How to Replace a Lost Driver’s License in Maryland

To replace a lost driver’s license in Maryland, order a duplicate through your myMVA account online (or at any MVA self-service kiosk) for $30, or book an appointment at an MVA branch if you hold a commercial license, can’t access myMVA, or need to submit identity documents the MVA doesn’t already have on file.1Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Replacement of a License, Permit or Identification Card The replacement card arrives by mail in about 10 business days. Maryland law requires you to apply as soon as you realize the license is gone.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Transportation Code 16-114 – Duplicate License

Order Online Through myMVA

This is the fastest route and works for most drivers. Log in at the MVA website with your driver’s license number plus either your MVA PIN or the last four digits of your Social Security number, choose the duplicate license option, and pay the fee by card.1Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Replacement of a License, Permit or Identification Card The card is mailed to the Maryland residential address the MVA has on file, or to a separate mailing address if you’ve previously set one up.

Self-service kiosks at MVA branches work the same way and let you skip the service line. Both options are limited to noncommercial driver’s licenses and Maryland ID cards. Commercial license holders have to go inside.1Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Replacement of a License, Permit or Identification Card

Book an In-Person Appointment

Go to a branch if you don’t have your license number, can’t log in to myMVA, or if the MVA doesn’t already have the federally required identity documents on file for you.3Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration This last situation comes up for people whose original license was issued before current REAL ID documentation standards took effect.4Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. REAL ID

If your documents are already in the MVA’s system from a previous transaction, you don’t need to bring them again for a simple duplicate. If they aren’t, bring originals or certified copies from each of the categories below.

Proof of Identity (one document)

  • Original or certified U.S. birth certificate
  • Valid, unexpired U.S. passport
  • Permanent resident card
  • Certificate of naturalization or citizenship

Proof of Social Security Number (one document)

  • Original Social Security card
  • W-2 form showing your full Social Security number
  • SSA-1099 or pay stub displaying your full Social Security number

Proof of Maryland Residency (two documents)

  • Utility, phone, cable, or satellite TV bill
  • Bank or financial account statement
5Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. How to Apply – Documents Required

These are common examples, not the full list. The MVA’s document guide covers other acceptable options in each category.

Fee and Payment

A duplicate driver’s license costs $30. Branch offices accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, mobile wallet payments, cash, and checks made payable to the Motor Vehicle Administration.6Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. MVA Fee Listing A check must show your printed name and address and include your license number and phone number. Online and kiosk transactions take card payments only.

How Long the Replacement Takes

Whether you order online, use a kiosk, or apply in person, the new card is mailed within about 10 business days.1Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Replacement of a License, Permit or Identification Card Maryland does not issue a temporary paper license for online or kiosk duplicate orders, so if you rely on your license as your primary photo ID, plan for that gap.

Minors, Non-Citizens, and CDL Holders

If you’re under 18, a parent or guardian has to come with you to the MVA to cosign the application and show proof of the relationship.5Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. How to Apply – Documents Required Applicants under 16 also need a completed DL-300 form verifying identity and school attendance, presented in a sealed envelope from your school or home-school coordinator.

Non-citizens should bring valid immigration documents, such as a foreign passport with visa or an Employment Authorization Card. The MVA verifies status through the federal SAVE program before issuing the duplicate.7U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Verification Process

Commercial driver’s license holders can’t use the online or kiosk options and must replace the card in person. The MVA runs checks through the Commercial Driver’s License Information System and the National Driver Register, and a hazardous materials endorsement triggers extra TSA verification.8Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. States

What to Do While You Wait for the Card

Protect Your Identity

Your license carries your full name, date of birth, address, and license number, which is enough for someone to attempt identity fraud. A few quick steps close most of that risk.

Place a credit freeze with all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). Freezes block new accounts from being opened in your name, cost nothing, and don’t affect your credit score.9Federal Trade Commission. Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts You can also place a free one-year fraud alert by contacting any one of the three bureaus; it will notify the other two, and businesses will be required to verify your identity before extending credit in your name.10Federal Trade Commission. What To Do if Your Information Was Lost or Stolen, or Part of a Data Breach Pull your reports from AnnualCreditReport.com and watch for unfamiliar accounts or inquiries over the next several months.

If you think the license was stolen rather than misplaced, consider filing a police report. The MVA doesn’t require one, but it creates a paper trail if the information is later used against you.1Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Replacement of a License, Permit or Identification Card

If You Need to Fly Before the Card Arrives

Since May 7, 2025, TSA has required REAL ID-compliant identification for domestic flights, and a Maryland temporary or interim license does not qualify.11Transportation Security Administration. Acceptable Identification at the TSA Checkpoint A U.S. passport, passport card, permanent resident card, Department of Defense ID, or trusted traveler card like Global Entry or NEXUS all work as substitutes at the checkpoint. Keeping a passport card in your wallet is a cheap hedge for exactly this situation.

Driving Without the Physical Card

Losing the card doesn’t suspend your driving privileges. You’re still licensed; you just can’t produce the plastic. Maryland’s penalties for driving without a valid license apply to people who are actually unlicensed, not to someone who left the card at home, but a traffic stop still gets more complicated when the officer has to look you up in the system.12Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Transportation Code 16-101 – Drivers Must Be Licensed Ordering the replacement promptly clears that up.

If the Original Turns Up

Maryland law requires you to turn the original license over to the MVA once a duplicate has been issued.2Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Transportation Code 16-114 – Duplicate License Don’t hold onto the old card as a spare. It isn’t valid anymore, and carrying two versions can cause confusion at a traffic stop or a TSA checkpoint.