The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration, otherwise known as the MVA, can place a “flag” on your vehicle if they get a request from a law enforcement agency like the local police, the MVA, or other state/local jurisdiction.
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Maryland has over 4.6 million licensed drivers
Registration flags are placed on a vehicle when there’s an unresolved issue like as emissions test, parking ticket, toll violation, no proof of auto insurance, speeding ticket, and the like. The Maryland flag is on record after you’ve failed to fix the problem.
MD tags flags and administrative fee
A Maryland registration flag means you can’t renew your tags, as well as an additional administrative cost (for specific violations, not all) on top of resolving the issue. So if you have a flag for a parking ticket, you must pay your ticket first, then pay an administrative fee of $30 to the MVA to remove that flag.
Besides registration renewal, an MD flag also prevents you from transferring a license plate to another vehicle, getting a plate replacement, or a registration replacement. In extreme cases, law enforcement can take away your Maryland license plates.
The Toyota RAV4 is the most recent, most popular vehicle in the Old Line State
Why a flag is placed and how to remove it
Not every Maryland flag is subject to extra administrative fees; only parking, toll, red-light camera, and speed camera violations result in an extra $30. That fee has to be paid on top of the fines you have due to the original citation.
To resolve an SERO issued for your vehicle, you must have the vehicle repaired within 10 days
Some flags don’t have that extra administrative fee
If the MVA’s records show an issue with your auto insurance, you can have a flag placed on your vehicle. You have to find out the exact car insurance requirements in MD for your vehicle and resolve the problem with the MVA. If you’ve submitted a check to the MVA and had it returned, or if you have a VEIP violation due to an issue with emissions inspections, then those will result in flags too.
If you’re stopped for a safety-related problem like a non-functioning headlight, you’re going to get flagged for a safety equipment repair order violation, also known as SERO. If your vehicle is abandoned, a salvage vehicle or title violation can also result in a registration flag.
Only the entity that requested the flag placement is authorized to request its deletion; sometimes, the deletion of the flag may take several weeks
More on Maryland flag removal
To remove a flag, contact the entity that placed it and resolve the issue. You most likely got a notice by email with specific information about your vehicle issue along with that to do next. You can also find specific jurisdictions for flagging programs online with the MVA. You can call the MVA customer service 410.769.7000 too. Make sure you inquire about your flag release which you’ll need in order to renew your registration and process other vehicle services transactions that were previously blocked by flag.
For paying the administrative fee, you can use MVA’s e-store, by mail, in person at the MVA as well as a kiosk. Once your flag is resolved, you can get online with eTags to manage all your vehicle services in Maryland. This includes registration renewals, title transfers, and duplicate titles.
27 comments
Is there any hardship assistance to help pay a flag violation? Especially for first timer?
The MVA does offer a fine payment plan. We recommended using the MVA website chat to inquire about assistance/help beyond that.
I have a flag but can my husband register my car that I just bought
If you and your husband share the same address, then he will not be able to transfer the register the car as the flag will still appear on record.
If I have flags on a license plate causing me not to be able to renew my registration and it’s an outstanding amount due is it possible to trade in my car to get a new one and get a new license plate and still be able to register the new car?
We like where you are going with this…
However, in most cases, the flag will be present even on a new vehicle you register, with only a few exceptions. View a list of common reasons for MVA flags here. A flag for an emissions inspection won’t affect a new vehicle since the issue is specific to your old vehicle. But unpaid parking tickets, tolls, etc will affect any new vehicle you register. Best of luck.
Hello,
I have to renew my tags and I had a flag fee. I paid the flag fee and mva won’t let me renew my registration. It stills says I have a flag fee, but when I go through the process to pay it, it says the flag fee doesn’t exist. How long do I have to wait after paying a flag fee to renew my registration?
After you have complied with all requirements, the entity may provide a flag release which you need to present to the MVA before requesting a vehicle-related transaction. Only the entity that requested the flag placement is authorized to request its deletion; sometimes, the deletion of the flag may take several weeks
My daughter has a flag on her car but it’s not suspended, is she still able to drive her vehicle and what’s the time limit to pay the fine.
If the ticket isn’t causing the vehicle to be suspended then yes your daughter can still drive it. As far as time limit, you’d have to ask the MVA
I got an administrative flag, so I have paid the administration fee and the associated parking fee. Then, one month later, I received a very similar administrative flag with the SAME citation number as before. Is it simply because the status of the first flag was not updated or there is another flag that I don’t know ? If it is not updated, what should I do?
It’s most likely another flag for another ticket that hasn’t been paid. The MVA will only give one administrative flag per ticket. They don’t add more if the ticket is still outstanding.
I have 2 flags on my vehicle for emissions- my car will not pass and it is over 20 years old, so i do not want tp put any more money into it. Can I sell it? What can I do to get rid of it?
I have two flags for parking fines that were paid before the flag was generated… would I still need to pay the administration fees? The parking fines were paid in March and the flags were put up two weeks later in April.
The administration fees are usually placed on the system when the parking fine isn’t paid within 30 days of getting it. But, the Mva administers all fees. So, they determine if it’s past due. I’ve never heard of anyone not having to pay the fees if they’re placed. Please contact the MVA if you feel it was placed too soon. Thanks
Como puedo pagar las banderas de mi auto necesito ablar directamente algún numero
Puede comunicarse con el departamento de servicio al cliente del MVA al 1-410-768-7000. Tambien puede leer mas information sobre esto en esta pagina de web.
Just found out that I have flags on my car. I’ve been homeless for over 2yrs and now they are saying itll be a huge fine to get the stickers? I never got anything in the mail and when I called mva to let them know I was homeless with no address they said sorry nothing can be done. I’m currently not working and my stickers are expiring at the end of this month. Please help
Hi Danielle. I’m sorry to hear of your hardship. If you place an order with eTags, we have multiple payment options like Affirm. If you’re eligible, this might help you with a payment plan to complete the renewal of your tags. I hope this helps.
How old does the violation. Have to be to be red flagged in MD
Hey there, this MVA article should help.
I received a red flag this is the first of communication for the flag also what is code 3309 in Ocean city, Maryland?
Look up your tag in the state citation system. It may be a parking ticket but you’ll get more details once you enter the info.
How long does does it take to release the flag once all fees are paid?
Hi Michelle! There are different guidelines on timing depending on what your flag is for. It can range anywhere from 3 days to a few weeks. The most common flags are for tickets and emissions and those take 5-7 days and 2-3 days respectively to clear. I hope this helps!
Once a flag fee is issued can it increase if not paid?
Hi there,
Generally speaking, no. However, the MVA might increase fees on flags for insurance lapses.