Quick Answer
Yes — under the Maryland Highway Safety Act of 2013, the MVA issues a noncompliant driver's license to residents without lawful status. To get one:
- File Maryland income tax returns for the 2 preceding years, or be claimed as a dependent.
- Get a tax certification letter from the Maryland Comptroller.
- Book an MVA appointment online and pass the knowledge and driving skills tests.
The license is not accepted for federal purposes such as boarding a flight.
Can You Get a Driver's License in Maryland Without an SSN?
Yes. Maryland issues a federally noncompliant driver's license to residents who cannot prove lawful presence, under the Maryland Highway Safety Act of 2013 (Senate Bill 715, Chapter 309). The law took effect January 1, 2014. You do not need a Social Security number, but you must show 2 years of Maryland tax filing.
The Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) explains eligibility on its noncompliant driver's licenses and IDs page, and the enacted text is available as Chapter 309 of 2013.
Does Maryland Ask for Your Social Security Number?
Only for a REAL ID. A REAL ID–compliant Maryland license requires 1 proof of your Social Security number, such as your card or a W-2, but the noncompliant license for residents without lawful status does not. Instead you show 2 years of Maryland tax filing, usually with an ITIN, and no Maryland license shows an SSN.
The MVA lists Social Security proof among the documents for a standard Maryland license. Federal law, 42 U.S.C. 405(c)(2)(C)(vi)(II), bars states from printing a Social Security number on a driver's license or encoding it in the barcode.
Do You Need to File Maryland Taxes First?
Yes. For each of the 2 years before you apply, you must have filed a Maryland income tax return or been claimed as a dependent by someone who filed one. You prove this with a tax certification letter from the Maryland Comptroller, which you can request online or at a Comptroller branch office by appointment.
- Request the letter through the Comptroller's MVA tax certification page.
- Missing a year? See how to file back taxes with an ITIN.
Do You Need an MVA Appointment?
Yes, if you are applying without U.S. immigration documents. Applicants who present foreign documents without valid U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services paperwork must schedule an appointment online with the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. Get your Comptroller tax certification letter before you book, because the MVA requires it.
What Documents Does Maryland Accept?
Maryland accepts a valid, unexpired passport or a valid consular ID as proof of your name, age, and identity, plus at least 2 documents showing your Maryland address. The 2 residency documents must match the address on your application and come from different companies or agencies. Bring your Comptroller tax certification letter as well.
- 1Identity — valid, unexpired passport or valid consular ID. An MVA form lists consular IDs from Mexico, Guatemala, and Ecuador.
- 2No passport or consular ID? Bring 2 documents from the MVA's list, such as a foreign driver's license, foreign birth certificate, or national ID card, with English translations; one must have a photo less than 8 years old.
- 3Residency — 2 documents from different sources, such as a utility or phone bill, bank statement, property tax bill, or lease.
- 4Tax certification letter from the Maryland Comptroller.
These rules come from Maryland regulation COMAR 11.17.21.04; check the MVA's online document guide before your appointment.
Do You Need Driver Education in Maryland?
Yes, though the course depends on your driving history. Drivers with a foreign license that is not suspended or revoked present it and complete the 3-Hour Roadway Safety Driving Education Program before the skills test. Drivers without a foreign license get a learner's permit and complete the full Maryland Driver Education Program first.
How Do I Apply Step by Step?
Getting a Maryland noncompliant license takes 5 steps: file 2 years of Maryland taxes, get the Comptroller's certification letter, book an MVA appointment online, complete the required driver education, and pass the knowledge and driving skills tests. Study the Maryland Driver's Manual before the knowledge test; the MVA also offers an online tutorial.
- Step 1: File Maryland income tax returns for the 2 preceding years.
- Step 2: Request your tax certification letter from the Comptroller.
- Step 3: Schedule an appointment on the MVA website.
- Step 4: Complete the 3-Hour Roadway Safety program (foreign license holders) or get a learner's permit and finish Maryland Driver Education.
- Step 5: Pass the knowledge and driving skills tests and pay the fee shown on the MVA's fees page.
What Can You Do With a Maryland Noncompliant License?
A Maryland noncompliant license lets you drive legally and serves as legal identification for most state purposes. By law, its face and barcode state that it is not acceptable by federal agencies for official purposes, and it has a distinct design. It expires on the same schedule as a regular Maryland license.
- Drive legally in Maryland and buy auto insurance — see car insurance without an SSN
- Use it as state-recognized identification where federal ID is not required
You cannot use it to board a commercial flight, enter federal buildings, or buy a firearm. See our guide to flying with an ITIN.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Maryland driver's license show your Social Security number?
No. Federal law bars states from printing or encoding a Social Security number on a driver's license, so neither the REAL ID nor the noncompliant Maryland license shows one. Only a REAL ID requires proof of an SSN.
Do I need a Social Security number for a Maryland driver's license?
No. Applicants without lawful status can get a noncompliant license without an SSN. You must show 2 years of Maryland tax filing, which you can do with an ITIN.
Where do I get the Maryland tax certification letter?
From the Maryland Comptroller, either online or by appointment at a Comptroller branch office. The letter confirms you filed Maryland returns, or were claimed as a dependent, for the 2 preceding years.
What if I was claimed as a dependent in Maryland?
That counts. For each of the 2 preceding years, you qualify if someone who filed a Maryland income tax return claimed you as a dependent.
Which consular IDs does the Maryland MVA accept?
Maryland's regulation accepts a valid, unexpired consular ID that meets MVA standards, and an MVA form lists consular IDs from Mexico, Guatemala, and Ecuador. A valid, unexpired passport also works.
Can I fly with a Maryland noncompliant license?
No. The license states that it is not acceptable by federal agencies for official purposes, so TSA will not accept it. Use your foreign passport to fly.
Which Nearby States Also Issue Licenses Without an SSN?
Maryland is one of 19 states, plus Washington, D.C., that license drivers without proof of lawful status. Neighboring Virginia, Delaware, and D.C. also do, while Pennsylvania and West Virginia do not. Maryland and Delaware share the region's strictest tax rule: 2 years of state income tax filing before you apply.
Compare every state's law, documents, and limits in the full driver's license guide →