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Our take

Geico is the best insurer in Maryland, based on Insure.com research of state rates and third-party rankings. Geico received 3.99 out of 5 stars.

Best car insurance company in Maryland

In Maryland, the average premium for car insurance is $1,746 a year or $145 a month, which is the 32nd highest in the country; Louisiana was number one.

For drivers looking for cheap car insurance in Maryland, Geico, Nationwide, Travelers, Kemper Insurance and others on our list are great options, offering plenty of coverage options at affordable rates.

Insure.com research found Geico offers low rates when compared to its competitors and received high marks when we look at other factors including J.D Power customer satisfaction scores, financial strength rankings and complaint data. Geico was Insure.com’s top scorer and was awarded 3.99 out of 5 stars.

Erie Insurance finished second in our rankings with a score of 3.94 stars and Travelers was third at 3.93 stars.

Company GroupNAICJ.D. PowerAM Best RatingScore (out of 5)
Geico0.91818A++3.99
Erie Insurance0.61863A+3.94
Travelers0.49822A++3.93
Nationwide0.64820A+3.82
State Farm0.7843A++3.62
Progressive0.65814A+3.57
Allstate0.65825A+3
Kemper Insurance2.16736A-2.26

How we picked the top auto insurance companies

When choosing the top car insurance companies in the state, we not only looked at the average cost of coverage but also J.D. Power customer satisfaction scores, AM Best financial strength ratings and National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) complaint rankings. National averages were used where state/regional data was not available.

For each of the four metrics, we gave companies in each state from 1 to 5 (5 being the best) based on how they performed in each category. Those components were then given the following weights, to arrive at an overall star rating.

  • Premiums: 25%
  • JD Power: 30%
  • AM Best: 25%
  • NAIC: 20%

Auto insurance premiums vary significantly from city to city, so drivers need to be sure they’re getting the best deal. Insure.com has done the research for you. Get more information on auto insurance rates by city below.

Car insurance rates in Maryland by city

Cheapest car insurance in Maryland

Geico has the lowest average rate in Maryland at $1,262 a year or $105 A month.

Nationwide is the next most affordable at $1,363 annually and Travelers at $1,523. While these insurers had the cheapest average premiums, there are plenty of other options for coverage in the state.

Insurers consider a wide variety of factors when setting a rate and use proprietary algorithms which can result in dramatic differences in premium quotes. Where you live also affects rates.

“States that have a higher rate of severe weather that damages cars or helps cause accidents will typically have higher rates,” says Chong Gao, director of product management R&D at Mercury Insurance. “Maryland, for example, is prone to extreme weather like hurricanes and its car insurance costs are consequently much higher.”

The data shows how shopping around for coverage can result in savings. While Geico had the lowest average rate at $1,262, Allstate was the most expensive at $3,108.

The table below shows the cheapest full-coverage car insurance rates in Maryland for a 40-year-old driver of a Honda Accord LX.

CompanyAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Geico$1,262$105
Nationwide$1,363$114
Travelers$1,523$127
Kemper Insurance$1,603$134
Erie Insurance$1,685$140
Progressive$1,895$158
State Farm$2,177$181
Allstate$3,108$259

Full coverage car insurance in Maryland

As noted, the rates above are for full coverage car insurance. Full coverage car insurance adds collision and comprehensive to your liability insurance coverage, so your vehicle is repaired or replaced after an incident.

Full coverage insurance includes collision and comprehensive which will pay to repair your vehicle. Collision covers damage caused by a collision with another vehicle or object while comprehensive repairs damage done by perils such as fire, theft, flooding, vandalism, and more.

Learn more about liability, collision and comprehensive coverage here.

Shopping for car insurance in Maryland

Shopping around for coverage is a great way to make sure you are getting the best rates on your auto insurance. Experts often tell consumers to shop for insurance yearly. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you should be looking to switch.

“I recommend that people stay with the same insurance company, as they tend to get a better rate when they have been with the same carrier for more than 12 months. The more tenure you have with a carrier, the more potential there is to earn benefits,” says Tim Bottini, a Country Financial insurance agent based in St. Louis. “The carrier can also review your claims history and provide information about applicable discounts.”

But make sure you are comparing like coverage levels and deductibles.

“It is extremely important to make sure you start off with an apples-to-apples comparison,” Bottini says. “However, if a person has low limits, say 25/50/25 – limit per person/per occurrence/limit for property damage – I am going to recommend and quote at least 50/100/100. Depending on their age/income and profession, I would quote higher limits to protect their net worth and earnings potential.”

Bottini also says people can save money on their car insurance by keeping their credit score up, following the speed limit and placing both home and auto insurance with the same carrier.

Cheapest car insurance in Maryland by age

Statistics show that young drivers, because they are inexperienced and tend to take more risks, have more accidents and claims, all of which lead to higher premiums for younger drivers.

“Data indicates that teenagers and seniors are riskier drivers, so they often pay more for auto insurance than other policyholders in different age groups,” says Chong Gao, director of product management R&D at Mercury Insurance. “For teenagers, the lack of driving experience is a significant factor that impacts their rates; younger drivers with little experience behind the wheel tend to pay higher insurance premiums.”

Erie Insurance is the cheapest insurer in Maryland for teens.

Age factors into a premium as the data clearly shows. Teens pay the highest rates by far with the lowest premium coming in at $4,011 which is 202% more expensive than the most affordable coverage for seniors at $1,330 and 70% more than young drivers’ best rate of $2,357.

Rates start to drop, assuming their driving record stays clean as teens move into their young adult years and tend to stay stable until a driver gets into their 70s when rates will go up a bit.

Cheapest car insurance for senior drivers in Maryland

Seniors pay more for car insurance than other drivers, excluding teens. Nationwide is the best choice for seniors in Maryland, according to our data, with an average premium of $1,330 annually, which translates to $111 a month.

Geico was the second most affordable at $1,418 and Travelers was next with a premium of $1,738.

“Seniors tend to have slower reaction times and may suffer from vision or hearing impairments, which can impair their driving ability. This makes them more prone to accidents and thus considered high-risk by insurance companies,” says Tariro Goronga, CEO of DriveSafe driving schools in Colorado.

The table below shows the average premium for senior drivers.

CompanyAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Nationwide$1,330$111
Geico$1,418$118
Travelers$1,738$145
Erie Insurance$1,768$147
Kemper Insurance$1,850$154
Progressive$1,956$163
State Farm$2,191$183
Allstate$3,232$269

Car insurance for young drivers in Maryland

Young drivers (21-25) have seen their premiums drop from their teen years, but they still pay more than more experienced drivers. In Maryland, Travelers is the cheapest option for young adults with a yearly premium of $2,357 or $196 a month.

Geico is the next most affordable with an average rate of $2,461 followed by Erie Insurance at $2,566.

Young drivers, if they keep their driving record clean will see their rates drop even further as they move into their late 20s.

The table below shows the best insurers for young drivers in Maryland:

CompanyAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Travelers$2,357$196
Geico$2,461$205
Erie Insurance$2,566$214
Nationwide$2,583$215
Kemper Insurance$3,058$255
Progressive$3,180$265
State Farm$3,740$312
Allstate$4,761$397

Car insurance for teen drivers in Maryland

Although teen drivers always pay much higher premiums than other driver groups, Erie Insurance offers teens the cheapest rate at $4,011. Teen drivers are inexperienced and are big risk takers which results in more accidents and claims, pushing up the cost of coverage.

“Teenagers are more likely to be involved in accidents than older drivers because of their lack of experience. This increased risk results in higher insurance rates because insurance companies regard them as high-risk drivers,” says Goronga. “Teenagers are also more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors, such as distracted driving or speeding, increasing their chances of being involved in an accident.”

Geico has the second most affordable premium at $4,685 a year followed by Kemper Insurance at $4,909 annually.

Our data clearly shows how dramatic premium differences can be for teens and how important shopping your coverage is when trying to find the best rate for your specific risk factors. While Erie Insurance was the most affordable at $4,011, Allstate was the most expensive with an annual premium of $8,689.

There are a few ways to save some money when insuring a teen. Ask your insurer for a good student discount if they are carrying a B average or better. Putting your teen in an older vehicle that you wouldn’t repair after an accident can help save some money by dropping collision and comprehensive.

The chart below shows average premiums for teens in Maryland:

CompanyAverage annual premiumAverage monthly premium
Erie Insurance$4,011$334
Geico$4,685$390
Kemper Insurance$4,909$409
Nationwide$5,016$418
Travelers$5,250$438
Progressive$5,784$482
State Farm$6,513$543
Allstate$8,689$724

Average cost of car insurance in Maryland

Maryland is the 32nd most expensive state (Louisiana is number one) when it comes to car insurance with an average premium of $1,746.

The table below shows the average rate in each state for a 40-year-old driver of a 2023 Honda Accord LX.

Average annual premiumAverage monthly premium
$1,746 $145

Which Maryland ZIP codes are most expensive for car insurance?

Insurers consider the ZIP code where your car is parked when setting a premium. High crime rates or frequent severe weather will result in a higher premium.

According to our analysis, the following ZIP codes are the most expensive in Maryland for car insurance. Gwynn Oak tops the charts at $2,447 a year.

Here are the most expensive ZIP codes in Maryland for car insurance:

CityAverage annual Premium
Gwynn Oak$2,447
Randallstown$2,391
Windsor Mill$2,367
Capitol Heights$2,349
Baltimore$2,345
Mount Rainier$2,310
Landover$2,295
Langley Park$2,292
Hillcrest Heights$2,278
Suitland$2,278

Which Maryland ZIP codes are the cheapest for car insurance?

Rural areas are almost always cheaper than urban areas when it comes to car insurance. Fewer people and cars on the road mean fewer accidents and claims. The cheapest zip code for car insurance in Maryland is in Maugansville with an annual premium of $1,428.

CityAverage annual Premium
Maugansville$1,428
2 Williamsport$1,429
Frostburg$1,430
Easton$1,434
13 Mount Savage$1,434
Fountainhead-Orchard Hills$1,437
Smithsburg$1,439
Cumberland$1,442
Fairplay$1,446
Clear Spring$1,449

Cheapest car insurance for high-risk drivers in Maryland

Drivers with a speeding ticket, DUI or at-fault accident on their record are often considered high-risk drivers and end up paying more for coverage. The increase can range from reasonable for a speeding ticket to a big leap in costs for a DUI.

The data showed that a speeding ticket will result in a 34% increase, pushing the average rate to $2,643. Speeding tickets will typically impact your premium for at least three years.

An at-fault accident will raise your rates by 68% to an average of $3,304. A DUI will result in the biggest increase, sending your premium up 71% to an average of $3,356.

The table below shows the average increase for drivers with an incident on their record:

Profile GroupsAverage annual premiumRates after IncidentRates increase after incident ($)Rates increase after incident (%)
At-Fault Accident$1,966$3,304$1,33868%
Bad Credit$1,966$3,412$1,44573%
DUI$1,966$3,356$1,39071%
Speeding$1,966$2,643$67734%

Minimum car insurance requirements in Maryland

Maryland law requires drivers to carry $2,500 in personal injury protection (PIP) and a minimum of $15k in property damage liability (PDL), which helps pay for damage you do with your car to other people’s property.

expert

What our expert says

Q: Does location affect car insurance rates?

expert-image
Chong GaoDirector of product management R&D at Mercury Insurance.
“States that have a higher rate of severe weather that damages cars or helps cause accidents will typically have higher rates. Maryland, for example, is prone to extreme weather like hurricanes and its car insurance costs are consequently much higher.”

How much is car insurance in other states

Alaska$1,676/Year
Alabama$1,860/Year
Arkansas$1,957/Year
Arizona$1,812/Year
California$2,416/Year
Colorado$2,337/Year
Connecticut$1,725/Year
Washington D.C.$2,157/Year
Delaware$2,063/Year
Florida$2,694/Year
Georgia$1,970/Year
Hawaii$1,517/Year
Iowa$1,630/Year
Idaho$1,428/Year
Illinois$1,532/Year
Indiana$1,515/Year
Kansas$1,900/Year
Kentucky$2,228/Year
Louisiana$2,883/Year
Massachusetts$1,726/Year
Maine$1,175/Year
Michigan$2,266/Year
Minnesota$1,911/Year
Missouri$1,982/Year
Mississippi$2,008/Year
Montana$2,193/Year
North Carolina$1,741/Year
North Dakota$1,665/Year
Nebraska$1,902/Year
New Hampshire$1,265/Year
New Jersey$1,902/Year
New Mexico$2,049/Year
Nevada$2,060/Year
New York$1,870/Year
Ohio$1,417/Year
Oklahoma$2,138/Year
Oregon$1,678/Year
Pennsylvania$1,872/Year
Rhode Island$2,061/Year
South Carolina$2,009/Year
South Dakota$2,280/Year
Tennessee$1,677/Year
Texas$2,043/Year
Utah$1,825/Year
Virginia$1,469/Year
Vermont$1,319/Year
Washington$1,608/Year
Wisconsin$1,664/Year
West Virginia$2,005/Year
Wyoming$1,758/Year
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Mark Vallet
Contributing Researcher

 
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Mark is a freelance journalist and analyst with over 15 years of experience covering the insurance industry.

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