Approximately 60 days before your vehicle’s registration period expires, you should receive a vehicle registration renewal notice by mail.  You may complete and return this notice by mail, or you may request the renewal of your vehicle’s registration through the Internet, at an MVA kiosk, or by telephone.  Of course, you can also visit any of our full service branch offices.

If you are notified about a “flag” on your vehicle record, indicating an unpaid parking ticket or some other problem, you first must clear up the problem through the agency (e.g., local police department) that requested the flag’s placement.  A list of the parking, red-light, and toll facility flagging program jurisdictions, which includes contact information, is available from the MVA.  After the problem has been resolved, that agency will give you a flag release statement that you can submit to the MVA as proof of its resolution.

Each of the available methods for requesting renewal of a vehicle’s registration is separately discussed below.  Either scroll down to the appropriate process description or click on its title.

• Registration Renewal via the Internet (World Wide Web)
• Registration Renewal via an MVA Kiosk
• Registration Renewal by Phone
• Registration Renewal by Mail
• Registration Renewal In Person
• Tag and Title Service – Contact the agency directly to learn about their services

Fees:

• The fee for renewing a vehicle's registration varies by the type of vehicle and/or its intended use. The fee information can be found on the vehicle registration renewal notice and the MVA's website (Fees for Registration Plates).
• There is a fee for each additional or duplicate registration card.

MVA
Mail In Renewal Unit
6601 Ritchie Highway, N.E.
Glen Burnie, MD 21062

Renewal by Telephone:
1-888-834-7344

For telephone questions:

MVA Customer Service Center:	1-800-950-1MVA(1682)
TTY/Hearing Impaired:	1-800-492-4575
Out-of-State:	1-301-729-4550

Procedural Information:

How do I renew my vehicle's registration using the Internet? 

If your vehicle is a passenger vehicle, sport utility vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or truck with a GVW (gross vehicle weight rating) under 26,000 pounds, you may request registration renewal by accessing the Online Services on the MVA’s web site homepage.  However, there are certain restrictions you should be aware of: 

• The vehicle’s registration period must expire within the next two months, or have already expired.
• If you have moved, you cannot renew a registration over the Internet until you notify the MVA of your new address.  However, you can report your address change on-line also by accessing the Online Services on the MVA’s web site homepage.  Process your change of address first, then you can process your registration renewal in the same visit to our website.
• If you have an outstanding parking ticket, an insurance violation or certain other problems, registration renewal is not possible.  You must first resolve the problem by contacting the entity that flagged the registration record.  A list of the parking, red-light, and toll facility flagging program jurisdictions, which includes contact information, is available from the MVA.

When you use the Internet, be sure to have your vehicle registration renewal notice or your vehicle’s title and license plate numbers, your insurance information, and a credit card (MasterCard, American Express, or Visa) or check.

Upon completing the registration renewal transaction, you will have the option to print a Temporary Authority.  This document enables you to operate your vehicle for a period of 15 days, which will allow time to receive your permanent registration card and sticker by mail, within approximately 10 days.  Please affix the Temporary Authority to the lower right corner of your rear window.  The Temporary Authority is not transferable, cannot be extended, and may not be used on a vehicle other than the one for which it was issued.

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How do I renew my vehicle’s registration using an MVA kiosk?

If your vehicle is a passenger vehicle, sport utility vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or truck with a GVW (gross vehicle weight rating) under 26,000 pounds, you may request registration renewal through one of the MVA kiosks.  However, there are certain restrictions you should be aware of:

• The vehicle’s registration period must expire within the next two months, or have already expired.
• If you have moved, you cannot renew a registration using a kiosk until you notify the MVA of your new address.  However, you can report your address change at the kiosk.  Please process your change of address first and then process your registration renewal.
• If you have an outstanding parking ticket, an insurance violation or certain other problems, registration renewal is not possible.  You must first resolve the problem by contacting the entity that flagged the registration record.  A list of the parking, red-light, and toll facility flagging program jurisdictions, which includes contact information, is available.

When you visit a kiosk, be sure to bring the vehicle registration renewal notice that you received in the mail, your insurance information, and either a credit card (MasterCard, American Express, or Visa) or check.

After completing the registration renewal transaction, you will print a Temporary Authority.  This document enables you to operate your vehicle for a period of 15 days, which will allow time to receive your permanent registration card and sticker by mail, within approximately 10 days.  Please affix the Temporary Authority to the lower right corner of your rear window.  The Temporary Authority is not transferable and may not be used on a vehicle other than the one for which it was issued.

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How do I renew my vehicle’s registration by phone?

If your vehicle is a passenger vehicle, sport utility vehicle, motorcycle, trailer, or truck with a GVW (gross vehicle weight rating) of 10,000 pounds or less, you may request registration renewal by telephone.  However, there are certain restrictions you should be aware of:

• Information printed on your registration renewal notice must be correct and include your current insurance information.
• If a correction is required to the information contained in the registration renewal notice, you may not renew your registration by phone.  It must be processed by mail, through a tag and title service, or in person.
• The vehicle’s registration period must expire within the next two months, or have already expired.
• If you have an outstanding parking ticket, an insurance violation or certain other problems, registration renewal is not possible.  You must first resolve the problem by contacting the entity that flagged the registration record.  A list of the parking, red-light, and toll facility flagging program jurisdictions, which includes contact information, is available from the MVA.

When you receive your vehicle registration renewal notice in the mail, call 1-888-834-7344.  Be sure to also have your credit card, either MasterCard, American Express, or Visa.  Then follow the instructions provided. You should receive the registration card and sticker within approximately 10 days after the date of the transaction.

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How do I renew my vehicle’s registration by mail?

When you receive your vehicle registration renewal notice in the mail, make any corrections necessary on the form, and then sign it and return it with your payment (check or money order only – no cash) in the pre-addressed envelope provided. If the vehicle is co-owned, only one owner's signature is required.  If the vehicle is owned by a company, the signature of an officer or an authorized employee is required, along with the person's capacity within the company.  The MVA will mail your new registration card and year sticker to you within approximately two weeks.

If your registration will expire sooner, you may wish to request registration renewal in another way, for example, by Internet or kiosk.

Note that if you have an outstanding parking ticket, an insurance violation or certain other problems, registration renewal is not possible.  You must first resolve the problem by contacting the entity that flagged the registration record.  A list of the parking, red-light, and toll facility flagging program jurisdictions, which includes contact information, is available from the MVA.

You may receive free replacement license plates for your vehicle at the time of renewal, if the type of plates you are requesting remains the same as the plates currently on your vehicle.  Simply write ‘Needs New License Plates” on your vehicle registration renewal notice.  When you receive the new license plates, you must return the old ones to the MVA.

If you wish to exchange your license plates for another type of license plate (for example, Agricultural or Chesapeake Bay plates), additional forms and payment must be submitted.  See Registration – Specialty License Plates for more information.

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How do I renew my vehicle’s registration in person?

You may go to any of the MVA’s full service branch offices to renew your registration.  You may also visit the MVA’s mobile office, which is a bus that travels to different parts of the state, a tag and title service, or certain county treasurer’s offices.  However, you should note that the county treasurer’s offices can only issue stickers; if you need new plates or other materials, you must go to an MVA location.  Transactions processed through a tag and title service or a county treasurer’s office are subject to a service fee.

Be sure to bring with you the vehicle registration renewal notice that you received in the mail, your insurance information, and appropriate payment (credit card – MasterCard, American Express, or Visa, check, or cash).  If you do not have your vehicle registration renewal notice, the customer agent at an MVA office counter can print an application for you to sign, upon presentation of proper identification.  You may also submit an Application for New Plates/Stickers & Transfer Plates or Non Title Trailers as your renewal application.

Note that if you have an outstanding parking ticket, an insurance violation or certain other problems, registration renewal is not possible.  You must first resolve the problem by contacting the entity that flagged the registration record.  A list of the parking, red-light, and toll facility flagging program jurisdictions, which includes contact information, is available from the MVA.

The MVA customer agent will process your registration renewal and charge you the appropriate fee.  After your fee has been paid, you should receive your new registration card and sticker.

You may receive free replacement license plates for your vehicle at the time of renewal, if the type of plates you are requesting remains the same as the plates currently on your vehicle.  Simply write ‘Needs New License Plates” on your vehicle registration renewal notice.  Upon receipt of the new license plates, you must return the old ones.

If you wish to exchange your license plates for another type of license plate (for example, Agricultural or Chesapeake Bay plates), additional forms and payment must be submitted.  See Registration – Specialty License Plates for more information.