MD PSC Passenger-for-Hire Driver’s License in Maryland: Eligibility and Renewal

To drive passengers for hire in Maryland, you need a passenger-for-hire driver’s license from the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC). The same statute also covers taxicab and transportation network operator credentials, and you choose the category that fits the work you plan to do.¹

Who Needs the License

Maryland law prohibits operating a motor vehicle for hire without a license issued by the PSC. Depending on the service, that means either a for-hire driver’s license or a transportation network operator’s license.¹

Two carve-outs matter before you apply. A county or city may license its own taxicab drivers, and if the local government runs its own criminal and driving record checks, those drivers do not need a separate PSC license. Separate rules can also apply to transportation network services within the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit District.¹

Eligibility Requirements

The PSC is required to run a driving record check on every applicant. That review tells the state whether your history behind the wheel is consistent with carrying passengers for hire.²

You also have to give the commission a way to verify your identity and appearance. If you hold a Maryland driver’s license, you can authorize the PSC to pull your photograph from the Motor Vehicle Administration. Otherwise, submit a recent photograph in the format the commission specifies.²

How to Apply

File the application on the form the PSC provides, and state on it whether you are applying for a passenger-for-hire driver’s license or a taxicab driver’s license. The commission processes each category separately.²

An application fee is due with the form. The PSC sets the amount, so confirm the current figure with the commission before you submit.²

Every applicant must complete a Maryland criminal history records check. That means:

Applying to the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Central Repository.
Submitting a complete set of legible fingerprints.
Paying the required fees for the Maryland records check.

The PSC may also require a national FBI records check. If it does, you submit another set of fingerprints and pay the federal fee. The commission can use private agencies for background checks when it decides that is necessary.²

What Can Get an Application Denied

The PSC can deny an application or revoke an existing license if the applicant has been convicted of a crime that has a direct relationship to their fitness to serve the public. Findings from the background or driving record check can support a suspension or revocation, and the commission keeps monitoring current license holders against the same fitness standard.²

Renewing the License

A for-hire license is not permanent. The PSC sets the term, which can run from one to three years. Track your expiration date and start the renewal in time to stay legal on the road.³

To renew, submit a new application on the PSC’s form. The commission can then renew the license by adding an endorsement to the existing document.³

Penalties for Driving Without Proper Authorization

Violating state safety laws or PSC rules can bring civil penalties. For common carriers, which covers many regulated transportation services, the commission can impose up to $500 for each violation, and it can apply that ceiling to a series of related violations found in a single safety inspection.⁴

When the PSC sets a penalty amount, it weighs the size of the operation, the gravity of the violation, prior violations, and whether the person made a good faith effort to correct the problem after being notified.⁴

1
Justia. Maryland Code § 10-103
2
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Code § 10-104
3
Justia. Maryland Code § 10-106
4
Justia. Maryland Code § 13-202