GLEN BURNIE, Md. (July 16, 2012)—Maryland residents under forty years of age, who qualify, will now be able to renew their driver’s license online or at an MVA self-service kiosk. The electronic driver’s license renewals are offered as an alternative to visiting an MVA office and will help further reduce wait times for other MVA transactions.
“Our goal is to make State services efficient and convenient,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “The renewal of a driver’s license is something hundreds of thousands of Marylander’s must do every year. Making this transaction available online for those customers who qualify will eliminate a trip to an MVA office and allow them to handle their renewal when it is convenient, no matter the time of day. Fewer renewals in our MVA branch offices also will help reduce wait times for other transactions that still require an office visit.”
This is the first phase of a two-phase deployment of online and kiosk driver’s license renewals. This first phase is for those who are under forty years of age since they are exempt from the vision screening requirement under the current statute. The second phase, designed to accommodate the vision requirement for license holders 40 years of age and older, will be made available at a later date.
The first phase of this new service will launch in mid-July and be available to those with driver’s licenses that have not expired. The renewal candidate must have a verifiable social security number and be a Maryland resident with a verifiable address that is on record. All candidates must also be at least 21 years old but not older than 39. New licenses will be mailed to the verified address on file.
Renewals are initially valid for five years, but they will eventually be lengthened for up to eight years as new legislation requiring eight year renewals takes effect later this year. The renewal fee is $30 for a five year renewal and $48 for an eight year renewal.
The new alternative renewal service will use the most recent photograph for the driver, and will require an in office visit the next time they renew (in either five or eight years) to update the image. The MVA also will notify the driver that a visit to an MVA branch office is necessary if the driver has an expired license, is too young or too old, has a suspended or revoked license, a medical condition or a number of other conditions.
The service is available at the MVA’s website, http://www.mva.maryland.gov or at any MVA self-service kiosk located in branch offices across the state.
In April, 2012, the MVA began offering identification card renewals online and at MVA self-service kiosks.
Source: Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration