What are the DUI insurance laws in Maryland?
Under Maryland DUI laws, you could face a maximum of 1 to 3 years in jail, a mandatory license suspension of 6 months to 1 1/2 years, and an automatic 12 points on your driving record.
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Laura D. Adams
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Laura Adams is one of the nation’s leading finance, insurance, and small business authorities. As an award-winning author, spokesperson, and host of the top-rated Money Girl podcast since 2008, millions of readers and listeners benefit from her practical advice. Her mission is to empower consumers to live healthy and rich lives by planning for the future and making smart money decisions. She rec...
Insurance & Finance Analyst
UPDATED: Apr 15, 2024
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Apr 15, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Maryland’s DUI penalties range from the mandatory suspension of the license and a year in jail to three years imprisoned and a year-and-a-half license suspension
- Drivers above the age of 21 and under the age of 21, as well as drivers operating a commercial vehicle, have different blood alcohol limits
- Refusing to submit blood, breath or urine to police for testing can result in a worse punishment if convicted
- Maryland car insurance companies will take note of DUI convictions, and raise rates accordingly
For some people, it takes several DUI arrests before they learn that it’s not a good idea to drink and drive. People have been arrested as many as seven times for breaking Maryland DUI laws.
Driving While Impaired and Driving Under the Influence
What happens when you get a DUI in MD? Maryland has two different charges that relate to driving with alcohol in the drivers’ systems. Maryland drivers who have ingested alcoholic products can be arrested for either Driving While Impaired or Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs, , sometimes both in one day as has been witnessed above. A DWI means that the driver’s blood alcohol level (BAC) was measured to be .07 percent while a DUI will be charged if the BAC was .08 percent or above.
Read more: DWI vs. DUI: What Is the Difference?
No such distinction is made for someone under 21 or for people who are arrested while driving a company vehicle. Maryland drivers under age 21 only need to have a BAC equal to .02 or higher to be arrested for DUI. If an employee is driving a company vehicle such as a bus, this person can be arrested for DUI with a .04 percent or higher BAC.
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The Obligation to Give Blood, Breath or Urine
Maryland expects its drivers to choose to either give their blood, breath or urine for the various tests of their BACs.
The test can be administered at the scene because law enforcement officers have breathalyzers that measure the BAC by way of their breath.
They can also opt to have a medical professional obtain blood for a chemical test or they can give a urine sample at the police station or a hospital.
The act of choosing to refuse to give blood, breath or urine for testing for the presence of alcohol or drugs will mean that these drivers may lose their licenses to suspension for 120 days. The second time that drivers decline to give blood, breath or urine will mean their licenses will be suspended for one year. This should be the fate of the mother described above.
The First Conviction for DUI in Maryland
The following are some penalties one will receive for their first DUI conviction:
- Jail: One year maximum; if a minor was a passenger, two years maximum.
- Fine: $1,000 maximum; if a minor was a passenger, $2,000 maximum.
- Mandatory Suspension of the Driver’s License: At least six months.
Penalties for the Second DUI Conviction
The following are some penalties one will receive for their second DUI conviction:
- Jail: Two years maximum; if a child under 18 was a passenger, at least three years.
- Fine: $2,000 maximum; if a child under 18 was a passenger, $3,000 maximum.
- Mandatory Suspension of the Driver’s License: 365 days if the first offense came less than five years prior to the second offense.
- Ignition Interlock Device: Possible after 45 days of the license suspension.
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The Third and Subsequent DUIs
The following are some penalties one will receive for their third and subsequent DUI conviction:
- Jail: Three years maximum, unless a minor was a passenger, then the sentence will be increased to four years maximum.
- Fine: $3,000 maximum, unless a minor was a passenger. In that case, the fine will be $4,000 maximum.
- Mandatory License Suspension: 1 ½ years.
What Happens after the first DWI
Here are some penalties that will happen after one’s first DWI:
- Jail: Two months maximum.
- Fine: $500 maximum.
- Jail: Six months maximum if a minor was in the car.
- Fine: $1,000 maximum if a minor was in the car.
- Mandatory License Suspension: At least six months for everyone.
More Penalties for the Second DWI Conviction
Take a look at these penalties for a second DWI conviction:
- Jail: One year maximum.
- Fine: $500 maximum.
- Fine: $2,000 maximum with a minor in the car.
- Mandatory License Suspension: At least one year for everyone.
Maryland drivers under the age of 21 arrested for DUI are in danger of having their licenses either revoked or suspended.
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How Checkpoints Reduce Drunken Driving
During times when law enforcement expects more drunken drivers, they begin to announce the fact that they will have more checkpoints on Maryland’s roads. The places they choose to have checkpoints are those areas that have shown a high instance of drunk driving in the past.
In Maryland, these areas are major intersections and streets. A DUI will greatly affect one’s car insurance.
These checkpoints are set up to stop every driver in order to ensure that the people behind the wheels are not intoxicated by drugs or alcohol.
Statistically, drunk drivers are on the roads either at night or very early in the morning, which is why law enforcement chooses these times to set up their checkpoints.
Collecting Points on the Driving Record
With every driving infraction, Maryland drivers have the potential to have points added to their driving records. In this case, points aren’t a good thing and the more points drivers accumulate, the worse it gets for them.
If drivers can keep from adding 12 points within a two-year period, they may be able to keep their auto insurance rates from rising beyond their ability to pay them.
The Impact of DUI/DWI Convictions in MD
Maryland drivers who are convicted of DUI have no way of keeping their points below 12 in a two-year period because a single DUI gives them 12 points on their driving records all at once.
A DWI conviction is not as dire, but it’s not too far behind. With a DWI conviction, eight points will be added to the driving record.
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Setting Car Insurance Rates
One of the things auto insurance companies use to set a client’s auto insurance rates is the driving record. Someone who has a good driving record, that is one without any points or very few, can receive low rates because they are believed to be less likely to cause an accident.
Someone who has a DUI/DWI is highly likely to cause an accident, and these people are often quoted with high-risk car insurance rates because of it.
A DUI/DWI Offender’s Options for Insurance
Once so many DUI points have been added to a driver’s record, insurance options are limited unless these drivers have a lot of money to spend on insurance. In these tough economic times, most people can’t afford to spend a large sum of money every month on their auto insurance premiums.
It’s for this reason that these drivers need our comparison search to find the cheapestcar insurance rates for their auto insurance as possible.
With the comparison website searching for insurance companies that offer high-risk policies, Maryland drivers convicted of DUI/DWI will have several choices for the lowest auto insurance rates. They can even inquire into the many ways that they can lower their auto insurance rates with discounts.
Clients with DUIs and DWIs are entitled to claim the same auto insurance discounts as any other auto insurance client.
One Possible Discount
For example, if Maryland drivers convicted of DUI/DWI were to trade their sports vehicles in for a safe car that has safety features such as anti-lock brakes and automatic seat belts, the auto insurance company will see this as a very good sign.
A car that was made to drive safely along the roads will result in less damage if there is a collision. The automatic seat belts will result in fewer bodily injuries.
Once drivers receive their many quotes, they may contact these insurance companies to determine what discounts they can qualify for in order to obtain the lowest rates possible.
The fastest way to get to this point is to let the comparison website do the searching for them. Our comparison tool already has several high-risk auto insurance companies at our disposal ready to offer reasonable car insurance quotes in less than five minutes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the DUI insurance laws in Maryland?
Under Maryland DUI laws, you could face a maximum of 1 to 3 years in jail, a mandatory license suspension of 6 months to 1 1/2 years, and an automatic 12 points on your driving record.
What are the charges related to driving with alcohol in the system in Maryland?
Maryland has two charges related to driving with alcohol in the system: Driving While Impaired (DWI) and Driving Under the Influence (DUI). A DWI is charged if the driver’s blood alcohol level (BAC) is measured to be .07 percent, while a DUI is charged if the BAC is .08 percent or above.
What happens if you refuse to give blood, breath, or urine for testing?
Choosing to refuse to give blood, breath, or urine for testing will result in a license suspension. The first refusal leads to a 120-day suspension, and the second refusal results in a one-year suspension.
What are the penalties for a first DUI conviction in Maryland?
Penalties for a first DUI conviction in Maryland may include fines, license suspension, mandatory alcohol education programs, and possible jail time.
What are the penalties for a second DUI conviction in Maryland?
Penalties for a second DUI conviction in Maryland may include increased fines, longer license suspension, mandatory alcohol treatment programs, and potential jail time.
What are the penalties for a third and subsequent DUI conviction in Maryland?
Penalties for a third and subsequent DUI conviction in Maryland may include significant fines, lengthy license suspensions, mandatory alcohol treatment programs, and substantial jail time.
What are the penalties for a first DWI conviction in Maryland?
Penalties for a first DWI conviction in Maryland may include fines, license suspension, mandatory alcohol education programs, and potential jail time.
What are the penalties for a second DWI conviction in Maryland?
Penalties for a second DWI conviction in Maryland may include increased fines, longer license suspension, mandatory alcohol treatment programs, and potential jail time.
How do checkpoints help reduce drunken driving?
Checkpoints are set up in areas with a high incidence of drunk driving to stop every driver and ensure they are not intoxicated. Statistically, drunk drivers are more likely to be on the roads at night or early in the morning, so checkpoints are often established during those times.
How do DUI/DWI convictions impact car insurance rates?
DUI/DWI convictions can significantly increase car insurance rates as insurance companies consider such drivers high-risk and more likely to cause accidents.
What insurance options are available for DUI/DWI offenders in Maryland?
Once a driver’s record has accumulated DUI points, insurance options become limited. However, high-risk insurance companies can offer coverage, and comparing quotes through a comparison website can help find the cheapest rates. DUI/DWI offenders can also inquire about available discounts to lower their insurance rates.
How do points on a driving record affect insurance rates in Maryland?
Points on a driving record can lead to higher insurance rates. Accumulating 12 points within a two-year period can cause a significant increase in premiums.
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Laura D. Adams
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Laura Adams is one of the nation’s leading finance, insurance, and small business authorities. As an award-winning author, spokesperson, and host of the top-rated Money Girl podcast since 2008, millions of readers and listeners benefit from her practical advice. Her mission is to empower consumers to live healthy and rich lives by planning for the future and making smart money decisions. She rec...
Insurance & Finance Analyst
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.