Maryland's Graduated Licensing System
General Information
(Provisional License) 
A provisional license is the next stage of the Rookie Driver graduated licensing system process. After gaining experience driving with a learner's permit for 6 months, maintaining a conviction-free driving record and completing a standardized driver education course, new drivers are eligible for a provisional license. For people who previously held a driver's license less than 18 months, it's a two-stage system; a provisional license, then a full driver's license. Minimum age is 16 years and 3 months. Applicants must submit a driver education certificate, proof they have successfully completed a standardized driver education course. A qualified supervising driver (parent, guardian, or mentor) must submit a completed and signed Practice Skills Log documenting a minimum of 60 hours of supervised driving for applicants. A qualified supervising driver is a licensed driver, 21 years of age or older, with at least 3 years of driving experience. At least 10 of the practice hours must occur during the period beginning 30 minutes before sunset and ending 30 minutes after sunrise. For more information on this law... Your driver's skills test for a provisional license must be scheduled in advance by calling 1-888-212-4709 for an appointment. Applicants must pass a skills test administered either in traffic or on a course. Provisional license holders under 18 are only authorized to drive without supervision between the hours of 5 am to midnight. From midnight to 5 am they must be accompanied by a supervising driver who is 21 or older, and has held a license for a minimum of 3 years. Provisional license holders under the age of 18, during the first 5 months (151 days) of the provisional period, are not allowed to have passengers under the age of 18, unless accompanied by a qualified supervising driver or the passengers are direct family members. Direct family members can be a spouse, daughter, son, stepdaughter, stepson, sister, brother, stepsister, or stepbrother of the provisional license holder, or a relative of the license holder who lives at the same address. For more information on this law... Convictions or "Probation Before Judgment" (PBJ) for moving violations while holding a provisional license will require the completion of a driver improvement program and/or the suspension/revocation of your driver's license. Convictions also restart the 18-month minimum waiting period.
In addition to other sanctions applied by the courts, these Administrative sanctions listed below are also imposed:
Provisional license holders under the age of 18 are restricted from driving between 12 midnight and 5 a.m. unless: The driver is accompanied or supervised by a licensed driver, 21 years of age or older, with at least 3 years of driving experience. The driver is driving to, from, or during employment. The driver is driving to or from an official school activity. The driver is driving to or from an organized volunteer program. The driving is driving to or from participation in an athletic event or related training session.
Upon becoming 18, a provisional license holder is no longer bound by this restriction and may drive at any hour. Maryland's provisional license is a probationary-type license. It requires conviction-free driving prior to obtaining a full driver's license. It is issued to drivers after they gain experience driving with a learner's permit and to previously licensed drivers with less than 18 months of driving experience. Issued to persons who previously held a driver's license from another state, country or the armed forces who have less than 18 months of driving experience, regardless of their age. If under 18, it prohibits driving between 12 midnight to 5 a.m. unless supervised or certain conditions are met. Must be held the minimum time periods specified below with the driver free of moving violation convictions: Previously licensed 0 to less than 6 months
Driver must hold Maryland provisional license for 18 months minimum and be conviction-free. Previously licensed 6 to less than 12 months
Driver must hold Maryland provisional license for 12 months minimum and be conviction-free. Previously licensed 12 to less than 18 months
Driver must hold Maryland provisional license for 6 months minimum and be conviction-free.
If convicted of a moving violation, the driver must restart an 18-month waiting period with no additional moving violations. Only then can a driver become eligible to convert to a full driver's license.
If suspended or revoked the driver must restart an 18-month waiting period from the date the driver's license is reinstated. The driver must complete the 18-month period with no additional moving violations. For more information...
If your provisional license was issued on July 1, 2004 or after and you successfully meet all requirements, the MVA automatically converts the license to a full driver's license status. An attachment card showing the conversion to a full license is mailed to the driver. The card is carried with the provisional license to show the change in licensing status. The attachment card is no longer needed when the provisional license expires. The driver comes in for a license renewal, pays the renewal fee and then is issued a full license. The minimum age for conversion is 17 years, 9 months. Provisional license holders under 18 must have the application co-signed by a parent. If your provisional license was issued prior to July 1, 2004, you must appear in person at a MVA office to convert from the provisional to a full license. If a new driver under 18 is cited for speeding in excess of 20 mph, the MVA will notify the parent, guardian, or cosigner. Drivers under 18 may have their license suspended if the parent, guardian, or cosigner withdraw their consent. Contact the MVA for details.
To obtain a learner's permit, provisional license or driver's license, visit any of our full-service offices in Maryland. Your driver's skills test for a provisional license must be scheduled in advance by calling 1-888-212-4709 for an appointment. The State of Maryland requires all registered owners to carry liability insurance, uninsured motorist, and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. If drivers change their name and/or Maryland address, Maryland law requires them to notify the MVA within 30 days. This can be done by mail or by obtaining a corrected license in person at any of our full-service or express office locations. For name changes, drivers are required to submit acceptable documentation to substantiate the change.
Drivers may obtain a Change of Name/Address form at any MVA office or the form may be mailed to them. To have the form mailed, please call the MVA Customer Service Center.
To obtain a corrected provisional license, drivers must report in person to any of our office locations. Applicants under 18 must have the corrected license application co-signed by a parent.
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