What Car Insurance Is Required in Maryland?

To register and drive a vehicle in Maryland, you'll need:

• liability car insurance of at least $30,000 for injury or death of one person, $60,000 for injury or death of more than one person, and $15,000 for property damage, all to cover losses in any accident caused by the insured driver, and
• uninsured motorist coverage (usually in the same amounts as the insured person's liability coverage), to pay for the insured person's injuries and vehicle damage in an accident that's 100 percent the fault of an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.

Let's take a closer look at these car insurance coverage requirements, and a few more things to know about auto insurance in Maryland.

Maryland's Liability Car Insurance Requirements

Liability insurance coverage pays for injuries, property damage, and other losses you cause in a car accident, up to coverage limits. You can purchase coverage above the minimum from your insurance company. Here are a few examples of the kinds of accidents liability insurance typically covers:

• You rear-end another car in a parking lot and cause damage.
• You crash into your neighbor's mailbox.
• You hit a pedestrian in an intersection and cause injuries.

Liability coverage doesn't cover your own injuries or vehicle damage after a Maryland car accident. You'll need additional coverage for that if you're involved in a car accident and no one else's coverage applies to your losses. For example, collision coverage can help pay to repair or replace your damaged vehicle after a car accident, regardless of who caused the crash. Collision coverage is optional in Maryland, but your car loan lender may require you to have it.

Your liability coverage will cover an accident caused by most people who are driving the insured car, including anyone named on the policy, family and household members, and anyone else who has permission to drive your car. Your liability insurance will also likely cover you if you cause an accident in a rental car.

Maryland's Uninsured Motorist Coverage Requirements

Maryland's minimum requirements for uninsured motorist coverage are usually identical to the state's liability requirements:

• $30,000 for bodily injury or death for one person
• $60,000 for bodily injury or death for more than one person, and
• $15,000 for property damage.

If you carry liability coverage that's above Maryland's minimum requirements, you can "waive" your uninsured motorist coverage down to the above-listed amounts.

You can also choose an option called Enhanced Underinsured Motorists coverage, which keeps your insurer from offsetting your total uninsured motorist claim value by any amount you collect from the (underinsured) at-fault driver's policy.

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage protects you and your passengers if you're hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver, or if you're the victim of a hit-and-run driver. But keep in mind that if you're making an uninsured motorist claim after most kinds of car accidents in Maryland, the terms of your car insurance policy will likely require that you report the accident to the police within a certain amount of time before the claim will be considered.

Can I Get Uninsured Motorist Coverage If I'm Partly at Fault?

In Maryland, you can only collect uninsured motorist benefits if the other driver was 100 percent at fault for the accident. If you share any amount of legal blame for the crash, your uninsured motorist coverage won't apply.

Does Maryland Require Personal Injury Protection Car Insurance?

Not exactly. On top of the required coverages we just discussed, any car insurance policy issued in Maryland must include personal injury protection (PIP) coverage, unless the customer waives PIP coverage in writing.

Personal injury protection covers medical expenses and lost income for people who are injured in an accident, regardless of fault, up to $2,500. Full PIP in Maryland covers you, members of your family, and non-family passengers. You may also choose limited PIP, which excludes benefits for you and members of your family age 16 and over. Limited PIP costs less and makes sense if you already have good medical insurance.

Is Maryland a "No-Fault" Car Accident State?

No. Maryland follows a fault-based insurance system. In "fault" states, the driver who is at fault for a car accident has to pay for the other party's "damages," including medical bills, car repairs, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

At-fault drivers typically rely on liability insurance to pay for damages, which is why Maryland law requires car owners and drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance.

Do I Need Proof of Car Insurance in Maryland?

Maryland requires vehicle owners and drivers to carry proof of insurance in their cars. If you're stopped for a traffic violation or involved in an accident, a law enforcement officer may write you a traffic citation if you can't provide proof of insurance.

If the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) requests proof of insurance, you'll have to provide a Maryland Insurance Certification (FR-19). You can get an FR-19 from your insurance company for free.

The Maryland MVA also validates that car insurance is current on any vehicle that's having its registration renewed.

What Happens If I Drive Without Insurance in Maryland?

If you know or have reason to know that a car isn't insured and you drive it anyway, you can go to jail. First-time offenders face a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one-year imprisonment. Second or subsequent offenders face a fine of up to $1,000 and up to two years imprisonment. (Md. Code Transportation, § 17-107 (2025).)

According to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, other penalties for driving uninsured include:

• a $200 fine for the first 30 days and $7 for each additional day, up to a maximum of $3,500 in financial penalties per vehicle
• registration suspension, and
• collection fees.

As stiff as these penalties are, they pale in comparison to the financial hit you could take if you're in a car accident and you don't have car insurance.

Getting Help After a Maryland Car Accident

If you've been involved in a car accident in Maryland, you might want to discuss your options with a lawyer, especially if your injuries are serious and you're having trouble proving that the other driver was at fault. Learn more about how an attorney can help you with your car accident claim and how to find the right lawyer.