Maryland Car Insurance

Insurance Requirements and Laws

Maryland drivers are required to carry the minimum liability levels of coverage in order to avoid license suspension or in some cases, even jail time. Maryland has a high accident rate, and law enforcement takes the mandatory insurance laws very seriously. The minimum liability levels of Maryland auto insurance that a driver must possess are $20,000 per person for bodily injury, $60,000 for bodily injury of two or more people, $40,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for damage to property caused by an accident. Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist coverage is not a legal requirement, but insurance agents highly recommend that Maryland drivers purchase this type of coverage as well. Maryland takes lapsed insurance policies very seriously, and anyone that allows their Maryland car insurance policy to lapse is immediately considered an uninsured motorist.

Penalties for uninsured motorists include loss of license plates as well as vehicle registration privileges. Fees imposed on uninsured motorists in Maryland are $150 for the first 30 days that the vehicle is uninsured, and $7 for each consecutive day following the 30 days. Restoration fees are also imposed. It is important to clear up any insurance issues as not doing so may result in vehicle registration prohibition, license plate confiscation, and a fine up to $1,000. The average premium cost for Maryland drivers was $949 in 2006, which makes Maryland the 12th most expensive state in the nation. Under certain circumstances, Maryland drivers can also request that certain members of their household be excluded from driving under their policy.

Insurance Carriers and Ratings

There are various ways for drivers to obtain Maryland car insurance quotes and Maryland auto insurance ratings. By comparing Maryland car insurance ratings and reading reviews from customers, insurance seekers can make the right choice when it comes to their policy. There are online reviews and ratings, and customers can also receive Maryland auto insurance quotes for free by consulting with a professional insurance agent. When purchasing a policy, a few factors that will be considered are the applicant's age and gender, as well as their driving record. The make and model of the vehicle will also be used in determining a rate. Geico, a popular name in auto insurance, has a rating in Maryland of 5 stars for customer satisfaction and an average smart rating of 89. Allstate Insurance has an average smart rating of 100, and an overall customer satisfaction rating of 4.39 stars. Insurance carriers can also use credit ratings to determine insurance rates and offer their customers various products. Insurance specialists can also assist in finding the applicant Maryland cheap car insurance rates that will suit their budgets.

Seat Belt Usage

Currently, Maryland ranks 9th in the nation for seat belt usage among drivers and passengers. They are currently at 89.6% and are in the top fourteen ranking nationwide. Maryland has a primary enforcement seatbelt law, which allows law enforcement officers to stop drivers specifically for not wearing a seat belt, where other states can only issue tickets for not wearing a seat belt if the driver is pulled over on another traffic violation. In states where there is a primary enforcement law, the seatbelt usage is rising year after year. The CDC conducted a study and found that if all states required the primary enforcement law, an additional 7.3 million Americans would consistently wear their seatbelts.

Thefts

In the United States, a vehicle is stolen every twenty seconds. Maryland auto theft varies from city to city, and in 2008 it was reported that the city of Prince George's ranked the highest amount of auto theft, and Baltimore City ranked the second highest. Prince George's ranked at 9,743 and Baltimore City ranked at 5,518. In each state, there are different makes and models that tend to get stolen more than others, and this is due to the fact that auto theft is usually a crime of opportunity. Auto theft rates are usually high, and in today's world and economy, the numbers are growing. Law enforcement agents are working to put a stop to auto theft, and vehicle owners can take certain precautions as well in order to deter thieves. The top ten cars most stolen in Baltimore, Maryland are as follows:

1. Dodge Caravan

2. Honda Accord

3. Jeep Cherokee

4. Dodge Neon

5. Honda Civic

6. Plymouth Voyager

7. Toyota Camry

8. Ford Taurus

9. Chevrolet Cavalier

10. Ford Explorer

Maryland vehicle owners can take extra precautions in a variety of ways. They can install alarm systems and anti theft devices, and they can also enroll their vehicles in the Maryland Watch Your Car Program. This program is nationwide, and it allows vehicle owners to voluntarily register their automobiles in a registration program that was specifically created to minimize vehicle theft. Vehicle owners sign an agreement that states specific hours they are usually not driving their cars- between 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM. If someone is seen driving the registered vehicle between these hours, law enforcement officers are allowed to stop the vehicle and question the driver to verify their identity. The Maryland Watch Your Car Program is free of charge for Maryland residents. The Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council is working diligently to stop auto theft in Maryland and assist victims by apprehending criminals and recovering automobiles.

In Maryland, it is very important to have proper and up to date auto insurance. Due to the high accident rate, Maryland takes insurance lapses and uninsured motorists very seriously. Heavy fines can be imposed as well as jail time, and it simply isn't worth the risk to go without auto insurance. For individuals who feel they simply cannot afford it, there are insurance companies that can assist with low cost and cheap Maryland auto insurance plans that will allow the driver to meet the minimum insurance requirements in order to drive. Not only are Maryland's insurance laws strict, the amount of money that may need to be spent on vehicle repairs and medical bills for someone that is uninsured can quickly put someone in debt. By comparing Maryland car insurance rates online and working with a skilled insurance agent to finalize the policy, Maryland drivers will be able to find a suitable policy that will keep them protected in the event of an accident.

http://www.mdinsurance.state.md.us/sa/jsp/Mia.jsp