Driver Licensing Information
Renewing Your Maryland Driver's License
Marylanders renew their driver's licenses every five years and you must have a valid Maryland driver's license at all times if you are a resident of Maryland and are driving a vehicle.
Tax and Unemployment Insurance Liabilities Due: Effective June 1, 2011, Maryland law prohibits the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) from renewing the driver's license, renewing a vehicle registration, or transferring a vehicle registration of an applicant who has not paid all undisputed taxes due to the Comptroller and unemployment insurance contributions due to the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR), or have not entered into an acceptable payment arrangement. Visit the Comptroller and the DLLR websites for further details.
http://www.marylandtaxes.com/owe_taxes.asp
http://www.dllr.state.md.us
A renewal will be mailed to your last address of record with the MVA, 60 days prior to the expiration of your driver’s license and it will not be forwarded to a new address if you have moved from this address. Remember, Maryland law requires you to report address changes to the MVA within 30 days. Note: CDL holders must obtain a corrected license, unless they are eligible to renew and renew their license within this 30 day time period.
You can renew one of two ways:
Additional information:
To Renew by Mail
You may skip the visit to the MVA and renew your driver's license by mail if you received a new "renew by mail" package. Your license will be sent to you in the mail, and you will not have to go to an MVA office again until the new license expires in 5 years. Just complete the "mail in renewal" application and send it in if you have more than 15 days before your current license expires.
Please note: Your new license will be mailed to your address printed on your Maryland Mail-In Driver's License Renewal Application. You cannot renew your license by mail if your address does not match the address printed on your Maryland Mail-In Driver's License Renewal Application. The MVA cannot mail or forward a renewed license to an alternate address.
Examples of this are: You cannot renew by mail if your social security number cannot be verified, your address is incorrect on the renewal notice, if your address has changed, or a request to correct or update your address has been submitted by you to the MVA since you received your Maryland Mail-In Driver's License Renewal Application.
If you do not send in your renewal at least 15 days prior to expiration, your current license could expire before you receive the new license. It would be best to go into an MVA office and renew in person if your birthday is two weeks or less away. When you receive our new license you must destroy your old license. Maryland law allows only one driver's license per driver. You should receive your new license in two weeks or less. Please call the MVA at 1-800-950-1682 if you do not receive your new license after 15 days.
- Read the information carefully to make certain you qualify to renew by mail. If you find any errors in your information, you must visit an MVA office to renew in person.
- Complete your renewal application.
- If you are over 40, you must have your doctor complete and sign the "vision certification" portion of your renewal form. Please note, the vision certification portion of the renewal form is the only form that can be "read" by the MVA technology that renews your license by mail. If you use a separate form, you must renew in person.
- Mail in your renewal with the proper fee.
Just visit one of the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) locations with your expiring license and appropriate fee. You are responsible for renewing your driver's license before it expires. You have up to one year after it expires to renew without having to take additional tests. However, it is against the law to drive with an expired license.
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. The name(s) on the actual Social Security Card or other acceptable document used to provide proof of a valid, verifiable SSN or proof of ineligibility MUST match the source document(s) used to provide proof of the applicants' Age and Identity and licensure if required.
If you have a different name on your social security card than your source documents, you must change your name with the Social Security Administration (SSA) prior to coming to the MVA. The new name(s) must match the name(s) that the SSA has on record. Please note that it may take the SSA 48 hours or longer to update their computer systems with any name changes and the license, permit or identification card may not be processed/issued unless your names match with those of file with the SSA.
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 social security number, but it will not be acceptable for official federal purposes.
- Please check your renewal notice for any errors.
- Present your renewal notice, expiring license, and fee in person to any one of the MVA locations.
- Take the vision test.
Unless you are renewing by mail and are under 40 years of age, you must either have your eye doctor fill out the vision form on your renew-by-mail application or come into an MVA office to renew your license. The vision form in the mail-in license renewal is the only form the MVA technology can "read" to renew your license by mail. If you have a separate form from your doctor or wish to take the vision test administered by MVA personnel, you will need to come into the MVA to renew your driver's license. More information on the vision requirements is available.
For the safety of all drivers, the MVA must consider your medical status as part of your license request. Medical conditions, which could affect your driving, must be reported to the MVA. Please submit with your application, a certificate from your doctor indicating the onset of the disability, diagnosis, and medications, if any. All medical data is kept confidential and will only be used by the MVA to determine your qualifications to drive.
For information on requirements for military personnel (how to apply, renewal, etc.) please refer to the Military Driver Licensing page.
Please note that there is a fee for the commercial driver's license, and there is an additional fee for the Commercial Driver Licensing Information System surcharge.
Note: If you will be out of the state during the entire renewal period you can call (301) 729-4550 or write to MVA, Driver Licensing, Room 145, 6601 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21062. You will receive an application for a "valid without photo" license. This license must be exchanged for a photo license within 15 days after you return to Maryland. (Commercial driver's licenses may not be renewed by mail.)
Note: An applicant who is under age 21 cannot renew his or her driver's license until his or her 21st birthday.
The Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
For information on CDL requirements (how to apply for a CDL, renewal of a CDL, etc.) please refer to the CDL Information page.
Apply to Register to Vote
You may apply to register to vote when you visit an MVA to renew your driver's license. Ask an MVA customer service representative for details.