TRANSPORTATION / MOTOR VEHICLE INFORMATION

State law requires that newcomers obtain a Maryland drivers license within 30 days of establishing residency. Apply in person and furnish the examining officer with a valid out-of-state license, an original or a certified copy of your birth certificate, and other supporting identification documents such as a social security card, a U.S. passport, U.S. military identification, or state-issued identification card. Requirements include the successful completion of a written exam and a vision test at one of the Motor Vehicle Administration offices.

State law also requires new residents to title and register their motor vehicle(s) during the first 30 days of residency. A safety inspection will be required for all used cars and most other motorized vehicles being titled and registered in Maryland. Licensed inspection stations include automobile dealers, service stations, and specialized auto service centers. It will be necessary to present a completed application with full insurance information and the original signatures of all owners, the certificate of title, and a copy of any lien contract. For complete details on obtaining a drivers license as well as licensing your vehicle in Maryland — including fees, regulations, and branch service locations — contact the MVA headquarters:

Motor Vehicle Administration
800-950-1MVA
301-729-4550
www.mva.maryland.gov

Safety Regulations
Children under the age of three must be properly secured in federally approved child safety seats. Children from age three to five years old must be properly secured with safety belts or in approved safety seats. This law applies to passenger cars and also to multi-purpose vehicles.

A seat-belt law is enforced throughout the entire Washington/Baltimore Consolidated Metropolitan Statistical Area. Drivers as well as front-seat passengers are required to use safety belts at all ties. Fines can be imposed for non-use of a safety restraint. If a passenger under the age of 16 is not utilizing a safety belt, the driver can be fined. Unbelted passengers over the age of 16 can be cited for violation of the law. Any exceptions to this law require written proof from a licensed physician of a physical or medical condition that prevents the use of safety belts.

Mandatory Insurance
Every vehicle must be covered by an automobile insurance policy, written by an insurance company licensed to d business in Maryland, that provides the minimum Maryland limits for coverage of bodily injury and property damage. This policy must also offer coverage for uninsured motorists and economic loss. Your vehicle’s application for title will include a space for certifying insurance coverage. In the case of motorcycles, the economic loss coverage is not required.

Maryland Vehicle Tax
If your vehicle was registered in a state where the tax rate is less than Maryland’s five percent rate, it will be taxed at the difference between the previous state’s rate that of Maryland’s.

Residential Parking Permit
Residents must obtain a residential parking permit if residing on a block with residential parking restrictions. To apply for this parking permit, you must title ad register your vehicle with the Department of Motor Vehicles in the city in which you reside. Military members, students, temporary residents, and congressional employees with out-of-state license plates may apply for a reciprocity sticker.

MVA Administration & Offices

MVA Headquarters
410-768-7000
www.mva.maryland.gov

Anne Arundel County
160 Harry S. Truman Parkway
Annapolis 410-768-7000

Ann Arundel County
6601 Ritchie Highway NE
Glen Burnie 410-768-7000

Baltimore City
2500 Gwynns Falls Parkway
Baltimore 410-768-7000

Baltimore City Express
One Charles Center Metro Station
Baltimore 410-768-7000

Baltimore County
1338-A Eastern Boulevard
Essex 410-768-7000

Baltimore County Express
800 Kenilworth Drive
Towson/Kenilworth 410-768-7000

Carroll County
116 Baltimore Boulevard
Westminster 410-768-7000

Harford County
501 West MacPhail Road
Bel Air 410-768-7000

Howard County
6490 Dobbin Road
Columbia 410-768-7000

Prince George’s County
11760 Baltimore Avenue
Beltsville 410-768-7000

Prince George’s County
10251 Central Avenue
Upper Marlboro 410-768-7000