Maryland Express Services (MES) — MVA-Authorized Tag & Title in Ellicott City
See a long list of Maryland MVA “flags” on your vehicle record and have no idea what they mean? This guide breaks down the most common flag codes like JURVIO, ADMFEE, VEIPWM and EMNSUS, explains who placed them, which transactions they affect, and when you can still get a 30-day temporary tag.
What Is a Maryland MVA “Flag”?
A vehicle registration flag is a notice placed on your Maryland record by an authorized agency (for example, a local police department, a county government, the Maryland Transportation Authority, or the VEIP program) when there is an unresolved problem tied to your tag or vehicle.
Most flags come from:
- Unpaid parking or red-light/speed camera tickets
- Unpaid tolls or toll civil penalties
- VEIP (emissions) non-compliance or missed tests
- Insurance lapses or judgments
- Certain court orders or enforcement actions
A flag usually prevents you from doing some kinds of MVA business, such as renewing your registration, transferring plates, or getting replacement tags, until the underlying problem is cleared.
For official background, see the Maryland MVA’s information on registration flags .
Do MVA Flags Always Prevent a 30-Day Temporary Tag?
Not always. This is where most drivers get confused.
Many enforcement or administrative flags — like JURVIO (Jurisdictional Violation), ADMFEE (Administrative Fee Due), older parking/tow records, or toll-related flags — mainly block renewals and certain registration changes. In many cases, an MVA-authorized tag & title service like MES can still issue a 30-day temporary registration while you work on clearing up the underlying tickets, fees, or tolls.
However, some flags are true “hard stops” and will block almost all registration activity, including temp tags. We’ll separate the two below so you know which is which.
Important: Whether a particular vehicle can receive a 30-day temp tag always depends on the live MVA record at the time of the transaction. MES will review your record, explain your options, and let you know what is possible.
The Most Common Maryland MVA Flag Codes (Plain-Language Guide)
Below are the flag codes that Maryland drivers and car buyers are most likely to see, especially on vehicles with a long history in multiple counties or cities.
| Code | Official Description | What It Usually Means | Who Typically Sets It | Blocks 30-Day Temp Tag? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ADMFEE | Administrative Fee Due | You owe an administrative flag fee to MVA related to an underlying violation (often parking, camera, or toll-related). The original ticket is handled by the agency; the administrative fee is paid to MVA to remove the flag. | Counties, cities, MDTA, law-enforcement agencies, reported through MVA. | Usually no. ADMFEE typically blocks registration renewal and plate transactions, not the initial 30-day temp tag — but it must be cleared before you can get or renew long-term plates. |
| JURVIO | Jurisdictional Violation | A jurisdiction has reported a violation involving this vehicle or plate – often unpaid tolls, parking/tow actions, or other local enforcement history. Think of it as a “this vehicle had a problem here” note. | Local police departments, county enforcement, toll agencies, and other jurisdictions. | Usually no. JURVIO by itself is often informational or tied to outstanding local issues. It will show up on your record and may connect to administrative fees, but it does not automatically block a temp tag. |
| VEIPWM | VEIP – Warning Mailed | VEIP (emissions) has sent you a warning notice that an emissions test is due or overdue. It’s an early-stage warning and does not yet mean your registration is suspended. | Maryland VEIP / MDOT MVA. | No. A warning alone does not block a temp tag, but if ignored it can escalate into a suspension flag. |
| EMNSUS | Registration Suspended for VEIP Requirement | Your registration has been suspended because required emissions testing was not completed. Until VEIP requirements are satisfied, your registration cannot be renewed and may be considered invalid. | Maryland VEIP / MDOT MVA. | Often yes for renewals. EMNSUS is a serious VEIP non-compliance flag. For some title or temp-tag situations, MES may still be able to help you get legal short-term registration while you take care of emissions, but long-term plates will not be possible until VEIP is resolved. |
| INSFLG | Insurance Lapse / Insurance Flag | There was a gap in required insurance on the vehicle. This usually leads to penalties and can trigger suspension if not resolved. | MDOT MVA insurance compliance unit. | High risk of blocking. Insurance-related flags are some of the most restrictive and can block both permanent registration and temporary tags, depending on the status. |
| INSSUS | Registration Suspended for Insurance Lapse | Your registration has been formally suspended due to an insurance lapse or judgment. Additional fines and proof of insurance are typically required. | MDOT MVA insurance compliance unit. | Often yes. This is a core “hard stop.” A 30-day temp tag is generally not available until the insurance violation is corrected and the suspension is lifted. |
| JURSUS | Jurisdictional Suspension | A jurisdiction (for example, a county or city) has requested a suspension related to unpaid fines, tolls, or other serious local issues. | Local jurisdictions or agencies via MDOT MVA. | Often yes. A suspension flag is more serious than a simple violation and can block temp tags as well as renewals. |
| LIENDS | Lien Discrepancy | There is a problem with the lien information on the vehicle (for example, the lien status on file does not match the paperwork). This typically must be sorted out before clean title work. | MDOT MVA title records. | Maybe. It may not block a 30-day temp tag in every case, but it can delay or prevent proper titling and long-term registration until corrected. |
| SAVUNI | Salvage Unit | The vehicle is associated with a salvage record. Salvage vehicles often have extra inspection and branding requirements before they can be fully titled and registered. | MDOT MVA / insurers / salvage reporting. | Depends. Some salvage situations still allow limited temp tags; others require inspection first. MES can review your specific record and explain your options. |
| SERSUS | Registration Suspended for SERO | The vehicle has an unresolved Safety Equipment Repair Order (SERO), and registration has been suspended for failure to correct or prove the repairs. | Law enforcement / MDOT MVA. | Often yes. Until the SERO is cleared and the suspension lifted, registration activity is severely limited. |
Note: MDOT MVA maintains a much longer internal list of codes used by agencies and data interfaces. Here we’re focusing on codes that everyday drivers and used-car buyers are most likely to see.
How Flags Affect Your License, Registration & Renewal
Even if a flag does not stop a 30-day temporary tag, it can still cause serious problems later. In most cases, unresolved flags will:
- Prevent registration renewal on your Maryland plates
- Block transferring tags to another vehicle
- Stop you from getting substitute tags or a duplicate registration card
- Lead to collections or garnishment for unpaid tolls/fines
- Trigger suspensions that can affect your ability to drive legally
Treat a temp tag as a grace period to get everything cleaned up, not as a way to ignore the flags entirely.
How to Clear Maryland MVA Flags Step by Step
- Get a full list of your flags.
You can request your record or ask an MVA-authorized tag & title service like MES to review the vehicle flags with you and identify which agencies placed them. - Contact the agency that placed each flag.
For example:- City or county parking enforcement for parking tickets
- DriveEzMD / MDTA for toll violations and video toll civil penalties
- Local court or police department for SERO or certain enforcement flags
- VEIP / MDOT MVA for emissions-related suspensions (EMNSUS)
- Pay any MVA administrative flag fees.
After the agency reports the violation as satisfied, MVA may still require you to pay an Administrative Fee Due (ADMFEE) to remove the flag from your registration record. You can find links to pay vehicle flags through the MVA’s online services under Vehicle Services. - Confirm the flag is gone before your next renewal.
Don’t wait until the last day of your registration period. Make sure the flag has been removed in the system well before you try to renew plates or transfer tags.
If your record looks overwhelming — multiple counties, toll flags, VEIP issues and more — bring everything to Maryland Express Services (MES) in Ellicott City. We can help you read the record, prioritize what must be fixed first, and map out the steps to get you back to a clean registration.
Can I Still Get a 30-Day Temporary Tag if My Vehicle Has Flags?
In many situations, yes. Here is the general pattern we see in daily tag & title work:
- Informational/administrative flags (JURVIO, ADMFEE, VEIP warnings, many local enforcement notes) often do not stop a 30-day temporary registration.
- Suspension-level flags (EMNSUS, INSSUS, JURSUS, SERSUS) can stop or limit registration activity and may block temp tags until resolved.
- Serious title or status problems — like certain salvage situations, unresolved lien discrepancies, or active stolen/stolen-recovery issues — can also block both temp tags and permanent plates.
The only way to know for sure is to have your specific record pulled and reviewed in the current MVA system. At MES, we do this every day for Maryland customers buying used vehicles, resolving toll/parking problems, or getting back on the road after a tough period.
If you are dealing with both flags and a recent purchase, you may also want to read our guide to Maryland 30-Day Temporary Tags (VR-129)
Maryland MVA Flag Codes: Frequently Asked Questions
What does JURVIO mean on my Maryland registration?
JURVIO stands for Jurisdictional Violation. It means a jurisdiction like a city, county, or toll agency has reported a violation involving your vehicle or plate — usually unpaid tolls, parking issues, or other enforcement history. JURVIO by itself usually does not mean the car is stolen.
What is ADMFEE, and why do I owe it?
ADMFEE means Administrative Fee Due. After you resolve a ticket, toll violation, or similar issue with the original agency, MVA may still charge an administrative fee to remove the flag from your registration record. You must pay both the underlying violation and the administrative fee before MVA considers the matter closed.
Does having flags mean my car is stolen?
Not usually. Most flags are about money and compliance — unpaid tickets, tolls, emissions testing, or insurance issues — not stolen vehicles. A record that is actually tied to a stolen vehicle will indicate that status very clearly in the MVA system. If MES ever sees anything on your record that looks like an active theft or law-enforcement issue, we will tell you to contact MVA or law enforcement directly.
Can I renew my registration online if I have flags?
Generally, no. Registration flags are specifically designed to block renewals and plate transactions until the underlying issues are resolved. Even if you were able to get a 30-day temp tag earlier, you should expect that renewal will be denied until each flag is cleared.
Can I still get a 30-day temp tag with flags on my record?
In many cases, yes — especially when the flags are administrative or informational (such as JURVIO, ADMFEE, or early VEIP warnings). However, suspension-level flags like EMNSUS (emissions suspension), INSSUS (insurance suspension), or JURSUS (jurisdictional suspension) can fully block registration activity, including temp tags. The safest approach is to let an MVA-authorized agent like MES review your record and explain what is possible for your situation.
How do toll violations create registration flags?
When tolls go unpaid long enough, agencies like the Maryland Transportation Authority can convert them into civil penalties and ask MVA to place flags on the vehicle’s registration. Those flags usually remain until the tolls and penalties are paid, and they can prevent you from renewing or transferring your tags. If you suspect toll issues, check your plate and toll history and contact the toll authority before your renewal date.
Can Maryland flags affect my driver’s license?
Most vehicle flags are tied to the registration record, not your physical license card. However, repeated non-compliance (especially with insurance or serious court-related issues) can eventually lead to broader consequences, including suspension actions that affect your driving privileges. The safest move is to treat flags as urgent and clean them up as soon as possible, not just when you need new stickers.
Can MES help me if my vehicle has a long list of flags?
Yes. At Maryland Express Services (MES) in Ellicott City, we regularly work with vehicles that have long, multi-jurisdictional flag histories. We can help you read the codes, identify which agencies to contact, explain which flags are blocking which transactions, and in many cases issue a 30-day temporary tag while you work through the outstanding items — as long as the live MVA record allows it.
Need help understanding your Maryland MVA flags?
Bring your plate number, VIN, and any letters you’ve received to Maryland Express Services (MES) in Ellicott City. We’ll walk you through your record in plain language and help you take the next steps toward a clean registration.
