Finding the Best Maryland Car Insurance at the Best Price
If you’re a resident of the state of Maryland, and you’re looking for car insurance, you should be aware that it’s possible to get cheaper rates than the average person simply by shopping around. While Maryland car insurance tends to be higher than the national average, that doesn’t mean you can’t find affordable coverage. The key is knowing what you need and knowing how to shop.
Maryland requires drivers to meet the 20/40/15 minimums for car insurance. This means that you need to have at least $20,000 of bodily injury coverage for each person and at least $40,000 for each accident and you must have at least $15,000 of property damage coverage for each accident. You must also carry those same minimums for uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury and property damage coverage, as well as $2,500 of personal injury protection. This is to protect you in the event that the person at fault in an accident does not have adequate coverage. You can opt for higher limits if desired.
Once you have determined what coverage level you need, it is time to shop around. Shopping for Maryland car insurance is like shopping for any other big ticket item: you should get price quotes from as many different companies as possible in order to secure the best price. An insurance comparison website can help you with the legwork. Simply enter your information and let the website gather free quotes for you. Be sure you give the same information to each company so the quotes will be comparable.
When you have determined the top few companies and you’re ready to make your choice, you should consider some points in addition to price. First, consider what kind of deductible you are willing to pay. Higher deductibles mean lower premiums; however, if you’re leery of being stuck with a high deductible in the event of an accident, you are probably be willing to pay a higher premium for the comfort of a lower deductible. Second, consider what benefits are offered and which company best meets your needs. Third, take a look at their customer service. Call each company and talk to a representative. This way you can evaluate their treatment of you and whether you feel comfortable with the level of service you received. If the agent seems too busy to talk to you or you in any way feel that your needs were not considered, remember that when you have to make a claim the service will likely be worse, not better. You may want to go with another company.
Finding Maryland car insurance can seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Remember that insurance rates are not fixed and it really is possible to receive better rates when you shop around. By comparing quotes among companies, you can ensure that you’re paying better than average rates even in a state where car insurance tends to be more expensive than in other parts of the country.
