SR22 State

How to get your license reinstated in Maryland

Checked against official Maryland sources · Last reviewed October 6, 2026

The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) handles suspensions and revocations. What you need to do depends on why you lost your license: too many points, an unpaid ticket, or an alcohol or drug offense. Getting a revoked license back is not automatic; you must apply and be approved. [1][2][3]

SR-22 required?
No
Base reinstatement fee
$90

Step by step

  1. Read your notice and decide whether to request a hearing

    A points suspension or revocation notice lets you accept it or request a hearing. To request a hearing, return the notice with the filing fee within 15 days of the notice date. Your suspension or revocation is then paused until the hearing is done. [2]

  2. Turn in your license on time

    Return your most recent license to the MVA by mail or in person by the date on your notice. Your suspension or waiting period doesn't start until you do, and returning it late extends it. If you no longer have it, send a written explanation or fill out a Certified Statement form at a full-service branch. [2][3]

  3. Resolve unpaid tickets with the District Court

    If you were suspended for not paying a ticket or not appearing in court, contact the District Court, not the MVA. Your license stays suspended until you resolve it with the court. Paying the fine counts as admitting guilt, and any points go on your record. [2]

  4. If revoked, apply for reinstatement after your waiting period

    The waiting period is 6 months for one revocation, 1 year for two, 18 months for three, and 2 years for four or more. Request an application through your myMVA account. The MVA first checks your record for insurance violations, child support violations, and other problems, and sends you the application only if none are found. [3]

    Reinstate a License ↗

  5. Clear insurance problems (no SR-22 needed)

    Maryland doesn't require an SR-22 to reinstate a license, but unresolved insurance violations can delay reinstatement. If the MVA sent you a warning letter for points, you must show within 30 days that your vehicles stayed insured, on an MVA form certified by your insurer or agent. [3][4]

  6. Pay the fees

    The MVA may charge a restoration fee, listed at $30, to lift a suspension. A reinstatement application costs $90, or $150 if the suspension or revocation was for a drug or alcohol offense. Testing or a new license can cost extra. [2][3][5]

  7. Finish at an MVA branch after approval

    The MVA mails you its decision. If approved, make an appointment at a full-service branch and bring your approval letter; you may need to retake knowledge, vision, or driving tests. If denied, you can appeal to the Office of Administrative Hearings for a separate filing fee. [3]

    Reinstate a License ↗

After a DUI arrest or conviction

  1. Request a hearing within 10 days to keep driving

    If you refused or failed a test, you get an Order of Suspension and, if eligible, a 45-day temporary license. You can request a hearing within 30 days, but only a request within 10 days keeps you from being suspended before the hearing. Send it in writing to the Office of Administrative Hearings with a $150 filing fee payable to the "Maryland State Treasurer." [6][7]

  2. Or choose the Ignition Interlock Program within 30 days

    Instead of a hearing, you may be able to elect the Ignition Interlock Program in writing within 30 days of the Order of Suspension. It lasts 1 year if you refused or tested .15 or higher, or 6 months if you tested .08 to under .15. [6]

  3. Know your suspension period

    A test result of .08 to .14 brings a 180-day suspension. A result of .15 or more brings 180 days for a first offense and 270 days for a second. A refusal brings 270 days for a first offense and 2 years for a second. Your time starts when you turn in your license or sign a statement that you no longer have it. [6][7]

  4. Complete any required alcohol program

    For an alcohol- or drug-related revocation, you may need to finish a program before the MVA considers your application. One incident requires a 12-hour Alcohol Education Program; more incidents can require a 90-day or 6-month program with regular testing. [3]

  5. Expect the higher reinstatement fee

    Reinstatement after a drug or alcohol offense costs $150 instead of $90. [5]

Not legal advice. Rules change; confirm your own requirements with The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). Insurance agents submit eFR-19 forms to it electronically through the myMVA portal. before you drive.

SR-22 rules in Maryland · If your SR-22 lapses · Reinstatement in other states

Sources

  1. Maryland MVA - Information for Auto Insurers (eFR-19) (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  2. Maryland MVA - Receiving a Notice of Suspension or Revocation (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  3. Maryland MVA - Reinstate a License (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  4. Md. Code, Transportation §17-109 - Evidence of security after a point-accumulation warning letter (statute, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  5. Maryland MVA - Fees & Payment Options (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  6. Maryland MVA - Advice of Rights (DR-015): administrative suspension, hearing request, Ignition Interlock election (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  7. Maryland MVA - Driving Under the Influence (DUI) (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)

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