Maryland Licensing Procedures and Maryland Online Driver Education

Congratulations on starting the process of applying for your Maryland learner’s permit or first Maryland driver’s license. The process of applying for your Maryland learner’s permit or first Maryland driver’s license can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be if you have the right information. This short guide will give you all the necessary facts to ensure that your experience applying for your first Maryland driver’s license is as smooth as can be.

The first thing you need to know is that Maryland has a “Graduated Driver License Program()”:http://gdl.kytc.ky.gov/ that is specially geared toward younger drivers like yourself. The program will allow you to safely gain driving experience in stages, before being granted full driving privileges. So let’s get started.

Maryland Instructional Permit and Maryland Learner’s Permit

As soon as you’re 15 years and 9 months of age you can apply for a Maryland learner’s permit. With this permit, you can practice driving with another licensed driver who has held a valid license for at least 3 years, and the permit is valid for 2 years.

You should make an appointment at your local Maryland Vehicle Administration (MVA) and take the following with you:

• If under 18, your parent or guardian must co-sign your permit application
• If under 16, you must complete a “Learner’s Permit School Attendance Certification()”:http://www.mva.maryland.gov/Resources/DL-300.pdf
• “Valid Identification and proof of residence()”:http://www.mva.maryland.gov/DriverServ/Apply/proof.htm

At your local Maryland MVA, you manage to pass the required tests, then congratulations! You just earned your Maryland learner’s permit. Although we know it’s tempting, don’t forget that when driving with your Maryland learner’s permit, you are prohibited from using a cell phone, and violations of this law will result in Maryland teen license suspension.

After you’ve had your Maryland learner’s permit in good standing for 9 months, you’ll be ready for the next phase in the Maryland Graduated License Program.

Your Maryland Provisional Driver’s License

In order to apply for your Maryland provisional driver’s license, a few “Maryland State requirements()”:http://www.mva.maryland.gov/DriverServ/ROOKIEDRIVER/bgenerallearners.htm will have to be followed before heading down to your local Maryland MVA.

• Complete a Maryland-approved driver training course
• Be at least 16 years and 180 days old
• Have a parent or guardian fill out a Practice Skills Log
• Have your Maryland learner’s permit for at least 9 months in good standing
• Be sure to have practiced at least 60 hours of driving while supervised (10 of these practice hours must be at night)

If you’ve completed the following requirements, the only obstacle that remains is the dreaded road exam. If you pass, then congratulations! You’ve just earned your Maryland provisional driver license!

Maryland Teen Driver License Restrictions and Penalties

You’ve come a long way since you began this process, and we’re sure you’re eager to get on the road. However, you’ll still have to live with a few restrictions until you’ve held your Maryland provisional driver’s license for 18 months in good standing. But don’t worry: once you turn 18, you’ll finally be eligible for your Maryland unrestricted driver’s license.

• No passengers under 18 for the first 5 months (unless they’re family members), unless you’re driving with proper supervision
• No driving from 12AM to 5AM unless going to or from your job, a school sanctioned activity, a volunteer program, or an athletic event you’re participating in.

If you can manage all of this for 180 days, then congratulations, you can now be issued a full Indiana full license!

Maryland Auto Insurance Maryland Financial Responsibility Laws

You may think you’re ready to drive once you have your license, but getting your Maryland full driver’s license is only the beginning. Any vehicle registered in Maryland must be covered by “liability insurance()”:http://maine.gov/pfr/insurance/consumer/auto.htm. If you are found to be driving without Maryland mandatory liability insurance, your Maryland learner’s permit or Maryland intermediate driver license could be suspended and you could face a stiff fine. Needless to say, do not get on Maryland roads in an uninsured vehicle!

The minimum coverage is:

$20,000 per person for bodily injury
$40,000 per accident for bodily injury
$25,000 for property damage

Maryland Drunk Driving, Cell Phone, and Text Messaging Laws

As a new Maryland driver, keeping yourself and others safe should be your top priority. We consider it vitally important that you learn the Maryland drunk driving, cell phone, and text messaging laws.

Drunk Driving

First of all, Maryland has a zero tolerance law, which means that if you’re under 21, with a Blood Alcohol Content of .02 you’ll face fines and Maryland driver’s license suspension just like an adult with a BAC of .08 would.

Upon your first conviction of a Maryland DUI (0.08), you’ll face the following penalties:

• Jail sentence up to 2 years (if transporting a minor)
• $1,000 fine
• Jail sentence up to 1 year
• license suspension of 6 months minimum

Naturally, additional Maryland DUI convictions will result in increased jail time, fines, community service, and Maryland license suspension or even Maryland license revocation.

Cell Phone Use

Currently, Maryland prohibits teen drivers who hold a Maryland instruction license, Maryland learner’s license, or Maryland provisional license from using cell phones while driving. Even if you have a full license, however, we strongly discourage frequent cell phone use while driving.

Maryland Online Driver Education

You’ll need to complete a Maryland-approved driver training course as part of your application for a Maryland learner’s permit. You can find all the information you need about approved Maryland online driver education courses,on the “Maryland Vehicle Association website()”:http://www.mva.maryland.gov/DriverServ/ROOKIEDRIVER/dschool.htm.