The make and model of vehicle that needs insurance is one of the primary factors when trying to find low-cost insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. Vehicles with average performance, good safety features, or a positive history of liability claims will cost quite a bit less to insure than adrenaline junky models. The table below features coverage rates for some of the more affordable automobiles to buy insurance for.
| Make and Model | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Ford Escape XLT 2WD | $9,353 |
| Honda CR-V LX 2WD | $9,363 |
| Hyundai Elantra SE Touring Station Wagon | $9,964 |
| Toyota Prius | $10,072 |
| Chevrolet Impala LS | $10,480 |
| Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD | $10,580 |
| Chevrolet Malibu LS | $10,585 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Crew Cab 4WD | $10,684 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SXT | $10,689 |
| Nissan Altima 2.5 4-Dr Sedan | $11,077 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LT Crew Cab 2WD | $11,260 |
| Toyota RAV4 4WD | $11,346 |
| Ford Explorer Limited AWD | $11,467 |
| Nissan Rogue S 2WD | $11,503 |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 4WD | $11,689 |
| Ford Fusion SE 4-Dr Sedan | $11,696 |
| GMC Sierra 3500HD SLE Extended Cab 2WD | $11,800 |
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Above prices assume single female driver age 50, two speeding tickets, two at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Maryland minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include homeowner, multi-policy, and multi-vehicle. Rate information does not factor in specific zip code location which can affect prices considerably.
Looking at the data, we can expect cars like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Elantra, and Toyota Prius will be a few of the most budget-friendly vehicles to insure for bad drivers. The cost of a car insurance policy will tend to be more expensive just because there is more claim exposure for drivers with a bad driving record, but generally speaking those particular models will have the best insurance prices compared to other types of vehicles.
For bad drivers, one of the more important things that are used to help calculate auto insurance rates is where you call home in Baltimore. Areas with high crime rates or more dense population tend to pay slightly more, whereas areas with fewer weather claims and lower vehicle theft rates receive better rates.
The next table rates the most expensive cities in Maryland for drivers with a bad driving record to purchase a policy in. Baltimore ranks #1 with a yearly premium of $1,796 for the average policyholder, which is about $150 per month.
| Rank | City | Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore | $1,796 |
| 2 | Woodlawn | $1,657 |
| 3 | Dundalk | $1,490 |
| 4 | Towson | $1,467 |
| 5 | Aspen Hill | $1,463 |
| 6 | Silver Spring | $1,460 |
| 7 | Catonsville | $1,460 |
| 8 | Bowie | $1,432 |
| 9 | Waldorf | $1,417 |
| 10 | Essex | $1,416 |
| 11 | Wheaton | $1,375 |
| 12 | Glen Burnie | $1,329 |
| 13 | Gaithersburg | $1,304 |
| 14 | Rockville | $1,290 |
| 15 | Severn | $1,288 |
| 16 | Columbia | $1,275 |
| 17 | Ellicott City | $1,271 |
| 18 | North Bethesda | $1,243 |
| 19 | Germantown | $1,237 |
| 20 | Annapolis | $1,231 |
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Table data uses approximated as the specific Baltimore residence address can impact price quotes significantly.
Shopping around for budget auto insurance is not the easiest thing to do, and figuring out which companies quote the most affordable insurance rates for drivers with a bad driving record requires even more perseverance.
Each company has a different process for determining prices, so let’s take a look at the most budget-friendly insurance companies in Baltimore, MD. It’s important that you understand Maryland insurance rates are based on many factors which can significantly increase or decrease the price you have to pay for coverage. Simply improving your credit, marrying your spouse, or having an accident can cause premium changes resulting in some companies being more affordable than others.
Best Auto Insurance Prices for Imperfect Drivers
USAA may have some of the most affordable car insurance rates in Baltimore at around $958 each year. This is $601 less than the average premium paid by Maryland drivers of $1,559. Penn National, Liberty Mutual, Erie, and State Auto would also be considered some of the cheapest Baltimore, MD insurance companies.
As shown in the rates above, if you are currently insured with Erie and switched to Penn National, you might see savings of in the vicinity of $68. Customers with State Auto might save as much as $97 a year, and Amica insureds might reduce rates by $254 a year.
Understand that those estimates are averages for all types of drivers and the different vehicles they drive and do not take into consideration a vehicle location for drivers with a bad driving record. So the car insurance company that is best for you may not even be in the list above. That helps illustrate why you need to get car insurance quotes using your own driver data and vehicle information.
Full coverage rates compared to liability-only
Finding cheaper insurance should be important to most vehicle owners, and one easy way to reduce the cost of insurance for drivers with a bad driving record is to not insure for full coverage. The illustration below visualizes the comparison of insurance costs with and without physical damage coverage, medical payments, and uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage. The rates are based on no violations or claims, $250 deductibles, drivers are not married, and no policy discounts are applied.
Averaged for all ages 20 through 70, comp and collision coverage costs $2,129 per year more than buying just liability insurance. That is a significant amount which raises the question when is it safe to stop buying full coverage. There isn’t a written rule of when to stop paying for comp and collision coverage, but there is a general guideline you can use. If the annual cost of having full coverage is more than 10% of the settlement you would receive from your company, the it may be a good time to stop paying for full coverage.
The illustration below illustrates how your deductible choice can raise or lower insurance premiums when quoting cheap insurance for drivers with a bad driving record. The information is based on a married male driver, comp and collision included, and no additional discounts are factored in.
As shown above, a 30-year-old driver could lower their car insurance rates by $436 a year by changing their physical damage coverage from a $100 deductible to a $500 deductible, or save $658 by changing to a $1,000 deductible. Young drivers, such as the 20-year-old example, could lower their rates as much as $1,318 or even more just by choosing higher deductibles. When increasing deductibles, it will be important to have enough savings to enable you to pay the extra out-of-pocket expense. That is the one drawback of using higher deductibles.
Choosing a highly-rated car insurance provider can be a challenge considering how many companies provide coverage in Maryland. The company ratings in the lists below can help you select which insurers to look at when comparing rates. These ratings are for the largest auto insurers in America, so companies that focus mainly on Maryland business are not taken into consideration for this list.
| Company | Value | Customer Service | Claims | Customer Satisfaction | A.M Best Rating | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travelers | 93 | 98 | 99 | 88% | A++ | 95.1 |
| USAA | 83 | 99 | 100 | 91% | A++ | 94.1 |
| AAA Insurance | 91 | 95 | 92 | 90% | A | 93.3 |
| Nationwide | 85 | 95 | 97 | 89% | A+ | 92.4 |
| Allstate | 77 | 100 | 97 | 88% | A+ | 90.7 |
| State Farm | 80 | 94 | 96 | 88% | A++ | 90.6 |
| The Hartford | 88 | 93 | 91 | 87% | A+ | 90.4 |
| Safeco Insurance | 91 | 95 | 85 | 88% | A | 90.2 |
| Progressive | 88 | 94 | 83 | 88% | A+ | 90.1 |
| American Family | 91 | 86 | 95 | 83% | A | 89.7 |
| Esurance | 86 | 90 | 94 | 90% | A+ | 89.5 |
| The General | 86 | 93 | 89 | 84% | A- | 88.2 |
| GEICO | 79 | 89 | 95 | 87% | A++ | 87.8 |
| Titan Insurance | 86 | 82 | 92 | 86% | A+ | 86.5 |
| 21st Century | 86 | 82 | 90 | 84% | A | 86.4 |
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Data Source: Insure.com Best Car Insurance Companies
How to find low-cost car insurance for drivers with a bad driving record
It’s not impossible to find cheaper rates, and here are some thrifty solutions that can help you quote low-cost auto insurance.
- The safer your car, the less it costs to insure
- Avoid accidents and claims
- Bundle home and auto and earn a discount
- Maintaining good credit helps earn cheaper rates
- Older vehicles may not need full coverage
- Compare prices as often as possible
That last tip is very necessary, as we hit on in the article above. Auto insurance rates can change considerably based on profitability, so don’t be tentative to switch to a new company if a cheaper rate is available. Many consumers stick with the same company and that’s fine, but is isn’t recommended if that faithfulness ends up costing you a fortune every year. It only take a few minutes to shop around and find cheaper auto insurance for drivers with a bad driving record in Baltimore.
If you prefer to get some help when shopping for cheaper insurance for drivers with a bad driving record, the agents listed below can answer your questions and help you decide which is the best policy. To find an auto insurance agency nearest to you, click the button below the list.
- Eve Hamper – State Farm Insurance Agent
1118 Light St A – Baltimore, MD 21230 – (410) 528-8900 - Aja Green – State Farm Insurance Agent
7635 Belair Rd – Baltimore, MD 21236 – (410) 882-9433 - Luray Insurance of Baltimore
1726 Reisterstown Rd #220 – Baltimore, MD 21208 – (410) 602-2636