Eligibility for Maryland License Plates
Vehicle owners must obtain a title and register with the MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration before operating a car on Maryland roads. New residents have a 60-day period from establishing residency (Md. Code, Transp. §13-402.1).
- Residency: Missing the 60-day window disqualifies a new resident from receiving a tax credit for the title tax paid in another state. A valid Maryland driver’s license or proof of Maryland residence is required at the title appointment.
- Vehicle: Passenger cars, trucks, motorcycles, and trailers with a title can be registered. Used vehicles must pass a Maryland safety inspection before the MVA issues them a title and registers them (Md. Code, Transp. §23-107). Titles marked “rebuilt” and “flood” require separate reconstruction procedures.
- Applicant: The legal name of the owner, Maryland insurance information (company name, policy number), and payment of fees and excise tax must accompany each application. A completed Application for Title (Form VR-005) is the standard form.
- License Plate Categories: The MVA issues standard, Chesapeake Bay, agricultural, organizational, and personalized license plates. Disabled veteran plates (100% rating) have no registration fee. Veterans with a rating from 50% to 99% receive free plates but still pay annual registration fees. Military unit plates require Form VR-120 and proof of service.
How to Get a License Plate in Maryland?
Most owners obtain a title and register in one appointment at a full-service MVA branch. The MVA offers an online pre-application that reduces transaction time at the counter.
- Bring the out-of-state vehicle title (or Manufacturer’s Certificate of Origin for new vehicles), Maryland insurance information, and Form VR-005 if you did not complete the pre-application online.
- Used vehicles require a valid Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate from a licensed Maryland State Police inspection station. The certificate is valid for 90 days. A 30-day temporary registration is available if you need plates to drive to the station.
- Pay registration fees, excise tax, and title fee at the branch. The MVA accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, cash, and checks.
- Plates, a registration card, and stickers are issued at the branch or mailed to you. Passenger vehicles must have plates on both the front and rear.
Registration terms are one, two, or three years. The MVA sends renewal notices before expiration. Emissions testing through the Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) occurs every two years, separate from the safety inspection at titling.
How Much Does a License Plate Cost in Maryland?
The state registration fee is based on weight, and each class, except motorcycles, includes an annual EMS fee of $40 included in the total. Additional fees for electric vehicles and a new title fee are where recent legislative changes have increased costs.
- Passenger Vehicles (Class A) weighing 3,500 pounds or less cost $120.50 per year. Vehicles weighing from 3,501 to 3,700 pounds cost $125.50. Over 3,700 pounds, the fee rises to $191.50 per year.
- Motorcycles (Class D): $55 per year, exempt from the EMS fee.
- Zero-emission vehicles pay an annual additional fee of $125; plug-in hybrids pay $100 per year. Both began with registrations expiring in January 2025.
- Title fee: $200 for most vehicles (effective July 1, 2025, per HB 352). The excise tax at titling is 6.5% of the purchase price for non-leased vehicles.
- Military plates have a tag fee of $25. Organizational and special plates have additional annual premiums that vary by plate type, as published in the MVA fee schedule.
Can I Get a License Plate Online in Maryland?
Online service covers renewals and selected plate orders but not initial titling. The myMVA portal processes registration renewals 24/7, with immediate confirmation and registration cards mailed. Payment is made via Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.
Initial titling and registration transactions require an in-person visit to a full-service MVA branch. Self-service kiosks at many branches can process renewals outside business hours. County treasury offices in Caroline, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, and Worcester also process renewals.
Mail renewals follow instructions on the MVA renewal notice. Per the above compliance rules, military plate applications can also be mailed:
- Send the completed application (Form VR-120), proof of service, and $25 tag fee to MDOT MVA, Organizational License Plate Unit, 6601 Ritchie Highway N.E., Glen Burnie, MD 21062.
- Standard mail registration is sent to the MVA Mail-In Registration Unit at the same Glen Burnie address.
If Maryland can renew your registration online or at a kiosk, it’s the fastest route; branches handle titling and cases the portal does not accept.