MD license plate lookup · plate to VIN

Maryland License Plate Lookup

A Maryland license plate lookup turns the plate into the car's VIN, then into one vehicle history report: odometer readings in miles, police-reported crashes, salvage and auction history with photos, title brands, recalls and factory specs, from records in all states. Maryland gives you a useful anchor. Every used car titled here needs a safety inspection certificate issued within the last 90 days (Transportation 23-107), and the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) marks rebuilt, flood and X-Salvage cars on the title. What the MVA won't give the public is the owner's name or address. A plate lookup gives you the vehicle facts instead, in seconds, with no account.

Full report $9.99. One payment, no subscription.

Records from all states
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See a real sample report

Used car with crash damage: check the VIN before you buy

How a Maryland plate lookup works

Type the MD plate exactly as it reads on the car and keep Maryland selected. The plate is only the way in: we match it to the car's VIN, and the VIN carries the history. A Maryland tag lookup works the same way.

1. Enter the plate
Type the Maryland plate and pick the state. Spaces and dashes don't matter.
2. We find the car's VIN
The plate turns into the car's 17-character VIN in seconds, and you see the decoded year, make and model before you pay.
3. Open the full history report
One payment of $9.99, no account. The report opens at once, with records from all states.

What the report includes

One report for the VIN behind the plate, searched across all states:

Odometer readings in miles
Dated readings from state safety and emissions inspections and auction sales, with a rollback check.
All states
Police-reported crashes
Crashes involving this VIN, with the year, plus the damage recorded when the car was sold at auction.
All states
Salvage and auction history, with photos
Insurance and salvage auction sales of this VIN: sale date, damage type, title, odometer at sale and the auction photos.
All states
Title brands
Salvage, rebuilt, flood and junk brands, so you know what the title says before the seller tells you.
Recalls and owner complaints
Safety recalls and owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model and model year.
Model-level
Factory specs
Model year, make, model, trim, engine, transmission, drivetrain and assembly plant, decoded from the VIN.
Every VIN

Maryland license plate formats

Maryland had 4,965,605 registered vehicles in 2024. Source: FHWA

Maryland license plate formats
Plate	Format	Example	Notes
Standard passenger ("Maryland Proud", state flag design, issued since September 26, 2016)	`1AB2345`	`1AB2345`	One digit, two letters, four digits. Two plates, front and rear.
Standard passenger, War of 1812 design (2010 to 2016)	`1AB2345`	`1AB2345`	Fort McHenry flag design; issued before the current plate.

Maryland is a two-plate state. Transportation 13-410 issues two plates to a passenger car, and 13-411 requires one on the front and one on the rear. A missing front plate is a violation, not a style choice. The standard plate since September 2016 is the "Maryland Proud" design, with the state flag across the bottom half and "Maryland" in red at the top. Its serial follows the 1AB2345 pattern: a digit, two letters, then four digits. The War of 1812 plate with the Fort McHenry flag came before it. Plates stay with the seller. Under Transportation 13-501, the seller removes the plates at the sale unless they give the buyer written permission to use them. Even then, the buyer may drive on them for no more than 10 days and must return them to the seller or the MVA. Most sellers move their plates to their next car or turn them in. As a buyer, plan on your own registration. If the MVA holds your title while the car waits for its safety inspection, it can issue a temporary registration, and the car must then pass inspection within 60 days (Transportation 23-107(b)). Every registration also carries a $40 annual surcharge on top of the weight-based fee.

Front plate rule

Maryland requires a plate on the front and the rear of a passenger car, so you can read either one.

Maryland fees at a glance

What MVA and its offices charge for titles, registration and plates, as published. Each row links its source.

Maryland fees at a glance
Fee	Amount	Details	Source
Certificate of title	$200	Transportation 13-802(a).	MVA
Vehicle excise (titling) tax	6.5% of fair market value, $100 minimum	Transportation 13-809(c)(1). Private sale of a vehicle 7 or more model years old: taxed on the greater of the price or $640. Trade-in allowance is deducted on dealer sales.	MVA
Passenger car registration, 3,500 lbs or less (annual)	$80.50 + $40 surcharge	Transportation 13-912 (rate since July 1, 2025) and 13-954 surcharge.	MVA
Passenger car registration, 3,501 to 3,700 lbs (annual)	$85.50 + $40 surcharge	Transportation 13-912 and 13-954.	MVA
Passenger car registration, over 3,700 lbs (annual)	$151.50 + $40 surcharge	Transportation 13-912 and 13-954.	MVA
Registration surcharge (annual, every vehicle)	$40	Transportation 13-954, on top of the registration fee.	MVA
Emissions inspection (VEIP) fee	Up to $30 (July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026); adjusted for inflation after that	Transportation 23-205(a)(2).	MVA
Late title application service fee	Set by the MVA	Transportation 13-112(c)(2): may be charged if the MVA does not receive the title application within 30 days after delivery.	MVA

Title brands in Maryland

A brand on a Maryland title records that the car was a total loss, rebuilt or damaged by water, and it stays on later titles. The report lists the title brands recorded for the VIN.

Title brands in Maryland
Brand	What it means	Law	Source
Salvage	Damaged by collision, fire, flood, accident, trespass or other occurrence so that repair for legal highway use exceeds 75% of pre-damage fair market value, or acquired by an insurer through a claim settlement, or by a dismantler for rebuilding or parts.	Transportation 11-152; 13-506	Source
Rebuilt salvage	A repairable salvage vehicle (repair cost over 75% of fair market value) retitled after a county or State Police inspection and the Title 23 safety inspection.	Transportation 13-507(a), (b)(2)(i)	Source
Flood Damaged	The insurer's salvage statement says the vehicle sustained flood damage; the later title carries a Flood Damaged notation.	Transportation 13-506(c)(2)(ii)4; 13-507(b)(3)	Source
X-Salvage	Acquired by an insurer with repair cost 75% or less of pre-damage value, or a salvage certificate issued to a dismantler; the later title says X-Salvage.	Transportation 13-506(c)(2)(ii)5; 13-507(b)(4)	Source
Not rebuildable (parts only)	The insurer certified the vehicle cannot be rebuilt and will be used for parts only. The MVA may not issue a title for it again.	Transportation 13-506(c)(2)(ii)2; 13-507(b)(2)(ii)	Source

Buying a used car in Maryland

In a private sale, the seller signs an assignment and warranty of title, lists any liens and hands you the title at delivery (Transportation 13-112). You apply promptly. If the MVA doesn't receive your application within 30 days of delivery, it may charge an extra service fee. Before the MVA titles the car, you need a Maryland safety inspection certificate dated within the past 90 days, so budget for any repairs the inspection demands. Then the money: a $200 title fee (13-802) and a 6.5% excise tax on fair market value, with a $100 minimum (13-809). For a private sale of a car 7 or more model years old, the taxable value is the greater of the price or $640. On a newer car, if your price is $500 or more below national retail value, the MVA uses the book value unless you bring a notarized bill of sale. Then read the title. Maryland marks a repaired total loss "rebuilt salvage" only after a police inspection, adds "Flood Damaged" when the insurer reported flood damage, and uses "X-Salvage" when an insurer took the car but repairs were 75% or less of its value. A car the insurer certified as parts only can never be titled again. Check the plate before you pay.

Private sale: At delivery the seller signs an assignment and warranty of title, lists any liens and hands you the title (Transportation 13-112). The seller removes the plates (13-501). You get a Maryland safety inspection certificate dated within 90 days, then apply promptly, paying the $200 title fee and 6.5% excise tax; if the MVA does not receive your application within 30 days of delivery it may charge an extra service fee.
Dealer sale: The dealer certifies the purchase price for the excise tax, less any trade-in, and submits the title work. Dealer inventory can be sold on an inspection certificate up to 6 months old or 1,000 miles since inspection.
Title transfer deadline: Apply promptly; extra service fee possible after 30 days from delivery (Transportation 13-112(c))

Official Maryland vehicle tools

These tools are run by state and federal agencies, not by Carlytics. Use them next to the report.

MVA Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP): find my test date
Shows when a vehicle's next emissions test is due; missing it can block registration renewal.
You enter: Tag number + title number, or a myMVA account
NMVTIS vehicle history (U.S. Department of Justice)
Explains the national title system and lets you order an NMVTIS title and brand check.
You enter: VIN

Vehicle inspection in Maryland

Maryland State Inspection (safety, on transfer) and Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP)

To title or register a used vehicle, the MVA requires a valid safety inspection certificate issued within the previous 90 days (dealer inventory: 6 months or 1,000 miles). The MVA may issue a temporary registration and require inspection within 60 days. Separately, VEIP gives 1977 and newer vehicles a biennial emissions test in the areas the program covers; qualifying hybrids are first tested 3 years after first Maryland registration. Source

What Maryland vehicle records show

The MVA keeps title, registration, inspection and emissions records. General Provisions 4-320 bars the release of MVA records with personal information except to listed users, such as government agencies, insurers and parties in court proceedings, or with the person's written consent. Recipients may not pass that data to federal agents for immigration enforcement without a valid court warrant. So the public cannot get an owner's name or address from a plate. The MVA's emissions page lets an owner check the next VEIP test date with the tag and title numbers, and VEIP tests 1977 and newer vehicles every two years. The U.S. Justice Department's NMVTIS site lets you order a title and brand check by VIN. A plate lookup starts from the tag you can see: plate to VIN, then brands, odometer readings, crashes, salvage records and recalls in one report.

Maryland license plate privacy law

Maryland follows the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act (18 U.S.C. 2721) and adds its own law:

Md. Code, General Provisions 4-320

The custodian may not knowingly release MVA records containing personal information except as the section allows: to government agencies and law enforcement, insurers, parties in court proceedings, licensed private detectives and others listed in 4-320(f), or with the person's written consent. Recipients may not pass the information to federal agents for immigration enforcement without a valid court warrant. Waivers follow the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act. The public cannot get an owner's name or address from a plate.

Source: MVA

What our lookup shows

Vehicle data only: the VIN, odometer readings, crashes, auction history with photos, title brands, recalls and factory specs. Never the owner's name, address or phone number.

See what a report looks like

A real report for a real car, every section included:

Sample report: 2017 Chevrolet Traverse

Latest odometer reading: 104,351 mi at a New York State inspection on Mar 26, 2026
5 dated odometer readings, no decrease
Police-reported crash in New York, 2021
3 safety recalls for the model

Open the full sample report

Look up a Maryland license plate

Maryland tag or plate, the result is the same: the car's VIN in seconds, then its full history for $9.99. Checking several cars? $19.99 for three, $29.99 for five.

Maryland license plate lookup questions

Are license plates public records in Maryland?

The plate is visible to anyone, but the MVA record behind it is protected. General Provisions 4-320 stops the MVA from releasing personal information except to listed users, such as government agencies, insurers and parties in court cases, or with the owner's written consent. A plate lookup gives you the vehicle record instead: the VIN, title brands, odometer readings, crashes and salvage history.

Can I find the owner of a car by its plate in Maryland?

No. Maryland law (General Provisions 4-320) keeps owner names and addresses with the MVA and the users the law permits, and the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act sets the same floor. What you can get is the car's VIN and history, which shows whether the title carries a rebuilt salvage, Flood Damaged or X-Salvage brand before you buy.

How much does it cost to register a car in Maryland?

The annual registration fee is $80.50 for a passenger car up to 3,500 lbs, $85.50 up to 3,700 lbs and $151.50 above that (Transportation 13-912), plus a $40 annual surcharge (13-954). A new title costs $200, and the 6.5% excise tax applies to the car's fair market value, with a $100 minimum.

Do license plates stay with the car or the owner in Maryland?

The plates stay with the seller. Transportation 13-501 says the seller removes the plates at the sale unless they give the buyer written permission to use them, and then only for up to 10 days before the plates go back to the seller or the MVA. The seller can move them to another car they own or turn them in.

Does Maryland require a front license plate?

Yes. Maryland issues two plates for a passenger car (Transportation 13-410), and 13-411 requires one on the front and one on the rear. Motorcycles and trailers take a rear plate only. The current standard plate is the "Maryland Proud" state flag design with a 1AB2345 serial, and either plate gives you the VIN and history.

Does a used car need an inspection in Maryland?

Yes. The MVA requires a valid safety inspection certificate, issued no more than 90 days earlier, to title or register a used car (Transportation 23-107). Dealer inventory may use a certificate up to 6 months old or 1,000 miles. If the car is not inspected yet, the MVA can issue a temporary registration, and the car must pass within 60 days. Emissions testing (VEIP) is separate and runs every two years.

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Sources

The fees, laws and rules on this page were checked against these official sources on Oct 30, 2026.

Show all 20 sources