State guide · Updated October 2026
Maryland Driving Laws (2026): A Complete Guide
Maryland belongs to the South census region, with Annapolis as the capital and Baltimore and Columbia as its biggest cities. This page gathers the Maryland driving laws drivers ask about most, covering speed and phones through insurance, car tax and motorcycles.
Every section below answers one question in detail, with the facts, the figures and how it compares nationally, and the figures were last checked October 25, 2026 for Maryland.
Maryland driving laws: speed limits
The highest speed limit in Maryland is 70 mph. Interstates are posted at up to 70 mph in both rural and urban areas.
| Maryland: Highest posted limit | 70 mph |
|---|---|
| Interstates outside cities | 70 mph |
| Interstates in cities | 70 mph |
On busy roads such as I-95 and I-695, posted limits are frequently lower than 70 mph, especially around Baltimore and in work zones.
Drivers must also keep a speed reasonable for weather and traffic, even when that means going slower, and officers may write a ticket for that alone.
Bottom line, under Maryland driving laws: max speed limit, 70 mph.
Maryland driving laws: cell phone and texting law
Only hands-free. Maryland enforces a hands-free law: drivers cannot hold a phone to make calls or send messages while driving. Voice calls through the car and a mounted map are fine.
| Maryland: Hand-held phone use (all motorists) | Banned |
|---|---|
| Texting behind the wheel | Banned |
| Teen phone ban | Drivers under 18 |
Under the Maryland driving laws, a phone in a mount, voice commands and one swipe to answer a call or start navigation are allowed; picking it up in traffic is not.
Teen drivers face more: in Maryland, motorists under 18 are barred from phone use in any way, not even through Bluetooth.
In short, under Maryland driving laws: phone law, hands-free law.
Maryland driving laws: driving age and teen licenses
Teens in Maryland can apply for a learner's permit at 15 and a provisional license at 16; limits on night driving and passengers follow.
| Maryland: Permit age | Age 15 |
|---|---|
| Second-stage license | Age 16 |
| Supervised driving hours | 60 (10 at night) |
| Full privileges | Age 18 |
Before the road test, permit holders in Maryland log 60 hours (10 at night) of supervised driving.
At a glance, under Maryland driving laws: learner's permit age, permit at 15.
Maryland driving laws: minimum car insurance
Maryland requires at least 30/60/15 in liability insurance: $30,000 for injuries to one person, $60,000 for all injuries in one accident and $15,000 for property damage. Also required: personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
| Maryland: Injury limit per person | $30,000 |
|---|---|
| Per-accident injury coverage | $60,000 |
| Property damage | $15,000 |
| Other required coverage | PIP, UM, UIM |
| Claims system | At-fault |
| Must you insure | Yes |
Maryland uses fault-based claims, so the at-fault driver answers for the other drivers' injuries and damage via their liability insurance.
Required on top of liability in Maryland: personal injury protection (PIP), uninsured motorist (UM) coverage and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage.
Bare-minimum coverage often falls short in a serious crash, since medical bills plus a replacement car can pass $60,000 fast.
Consumer groups suggest a floor of 100/300/100, since costs beyond the policy can be taken from your savings.
Bottom line, under Maryland driving laws: car insurance, 30/60/15.
Maryland driving laws: car sales tax
Maryland collects a 6.5% state titling excise tax on car purchases. There are no additional local taxes.
| Maryland: Statewide rate | 6.5% (titling excise tax) |
|---|---|
| Local taxes added | No |
| Trade-in deducted | Limited |
| Tax on a $30,000 purchase | $1,950 |
The excise tax for most vehicles is 6.5% of the price (it was 6%). A trade-in is deducted only when you buy from a licensed dealer.
- A $20,000 car in Maryland: roughly $1,300 in state tax
- A $35,000 car in Maryland: about $2,275 in state tax
- A $55,000 car in Maryland: about $3,575 in state tax
Trade-in credit in Maryland is limited, so the Maryland driving laws may be close to the full-price figure.
At a glance, under Maryland driving laws: car sales tax, 6.5%.
Maryland driving laws: vehicle inspection and emissions
Only an emissions test. Maryland does not require periodic safety checks (only in some situations), but requires emissions testing in the majority of counties around Baltimore and Washington, DC.
| Maryland: Mechanical inspection | Only in some situations |
|---|---|
| Smog check | Some areas: most counties around Baltimore and Washington, DC |
A safety inspection is required when a used vehicle is sold or brought in from another state. Emissions tests are every two years.
Safety checks in Maryland only happen in specific cases, such as a sale or an out-of-state car.
Emissions tests on newer vehicles scan the on-board computer through the OBD port; a lit check-engine light generally means a failure.
Bottom line, under Maryland driving laws: car inspection, emissions only.
Maryland driving laws: license and registration deadlines for new residents
After moving to Maryland, you have 60 days to obtain a Maryland driver's license, and 60 days to register your car.
| Maryland: Switch your license | 60 days |
|---|---|
| Plate deadline | 60 days |
| Minimum car insurance | 30/60/15 |
| Inspection law | Emissions only |
Step-by-step list for Maryland driving laws
- Get a Maryland driver's license: 60 days. Take an ID document, your Social Security number and two proofs of address when you visit the Maryland MVA; REAL ID rules apply.
- Set up car insurance at or above the minimum: Maryland requires 30/60/15. A policy is generally required ahead of registration.
- Inspection: Only an emissions test. Maryland does not require periodic safety checks (only in some situations), but requires emissions testing in most counties around Baltimore and Washington, DC.
- Register and title your car: 60 days at the Maryland MVA.
The clock usually starts once you take a job, rent a home or enroll children in school in Maryland, not on the day the truck arrives.
In short, under Maryland driving laws: new resident deadline, 60 days.
Maryland driving laws: motorcycle helmet law
Yes. Maryland has a universal helmet law: every motorcycle rider and passenger has to wear a DOT-compliant helmet, regardless of age. It is the same in Baltimore, in Columbia and on quiet stretches of I-695.
| Maryland: Helmets mandatory for | All riders and passengers |
|---|---|
| Law type | Universal |
| Adult riders exempt | No |
Under the Maryland driving laws, riders and passengers of any age need a helmet on any motorcycle, including mopeds that need an endorsement.
According to NHTSA, that helmets cut over a third of rider deaths, and about 41% for passengers.
Any helmet worn to meet the law shows the DOT label at the rear; thin novelty shells without it do not count.
Bottom line, under Maryland driving laws: helmet law, all motorcyclists.
Maryland driving laws: lane splitting
No. Lane splitting and lane filtering are illegal in Maryland. Motorcycles must use a full lane, and motorcyclists are not allowed to squeeze between cars or split traffic.
| Maryland: Lane splitting (moving traffic) | Not legal |
|---|---|
| Lane filtering (stopped traffic) | Not legal |
| Legal since | — |
Because no statute permits it, Maryland driving laws counts as an illegal pass or an unsafe lane change, and a collision while doing it can count against the rider with insurers.
At a glance, under Maryland driving laws: lane splitting, not permitted.
Where the Maryland driving laws stand out
- Maryland sits near the middle among the states on all nine topics, so no single law in the Maryland driving laws should catch out newcomers from nearby states.
Driving around Maryland
Key highways include I-95, I-695 and I-270, linking Baltimore, Columbia and Annapolis, the capital. Each of these routes is covered by Maryland driving laws.
Licenses come from the Maryland MVA, and registration and titles come from the Maryland MVA.
Every law on this page applies statewide, from Baltimore to small towns.
Across the border
- Delaware: 65 mph for max speed limit, against 70 mph; car sales tax of 5.25% instead of 6.5%; 25/50/10 for car insurance, against 30/60/15
- Pennsylvania: 6% for car sales tax, against 6.5%; car insurance of 15/30/5 instead of 30/60/15; helmet law Under 21 (vs. All motorcyclists)
- Virginia: car sales tax of 4.15% instead of 6.5%; car insurance 50/100/25 (vs. 30/60/15)
- West Virginia: car sales tax of 6% instead of 6.5%; car insurance 25/50/25 (vs. 30/60/15)
- District of Columbia: 55 mph for max speed limit, against 70 mph; car sales tax 6% (vs. 6.5%); 25/50/10 for car insurance, against 30/60/15
FAQ: the Maryland driving laws
Do the Maryland driving laws differ for trucks?
Nearly all roads in Maryland post the same number for passenger cars and big rigs; stay alert to separate truck signs.
Can an officer stop you solely for violating the Maryland driving laws?
Yes. In Maryland it is generally primary enforcement, so you can be pulled over for it even with no other violation.
Is solo driving at 15 allowed under the Maryland driving laws laws?
No. Solo driving begins with the provisional license at 16 in Maryland.
What happens if I drive without Maryland driving laws?
Driving uninsured in Maryland can bring fines, loss of your registration, and personal liability for crash costs.
Is the Maryland driving laws due on used vehicles?
Yes. Used vehicles pay it as well, and private sales can be taxed at a minimum or a standard value.
Is a Maryland driving laws needed to sell a car?
Yes, in the cases described above.
Must adult riders follow the Maryland driving laws?
Yes. Every rider and passenger in Maryland has to wear a helmet.
Is filtering at red lights part of Maryland driving laws?
No. Riding between stopped cars at a light is illegal in Maryland too.