Maryland Car Insurance
Maryland drivers must carry at least 30/60/15 liability coverage, plus UM/UIM at policy liability limits (cannot waive below 30/60/15) under Md. Code, Insurance Article § 19-5091. Every personal auto policy also includes $2,500 PIP by default under Insurance Article § 19-505; the named insured may waive PIP in writing2. The MVA runs electronic insurance verification4. MAIF is Maryland's state-administered insurer of last resort5.
YesWeSure Bottom Line
What makes MD unusual. UM/UIM cannot be waived below 30/60/15, and $2,500 PIP is on your policy by default unless you waive it in writing. These are both pro-consumer defaults12.
How Maryland handles hard-to-place drivers. MAIF (Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund) is the state-administered insurer of last resort. It is required to issue the state's compulsory coverages to eligible applicants5.
How to make a real decision. Treat 30/60/15 as a floor. For how to think about higher limits, see how to choose coverage limits.
State requirements at a glance
What Maryland car insurance law requires
Minimum liability limits
30 / 60 / 151
$30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 per accident, $15,000 property damage per accident.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
$2,500 default; waiver in writing2
Md. Code, Insurance Article § 19-505 requires $2,500 PIP on every personal auto policy by default. The named insured may waive PIP in writing on the insurer-prescribed form.
Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist
Compulsory at policy liability limits; cannot waive below 30/60/151
Insurance Article § 19-509 requires UM and UIM at limits equal to policy liability. UM/UIM may be reduced only down to the 30/60/15 statutory floor; it cannot be waived below the floor.
Coverage verification
MVA electronic reporting4
The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration verifies coverage via insurer reporting; a confirmed lapse triggers daily uninsured penalties and registration suspension.
Insurer of last resort
MAIF (Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund)5
MAIF is the state-administered insurer of last resort for drivers unable to obtain coverage in the voluntary market. MAIF policies carry the compulsory liability, PIP, and UM/UIM limits set by Maryland law.
Rate approval regime
Maryland Insurance Administration oversight3
Maryland does not maintain a headline statewide prohibition on credit-based insurance scoring, gender, or age as personal-auto rating factors.
The 30/60/15 minimum
Md. Code, Insurance Article § 19-509 sets the compulsory liability floor at 30/60/151. Many Maryland drivers carry higher limits.
$2,500 PIP by default; written waiver permitted
Md. Code, Insurance Article § 19-505 requires $2,500 PIP on every personal auto policy by default2. The named insured may waive PIP in writing on the insurer-prescribed form. Waiver reduces premium but shifts first-party medical and wage-loss recovery onto health insurance and MedPay. For how PIP sits next to MedPay, see our medical payments coverage guide.
UM/UIM compulsory at policy liability limits
Insurance Article § 19-509 requires UM and UIM at limits equal to the policy liability1. The named insured may elect lower UM/UIM limits only down to the 30/60/15 statutory floor; UM/UIM cannot be waived below the floor.
MVA verification and lapse enforcement
The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration runs electronic insurance verification via insurer reporting4. A confirmed lapse triggers daily uninsured penalties and registration suspension. For a general lapse treatment, see our after-a-lapse guide.
MAIF (Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund)
MAIF is Maryland's state-administered insurer of last resort for drivers unable to obtain coverage in the voluntary market. MAIF-written policies carry the compulsory liability, PIP, and UM/UIM limits set by Maryland law5. MAIF premium is typically higher than voluntary-market premium; eligible drivers often move to the voluntary market as their records allow.
Rating-factor landscape
Maryland does not maintain a headline statewide prohibition on credit-based insurance scoring, gender, or age3. For general treatment, see our how insurers calculate rates guide.
Where the Maryland situation rules live on YesWeSure
This State Guide owns the Maryland pricing and legal framework. Situation-specific mechanics live on the sibling Situation guides:
- After an accident. See our after-an-accident guide.
- After a DUI. Maryland SR-22 and reinstatement mechanics are treated in our after-a-DUI guide.
- After a lapse. MVA consequences of a lapse are treated in our after-a-lapse guide.
- Moving into Maryland. New-resident registration is treated in our moving-to-another-state guide.
What we verified for this page
- Strong30/60/15 minimum liability verified against Md. Code, Insurance Article § 19-509 and the Maryland Insurance Administration consumer page.
- Strong$2,500 PIP by default with written waiver permitted verified against Md. Code, Insurance Article § 19-505.
- StrongUM/UIM compulsory at policy liability limits; cannot waive below 30/60/15 verified against Md. Code, Insurance Article § 19-509.
- StrongMAIF as state insurer of last resort verified against the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund consumer page.
- LimitedDeliberately omitted from V1. A Maryland modeled cost anchor; carrier-specific MD underwriting; the exact MVA daily uninsured penalty amount (verify current amount with MVA); and telematics program detail.
- LimitedNamed author and expert reviewer. V1 attributes to "YesWeSure Editorial." A Maryland-licensed reviewer is tracked as a pre-launch YMYL item.
Ready to compare Maryland quotes at or above the 30/60/15 minimum?
Compare Maryland car insurance quotesYesWeSure may receive compensation when readers use quote-comparison links. Compensation does not influence the statutory or regulatory information on this page or the sources cited above. See our advertiser disclosure and editorial standards.
Common questions
What is the minimum car insurance required in Maryland?
30/60/15 liability plus matching UM/UIM (cannot waive below the floor) and $2,500 PIP (waiver in writing permitted)12.
Can I waive PIP in Maryland?
Yes, in writing on the insurer-prescribed form under Md. Code, Insurance Article § 19-5052.
Can I waive UM/UIM in Maryland?
You can elect lower limits down to the 30/60/15 floor, but UM/UIM cannot be waived below the floor1.
What is MAIF?
MAIF (Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund) is the state-administered insurer of last resort for drivers unable to obtain coverage in the voluntary market5.
Sources & methodology
- Md. Code, Insurance Article § 19-509: UM required at policy liability limits; floor at 30/60/15. (Maryland General Assembly, TIER 1)
- Md. Code, Insurance Article § 19-505: PIP at $2,500 minimum; written waiver permitted. (Maryland General Assembly, TIER 1)
- Maryland Insurance Administration: Automobile Insurance consumer guide. (Maryland Insurance Administration, TIER 1)
- Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration: Insurance Requirements and uninsured penalties. (Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, TIER 1)
- Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF): state insurer of last resort. (Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, TIER 1)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after an accident (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after a DUI (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance after a lapse in coverage (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: Car insurance when moving to another state (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: What is medical payments coverage? (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: How to choose coverage limits (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
- YesWeSure: How insurers calculate rates (YesWeSure, INTERNAL)
Evidence hierarchy on this page: Tier 1 (Md. Code, Insurance Article, Maryland Insurance Administration, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, MAIF). Every legal number traces to a Maryland primary source: Insurance Article §§ 19-505 and 19-509, together with MVA and MAIF consumer materials. This page is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or insurance advice. Last reviewed .