Legal Requirements

• In Maryland, drivers are legally required to purchase liability, personal injury protection, or PIP, and uninsured motorist coverage. Liability covers the policy holder if he causes damage to other property or injury to another person on the road, while PIP covers the policy holder and his passengers in the case of personal injury and will pay medical bills, lost wages, home health care and even funeral costs. Keep in mind that these are only state-mandated requirements; if your vehicle is leased or financed, your bank or lender may require other vehicle damage-related coverage, such as comprehensive and collision, until your loan is paid in full.
  
  

Minimum Coverage

• The minimum liability requirement in Maryland is 30/60/15, which covers $30,000 in injuries to a single person, $60,000 in injuries to multiple persons and $15,000 in property damage. Uninsured motorist protection also carries a 30/60/15 requirement and will be applied toward your own claims if you are involved in an accident with an underinsured or uninsured driver, or if you are the victim of a hit-and-run. With PIP, policy holders can forfeit their own coverage but must include protection for any of their family members who are under 16 years of age, in the amount of $2,500 per passenger.
  
  

Proof of Insurance

• Under Maryland law, the only acceptable proof of auto insurance is an FR-19, or Maryland Insurance Certification form. The FR-19 form can be obtained from any Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, or MVA, office and only requires your signature and an auto insurance verification card from a Maryland-authorized insurer. You must present the FR-19 at registration or tag renewal, if you are pulled over or if you receive an insurance request letter from the MVA. For a list of all MVA local offices and contact info, see the Resources.
  
  

Penalties for Driving Uninsured

• The penalties for driving uninsured in the state of Maryland are manifold and include financial fines, court and restoration fees, license plate and registration forfeiture, driver's license suspension and future vehicle registration prohibition until the fines are paid and the insurance is restored. For information on Maryland's Auto Insurance Fund for low-income drivers, see the Resources.