Chapter 16. Issuance, Renewal, Display, and Expiration of Registrations
Regulation .01 Issuance and Renewal of Registration.LinkCopy Citation
A.
The owner of a vehicle subject to registration under the Transportation Article, Annotated Code of Maryland, shall apply to the Administration for the registration of the vehicle in the manner that the Administration requires. On approval by the Administration and after payment of all applicable fees, the Administration shall issue a new registration card, plates, and validation sticker.
B.
The owner of a vehicle for which registration is to be renewed shall apply for renewal of the registration in the manner that the Administration requires. On approval by the Administration and after payment of all applicable fees, the Administration shall grant the registration renewal and issue a new registration card and validation sticker.
C.
Notwithstanding any provisions of Transportation Article, §§13-104 and 13-403, Annotated Code of Maryland, the renewal of electronically processed registrations does not require a signature.
D.
The owner of a vehicle requesting replacement plates or validation sticker, or a duplicate or additional registration card shall apply in the manner that the Administration requires, and pay all applicable fees set forth in COMAR 11.11.05.04.
Regulation .01-1 Temporary Authorization Certificate.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Issuance.
(1)
The Administration may issue a temporary authorization certificate permitting a vehicle to be driven:
(a)
Pending the issuance of current validation stickers; or
(b)
For a recognized event approved by the Administration.
(2)
The temporary authorization certificate shall be issued for a period not to exceed 15 days.
(3)
A temporary authorization certificate is not transferrable and may not be used on a vehicle other than the one to which it was issued.
(4)
A service fee may be charged for the issuance of a temporary authorization certificate.
B.
The manufacturer, distributor, or dealer of a vehicle may apply to the Administration for the issuance of a temporary authorization certificate for the purpose of permitting a vehicle to be driven for a recognized event approved by the Administration.
C.
The owner of a vehicle which is due for registration renewal may apply for renewal of the registration and obtain a temporary authorization certificate.
Regulation .02 Display of Registration Cards, Temporary Authorization Certificates, Registration Plates, County Stickers and Validation Stickers.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Each registration card or temporary authorization certificate shall be carried:
(1)
In the vehicle to which it refers; or
(2)
By the individual driving or in control of the vehicle.
B.
Registration Plates and Validation Stickers.
(1)
Registration plates shall be affixed to the vehicle as prescribed under Transportation Article, §13-411.
(2)
Except as provided under §B(3) of this regulation, validation stickers shall be displayed on the rear registration plate on or before the expiration date of the registration.
(3)
Validation stickers for Class F vehicles shall be displayed on the front registration plate.
C.
Issuance.
(1)
Validation stickers or a temporary authorization certificate may be issued as evidence of payment of the annual registration fee of the vehicle.
(2)
Separate validation stickers may be issued to indicate the month of expiration and the year of expiration.
(3)
Upon subsequent renewals, a validation sticker for only the year of expiration may be issued.
(4)
A temporary authorization certificate may be issued pending issuance of a validation sticker for the registration year.
D.
The Administration shall provide for the manufacture and issuance of new registration plates, which:
(1)
Shall be issued and displayed in the manner specified by the Administration; and
(2)
May be validated as provided in §C of this regulation.
E.
County Sticker.
(1)
The owner of a class vehicle specified in Transportation Article, §13-410, Annotated Code of Maryland, may display on a registration plate the name of the county in which the owner resides.
(2)
The owner of a vehicle may obtain a county sticker that is approved and offered by the Administration.
(3)
A county sticker shall be:
(a)
Displayed on the rear registration plate in the manner specified by the Administration;
(b)
Issued only in the name of the county in which the vehicle owner resides; and
(c)
Displayed only on the vehicle for which it was issued.
(4)
A county sticker may not be displayed on special or commemorative registration plates.
Regulation .03 Expiration of Registration.LinkCopy Citation
Except as provided in Regulation .01-1 of this chapter, unless validation stickers have been issued by the Administration and are properly displayed on the registration plates, the registration and registration plates expire at midnight on the expiration date indicated on the registration card issued by the Administration.
Regulation .04 Proration of Registration Fee for Part of Registration Year.LinkCopy Citation
A.
“Registration year” means a 12-month period beginning the month in which the vehicle is entered into the staggered system of registration by the Administration or in which the vehicle is first titled by the Administration or in which a special interchangeable registration is first issued by the Administration.
B.
Except as otherwise provided, the annual registration fees specified by the Administration in COMAR 11.11.05 are for the entire 12 months of the registration year.
C.
If the registration of a vehicle is issued on or before the last day of the sixth month of the registration year for that class of vehicle, the full annual registration fee shall be paid.
D.
If the registration of a vehicle is issued on or after the first day of the seventh month of the registration year for that class of vehicle, only one-half of the annual registration shall be paid.
E.
If the registration of a commercial vehicle in excess of 26,000 pounds is issued for a period of less than the full annual registration year, the registration fee to be paid shall be one quarter of the annual registration fee multiplied by the number of quarters remaining in the registration year including the quarter within which the registration takes effect.
F.
Notwithstanding §§B, C, D, and E of this regulation, under a staggered system of registration, the Administration, at its discretion, may reschedule the monthly volumes of registration renewals by applying different expiration dates and prorating fees accordingly.
Regulation .05 Multi-Year Registrations — Staggered Classes.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Each new vehicle registration plate issued in conjunction with the titling of a vehicle or a registration renewal shall be for a period not to exceed 3 years, unless otherwise approved by the Administration.
B.
Registration renewals shall be due on or before the last day of the month stated on the registration card.
C.
Refund of Registration Fees.
(1)
If a registration issued under this regulation is cancelled before the beginning of the start of a new registration year, the Administration shall refund the fees paid for any unused registration year.
(2)
The Administration may not process a refund if the registration is flagged or suspended until the flag is released and or the suspension is withdrawn.
(3)
A refund may not be processed if the registration plates and stickers are not returned to the Administration.
Chapter annotations
Authority: Transportation Article, §§12-104(b), 13-410, 13-412, and 13-413, Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date:
History: Regulations .01 and .02 under COMAR 11.15.16, Expiration and Renewal of Registrations, adopted as an emergency provision effective July 1, 1985 (12:14 Md. R. 1428); emergency status expired January 31, 1986
History: Regulations .01—.04 adopted as an emergency provision effective February 1, 1986 (13:3 Md. R. 269); adopted permanently effective February 24, 1986 (13:4 Md. R. 396)
History: Regulation .01 amended effective May 20, 1996 (23:10 Md. R. 732); February 8, 2010 (37:3 Md. R. 177)
History: Regulation .01-1 adopted effective May 20, 1996 (23:10 Md. R. 732)
History: Regulation .01-1 amended effective February 18, 2002 (29:3 Md. R. 222); January 5, 2004 (30:26 Md. R. 1916)
History: Regulation .01-1A, B amended effective March 18, 2013 (40:5 Md. R. 412)
History: Regulation .02 amended effective May 16, 1988 (15:10 Md. R. 1202); May 20, 1996 (23:10 Md. R. 732); December 10, 2001 (28:24 Md. R. 2130)
History: Regulation .01-1D repealed effective February 17, 2014 (41:3 Md. R. 202)
History: Regulation .02 amended effective February 17, 2014 (41:3 Md. R. 202)
History: Regulation .02E amended effective November 6, 2006 (33:22 Md. R. 1733); August 29, 2016 (43:17 Md. R. 955)
History: Regulation .03 amended effective July 8, 1991 (18:13 Md. R. 1483); May 20, 1996 (23:10 Md. R. 732)
History: Regulation .03 repealed and new Regulation .03 adopted effective November 6, 2006 (33:22 Md. R. 1733)
History: Regulation .03 amended effective February 17, 2014 (41:3 Md. R. 202)
History: Regulation .04 amended effective July 8, 1991 (18:13 Md. R. 1483)
History: Regulation .04A amended effective November 6, 2006 (33:22 Md. R. 1733)
History: Regulation .04B amended effective January 1, 1992 (18:25 Md. R. 2754)
History: Regulation .05 adopted as an emergency provision effective July 1, 1992 (19:15 Md. R. 1385); adopted permanently effective December 21, 1992 (19:25 Md. R. 2207)
History: Regulation .05 amended effective November 6, 2006 (33:22 Md. R. 1733); February 3, 2025 (52:2 Md. R. 68)
History: Regulation .05A amended effective October 3, 2011 (38:20 Md. R. 1203)
History: Regulation .05B, C amended effective February 17, 2014 (41:3 Md. R. 202)
History: Regulation .05D amended effective March 18, 2013 (40:5 Md. R. 412)