Are you fast approaching the time to renew your vehicle’s registration? Do you think about renewing your registration and kind of cringe a little bit and then try not to think about it until you really have to? Yeah, me too. But I am here to tell you that renewing your registration in Maryland is actually a lot easier than you might have initially expected! In this blog post, I am going to lay down the FACTS for you so that you will not be scared of the MVA! Check it out!

So, you’ll get a registration renewal notice about two months before your registration is set to expire. On this notice will be:

• Your renewal fee.

• Renewal deadline date.

• Emissions check requirements, if applicable.

• List of red flags, if applicable, that will prevent the MVA from renewing your registration. This might include lack of car insurance or an unpaid parking ticket.

You will get this in the mail unless you’ve chosen to receive it via email. If you didn’t get a notice, call the MVA! You still have to renew your registration before it expires, even if you don’t get a notice. If you’ve moved, you have to tell the MVA what your new address is.

You can renew your registration in four different ways – in person, at a self-serve kiosk, by phone, or by mail. Here’s how to do it each way!

To renew your registration in person, you can visit any one of the following four offices:

• County treasurer’s office (charges an extra processing fee).

• Title service agent (charges an extra processing fee).

• MVA mobile office.

• Full-service MVA office. You must use this office if you have any outstanding issues―unpaid traffic tickets, car insurance coverage questions― listed on your registration renewal notice.

Have with you when you arrive:

• A completed emissions test certificate, if required.

• Your registration renewal notice. If you don’t have one, bring your current registration certificate.

• Proof of car insurance coverage.

• Cash, check, credit or debit card to cover registration renewal fee. Call before visiting to make sure credit/debit cards are accepted. Not all offices accept them.

At a self-serve kiosk, you’ll need:

• Current registration card or registration renewal notice.

• Proof of car insurance coverage.

• Your eight-digit title number and license plate number.

• Check, Visa, MasterCard or American Express to pay registration fees.

These kiosks are at all MVA offices, so they’re pretty easy to find!

To renew by phone, dial (410) 768-7000 and have at the ready:

• Your registration certificate or renewal notice.

• A valid credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express).

To renew by mail, you should follow the instructions on your registration renewal notice and:

• Enter any corrections or changes, if applicable.

• Double-check that the listed car insurance information is correct.

• Complete any included certifications.

• Submit all documents and payment (check or money order) in the provided envelope. The check must include your preprinted name and address. The MVA requests that you write your driver’s license number and work phone number on the check.

See? Easy. Just pick one way to renew and all the steps are right here! And remember: if you have any more car-related questions, stop on in to King Kia and we’ll be more than happy to help you! And if you want to get into a new car, we can definitely take care of that super easily. Seriously.