COMMON QUESTIONS
Below is a list of commonly asked questions from our customers throughout the years relating to the tagging, the titling and the registration of motor vehicle and/or trailers in Maryland and Pennsylvania. If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for give us a call at 301-846-0900 or stop by our location at 430 E Patrick Street.
Common Questions
WHAT IS A TITLE?
- It is an official state issued legal document filed at the MVA
- A detailed description of the motor vehicle and/or trailer [i.e., year, make, model, VIN etc.]
- Includes all responsible parties [owner, co-owner and lienholder]
- It is used to transfer ownership from one party to another.
- Leave the title in a safe place. Use registration card provided with the tags and stickers.
WHAT IS A LIEN RELEASE?
A lien release is proof from the lien holder [loan company] that the loan has been paid in full and the lienholder releases all claim to the motor vehicle and /or trailer. To prove the loan has been paid off, the MVA will accept the following documents:
- MVA Security Interest Filing
- Original letter from the loan company
- Some non-Maryland titles have the lien release on the title
CAN YOU ISSUE TEMPORARY TAGS AT YOUR LOCATION?
Yes we can issue permanent metal license plates with a 30-day registration with month and year stickers onsite so that you may get your motor vehicle and/or trailer Maryland safety inspected with enough time to have repairs performed if needed.
IMPORTANT: The MVA issues one set of temp tags only; no extensions and no exceptions.
WHEN DO I NEED A BILL OF SALE?
A BILL OF SALE IS REQUIRED
- Dealership/Auction Purchase
MVA Requires Original; Signed Bill of Sale/Buyer’s Order - Private Sale for Motor Vehicle and/or Trailer 6 Years New or Newer
MVA Requires the Bill of Sale or the NADA Clean Retail Value
HB 251 and SB 125 Repealed the Notarized Bill of Sale Requirement [Oct. 1, 2026]
A BILL OF SALE IS NOT REQUIRED
- Private Sale 7 Years Old and Older
MVA Requires No Bill of Sale - Gift Transaction [Spouse to Spouse or Parent to Child]
MVA Requires No Bill of Sale
HOW OFTEN DO I HAVE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE INSPECTED IN MD?
- Each time the motor vehicle and/or trailer transfers ownership.
- Maryland requires that eligible vehicles must be safety inspected one time for each owner
- Motor vehicles that are exempt from safety inspections are:
- Title only transactions,
- Historic,
- Street Rod,
- Farm Area [K-Tags],
- Island Vehicle and
- Gifted transactions between parent/child and spouse to spouse.
WHERE CAN I FIND AN AUTHORIZED MARYLAND SAFETY INSPECTION STATION?
The direct link [below] to the Maryland State Police Safety Enforcement Division will provide an easy-to-use database to find an authorized safety inspection station convenient to you. Additionally, you can confirm that your motor vehicle and/or trailer passed the safety inspection.
- https://egov.maryland.gov/msp/vsi/Lookup#!/
- Find an Inspection Station:
Enter station name, zip code or vehicle class to find authorized inspector. - Find an E-Inspection Results:
Enter VIN of motor vehicle and/or trailer to find results.
HOW OFTEN DO I HAVE TO HAVE MY VEHICLE EMISSIONS TESTED IN MARYLAND?
Used motor vehicles must go through the vehicle emissions testing program [VEIP] every two years. You will be notified through mail or email.
AFTER THE TESTING
- If your vehicle passed: The MVA will update your record and send a compliance letter to your Maryland address on file.
- If your vehicle failed: The MVA will issue a four-month extension, so you have time to fix the vehicle and retest.
OUT OF STATE WHEN TEST IS DUE
Maryland accepts emissions test results from the following states and regions. If the state you are in is not on this list, contact the MVA before your emissions test due date to discuss your options.
Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Ontario Canada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin
EMISSIONS EXTENSIONS, WAIVERS AND EXEMPTIONS
- Extension: Extra time to complete your emissions test if you cannot meet your due date. The test is still required; you just have more time to complete it.
- Waiver: Your vehicle does not need to be tested for the rest of the current test cycle, which is usually about two years [i.e., Senior citizen, Disabled citizen, and Repair Waivers].
You must apply again for each new cycle - Exemption: Your vehicle does not need to be tested because it meets special criteria. The exemption applies as long as your vehicle continues to meet those criteria [See below].
MARYLAND COUNTIES EXEMPT OR WAIVED
Allegany, Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico County
EMISSIONS EXEMPT VEHICLES
- 1995 or older under 8500 Gross Vehicle Weight
- Vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds gross vehicle weight
- Vehicles powered solely by diesel or electric
- Motorcycle
- Vehicles registered as a farm truck, farm truck tractor or farm area vehicle
- Historic or Antique vehicles
- New vehicles, qualified hybrids 72 months after titling and registration w/ original ownership
- New vehicles with lease buy out having original lessee are exempt for first 72 months
- Fire apparatus owned or leased by the State of Maryland, a county, municipality, volunteer fire department or rescue squad
- Ambulances currently exempted will remain exempt
- Vehicles registered as a Class N street rod vehicle
- A military vehicle owned by the federal government and used for tactical, combat, or relief operations, or for training for these operations
- Vehicles registered as a Class H school vehicle or Class P passenger bus
MY TRUCK PASSED INSPECTION – ARE THE RESULTS ONLINE?
The results of the Maryland State Safety Inspection are sent to the MVA and are posted publicly on the Maryland State Police Safety Enforcement website for your convenience.
I DO NOT HAVE MY RENEWAL NOTICE; CAN I RENEW MY TAGS W/OUT IT?
Yes, we can. Please provide us with information that can identify the motor vehicle and/or trailer [i.e., VIN, Title or Tag Number] and we can renew your tags without the MVA’s Renewal Notice on-the-spot.
I AM NEW TO MARYLAND. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO REGISTER MY VEHICLES?
It is important to retitle and register your motor vehicle within 60 days of declaring residency in Maryland or you may not qualify for the excise tax credit for the taxes you paid in another state. If you miss the 60-day deadline, you may lose the excise tax credit entirely and be responsible for paying the entire .065% excise tax even though you’ve already paid it elsewhere.
HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST ME?
In general, we are required by the MVA to collect excise tax, collect title fee and collect registration fees. There are additional fees that may be collected [i.e., Bay tags, Agricultural tags, etc.]. All of these fees are collected at the time of the transaction along with a small fee for our service. Our fee depends on the service we provide.
DO I NEED TO RETURN MY TAGS BEFORE CANCELLING MY INSURANCE?
Yes because if you cancel the insurance without proof the tags have been properly removed from the MVA system, the violations begin w/a $200.00 penalty and an additional $7 per day until the issue is resolved. You may return your tags at the locations listed below.
- 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
THERE WAS MORE TO FIX ON MY CAR THAN I THOUGHT. CAN I EXTEND MY TEMPORARY TAGS?
Unfortunately, the MVA will not extend or re-issue temporary tags; no exceptions.
WHAT ARE THE INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS IN MARYLAND?
All motor vehicles registered in Maryland must be insured with an insurance company licensed in Maryland and the minimum coverage is listed below.
Liability Covers the Damage You Caused
- $30,000.00 Bodily Injury Per Person,
- $60,000.00 Bodily Injury Per Accident,
- $15,000.00 Property Damage [Per Accident]
Uninsured Motorist Protects You if the Other Driver Has Little or No Insurance Coverage
- $30,000.00/$60,000.00 Bodily Injury
- $15,000.00 Property Damage
Personal Property Covers Medical Expenses and Lost Wages
- $2,500.00 Minium Per Person
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HISTORIC AND STREET ROD TAGS?
A Historic Motor Vehicle must be model year 1999 or older and have not been substantially altered, remodeled or remanufactured from its original design. It may be used for exhibitions, club activities, parades and occasional transportation. Not to be used as a daily driver, for employment, to and from school or for commercial purposes.
A Street Rod Motor Vehicle must be 25 calendar years or older and has been substantially altered from the manufacturers’ original design. It may be used for exhibitions, club activities, parades and occasional transportation. Not to be used as a daily driver, for employment, to and from school or for commercial purposes.
CAN I RETURN TAGS AT YOUR STORE? I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO THE MVA JUST TO RETURN TAGS.
Yes you may return your tags at our location.
- Bring tag[s] to our office.
- Provide identification of the person returning the tags.
- Provide the registration [Helpful; Not Necessary]
- We will provide a real-time MVA approved receipt to cancel insurance.
- 10% of all tag return fees are donated to different charities
- DO NOT cancel insurance without proof the MVA removed the tags from their system.
- Violation begins w/ $200.00 penalty and an additional $7 per day until the issue is resolved.
CAN YOU HELP US TITLE, TAG AND REGISTER A HOMEMADE TRAILER?
Yes. We have help hundreds of our customers with the full application kit to apply for a homemade trailer title, request a new VIN plate and obtain a permanent metal tag with a 30-day registration to allow you to get the trailer safety inspected.
MY TAGS WERE EITHER LOST OR STOLEN, CAN YOU GET ME A REPLACEMENT?
Yes, we can. We are authorized and have the inventory onsite to provide you with a substitute tag, stickers and registration card on-the-spot.
WHAT IS A “RESTRICTED” POWER OF ATTORNEY?
A restricted power of attorney can be used to authorize a representative to sign on your behalf in whatever manner necessary to register and/or transfer ownership of a motor vehicle and/or trailer. At the MVA and/or a tag and title service.
