# Transportation (GTR)

## Title 17. Vehicle Laws -- Required Security

### Subtitle 2. Nonpayment of Judgments

#### Section 17-201

In this subtitle, "judgment" means any final judgment resulting from:

(1) A cause of action for damages arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use on any highway or other property open to the public of any vehicle of a type required to be registered in this State; or

(2) A cause of action on an agreement of settlement for damages arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use on any highway or other property open to the public of any vehicle of a type required to be registered in this State.

#### Section 17-202

If a person fails to satisfy a judgment within 30 days, the judgment creditor or his representative may send to the Administration a certified copy of the judgment and, on a form provided by the Administration, a certificate of facts relating to the judgment. The certificate of facts is prima facie evidence of the facts stated in it.

#### Section 17-203

If the judgment debtor named in a certified copy of a judgment or in a certificate of facts is a nonresident, the Administration shall send a certified copy of the judgment or certificate of facts to the Motor Vehicle Administrator of the state where the judgment debtor is a resident and of any other state where the vehicle of the judgment debtor is registered.

#### Section 17-208

(a) For purposes of this subtitle, a judgment is considered satisfied if:

  (1) It is paid to the judgment creditor or into the court that rendered the judgment, either in full or up to the minimum required security amounts required under the Maryland Vehicle Law; or

  (2) An order of satisfaction is filed with the court that rendered the judgment.

(b) A payment made in settlement of any claim because of bodily injury, death, or property damage arising from the accident shall be credited in reduction of the payment required by subsection (a) (1) of this section.

#### Section 17-209

(a)

  (1) On due notice to the judgment creditor, a judgment debtor may apply to the court that rendered the judgment for the privilege of paying the judgment in installments.

  (2) In its discretion, the court may order payment of the judgment in installments and may set and modify from time to time the amounts and times of the installment payments.

  (3) A judgment debtor may continue to make payments under an installment plan as long as the installment payments are not in default.

(b)

  (1) Except as provided for in subsection (c) of this section, after default and on due notice to the judgment creditor, if past-due installments have been paid, the judgment debtor again may apply to the court that allowed the installment payments for the resumption of the privilege of installment payments.

  (2) In its discretion, the court may order resumption of the installment payments as provided in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) A judgment debtor under Title 20, Subtitle 6 of the Insurance Article who has been in default at least 3 times under subsection (a)(3) of this section may not resume the privilege of installment payments unless:

  (1) The Fund receives payment in an amount satisfactory to the Fund; and

  (2) The Fund consents to the resumption of installment payments.

(d) The actions of a court under this section are without prejudice to any other legal remedy of the judgment creditor.

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Md. Code Ann., Transp. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)