Maryland Driving Record

Driving a motor vehicle in Maryland is a privilege and not a “right.”Your driver’s license grants you the privilege to operate a motor vehicle on the roadways of Maryland safely and responsibly.

Who Must Have a Maryland Drivers License

If you drive a motor vehicle in Maryland, you must have a valid driver’s license. A new resident, if currently licensed in another jurisdiction, must obtain a Maryland driver’s license within 60 days of becoming a resident. A Resident Is Any Person:

• Who lives in the state;
• Who owns, leases, or rents a primary place of residence in this state; AND
• Who, regardless of the person’s domicile, resides in the state for more than a year;
• Who maintains a main or branch office or warehouse facility in this state and who bases and operates motor vehicles in this state; or
• Who has filed as a Maryland resident for income tax purposes.

Who Exempt from Owning a Maryland Drivers License

The Following Persons Do Not Need a Maryland Driver’s License:

• An officer or employee of the United States, while driving on official business, a motor vehicle other than a commercial motor vehicle owned and operated by the United States.
• Any members of the United States Congress not selected from this state, but who makes this state his/her residence during his/her term of office.
• An individual, temporarily driving any road machines, farm tractors, or farm equipment on a highway in this state.
• Active duty military personnel and their dependents, as long as their out-of-state license meets the qualifications of the same vehicle and age regulations as in Maryland.
• Any nonresident of this state provided that the nonresident is in possession of a valid license to drive issued by the state or country where the nonresident lives. You may drive the same types or classes of vehicles in this state that you may drive in your home state or country, provided you meet Maryland’s age requirements.
• Any full-time student enrolled in an accredited Maryland or adjoining state school, college or university or serving an internship, provided the state in which you are a resident permits the same for residents of this state.

Who cannot be Licensed in Marlyand

• Any person who does not meet the requirements
• Any person during any period for which that person’s license to drive is revoked, suspended, refused or cancelled
• Any person who is a habitual drunkard, habitual user of narcotic drugs, or a habitual user of any other drug to a degree that renders the person incapable of safely driving a motor vehicle
• Any person who previously has been determined to be afflicted with or suffering from any mental disability or disease and who, at the time of application, has not been determined competent
• Any person if the MVA has good cause to believe that the operation of a motor vehicle on the highway by that person would be harmful to public safety or welfare
• Any person who is unable to understand street and highway warning or direction signs written in the English language
• Any person who is 70 years or older, unless that person presents to the MVA proof of having previously operated a motor vehicle satisfactorily or a written certification acceptable to the MVA from a licensed physician attesting to the person’s general physical and mental qualifications
• Any person who is unable to sign his or her name for identification purposes;
• Any person who is unable to exercise reasonable control over a motor vehicle due to disease or a physical disability, including the loss of an arm or leg or both. If the person passes the required examination, the MVA may issue that person a restricted license requiring a workable artificial limb or other similar body attachment; or
• Any person who is required by law to take an examination and has not successfully passed the examination

Maryland Provisional Licenses

The Maryland provisional license is a probationary-type license. It requires conviction-free driving prior to obtaining a full driver’s license. It is issued to drivers after they gain experience driving with a learner’s permit and to previously licensed drivers with less than 18 months of driving experience.

Once a provisional license is issued, the licensee must hold the valid provisional license for an assigned 6, 12, 18 month period without receiving a moving violation conviction (points or no points assessed) before becoming eligible for full license status. The length of the required “conviction-free” period (6, 12, or 18 months) is determined by the length of the licensee’s previous driving experience/licensure, if any.

Maryland Driver License Points

Whenever a conviction occurs on multiple charges, committed at the same time, points are assessed only on the violation that has the highest point assessment. However, all convictions are recorded on your driving record.

Point system action is initiated when a report of the conviction is received from the court and entered on a driver’s record. When three points are accumulated, a warning letter is mailed. The letter warns the recipient that unless he/she resolves to drive more carefully and to obey the traffic laws in the future, the Point System requires the suspension or revocation of the driver’s license.

Upon reaching five points, the licensee is required to attend a conference where the record is discussed in an attempt to improve driving habits. A person referred to a point system conference must attend a program approved by the Motor Vehicle Administration. A list of approved programs throughout the state is made available at the time of referral.

At 8 points, a notice of suspension is mailed and at 12 points, a notice of revocation is mailed. The recipient has 10 days to request a hearing. The request must be in writing and requires a filing fee. The suspension or revocation becomes effective if one fails to request a hearing within 10 days.

Additional Maryland Resources

• Maryland Driver's Handbook [PDF]
• Drinking & Driving Violations
• Driving Without a License / With a Suspended License
• Driving Without Insurance / With Insufficient Insurance
• Driving Without Registration / With Expired Registration
• Driving Without Registration / With Expired Registration
• Illegal U-Turn
• Leaving the Scene of an Accident / Hit & Run
• Mechanical Violations
• Reckless Driving
• Running a Red Light / Stop Sign
• Seat Belt / Child Restraint Violations
• Seat Belt / Child Restraint Violations
• Speeding
• Unlawful Vehicle Modifications