Used vehicles are required to pass a safety inspection prior to being registered in Maryland. However, if you are having difficulty arranging the inspection, you may be eligible for a 30-day temporary registration or a military personnel inspection waiver, both of which allow you to drive the vehicle prior to its inspection.

The following types of inspection waivers are discussed below:

• 30-Day Temporary Registration – issued to the owner of a vehicle needing a Maryland safety inspection.
• Military Personnel Inspection Waiver – issued to the owner of a Maryland titled vehicle who is an active duty member of the military stationed outside of Maryland, but whose home of record is Maryland.

Note that 60-day temporary (cardboard) plates can only be displayed on vehicles that have met Maryland’s safety inspection requirements. These plates are issued only by Maryland dealers who are required by law to have all of their vehicles safety inspected before they are sold.

For more information about Maryland’s safety inspections requirements, see Vehicle Safety Inspection.

Fees:

• There is a fee for a 30-day temporary registration.
• Once the vehicle is inspected, the customer must submit the inspection certificate and purchase registration for the vehicle. Registration fees vary by the type of vehicle and/or its intended use. See Fees for Registration Plates for more information.

Contact Information:

MVA
Mail In Title Unit
6601 Ritchie Highway, N.E.
Glen Burnie, MD 21062

For telephone questions:

I purchased a vehicle that has not been safety inspected in Maryland. Can I obtain a temporary registration in order to drive the vehicle to an inspection station?

Yes, if you have a title for the vehicle, or are applying for a Maryland title at the same time, you may be eligible for a 30-day temporary registration. Note that the temporary registration is provided so that you can drive your vehicle to and from an authorized Maryland inspection station, weighing station, or repair facility in order to have the vehicle pass a Maryland safety inspection.

To apply for the 30-day temporary registration, complete the Temporary Inspection Waiver form. Be sure to include your insurance information; your vehicle liability insurance policy must conform to Maryland’s minimum liability insurance requirements.

You can submit the waiver application and the applicable fee in-person at any of the MVA’s full service branch offices. You also can mail your documents and fee to the MVA’s Mail in Title Unit in the Glen Burnie office, or go to an MVA licensed tag and title service where they will assist you in applying. Licensed tag and title services will charge a fee for this service.

A temporary registration card and metal license plates will be issued to you if you apply in person. Otherwise, these items will be mailed to you. When you receive the plates, affix them to your vehicle. The temporary registration card must be carried in the vehicle.

Once you obtain the Maryland Safety Inspection Certificate, you should return to any of the MVA's full service branch offices with the original (top) copy of the Certificate to purchase your permanent registration.  If you do not plan to immediately obtain a permanent registration for your vehicle, you should still submit the original copy of the Certificate to any full service MVA office within 90 days of the safety inspection date.

Note: You must title your vehicle before or at the same time as you apply for the 30-day temporary registration. Access the infoMVA homepage and select the most appropriate description for information about titling requirements. Commonly used titling processes include:

• Titling - Used Vehicle Purchased from a Dealer
• Titling – Used Vehicle Purchase from a Non-Dealer

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I am in the military and stationed outside of Maryland. I have purchased a vehicle that I want to title and register in Maryland, however, the vehicle has not been safety inspected. Can I obtain a safety inspection waiver?

You ay be eligible for a military personnel inspection waiver if :

• You are on active duty in the U.S. military; and,
• You are stationed outside of Maryland; and,
• Your home of record is in Maryland; and,
• You apply for the waiver when you apply for the vehicle’s Maryland title.

You can submit the waiver application, the other documents needed to title the vehicle, and the applicable fee in-person at any of the MVA’s full service branch offices. You also can mail your documents and fee to the MVA’s Mail in Title Unit in the Glen Burnie office, or go to an MVA licensed tag and title service where they will assist you in applying. Licensed tag and title services will charge a fee for this service.

The military personnel inspection waiver application must include:

• Temporary Inspection Waiver – Be sure to include your insurance information; your vehicle liability insurance policy must conform to Maryland’s minimum liability insurance requirements.
• Address Certification - United States Government Employee – the form must be signed by your commanding officer.

A registration card and metal license plates will be issued to you if you apply in person. Otherwise, these items will be mailed to you. The registration card must be carried in the vehicle. While the vehicle’s registration period will be two years, you are expected to have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible.

Note: You must title your vehicle before or at the same time as you apply for the registration. Access the infoMVA homepage and select the most appropriate description for information about titling requirements. Commonly used titling processes include:

• Titling - Used Vehicle Purchased from a Dealer
• Titling – Used Vehicle Purchase from a Non-Dealer
   

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