Moving to Maryland puts one main deadline on your calendar: 60 days to get a Maryland driver’s license and to title and register your car [1]. Before the car can be titled, it needs a Maryland safety inspection [2]. Voting is more flexible: Maryland lets you register as late as Election Day [4].
At a glance
- Driver's license
- Within 60 days of becoming a resident [1]
- Title and register your car
- Within 60 days [1]
- Safety inspection
- Required before titling [2]
- Minimum liability insurance
- $30,000 / $60,000 / $15,000 [3]
- Voter registration closes
- 21 days before an election; same-day option [4][5]
| Task | Deadline | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Get a Maryland driver's license | 60 days after becoming a resident | MVA |
| Title and register your vehicle | 60 days after becoming a resident | MVA |
| Register to vote (regular deadline) | 21 days before the election | Online, MVA, mail or local board |
1. Insure the car
Maryland’s minimum liability coverage is [3]:
- $30,000 for injury or death of one person,
- $60,000 for two or more people in one accident,
- $15,000 for damage to other people’s property.
Maryland policies must also include the state’s required personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage [3]. Your insurer can tell you the amounts. Your coverage has to meet Maryland’s minimums before you can register [2].
2. Get a Maryland safety inspection
To title and register a car from another state, you need a valid Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate from an authorized Maryland inspection station [2]. The only exception is a vehicle that was already titled in Maryland in your name [2].
Emissions testing, called VEIP , is separate. The MVA mails a VEIP notice about three months after you register [2].
3. Title and register within 60 days
You have 60 days after becoming a Maryland resident to title and register your vehicle [1]. Miss the deadline and you lose the credit for titling tax you already paid to your old state, and you can be cited for driving with out-of-state registration [1].
Bring [2]:
- your out-of-state title, or your lender’s fax number if the lender holds it,
- your Maryland driver’s license or proof of Maryland address,
- your Maryland insurance information,
- your Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate.
The title fee is $200 for most vehicles, plus excise tax that depends on the vehicle and the tax you already paid elsewhere [2]. You can start the transaction online and bring the printed confirmation to save time at the branch [2].
4. Get your Maryland driver’s license within 60 days
The license deadline is also 60 days [1]. Book a New to Maryland appointment through MyMVA; you can choose license only, or license plus title and registration, and handle everything in one visit [1].
5. Register to vote
Regular registration closes on the 21st day before an election: 5 p.m. for paper applications and 11:59 p.m. online [5]. You can register [4]:
- online, through Maryland’s Online Voter Registration System,
- in person at the MVA, your local board of elections, and other state offices,
- by mailing a paper application.
You’ll need your Maryland driver’s license or MVA ID number, or the last four digits of your Social Security number [4].
6. Check your property tax credits
Homeowners and some renters with lower incomes can get a state credit on property taxes. The deadline is October 1. See our guide to Maryland’s Homeowners’ and Renters’ Tax Credits.
Quick checklist
- Get Maryland car insurance that meets the 30/60/15 minimums.
- Get a Maryland safety inspection.
- Book a New to Maryland appointment through MyMVA.
- Title and register the car within 60 days.
- Get your Maryland driver’s license within 60 days.
- Watch for your VEIP emissions notice about three months later.
- Register to vote online, at the MVA, or on the same day at early voting.
Sources
Common questions
How long do I have to get a Maryland driver's license after moving?
60 days from becoming a Maryland resident. The same 60-day deadline applies to titling and registering your vehicle, and the MVA lets you do both at one New to Maryland appointment.
Does my car need an inspection to register in Maryland?
Yes, in most cases. You need a valid Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate from an authorized Maryland station to title and register a vehicle coming from another state. Emissions testing (VEIP) is separate; the MVA sends a notice about three months after you register.
What is the voter registration deadline in Maryland?
Registration closes 21 days before an election: 5 p.m. for paper applications and 11:59 p.m. online. You can also register in person during early voting or on Election Day, with proof of your address.