Maryland Auto Insurance Requirements 2026 | 30/60/15 Minimums

Maryland requires 30/60/15 liability plus mandatory uninsured motorist coverage you cannot waive. Learn state requirements, electronic monitoring, and why minimums may not be enough.

Maryland Raised Its Auto Insurance Minimums in 2023

Maryland increased its minimum auto liability limits from 20/40/15 to 30/60/15 effective for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023 — the first significant increase in decades. Every registered vehicle in the state must now carry at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, plus $15,000 in property damage liability.

Uninsured motorist coverage at matching limits is mandatory. Maryland drivers cannot waive it. The Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) uses an electronic verification system that cross-checks registration records against insurer-reported data in real time, meaning a coverage lapse — even briefly — can trigger automatic penalties without any traffic stop.

Quick Answer: Maryland Minimum Coverage Requirements

Requirement	Amount	Mandatory?
Bodily injury (per person)	$30,000	Yes
Bodily injury (per accident)	$60,000	Yes
Property damage	$15,000	Yes
Uninsured motorist BI	$30,000 / $60,000	Yes — cannot waive
Underinsured motorist BI	Up to BI limits	Available; not required
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)	$2,500 limited or unlimited	Available; not required
Fault system	At-fault (tort)	—
First-offense uninsured penalty	$150 civil fine	—

Minimum Coverage Explained

Maryland's 30/60/15 numbers define the minimum financial exposure the state requires drivers to cover:

$30,000 bodily injury per person is the maximum your liability policy pays toward any single injured person's medical bills, lost wages, and pain-and-suffering damages in a given accident. If one person sustains injuries costing $45,000, the remaining $15,000 is your personal liability.

$60,000 bodily injury per accident caps total liability payments for all injured parties combined in a single collision. A two-car accident involving four people shares the $60,000 limit across all claims. In a serious multi-victim accident, that pool is exhausted quickly.

$15,000 property damage pays for damage to other vehicles, structures, fences, and property your vehicle strikes. The median new vehicle transaction price in Maryland exceeds $45,000. A single total-loss accident on another driver's newer vehicle can exceed this limit by $30,000 or more. Many Maryland drivers purchase $50,000–$100,000 in property damage coverage for exactly this reason.

Why Maryland Raised Minimums in 2023

The previous 20/40/15 limits were enacted in 1972. Fifty years of medical cost inflation eroded their real-world value substantially — a $20,000 per-person limit was reasonable in 1972 but covers only a fraction of a typical hospitalized injury today. House Bill 993 (2022 legislative session) brought the floor closer to realistic accident costs. Even at 30/60/15, Maryland's minimums remain below what independent financial advisors typically recommend — 100/300/100 is a common benchmark for full protection.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Maryland is one of a minority of states that mandates uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Drivers cannot opt out. The minimum UM bodily injury limits match the liability floor: $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident.

When a driver purchases higher liability limits — for example, 100/300 — their UM coverage must be offered at matching levels. Drivers may elect to carry reduced UM limits in writing, but only with the required insurer disclosures under Insurance Article §19-509.

Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage pays when an at-fault driver's liability limits are insufficient to cover your full damages. UIM is available in Maryland but not legally required. Most Maryland carriers package UM and UIM together. Confirm your policy includes both.

Maryland's estimated uninsured driver rate is 10–12%. Without mandatory UM, a significant percentage of accidents would leave injured drivers with no recovery path from the other driver's policy.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) in Maryland

Maryland is not a no-fault state — injured parties establish fault and pursue the at-fault driver's liability coverage. However, Maryland requires insurers to offer PIP in two forms:

Limited PIP provides up to $2,500 in medical payments and lost wage benefits regardless of fault, without first establishing who caused the accident. Limited PIP can be waived in writing for household members who have qualifying health insurance coverage.

Full PIP provides unlimited medical expense reimbursement and 85% of lost income, with no dollar cap. Full PIP cannot be waived under any circumstances.

Drivers who waive limited PIP retain full rights to sue the at-fault driver for damages exceeding the other driver's liability limits. PIP waiver is common among drivers with strong employer-sponsored health insurance; full PIP appeals to those without such coverage.

Who Must Carry Auto Insurance in Maryland

All owners of registered motor vehicles in Maryland must maintain continuous liability coverage at minimum 30/60/15. This includes:

Passenger cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks
Motorcycles (a separate motorcycle policy is required; the same 30/60/15 minimums apply)
Commercial vehicles operated in Maryland (FMCSA minimums may apply additionally for interstate for-hire carriers)
Vehicles owned by Maryland residents and primarily garaged in Maryland, regardless of where they are titled

Vehicles in long-term storage may have their registration plates surrendered to the MVA simultaneously with suspending coverage. Canceling insurance while retaining a valid Maryland plate is a violation — the plate surrender and coverage suspension must occur together.

Exemptions and Alternatives to Standard Insurance

Maryland law provides one formal alternative for larger fleets:

Self-insurance is available to persons or entities owning 25 or more vehicles under Transportation Article §17-104. The applicant must file a $25,000 bond or cash deposit with the MVA and demonstrate ongoing financial capacity to satisfy claims. Approval is not automatic and is the exception rather than the rule. No individual private driver exemption from the mandatory minimum exists.

Penalties for Driving Without Insurance in Maryland

Maryland's MVA Electronic Insurance Verification System monitors coverage continuously. Insurers must notify MVA of policy cancellations within 45 days under Transportation Article §23-102. When the system detects a coverage gap:

Automatic civil penalties:

$150 civil fine assessed immediately by MVA upon detecting the lapse
$7 per day for each day of continued lapse after the initial 30-day window, accumulating to a maximum of approximately $2,530
Vehicle registration suspended if the lapse goes unresolved
Driver's license suspended for continued registration suspension violations
$25 registration reinstatement fee plus current proof of insurance required before registration is restored

A driver encountered by law enforcement without valid insurance faces a separate payable fine under Transportation Article §17-107 on top of the MVA civil penalties. The combined financial exposure from fines, reinstatement fees, and potential personal liability in an accident makes an insurance lapse significantly more expensive than maintaining a policy.

SR-22 Requirements in Maryland

An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility that an insurer files directly with the MVA on a driver's behalf. It functions as ongoing proof that the driver maintains required coverage.

SR-22 is required after:

DUI or DWI conviction
Reckless or aggressive driving conviction
Accumulation of 8 or more points on a Maryland driving record under Transportation Article §16-205
Failure to satisfy a court judgment after an accident
Certain serious moving violations at the MVA's discretion

Filing period: Typically 3 years from the triggering event. The SR-22 must remain continuously active — any lapse resets the filing clock and can trigger additional suspension.

Premium impact: SR-22 filers typically pay 40–120% more than drivers with clean records. A DUI conviction commonly doubles or triples annual premiums for 3–5 years. Maryland uses a points-based surcharge system under Transportation Article §17-215 that compounds premium increases for repeat violations.

How to Comply with Maryland's Requirements

1. Purchase a qualifying policy from an MIA-licensed insurer

Any carrier licensed by the Maryland Insurance Administration can issue a compliant auto policy. The Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund (MAIF) provides coverage for drivers who cannot obtain standard market insurance due to driving history or other factors.

2. Maintain continuous coverage without gaps

When switching carriers, confirm the new policy's effective date matches or immediately precedes the prior policy's expiration. Same-day gaps still trigger MVA electronic verification failures and the associated $150 civil penalty.

3. SR-22 filers: confirm electronic filing with MVA

Drivers required to file SR-22 must use an insurer licensed in Maryland that files electronically with the MVA. Confirm the SR-22 filing is active before canceling any prior policy. Faxed or mailed SR-22s are no longer accepted.

4. Storage: surrender the plate before canceling coverage

If a vehicle will be off the road for an extended period, surrender the registration plate to the MVA before or simultaneously with canceling insurance. Do not cancel insurance while retaining the plate.

How Maryland Compares to Neighboring States

Maryland's 30/60/15 minimums sit in the middle of the Mid-Atlantic range:

State	BI Minimum (per person / accident)	PD Minimum	Mandatory UM?
Maryland	$30,000 / $60,000	$15,000	Yes
Virginia	$30,000 / $60,000	$20,000	No (offered)
Delaware	$25,000 / $50,000	$10,000	Yes
Pennsylvania	$15,000 / $30,000	$5,000	No (offered)
New York	$25,000 / $50,000	$10,000	Yes
West Virginia	$25,000 / $50,000	$25,000	Yes

Maryland's bodily injury minimums exceed most neighbors. Virginia matches Maryland's BI at 30/60 but requires higher property damage at $20,000. Pennsylvania's minimums — 15/30/5 — remain among the lowest in the Northeast. A driver moving from Pennsylvania to Maryland must increase their liability limits significantly to comply.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Maryland raise its auto insurance minimums?

Maryland increased minimum liability limits from 20/40/15 to 30/60/15 under House Bill 993 (2022 legislative session), effective for policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023. The prior 20/40/15 limits had been in place since 1972.

Does Maryland require PIP or no-fault coverage?

No. Maryland is an at-fault (tort) state. Injured parties establish the other driver's fault to recover from that driver's liability policy. Maryland requires insurers to offer PIP in limited ($2,500) or full (unlimited) form, but neither is mandatory. Limited PIP can be waived in writing by drivers with other health insurance.

What happens if my insurance lapses in Maryland?

The MVA's electronic verification system receives insurer data in real time. A lapse automatically triggers a $150 civil fine. If the lapse continues past 30 days, a $7 per day charge accumulates. Registration is suspended until proof of current insurance and a $25 reinstatement fee are submitted to the MVA.

Is uninsured motorist coverage required in Maryland?

Yes. Maryland mandates uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage at a minimum of $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident — matching the liability minimum. Drivers cannot waive it entirely, though they may elect reduced UM limits in writing with required insurer disclosures.

Can I register a vehicle in Maryland without insurance?

No. Proof of insurance — verified electronically through the MVA system — is required to register or renew a vehicle in Maryland. No registration is issued or renewed without a verified insurance record.

Does the $15,000 property damage limit cover a new vehicle?

In most cases, no. The average transaction price for a new vehicle in Maryland exceeds $45,000. The $15,000 property damage minimum may cover older vehicles but leaves a driver personally liable for the difference on any newer vehicle. Most drivers benefit from carrying $50,000–$100,000 in property damage coverage.

What are Maryland's motorcycle insurance minimums?

Motorcycles require the same 30/60/15 liability minimums and mandatory UM coverage as passenger vehicles under Maryland Transportation Article §17-101. A separate motorcycle-specific policy is required; endorsing a motorcycle onto an auto policy is uncommon in Maryland.

How long must an SR-22 be maintained in Maryland?

Maryland's standard SR-22 filing period is 3 years from the triggering event. The filing must be maintained continuously — any lapse resets the 3-year requirement and can trigger additional license suspension.

Key Takeaways

Maryland raised minimums to 30/60/15 on January 1, 2023 — the first significant increase since 1972
Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory at 30/60/15 and cannot be waived
Electronic MVA verification means lapses are detected automatically — a $150 civil fine triggers without any traffic stop
Continuing lapses cost $7/day after 30 days; registration and license suspension follow
PIP is available in limited ($2,500) or full (unlimited) form but is not mandatory — Maryland is an at-fault state
SR-22 required for 3 years after DUI, reckless driving, 8+ points, and judgment failures
The $15,000 property damage minimum is low relative to current vehicle values — $50,000–$100,000 is a more protective floor
MAIF (Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund) covers drivers unable to obtain standard market insurance

Sources

Maryland Transportation Article §17-101 et seq. — Maryland General Assembly
Maryland Insurance Administration — Required Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage
House Bill 993 (2022 Maryland Legislative Session) — Minimum Liability Limits Increase
Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration — Insurance Verification Program

Last verified: 2026-05

Important Disclaimer

This guide provides general information about insurance requirements based on publicly available sources as of the "Last verified" date above. It is not legal, insurance, or financial advice. Requirements, penalties, and statutes can change; individual circumstances vary. Always confirm current rules with your state's Department of Insurance or DMV, and consult a licensed insurance professional for advice specific to your situation.