Proof of Insurance Now Required

If you're driving without an insurance card, you could be headed for a $50 fine.

 

Drivers who are unable to provide valid proof of insurance during a traffic stop face a $50 fine. Law enforcement officers now ask drivers to show proof of insurance at all traffic stops, along with their driver’s license and registration. Drivers can show the hard copy of the card or the electronic version of the card on your phone or electronic device.

During the introductory period for the new law, which went into effect last year, officers have issued warnings to drivers who don’t have a valid insurance ID. Starting July 1, 2017, tickets will be issued.

So what do you need to do?

If you have insurance, make sure you have your most recent insurance card. If you don’t have the current card, contact your insurer to request a copy or call our Policy Services team at 800-492-7120 and follow the prompts to “Policy” then “Personal Auto.”

If you don’t currently have insurance, you’re going to need it. This law is intended to help the state of Maryland identify uninsured drivers and encourage them to get insured. The $50 fine is only the start. Uninsured drivers in Maryland are subject to penalties. $150 for the first 30 days, then $7 every day after – and that’s for each uninsured vehicle – adding up to over $2,400 per year…less than the average annual Maryland Auto policy ($2,000).

The good news – you can get a valid insurance ID today! At the top of this page, Click Get A Quote to start the process online, or Find An Agent to find an authorized Maryland Auto provider near you.

Get a quote

Other new Maryland insurance laws and programs

You should also know about these new Maryland insurance laws and programs. One can help you get insured for less and the other may allow you to reduce outstanding uninsured driver penalties!

Need insurance? Skip "PIP" and get insured for less.

 

Eligible Maryland Auto customers may now purchase a policy without Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, reducing the cost of the annual premium – an option currently offered only by Maryland Auto.

Generally, if you’ve been uninsured, this new No PIP option is available to you. For new policyholders who’ve just dealt with the cost of purchasing a vehicle – or paid uninsured driver penalties – getting a new policy can be expensive. This new law allows eligible drivers to purchase a Maryland Auto policy without PIP, lowering the premium price in some cases by over $200, and making it easier to get on the right side of Maryland’s auto insurance requirement.

Until now, all Maryland drivers have been required to carry some level of PIP coverage, which pays up to $2,500 per person for medical bills and lost income for you and your passengers who are injured in a covered accident. Prior to this year, drivers have been able to choose from Full PIP coverage, which covers the driver and all passengers, or Limited PIP, which only provides coverage for household relatives under 16 years old.

This new No PIP option is available to eligible customers on the purchase of a new policy only. Upon renewal, No PIP policyholders will need to choose Limited or Full PIP. However, they may be eligible for “safe driver” and other discounts that can help offset the cost of PIP coverage in the future.

To find out if this No PIP option is right for you, contact one of our authorized providers or call our Policy Services team at 800-492-7120.

Get a quote

Have fines for driving without insurance? The state may have a gift for you!

 

From May 15, 2017 to August 15, 2017, eligible drivers may participate in Maryland’s Insurance Debt Reduction Program. This program allows eligible Marylanders to have up to 80% of their outstanding uninsured driver penalties waived by purchasing insurance and keeping their policy in force for a specified period of time.

Not sure if you qualify? A Maryland Auto Authorized Provider can help. Find an agent near you.

Program participants must meet all of these eligibility requirements.

  • Be a Maryland resident
  • Own a vehicle that is not currently insured or purchase a vehicle after enrolling in the program
  • Have uninsured driver penalties that were delinquent prior to January 1, 2014
  • Not have a judgement issued for this outstanding debt by the Department of Budget and Management’s Central Collection Unit (CCU)

To enroll in the program, participants must follow these steps.

1 – Visit a Central Collections Unit office between May 15, 2017 and August 15, 2017 to sign a customer agreement form and make the first payment.

  • Central Collections Unit offices are located in Gaithersburg, Glen Burnie, Hagerstown, Largo, and Salisbury and are open from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.. For more information, visit CCU Locations and Hours.

2 – Pay the remaining 20% of the outstanding penalties, as well as a 17% CCU collection fee. This can be paid in full or over monthly payments (up to six months).

3 – Obtain insurance and keep coverage in force for six months. If the amount of penalty being waived through the program exceeds $3,000, coverage must be maintained for a year.

Unlike other carriers, Maryland Auto Insurance offers guaranteed coverage to Marylanders who have been turned down or cancelled by other carriers. To find a Maryland Auto provider in your area, click here.

For information about finding or comparing auto insurance, please visit the Maryland Insurance Administration’s automobile insurance resource page and/or Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance.

Participants who default on the customer agreement by either failing to maintain insurance for the required period of time, or not paying all or part of the required 20% penalty and collection fee, will be required to pay the full amount of the outstanding penalty.

Act quickly! This program will only be offered for a 90-day period, between May 15, 2017 and August 15, 2017.

Questions about the program or eligibility? Please contact the Motor Vehicle Administration at 410-768-7000.

Call 800.492.7120 TO GET STARTED TODAY!