Car Insurance in Maryland

Maryland Car Insurance

When registering your car in Maryland, your car insurance ID card will not be accepted as proof of insurance. Instead, your car insurance carrier will provide you with a Maryland Insurance Certification that you must sign and submit along with your registration.

Read more to learn about MD car insurance laws, programs, rates, and discounts.

Car Insurance Requirements in MD

In order to comply with Maryland car insurance laws, you must purchase all of the following:

Liability coverage.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
Injury protection (PIP or no-fault) coverage.

Liability Coverage

Liability car insurance helps pay for damages or bodily injury resulting from a car accident for which you are at fault.

Your liability insurance must have the following minimums:

$30,000 for bodily injury, per person.
$60,000 for total bodily injury, per accident.
$15,000 for property damage.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist

While car insurance is required in Maryland, many drivers remain uninsured. Also, some insured drivers do not have adequate coverage to help pay for costs associated with car accidents.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage helps pay for your injuries and property damage when involved in a car accident caused by these drivers.

Maryland’s required uninsured/underinsured coverage minimums equal those of liability coverage (see above).

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Maryland also requires you to have Personal Injury Protection (PIP), also called no-fault car insurance.

PIP coverage will help pay for your medical costs after a car accident, regardlessof who is at fault for the accident. Once you have reached your PIP’s limits, your health insurance may be able to cover additional costs.

If you are involved in a car accident caused by another driver, that driver’s liability insurance is responsible for your medical costs even after your PIP goes into effect.

Since it is usually faster to file a claim under your own PIP, you can pay back your own PIP once your claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance is processed.

The minimum limit for PIP in Maryland is $2,500.

Optional Car Insurance Coverage

In addition to the required car insurance coverages in Maryland, most auto insurance companies offer optional coverage types, including:

Collision – Helps pay for accident-related damages to your car.
Comprehensive – Helps pay for non-accident related damages to your car.
Towing and labor.
Rental car.

NOTE: While Maryland law does not require it, you may be required to purchase comprehensive and collision coverage as part of a loan or lease agreement. If you neglect to purchase required coverage, it might be purchased for you (see below).

Forced-Placed Insurance

If your car is being financed and you fail to purchase collision and comprehensive coverages as per your loan agreement requirements, your lender may purchase these coverage types and charge you for them.

This is called forced-placed insurance, and it can be considerably more expensivethan shopping for and purchasing car insurance on your own.

Proof of Maryland Insurance

The MVA only accepts Maryland Insurance Certification forms as proof of insurance. They will not accept an insurance card or other insurance documents.

When registering your car with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), youmust submit a signed Maryland Insurance Certification (FR-19) acknowledging that you will maintain at least the minimum Maryland car insurance requirements.

The FR-19 can only be obtained through your insurance company and:

Is valid for 30 days.
Is free.
Can be faxed or e-mailed to the MVA by your insurance company.

You cannot submit a photocopy of your FR-19 to the MVA.

Insurance Violations & Penalties

The MVA monitors car insurance status electronically with Maryland car insurance companies.

Your insurance carrier is required to report any cancellations or lapses in coverage to the MVA.

When the MVA is notified of any changes in your car insurance status, they will send you a request for your Maryland Insurance Certification (FR-19).

If you are found driving without insurance, you face the following penalties:

Suspension of your:
- Plates.
- Registration.
$150 fine for the first 30 days of not having car insurance.
- $7 fine for each additional day.
Suspended privileges to register or renew any car until your violations are cleared.
$30 registration restoration fee once your insurance violations have been cleared.

If you are caught providing a false proof of insurance, you face:

1 year of imprisonment.
A $1000 fine.

Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund

While car insurance is mandatory in Maryland, drivers with poor driving records may have difficulty finding a car insurance company willing to provide coverage.

If you cannot find car insurance through the open market, you can apply for car insurance through the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF).

The Maryland legislature created the MAIF to help provide high-risk drivers with car insurance coverage. All funding comes from the premiums paid to the MAIF. No state money goes towards the MAIF.

Visit the MAIF website for more information on applying for high-risk car insurance.

Consumer Support

Because insurance can be complex, the Maryland Insurance Administration offers consumer support to help with various car insurance issues that may arise, including:

Resolving an insurance dispute.
Reporting insurance fraud.

Resolving Disputes

Maryland offers two avenues to assist with disputes you may have with your insurance company:

Rapid response.
Written complaint.

Rapid Response Program

The Rapid Response Program is meant to assist with claims as quickly as possiblewithout requiring you to file an official complaint. For more information, call one of the following numbers:

(410) 468-2340.
(800) 492-6116.

Written Complaints

To submit an official written complaint, you can:

File online at the Maryland Insurance Administration website.
Download a property and casualty complaint form and mail it to:
Fax a property and casualty complaint form to (410) 468-2334 or (410) 468-2307.

You may also submit a written letter to the address above. Be sure to include:

Your:
- Name.
- Address.
- Daytime and evening phone numbers.
Insurance information:
- Company name.
- Policy number.
Name of any other insurance company involved in the complaint.
A detailed explanation of the issue.
Copies of any relevant documents.

Car Insurance Fraud

Car insurance companies spend a large sum of money dealing with insurance fraud. Those costs get passed down to you through increases in your premium.

Car insurance fraud often involves:

Staging car accidents.
Falsifying or exaggerating:
- Injuries.
- Property damage.

To help fight car insurance fraud and help keep premiums low, you can report suspected fraud to the Maryland Insurance Administration by:

Calling (800) 846-4069.
Completing a property and casualty complaint and submitting it:
- By fax: (410) 347-5350.
- By mail:

The MIA allows you to report insurance fraud anonymously.

The MIA provides a complete Consumer Guide to Insurance Fraud for anyone looking for more detailed information on this topic.

Determining Your MD Car Insurance Rates

Several factors go into determining the cost of your car insurance premium in Maryland.

When shopping for auto insurance, remember that most Maryland car insurance companies will factor in the following to determine your rates:

Your car’s:
- Make.
- Model.
- Year.
Driving record.
Gender.
Age.
Marital status.
Credit history.
Deductibles.
- Your out-of-pocket expenses towards a claim.
- The higher your deductible, the lower your premium.

MD Insurance Discounts

Taking advantage of discounts is a great way to save on car insurance. When comparing car insurance quotes, ask about any discounts you can apply towards your premium.

Most Maryland car insurance companies offer the following discounts:

Multi-car discount.
Homeowner’s discount.
Good student discount.
Safety device discount.
Anti-theft device discount.

While discounts can help you obtain low car insurance rates, the best way to save on car insurance is to maintain a good driving record that reflects safe and violation-free driving.

Most Stolen Cars in Maryland

If your car is highly targeted for theft, you may face higher car insurance rates.

The following is a list of Maryland's most stolen cars in 2013, according to www.nicb.org:

Dodge Caravan.
Honda Accord.
Toyota Camry.
Honda Civic.
Ford Pickup (Full Size).
Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee.
Nissan Altima.
Toyota Corolla.
Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size).
Chrysler Town & Country.

Car Insurance in Kentucky

Kentucky Car Insurance

In Kentucky, car insurance is mandatory, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is focused on reducing the number of uninsured drivers in the state.

If you are found to be driving without current auto insurance, you are subject to a number of penalties, so make sure you understand your responsibilities.

Kentucky Car Insurance Requirements

Liability Insurance

In order to meet the state requirements for car insurance in Kentucky, you’ll need to have at least the following types of liability insurance:

Bodily injury liability insurance – This coverage pays for costs related to any injuries or fatalities you cause as a result of an accident.
Property damage liability insurance – This coverage encompasses any damage you cause to someone else’s property.
- This may be combined with bodily injury coverage into single limit liability (SLL) coverage.

Kentucky requires that you hold these coverage types at the following minimums:

$25,000 for bodily injury, per person.
$50,000 for total bodily injury, per accident.
$10,000 for property damage.

Note to new residents: If you’re new to the state, you must have at least these minimums on your vehicle within 15 days of establishing residency.

Consider Additional Coverage

Even though you are only legally required to hold the minimum coverage amounts in Kentucky, you might find that this won’t sufficiently cover your costs in the event of an accident.

Read below to find out about optional coverage types that can offer further protection.

No-Fault Insurance

Another type of additional coverage that can save you a ton of money if you cause an accident is no-fault insurance, or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage.

Kentucky mandates that all vehicle insurance policies include PIP coverage with the exception of motorcycle insurance policies.

This insurance coverage pays up to $10,000 per person, per accident for injury-related expenses, regardless of who was deemed to be at fault for the accident. (You can always choose to pay for higher benefits.)

Limitations on Right to Sue or Be Sued

When you get PIP coverage with your car insurance, you accept certain limits on your right to sue and be sued.

Someone who’s been injured in an accident cannot seek to recover any of the following from the at-fault party*:

Medical expenses.
Loss of wages.
Pain and suffering.
Other related costs.

* Exception: You can recover expenses if the injuries exceed specific thresholds ($1,000 in medical costs, a broken bone, permanent injury or disfigurement, or death).

Rejection of Your Right to Sue Limits

You do have the right to reject the limitations on your right to sue; however it must be in writing on a no-fault rejection form submitted to the Department of Insurance. If you reject the limits, PIP protection will NOT be provided to you.

If all of the members in one household reject their limitations, then guest PIP coverage must be on the policy to provide PIP to guest passengers and pedestrians.

Note that if you do reject these limitations, your liability insurance will likely be more expensive.

Optional Car Insurance in KY

In order to make sure you can cover the costs involved in an accident, you may want to supplement your car insurance with one or more of the following optional coverage types:

Collision – Covers damages to your vehicle after a collision with another vehicle or an object.
Comprehensive – Covers damages to your vehicle that result from events other than a car accident, such as fire, vandalism, theft, etc.
Underinsured Motorist (UIM) – Covers bodily injury to you or your passengers when the costs exceed the insured’s policy limits. Costs are covered up to the UIM limits.
Uninsured Motorists (UM) – Covers injuries to you or your passengers when you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured driver (or you are a victim of ahit-and-run). Costs are covered up to the UM limits.

NOTE: In the event that you loan or lease a car, you may be required to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage.

Proof of Insurance

When driving, you should have your Kentucky proof of insurance (insurance card) and your registration in the car. If you are unable to show proof of insurance when asked by an officer, you’ll be subject to fines and penalties.

Electronic Verification at Registration

In order to register your vehicle or renew your registration, you’ll have to have current insurance. The KYTC will verify that you have at least the minimum requirementsusing the Kentucky Insurance System.

All insurance companies licensed to sell car insurance in KY must submit a record of all policies in effect at the time. The KYTC verifies your insurance using this monthly record.

If your provider doesn’t submit proof of your current insured status, you’ll need to show current proof for manual verification when you register.

KY Insurance Violations

In Kentucky, you must have insurance to drive a vehicle in the state. If you are found to be driving without current car insurance, you are subject to any or all of the following:

Fines of up to $1,000.
Up to 90 days of jail time.
Suspension of your license plates.
Placement in the “high-risk” category of drivers by your insurance company.
- This will make getting insurance difficult (see “Kentucky Automobile Insurance Plan” below).

Cancellation of Your Policy

If your insurance policy is canceled or discontinued for some reason, you must renew your policy or find a new one right away; otherwise, you risk being ticketed.

Aside from the penalties listed above that you face for driving uninsured, you also face the cancellation of your registration by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC).

If your insurance has been discontinued, your status will be monitored by the KYTC. Your registration will be canceled 30 days after receipt of an Uninsured Notice from the KYTC.

You will not be able to re-register your vehicle until you can provide current proof of insurance to your County Clerk.

In order to contact the KYTC about an Uninsured Notice, call (502) 564-1257 and make the following selections (in the following order):

Option 3 to get the Division of Motor Vehicle Licensing.
Option 2 for Registration & Mandatory Insurance.
Option 2 for Mandatory Insurance.

Kentucky Automobile Insurance Plan

In some cases, you might find it difficult to get an insurance policy on the standard market, especially if you are deemed a “high-risk” driver due to insurance violations, accidents, and/or a poor driving record.

If you are unable to find an insurance policy through the standard market, you can obtain insurance through the Kentucky Automobile Insurance Plan (KAIP).

Applying through the KAIP will typically lead to higher premiums, so it’s best to shop for car insurance quotes in the standard market prior to using this route.

You can apply through the KAIP by contacting any insurance agent.

Other Car Insurance Issues

If you encounter any problems with your car insurance in Kentucky, there are avenues to deal with these issues.

Questions and Concerns

If you have a concern, you can visit the Kentucky Department of Insurance website or contact them:

By e-mail: dol.info@ky.gov.
By phone:
- (502) 564-3630.
- Toll-free: (800) 595-6053.
- TTY: (800) 648-6056.

Filing a Complaint

If you wish to file a complaint, you can use the department’s online complaint form or complete a Consumer Complaint Form and send it to the address on the form.

Car Insurance Fraud

Car insurance fraud costs insurance companies a significant amount of money, and those costs get passed along to consumers in the form of higher insurance premiums.

In order to keep costs low for everyone, it’s important to report fraud. The Kentucky DOI makes reporting insurance fraud easy. Simply visit their website and download theReport Fraud Form (Form FD-1) or call any of the phone numbers listed on the site.

Determining Your Car Insurance Premium

Kentucky car insurance companies determine your rates by looking at many factors. These include:

Your car’s make and model.
The number of drivers and their ages.
Your Kentucky driving record.
How close you are to the nearest hospital.
The number of accidents in your area.
Your credit score.
Population density in your area.
Local auto repair rates.

Remember, different providers will take different factors into consideration, so it’s smart to thoroughly comparison shop for auto insurance quotes before purchasing an insurance policy.

Car Insurance Discounts

Insurance companies in Kentucky offer a number of discounts to drivers. These include:

Good driver.
Good student.
Multiple policies.
Low mileage.
Anti-theft device.

Always investigate what discounts for which you might be eligible. It can save you a lot of money in the long run. However, be aware that the best way to maintain low-cost car insurance is to drive safely on a consistent basis and keep your insurance current.

Most Stolen Cars in Kentucky

If you own a car that is highly targeted for theft, you may have to pay higher car insurance rates.

The following is a list of the most stolen cars in Kentucky for 2013, according to www.nicb.org:

Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size).
Ford Pickup (Full Size).
Dodge Pickup (Full Size).
Chevrolet Impala.
Toyota Camry.
Chevrolet Pickup (Small Size).
Nissan Altima.
Honda Accord.
Toyota Corolla.
Ford Explorer.

AUTO INSURANCE