To drive legally in Maryland you need a Maryland driver’s license issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), and the path to getting one depends on whether you’re a first-time driver, a new resident transferring from another state, or an existing license holder due for renewal.1Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 16-101 – Drivers Must Be Licensed Every applicant chooses between a REAL ID-compliant license, which meets federal identification standards for airport security and federal buildings, and a standard license, which does not.2Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID REAL ID enforcement began May 7, 2025, so most people applying today choose the compliant version and gather the documents once.
Documents You Need to Bring
A REAL ID requires five categories of proof: full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, two proofs of Maryland address, and lawful immigration status.3Transportation Security Administration. REAL ID Frequently Asked Questions A standard license accepts a smaller set but won’t work at a TSA checkpoint.
For name and date of birth, bring an original birth certificate or unexpired U.S. passport. Your Social Security number is verified from your original Social Security card, a current W-2, an SSA-1099, a non-SSA-1099, or a current pay stub showing your full number.4Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 16-103.1 – Persons Not to Be Licensed – Disqualifications If you’re not eligible for a Social Security number, bring documentation from the Social Security Administration confirming that. For residency, you need two separate documents: utility bills, bank statements, or mortgage papers dated within the last 60 days all qualify.
The MVA’s online document guide generates a personalized checklist based on your citizenship status and available records. Run it before your appointment. Missing paperwork is the most common reason people leave without a license.
What a Maryland Driver’s License Costs
Fees were last updated September 1, 2025:5MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. License and ID Fees
- New license, applicant under 21: $11 per year, prorated to your 21st birthday.
- New license, applicant 21 or older: $88 for eight years.
- Learner’s permit under the graduated system: $65.
- Renewal: $64 for eight years.
- Duplicate (lost, stolen, or damaged): $30.
- Corrected license: $30.
Limited-term licenses tied to immigration status are prorated to the length of authorized stay. That prorating doesn’t apply to applicants under 21, whose fee is already prorated to age 21.
First-Time Drivers: The Rookie Driver System
Maryland puts every first-time driver through its “Rookie Driver” graduated licensing system regardless of age.6MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Provisional Driver’s License The three stages are learner’s permit, provisional license, and full license. Age changes how long each stage lasts and how many supervised hours you have to log.
Learner’s Permit Hold Times and Practice Hours
You must hold the permit for a minimum period and complete supervised driving before applying for a provisional license:7MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Rookie Driver – New Driver and Coach Practice Guide
- Under 18 without a high school diploma: 9 months minimum, 60 supervised hours including 10 at night.
- Age 18 with a high school diploma: 3 months minimum, 60 supervised hours including 10 at night.
- Ages 19 to 24: 3 months minimum, 60 supervised hours including 10 at night.
- Age 25 and older: 45 days minimum, 14 supervised hours including 3 at night.
If you’re convicted of a moving violation while on the permit, or receive probation before judgment for one, the clock resets and the hold period extends to nine months. A single speeding ticket can push your license out by months.
Provisional License Restrictions Under 18
Drivers under 18 face restrictions on the provisional license that adults don’t:
- For the first 151 days, no passengers under 18 unless a licensed driver 21 or older with at least three years’ experience is in the front seat. Household family members are exempt.
- No driving between midnight and 5:00 a.m. unless accompanied by a licensed driver 21 or older, or traveling to or from work, a school activity, or an organized athletic event.
- No wireless communication devices while driving, including hands-free.
- Every passenger must wear a seat belt.
A full unrestricted license comes only after you turn 18 and have held the provisional license for at least 18 months without a moving violation conviction or suspension.
The Three Tests
Every first-time driver clears a vision screening, a knowledge test, and a road skills test.
Vision: at least 20/40 in each eye for an unrestricted license. Between 20/40 and 20/70 may qualify for a restricted license. Worse than 20/100 with correction is disqualifying. Bring your glasses or contacts.
Knowledge: a multiple-choice computer exam at any MVA branch covering Maryland traffic laws, road signs, and safe driving.8MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Teens and New Drivers Study the Maryland Driver’s Manual. Sign recognition trips up more people than expected.
Road skills: taken with an MVA examiner after you’ve finished your practice hours and driver’s education. You bring a registered, insured vehicle and demonstrate backing, turning, lane changes, and traffic navigation.
If your current license is from another country or is only an Armed Forces license, add a three-hour Roadway Safety Driving Education Program before the MVA will issue a Maryland license.9MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Roadway Safety Driving Education Program Decades of driving abroad don’t exempt you.
Transferring an Out-of-State License
New residents have 60 days after establishing residency to get a Maryland license.10MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. New Maryland Residents Schedule a “New to Maryland” appointment online. If you also need to title and register a vehicle, bundle both into one visit.
Bring the identity and residency documents required for any new license, plus your current out-of-state license. The MVA runs your record through the National Driver Register to confirm you aren’t suspended or revoked elsewhere.11National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. National Driver Register If you hold a valid U.S. license and everything checks out, you generally won’t retake the knowledge or road skills tests. Transfers from another country face the full testing sequence and the Roadway Safety course.
Renewing Your License
A Maryland license runs eight years. The MVA sends renewal notices by mail and email, and the notice tells you whether you’re eligible to renew online, by mail, or must appear in person.12MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Renew a License or ID Renewal is available up to one year before expiration.
At 40 or older, you need a vision exam no more than two years old. Have your MVA-approved provider submit the results electronically before you try to renew online. In-person renewal is required if your license is limited-term, expired more than a year, or otherwise flagged as ineligible for remote renewal.
Let a license lapse for a year or more and you start over as a new applicant: vision screening, knowledge test, and driving test all over again. Renew early if you can.
Replacing a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged License
Order a duplicate through the MVA’s online portal or at a self-service kiosk.13MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. Licenses and IDs The fee is $30 and the replacement carries the same expiration as the original.5MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration. License and ID Fees Driving without the physical card can complicate a traffic stop even when your license is valid in the system.
Non-U.S. Citizens
The MVA verifies immigration status through the federal SAVE program before issuing a license to any non-citizen.14U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. SAVE Bring your immigration documents with the rest of your paperwork. The license issued is a limited-term credential expiring with your authorized stay. If you extend your status, return with updated documentation and pay a prorated fee for the new period.
Penalties for Driving Without a Valid License
Driving on a canceled, suspended, refused, or revoked license is a misdemeanor:15Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 16-303 – Driving While Privilege Is Canceled, Suspended, Refused, or Revoked
- First offense: up to one year in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
- Second or subsequent offense within three years: up to two years in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
Driving on an expired license is a separate violation.16Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code Transportation 16-115 If you’ve never obtained a license at all, a first offense can bring a fine of up to $500. Either way, the conviction lands on your record and can raise insurance rates for years.