Maryland Increases Fines for Uninsured Drivers

Fines will support driver’s education, field trips, safe schools, and vehicle-theft prevention.

Julia Taliesin
Written byJulia Taliesin
Julia Taliesin
Julia TaliesinInsurance Content Writer

Julia Taliesin is an insurance content writer at Insurify. She began her career as a journalist, covering local government and business in Somerville, Mass.

Chris Schafer
Edited byChris Schafer
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

Featured in

media logomedia logomedia logomedia logo
MacKenzie Korris
Reviewed byMacKenzie Korris
MacKenzie Korris
MacKenzie KorrisInsurance Copy Editor

MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with years of experience in print and digital media. He strives to craft actionable, inclusive copy that fosters smart decision-making through reader autonomy. He has a journalism degree from Saint Louis University.

Published June 21, 2024 at 12:00 PM PDT | Reading time: 2 minutes

Advertiser Disclosure

At Insurify, our goal is to help customers compare insurance products and find the best policy for them. We strive to provide open, honest, and unbiased information about the insurance products and services we review. Our hard-working team of data analysts, insurance experts, insurance agents, editors and writers, has put in thousands of hours of research to create the content found on our site.

We do receive compensation when a sale or referral occurs from many of the insurance providers and marketing partners on our site. That may impact which products we display and where they appear on our site. But it does not influence our meticulously researched editorial content, what we write about, or any reviews or recommendations we may make. We do not guarantee favorable reviews or any coverage at all in exchange for compensation.

Why you can trust Insurify: Comparing accurate insurance quotes should never put you at risk of spam. We earn an agent commission only if you buy a policy based on our quotes. Our editorial team follows a rigorous set of editorial standards and operates independently from our insurance partners. Learn more.

Share

Maryland drivers will soon face steep penalties for driving without the state’s minimum required auto insurance. As of July 1, a 30-day lapse in coverage will cost drivers $200. Each additional day a driver goes without insurance will cost another $7 — up to $3,500.

“These new laws will protect all drivers on the roads in our region from the risks and costs associated with accidents involving uninsured vehicles,” Al Redmer, Jr., executive director of Maryland Auto Insurance, stated in a release.

About 15% of Maryland’s drivers are uninsured — slightly above the national average — according to the Insurance Research Council.

Insurance may be cheaper than fines

The costlier penalties mean paying for minimum coverage could be much cheaper than accruing fines. Previously, the fine for driving uninsured was just $150.

“At the current rate, it is often cheaper for some drivers to pay the fine than to get insurance,” said Redmer. “This law changes that, and it is an important step in enforcing Maryland’s auto insurance requirement and encouraging drivers to practice safe driving habits, which include obtaining the insurance that is required.”

The maximum penalty per violation will increase from $2,500 to $3,500 for 12 months of coverage delinquency. Driving without insurance in Maryland can also lead to license suspension and vehicle impoundment.

The average cost of liability-only car insurance in Maryland is $2,075 per year, according to Insurify data. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration also requires drivers to carry some uninsured motorist coverage.

City
Average Monthly Cost: Liability Policy
Average Annual Cost: Liability Policy
Baltimore$292$3,504
Columbia$129$1,548
Frederick$168$2,016
Silver Spring$166$1,992
Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

Maryland still faces high car insurance rates

Maryland is the eighth-most-expensive state for auto insurance, according to Insurify’s car insurance report. And its annual liability-only insurance premiums are about 67% higher than the national average.

Maryland is the sixth-most-densely populated state, which increases the risk of vehicle theft, accidents, and expensive claims for residents.

Baltimore has the highest premiums in the state, spurred by its high population density and low median income. Liability-only premiums in Baltimore are nearly three times the national average.

Though Maryland’s median household income is above the national average, at $108,200, Baltimore’s median income is only $55,198. Drivers with poor credit pay about 21% more for car insurance than those with good credit, according to Insurify data.

What’s next: Where the revenue will go

About 30% of the revenue from fines will go for administration. The rest will support theft prevention, driver’s education, and insurance.

Maryland Auto Insurance receives the largest allocation, with some funds exclusively allocated for the Uninsured Division. The state’s auto insurer of last resort sells insurance to drivers who’ve had policies canceled or people who’ve been denied coverage by two or more insurers.

The legislation also allocates revenue to driver education in public schools, vehicle theft prevention, safe schools, and state-aided institution field trip funds.



Julia Taliesin
Julia TaliesinInsurance Content Writer

Julia Taliesin is an insurance content writer at Insurify. She began her career as a journalist, covering local government and business in Somerville, Mass. She reported multiple investigative stories about municipal finances and budget allocation, building development and inspection, and personnel. When the pandemic began she became a de facto public health reporter, writing daily and weekly reports using available data to quickly communicate rates of infection and city response.

She's worked for print and digital outlets, writing everything from quick-hit breaking news to long-form community features. More recently, Julia managed content strategy at a startup creating a social platform for licensed nurses, overseeing a team of nurse freelancers and editing interview transcripts and news articles for publication.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in communications from Simmons University, with a focus in journalism. Outside of work, Julia enjoys working on crafting projects, learning about homesteading, and singing in cover bands.

Chris Schafer
Edited byChris SchaferSenior Editor
Chris Schafer
Chris SchaferSenior Editor
  • 15+ years in content creation

  • 7+ years in business and financial services content

Chris is a seasoned writer/editor with past experience across myriad industries, including insurance, SAS, finance, Medicare, logistics, marketing/advertising, and many more.

Featured in

media logomedia logomedia logomedia logo
MacKenzie Korris
Reviewed byMacKenzie KorrisInsurance Copy Editor
MacKenzie Korris
MacKenzie KorrisInsurance Copy Editor

MacKenzie Korris is an insurance copy editor with years of experience in print and digital media. He strives to craft actionable, inclusive copy that fosters smart decision-making through reader autonomy. He has a journalism degree from Saint Louis University.