The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration Safeguards Your Driving and Vehicle Records

Your Driving and Vehicle Records Are Your Business

Your private records are protected from public scrutiny, thanks to a bill passed by the Maryland General Assembly and signed into law by the Governor. Your records are now automatically closed to the public unless they are requested by the police, an insurance company, a hospital or for another official business purpose.

The Motor Vehicle Administration's (MVA's) computer system works with other national systems (the national Driver Registry, Problem Driver Pointer System, Social Security Administration and Commercial Driver License Information System) to compare data. The MVA uses a firewall to assure the safety of its information and all its data systems and computer programs are safe and secure. Built-in safeguards in the MVA's computer system reduce the risk of identity fraud and protect the security of all transactions.

Now, without written permission from you, no one, except for those groups listed above who need this information for official business purposes, can obtain the following personal information about you from the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA):

Personal Information:

• Your name
• Your address
• Your driver's license number
• Your date of birth
• Your social security number
• Any other information that identifies you

Before July 2000, about one-third of Maryland's motorists and vehicle owners asked to close their records. Your records are now automatically closed to the public unless they are requested by the police, an insurance company, a hospital, or for another official business purpose.

Some Information is Not Considered Private!

Public Information

• A driving status
• Any driving offenses for the past 3 years
• Any vehicular accident information
• A 5 digit ZIP Code
• A vehicle identification number (VIN)
• A vehicle title number
• Insurance company name
• Insurance policy number
• An odometer reading

By completing an MVA Request for Record (form # DR-057 also available in Spanish), you may obtain a non-certified record without personal information. Along with your request for a non-certified record without personal information you must provide the MVA with acceptable identification, the required fee, and either the driver's license number and/or the full name and date of birth of the record holder. A non-certified record without personal information will contain only the public information listed above.

Non-certified records without personal information contain only public information that does not identify the record holder. Any personal information identifying the record holder, which includes the driver's name, address, license number, date of birth, or social security number, will not be given out.

You Can Request that Your Records Remain Open to the Public

If you would like to keep your records open to the public, you will need to provide the MVA with your written request. Please include a photocopy of your driver's license, address, and sign the request. You can also request the MVA Maryland Restriction Notice (form # DL-026) to open your records.

Please bring the completed form(s) to any MVA branch office or send them to the Driver's Record Unit at the Maryland MVA, 6601 Ritchie Highway, N.E., Glen Burnie, Maryland 21062.

To reverse your decision and close your records again, you will need to follow the same procedure.

You Can Always Obtain a Copy of Your Own Driving or Vehicle Record

At any time you can request a non-certified or certified copy of your own record, which will contain both your personal and public information. Simply fill out a Request for Motor Vehicle Administrative Records (form # DR-057 a​lso available in Spanish​), pay the required fee, and present it with valid identification at any MVA branch office.

You can also request your driving record online​, and print out your certified or non-certified driving record.

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