Maryland Driver's License

To Renew Your Maryland License, Please Bring:

Your expiring Driver's License and the fee.

You must pass a vision test 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.

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 test.
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 a letter of clearance from the licensing state. The license cannot be suspended.
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 for each license for which you apply. fee for each license for which you apply. Please refer to Sources of Proof for required documentation.

You must pass a vision test, 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.

Exchanging an Armed Forces License for a Maryland License, Please Bring:

Proof of age/identity, lawful presence, verifiable social security number or proof of ineligibility, Maryland residence, armed forces license(s), and the appropriate for each license class applied for. fee for each license class applied for. Please refer to Sources of Proof for required documentation.

You must pass a vision test, knowledge test, and driving test.
An armed forces license may be a 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’ve 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.

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 test or submit a Vision Screening form.
A valid U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) physical card or federal/MVA waiver (if applying for a Commercial Driver's License).

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 physical card or federal/MVA waiver and the renewal fee.
You must pass a vision test or submit a Vision Screening form.
A hazardous material (HAZMAT) test is required to keep your HAZMAT endorsement.
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. If convicted, 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 17 years, 9 months of age.

Sources of Proof