Maryland’s Hispanic residents often face challenges to getting the insurance coverage that is required to drive legally in the state. With a network of agents who support and engage the Hispanic community, Maryland Auto Insurance is a valuable resource to help residents get covered so they can take advantage of the economic opportunities in the state.
Many of Maryland Auto’s authorized providers are part of this community themselves and are committed to educating Hispanic consumers regarding insurance needs.
Chris Aguirre, President of Aguirre Insurance Agency, Inc. says that he has a lot of customers who do not speak English, which creates limits to how many insurance carriers they can speak to. “As a mission to help our community, I set out to create a team of fully bilingual representatives to help the Hispanic community,” he says.
Aguirre explains that being new to the country often means residents lack driving or insurance history, which makes it difficult to get approved for insurance. “Maryland Auto Insurance is a very important insurance option for our community,” he says. “The Hispanic community has many complexities, and having access to flexible underwriting really helps keep people properly insured. Maryland Auto Insurance helps get these drivers the necessary experience on their record so that they can qualify for the bigger carriers down the road.”
Carolina Paladines, Senior Broker for Silvia Caceres-Diaz Insurance in Silver Spring, adds that the Hispanic community faces unique challenges beyond the language barrier, including, “unfamiliarity with the U.S. system, financial constraints, and, at times, fear of being treated unfairly. These issues can lead to confusion, mistrust, and hesitation in seeking coverage.” The key to overcoming these challenges, Mrs. Paladines says is to, “offer clear, compassionate guidance to ensure clients fully understand their coverage, rights, and responsibilities.”
Yasmin Portillo, CEO of Yasmin Insurance adds that the challenges presented by the language barrier can make Hispanic residents vulnerable to scams. “They often struggle to understand insurance terminology or the details of their own policy coverage,” she says. “Unfortunately, this also makes them frequent targets of insurance fraud. Many come to my office with fraudulent policies. I’m proud to be able to help them get properly insured and ensure they fully understand their coverage.”
As a Salvadoran bilingual insurance agent and business owner, Yasmin has been working in the insurance industry for over 25 years and she is passionate about helping the Latin community. “Helping a Hispanic client solve problems is a daily occurrence in my office and makes me happy to do it,” she says. “I find it deeply rewarding to support other Latina women. I recently helped a Spanish-speaking single mother insure her vehicle through Maryland Auto. The coverage we secured not only met her needs but provided security that may not have been available otherwise – allowing her to provide for her children.” Yasmin advises that having bilingual team members is critical to building trust and effectively connecting with Spanish-speaking clients.
“Building trust is especially important during critical moments, such as filing a claim or making changes to a policy,” she says. “The Hispanic community is incredibly loyal. Once they find an agent that they trust, they tend to stay with them for many years and often refer friends and family. They are a special clientele, and earning their trust is both meaningful and rewarding.”
Mrs. Paladines echoes that approach. “As a fluent Spanish speaker, with Ecuadorian heritage, I can connect with Spanish-speaking clients on a linguistic and cultural level. This not only helps break down communication barriers but also builds trust and comfort – especially for clients who may feel hesitant or overwhelmed navigating the insurance process in English.”
Carolina also emphasizes the importance of Maryland Auto as a resource in, supporting the long-term wellbeing and economic advancement of Hispanic/Latino families. Maryland Auto’s commitment to accessibility ensures that all drivers—regardless of insurance history, credit score, or immigration status—have a clear pathway to legally drive in the state of Maryland.” She continued, “As a Hispanic agent, Maryland Auto enables us to provide exceptional, multilingual support—most notably through Spanish-language resources. This cultural and linguistic accessibility helps foster trust and empowers Hispanic/Latino individuals to engage more confidently in the insurance process.”
Get a quote, find an authorized provider, or learn more about insurance at https://www.mymarylandauto.com/.
