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New to Maryland? Title and register your car
Moved here with a car? Maryland gives new residents 60 days to title and register it.
The MVA says you must title and register your vehicle within 60 days of moving to Maryland. Miss that and you lose the tax credit for titling tax you paid in your old state, and you may be cited for out-of-state registration. The MVA has also announced new enforcement measures and fines starting October 1, 2026. See its Plate Where You Live page.
Private tag and title agencies handle the vehicle side. Your Maryland driver's license is a separate transaction with the MVA.
What the MVA asks for
- Your out-of-state title (or, if a lender holds it, your lienholder's details and your registration card)
- A completed Certificate of Title application (VR-005)
- A Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate (most vehicles need one the first time they are titled here)
- Maryland insurance on the vehicle
- Valid identification
- Payment for the titling tax and fees (the tax depends on what you paid in your previous state)
Just visiting, not moving? If your car stays in Maryland 60 days or more, you may need a nonresident permit instead.
Summarized from the Maryland MVA, checked September 2026: Title and Register your Vehicle in Maryland (new residents) · Plate Where You Live. Requirements change and depend on your situation; the MVA's pages are the final word.
Before you call an agency, ask
- Do you handle out-of-state title transfers for new residents?
- A lender holds my title. Can you request it, and how long does that take?
- Can you issue temporary tags so I can get the safety inspection?
- What is the total, including tax, title fee and your service fee?
Agencies that list this service
6 of 44 agencies mention it in their public information. We haven't confirmed it by phone yet. Many others handle everyday tag and title work too, so call any agency near you and ask.
Other things you might need
Tag & Title Finder is not the MVA. This page summarizes public MVA information to help you prepare; it isn't legal advice. Agencies set their own service fees.