Best Car Insurance in Maryland for 2026

Erie averages $118 per month for full coverage in Maryland, 17% below the state average of $143 per month. That pricing advantage extends across driver profiles where it matters most. Young drivers average $243 per month, $44 per month less than the next cheapest top-five option. After a DUI, Erie averages $140 per month, less than half of Progressive's $250 per month for the same profile. For families adding a young driver or drivers rebuilding after a violation, those gaps are worth calculating before choosing on base rate alone.

Erie scores 706 in J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for the Mid-Atlantic region, 50 points above the regional average of 656. Complaint data filed with state insurance regulators shows below-average volume relative to its size, and AM Best assigns an A+ financial strength rating. In Maryland, where even 1% fault can block tort recovery entirely, having a carrier with strong claims handling and financial backing isn't just a satisfaction metric. It's a practical protection when a disputed claim goes against you.

Erie scores 4.20/5 for coverage options, third among Maryland's top five. Accident forgiveness, new car replacement, rideshare coverage, and rental reimbursement are all available. Rate Lock is the one add-on no other top-five Maryland carrier offers, preventing premium increases after a claim at every renewal. Gap insurance is not available through Erie in Maryland. Drivers financing a newer vehicle who need that protection should look at Progressive, the only top-five carrier that offers it.

Travelers averages $106 per month for full coverage in Maryland, 26% below the state average of $143 per month and the lowest among the top five. Minimum coverage averages $68 per month, second lowest behind State Farm. Young drivers average $355 per month, above Erie at $243 per month and Nationwide at $287 per month but well below State Farm at $459 per month. After a DUI, Travelers averages $230 per month, third highest among the top five. For clean-record adult drivers, Travelers prices better than any other top-five Maryland carrier, but that advantage narrows for younger and higher-risk profiles.

Travelers scores 633 in J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for the Mid-Atlantic region, 23 points below the regional average of 656. That gap matters for drivers who rely on J.D. Power scores when choosing a carrier, since Erie at 706 and State Farm at 673 both score above the regional average. Where Travelers makes up ground is financial strength. AM Best assigns an A++ rating, the highest available, and complaint data filed with state insurance regulators runs below average relative to its size. For Maryland drivers, that combination means strong claims-paying ability even if the satisfaction score trails the regional leaders.

Travelers scores 3.93/5 for coverage options, tied for last among Maryland's top five. Accident forgiveness and new car replacement for vehicles totaled within the first five years are both available, which matters for Maryland drivers financing newer vehicles in a market where depreciation outpaces loan payoff quickly. Gap insurance and rideshare coverage are not available through Travelers in Maryland. Drivers who need either should look at Progressive before deciding. For drivers who don't need those specific protections, Travelers covers the most common Maryland claims scenarios at the lowest rate in the top five.

Progressive averages $165 per month for full coverage in Maryland, 15% above the state average of $143 per month and the highest among the top five. Minimum coverage averages $124 per month, also the highest in the top five. Young drivers average $420 per month, above Erie at $243 per month and Nationwide at $287 per month. After a DUI, Progressive averages $250 per month, the highest among the top five for that profile. Snapshot telematics can bring rates down for safe and low-mileage drivers, which is the most direct path Progressive offers to closing the gap with cheaper top-five options.

Progressive scores 625 in J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for the Mid-Atlantic region, 31 points below the regional average of 656 and fourth among Maryland's top five with a study score. Its customer experience score of 4.17/5 draws from AM Best's A+ financial strength rating and complaint data filed with state insurance regulators running near expected levels for a carrier its size. For Maryland drivers, the J.D. Power gap is worth factoring in alongside the coverage advantages, since Maryland's contributory negligence rule makes claims handling quality more consequential than in most states.

Progressive leads Maryland's top five on coverage options with a 4.82/5 score. Gap insurance is the one protection no other top-five Maryland carrier offers, covering the difference between what you owe on a loan and what the car is worth after a total loss. Rideshare coverage is available for Maryland Uber and Lyft drivers, and custom parts and equipment coverage addresses aftermarket additions that standard policies don't protect. Accident forgiveness and new car replacement round out a lineup that gives drivers more ways to customize a policy than any other top-five Maryland carrier.

Nationwide averages $111 per month for full coverage in Maryland, 22% below the state average of $143 per month and third lowest among the top five. Minimum coverage averages $78 per month. Young drivers average $287 per month, the second lowest in the top five behind Erie at $243 per month. Senior drivers average $120 per month, the lowest among the top five for that profile, which makes Nationwide worth checking for older drivers who aren't getting competitive rates elsewhere. After a DUI, Nationwide averages $245 per month, fourth highest among the top five. SmartRide can reduce rates further for drivers who log fewer miles than the Maryland average.

Nationwide scores 636 in J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for the Mid-Atlantic region, 20 points below the regional average of 656. Its customer experience score of 3.69/5 is the lowest among Maryland's top five, drawing from AM Best's A+ financial strength rating and complaint data filed with state insurance regulators that runs above average relative to its size in some recent years. For Maryland drivers, that complaint pattern matters more than in most states because the contributory negligence rule means a disputed claim can leave you with nothing if fault is assigned even partially. Erie and Travelers are stronger options for drivers who weight claims handling above price.

Nationwide scores 3.93/5 for coverage options, tied for last among Maryland's top five alongside Travelers. Accident forgiveness and a vanishing deductible program are both available, giving long-term policyholders a way to reduce out-of-pocket costs after a clean record. Gap insurance and rideshare coverage are not offered in Maryland, which rules Nationwide out for drivers financing a newer vehicle or working in the gig economy. For drivers who don't need those protections, Nationwide's coverage range addresses the most common Maryland claims at a rate well below the state average.

State Farm averages $96 per month for full coverage in Maryland, 33% below the state average of $143 per month and the lowest among the top five. Minimum coverage averages $60 per month, also the lowest in the top five. That pricing advantage applies most directly to clean-record adult drivers. After a DUI, State Farm averages $207 per month, second lowest behind Erie at $140 per month, which makes it worth checking for drivers with a single serious violation who don't qualify for Erie. Young drivers average $459 per month, the highest in the top five, so families adding a teen should look at Erie or Nationwide first.

State Farm scores 673 in J.D. Power's 2025 U.S. Auto Insurance Study for the Mid-Atlantic region, 17 points above the regional average of 656 and fourth among all ranked carriers in the region. AM Best assigns an A++ financial strength rating, the highest available. Complaint data filed with state insurance regulators runs consistently below average relative to its size. In Maryland, where the contributory negligence rule can block tort recovery entirely, those two signals matter. A carrier with strong financial backing and a low complaint history is less likely to dispute a claim that could leave you with nothing if fault is contested.

State Farm scores 2.95/5 for coverage options, the lowest among Maryland's top five. Basic coverages are all available, including bodily injury liability, property damage, comprehensive, collision, and uninsured motorist coverage. Drive Safe & Save lets drivers pay based on how safely and how much they drive, a practical option for Maryland commuters who log fewer miles than the national average. Gap insurance, rideshare coverage, and new car replacement are not available through State Farm in Maryland. Drivers who need any of those protections should look at Progressive before deciding.