Your license stops being valid when ready, and driving with a suspended license is a separate criminal offense

When the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) suspends your license, you lose the legal right to drive in Maryland and most other states. The suspension takes effect on the date the MVA sends you notice — not the date you receive it. If you drive during the suspension period, you can be charged with driving with a suspended license, which carries its own penalties separate from whatever caused the suspension in the first place.

The MVA will mail you a notice explaining the reason for the suspension, the effective date, and how long it lasts. Keep this notice. You will need it if you want to contest the suspension or if you are stopped by police and need to show you received official notification.

The length of the suspension depends entirely on why it happened. A suspension for unpaid traffic fines might last 30 days. A suspension for failing a drug test might last 6 months or longer. A suspension for accumulating too many points on your driving record can last several years. The notice will tell you the specific end date.

Key Takeaways

  • A suspended license means you cannot legally drive in Maryland or most other states, and driving anyway creates a separate criminal charge.
  • The MVA sends written notice by mail with the suspension reason, start date, and end date — the suspension is effective when ready, not when you receive the letter.
  • Suspension length varies by reason: unpaid fines might be 30 days, while serious violations like DUI can result in suspensions lasting months or years.
  • You can request a hearing to contest the suspension if you believe the MVA made an error, but you must request it within a specific timeframe listed in your notice.
  • Reinstating your license requires paying any outstanding fines, fees, and the reinstatement fee, then waiting out the suspension period or obtaining a restricted license if one is available.

Common reasons the MVA suspends licenses in Maryland

The MVA suspends licenses for several categories of violations. The most common is accumulating too many points on your driving record — Maryland uses a point system where moving violations add points, and reaching 8 points in a 2-year period triggers a suspension. A single DUI conviction results in an automatic suspension that lasts at least 6 months for a first offense and longer for repeat offenses.

Failure to pay court-ordered fines or child support can also trigger suspension. If you miss a payment on a traffic fine or fail to appear in court for a traffic ticket, the court notifies the MVA and your license is suspended until you resolve the debt. Similarly, if you owe child support and fall behind, the state can suspend your license as a collection tool.

Medical suspensions happen when the MVA receives a report from a doctor or hospital that you have a condition affecting your ability to drive safely — epilepsy, severe vision loss, or loss of consciousness are examples. You can request a hearing and provide medical documentation showing the condition is controlled or no longer present.

Administrative suspensions occur when you fail or refuse a drug test as part of a DUI investigation, even before any criminal conviction. This suspension is separate from and often happens before any court case is resolved.

What you cannot do while your license is suspended

You cannot legally drive any vehicle in Maryland. This includes driving to work, to the grocery store, or to the MVA office itself. Police can stop you for any traffic violation, and if they discover your license is suspended, you will be charged with driving with a suspended license — a misdemeanor that can result in fines up to $500 and jail time up to 60 days for a first offense.

You also cannot renew your vehicle registration while your license is suspended. The MVA will not process a registration renewal until your suspension ends. If your registration expires during the suspension period, you cannot legally operate the vehicle even after the suspension ends until you renew the registration.

You cannot obtain a commercial driver's license or upgrade your license class during a suspension. Any license-related transactions must wait until the suspension period ends and your license is reinstated.

How to request a hearing to contest the suspension

If you believe the MVA made an error — for example, you paid a fine but the payment was not recorded, or the points on your record are incorrect — you can request a hearing. The notice the MVA sends you will state the important date for requesting a hearing, typically 10 days from the notice date. You must request the hearing in writing.

Send a written request to the MVA's Administrative Hearings and Licensing Appeals Division. Include your name, driver's license number, the reason for the suspension, and a brief explanation of why you believe the suspension is wrong. You can mail it, fax it, or deliver it in person to the MVA office. Keep a copy for your records and, if mailing, consider sending it certified mail so you have proof of delivery.

At the hearing, you will present your case to a hearing officer. Bring any documents that support your position — proof of payment for fines, medical records if the suspension was medical, court documents, or anything else relevant. The hearing officer will make a decision, which can take several weeks. If the officer agrees with you, the suspension is lifted. If not, you can appeal to the circuit court, though this requires an attorney and court filing fees.

Steps to reinstate your license after suspension ends

Before your suspension ends, check the notice to see if there are any conditions you must meet. If the suspension was due to unpaid fines, you must pay them. If it was due to failure to appear in court, you must resolve that court case. If it was a medical suspension, you may need to provide a doctor's statement that you are safe to drive again.

Once the suspension period has ended and any conditions are met, you must pay the reinstatement fee to the MVA. As of 2024, this fee is $100, though fees can change. You can pay online through the MVA website, by mail, or in person at an MVA office. After payment is processed, your license is reinstated and you can legally drive again.

If you cannot wait for the suspension to end, you may be able to obtain a restricted license that allows you to drive to work, school, medical appointments, or court-ordered programs. Restricted licenses are not available for all suspension reasons — DUI suspensions and suspensions for accumulating points typically do not may have access to. You must request a restricted license through a hearing or directly from the MVA, depending on the reason for your suspension.

Driving with a suspended license: penalties and consequences

Driving while your license is suspended is a misdemeanor offense in Maryland. A first offense carries a fine of up to $500 and up to 60 days in jail. A second offense within 5 years increases the penalty to a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 90 days in jail. A third or subsequent offense within 5 years can result in a fine of up to $2,000 and up to 6 months in jail.

Beyond criminal penalties, driving with a suspended license will extend your suspension. The MVA will add additional time to your suspension period — typically 6 months to 1 year depending on the circumstances. This means a 30-day suspension can become a 6-month or longer suspension if you are caught driving during it.

Your insurance company may also cancel your policy if they discover you drove while suspended, leaving you uninsured. When you eventually reinstate your license, you will need to obtain new insurance, and insurers often charge higher premiums for drivers with suspended license violations on their record.

Getting a restricted license while suspended

A restricted license allows you to drive for specific purposes only — typically to and from work, school, medical appointments, court-ordered programs like alcohol education classes, or to transport a dependent child to school or medical care. You cannot use a restricted license for any other purpose.

To request a restricted license, you must file a petition with the circuit court in the county where you live or where the violation occurred. You will need to explain why you need to drive — for example, that you have no other way to get to work and will lose your job without driving. The judge will decide whether to grant the restricted license based on your circumstances and the reason for the original suspension.

Some suspensions do not may have access to for a restricted license. DUI-related suspensions typically do not allow restricted licenses. Suspensions for accumulating points may allow a restricted license if you can show genuine hardship. The notice you received will indicate whether a restricted license is available for your type of suspension, or you can contact the MVA to ask.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive in another state if my Maryland license is suspended?

No. Most states honor suspensions from other states through the Interstate Compact, a system that shares suspension information. If your Maryland license is suspended, you cannot legally drive in most other states either. Some states may issue you a license, but driving on it while Maryland's suspension is active is still illegal under Maryland law.

What if I did not receive the notice about my suspension?

The MVA considers the suspension effective on the date they mailed the notice, not the date you received it. If you did not receive it, you may not have known you were suspended, but that does not make the suspension invalid. If you are stopped by police and discover your license is suspended, you can still be charged. Contact the MVA when ready to confirm your suspension status and find out what caused it.

Can I get my suspension removed early?

It depends on the reason. If the suspension was for unpaid fines and you pay them, the suspension ends when ready. If it was for failure to appear in court and you resolve the court case, the suspension ends. For other reasons — like accumulating points or a DUI — you generally must wait out the full suspension period, though you may be able to obtain a restricted license if you show hardship.

How much does it cost to reinstate my license?

The reinstatement fee is $100 as of 2024, though this can change. You may also owe outstanding fines, court costs, or other fees depending on why your license was suspended. Contact the MVA or check your suspension notice to find out the total amount you owe before reinstatement.

Will a suspended license show up on a background check?

Yes. A suspended license appears on your driving record and will show up on background checks that include driving history. Some employers, landlords, and insurance companies check driving records. A suspension can affect your ability to get hired for jobs that require driving or to obtain certain types of insurance.