Insurance requirements for registering a car in Maryland
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The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration requires all drivers to have automobile liability or "financial liability" insurance in order to legally operate a vehicle and retain the vehicle's registration.
The minimum financial liability requirements for drivers in Maryland are as follows:
Minimum $30,000 per person for personal injury or death. This means you need to have at least $60,000 with you to cover the fewest possible number of people involved in an accident (two drivers).
$15,000 minimum for property damage liability
Minimum $30,000 per person for uninsured or underinsured motorist liability. This means you need to have at least $60,000 with you to cover the fewest possible number of people involved in an accident (two drivers).
$15,000 minimum for uninsured motorist liability for property damage.
Minimum $2,500 for personal injury protection. This is important because Maryland is a no-fault state, meaning that the other party's insurance may not cover your personal injury, no matter who is at fault.
This means the total minimum financial liability you will need is $79,000 for bodily injury, property damage, uninsured or underinsured motorist, and personal injury protection liability insurance.
Waiver of injury protection
Maryland law allows drivers to waive the personal injury protection requirement to get more affordable insurance plans. This puts you at risk of unpaid medical bills in the event that you are involved in a car accident.
Maryland does not require other types of insurance, such as comprehensive insurance or accident insurance.
proof of insurance
The State of Maryland does not accept insurance cards as legal evidence of financial responsibility. Instead, you must present a Maryland insurance certificate, also known as an FR-19, to register your vehicle.
Forms FR-19 are available from your insurance company. These forms are:
Are free
Valid for 30 days only
Can be faxed or emailed to MVA
Cannot be submitted as a copy
Evidence of insurance will be verified electronically at stops or at the scene of the accident. Your insurance company is required to report any changes to your insurance policy to Maryland's electronic monitoring system.
Penalties for Violation
If you do not have proper insurance in Maryland, several types of fines may apply:
A fine of at least $150 for the first 30 days of driving without insurance and an additional $7 for each day after 30 days.
License plates and vehicle registration suspension
Suspension of registration or renewal of privileges
$30 re-registration fee after you verify you have proper insurance.
Cancellation of insurance
If you want to cancel your insurance, you must first return your license plates to the MVA office in Maryland.
For more information, contact the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration of the Department of Transportation through their website.
