Does Maryland require an SR-22?
Checked against official Maryland sources · Last reviewed October 6, 2026
Maryland doesn't require an SR-22 to reinstate a license. To reinstate a revoked license, the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) requires you to meet its eligibility rules, wait out a waiting period, apply with the required fees, and finish any required treatment or testing. An SR-22 isn't one of the requirements.
Maryland does ask for insurer-certified proof of insurance in some cases. After a points warning letter, you must prove on an MVA form, certified by your insurer or agent, that your registered vehicles have stayed insured. And if the MVA opens an insurance compliance case on a vehicle, it asks for a Maryland Insurance Certification Form (FR-19) covering the period in question. [1][2][6][7]
Does Maryland require an SR-22?
No. Maryland doesn't require an SR-22 to reinstate a license. To reinstate a revoked license, the MVA requires you to meet its eligibility rules, wait out a mandatory waiting period, apply with the required fees, and complete any required treatment or testing. An SR-22 is not among its requirements. [1]
What does reinstatement cost?
$90 driver license reinstatement fee ($150 if the suspension or revocation was for a drug or alcohol offense). The MVA also lists a $30 restoration fee. [3]
What coverage do you need?
$30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 bodily injury for two or more people, $15,000 property damage [4]
Who handles it
The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). Insurance agents submit eFR-19 forms to it electronically through the myMVA portal. [5]
Common questions
Do I need an SR-22 to get my Maryland license back?
No. The MVA's reinstatement requirements are eligibility, a mandatory waiting period, an application with fees, and any required treatment or testing. You may also have to accept driving restrictions or retake tests. Unresolved insurance violations can delay reinstatement, so clear any open insurance case first. [1]
I got a points warning letter. Do I have to prove I'm insured?
Yes. The MVA sends a warning letter at 3 to 4 points. After that letter, Maryland law requires you to show that every vehicle registered in your name has been continuously insured since the letter's notice date. The proof goes on an MVA form certified by your insurer or insurance agent and is due within 30 days of the MVA's request. [2][8]
What is an FR-19 used for?
It's the Maryland Insurance Certification Form. When it looks like a vehicle went without required coverage, the MVA opens an insurance compliance investigation and asks the owner for an FR-19 showing coverage was in place during that time. Your insurer must give you one free of charge, and your agent can submit it electronically (eFR-19) using your case number. If the corrected information shows you were insured, the MVA may reduce or remove the penalty. [5][6][7][9]
What is the penalty for a lapse in insurance?
The penalty is $200 for the first 1 to 30 days without insurance, then $7 for each day after that, up to $3,500 per 12 months. Your registration is also suspended. Unpaid penalties sent to Central Collections get an extra 17% added. [3][9][10]
Can an insurance lapse affect my driver's license?
Yes. If you don't return your registration documents within 48 hours after the MVA's notice, the MVA may suspend your driver's license. [10]
What if the Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund rejects me?
You have 10 days after a final rejection to show the MVA that you have the required insurance. If you don't, the MVA suspends the registration of every vehicle you own and your driver's license. Your license is reinstated once you show proof of insurance or turn in the plates for each vehicle you own. [11]
Do I need insurance if I'm not driving the car?
Yes. Maryland requires insurance the whole time a vehicle is registered, even if no one drives it. [9][12]
How much does it cost to get my license back?
The MVA's reinstatement fee is $90, or $150 if the suspension or revocation was for a drug or alcohol offense. The MVA also lists a $30 restoration fee, which it says may be charged to cover the administrative cost of lifting a suspension. Testing or a new license can cost extra. [1][3][13]
Sources
- Maryland MVA - Reinstate a License (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Md. Code, Transportation §17-109 - Evidence of security after a point-accumulation warning letter (statute, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Maryland MVA - Fees & Payment Options (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Md. Code, Transportation §17-103 - Form and minimum benefits of security (statute, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
- Maryland MVA - Information for Auto Insurers (eFR-19) (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Maryland Insurance Administration - A Consumer Guide to Auto Insurance (state agency publication, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Maryland Insurance Administration - Consumer Advisory: Will I Need to Pay a Penalty If I Do Not Have Automobile Insurance? (state agency publication, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Maryland MVA - Driver's License Points (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Maryland MVA - Auto Insurance Violation Penalties & Payments (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Md. Code, Transportation §17-106 - Lapse of security; notice; penalties (statute, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
- Md. Code, Transportation §17-105 - Rejection by Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund; evidence of security (statute, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Maryland MVA - Auto Insurance Requirements in Maryland (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
- Maryland MVA - Receiving a Notice of Suspension or Revocation (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)