By enactment of Chapter 578, Acts of 2008, the Maryland General Assembly granted the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) limited authority to act as statutory agent for non-resident drivers with regard to a  summons, subpoena or other process in certain motor vehicle accident or collision cases.

In order for the MVA to accept service of process, all three of the following criteria must be met:

• The case must involve a motor vehicle accident or collision that occurred in Maryland;
• The individual on whose behalf MVA is being asked to accept service of process must be a non-resident driver;
• The motor vehicle accident or collision must have occurred on or after October 1, 2008.

Please note that the MVA is not authorized to accept service of process on behalf of a non-resident driver if the accident or collision occurs before October 1, 2008.

Serving the MVA

If a case meets all three criteria, service of process may only be made upon the MVA by personal delivery of the process to:

MVA Investigations Unit
Room 53
Motor Vehicle Administration
6601 Ritchie Highway, N.E.
Glen Burnie, MD 21062

The process papers must be accompanied by completed MVA form # IS-117 (Service of Process Upon MVA as Agent for Non-Resident Driver).  Please note that the "Certification of Last Known Address" section of this form must be signed by the party seeking service or that party's attorney.  A filing fee of $61 is also required at the time of service.

Only members of the MVA Investigations Unit are authorized to accept service of process when the MVA is being served as a statutory agent for a non-resident driver.

Please feel free to email us at:  serviceofprocess@marylandmva.com if you have any other questions not addressed here or in the following FAQs.

Additional information

MVA form # IS-117 - Service of Process Upon MVA as Agent for Non-Resident Driver

Frequently Asked Questions