How Much Does Title Insurance Cost in Maryland? (2026 Guide)

If you are buying a home in Maryland, title insurance will show up on your closing statement whether you planned for it or not. The question most buyers actually have is simple: how much is it going to cost me, and is any of it optional?

The short answer: title insurance in Maryland is priced from rates filed with the state, driven mainly by your purchase price and loan amount. For most Maryland purchases, the combined lender's and owner's coverage lands in the range of roughly 0.4% to 0.6% of the purchase price — and unlike most insurance, you pay it once at closing, not monthly.

Here is what drives the number, what each policy covers, who pays, and how to get an exact quote for your transaction.

What Drives the Cost of Title Insurance in Maryland

Maryland title insurance premiums are based on rates filed with the Maryland Insurance Administration. That means the premium itself is not a free-for-all — it is calculated from filed rate schedules tied to:

• Purchase price. The owner's policy premium is based on the price you are paying for the home.
• Loan amount. The lender's policy premium is based on your mortgage amount.
• Policy type. Standard versus enhanced owner's coverage (enhanced costs more but adds protections like post-closing coverage for certain risks).
• Simultaneous issue. When the lender's and owner's policies are issued together in the same transaction — which is typical in a purchase — the lender's policy is priced at a reduced simultaneous rate rather than stacked at full price.

Because rates are filed, two reputable Maryland title companies quoting the same transaction should land close to each other on premium. Where quotes actually differ is the settlement fee and other service charges around the premium — which is why an itemized quote matters more than a headline number.

Lender's vs. Owner's Title Insurance

There are two separate policies in most Maryland purchases, and they protect different people:

• Lender's title insurance protects your mortgage lender's interest in the property. If you are financing, your lender will require it. It covers the loan amount and shrinks as you pay down the mortgage.
• Owner's title insurance protects you — your equity and your ownership — for as long as you own the home. It is technically optional, but it is a one-time premium that covers risks like undiscovered liens, forged documents, recording errors, and heirs who surface after closing. Most buyers who understand what it covers choose to buy it.

Skipping the owner's policy to save a few hundred dollars means self-insuring the single largest asset most people ever own.

Who Pays for Title Insurance in Maryland?

Payment is set by contract and local custom, and it varies by county. In much of Maryland, buyers customarily pay for both the lender's and owner's policies, though seller concessions and negotiated splits are common — especially in balanced or slower markets. In some Maryland counties, it is customary for buyers and sellers to split transfer and recordation taxes, which is a separate but related closing cost conversation.

The practical move: negotiate who pays as part of your offer strategy, and get your itemized title quote early enough that the numbers inform the negotiation rather than surprise you afterward. For the full picture beyond title insurance, see our guide to closing costs in Maryland.

How to Get an Exact Number for Your Purchase

Online ranges are useful for planning, but your actual premium depends on your price, loan amount, county, and policy choices. The fastest way to get a real number is a quote built on your specific transaction.

You can get a free, itemized title quote in minutes — it shows the title insurance premium, settlement fee, and other title-side costs line by line, with no obligation. If you are early in your search, you can also run quotes at different price points to see how the numbers scale before you write an offer.

Buying in a specific part of the state? Our overview of working with a title company in Maryland covers what to expect from the settlement process start to finish.