Maryland Driver's License

To Renew Your Maryland License, Please Bring:

Your expiring Driver's License and the fee.

You must pass a vision screening or submit a Vision Screening form.
You will be required to provide proof of a social security number (SSN) that can be verified by the Social Security Administration, or proof of ineligibility for an SSN. If you held a valid Maryland driver's license, permit or identification card prior to April 19, 2009, you may be eligible for a subsequent license, permit, or identification card without proof of lawful presence or SSN, but it will not be acceptable for official federal purposes.
License may be renewed without additional tests up to one year after expiration.
Driving with an expired license is against the law.

Additional detailed information on renewing your Maryland driver's license is available.

Notes:

Like Maryland, some states grant an extension of the driver's license validity period to active duty military personnel and/or their dependants. However, Maryland law does NOT make any provisions for the MVA to accept and transfer an Out-of-State driver's license that has been expired for one (1) year or more, unless the applicant retests and passes the Vision, Knowledge and Skills tests.
Maryland no longer acknowledges an out of state license holder's military extension for licensing purposes. If the applicant's actual out of state license has expired (for one (1) year or more) and the applicant states that their license was renewed or physically extended by their licensing state, then the applicant must provide the MVA with a certified copy of their out of state driving record that was issued less than 30 days before, indicating a current valid license expiration date. If the customer is unable to produce this document then they will be required to retest if they wish to transfer their out of state license.

Exchanging an Out-of-State License for a Maryland License, Please Bring:

Proof of age/identity, lawful presence, verifiable social security number or proof of ineligibility, Maryland residence, Out-of-State license(s), and the appropriate fee for each license class for which you apply. Please refer to Sources of Proof for required documentation.

New Maryland residents must obtain a Maryland Driver’s License within 60 days.
You must pass a vision screening.
An Out-of-State license may be valid or expired. If expired for one year or more, you are required to pass a knowledge and driver's skills test. If you do not have your out-of-state license in your possession, you will need to present a certified driving record from the licensing agency. The license cannot be suspended, cancelled or revoked.
If licensed for less than 18 months, you will be issued a Maryland Provisional License.
A valid U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) physical card or Federal/MVA waiver (if applying for a Commercial Driver's License).
A hazardous material (HAZMAT) test is required to keep your HAZMAT endorsement (if applying for a Commercial Driver's License).
Out-of-State learner's permits cannot be exchanged for a Maryland Learner's Permit or license.

Exchanging an Out-of-Country License for a Maryland License, Please Bring:

Proof of age/identity, lawful presence, verifiable social security number or proof of ineligibility, Maryland residence, Out-of-Country license(s), and the appropriate fee for each license for which you apply. Please refer to Sources of Proof for required documentation.

You must pass a vision screening, knowledge test, and driving test.
An Out-of-Country license may be valid or expired. The license cannot be suspended.
If licensed for less than 18 months, you will be issued a Maryland Provisional License.
If you have never been licensed in the U.S., you must complete a 3-Hour Drug & Alcohol Education Program.
A valid U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) physical card or federal/MVA waiver (if applying for a Commercial Driver’s License) is needed.
An Out-of-Country license may be required to be accompanied by an international driver's license or translated into English by an approved MVA translator.
If you are from Out-of-Country, and have never held a license, you must obtain a learner’s permit.

Note: Knowledge and skill tests are NOT required if you are converting a valid license, or a license that expired less than 12 months ago, issued by one of the following countries or U.S. Territories:

Countries: Canada, Yukon Territory, or France.
U.S. Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands. Also, the Panama Canal Zone, if the applicant was born prior to September 30, 1979.
Countries: Republic of Korea (south), and the Federal Republic of Germany must be valid, NOT EXPIRED or "ALL" tests (Vision, Knowledge & Skills) are required.

Notes:

France: License must be Valid or Expired less than one (1) year or "ALL" tests are required. Can transfer Class ""B" license (equivalent to Maryland noncommercial class "C" license) from France, to a Maryland noncommercial Class "C" only. This agreement does not apply to learner's permits, motorcycle licenses or commercial driver's licenses. Effective: December 16, 2010. Note: The driver's license from France must be surrendered to the MVA before the Maryland license is issued. The MVA will return this license to the proper authorities in France to advise them that the customer now holds a Maryland driver's license.
Republic of Korea (South): License must be VALID, NOT EXPIRED or "ALL" tests are required. Can transfer Republic of Korea noncommercial license equivalent to a Maryland noncommercial Class A. B, or C license. The driver's license from the Republic of Korea (South) must be surrendered to the MVA before the Maryland license is issued. The MVA will return this license to the proper authorities in Korea to advise them that the customer now holds a Maryland driver's license. This agreement does not apply to learner's permits or commercial driver's licenses. Effective: December 16, 2010.
Federal Republic of Germany: License must be VALID, NOT EXPIRED or "ALL" tests are required. Can transfer Federal Republic of Germany noncommercial class "B" (equivalent to Maryland noncommercial class "C" license). The customer must be 18 years of age or older, and be eligible for a Maryland Provisional or Full noncommercial class "C" license only. This agreement does not apply to learner's permits, motorcycle licenses or commercial driver's licenses. Effective: May 10, 2011. Note: The driver's license from the Federal Republic of Germany must be surrendered to the MVA before the Maryland license is issued. The MVA will return this license to the proper authorities in the Federal Republic of Germany to advise them that the customer now holds a Maryland driver's license.

Exchanging an Armed Forces License for a Maryland License:

Note:

Maryland does not transfer U.S. Armed Forces Military driver's licenses. You MUST have a valid or expired license from Maryland, another state or another country.
Military License Holders: If you can ONLY present proof of holding a U.S. Armed Forces Military driver's license and have never had a license from another state or another country (or can not provide acceptable proof of this previous licensure), then you MUST be processed as a "NEW" driver and are required to obtain a Type I Graduated Licensing System (GLS) learner's permit and must meet all of the eligibility requirements to obtain your first GLS license.

Correcting/Changing Your Maryland License, Please Bring:

If you are using a name other than your birth name, you must bring the document that initiated the change of name, such as a marriage certificate, divorce decree or court name change order and your current License. There is a fee for a Corrected License or Permit. A corrected License will be issued for name/address changes to the holder of a Commercial Driver’s License or if an applicant is under 21 years of age. Other applicants changing their name/address on their License will be issued a corrected renewal license providing their social security number is verified with the Social Security Administration. There is a fee for a corrected renewal license. Please refer to Sources of Proof for required documentation.

You must pass a vision screening or submit a Vision Screening form.
A valid U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) physical card or an exemption/waiver (if required) if applying for a Commercial Driver's License.
You must change your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA) BEFORE you come to the MVA to apply for a corrected license, permit, or identification card. This update may take the SSA 48 hours or longer to complete before the MVA will be able to electronically verify the changed/corrected information.

Note: Marriage licenses are acceptable if it is a certified official marriage certificate signed by a clerk of the court and contains an embossed seal. Marriage certificates signed by the Pastor/Minister/Clergy received after the ceremony was performed will not be accepted. A certified official marriage certificate can be applied for and obtained from the court.

Maryland Duplicate License or Permit, Please Bring:

Proof of age/identity, lawful presence, verifiable social security number or proof of ineligibility, residence, and the appropriate fee. Please refer to Sources of Proof for required documentation.
If address has not changed, proof of residence is not required.
A valid U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) physical card or federal/MVA waiver (if applying for a Commercial Driver's License).
If your driver's license or permit has been stolen, please follow the instructions under What do I do if my license is stolen in MVA's FAQs.

Maryland Commercial Driver's License Renewal, Please Bring:

Your expiring License, valid U. S. Department of Transportation (DOT) physical card and an exemption/waiver (if required) and the renewal fee.
You must pass a vision screening or submit a Vision Screening form.
A hazardous material (HAZMAT) knowledge test is required to keep your HAZMAT endorsement.and you will be required to complete a new background record check and pay the required fee.
You will be required to disclose your social security number.
A Commercial Driver’s License fee is also required.

Effective October 1, 2003, if you are a Maryland non-commercial driver operating a commercial motor vehicle in intrastate commerce (within the State of Maryland) and the vehicle weighs between 10,001 and 26,000 pounds, you are now required to hold a valid Federal Motor Carrier (DOT) physical card in your possession. If you are licensed prior to October 1, 2003, have a preexisting medical condition, and the onset was prior to 10/01/03, you will be exempt from this requirement for a 20-year period, provided your preexisting condition does not worsen. You are still required to maintain a DOT physical.

This new Maryland law, requires any non-commercial driver, operating a commercial motor vehicle that meets the conditions listed above, to obtain and to maintain a valid Federal Motor Carrier (DOT) physical card in order to remain qualified to operate a vehicle intrastate in Maryland.

If you do not hold a valid Federal Motor Carrier (DOT) physical card in your possession by October 1, 2003, you will no longer be qualified to operate the vehicle in the state of Maryland.

Maryland Provisional to Regular License, Please Bring:

Please Note: Once the driver has met and completed all of the Graduated Licensing System requirements, the provisional license is automatically converted to a full license. An attachment card showing the conversion to a full license is mailed to the driver. The card is carried with the provisional license to show the change in licensing status. The card is no longer needed when the provisional license expires. The driver comes in for a license renewal, pays the required fee and then is issued a full license.

You must be conviction free for the assigned 6, 12, or 18 month time period.
The provisional license must be held for 18 months with the driver free of moving violation convictions or probation before judgment. If convicted, or received probation before judgment for a moving violation, the driver must restart an 18-month waiting period with no additional moving violations. Only then can a driver become eligible to convert to a full driver’s license.
You must be at least 18 years of age to obtain a full license.
If the conversion attachment card is lost or never received, you must obtain a corrected license and pay the driver's license correction fee.

Sources of Proof