Vehicle registration requirements - Maryland

License plate display

Maryland vehicle law requires vehicles to display both a front and back permanent, legible license plate. Only vehicles registered as a motorcycle (Class D), tractor (Class F), trailer (Class G), historic over 50 years old (Class L), and street rod over 50 years old (Class N), may display a single plate.

All vehicles issued a single plate must display the license plate on the rear of the vehicle, except tractors (Class F) must display the license plate on the front of the vehicle.

International Registration Plan

Maryland is a member of the International Registration Plan (IRP). The IRP is a base state system for vehicle registration fees allowing a carrier to apply for vehicle registration and pay fees to a single jurisdiction.

Motor vehicles that qualify for apportionment consist of the following:

• A power unit having two axles and a gross vehicle weight (GVW) or registered weight in excess of 26,000 pounds;
• A power unit having three or more axles, regardless of weight; or
• A unit used in combination when the weight of such combination exceeds a GVW or 26,000 pounds.

Under the IRP program, an interstate carrier is required to file an application with the jurisdiction in which the carrier is based. The base jurisdiction, in turn, issues an apportioned IRP license plate and cab card. The base plate and cab card are the only registration credentials required to qualify the carrier to operate interstate and intrastate in member jurisdictions.

For initial apportioned registration, the following applications must be submitted:

• Maryland Schedule A/C (Form IRP-A/C),
• Schedule B (Form IRP-B), and
• IRP record keeping requirements.

Temporary permits: Vehicles eligible for apportioned registrations but not apportioned with Maryland will be required to purchase a 72-hour permit for a $15 fee prior to entering Maryland. This permit allows for interstate and intrastate operation.

Temporary Apportionment Authorizations (TA's) are valid for 60 days from issuance and may not extend beyond the expiration date of the current active registration period. TA's are available for a $2 fee to add a vehicle to the fleet and/or increase a vehicle's weight.

Hunter's or unladen weight permit: Any owner-operator registered within Maryland in the name of lessee carrier whose lease is terminated may apply for a permit to operate at the unladen (not loaded) weight of the vehicles for a period of 20 days. This permit is available for a $10 fee.

Agency: Maryland Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Administration.

Fees: The IRP registration period is staggered on a quarterly or monthly basis. When you apply for IRP registration, the license fees will be calculated for 12 months. When adding or deleting vehicles from the fleet during the registration period, the registration fees will be calculated from the month of transaction to the end of the registration month of the fleet. Specific IRP registration fees will vary. A new, duplicate, or replacement cab card is $5.