New to Maryland and Driving Without a Maryland License?

If you recently moved to Maryland and do not yet have a Maryland driver’s license, you will want to get a new license as quickly as possible. Driving without a valid license in Maryland carries steep penalties, and a conviction can lead to increased auto insurance premiums and other consequences as well. Here is an overview of what you need to know about applying for a driver’s license as a new Maryland resident and what to do if you get pulled over for driving without a license:

Applying for a Driver’s License as a New Maryland Resident

The first thing you need to know is that you only have 60 days after you move to Maryland to obtain your new driver’s license. If you continue to drive on your out-of-state driver’s license after 60 days, you can be ticketed for driving without a valid license.

The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) has a page on its website devoted specifically to applying for a driver’s license as a new Maryland resident. As the MVA explains, to obtain a Maryland driver’s license, you must:

• Have an out-of-state license that is valid or that has been expired for less than one year (if you don’t have one, you will be required to take a knowledge and skills test);
• Pass a vision test; and,
• Either surrender your out-of-state driver’s license or provide a certified driving record from your previous state of residency.

To be clear, these are not necessarily the only requirements you will need to meet to obtain a Maryland driver’s license. Your personal circumstances (including your age and driver’s license history) will determine the steps you need to take in order to legally drive in Maryland after 60 days.

What to Do if You Get Pulled Over for Driving Without a Valid License

Let’s say you don’t get a new Maryland driver’s license in time. What should you do if you get pulled over for driving without a valid license?

As mentioned above, the penalties for this offense are severe. A first-time offense carries up to a $500 fine, five points on your driving record, and 60 days in jail. The points on your driving record will increase your auto insurance premiums, and if you get pulled over again, accumulating additional points could lead to a driver’s license suspension.

So, what should you do? Talking to an attorney should be your priority whenever you get a traffic ticket in Maryland. In this scenario, an experienced attorney may be able to help in various ways. Not only can fighting your ticket help you avoid unnecessary penalties in your pending case, but it can also help you avoid additional costs in the future.

Request a Confidential Consultation with Attorney Cynthia Christiani

Do you need to know more about fighting a traffic ticket for driving without a valid license in Maryland? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly. To request a confidential consultation with attorney Cynthia Christiani, please call 443-405-8211 or inquire online today.