Maryland’s ID laws set who can get a state identification card, what it costs, how long it lasts, and what happens when someone lies on an application or carries a fake. The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) issues the cards. A standard photo ID costs $40, seniors 65 and older and residents with a qualifying disability pay nothing, and misuse of an ID can range from a six-month misdemeanor to a 20-year felony depending on what was done and how much money was involved.
Who Can Get a Maryland ID and What to Bring
To qualify for a Maryland identification card, you must be a Maryland resident, you cannot already hold a valid driver’s license or moped permit, and you must present documents proving your age, identity, and residency.1Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Maryland Identification Cards
Proof of identity typically means a birth certificate, valid passport, or similar government-issued document. You need two separate proofs of Maryland residency, such as utility bills, lease agreements, or bank statements showing your current name and address. Your Social Security number must match what the Social Security Administration has on file. If you recently changed your name, update it with the SSA first and allow at least 48 hours for their records to reflect the change before visiting an MDOT MVA office.1Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Maryland Identification Cards
Residents without permanent housing are not shut out. A certification letter from a homeless service provider or shelter, printed on the organization’s letterhead, works as proof of residency.
Minors can apply for an ID card, but a parent or guardian must be present to cosign the application and provide proof of their relationship to the child.2Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Documents Required Cards issued to anyone under 18 are valid for five years. Adult cards are valid for eight.1Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Maryland Identification Cards
What It Costs and Who Pays Nothing
A new or renewed photo ID card costs $40, and the fee may be prorated depending on the remaining validity period.3Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. MVA Fee Listing A duplicate or corrected card runs $30. The MDOT MVA accepts cash, credit cards, and debit cards.
Two groups pay nothing for either a new card or a renewal: residents aged 65 and older, and individuals with a disability that limits a major life activity.3Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. MVA Fee Listing
Types of Maryland IDs
Which card you need depends on what you plan to use it for.
Standard ID Card
The standard photo ID is a non-driver identification card for residents who do not hold a driver’s license. It works for banking, state services, employment verification, and everyday identification. It does not authorize you to drive.
REAL ID-Compliant Cards
A REAL ID-compliant license or ID card carries a small gold star on its face. It meets federal security standards under the REAL ID Act of 2005. Since May 7, 2025, every air traveler 18 and older has needed either a REAL ID-compliant credential or another federally accepted form of identification, such as a passport, to board a domestic commercial flight.4Transportation Security Administration. TSA to Highlight REAL ID Enforcement Deadline of May 7, 2025 The same requirement applies to entering secure federal facilities, including military bases. A standard Maryland card without the star is no longer accepted for those purposes.5Transportation Security Administration. Maryland Residents Will Need a REAL ID to Board an Airplane Starting May 2025
Non-Compliant Cards for Immigrants
Maryland issues federally non-compliant driver’s licenses and ID cards to immigrants who do not have valid U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services documentation. These cards work as state-recognized identification but cannot be used for federal purposes like boarding flights or entering federal buildings. To qualify, applicants must have filed Maryland income taxes for the two years before applying and must obtain a certification letter from the Comptroller’s Office. Appointments must be scheduled online, and applicants with a foreign license also need to complete a three-hour roadway safety driving education program before testing.6Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Non-Compliant Drivers Licenses and ID Cards
Limited-Term IDs
Residents whose lawful immigration status has a defined end date receive a limited-term ID that expires when their authorized stay expires. Limited-term cardholders cannot renew online, by mail, or at a kiosk, and must visit an MDOT MVA branch in person each time with updated immigration documentation.1Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Maryland Identification Cards
Maryland Mobile ID
Maryland offers a digital version of your license or ID card through Google Wallet. Enrollment is voluntary and requires a current, valid physical card plus an Android device running version 8.0 or higher with Google Wallet installed. The Mobile ID is currently accepted only at TSA airport checkpoints. Law enforcement and most businesses do not yet accept it, so keep your physical card with you.7Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Maryland Mobile ID in Google Wallet
Renewing or Replacing Your Card
Adult ID cards are valid for eight years, so renewals are infrequent for most residents. If you are eligible, you can renew online through myMVA Online Services or at an MDOT MVA kiosk. Some renewals require an in-person visit, and the MDOT MVA will notify you when federal document requirements mean you have to bring updated paperwork.1Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Maryland Identification Cards Limited-term ID holders must always renew in person.
If your card is lost or stolen, report it to the MDOT MVA and apply for a duplicate. The replacement fee is $30.3Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. MVA Fee Listing Bring valid photo identification to your appointment. A damaged card follows the same process, but you must return the damaged card when you pick up the replacement.
Optional Designations You Can Add
Gender Marker
Since October 2019, Maryland has allowed applicants to select M (male), F (female), or X (unspecified/other) as the gender designation on any driver’s license, learner’s permit, or ID card. No supporting documentation is required to choose or change the marker. You do not need to change your birth certificate first, and you can update the designation more than once, though each change triggers the corrected-card fee. Minors who want a designation different from what appears on their birth certificate need a parent or guardian signature. Gender changes are processed only in person at an MDOT MVA branch.8Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Changing Gender Designation
Veteran Status
Eligible veterans can add a “Veteran” notation to a Maryland license or ID card. To qualify, present one of the following: a certification of veteran status from the Department of Veterans and Military Families, a DD Form 214, or other documentation the MDOT MVA considers acceptable proof of service.9Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Transportation Code 12-302 – Notation of Veteran Status on Drivers Licenses or Identification Cards
Organ Donor
You can register with the state donor registry and have a donor designation printed on your card. You can add, change, or remove the designation online, in person, or by mail. Registration is voluntary, and the MDOT MVA cannot require you to display the designation on the card even if you are registered.
Penalties for ID Violations
Maryland treats identification offenses seriously, and the penalties scale sharply with the type of conduct and the amount of money involved. Three statutes do most of the work.
Identity Fraud (Criminal Law §8-301)
Maryland’s primary identity fraud statute covers possessing, obtaining, or using another person’s identifying information with fraudulent intent. Penalties are tiered by the value of the benefit obtained:
- $100 to under $1,500: misdemeanor, up to one year in jail, a fine up to $500, or both.
- $1,500 to under $25,000: felony, up to five years in prison, a fine up to $10,000, or both.
- $25,000 to under $100,000: felony, up to 10 years in prison, a fine up to $15,000, or both.
- $100,000 or more: felony, up to 20 years in prison, a fine up to $25,000, or both.
A separate provision targets anyone who intends to manufacture or distribute another person’s identifying information without consent. That conduct is a felony carrying up to 10 years and a fine of up to $25,000, regardless of the dollar value.10Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Criminal Law Code 8-301 – Identity Fraud
Fraudulent Government ID Documents (Criminal Law §8-303)
A separate statute specifically addresses possessing, manufacturing, or distributing fraudulent government identification documents. A violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months of imprisonment.11Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Criminal Law Code 8-303 – Government Identification Documents This is the charge most likely to apply to someone caught with a fake driver’s license or ID card, as opposed to the broader identity fraud provisions of §8-301.
Fraud on an ID Application (Transportation Code §16-301)
Providing false information when applying for a license or ID card is its own offense. Using a false name, making a knowingly false statement, concealing a material fact, or submitting a forged document with an application is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $2,500.12Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Transportation Code GTR 16-301 The MDOT MVA can also revoke any credential obtained through fraud.
Privacy of Your MVA Records
Every driving and motor vehicle record in Maryland has been closed to the public by default since July 2000. No one can access your personal information — name, address, license number, date of birth, or Social Security number — without your written permission, unless they fall into a narrow set of exceptions such as law enforcement, insurance companies, hospitals, or other official business purposes.13Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Protecting Your Privacy
Some information is not considered personal and remains accessible without your consent, including your driving status, any driving offenses from the past three years, accident information, five-digit ZIP code, vehicle identification number, title number, insurance company name and policy number, and odometer readings.13Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration. Protecting Your Privacy If you want your full records open, you can request that in writing, but the default is closed.
One thing to know before your next MVA visit: when you apply for or renew a card, or change your address, name, or gender designation, that updated information is forwarded to your local board of elections for voter registration purposes unless you specifically opt out.14Maryland State Board of Elections. Voter Registration Introduction Say so at the counter if you don’t want your voter record touched.