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Maryland · License Renewal

Maryland License Renewal

A complete guide to license renewal in Maryland, based on the official MD MVA driver handbook.

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Capital: Annapolis Min permit age: 15 years 9 months Permit fee: $50 Hold period: 9 months

When to renew in Maryland

A Maryland driver license is typically issued for a four-, five-, or eight-year term. The MD MVA mails or emails a renewal notice 60 days before expiration; if you have moved, update your address before the notice goes out so you do not miss it. Driving with an expired license — even a day expired — is a citable offense and may invalidate your insurance coverage in a crash.

What you need to renew

Bring your current Maryland driver license, payment for the renewal fee (currently $50 for an original; renewal fees are similar), and any documents the MD MVA requested in your renewal notice. If you are upgrading to a REAL ID-compliant license you will also need a passport or birth certificate, a Social Security card, and two proofs of Maryland residency.

For a deeper read on this topic across all 50 states, see our right-of-way, speed limits, and alcohol and drugs articles.

Vision and medical screening

Maryland renewals usually include a vision screening — a 20/40 acuity standard is required either uncorrected or with corrective lenses. If you cannot pass at the counter, the MD MVA will ask you to bring a vision specialist's report before issuing the new license. Drivers age 70 and older in many counties must renew in person and complete the vision screen at every renewal.

Online and mail renewal

Many Maryland drivers can renew online or by mail every other cycle, so long as their photo on file is recent enough and they have no medical or vision flags. The online portal at the MD MVA site walks you through eligibility in under a minute. If you do not qualify online, the office appointment system fills two to four weeks out — book early.

What if your license is already expired

In Maryland a recently expired license can usually be renewed at the counter without a re-test, but a long-expired license (typically more than two years past expiration) requires you to retake the knowledge and road tests. Driving on an expired license can also trigger reinstatement fees similar to those after a suspension — currently $30 in Maryland.

Quick facts about Maryland

  • Capital: Annapolis
  • Minimum permit age: 15 years 9 months
  • Current permit fee: $50
  • Supervised hold period: 9 months
  • Adult BAC limit: 0.08% · Under-21 BAC: 0.02%
  • Default speed limits: 70 mph rural Interstate, 55 mph urban Interstate, 25 mph residential, 25 mph school zone
  • Handheld phone use: banned
  • Vision standard: 20/40 acuity in at least one eye, corrected or uncorrected
  • Reinstatement fee after suspension: $30
  • Official source: MD MVA

Other Maryland guides on PermitPrep

Each link below opens a dedicated Maryland page. Every guide is built from the same official MD MVA handbook so the rules stay consistent across topics.

Ready to test what you have learned? Take the free Maryland permit practice test — 20 randomized questions, instant grading, full explanations.