In an ideal world, we could tell you the company that has the cheapest rates in Maryland. It’s just not that easy, however, as there are a lot of unknown elements such as your gender, your date of birth, and the deductible level you need. The content below will cover the types of situations that result in high rates and should give you a solid foundation to find cheaper car insurance in Baltimore.
The car, truck, or SUV you are buying coverage for is one of the largest considerations when quoting the best cheap insurance for infrequent drivers. Vehicles with lots of horsepower, poor safety features, or a track record of large liability claims will cost more to insure than more economical and safe models.
The next list presents auto insurance costs for some of the more affordable vehicles to buy coverage for.
| Make, Model, and Trim Level | Estimated Cost for Full Coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda Accord EX-L 4-Dr Sedan | $2,812 |
| Ford Escape XLS 4WD | $2,837 |
| Toyota Prius | $2,870 |
| Honda CR-V EX-L 2WD | $2,903 |
| Ford F-150 XLT Super Cab 2WD | $2,910 |
| Ford Fusion S 4-Dr Sedan | $3,070 |
| Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid | $3,075 |
| Ford Focus SEL 4-Dr Sedan | $3,175 |
| Toyota Tacoma 4WD | $3,178 |
| Dodge Grand Caravan SE | $3,183 |
| Honda Odyssey EX W/Rear Entertainment | $3,298 |
| Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4WD 2-Dr | $3,303 |
| Toyota RAV4 2WD | $3,363 |
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Table data assumes single male driver age 50, no speeding tickets, no at-fault accidents, $1,000 deductibles, and Maryland minimum liability limits. Discounts applied include multi-vehicle, safe-driver, homeowner, claim-free, and multi-policy. Premium amounts do not factor in vehicle location which can revise coverage rates considerably.
By looking at the data, you can assume that models like the Honda Accord, Ford Escape, and Toyota Prius should be a few of the more affordable vehicles to insure for low mileage drivers.
One of the many considerations that are looked at to determine the cost of insurance is where you live in Baltimore. Areas with high crime rates or more dense population are more likely to pay higher prices, whereas less populated areas have the enjoyment of a little cheaper coverage.
The next table rates the highest-priced places in Maryland for infrequent drivers to purchase auto insurance in. Baltimore ranks #1 with an annual premium of $1,814 for the average insured, which is around $151 each month.
| Rank | City | Annual Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore | $1,814 |
| 2 | Woodlawn | $1,674 |
| 3 | Towson | $1,527 |
| 4 | Dundalk | $1,505 |
| 5 | Aspen Hill | $1,463 |
| 6 | Bowie | $1,446 |
| 7 | Catonsville | $1,432 |
| 8 | Silver Spring | $1,432 |
| 9 | Essex | $1,431 |
| 10 | Waldorf | $1,389 |
| 11 | Glen Burnie | $1,383 |
| 12 | Wheaton | $1,321 |
| 13 | Severn | $1,288 |
| 14 | Ellicott City | $1,283 |
| 15 | Germantown | $1,275 |
| 16 | Gaithersburg | $1,265 |
| 17 | Rockville | $1,264 |
| 18 | Potomac | $1,261 |
| 19 | Columbia | $1,225 |
| 20 | North Bethesda | $1,219 |
| 21 | Annapolis | $1,218 |
| 22 | Bethesda | $1,202 |
| 23 | Bel Air South | $1,186 |
| 24 | Hagerstown | $1,010 |
| 25 | Frederick | $1,004 |
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Information shown are comparative as the specific area where the vehicle is garaged can alter coverage rates substantially.
Comparing quotes for cheap car insurance is confusing at best, and finding out which companies have the best insurance rates for infrequent drivers requires additional perseverance.
Each auto insurance company has their own unique process for setting prices, so let’s take a look at the most budget-friendly insurance companies in Baltimore, MD. We do need to point out that Baltimore insurance rates are calculated based on many things that control the price you have to pay for coverage. Price variation is why it is important to perform an extensive rate comparison when trying to find the most affordable car insurance rates for infrequent drivers. Insurance rates consist of many factors and change frequently, so the most economical option the last time you checked may now cost much more than other companies.
Best Cheap Insurance Rates in Maryland
| Rank | Company | Cost Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | USAA | $948 |
| 2 | Liberty Mutual | $1,092 |
| 3 | Penn National | $1,093 |
| 4 | Erie | $1,127 |
| 5 | State Auto | $1,178 |
| 6 | Amica | $1,334 |
| 7 | Travelers | $1,384 |
| 8 | MetLife | $1,428 |
| 9 | Nationwide | $1,435 |
| 10 | GEICO | $1,472 |
| 11 | California Casualty | $1,499 |
| 12 | Allstate | $1,645 |
| 13 | State Farm | $1,680 |
| 14 | Progressive | $2,128 |
| 15 | Encompass | $2,490 |
| 16 | Victoria | $3,053 |
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USAA normally has some of the lowest car insurance rates in Baltimore at around $948 a year. This is $611 less than the average price paid by Maryland drivers of $1,559. Liberty Mutual, Penn National, Erie, and State Auto are also some of the cheapest Baltimore, MD insurance companies.
In the above rates, if you are currently insured with Penn National and switched to USAA, you may realize an annual premium reduction of about $145. Customers with Erie may save as much as $179 a year, and State Auto policyholders might lower prices by $230 a year.
These policy prices are averaged across all drivers and vehicles in Maryland and and are not figured with a specific zip code for infrequent drivers. So the auto insurance company that can offer the best rates for your situation may not even be in the top 16 companies shown above. That illustrates why you need to get rate quotes using your own specific driver and vehicle information.
Get discounts on Baltimore insurance rates
Auto insurance companies that provide coverage for infrequent drivers may have rate discounts that can reduce rates by as much as 35% or more if you are eligible. Popular insurance companies and their possible discounts are detailed below.
- Progressive has discounts for multi-vehicle, good student, online quote discount, multi-policy, online signing, homeowner, and continuous coverage.
- SAFECO has savings for bundle discounts, homeowner, anti-lock brakes, drive less, and multi-car.
- American Family may offer discounts for multi-vehicle, defensive driver, accident-free, early bird, and bundled insurance.
- MetLife may have discounts that include accident-free, multi-policy, defensive driver, good driver, good student, and claim-free.
- GEICO includes discounts for daytime running lights, air bags, multi-vehicle, five-year accident-free, emergency military deployment, good student, and military active duty.
- The Hartford may include discounts for bundle, vehicle fuel type, anti-theft, driver training, air bag, and defensive driver.
The information below visualizes the comparison of car insurance costs with and without discounts applied to the policy rates. The premiums assume a male driver, no accidents or driving violations, Maryland state minimum liability limits, comp and collision included, and $1,000 deductibles.
The first bar for each age group shows insurance cost with no discounts. The lower bar shows the rates with claim-free, homeowner, accident-free, safe-driver, anti-theft, and passive restraint discounts applied. When discounts are applied, theamount saved on insurance for infrequent drivers is 28% or $638.
Does it make sense to buy full coverage?
Paying a lower price for insurance is the goal of most people, and one of the quickest ways to lower the cost of insurance for infrequent drivers is to not pay for full coverage. The example below shows the comparison of yearly insurance costs with full coverage compared to only the Maryland minimum liability coverage. Data assumes a clean driving record, no at-fault accidents, $100 deductibles, single status, and no discounts are taken into consideration.
If we average all the age groups together, comp and collision coverage costs $3,113 per year more than just buying liability insurance. A very common question is when is it a good idea to stop buying full coverage. There isn’t a steadfast formula to stop paying for comprehensive and collision coverage on your policy, but there is a general guideline. If the annual cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is 10% or more of the replacement cost minus the deductible, then you may want to consider only buying liability coverage.
For example, let’s say your vehicle’s book value is $6,500 and you have $1,000 policy deductibles. If your vehicle is totaled, the most you would receive is $5,500 after paying your deductible. If premiums are more than $550 annually for your policy with full coverage, then it might be time to consider dropping full coverage.
There are some scenarios where buying only liability insurance is not in your best interest. If you have an outstanding loan on your vehicle, you must maintain physical damage coverage in order to prevent the bank from purchasing higher-priced coverage. Also, if you can’t afford to buy a different vehicle in case of an accident, you should not buy liability only.
How to find low-cost insurance for infrequent drivers
It is possible to find better rates, and here are some of the recommended penny-pinching solutions that can help drivers get cheaper car insurance.
- At-fault accidents will increase rates
- Full coverage may not be needed on older vehicles
- Pay for small claims rather than turning them in to your insurance company
- Get cheaper liability coverage by choosing a safer vehicle
- Avoid speeding and other traffic citations and pay less
- Insure your home and auto with the same company
- Compare prices frequently to find the best deal
The last tip in the list is very valuable, as was affirmed in the prior article. Auto insurance rates in Baltimore can change considerably based on profitability, so don’t be unwilling to change insurance companies if a better deal can be had.
Many consumers stick with the same company and that’s fine, but it isn’t a good idea if that devotion results in you overpaying money that could be spent on other things. In just a couple of minutes you could shop around and find cheaper car insurance for infrequent drivers.