Hello, Maryland friends! Are you looking at an expired registration or one that’s about to expire? If so, you might want to put your errands on hold until you’re able to update your registration. Driving on expired tags can not only lead to fines, but can end up in increased insurance premiums.
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Luckily, it’s easy to renew your Maryland vehicle registration online with eTags. All it takes is a few clicks, and you can get back on the road without worrying about fines. In this article, we’ll discuss the details of car registration in Maryland and explain what could happen if you don’t renew on time. We’ll dive into the following points:
- Why You Need to Register Your Car in Maryland
- Driving Without Registration? That’s a $500 Risk
- Most Expired Car Registrations in Maryland Are Due to a Lack of Insurance
- How Much Does It Cost to Renew Expired Tags in Maryland?
Why You Need to Register Your Car in Maryland
When you purchase a car in Maryland, registering it is essential if you want to drive legally. The state requires every driver to be registered, as registration proves that you are:
- Insured: To obtain registration in Maryland, you must carry an auto insurance policy that meets state minimums.
- Driving a safe vehicle: Every registered vehicle in Maryland must pass a safety inspection.
- In the MVA system: Registration ties you to your vehicle in the MVA system. The tags, cards, and plates you get during registration make it easier for law enforcement to identify your vehicle. If your car is ever stolen or abandoned, officers can get in touch with you more easily to let you know about the status of your car.
For most drivers, the reason to register a car is much simpler. Driving with an expired registration in Maryland could mean paying serious fines or even having your vehicle impounded. These expensive inconveniences are more than enough reason to keep your registration up to date at all times.
Driving Without Registration? That’s a $500 Risk
Forget to renew your Maryland registration? That slip-up could cost you up to $500 in fines. Whether your tags have expired, your registration has been suspended, or you never registered the car in the first place, driving with an expired registration in Maryland is a misdemeanor offense. Penalties include fines, restrictions on your driver’s license, and increased insurance rates.
That said, avoiding all that headache is easy when you renew your Maryland registration online with eTags. When you renew on our platform, you’ll also get convenient reminders when your tags are due to expire so you never miss a deadline.
Most Expired Car Registrations in Maryland Are Due to a Lack of Insurance
Often, the reason someone doesn’t update their registration on time is that they’re not properly insured. Unfortunately, anyone driving without insurance and with an expired registration in Maryland will face steeper fines than if they were just driving on expired tags.
Again, if you get stopped while driving without registration or insurance, you could face a $1,000 fine, higher insurance rates, and even jail time. It’s always best to keep your insurance and registration up to date.
How Much Does It Cost to Renew Expired Tags in Maryland?
Every state requires drivers to pay registration fees when it’s time to renew, and Maryland is no exception. Here, the cost to register your vehicle depends on two factors: the type of vehicle and the length of the registration.
Maryland allows you to register vehicles for either one, two, or three years. The following list of registration prices shows the cost of renewing for one year, and includes the $40.00 surcharge for the EMS system:
- Passenger cars (shipping weight up to 3,500 lbs.) – $120.50
- Passenger cars (shipping weight between 3,501 and 3,700 lbs.) – $125.50
- Passenger cars (shipping weight over 3,700 lbs.) – $191.50
- Motorcycles – $105.00
There are also specific rates for atypical vehicles such as street rods, low-speed vehicles, and historic vehicles. For a complete list of registration fees, visit the MVA Fee Listing page.
Renew Your Maryland Registration Online With eTags!
It’s clear to see why keeping your Maryland vehicle registration up to date is so important. Current registration saves you money and time, whereas letting it lapse puts your driving privileges in jeopardy.
If you’ve ever missed a registration and been stuck paying fines or late fees, eTags can make those issues a thing of the past: when you renew your Maryland registration online with eTags, you’ll receive convenient reminders before your registration expires.
Plus, our easy-to-use platform makes renewal possible in a matter of minutes, so you won’t have to worry about waiting for an available appointment at the MVA when your renewal deadline is on the horizon.
Don’t risk the fines: renew your Maryland registration online today with eTags!
