Car insurance can be confusing. You know you need it, and the law says you have to have it. But how do you know if you have enough?
That’s a fair question, especially if you’ve had trouble getting car insurance before. Maybe you’ve been turned down because of your driving record. Maybe you’re worried about cost or you just took whatever policy you could find and hoped for the best.
Let’s break down what “enough” insurance actually means in Maryland and how to make sure you’re protected without overpaying.
Understanding Maryland’s Minimum Requirements
First, let’s look at what the state says you absolutely must have.
In Maryland, drivers are required to carry:
- $30,000 bodily injury liability per person
- $60,000 bodily injury liability per accident
- $15,000 property damage liability
- Uninsured motorist coverage at the same levels
- Personal injury protection (PIP) of at least $2,500 (unless formally waived)
These are the legal minimums. They keep you from getting a ticket or having your license suspended.
But here’s the catch: these numbers might not be enough if you’re in a serious accident. A crash involving multiple vehicles, serious injuries, or extensive property damage can easily exceed these limits. If that happens, you could be stuck paying the difference out of your own pocket.
Why Minimum Coverage Might Not Be Enough
Think of minimum coverage like a cheap umbrella. It’s better than nothing. But in a real downpour, you’re still going to get wet.
If you cause an accident that sends someone to the hospital, $30,000 in medical coverage can disappear fast. A single ambulance ride, a few days in the hospital, and some follow-up care can easily exceed that. Once your insurance runs out, the rest comes out of your pocket.
The same goes for property damage. $15,000 sounds like a lot until you realize the average new car costs over $40,000. If you rear-end a newer car, you could be personally responsible for the difference.
What If You Struggle to Get Insurance at All?
What if you can’t even get a standard policy because of your driving record? If you’ve been turned down by private insurance companies due to tickets, past accidents, or a lapse in coverage, you still have options.
MAIF insurance (the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund) is a program designed specifically for drivers who can’t get coverage elsewhere. As a third-party provider for the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund, Roadway Auto helps drivers get MAIF car insurance when private companies say no.
MAIF car insurance typically includes the state-required minimum coverage. That means you can drive legally. You can register your car. You can get back on the road.
But once you have MAIF insurance, you can also ask about adding higher limits or additional coverages if your budget allows. Your agent can walk you through what’s available.
Evaluating Your Own Risk
How much coverage you need depends on your situation. Ask yourself these questions:
Do you own a home or have savings?
If you have assets to protect, you probably want higher liability limits. A lawsuit from a serious accident could go after your house, your savings, or even your future wages.
Do you have a long commute or drive in heavy traffic?
The more you drive, the higher your risk of an accident. Maryland traffic around Baltimore, the D.C. metro area, and Interstate 95 is no joke. More time on the road means more chances for something to go wrong.
Do you transport other people regularly?
If you carpool, take coworkers to lunch, or have kids in the car, medical costs from an accident can add up fast.
Is your car financed or leased?
If yes, your lender requires collision and comprehensive coverage. You don’t get a choice. If you own your car outright, you can decide whether these coverages are worth the cost.
Collision and Comprehensive: Do You Need Them?
Maryland law doesn’t require collision or comprehensive coverage, but that doesn’t mean you should skip them.
- Collision insurance pays to repair or replace your car if you’re in an accident, no matter who is at fault.
- Comprehensive insurance covers non-accident damage: theft, fire, vandalism, hail, or hitting a deer.
If your car is newer or worth a significant amount of money, these coverages can save you from a huge repair bill. If your car is older and not worth much, you might decide to drop them and pocket the savings.
If your car is worth less than 10 times the annual cost of the coverage, it might be time to drop collision and comprehensive.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Don’t Skimp
Maryland requires uninsured motorist coverage. That’s smart, because about one in eight drivers nationwide has no insurance at all.
You can choose to carry more than the minimum. If you’re hit by an uninsured driver, your uninsured motorist coverage pays for your medical bills and other costs. Higher limits mean better protection.
Given how many uninsured drivers are on Maryland roads, this is coverage worth taking seriously.
Medical Costs Add Up Fast
Your health insurance might not cover everything that happened during an accident. Car accidents can lead to medical bills that run into the tens of thousands of dollars. Ambulance rides, emergency room visits, surgeries, physical therapy, and lost wages while you recover.
Raising your liability limits or adding medical payments coverage can help make sure you’re not drowning in debt after a crash. It’s an extra monthly cost, but it’s nothing compared to what a serious injury can cost.
So, Do You Have Enough?
Enough coverage for one driver might be too little for another, so there’s no single answer that works for everyone.
But carrying more than the state minimum, if you can afford it, is a good starting point. Even bumping your liability limits to $100,000/$300,000 makes a huge difference in your level of protection.
And if you’ve been turned down by other insurers and are relying on MAIF insurance through the Maryland Auto Insurance Fund, talk to your agent about whether you can add higher limits or additional coverages. The minimum keeps you legal. But more coverage keeps you safe.
Let’s Look at Your Situation
At Roadway Auto, we’ve been helping Maryland drivers since 1992. We specialize in working with people who’ve been turned down by other companies. We’re a trusted third-party provider for MAIF car insurance, and we can help you understand exactly what coverage makes sense for your situation and your budget.
Call us at 301-476-1183 or get a free quote online. We’ll help you figure out whether you have enough insurance or fix it.