2023 Maryland Statutes › Transportation › Title 16 - Vehicle Laws -- Drivers' Licenses › Subtitle 1 - Issuance, Expiration, and Renewal of Licenses › Section 16-115 - Expiration and Renewal of License

(a)    (1)    Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, a license issued under this title to a driver at least 21 years old shall expire on the birth date of the licensee at the end of a period of not more than 8 years determined in regulations adopted by the Administration following the issuance of the license.
(2)    Subject to paragraph (5) of this subsection, a license issued under this title to a driver under the age of 21 years shall expire not later than 60 days after the driver’s 21st birthday.
(3)    A license is renewable on the presentation of an application, the payment of the renewal fee required by § 16–111.1 of this subtitle, and satisfactory completion of the examination required or authorized by subsection (i) of this section:
(i)    Within 12 months before its expiration; or
(ii)    When a driver qualifies for a corrected license issued under § 16–114.1(c) of this subtitle.
(4)    Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, the Administration may renew an individual’s license without requiring the individual to appear in person if the photograph for the individual was taken less than 16 years before the renewal.
(5)    (i)    If an applicant has temporary lawful status, the Administration may not issue to the applicant a license to drive for a period that extends beyond the expiration date of the applicant’s authorized stay in the United States or, if there is no expiration date, for a period longer than 1 year.
(ii)    Nothing contained in this paragraph may be construed to allow the issuance of a temporary license to drive for a period longer than the period described in this subsection.
(iii)    The Administration shall indicate on the face and in the machine–readable zone of a temporary license to drive that the license is a temporary license to drive.
(6)    A holder of a temporary license to drive who had temporary lawful status at the time of the issuance of the temporary license to drive shall present satisfactory documentary evidence of lawful status if the holder applies for issuance or renewal of any license to drive under this subtitle.
(b)    At least 60 days before a license expires, the Administration shall mail to each licensee, at the last address of the licensee shown in the records of the Administration, notice of the date on which the license will expire.
(c)    The Administration may renew a license within 1 year after the expiration date without requiring a driving test.
(d)    (1)    A license held by a member of the armed forces of the United States who is absent from this State on active service in the armed forces of the United States, or a dependent of the member who is residing with the member outside the State, shall remain in full force and effect during such absence.
(2)    The license also shall remain in effect, if it would otherwise have expired under this section, for a period of 30 days following the date of the licensee’s return to this State, or the member’s discharge or separation from active service:
(i)    If the licensee has in the licensee’s immediate possession, together with the licensee’s driver’s license, papers indicating the member’s active service outside this State or the member’s discharge or separation; and
(ii)    If the license is not otherwise suspended, revoked, or canceled under this title during the 30–day period.
(e)    (1)    A license held by an individual who is a member of the Foreign Service of the United States and is absent from the State due to employment in the Foreign Service, or a license held by the spouse or a dependent of the individual who is residing with the individual outside the State, shall remain in full force and effect during the absence.
(2)    A license held by an individual described in paragraph (1) of this subsection shall also remain in effect, if it would otherwise have expired under this section, for a period of 30 days following the date of the individual’s return to the State, or the individual’s separation from employment in the Foreign Service of the United States if:
(i)    The individual has in the individual’s immediate possession, together with the individual’s driver’s license, documentation acceptable to the Administration indicating that:
1.    The individual is a member of the Foreign Service of the United States, or the spouse or a dependent of a member of the Foreign Service of the United States and resides outside the State; or
2.    The individual was formerly a member of the Foreign Service of the United States, or the spouse or a dependent of a former member of the Foreign Service, and has returned to the State on separation of the member from employment with the Foreign Service; and
(ii)    The license is not otherwise suspended, revoked, or canceled under this title during the 30–day period.
(f)    If a licensee is absent from this State for cause, other than as provided in subsection (d) of this section, and is unable to renew the licensee’s license in the manner required by this section, the licensee may renew by mail to the Administration. The renewal application shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee and a statement giving the reason for and the expected length of the absence. On receipt of the application, the Administration may issue a regular license which bears a photo or a notation that it is valid without a photo until 15 days after the licensee first returns to this State.
(g)    An individual may not drive a motor vehicle on any highway in this State if the license issued to him under this title has expired.
(h)    An individual may not attempt to drive a motor vehicle on any highway in this State if the license issued to the individual under this title has expired.
(i)    (1)    Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, the Administration shall require every individual applying for a renewal of a driver’s license to pass a vision test as prescribed by the Administration.
(2)    (i)    The Administration shall accept a certification of acceptable visual acuity from a licensed physician or optometrist instead of requiring the actual test provided for in this subsection.
(ii)    The examination for which certification is made shall take place within 2 years of the date of application for renewal.
(3)    An individual at least 21 years of age but under the age of 40 years may apply for renewal of a driver’s license electronically or by mail or other means authorized by the Administration without taking a vision test if the applicant has passed a vision test authorized by the Administration within the previous 9 years.
(4)    (i)    If the Administration has reason to believe that an individual is a safety hazard by reason of a vision deficiency, the Administration may require the vision test provided for in this subsection at a time other than renewal of a driver’s license.
(ii)    The Administration may adopt regulations to implement the provisions of this subsection.
(j)    Before the expiration of a driver’s license, if the Administration has reason to believe that an individual is not a safety hazard, but the individual is unable to pass a required knowledge test or vision test, the Administration may extend the individual’s privilege to drive for a period not to exceed 90 days.
(k)    (1)    The Administration may not renew the driver’s license of an applicant who has not paid all undisputed taxes and unemployment insurance contributions payable to the Comptroller or the Secretary of Labor or provided for payment in a manner satisfactory to the unit responsible for collection.
(2)    The Administration shall cooperate with the Comptroller and the Maryland Department of Labor to develop procedures and adopt regulations in accordance with this section.
(3)    Regulations adopted under this subsection shall require:
(i)    The Comptroller to notify the Administration that an individual has not paid all undisputed taxes; and
(ii)    The Maryland Department of Labor to notify the Administration that an individual has not paid all undisputed unemployment insurance contributions.
(l)    (1)    Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Administration may issue a temporary renewal for a driver’s license that extends the expiration date for a period not exceeding 2 years for an applicant who:
(i)    Has the documentation required by federal law, as enumerated in § 16–103.1(10) and (11) of this subtitle, on file with the Administration;
(ii)    Has a photograph on file with the Administration that will not be 16 years old or older by the expiration date of the temporary renewal; and
(iii)    Has a driver’s license that was issued for the full term under subsection (a)(1) of this section.
(2)    The Administration may make temporary renewal of a driver’s license available to:
(i)    An active duty member of the armed forces of the United States or a spouse or dependent of the member;
(ii)    A member of the Foreign Service of the United States or a spouse or dependent of the member;
(iii)    A resident of the State who is a student studying outside the State;
(iv)    A resident of the State who is temporarily residing outside the State for at least 6 months;
(v)    A resident of the State who holds a driver’s license that would have otherwise expired during a state of emergency declared by the Governor; or
(vi)    Any other resident of the State who meets any requirements approved by the Administration.
(3)    The Administration may not issue a temporary renewal to an applicant who holds a commercial driver’s license.
(4)    The Administration shall adopt regulations to carry out this subsection.