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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years in content creation and marketing
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
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Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
Updated
No insurance companies in Maryland actually sell temporary auto insurance. Standard auto insurance policies have terms of six or 12 months.
You may not want a standard six-month policy if you have low annual mileage, use a vehicle seasonally, regularly borrow someone’s vehicle, or need to rent a vehicle for a short time. You have some options, including non-owner, pay-per-mile, and rental coverage.
Driving uninsured in Maryland has steep penalties. If your registered vehicle doesn’t have insurance, the state will send you an insurance violation notice and fine. Penalties for not paying this fine can include vehicle registration suspension, vehicle flags, more fees, and an eventual referral to the Maryland Central Collections Unit.[1]
If you think the state made a mistake by sending you a violation notice, you can correct and submit a Maryland Insurance Certification Form (FR-19) to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA).
Liability quotes start at $116/month
You’ll need to meet at least the state minimum car insurance requirements before driving a vehicle in Maryland. The average cost of car insurance in Maryland is $192 per month for liability-only coverage.
Check out the cheapest car insurance companies in Maryland in the table below.
Insurance Company | Average Monthly Quote |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $116 |
| USAA | $118 |
| Direct Auto | $136 |
| Safeco | $150 |
| State Farm | $152 |
| GEICO | $155 |
| Elephant | $158 |
| Clearcover | $162 |
| Erie | $172 |
| National General | $172 |
| Progressive | $172 |
| GAINSCO | $189 |
| Root | $195 |
| Travelers | $206 |
| Bristol West | $212 |
| Liberty Mutual | $241 |
The best alternative to temporary car insurance depends on your situation and the reason you need it. For example, if you need to just store a car for the winter, you’ll want a different type of policy than someone who regularly borrows a family member’s vehicle.
Check out the table below to see what coverage you might consider based on your driving situation.
Situation | Best Option | How It Works | Watch For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moving to a new state | Early cancellation | You simply cancel your policy early before moving. | Cancellation fees may apply. |
| Occasional driving | Pay-per-mile insurance | You pay a base rate plus a per-mile charge. | Driving too much can raise rates. |
| Local driving | Usage-based insurance | An app tracks your driving habits and behavior. | Unsafe driving can lead to rate increases. |
| Driving someone else’s car | Non-owner car insurance | Liability-only coverage protects you even on a car you don’t own. | A non-owner policy doesn’t cover vehicle damage. |
| Renting a car for a trip | Rental car insurance | Coverage applies only while you’re driving the rental. | Your personal policy may already cover some of these needs. |
| Occasionally driving a relative’s car | Joining someone else’s policy | Your relative adds you as a driver on an existing policy. | This may increase the policyholder’s rates. |
| Parking a car long-term | Stored vehicle coverage | Your policy doesn’t cover non-driving risks. | You may not legally be able to drive the car. |
Best for: Drivers moving to or from a new state or switching insurers before their current policy’s term ends
How it works: When you move to a new state, you’ll need to get a new car insurance policy from an insurer that operates in that state and that meets the state’s minimum car insurance requirements. You can cancel your current policy early once you move, but you may need to pay a cancellation fee.
Best for: Drivers who use their car sparingly, like retirees or work-from-home employees
How it works: Pay-per-mile car insurance is a great option for people who don’t drive much. If you work from home or heavily rely on public transit, this may be a good option. If you hardly ever drive your car but need it on occasion, this is a good way to keep your rates low. But if you take any long road trips, you may see your rates increase.
Best for: Cautious drivers who typically only drive locally
How it works: Also referred to as telematics insurance, usage-based car insurance uses a device or an app on your smartphone to track your driving behavior. If you’re a cautious and safe driver who doesn’t drive very often, this could be a great way to keep your rates low. That said, risky driving behavior can quickly increase your rates.
Best for: Drivers who frequently borrow cars, use car-sharing services, or need proof of insurance without owning a vehicle
How it works: Non-owner car insurance provides liability-only coverage that protects you, rather than a specific vehicle, so it’ll cover you in another driver’s car. It’s important to keep in mind that it only covers liability damages. If you have vehicle damage, you’ll have to pay for it out of pocket.
Best for: Travelers who need auto coverage for only a few days
How it works: Rental car insurance is for travelers who only need a car for a week or so. Your personal Maryland auto insurance policy may already provide sufficient coverage, so check it before buying rental car insurance. That said, rental car insurance can be a good way to avoid using your personal car insurance coverage.
Best for: Drivers who regularly drive a relative’s car or who need proof of insurance without owning a vehicle
How it works: If you live with a relative and often drive their car, they should add you to their policy. It’s typically much cheaper than buying your own car insurance policy. But your driving record affects that policy, so the policyholder’s rates could increase if you get into an accident.
Best for: Drivers storing a vehicle over the winter or while traveling
How it works: Stored-vehicle coverage, or comprehensive-only coverage, is a good way to protect a car that you don’t intend to drive for a while. You can drop liability and collision coverage since you won’t be driving it while it’s in storage. But you’ll need to meet Maryland’s minimum liability auto insurance requirements before driving it again.
Costs for temporary car insurance alternatives vary widely depending on which policy you choose. Standard, non-owner, usage-based, pay-per-mile, rental, and stored-vehicle insurance all have different prices. Your final rate will depend on your driving record, coverage limits, and the type of policy you select.
Your driver profile has a major effect on your rates, as it’s the best indicator of your risk level. Your age, credit history, ZIP code, and how much you plan to drive will all affect your rates. For example, a pay-per-mile plan might make sense for a low-mileage driver, but it would likely be too expensive for a daily commuter.
The best way to determine your cost is to compare car insurance quotes from at least a few car insurance companies.
The specific coverage provided by your short-term auto insurance alternative depends on your situation and the type of policy you choose. Some options, like non-owner car insurance, only offer liability protection. Other options, such as stored-vehicle coverage, focus on protecting the car rather than the driver.
Here’s a rundown of the different coverage types you might see when comparing your car insurance choices in Maryland:
If you cause an at-fault accident, bodily injury liability insurance covers another person’s medical bills, lost wages, and related costs. Maryland requires all drivers to maintain at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident.[2]
This covers damages you cause to someone else’s car or property. Maryland requires drivers to carry at least $15,000 in coverage per accident.
UM/UIM coverage pays for injuries and damages caused by a driver without insurance or with insufficient coverage. Maryland requires this coverage at the same required liability limits.
PIP insurance covers medical expenses and lost income for you and your passengers after an accident. Maryland doesn’t require drivers to purchase this coverage, but it requires insurers to offer at least $2,500 in PIP coverage.
This pays for vehicle repair or replacement after an accident, no matter who caused it.
Comprehensive coverage pays for non-collision damage to your vehicle resulting from theft, vandalism, or severe weather.
Every temporary car insurance option has exclusions that vary by policy type. Understanding these limits and exclusions is important before buying a policy.
Here’s what each auto policy type typically excludes:
Standard car insurance: Routine maintenance, intentional damage, commercial use, unlisted drivers, and personal items stolen from the vehicle
Usage-based car insurance: Same exclusions as standard car insurance
Non-owner car insurance: Damages to the vehicle
Rental car insurance: Damages that occur when you use the rental for purposes not covered by the rental agreement, such as deliveries or off-roading
Stored-vehicle coverage: Collision protection
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Maryland requires every driver to carry certain minimums for liability car insurance, even if you don’t have a standard policy.
Before choosing a policy, make sure it meets the following Maryland state minimum requirements if you plan to drive:
Bodily injury liability: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident
Property damage liability: $15,000 per accident
UM/UIM coverage: Equal to bodily injury liability and property damage liability amounts
Agent Tip: What drivers need collision and comprehensive coverage in Maryland?
“Maryland doesn’t require drivers to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage, but if you have an auto loan or lease, your lender will likely require it. Even if you own your vehicle outright, it’s a good idea for most drivers to buy these coverages for vehicle protection. A minimum-coverage policy won’t pay for any damages to your own vehicle. For that, you need full coverage.”
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Maryland law requires all drivers to carry car insurance, and driving without it comes with serious consequences. The Maryland MVA and the state court system enforce these penalties.
If your coverage lapses, the MVA can suspend your vehicle registration and fine you $50. You may also incur an additional $200 for the first 30 days without insurance, plus $7 per day thereafter, up to $3,500 per year. If you don’t pay these fines, the state will send your case to collections, with an additional collection fee of 17% of the total amount.
Knowingly driving an uninsured vehicle in Maryland is a misdemeanor. A first offense comes with a fine of up to $1,000 and up to a year in jail. A second offense carries a fine of up to $2,000 and up to two years in jail.[3]
Unlike most states, Maryland doesn’t have SR-22 form requirements. Instead, it has drivers file an FR-19 form to verify proof of sufficient coverage, if necessary.
Maryland doesn’t sell true temporary car insurance, but you can still find the best car insurance for your situation. Check out the answers to these questions about car insurance in Maryland.
You can’t get a single-day car insurance policy in Maryland. If you only need coverage for one day, consider rental coverage or joining someone else’s policy.
Maryland car insurance companies don’t offer one-month policies. You can get a standard auto policy for six months and cancel it after a month, but you may be subject to cancellation fees.
The cheapest alternative to temporary car insurance in Maryland depends on your situation. If you don’t own a vehicle, non-owner car insurance can be a viable option. If you don’t drive very often, pay-per-mile insurance can be an affordable choice.
You can’t go a day without car insurance in Maryland. The state requires continuous coverage for registered vehicles. A lapse in coverage can result in registration suspension.
Yes. Maryland is one of the states that requires UM coverage. You must carry it at the same limits as your liability coverage.
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 250 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years in content creation and marketing
Featured in
Licensed auto and home insurance agent
4+ years experience in insurance and personal finance editing
NPN: 20564519
Featured in
Licensed property and casualty insurance agent
10+ years editing experience
NPN: 21630969
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.
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