Coronavirus: Maryland MVA Closes Offices Statewide

MARYLAND — All Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration branches are closing statewide at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 20. The branches will remain closed until further notice in response to the new coronavirus.

"We appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding as we take appropriate steps to limit the impact of this unprecedented health crisis," MDOT MVA Administrator Chrissy Nizer said in a statement Friday. "Safety is always our top priority at MDOT MVA. Right now, the key to promoting safety is encouraging our customers and employees to stay home."

All previously scheduled appointments are canceled, according to MVA officials, who said people would receive some sort of communication alerting them when branches reopen. Services normally available inside branch offices that are related Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, E-ZPass, Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program and Transportation Security Administration PreCheck are not going to be available during the closure.

The closures come as Marylanders are urged to stay home if they can to avoid the spread of the new coronavirus, for which 147 people in the state have tested positive in about two weeks.

Gov. Larry Hogan ordered extensions for driver's licenses, ID cards, permits and registrations that expire March 12 through the state of emergency, and they will not expire until 30 days after the state of emergency is lifted.

How To Get Help

Eight self-service kiosks remain available 24 hours a day at MVA branches in Baltimore, Columbia, Essex, Gaithersburg, Glen Burnie, Parkville, Salisbury and Westminster.

People can also renew registration, change address, make insurance compliance payments and get information on flag fees online at mva.maryland.gov, according to MVA personnel, who said processing may take longer because of staffing restrictions.

Those who have emergency business issues such as obtaining a commercial driver's license (CDL) or registering fleet vehicles to deliver resources to Marylanders may contact the MDOT MVA at COVID19MVAAction@mdot.maryland.gov or 1-800-950-1682.

See Also:

• Maryland Coronavirus Cases Rise, Largest One-Day Increase Yet