Maryland Online Driver Education and Maryland Licensing Procedures
Congratulations on starting the process of applying for your Maryland learner's permit or first Maryland driver's license. Maryland has a Graduated Driver License Program for Maryland teen drivers, and there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure that applying for your Maryland driving license goes as smoothly as possible. So let's get started.
Maryland Instructional Permit and Maryland Learner's Permit
The minimum age to apply for a Maryland learner's permit is 15 years and 9 months. You'll need to make an appointment at your local Maryland Vehicle Administration (MVA) and bring the following:
At your local Maryland MVA, you'll have to pass the required tests. If you survived, then congratulations! You just earned your Maryland learner's permit. Remember that with your Maryland learner's permit, you can only practice driving with another licensed driver who has held a valid license for at least 3 years. Your Maryland learner's permit is valid for 2 years. Remember 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 permit for 9 months, you'll be ready for the next step in the Maryland Graduated License Program.
Your Maryland Provisional Driver's License
In order to apply for your Maryland provisional driver's license, you'll need to make sure you follow a few Maryland State requirements before heading down to your local Maryland MVA.
- Hold your Maryland learner's permit for at least 9 months in good standing
- Have your parent or guardian fill out a Practice Skills Log
- You'll have to practice at least 60 hours of driving while supervised
- 10 of these practice hours must be at night
- Complete a Maryland-approved driver training course
- Be a minimum of 16 years and 6 months old
If you've completed the following requirements, head on down to your local Maryland MVA, where you'll have to take the dreaded road exam. If you pass, then congratulations! You've just earned your Maryland provisional driver license! However, you'll still have to drive with a few restrictions until you've held your Maryland provisional driver's license for 18 months in good standing. Once you turn 18, you'll be eligible for your Maryland unrestricted driver's license.
Maryland Teen Driver License Restrictions and Penalties
There are several restrictions you need to keep in mind regarding your Maryland provisional 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've driven without incident for 180 days, then congratulations. You can now be issued a full Indiana full license.
Maryland Auto Insurance Maryland Financial Responsibility Laws
Once you receive your Maryland drivers license, you're ready to drive--or are you? Any vehicle registered in Maryland must be covered by liability insurance. The minimum coverage is:
- $20,000 per person for bodily injury
- $40,000 per accident for bodily injury
- $25,000 for property damage
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 be fined.
Maryland Drunk Driving, Cell Phone, and Text Messaging Laws
As a new Maryland driver, it's important for you to learn the Maryland drunk driving, cell phone, and text messaging laws. First of all, Maryland has a zero tolerance law, so if you're under 21, with a Blood Alcohol Content of .02 you'll still face fines and Maryland driver's license suspension.
Upon your first conviction of a Maryland DUI (0.08), you'll face the following penalties:
- Jail sentence up to 1 year
- Jail sentence up to 2 years (if transporting a minor)
- $1,000 fine
- license suspension of 6 months minimum
And of course, further Maryland DUI convictions will result in increased jail time, community service, fines, and Maryland license suspension or even Maryland license revocation.
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.
Maryland Online Driver Education
For information about approved Maryland online driver education courses, you can find a complete list on the Maryland Vehicle Association website.
