Maryland Auto Insurance
In Maryland auto insurance is an indispensible part of living and driving. In this age where automobiles are such a huge part of daily life it is extremely important to have an excellent insurance policy for your vehicles. With a little research you can very easily find the policy that is perfect for your individual needs.
Though it can be daunting to weed through tons of information we make finding the perfect policy simple with the following information and our free rate tool. Let’s get started finding your policy now!
Maryland’s Minimum Auto Insurance Requirements
There are certain insurance limits which are required to have for vehicles in the State of Maryland. It is crucial to maintain at least these limits to avoid such penalties as a revocation of your registration, confiscation of your license plates, and a $150+ fine. This would then lead to a $25 fee to restore registration on your vehicle, or you possibly not be allowed to register another vehicle in the future until this is cleared off your record.
Plus, if you are cited for driving without any insurance 5 points are placed on your driving record. Also, if you provide false insurance information you could be fined $1,000 and/or be put in jail for one year.
Your insurance company will assist you in obtaining the minimum limits of $20,000 for Bodily Injury Liability, $40,000 total per accident, and $15,000 Property Damage Liability. In addition to this 20/40/15 policy you are required to maintain a minimum of $20,000/$40,000 for Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury. This is to protect you in the event that you are involved in an accident that was not your fault with an insured driver.
Also, to cover any reasonable medical bills you may incur in an accident you are required to have a minimum of $2,500 for Personal Injury Protection (PIP). Naturally it is a good idea to invest in more coverage than the minimum required by the state, but you must have the minimum.
Other types of automobile coverage are offered by Maryland State; these include collision and comprehensive, and underinsured policies. These beneficial policies add additional protection to you and your vehicle. Why spend lots of money if your car gets vandalized, stolen, rammed into, or washed away in a flood when your insurance would cover all that for you? Of course, you do have to be able to afford the deductible and premium.
Ways To Reduce Your MD Car Insurance Premium Costs
With our economy getting tighter every day it is essential to find ways to save money. It is very possible to save money on auto insurance in Maryland and we are here to help you do just that. On of the simplest ways to save money on car insurance is to keep informed about all the changing laws and regulations.
It is also very important to know exactly what affects your premium to begin with. There are many factors which affect your premium including the type of car you own, how clean your driving record is, what your age and gender and marital status is, on your policy what other drivers’ record are, where you live, what your credit history is, what your coverage limits are, what kind of insurance you have had in the past, and how many miles you drive a year.
Now you know what different things affect your premium so let’s look at what we can do to lessen the premium costs. First of all you need to compare the different companies who offer insurance in your area and ask them the following questions:
- What are the different price quotes you can offer me?
- Are the any available discounts?
- What is the effect of raising my deductable on my insurance premium?
Finally, it is critical that you make sure that your insurance company has legitimate licenses and a good record. Check independent online auditors like Moody's if you don't know where to start.
Other ways to save money in Maryland on insurance are to maintain a reasonable amount of liability coverage. Do not try to get too much of this. If you are driving an old vehicle you can drop the collision because this sometimes tends to exceed your vehicle’s gross value. If you are going to be away for months or years at a time and your vehicle will not be driven by any other person you can suspend your coverage. That way you do not have to pay insurance on a vehicle you are not driving. On that note if you are going to let your car sit for an indefinite amount of time remove the registration from it before the insurance lapses.
Also keep in mind that the type of vehicle you buy affects your premium when you are shopping for a new car. Since your annual mileage affects your premium you may want to consider taking public transportation to work and save your car for recreational trips.
Do not forget to pay your premiums on time as there is a fee of $150 for a lapsed coverage. It is very important that you and any drivers under your policy maintain spotless driving records as discounts are available to drivers who are considered safe on the road. You could take a course on defensive driving. If you are attending college it may help to keep your insurance company up to date on your good grades. Yes, maintaining good grades in school can lower your premium if you can do so.
If you can produce evidence of dependability such as a long record of working for years with the same employer, this can also lower your premium cost. You should also let your provider know when your children are no longer on your policy as this will lower your cost of insurance considerably. As you can see there are many simple little things you can do to lower the cost of a good insurance policy to save money.
Other Important Information About Maryland Car Insurance
Young adults can stay on their parents policy until they move out or buy their first vehicle, this saves money for the single who is just starting out in life. However, once they buy their own car they must obtain their own insurance to avoid any confusion as to who is the responsible party of the vehicle should there be any legal issues.
Also an umbrella policy will protect your growing assets should you need it. You may want to keep in mind that the rates for a teenage male raise up to 100% while the rates for a teenage female raise 50% when you are considering adding your child to your insurance policy.
Compare Maryland Auto Insurance Quotes Online
There are many benefits to having an excellent automobile coverage and there are many different companies who offer insurance to you. Finding the best coverage you can be like looking for a needle in a haystack if you do not know what to look for. We are here to help you find that perfect plan that will have you covered.
Feel free to use our free rate tool at the top of the page to compare companies side-by-side and see for yourself how easy finding just the right company can be.
Get started comparing Maryland car insurance quotes online now!