Receiving a Notice of Suspension or Revocation
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Received a suspension or revocation notice? The steps you need to take depend on why your license is being suspended. Suspensions can result from too many points on your driving record or from failing to pay a fine or appear in court after a traffic citation — and each is resolved differently.
Suspension or revocation for too many points
When you are convicted of a vehicle-related law violation in Maryland, the Maryland District Court notifies the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). The MVA adds points to your driving record. These points stay on your record and are tracked over a two-year period. If you accumulate:
- 8 to 11 points: You will receive a Notice of Suspension.
- 12 or more points: You will receive a Notice of Revocation.
Learn more about drivers license points.
If you receive a notice of suspension or revocation
The steps you need to take depend on the reason for your suspension or revocation. Find your situation below.
If You Receive a Notice of Suspension or Revocation
This means you have accumulated 8, 9, 10, or 11 points, and none are for alcohol or drug-related violations.
You have two options:
- Accept the suspension
- You must return your most recently issued driver’s license to the MVA no later than the suspension date shown on your notice. If you return it late, your suspension will be extended by the number of days you delay.
- You may return your license:
- By mail, or
- In person at any MVA office. Ask for a receipt if you return it in person.
- If you no longer have your license, you must submit a written explanation or visit a full-service MVA branch and complete a Certified Statement form explaining why.
- Request a hearing
- To request a hearing, you must complete and return the notice with the filing fee within 15 days of the notice date. Instructions are included on your notice.
- Once your request and fee are received, your suspension will be held in abeyance (paused) until the hearing is completed.
- The Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) will notify you of the hearing’s date, time, and location.
This also means you have 8, 9, 10, or 11 points, but at least one conviction is alcohol or drug-related.
You may have three options:
- Accept the suspension
- Return your most recently issued driver’s license to the MVA before the suspension date on your notice. Late returns will extend your suspension by the number of days you delay.
- You may return your license by mail or in person at any MVA office or the AAD in Glen Burnie. Ask for a receipt if returning in person.
- If you no longer have the license, submit a written explanation or complete a Certified Statement form at a full-service MVA branch.
- Request a hearing
- Complete and return the notice with the filing fee within 15 days of the notice date.
- Once received, your suspension will be held in abeyance until the hearing is completed.
- The OAH will notify you of the hearing details.
- Apply for the Ignition Interlock Program
- If approved, your license will not be suspended, but your driving privileges will be restricted.
- Follow the instructions on the Ignition Interlock Program – Participant Requirements form included with your notice.
A Notice of Revocation means you have accumulated 12 or more points.
You have two options:
- Accept the revocation
- Return your most recently issued driver’s license to the MVA before the revocation date on your notice. If you are late, your revocation period will be extended by the number of days you delay.
- You may return your license by mail or in person at any MVA office or the AAD in Glen Burnie. Ask for a receipt if returning in person.
- If you no longer have the license, submit a written explanation or complete a Certified Statement form at a full-service MVA branch.
- Request a hearing
- Complete and return the notice with the filing fee within 15 days of the notice date.
- Once received, your revocation will be held in abeyance until the hearing is completed.
- The OAH will notify you of the hearing details.
A Notice of Revocation means you have accumulated 12 or more points.
You may have three options:
- Accept the revocation
- Return your license to the MVA before the revocation date on your notice. Late returns extend the revocation period.
- Return it by mail or in person to any MVA office or the AAD in Glen Burnie.
- If you no longer have it, submit a written explanation or complete a Certified Statement form.
- Request a hearing
- Submit your notice and filing fee within 15 days of the notice date.
- Your revocation will be held in abeyance until the hearing is completed.
- The OAH will notify you of the hearing details.
- Apply for the Ignition Interlock Program
- If approved, your license will not be revoked, but your driving privileges will be restricted.
- Follow the instructions on the Ignition Interlock Program – Participant Requirements form included with your notice.
For information about getting your license back, see the Requirements for Applying for Reinstatement form enclosed with your notice and the Reinstatement of a Revoked Driver’s License information.
If you want to know when you can remove an Ignition Interlock restriction, see Driving Restriction – Removal of a Restriction.
Suspension for an unpaid or unresolved traffic citation
This type of suspension happens when you get a traffic citation — like a speeding ticket or a seat belt violation — and don't pay the fine or go to court. When that happens, the court tells the MVA, and the MVA mails you a notice. The notice gives you a deadline to take care of it before your license is suspended.
To avoid suspension, contact the District Court — not the MVA — before your deadline. You can pay the fine online, by phone or in person. You can also ask for a new court date and post a penalty deposit.
Important: Paying the fine is an admission of guilt. Any points associated with the violation will be added to your driving record.
If you miss the deadline, your license will be suspended until you resolve the issue with the court. The suspension will stay on your driving record even after it is lifted. If your license expires during the suspension and you wait more than one year to renew it, you will have to reapply and retake all required tests.
Note: Parking tickets and red light camera tickets are different — they are issued to the vehicle owner and do not carry points.
Fees
There is a fee to file a hearing request with the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).
You may also be charged a restoration fee to cover administrative costs to lift a suspension.
Questions? We can help.
Contact us if you have questions or need more information.