The cost to renew your driver’s license in Maryland is $6.00 per year for a non-commercial Class A through M license, and renewal terms run from five to eight years. That puts the total between $30.00 and $48.00, depending on the term the MVA assigns you.1Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Transportation Code 16-111.2 – Fees Your renewal notice states which term applies to you and the exact amount due.
Renewal Fees by Term Length
The Motor Vehicle Administration charges a flat $6.00 per year for non-commercial renewals, with no separate processing or convenience fee for renewing online. The amount printed on your renewal notice is what you pay whether you use the website, mail, or a branch.
- 5-year renewal: $30.00
- 6-year renewal: $36.00
- 7-year renewal: $42.00
- 8-year renewal: $48.00
Commercial Driver’s License Renewals
A CDL costs more. Under the MVA fee schedule effective September 1, 2025, an 8-year CDL renewal is $64.00. A 5-year CDL with a HazMat endorsement is $30.00.2Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) – Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). MVA Fee Listing Adding or maintaining endorsements can involve separate testing and documentation beyond the fee.
When You Pay More Than the Standard Fee
Your License Has Been Expired for a Year or More
Maryland does not add a late fee for renewing shortly after expiration. But once your license has been expired for a year or longer, the MVA treats you as a new applicant. For drivers age 21 and older, a new non-commercial license costs $88.00.2Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) – Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). MVA Fee Listing That is nearly double the price of an 8-year renewal, and you may need to submit full REAL ID documentation and potentially retake tests.
You Need a Replacement Before Your Renewal Date
A duplicate non-commercial license, for one that is lost, stolen, or damaged, costs $30.00.2Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) – Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). MVA Fee Listing If your renewal date is close, renewing early is usually cheaper than paying for a duplicate now and a renewal later.
Who Renews for Free
Medal of Honor recipients pay nothing to renew a non-commercial driver’s license in Maryland. The exemption is set by statute.1Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Transportation Code 16-111.2 – Fees
Veterans can add a “Veteran” designation to a license at no charge, as long as no other changes are being made at the same time. If you combine the designation with a renewal or correction, the standard fee for that transaction still applies.3Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Information for Our Veteran Service Members
Upgrading to REAL ID
Switching to a REAL ID-compliant license at renewal does not add anything to the fee. You pay the same $30.00 to $48.00, but you have to bring the required proof of identity, Social Security number, and Maryland residency to a branch if those documents are not already on file with the MVA.4Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. REAL ID The MVA’s online lookup tool shows whether your documents are already on record.
How You Pay
The MVA mails a renewal notice about 60 days before your license expires. The notice tells you which methods you qualify for: online, mail, or in person.5Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Renew Your License Info Not everyone gets all three options, and drivers under 40 who qualify for online or mail renewal are generally expected to use those instead of a branch visit.
Online, you log in, confirm your information, and pay. By mail, you send in the application from your renewal notice with payment and, if required, a vision certification from your eye care provider. In person, you bring your documents, have your vision screened at the branch, and pay at the counter. Your new card arrives by mail within 4 to 7 business days.5Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Renew Your License Info
The cheapest renewal is the one you do on time. Setting a reminder a few weeks before your expiration date keeps you inside the $30.00 to $48.00 range and away from the $88.00 new-applicant fee that kicks in after a year lapsed.