Maryland auto insurance requirements (what the state actually expects)

Susan Collins

Flexible policies that scale with your business and your goals

Maryland requires every registered vehicle to be insured at all times by a company licensed in Maryland. Here are the key required coverages people should understand:

 

1) Liability (required): 30/60/15

 

This is the baseline coverage that pays for injuries you cause to others and damage you cause to someone else’s property:

 

$30,000 bodily injury per person

$60,000 bodily injury per accident (two or more people)

$15,000 property damage per accident

 

2) Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist (required in Maryland)

Maryland also requires uninsured motorist coverage (and the state’s required notice describes the minimum limits as 30/60/15, matching the minimum liability requirement).


This is the coverage that can protect you and your passengers if the other driver has no insurance or not enough insurance.

 

3) PIP (Personal Injury Protection): $2,500 (included unless waived)

Maryland materials explain PIP as coverage that provides benefits for medical and disability-related expenses up to $2,500 following an accident.
In practice, many drivers keep it because it can help pay quickly regardless of fault—but some drivers choose to waive it depending on their health insurance and household situation.

 

What Annapolis drivers often choose beyond the minimums (and why)

If you’re driving around Annapolis, Arnold, Severna Park, Edgewater, Crofton, Odenton, or anywhere else in Anne Arundel County, the big “beyond-the-minimum” choices usually come down to protecting your assets, your vehicle, and your household.

 

Higher liability limits (the most common “smart upgrade”)

Maryland’s minimum liability limits can get used up fast in a serious crash. That’s why many local drivers choose higher limits like 100/300/100 or 250/500/100 (or similar).


If you own a home, have savings, or have a higher household income, higher liability limits are typically the first place to improve protection.

 

Related: Pairing higher auto liability limits with an umbrella policy can be a cost-effective way to add extra protection above your auto policy. (Simpson & Blom can walk you through how those layers work together.)

 

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist focus (especially “Enhanced” options)

Maryland’s required notice explains that UM (and Enhanced Underinsured Motorist / EUIM options) are built to mirror liability limits unless you choose lower UM limits.


In plain English: if you raise your liability, it’s often smart to raise UM/UIM too, so you’re not well-protected when you hit someone—but under-protected when someone hits you.

 

Comprehensive & collision (vehicle protection)

  • Collision helps pay to repair/replace your car after a crash (regardless of fault, minus your deductible).
  • Comprehensive helps with non-collision losses (theft, vandalism, weather, animal hits, etc.).

If you have a newer car, a loan/lease, or you’d struggle to replace your vehicle out-of-pocket, comprehensive & collision are usually worth a close look.

 

Local driving callout: If you commute on US-50

If your routine includes US-50 (or the Bay Bridge corridor), you already know the deal: heavier traffic, more stop-and-go moments, and more opportunities for fender-benders to turn into bigger claims. That’s exactly where higher liability limits + stronger UM/UIM + solid comp/collision can matter most—because the risk isn’t just the accident, it’s the cost of the accident.

 

Choose-your-coverage guide (simple, practical starting points)

Here’s a quick way to choose coverage based on how your household drives. If you want help pressure-testing these choices, Simpson & Blom Insurance can quote a few versions side-by-side and explain the tradeoffs in plain language.

 

1) Families (carpooling, multiple drivers, lots of daily miles)

A solid “family baseline” often looks like:

  • Higher liability limits (commonly 100/300 or higher)
  • UM/UIM to match your liability (ask about Enhanced options)
  • Medical/PIP decision based on your health coverage + how you want claims handled
  • Comprehensive & collision if the car is newer or important for daily logistics
    Nice-to-haves: rental reimbursement, roadside assistance.

2) Teen drivers (new driver risk = higher claim potential)

For teen drivers, the priorities usually are:

  • Higher liability limits (this is the big one)
  • UM/UIM to match
  • Collision with a deductible you can actually afford
  • Consider adding: accident forgiveness / telematics discounts (if available and a fit), plus clear household driving rules

3) Older vehicles (paid off, lower replacement value)

If your vehicle is older and you could replace it without major financial stress:

  • Keep the focus on liability + UM/UIM
  • Consider dropping collision (and sometimes comprehensive) if the premium doesn’t make sense relative to the car’s value
  • Choose deductibles that match your emergency fund
    Still important: UM/UIM, because the biggest risk may be injuries—not the vehicle.

The “right” coverage is personal—but it shouldn’t be confusing

Maryland’s minimums are a legal starting line, not a recommendation. If you want a plan that fits how you drive around Annapolis and Anne Arundel County—and what you’d want protected if something goes sideways—Simpson & Blom Insurance can help you compare options without the jargon.