REGISTRATION RENEWAL
& TAG RETURNS
Whether you need to renew your registration, return tags to the MVA, avoid insurance compliance penalties or update your motor vehicle information, the information below will help you determine which service best fits your situation and what documents may be required to complete your transaction.
The Maryland MVA and the Pennsylvania DMV have authorized Diversified Tag & Title Services to perform the motor vehicle services listed below on-site for cars, trucks, motorcycles and trailers of any size when used in commercial fleets, sold at dealerships and for personal use.
STANDARD RENEWAL
In Maryland, all motor vehicles and/or trailers must be registered and tagged if you are planning to drive the motor vehicle and/or use the trailer. The fees for registering are determined by the class and weight of the motor vehicle and/or trailer. The motor vehicle administration offers 1-year, 2-year or 3-year options and one may renew as early as 45 days in advance.
If the vehicle is sold, traded or junked and you do not plan on transferring the tags, return them as soon as possible to have them removed from the motor vehicle administration system to avoid the penalties and apply for a refund if you quality.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING WITH ME?
The motor vehicle and/or trailer has a temp tag, and it just passed the safety inspection OR the current registration is going to expire, and it is time renew the tags. A new registration card with new month and year stickers and month stickers are provided [1-year, 2-year or 3-year options are available].
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING WITH ME?
- Maryland Driver’s License OR Identification Card
- Renewal Notice [Helpful; Not Necessary]
- Tag Number, Title # and/or VIN
- Confirm Current Address
- Confirm Current Insurance Information
- Confirm Safety Inspection [New Owners]
POTENTIAL FEES
- Dependent on Weight and Class of Motor Vehicle and/or Trailer
- Registration Fee [1 Year, 2 Years or 3 Years]
- Our Fee for Services
CUSTOMER WALKS WITH
- Tags Renewed
- New Year Sticker
- New Month Sticker if Faded or Unreadable
[No Charge] - Detailed Receipt for Services
WHAT DO YOUR REGISTRATION FEES PAY FOR?
EMERGENCY SERVICES
- Maryland Emergency Medical System Operations Fund
- Maryland’s world-renowned trauma and emergency management system
- Maryland State Police Aviation Command
- R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center
- Maryland Fire and Rescue
ROAD AND HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE
- Paving and highway repairs
- Snow removal and road treatments
- Bridge maintenance and safety upgrades
TRAFFIC SAEFTY AND OPERATIONS
- Traffic signals and signage
- Highway patrol and safety programs
- Accident reduction initiatives
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
- Local bus systems
- MARC commuter rail
- Metro support
TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND
- Statewide transportation projects
- Local road funding
- Long-term infrastructure planning
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Local road repairs
- Traffic improvements
- Street maintenance
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
- Vehicle emissions programs
- Air quality compliance
- Motor vehicles meet environmental standards
MVA OPERATIONS
- Running the motor vehicle administration
- Collecting excise tax and processing registration and titles
- Customer service centers
- IT systems and enforcement
DRIVER AND MOTOR VEHICLE INFORMATION
- Personal Information is correct
- Motor vehicle and/or trailer information is up to date
- Insurance information on record is current
- Flags and Violations are cleared
- Confirm owner[s] of the motor vehicle and/or trailer
TAG RETURNS
Maryland law requires that tags must be returned and an MVA receipt showing that they have been properly removed from the motor vehicle administrations system must be obtained before the insurance may be cancelled.
YOU MAY RETURN TAGS
- At a Tag & Title Service Location
- By Placing Tags in an MVA Drop Box
- By Mailing Tags Directly to the MVA
- At an MVA Branch Location
WHEN YOU USE A TAG & TITLE SERVICE
The tag and title service will provide a real time receipt after the tags have properly removed from the MVA system. At that point, the Insurance coverage may be cancelled preventing an insurance compliance violation.
CUSTOMER PROVIDES
- Maryland Driver’s License OR Identification Card
- Confirm Current Address
- Tags to be Returned
- Registration [Helpful; Not Necessary]
- A real-time MVA approved receipt to cancel insurance is provided.
- Tag and title services charge a minimal fee for their services
- All refunds due are sent from the Maryland Comptroller’s Office in Annapolis
- DO NOT cancel insurance without proof the MVA removed tags from their system.
IF YOU USE A DROPBOX
The MVA will provide a real time receipt after the tags have properly removed from the MVA system. At that point, the Insurance coverage may be cancelled preventing an insurance compliance violation.
DROP BOX INFORMATION
- 24-hour access
- Baltimore City, Columbia, Gaithersburg, Glen Burnie, Westminster and Walnut Hill
- Place tags in an envelope or secure bag
- Provide the registration [Helpful; Not Necessary]
- Complete and include MVA VR-027 Tag Return form with the tags
https://mva.maryland.gov/Documents/VR-027.pdf - If a refund is requested, include the MVA VR-027 refund request form
Direct link:
https://mva.maryland.gov/Documents/VR-021.pdf - All refunds due are sent from the Maryland Comptroller’s Office in Annapolis
- If the tags are not available, include MVA VR-461 Certified Statement
Direct link: https://mva.maryland.gov/Documents/VR-461.pdf - DO NOT cancel insurance without proof the MVA removed the tags from their system.
MAILING TAGS TO THE MVA
Send the tags [w/contact information] to the Glen Burnie MVA headquarters to the address below.
MVA CRTR
6601 Ritchie Highway, N.E.
Glen Burnie, MD 21062.
Attention: Tag Return Department.
PLEASE INCLUDE
- Provide tags to be removed from the MVA system
- Complete and include MVA VR-027 tag return form with the tags
https://mva.maryland.gov/Documents/VR-027.pdf - Provide the registration [Helpful; Not Necessary]
- If a refund is requested, complete and include the MVA VR-027 refund request form
Direct link: https://mva.maryland.gov/Documents/VR-021.pdf - All refunds due are sent from the Maryland Comptroller’s Office in Annapolis
- If the tags are not available, include MVA VR-461 Certified Statement
Direct link: https://mva.maryland.gov/Documents/VR-461.pdf - The MVA will provide a proof they have properly removed the tags from the MVA system.
- DO NOT cancel insurance without proof the MVA removed the tags from their system.
- Delivery confirmation is recommended
- The MVA will provide a real time receipt after the tags have properly removed from the MVA system. At that point, the Insurance coverage may be cancelled preventing an insurance compliance violation [See Potential Fines and Fees below].
MAILING TAGS TO PENNDOT
Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Return Tag Unit
P.O. Box #68597
Harrisburg, PA 17106-8597
Include a brief statement explaining why you are returning the tags
REFUND RULES
NO REFUND DUE
- Substitute registration stickers and tags [No refund]
- Less than 1-year remaining before expiration [No refund]
REFUND DUE
- Unused year registration sticker [Full Refund]
- Used year registration sticker w/12+ months remaining [Partial Refund]
- Refund Request Form: https://mva.maryland.gov/media/220/download?inline=
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECEIVE A REFUND?
After approval, the refund is prepared by the Comptroller’s Office in Annapolis. The refund will be sent from 3-6 weeks to the address they have on record.
FOR STOLEN TAGS
Include MVA VR-461 Certified Statement w/police report # if one or two tags are lost or stolen.
POTENTIAL FEES
- Renewal Fee [Determined by Class and Weight]
- Tag and Title Fee [If Applicable]
CUSTOMER WALKS WITH
- Tags Renewed
- New Year Sticker
- New Month Sticker if Faded or Unreadable [No Charge]
- Detailed Receipt for Services
INSURANCE VIOLATION
An insurance violation carries potential fine and fees, including:
- Lose license plates and vehicle registration privileges.
- Pay uninsured motorist penalty fees for each lapse of insurance.
[$200 for the first 30 days, $7 for each day thereafter]
- Pay a restoration fee of up to $25 for a vehicle’s registration.
- Be prohibited from registering any future vehicles until all insurance violations are cleared.
- Be prohibited from renewing a suspended registration until all violations are cleared.
- Have license plates confiscated once a registration suspension is in effect.
- Pay a $1,000 fine and/or one year imprisonment for providing false evidence of insurance.
- These penalties are in addition to any fines or penalties imposed by a court of law.
- Refer to: Maryland Insurance-Uninsured Information
