Starting Monday, July 11, 2016, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) will issue all driver’s licenses, learner’s permits and identification (ID) cards through the U.S. mail in 7 to 10 business days. Maryland’s new cards feature multiple layers of security to help prevent identity theft and fraud. If a customer’s current license or ID is valid and not up for renewal, there is nothing they need to do until it’s time to renew.
Customers applying for the new secure cards starting on Monday, July 11 will still visit an MVA office and go through the following steps:
• Bring any required documents;
• Take any required tests;
• Have photo taken; and
• Pay at this office.
At the end of the application process, customers will keep their existing card (if they have one) and receive an interim document (receipt), which is valid for 30 days. The updated information is automatically available to law enforcement and customers can continue to drive with these two documents in their possession. Customers will then receive their new card in the mail within 7-10 business days.
“As always, we encourage our customers to Skip the Trip to get a duplicate card or renew their driver’s license and ID card via web, kiosk and mail,” said MVA Administrator Christine Nizer. “If they choose any of these easy methods, there is no change to the current process.”
Because customers will receive their new secure card in the mail, officials strongly encourage Marylanders to ensure their correct address is on file at the MVA, which is consistent with Maryland law. The U.S. Postal Service does not forward MVA mail. Customers who need to update their address, should visit www.mva.maryland.gov and type “address change” in the search box. The MVA also offers the option to receive cards the next day through the U.S. Postal Service.
The new cards proudly feature iconic Maryland symbols, including the Chesapeake blue crab, Oriole bird and the State House. Maryland’s driver’s license was last updated in 2003, and the old technology is vulnerable to counterfeiting and fraud. To learn more about the new driver’s licenses and ID cards, visit www.mva.maryland.gov/secureid.
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