(SEE BELOW FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL) INFORMATION)

There is a difference between having your Maryland driver’s license suspended and having it revoked.

• A suspension means you cannot drive for a certain period of time, but can get your license back later.
• A revocation of your license means your driver’s license is cancelled, and you will need to submit to an investigation before you can obtain another license.

Insurance companies keep a close watch on license suspensions / revocations. Your insurance premiums may go up drastically, and you may be labeled a “high-risk” customer. Even worse, your insurance company may cancel your policy, leaving you to search for insurance with the “high-risk” driver tag, meaning you’ll have to pay much higher premiums. It is recommended that you get in touch with a DUI/DWI lawyer as they are experts at handling such incidents and can offer you the best advice. Additionally, you will face Heavy Fines and Reinstatement Fees, and Points on your driver’s license! All this information can be found on our website. You could also contact Tikcet Counsel absolutely FREE!!!

Having your Maryland driver’s license suspended is a serious matter and it is essential to adhere to State law in the event that your license is suspended. If you believe your license may be suspended due to one of the reasons listed above it is prudent to speak with a traffic ticket lawyer or a DUI-DWI lawyer. The most important things to be aware of following a license suspension are:

• If your license has not already been taken away from you in court, you must surrender it to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. You can surrender your license in person at a MVA Office, or mail it to:

MVA Headquarters

6601 Ritchie Highway, N.E

Glen Burnie, MD 21062

www.mva.maryland.gov/Hours-Locations

• While your license is suspended, you are not permitted to drive. If you are found driving with a suspended license, you may be imprisoned for up to 5 years, and the length of your suspension may be increased.
• After your suspension is over, you will receive a written notice of restoration, with instructions on how to restore your license. Do not drive until you have completed the necessary steps and received a valid, replacement license from the Maryland MVA.

You may be eligible for a restricted (hardship) license, where the MVA might allow you to drive with restrictions on your license.

Convictions, license suspensions, and revocations will show up on your 3-year and 5-year driving records. You may be able to dismiss traffic tickets and remove points from your driving record by completing an online defensive driving course. Because your driving record can affect your auto insurance rates and even your employment, it’s crucial that you make sure your information is accurate.

If you accumulate too many driving record points within 2 years, the Maryland DMV will suspend or revoke your driver’s license. The Maryland MVA will:

• Send you a warning letter after 3 to 4 points.
• Require you to complete a Driver Improvement Program after 5 to 7 points.
• Suspend your driver’s license after 8 to 11 points.
• Revoke your driver’s license after 12 or more points.

If your driver’s license is suspended, the Maryland MVA will determine your eligibility for a restricted driver’s license that allows you to drive:

• To and from: work, school, and authorized locations.
• After installing an ignition interlock device for alcohol/drug-related suspensions.

Contact the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration for more information: Phone: (410) 768-7000. TTY: (800) 492-4575. E-mail: [email protected].

If you receive a notice of suspension from the MVA, and you wish to challenge the suspension, you may request a hearing in court. If you’d like to request a hearing, you must do so within:

• 15 days: For driving record points suspensions;
• Before your suspension date: For restriction violation suspensions;
• Within 30 days of receiving your suspension: For alcohol-related suspensions or refusing a blood alcohol tests.

(If you request a hearing within 10 days, your driver’s license will not be suspended before your hearing.)

To request a Maryland MVA administrative hearing, follow the instructions provided with your suspension/revocation notice. You’ll need: A check/money order made payable to “Maryland State Treasurer” for the $150 filing fee, and provide your full name, address, driver’s license number, and phone number.

• For Non-Alcohol Offenses, mail your request to: MVA
 Administrative Adjudication Division
, 6601 Ritchie Highway
, Glen Burnie, MD 21062.
• For Alcohol-Related Suspensions (including failing to submit a blood alcohol test), mail your request to: OAH 
11101 Gilroy Road
, Hunt Valley, MD 21031
• For suspensions/revocations required by the Medical Advisory Board, contact the MVA Driver Wellness and Safety Division to request a hearing by:

Phone: (410) 768-7000. TTY (301) 729-4563.

Mail: MVA, Driver Wellness and Safety Division, 6601 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21062

An administrative law judge or the MVA Chief Administrator will hear your case, and determine whether your driver’s license should be suspended or not. In addition, drivers whose license may be suspended due to accumulating excessive points may be eligible to enroll in a Driver Improvement Program. Completing a Driver Improvement Program may remove points from the current driving record, and in some cases can enable an individual to avoid having his license suspended. It is also a good idea to seek the advice of a traffic ticket lawyer or a DUI-DWI lawyer, based on the reason for the suspension. NOTE: Maryland MVA hearings have no effect on criminal court decisions.

The requirements to reinstate your suspended Maryland driver’s license will depend on your offense. You may also need to satisfy additional court requirements if your suspension/revocation was caused by a criminal conviction.

If the Medical Advisory Board suspended your license, you may need to request a hearing. Please see “Maryland Suspension Hearings & Appeals” above.

If you had your license revoked because you accumulated 12 or more points on your license or because of DUI, you may be eligible to have your license reinstated after a particular period of time. The time period depends on the number of times you have had your license revoked.

• 1st revocation – 6 month waiting period.
• 2nd revocation – 12 month waiting period.
• 3rd revocation – 18 month waiting period.
• 4th or more – 24 month waiting period.

Generally, to reinstate your suspended driver license you’ll need to:

• Wait out the duration of your suspension.
• Complete a Driver Improvement Program, if necessary.
• Satisfy the requirements of a citation, if applicable.
• Pay any applicable fees or fines.
• You may also need to apply for a duplicate driver’s license when you reinstate your license.
• Contact the MVA’s Driver Wellness and Safety Division. If the Division feels that you are eligible, a form will be mailed to you, else a letter explaining otherwise will be sent.
• Return it to the division with the appropriate fee. Once the application has been received, a decision will be taken to either deny or grant the license. A letter will be sent to you notifying you of the same.
• If the answer is in the affirmative, you will need to take the letter to any MVA branch office and apply for a new license.

NOTE: If your driver’s license has been expired for longer than 1 year while it is suspended, you’ll need to apply for a new driver’s license.

If you have been denied the license you can appeal the decision. You will have to contact the MVA’s Driver Wellness and Safety Divisionabout the procedure for this. Note that after your license is restored, you may be subject to a probation period during which any new violations may result in an additional suspension of your Maryland driver’s license. In addition, if you lost your license due to DUI, it might be reinstated with an alcohol restriction and might be valid for up to 3 years. You will need to contact the MVA Administrative Adjudication Division to ask for it to be removed.

To reinstate a revoked driver’s license, you’ll need to:

• Wait out your revocation period.
• Visit or call the Maryland MVA Driver Wellness and Safety Division in person: 6601 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21062 OR by phone: (410) 768-7000. TTY (301) 729-4563.
• Request a reinstatement and provide you full name, date of birth, address, driver’s license number.

The Maryland MVA will review your driving record and determine if you’re eligible for reinstatement. You will either receive a denial notice or a reinstatement application. If you are eligible, you will need to:

• Return your completed application and reinstatement fee to the MVA Driver Wellness and Safety Division for a final approval. (See “Fees to Reinstate Your MD Driver’s License” below.)
• Bring your reinstatement approval notice to your local Maryland MVA office and apply for a new driver’s license.

NOTE: You may be required to pass a knowledge, driving, and vision exam.

The fees to reinstate your suspended or revoked Maryland driver’s license differ depending on your offense. Some fees you may need to pay include:

• Duplicate driver’s license: $20.
• New driver’s license (under 21 years old): $9/year.
• New driver license (21 years old and up): $72 or $9/year.
• Reinstatement for Medical Advisory Board suspensions: $45 or $75, depending on your medical impairment.

For specific fees relating to your suspension/revocation, please refer to your suspension notice or contact the MD MVA.

Accepted Payment Methods

The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration accepts the following forms of payment:

• In person: Cash, Check made payable to “Motor Vehicle Administration” (must include your driver’s license number and phone number), VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit/debit card.
• By mail: Check made payable to “Motor Vehicle Administration.” (Must include your driver’s license number and phone number.)

NOTE: By law, you are required to notify your employer within 30 days of receiving a traffic offense conviction or by the end of the next business day after receiving a CDL disqualification notice.

CDL’s are suspended more easily than standard licenses. This is because commercial drivers are held to very high standards. The duration of your commercial driver’s license suspension reinstatement requirements will vary depending on your offense. Your MD non-commercial driver’s license may also be suspended. You may also face additional court penalties if you were convicted of a crime. When your CDL is disqualified, suspended, or revoked, the Maryland MVA will mail you a notice of disqualification.

You must surrender your CDL to the Maryland MVA by the date shown on your disqualification notice or your suspension period will be extended. You can surrender your license in person or by mail to any Maryland MVD office or to: MVA
Administrative Adjudication Division, 6601 Ritchie Highway, 
Glen Burnie, MD 21062

NOTE: Depending on the circumstances of your disqualification, you may be able to visit a MD MVA office and request a non-commercial driver license.

Your CDL and privilege to drive a commercial vehicle are subject to both state and federal suspensions, which include:

• 1 year: 1st violation for a major offense, such as:
  • Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs/alcohol or other drug-related offenses.
  • Refusing to submit to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) test.
  • Leaving the scene of an accident.
  • Using your commercial vehicle in a felony.
• 3 years: 1st violation for a major offense (while transporting hazardous materials).
• Life: 2nd violation for a major offense.
• 60 to 120 days: Multiple serious traffic violations within 3 years, such as speeding, reckless driving or driving without the necessary endorsements.
• 60 to 120 days: Railroad highway grade crossing violations, depending on the number of violations you’ve committed.

NOTE: You can also lose your CDL for violations committed in a non-commercial vehicle.

Convictions, license suspensions, and revocations will show up on your 3-year and 5-year driving records. You may be able to dismiss traffic tickets and remove points from your driving record by completing an online defensive driving course. Because your driving record can affect your auto insurance rates and even your employment, it’s crucial that you make sure your information is accurate.

If you accumulate too many driving record points within 2 years, the Maryland DMV will suspend or revoke your driver’s license. The Maryland MVA will:

• Send you a warning letter after 3 to 4 points.
• Require you to complete a Driver Improvement Program after 5 to 7 points.
• Suspend your driver’s license after 8 to 11 points.
• Revoke your driver’s license after 12 or more points.

Depending on the reason for your MD CDL suspension, you may be eligible for a MVA administrative hearing. Maryland MVA administrative hearings have no affect on criminal court decisions and convictions.

If you’d like to request a hearing, you must do so within 15 days of receiving your suspension. To request a Maryland MVA hearing, follow the instructions included on your suspension notice. You will need to return the completed notice and filing fee by mail to the MVA (see “Fees to Reinstate Your Suspended CDL” below).

If your request is approved, you will be notified of the details of your hearings.

Failing or Refusing a BAC Test: If refusing or failing a BAC test caused your CDL suspension, you may request a hearing. If you request your hearing within:

• 10 days of your suspension: Your hearing will be scheduled within 30 days.
• 11-30 days of your suspension: Your hearing will be scheduled within 45 days.
• After 30 days: Your hearing request will be denied.

If you are requesting a hearing for your BAC test refusal/failure suspension, you will need to return your completed notice and filing fee to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) at:

OAH, 11101 Gilroy Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21031

The requirements and fees to reinstate your Maryland CDL will vary depending on your offense. If your CDL was disqualified for less than 1 year, you’ll need to:

• Wait out your disqualification period.
• Pay your fees. (See “Fees to Reinstate Your Suspended CDL” below.)
• Submit any required documents.
• Clear any other suspensions or revocations, if applicable.
• Satisfy any court requirements, if necessary.

If your CDL was disqualified for 1 year or more, you’ll also need to pass the commercial driver’s license knowledge and driving skills tests before you can reinstate your license.

NOTE: If your non-commercial driving privileges are also suspended/revoked, you’ll need to satisfy additional reinstatement requirements.