Organ Donation
The organ donor program in Maryland is managed by the Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland, which works in conjunction with the Washington Regional Transplant Consortium if you live in Charles, Prince Georges or Montgomery County. Anyone 16 years or older may elect to have the organ donor designation; if you are under 18 years of age, however, your parent or legal guardian must consent in writing. Click here for more information about the MVA’s Organ Donor Program.
You will be asked about becoming an organ donor whenever you complete a Driver Services transaction such as license renewal. However, you can also request the MVA’s assistance in becoming a donor designee or donating money to the Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Fund at any time. Note that it is possible for you to get the organ donor designation without involving the MVA; see the Legacy Foundation’s website for more information. Also, you can decide to remove the organ donor designation at any time.
How can I volunteer to become an organ donor through the MVA?
The MVA offers several methods by which you can submit your organ donation designation request. The chart below shows the available options and the MVA’s procedures:
Request Method | Procedure |
1. When you apply in person for any Driver Services product (e.g., license renewal) | As part of your MVA transaction, the Customer Agent will ask you to read and answer the organ donation questions displayed on the computer screen. You can respond that you want to:
Your request then will be submitted to the Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland. Note: 1. If you volunteer to be an organ donor, the product issued to you will include a heart symbol on the front of the card. |
2. When you return the Maryland Mail-In Driver’s License Renewal Application (form #DL-179A or #DL-179B) | When the MVA receives your completed renewal application, the MVA will update its database to reflect your donor status. Your request then will be submitted to the Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland and to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for the Donor Registry. Notes: 1. Only certain customers can renew their driver’s license by mail. For more information about this process, see Renewing a Noncommercial Driver’s License. 2. If you volunteer to be an organ donor, the renewed license will include a heart symbol on the front of the card. |
3. When you return the card from the organ donor request form (#DL-087) | When the MVA receives your organ donor form (#DL-087), the MVA will update its database to reflect your donor status designation. Note: 1. The MVA has a brochure entitled The Organ Donor Program, Give the Gift of Life (form #DL-087), which includes a tear-off organ donor request form. |
Fees:
- There is no fee associated with adding or removing an organ donor designation.
- There is no fee for obtaining a corrected Driver Services product if your only change involves your organ donation designation.
Contact Information:
MVA
Organ Donor Program
6601 Ritchie Highway, NE
Glen Burnie, MD 21062
Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland
410-242-7000 or 1-800-641-HERO
Washington Regional Transplant Consortium
1-866-MD-DONOR (1-866-633-6667)
202-223-8229