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Graphic: Bought a car in Maryland? Live in PA, VA, DE, WV or DC? Drive it home on a 14-day in-transit tag
Home » Tag & Title Guides » Bought a Car in Maryland but Live in PA, VA, DE, WV, or DC? How the 14-Day In-Transit Tag Works

Bought a Car in Maryland but Live in PA, VA, DE, WV, or DC? How the 14-Day In-Transit Tag Works

Found the right car in Maryland, but you live across the line in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, or D.C.? You can’t keep the seller’s plates, and you don’t want a Maryland registration you’ll never use. Maryland’s answer is the Temporary In-Transit Registration: a 14-day tag that lets a non-resident drive a Maryland-titled vehicle home, where it gets titled and registered for good.

Our Reisterstown office sits a short drive from the Pennsylvania line, so we see plenty of out-of-state buyers picking up cars in Baltimore County, Owings Mills, and beyond. Here’s how the in-transit tag works, who can get one, and what to bring.

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What is a Maryland in-transit tag?

Lawmakers created it with Senate Bill 707 in 2019 (see the SB 707 fiscal and policy note), and it has been available since July 1, 2020. The rule is in Transportation Article §13-405.1. The MVA’s latest guidance is its June 2023 In-Transit Registration bulletin, which states: “The in-transit registration is available for non-residents of Maryland that need to have a temporary registration to move a vehicle to their state of residence.”

In other words, it’s a moving permit, not a Maryland registration. It gives you a legal way to get the car out of Maryland and nothing more.

Who can get a Maryland in-transit registration?

  • Non-residents only. You can be an individual or a business, as long as you’ll drive the vehicle in Maryland only to take it to your home state for titling and registration.
  • The vehicle must currently be titled in Maryland. According to the 2023 bulletin, a vehicle that’s also registered in Maryland now qualifies too.
  • Maryland residents don’t qualify. If you live here, you’ll need a new Maryland title plus either a 30-day temporary tag or a full registration.

Who issues in-transit tags in Maryland?

Only two places: the MVA or a licensed tag and title agent like Maryland Express Services. Many dealers arrange the tag through a tag and title service, so if you’re buying from a dealer, ask what they provide before you show up with your own paperwork. The tag is printed on the same paper as a 60-day temporary tag.

What to bring for your in-transit tag

  • Your driver’s license. Maryland’s regulation (COMAR 11.15.37.04) asks for a valid driver’s license as proof of identity.
  • Proof that you live out of state. The same regulation calls for a Verification of Residency form (the MVA or your agent provides it), and the address on it must match the address on your license.
  • The Maryland title, properly reassigned to you by the seller.
  • Proof of insurance, with the company name and the policy or binder number.
  • A bill of sale. Bring a bill of sale (MVA form VR-181) signed by all sellers and buyers. Notarization is no longer required as of October 1, 2026 (see the MVA bulletin on SB 125 / HB 251).

The MVA’s current bill of sale form VR-181 (rev. 10-26) has no notary section. Under SB 125 / HB 251, which took effect October 1, 2026, a notarized bill of sale is no longer required. See the MVA bulletin and our guide to the bill of sale change.

The agent will make copies of your ID, the title and its reassignments, and your insurance information, and will keep them along with the in-transit card you sign. For a general list of title paperwork, see our tag and title checklist.

How much is an in-transit tag, and how long does it last?

  • State fee: $15.00 for the in-transit registration.
  • Valid for: 14 days. That’s your window to drive the car home.
  • Limit: one per vehicle sale, with no extension. Plan the trip before you get the tag.

Licensed tag and title services are private businesses and may charge their own service fee on top of the state fee, so ask about the total before you start. The 14 days covers only the drive. Your home state sets its own deadline for titling and registering the car after you arrive.

Do I pay Maryland tax if I live out of state?

Usually, you’ll pay tax where you title the car. Maryland’s 6.5% vehicle excise tax is charged when a Maryland title is issued (Transportation Article §13-809). With an in-transit tag, you title the car in your home state, and that’s typically where you pay title fees, registration fees, and sales or use tax. Dealer sales can be handled differently, so confirm your situation with the MVA at 410-768-7000 before you buy. This isn’t tax or legal advice.

Home-state checklist: PA, VA, DE, WV, and DC

Each state has its own titling deadline, paperwork, and, in many cases, inspection or emissions rules. Check your state’s official page before the 14 days run out:

Ask your state about inspection or emissions testing, too. Some states require one before or soon after registration, and the requirements can depend on your county or the vehicle type.

Step by step: buying a car in Maryland from PA, VA, or another state

  1. Confirm the title is a Maryland title and that the seller can reassign it to you.
  2. Buy insurance for the vehicle before pickup.
  3. Get the bill of sale (MVA form VR-181, signed by all sellers and buyers; notarization is no longer required as of October 1, 2026).
  4. Visit the MVA or a licensed tag and title agent with your license, residency proof, the reassigned title, and your insurance details, and pay the $15 state fee.
  5. Drive home within 14 days, then title and register the car in your state.

Moving to Maryland instead? That’s a different process. See our guide to out-of-state plates under Maryland’s new law.

How Maryland Express Services can help

We’re an MVA-licensed tag and title agent in Reisterstown, open 7 days a week with evening hours, and walk-ins are welcome. We can check your paperwork and issue your in-transit tag so you can head home. See all our tag and title services.

Related guides

Official sources

Frequently asked questions

Can I buy a car in Maryland as a Virginia resident?

Yes. If the car has a Maryland title, a Maryland-licensed tag and title agent or the MVA can issue a 14-day in-transit registration so you can drive it to Virginia, where you title and register it.

What are Maryland in-transit tags?

They’re a 14-day temporary registration for non-residents who bought a Maryland-titled vehicle and need to drive it to their home state for titling and registration. The state fee is $15.

How do I get transport tags in Maryland?

Visit the MVA or a licensed tag and title agent with your driver’s license, proof of out-of-state residency, the Maryland title reassigned to you, proof of insurance, and a bill of sale (MVA form VR-181) signed by all sellers and buyers. Notarization is no longer required as of October 1, 2026.

Can a Maryland resident get an in-transit tag?

No. It’s for non-residents only. Maryland residents need a new Maryland title plus a 30-day temporary tag or a full registration.

Can I extend a Maryland in-transit tag?

No. It’s valid for 14 days, and only one can be issued per vehicle sale, so plan your trip home before you get it.

Do I pay Maryland sales tax if I buy a car in Maryland and live in Pennsylvania?

Maryland’s 6.5% excise tax applies when a Maryland title is issued. In-transit buyers usually pay tax when they title the car in their home state. Confirm your situation with the MVA at 410-768-7000.

Can I drive home on the seller's Maryland plates?

No. Plates stay with the seller. Get an in-transit registration before you drive the car to your home state.

Heading home with your new car?

Picking up a car near Reisterstown and heading home to another state? Bring your paperwork and we’ll help you get on the road.

Maryland Express Services LLC
25 Main St Ste C, Reisterstown, MD 21136
Call, text, or WhatsApp (443) 826-7843 · Fax (410) 465-1054
marylandexpressservices.com · Contact Us
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Maryland Express Services LLC is an MVA-licensed title service agent, not a government office, not the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, and not affiliated with the MVA. This post is general information based on mva.maryland.gov, MVA business bulletins, and Maryland law as of October 2026, not legal or tax advice. Fees and rules can change, so check the MVA website for the latest.

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