | |
| Nationwide | $2,556 | |
| Emmitsburg | Erie | $1,433 |
| State Farm | $1,546 | |
| Allstate | $2,158 | |
| Frederick | Erie | $1,433 |
| State Farm | $1,569 | |
| Nationwide | $2,300 | |
| Fruitland | Erie | $1,491 |
| State Farm | $1,611 | |
| Allstate | $2,170 | |
| Gaithersburg | Erie | $1,865 |
| State Farm | $2,232 | |
| Allstate | $2,608 | |
| Glenarden | Erie | $2,064 |
| State Farm | $2,780 | |
| Allstate | $3,079 | |
| Greenbelt | Erie | $2,064 |
| State Farm | $2,447 | |
| Allstate | $3,101 | |
| Hagerstown | Erie | $1,364 |
| State Farm | $1,674 | |
| Allstate | $2,158 | |
| Hampstead | Erie | $1,732 |
| State Farm | $1,955 | |
| Nationwide | $2,427 | |
| Hyattsville | Erie | $2,372 |
| State Farm | $2,768 | |
| Allstate | $3,181 | |
| Laurel | Erie | $1,929 |
| State Farm | $2,268 | |
| Allstate | $3,049 | |
| Leonardtown | Erie | $1,558 |
| State Farm | $1,678 | |
| Nationwide | $2,300 | |
| Manchester | Erie | $1,732 |
| State Farm | $1,973 | |
| Nationwide | $2,427 | |
| Middletown | Erie | $1,433 |
| State Farm | $1,750 | |
| Allstate | $2,255 | |
| Mount Airy | Erie | $1,580 |
| State Farm | $1,630 | |
| GEICO | $2,382 | |
| Mount Rainier | Erie | $2,372 |
| State Farm | $2,677 | |
| Allstate | $3,181 | |
| North East | Erie | $1,721 |
| State Farm | $2,116 | |
| Allstate | $2,636 | |
| Ocean City | Erie | $1,491 |
| State Farm | $2,035 | |
| GEICO | $2,717 | |
| Perryville | Erie | $1,721 |
| State Farm | $2,198 | |
| Allstate | $2,636 | |
| Pocomoke City | Erie | $1,491 |
| State Farm | $1,659 | |
| Allstate | $2,170 | |
| Poolesville | Erie | $1,816 |
| State Farm | $2,138 | |
| GEICO | $2,612 | |
| Rising Sun | Erie | $1,695 |
| State Farm | $2,146 | |
| Allstate | $2,636 | |
| Rockville | Erie | $1,962 |
| State Farm | $2,296 | |
| GEICO | $2,699 | |
| Salisbury | Erie | $1,491 |
| State Farm | $1,733 | |
| Allstate | $2,170 | |
| Taneytown | Erie | $1,580 |
| State Farm | $1,828 | |
| Nationwide | $2,427 | |
| Thurmont | Erie | $1,433 |
| State Farm | $1,591 | |
| Allstate | $2,265 | |
| Walkersville | Erie | $1,433 |
| State Farm | $1,684 | |
| Nationwide | $2,300 | |
| Westminster | Erie | $1,580 |
| State Farm | $1,971 | |
| Nationwide | $2,427 |
Consumers looking to save on their car insurance should compare quotes from at least three companies. To better compare rates in Maryland, we take a closer look at the cheapest car insurance companies in:
Cheap auto insurance in Baltimore, Maryland
- Average annual car insurance quote in Baltimore = $3,714
- 53% more expensive than Maryland average
Baltimore is the city with the highest car insurance costs in Maryland by far. The companies with the best auto insurance quotes in Baltimore overall are Erie, State Farm and Allstate.
Together, these insurers cost an average of $3,209, which represents a 14% decrease compared to the citywide average.
Car insurance at the most expensive insurer, Progressive ($4,933), was $2,395 more expensive than that of the cheapest insurer, Erie ($2,538). The range of costs in Baltimore also illustrates why drivers should always shop around for car insurance and compare quotes from multiple companies.
Cheap auto insurance in Frederick, Maryland
- Average annual car insurance quote in Frederick = $2,064
- 15% cheaper than Maryland average
The cheapest car insurance companies in Frederick are Erie, State Farm and Nationwide. Together, they average an annual rate of $1,767, which is 14% more affordable than the Frederick average.
Cheap auto insurance in Gaithersburg, Maryland
- Average annual car insurance quote in Gaithersburg = $2,481
- 2% more expensive than Maryland average
The cost of car insurance in Gaithersburg is similar to the Maryland average. However, quotes can vary widely, as policies with the most expensive insurer in Gaithersburg, Progressive, cost $1,391 more than the cheapest, Erie.
Cheap auto insurance in Rockville, Maryland
- Average annual car insurance quote in Rockville = $2,516
- 3% more expensive than Maryland average
Drivers in Rockville pay only slightly more for car insurance than the average Maryland driver. If you’re looking for cheap car insurance in Rockville, we suggest comparison shopping as rates differ greatly across companies. For example, the most expensive insurer, Progressive, offered rates 1.59 times the cost of car insurance at the cheapest insurer, Erie.
Cheap auto insurance in Bowie, Maryland
- Average annual car insurance quote in Bowie = $2,707
- 11% more expensive than Maryland average
We found the cheapest rates in Bowie at Erie, State Farm and Allstate, which offered auto insurance at a 10% discount to the city average.
What’s the average cost of auto insurance in Maryland?
The average cost of full coverage car insurance in Maryland is $2,431 per year, or approximately $203 per month.
Your actual quotes will vary depending on your location and driver profile.
The cheapest Maryland cities for full coverage car insurance are:
- Easton
- Denton
- Berlin
The most expensive Maryland cities for auto insurance, located in densely-populated metro areas, include:
- Baltimore
- Capitol Heights
- District Heights
Here is a list of the average annual car insurance quotes in 50 of Maryland's largest cities, ranked from cheapest to most expensive.
| Rank | City | Auto insurance quote |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Easton | $1,919 |
| 2 | Denton | $1,947 |
| 3 | Berlin | $1,957 |
| 4 | Ocean City | $1,958 |
| 5 | Hagerstown | $1,980 |
| 6 | Fruitland | $1,988 |
| 7 | Pocomoke City | $1,998 |
| 8 | Salisbury | $1,998 |
| 9 | Delmar | $1,999 |
| 10 | Centreville | $2,002 |
| 11 | Chestertown | $2,013 |
| 12 | Boonsboro | $2,013 |
| 13 | Emmitsburg | $2,033 |
| 14 | Thurmont | $2,046 |
| 15 | Brunswick | $2,059 |
| 16 | Frederick | $2,064 |
| 17 | Middletown | $2,070 |
| 18 | Walkersville | $2,079 |
| 19 | Mount Airy | $2,146 |
| 20 | Leonardtown | $2,165 |
| 21 | Chevy Chase | $2,248 |
| 22 | Chesapeake Beach | $2,262 |
| 23 | Westminster | $2,277 |
| 24 | Taneytown | $2,283 |
| 25 | Manchester | $2,321 |
| 26 | Annapolis | $2,352 |
| 27 | Hampstead | $2,377 |
| 28 | Elkton | $2,383 |
| 29 | Bel Air | $2,423 |
| 30 | Poolesville | $2,429 |
| 31 | North East | $2,438 |
| 32 | Perryville | $2,443 |
| 33 | Aberdeen | $2,460 |
| 34 | Gaithersburg | $2,481 |
| 35 | Rising Sun | $2,488 |
| 36 | Rockville | $2,516 |
| 37 | Berwyn Heights | $2,660 |
| 38 | Laurel | $2,678 |
| 39 | Bowie | $2,707 |
| 40 | Greenbelt | $2,792 |
| 41 | College Park | $2,830 |
| 42 | Glenarden | $2,968 |
| 43 | Mount Rainier | $3,112 |
| 44 | Brentwood | $3,147 |
| 45 | Hyattsville | $3,185 |
| 46 | Bladensburg | $3,212 |
| 47 | Cheverly | $3,234 |
| 48 | District Heights | $3,256 |
| 49 | Capitol Heights | $3,346 |
| 50 | Baltimore | $3,714 |
Methodology
We collected auto insurance quotes for Maryland cities from seven car insurance companies.
Our sample driver was a:
- 30-year-old male
- Driving a 2015 Honda Civic EX
The driver was profiled as having no credit history, making him equivalent to a driver with below-fair to poor credit, according to our data source, Quadrant Information Services.
Unless otherwise noted, our sample driver held full coverage car insurance with the following limits:
| Coverage type | Study limits |
|---|---|
| Bodily liability | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Property damage | $25,000 per accident |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury | $50,000 per person/$100,000 per accident |
| Comprehensive and collision | $500 deductible |
For a minimum coverage policy, our sample driver had coverage equivalent to the minimum Maryland state requirements.
Average premiums are for illustrative purposes, as individual quotes will differ based on driving history, ZIP codes, vehicle type, coverage limits chosen and other factors.
ValuePenguin's analysis used insurance rate data from Quadrant Information Services. These rates were publicly sourced from insurer filings and should be used for comparative purposes only — your own quotes may be different.
Sources
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners.