Maryland requires at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability, plus $15,000 in property damage liability. The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) also lists identical uninsured and underinsured motorist bodily injury limits, $15,000 in uninsured motorist property damage, and $2,500 in personal injury protection (PIP).

Those floors apply to a Maryland-registered vehicle even when it is not being driven.

What do the required coverages pay?

The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and the MIA both publish the $30,000/$60,000/$15,000 liability floors. Bodily injury liability pays people you injure, or the family of someone who dies, if you are responsible for a crash. The first number is the most the policy will pay for one person. The second is the most it will pay for everyone hurt in that accident, combined. Property damage liability pays for damage you cause to someone else's car or other property, up to $15,000 at the legal minimum.

Those floors can fall short of the cost of a serious injury or a newer vehicle. If a claim exceeds your limits, you can be personally responsible for the rest. A licensed local agent can quote higher liability limits and, if you have a house or savings to protect, an umbrella policy.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage is also required. The MIA's required-minimums page lists identical UM/UIM bodily injury amounts and $15,000 of uninsured motorist property damage. The Department's EUIM page explains that UM/UIM amounts will be the same as your liability coverage unless you specifically choose a different amount, and will always be at least the state minimums. UM/UIM can apply when another driver has no insurance, has too little insurance, or leaves the scene without being identified. It is not a substitute for collision coverage on your own car, and the MIA warns that UM/UIM generally will not apply if you are found at fault, even partially.

PIP is designed to pay reasonable and necessary medical expenses and some lost wages after an auto accident, regardless of who caused the crash. MIA's Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance states that Maryland law requires insurers to offer at least $2,500 in PIP. You may elect limited PIP, and certain individuals may be able to fully reject PIP, as the guide and Insurance Article §§ 19-505 and 19-506 describe. Waiving or limiting PIP can lower the premium, but it can also leave medical bills and lost wages unpaid. Ask a licensed agent to explain full PIP, limited PIP, and any lawful rejection in writing before you sign.

How do you prove coverage, and what happens if it lapses?

Only an insurer licensed and approved to do business in Maryland may insure a vehicle registered here. Companies report coverage to the MVA electronically. If the MVA's records show a gap, the MVA can start an insurance compliance investigation and ask for a Maryland Insurance Certification, Form FR-19, covering the dates in question. Insurers are required to provide FR-19 forms free of charge. A licensed Maryland agent can often submit an eFR-19. Your policy card alone may not satisfy that request.

If a lapse is confirmed, the MVA can assess a penalty for each day the vehicle was uninsured, suspend the registration, and place flags on the record. If you cancel insurance and do not plan to replace it, the MVA says you must return your license plates before the policy ends. Keeping plates without insurance can result in penalties. After a lapse, some companies may charge more or decline to write the risk. If two or more companies have denied coverage, or a policy has been canceled, you may be eligible for Maryland Auto Insurance, the state's residual-market insurer. The MVA does not manage those policies.

New residents generally have 60 days to obtain a Maryland driver license and to title and register a vehicle they already own, and proof of Maryland-approved insurance is part of that transaction. Talk with a licensed local agent before the MVA appointment so the policy is in force when you buy the plate.

FAQ

What are Maryland's auto liability minimums?

The MVA and the MIA list $30,000 for bodily injury per person, $60,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $15,000 for property damage.

Is uninsured motorist coverage required?

Yes. The MIA lists identical UM/UIM bodily injury limits and $15,000 of uninsured motorist property damage among the coverages owners must maintain. UM/UIM is generally written at the same amount as your liability coverage unless you choose a different amount, and it is always at least the state minimum.

Can I drop personal injury protection?

Insurers must offer at least $2,500 in PIP. The MIA Consumer Guide explains that you may elect limited PIP, and that certain people may be able to reject PIP. Ask a licensed agent to document the option that applies to your policy.

What is an FR-19?

It is the Maryland Insurance Certification the MVA uses to verify that coverage was in force for a stated period. Your insurer must provide it free of charge, and a licensed agent can often file it electronically as an eFR-19.

Next step

Ask a licensed local agent to quote at least the $30,000/$60,000/$15,000 liability minimums, matching or higher UM/UIM limits, and the PIP option that fits your household, and to file an FR-19 if the MVA has requested proof.

Sources: Maryland Insurance Administration, auto insurance penalties and required minimums; MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration, Auto Insurance Requirements in Maryland; Maryland Insurance Administration, A Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance; Maryland Insurance Administration, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

For a private passenger auto policy, a Maryland insurer generally must send at least 45 days' written notice before a cancellation or nonrenewal, by certified mail, except during the first 45-day underwriting period. A cancellation for nonpayment of premium requires at least 10 days' notice.

You may protest the proposed action with the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) within 30 days after the mailing date. If regular-market companies cancel or deny coverage, Maryland Auto Insurance may be available.

What Insurance Article § 27-613 requires

Section 27-613 applies to private passenger motor vehicle liability insurance. It does not apply to the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, and it does not apply to a cancellation during the 45-day underwriting period under § 12-106. After a binder or policy has been in effect for at least 45 days, an insurer may cancel, fail to renew, or reduce coverage only in accordance with this section.

Midterm cancellation is limited. The insurer may not cancel midterm except for a material misrepresentation or fraud in the application, policy, or claim; a matter related to the risk that is a threat to public safety; a change in the condition of the risk that increases the hazard; nonpayment of premium; or revocation or suspension of the driver license or vehicle registration of the named insured or a covered driver for reasons related to the driving record.

For actions covered by the section, other than nonpayment, the insurer must send written notice at least 45 days before the proposed effective date to the insured's last known address, by certified mail for cancellation or nonrenewal. The notice must be on a Commissioner-approved form and must state the proposed action, the effective date, the actual reason in clear and specific terms, the right to replace coverage through the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, and the right to protest by signing a copy of the notice and sending it to the Commissioner, or by filing electronically through the MIA consumer complaint portal, within 30 days after the mailing date. Generalized phrases such as "accident record" do not meet the actual-reason requirement. The notice must also state that if a protest is filed, the insurer must maintain the current insurance in effect until a final determination, subject to payment of authorized premium.

For nonpayment, § 27-613(d) requires at least 10 days' written notice of intention to cancel, sent by a first-class mail tracking method. The MIA's cancellation page adds that an insurer may cancel for nonpayment even if the payment is one day late, that proof of actual receipt is not required, and that some companies may reinstate after a late payment, but Maryland law does not require reinstatement. Pay by the due date.

If you protest within 30 days, the protest stays the proposed action, other than a nonpayment cancellation under subsection (d), until the Commissioner determines the protest. The insurer must keep the same coverage and premium in effect, subject to premium payments due. You may later request a hearing. This stay is specific to the § 27-613 protest, not to every general MIA complaint.

Maryland Auto Insurance and force-placed coverage

The MVA states that if your policy has been canceled, or if you have been denied coverage by two or more insurance companies, you may be eligible for coverage through Maryland Auto Insurance. The MVA does not manage those policies. Maryland Auto Insurance, historically the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund, is the residual market named in cancellation notices. Apply through a licensed producer and compare limits, deductibles, and premiums in writing. You still need the state's 30/60/15 liability minimums and the required UM/UIM and PIP options.

If a loan is on the vehicle or a home and a policy lapses, the lender may place insurance at your expense. The MIA warns that force-placed coverage often costs more and may protect only the lender's interest. You have the right to buy a policy of your choice and then have the force-placed policy canceled. If you cancel coverage and will not replace it, return the license plates before the policy ends.

Read the notice as soon as it arrives and note whether it was sent by certified mail, the proposed effective date, and the actual reason. If you file a protest, keep proof of the 30-day mailing or the portal confirmation, and continue to pay authorized premiums so the stay remains meaningful.

FAQ

How much notice is required for an auto nonrenewal?

For a private passenger policy subject to § 27-613, the insurer must send written notice at least 45 days before the proposed effective date, by certified mail for cancellation or nonrenewal.

How much notice is required for nonpayment?

At least 10 days' written notice, sent by a first-class mail tracking method, under § 27-613(d).

Can I keep the policy in force while I protest?

Yes, if you protest a proposed action other than a nonpayment cancellation under subsection (d) within 30 days after the mailing date. The insurer must maintain the current coverage until the Commissioner makes a final determination, subject to premium payments.

What if companies will not insure me?

The MVA says you may be eligible for Maryland Auto Insurance if a policy has been canceled or if two or more companies have denied coverage. Ask a licensed local agent about an application.

Next step

If you have a cancellation or nonrenewal notice, calendar the 10-day or 45-day effective date and the 30-day protest window, ask a licensed local agent for replacement coverage that meets Maryland minimums, and apply to Maryland Auto Insurance if admitted companies decline the risk.

Sources: Insurance Article § 27-613; Maryland Insurance Administration, Understanding Policy Cancellations/Non-Renewals; MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration, Auto Insurance Requirements in Maryland; Maryland Auto Insurance, Who We Serve.

Most standard Maryland homeowners and renters policies do not cover flood damage. Separate flood insurance, often through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), usually will not go into effect until 30 days after you purchase the policy. The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) states that NFIP residential building coverage is sold up to $250,000 and contents coverage up to $100,000.

Do not wait until a storm is on its way.

Why a homeowners policy is not enough

The MIA's flood insurance page is direct: most standard homeowners and renters policies do not cover flood damage, and you need flood insurance for that protection. Flooding can occur almost anywhere, even if you do not live in a high-risk area known as a special hazard flood zone. The Department notes that about 25% of flood losses occur to homes outside of a high-risk area. Check the property's flood risk on the official Flood Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov and at FloodSmart.gov, and do not confuse FloodSmart.gov with similarly named unofficial sites.

Under the NFIP, coverage for your home and coverage for your contents are separate. Building coverage includes the building itself and contents that are part of the physical structure, such as electrical and plumbing systems. Contents coverage covers items such as personal belongings and laundry appliances, and those belongings are covered for their value at the time of the damage, known as actual cash value in the MIA's description. Understand the coverage limits: the NFIP sells residential policies with building limits up to $250,000 and contents limits up to $100,000. Confirm current limits and deductibles with a licensed agent and with FloodSmart.gov, because program rules can change. Some private flood policies exist; compare them in writing rather than assuming they match NFIP terms.

Comprehensive coverage on an auto policy, sometimes labeled "other than collision," is the usual place to look for flood damage to a vehicle, generally at actual cash value minus the deductible. That auto coverage is not a substitute for flood insurance on a house or apartment.

Beginning July 1, 2027, Maryland law will require sellers of certain residential properties to give prospective buyers information about the property's flood risk before a contract of sale is signed. The MIA says the requirement applies to residential properties with four or fewer single-family units and requires a completed flood risk disclosure form and, if available, a copy of the FEMA Elevation Certificate. Until that date, buyers should still ask about flood history, flood insurance claims, and elevation documents, and should not treat a standard seller disclosure as a substitute for a flood map and a flood policy review.

How to buy coverage and what to do after a flood

Buy the policy before you need it. The MIA repeats that most flood insurance policies have a 30-day waiting period. If you are closing on a home and the lender requires flood insurance, ask the agent and the lender how the waiting period is treated at closing, rather than assuming coverage starts the day you apply.

Keep important documents in a waterproof place or in a secure electronic copy, and update a home inventory. After a flood, contact your flood insurer promptly, document damage with photographs, and follow the proof-of-loss instructions in the policy and in NFIP or private-policy materials. For questions about a flood claim or a policy that was sold in Maryland, you can file a written complaint with the MIA. For maps and program rules, use FloodSmart.gov and msc.fema.gov.

A licensed local agent can help you compare NFIP and private flood quotes, contents versus building coverage, and deductibles, and can explain how a sewer-backup endorsement on a homeowners policy differs from flood insurance. Backup coverage, when it is offered, is often limited and may exclude flood. Read the endorsement before you rely on it.

If you already live in a high-risk flood zone, a lender may require flood insurance as a condition of the mortgage. Ask whether the required coverage is building coverage, contents coverage, or both, and whether a private policy will satisfy the lender. Keep the policy declarations with your mortgage file, and review the zone and the waiting period again when you refinance or when you buy a different property.

Keep a copy of any Elevation Certificate, prior flood claims, and the current flood map with your insurance file, and share those documents with the agent who quotes the policy.

FAQ

Does a standard Maryland homeowners policy cover flood?

The MIA states that most standard homeowners and renters policies do not cover flood damage, and that you need flood insurance for that protection.

How long is the typical waiting period?

Most flood insurance policies have a 30-day waiting period, according to the MIA. Do not wait until a storm is approaching.

What are the NFIP residential limits?

The MIA states that the NFIP sells residential policies with building coverage limits up to $250,000 and contents coverage limits up to $100,000. Confirm current limits with an agent and FloodSmart.gov.

When does Maryland's flood risk seller disclosure take effect?

The MIA says that beginning July 1, 2027, sellers of certain residential properties with four or fewer single-family units must provide a completed flood risk disclosure form, and a FEMA Elevation Certificate if available, before a contract is signed.

Next step

Check the property's flood zone at msc.fema.gov, ask a licensed local agent about NFIP or private flood coverage before the 30-day wait becomes a problem, and keep building and contents limits in writing.

Sources: Maryland Insurance Administration, Flood Insurance; FloodSmart.gov; FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) complaints must be submitted in writing. The secure online Consumer Complaint Portal is the usual method, and attachments are limited to 10 MB. You may also mail or fax a completed complaint form, and property and casualty complaints can be emailed to pccomplaints.mia@maryland.gov. The Department asks you to allow up to 90 days for a decision.

What the MIA can review, and how to file

The MIA's primary role is to protect residents from illegal insurance practices by ensuring that insurers and producers that operate in Maryland follow State insurance laws. The File a Complaint page states that the Department can assist with an inquiry or complaint about a health, life, auto, or homeowners policy, and with a complaint involving an insurance producer, public adjuster, or adviser. The "How the MIA Can Help You" page repeats that all complaints must be received in writing.

Use the online portal when you can. The complaint portal is secure. If you have more documents than the 10 MB limit, mail the extras. Downloadable forms are also available for property and casualty complaints (auto and homeowners) and for life and health complaints. Property and casualty complaints can be emailed to pccomplaints.mia@maryland.gov. Life and health, appeals and grievance, long-term care, and disability filings have their own forms, and medical-records release forms may be required so providers and insurers can share information with the investigator.

If you submit a letter instead of the form, the MIA asks for your name, address, and daytime and evening phone numbers; the insurance company, type of insurance, policy number, and claim number if there is one; names and numbers of any other company, agent, or adjuster involved; a detailed explanation of the problem; and copies, not originals, of important documents. Mail or fax materials to the Maryland Insurance Administration, Attn: Consumer Complaint Investigation, 200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700, Baltimore, MD 21202. The main telephone numbers are 410-468-2000 and 1-800-492-6116. The TTY line is 1-800-735-2258. Fax numbers listed for life and health matters include 410-468-2270 (Appeals and Grievance) and 410-468-2260 (Life and Health). If you have a disability and need to file a complaint by phone, the Department lists 410-468-2244.

A health-coverage denial for medical necessity follows a separate Appeals and Grievance path. Exhaust the insurer's internal grievance process first, then file with the MIA within four months after the plan's grievance decision. The Maryland Attorney General's Health Education and Advocacy Unit, 1-877-261-8807, can help with that internal appeal at no charge. Emergency cases can require a decision within 24 hours.

What to expect after you file

The MIA says you should allow 90 days for a decision on your complaint, though many are resolved faster and some take longer. Send all information you want the investigator to have with the original filing. Keep the confirmation, any complaint or problem number, and copies of what you submitted. A complaint becomes part of the Department's file, so omit unnecessary personal data that is not needed to describe the dispute.

A complaint does not automatically keep a canceled auto or homeowners policy in force, except where a specific protest process applies. For a private passenger auto cancellation or nonrenewal under Insurance Article § 27-613, you may protest within 30 days after the mailing date of the notice, and that protest stays the proposed action until the Commissioner makes a final determination, subject to payment of authorized premium. That stay is a statutory process, not a general feature of every complaint. If you have a cancellation or nonrenewal letter, calendar the notice dates and arrange replacement coverage if the stay does not apply.

The MIA does not rewrite every claim decision in the consumer's favor. It investigates whether the company or producer followed Maryland insurance law. For questions about filing, call 1-800-492-6116. The Department also posts a video tutorial on using the online portal.

Have your policy number, the claim number if one exists, the dates of loss or of the disputed billing, and a short timeline ready before you open the portal. The MIA can investigate more clearly when those facts are in the written complaint from the start. Phone calls to 1-800-492-6116 are useful for questions about filing, but they do not replace the written complaint.

FAQ

Does a phone call start a formal MIA complaint?

No. The MIA states that all complaints must be received in writing. A phone call can help you frame the issue, but the portal, a form, a letter, or an allowed email filing is what starts the written complaint.

How long does a decision take?

The Department asks you to allow 90 days, and notes that most complaints are resolved faster, but some take longer.

Where do I send a property and casualty complaint?

File online, mail or fax the property and casualty form, or email it to pccomplaints.mia@maryland.gov. The mailing address is 200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700, Baltimore, MD 21202.

What if my complaint is about a medically unnecessary denial?

Follow the insurer's internal grievance process first. If you are still unsatisfied, you may seek help from the MIA within four months after the plan's grievance decision, and the Attorney General's Health Education and Advocacy Unit can assist with the internal appeal.

Next step

Gather the policy, claim number, denial letters, and supporting copies, file the written complaint through the MIA portal or by mail, and talk with a licensed local agent about coverage and deadlines while the Department reviews the file.

Sources: Maryland Insurance Administration, File a Complaint; Maryland Insurance Administration, How the MIA Can Help You; Maryland Insurance Administration, Appeals and Grievance.

If you cannot obtain essential property insurance in the regular market, limited coverage may be available through Maryland's Joint Insurance Association (JIA), the state's FAIR Plan. The JIA writes homeowners, dwelling, and commercial property policies for qualified properties. The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) advises you to try more than one private company first.

Underwriting rules differ, and JIA coverage may be more restrictive and more expensive.

Who the JIA is for, and what it writes

The official JIA site describes the Association as a source of coverage for property owners, individuals, or businesses throughout Maryland who have been unable to obtain essential property insurance through the competitive marketplace. State law requires insurers licensed to write property insurance in Maryland to be members of the Association. The JIA does not have a financial-strength rating from an organization such as A.M. Best, because it is a FAIR Plan.

The JIA may issue three types of policies: homeowners, dwelling property, and commercial property. Homeowners coverage requires that the property be owner occupied and may apply to a single-family home, condominium, or townhouse or row home. Dwelling property can apply to a house or other residence occupied by the owner, a tenant, or both, typically under a rental or lease agreement. Commercial property is available to a building owner or tenant through the commercial fire program; the JIA does not offer commercial liability.

The MIA's consumer advisory tells you not to assume that a declination from one company means every company will decline the risk. Call other licensed producers and keep trying. If you still cannot obtain insurance for your home from a private company, limited protection may be available through the Maryland Property Insurance Availability Program, known as the JIA. The Association's address is 3290 North Ridge Road, Suite 185, Ellicott City, Maryland 21043. The telephone numbers are 410-539-6808 and 1-800-492-5670. The website is www.mdjia.org, and questions can go to info@mdjia.org.

You can apply by contacting a licensed property and casualty producer or by applying to the JIA directly. The MIA notes that the JIA maintains underwriting guidelines that must be met before a policy is issued, and that a policy will be issued if those guidelines are met, even if the dwelling or building is adjacent to vacant properties. Consumer information, applications, and coverage details are posted on the JIA Forms page. Read those documents rather than relying on an unofficial summary of limits or deductibles.

What to compare before you rely on the Plan

Because the coverage may be narrower than a standard admitted policy, compare the form, deductibles, exclusions, and valuation method in writing. Ask whether the policy is written on an actual-cash-value or replacement-cost basis, whether personal property and liability are included, and how a later return to the regular market would work at renewal. The JIA is a residual market, not a substitute for shopping admitted companies each year.

The JIA is not flood insurance. A FAIR Plan or homeowners policy still generally excludes flood, and a separate NFIP or private flood policy is the usual way to cover flood damage. It is also not auto insurance. Drivers who cannot obtain auto coverage may look to Maryland Auto Insurance, a different residual market.

If you believe an authorized insurer or the JIA has refused coverage in violation of Maryland insurance law, the MIA will investigate a written complaint. Contact the Department at 1-800-492-6116 or file through insurance.maryland.gov.

Ask each admitted insurer, in writing, why the risk was declined, and keep those letters with a JIA application. Some companies decline coastal, older, or vacant-adjacent properties that another company will write, which is why the MIA tells you to keep shopping. If you live in the home as your principal residence, confirm that you are applying for the homeowners form rather than a dwelling-fire form that may omit coverages you expect. Review the current JIA Consumer Information Sheet on the Forms page for eligibility, inspection, and payment rules before you send a premium. The Association's consumer materials are the place to confirm current limits, deductibles, and any actual-cash-value rules, rather than an unofficial summary. If you later receive an admitted-market offer, compare it to the JIA policy at renewal and ask a licensed agent how a switch would be timed so that coverage does not lapse.

FAQ

What is the Joint Insurance Association?

It is Maryland's FAIR Plan, officially described as the Maryland Property Insurance Availability Program, which can provide essential property insurance when the competitive market will not.

What kinds of policies does it write?

The JIA and the MIA list dwelling property, homeowners, and commercial property. Homeowners coverage requires that the property be owner occupied. The JIA does not offer commercial liability.

Do I have to use an agent?

No. The JIA says you may apply through a licensed producer or apply with the Association directly, though a licensed local agent can still help you compare admitted-market quotes first.

Is JIA coverage the same as a standard homeowners policy?

Not necessarily. The MIA warns that coverage may be more restrictive than coverage from other companies, and may also be more expensive because of the increased risk.

Next step

Shop admitted insurers first, then ask a licensed local agent or the JIA about a homeowners or dwelling application if those companies decline the risk, and read the current JIA forms before you rely on the coverage.

Sources: Maryland Insurance Administration, JIA Consumer Advisory; Maryland Joint Insurance Association; Maryland Joint Insurance Association, Forms.

Maryland automobile policies include uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage. The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) states that the amount will be the same as your liability coverage unless you specifically choose a different amount, and that it will always be at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, plus $15,000 for uninsured motorist property damage.

This coverage is required by Maryland law.

What do UM and UIM pay, and when can a claim be denied?

UM coverage can pay, up to the limits of your own policy, when you are legally entitled to collect from a driver who has no liability insurance, or when a vehicle damages your car or injures you and leaves the scene without being identified. UIM coverage can apply when the other driver has liability insurance, but those limits are not enough to cover your bodily injury claim. The MIA's Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance notes that UM can also cover damage to your property, loss of use such as reasonable rental-car expenses, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering, subject to the policy.

The MIA's EUIM page gives a practical warning: UM and UIM generally will not apply if you are found at fault for the accident, even partially, regardless of whether the other driver is uninsured or underinsured. The Department's example is two drivers backing out of parking spaces and hitting each other, with both found at fault. In that situation, your insurer may deny a UM claim even if the other driver has no insurance. Collision coverage, if you buy it, is the part of the policy that can pay for damage to your own car after a crash, usually subject to a deductible, whether or not the other driver is insured.

If your liability limits are higher than the state minimum, your UM/UIM limits will generally match those higher amounts unless you choose different limits. For example, the MIA says that if your liability limits are $100,000/$250,000 for bodily injury and $50,000 for property damage, then your UM/UIM limits will be the same, unless you choose otherwise. Ask the agent to show the UM and UIM amounts on the declarations page, not only the liability line.

Those figures are floors, not a recommendation after a serious injury. A $15,000 uninsured motorist property damage limit may not repair a late-model car. Medical bills and lost wages can also exceed $30,000 for one person. A licensed local agent can quote higher UM/UIM limits and explain how they interact with PIP, health insurance, and collision.

How to keep the coverage you want

Because the coverage is mandatory, a low quote that appears to omit UM or UIM should raise a question. Confirm, in writing:

• Whether UM bodily injury, UIM bodily injury, and uninsured motorist property damage are all in force.
• The dollar limits for each, and whether they equal your liability limits or a lower amount you chose.
• How a partial-fault finding would affect a UM or UIM claim, consistent with the MIA's guidance.

When you change companies, treat the new policy as a new decision. Read the first declarations page, and keep it with the policy packet. If you later raise your liability limits, ask whether UM/UIM will rise with them or stay at an older, lower amount you once selected.

UM and UIM are easy to confuse with PIP and with collision. PIP, when it is on the policy, can pay medical expenses and some lost wages regardless of fault, typically starting at the $2,500 amount insurers must offer. Collision pays to repair or replace your car after a crash, subject to a deductible. UM property damage is tied to an uninsured motorist or a hit-and-run, subject to the policy terms. Compare each coverage by name.

If an insurer denies a UM or UIM claim, ask for the denial in writing, then consider a written complaint with the MIA Consumer Complaint Investigation process. The Department's File a Complaint page is the official starting point. A complaint does not, by itself, rewrite the policy, so keep liability, collision, and medical coverage in force while the dispute is reviewed.

FAQ

Is uninsured motorist coverage optional in Maryland?

No. The MIA states that coverage for property damage and bodily injury caused by uninsured and underinsured motorists is a mandatory coverage required by Maryland law.

Will my UM limits automatically match a $100,000/$250,000 liability policy?

Generally yes, unless you specifically choose a different amount. The MIA says the UM/UIM amount will be the same as your liability coverage unless you choose otherwise, and will always be at least the state minimums.

Does UM pay if I am partly at fault?

The MIA warns that uninsured and underinsured coverages will not apply if you are found at fault for the accident, even partially.

How is UM different from collision?

Collision can pay to repair your car after a crash, usually with a deductible, whether or not the other driver is insured. UM property damage is tied to an uninsured or unidentified motorist and is subject to the policy's terms and to fault rules the MIA describes.

Next step

Ask a licensed local agent to show, in writing, whether your Maryland auto policy carries UM and UIM at the same limits as your liability coverage or at a lower amount you selected, and to explain how a fault finding would affect a claim.

Sources: Maryland Insurance Administration, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage; Maryland Insurance Administration, auto insurance penalties and required minimums; Maryland Insurance Administration, A Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance.