More Marylanders are improperly registering their vehicles with Virginia license plates.It’s a known tactic that some vehicle owners are using to dodge higher registration fees in Maryland, as well as unpaid traffic violations. The strategy is costing Maryland millions while dangerous drivers get away with their antics, state officials said.”They don’t care what the rules are, whether it relates to speeding or whether it relates to insurance, or probably many other things in their life, they’re just going to do what they want to do,” said Al Redmer Jr., executive director of Maryland Auto Insurance, an insurance company that helps drivers, many struggling financially or with less-than-perfect driving records, comply with the law.There is even a big banner on Hillen Street in downtown Baltimore that reads “Virginia tags.””Not only is it inappropriate, in my opinion, it was pretty blatant,” Redmer told 11 News Investigates.Why are Marylanders registering their vehicles in Virginia?In Maryland, vehicles must be titled and registered with the Motor Vehicle Administration, as well as insured, within 60 days of moving to the state.But Virginia law allows people to bypass that requirement as the state allows nonresidents to register their vehicles, unlike other surrounding states.”We have way too many uninsured drivers, and we are all potential victims of being hit by an uninsured motorist,” Redmer told 11 News Investigates.For Marylanders, that means paying less in registration fees, avoiding stricter insurance requirements and getting the ability to steer clear of paying penalties that would prevent registration renewal in Maryland.Maryland Speedy Tag and Title, which provides vehicle registration and license plate services, started seeing it a few years ago.”It became a really big issue where we started getting more and more customers with Virginia tags, and they’re asking us, ‘Do we do Virginia tags?’ I was like, ‘No, we do Maryland,'” said Lisa Thompas, operations manager at Maryland Speedy Tag and Title.Thompas explained that it’s illegal, but she said many Marylanders leave her business and take the chance rather than transferring their vehicle registration to Maryland.”We make it real simple for you. It’s an easy process. We tell you all the paperwork you need, it’s not much, but it does make you legal to drive,” Thompas told 11 News Investigates.How prevalent are Virginia registrations in Maryland?11 News Investigates quickly observed at one of the busiest intersections in Baltimore that there were more than 20 vehicles bearing Virginia license plates. While that is not to say those vehicles are all wrongly registered, it does point out how many Virginia plates are driving on Maryland roads.The MVA is working with Virginia to get a count of vehicles registered there using Maryland addresses. The Maryland General Assembly requested the Maryland Department of Transportation to compile a report examining how many Marylanders have vehicles registered in Virginia.| MORE: MDOT report on out-of-state motor vehicles – improper registrationsIn November 2023, the report revealed that 101,212 vehicle records showed Virginia license plates for Maryland residents.In June 2024, that number increased to 111,102, despite efforts to contact vehicle owners.The report cites June 2024 data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles that found 11% of Maryland owners with vehicles registered in Virginia were linked to 18,930 active violations.The report cites $222,840 in unpaid administrative fees for parking, tolls and automated speed and red-light camera violations, as well as vehicle owners who bypass compliance with Maryland’s Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program.The report found that among the 6,250 jurisdictional violations identified, 75% are associated with 10 jurisdictions, as shown below.The consequences for MarylandersAs a result of the out-of-state vehicle registrations, Maryland stands to potentially lose up to $12 million.And those who do follow the law are also losing out.”I definitely feel like, in Baltimore more than ever, people are driving uninsured, and I think that it creates a situation where you’re falling back on things you’re not responsible for, more often than not,” said Julia Barmby, a Baltimore driver.Anyone who gets hit by an uninsured driver has to get their personal insurance to cover the claim, and that is on top of already high insurance costs and recent increases.Can Maryland stop the tactic?So, what can be done to make drivers hit the brakes at the border? The MVA can currently issue a citation or confiscate an out-of-state plate under specific circumstances, but the agency does not have the time and resources to make a dent in the issue.Over the summer of 2024, Virginia took a step toward closing the loophole. Under Virginia’s previous law, drivers were charged a fee to renew their vehicle registration if they did not have insurance. Now, drivers are required to have insurance in order to register a vehicle.But Redmer told 11 News Investigates that it will take time for drivers to become compliant, especially those who have no interest in following the law.”We had thousands and thousands of folks traveling in the state of Maryland, living in Maryland, without automobile insurance (who were) sanctioned by the state of Virginia,” Redmer told 11 News Investigates.The issue has gone before Maryland lawmakers in recent years, but so far, nothing has passed. Now, the MVA wants state leadership to consider options, including mandating legal out-of-state drivers to display a permit or allowing the MVA to enforce requirements and additional penalties.”We are all well-aware of the Virginia problem,” Redmer told 11 News Investigates.The MDOT report underscores Redmer’s sentiment, saying: “Improper vehicle registration will continue to be challenging as long as the commonwealth of Virginia registers vehicles without residency requirements.”
More Marylanders are improperly registering their vehicles with Virginia license plates.
It’s a known tactic that some vehicle owners are using to dodge higher registration fees in Maryland, as well as unpaid traffic violations. The strategy is costing Maryland millions while dangerous drivers get away with their antics, state officials said.
“They don’t care what the rules are, whether it relates to speeding or whether it relates to insurance, or probably many other things in their life, they’re just going to do what they want to do,” said Al Redmer Jr., executive director of Maryland Auto Insurance, an insurance company that helps drivers, many struggling financially or with less-than-perfect driving records, comply with the law.
There is even a big banner on Hillen Street in downtown Baltimore that reads “Virginia tags.”
“Not only is it inappropriate, in my opinion, it was pretty blatant,” Redmer told 11 News Investigates.
Why are Marylanders registering their vehicles in Virginia?
In Maryland, vehicles must be titled and registered with the Motor Vehicle Administration, as well as insured, within 60 days of moving to the state.
But Virginia law allows people to bypass that requirement as the state allows nonresidents to register their vehicles, unlike other surrounding states.
“We have way too many uninsured drivers, and we are all potential victims of being hit by an uninsured motorist,” Redmer told 11 News Investigates.
For Marylanders, that means paying less in registration fees, avoiding stricter insurance requirements and getting the ability to steer clear of paying penalties that would prevent registration renewal in Maryland.
Maryland Speedy Tag and Title, which provides vehicle registration and license plate services, started seeing it a few years ago.
“It became a really big issue where we started getting more and more customers with Virginia tags, and they’re asking us, ‘Do we do Virginia tags?’ I was like, ‘No, we do Maryland,'” said Lisa Thompas, operations manager at Maryland Speedy Tag and Title.
Thompas explained that it’s illegal, but she said many Marylanders leave her business and take the chance rather than transferring their vehicle registration to Maryland.
“We make it real simple for you. It’s an easy process. We tell you all the paperwork you need, it’s not much, but it does make you legal to drive,” Thompas told 11 News Investigates.
How prevalent are Virginia registrations in Maryland?
11 News Investigates quickly observed at one of the busiest intersections in Baltimore that there were more than 20 vehicles bearing Virginia license plates. While that is not to say those vehicles are all wrongly registered, it does point out how many Virginia plates are driving on Maryland roads.
The MVA is working with Virginia to get a count of vehicles registered there using Maryland addresses. The Maryland General Assembly requested the Maryland Department of Transportation to compile a report examining how many Marylanders have vehicles registered in Virginia.
| MORE: MDOT report on out-of-state motor vehicles – improper registrations
In November 2023, the report revealed that 101,212 vehicle records showed Virginia license plates for Maryland residents.
In June 2024, that number increased to 111,102, despite efforts to contact vehicle owners.
The report cites June 2024 data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles that found 11% of Maryland owners with vehicles registered in Virginia were linked to 18,930 active violations.
The report cites $222,840 in unpaid administrative fees for parking, tolls and automated speed and red-light camera violations, as well as vehicle owners who bypass compliance with Maryland’s Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program.
The report found that among the 6,250 jurisdictional violations identified, 75% are associated with 10 jurisdictions, as shown below.
The consequences for Marylanders
As a result of the out-of-state vehicle registrations, Maryland stands to potentially lose up to $12 million.
And those who do follow the law are also losing out.
“I definitely feel like, in Baltimore more than ever, people are driving uninsured, and I think that it creates a situation where you’re falling back on things you’re not responsible for, more often than not,” said Julia Barmby, a Baltimore driver.
Anyone who gets hit by an uninsured driver has to get their personal insurance to cover the claim, and that is on top of already high insurance costs and recent increases.
Can Maryland stop the tactic?
So, what can be done to make drivers hit the brakes at the border? The MVA can currently issue a citation or confiscate an out-of-state plate under specific circumstances, but the agency does not have the time and resources to make a dent in the issue.
Over the summer of 2024, Virginia took a step toward closing the loophole. Under Virginia’s previous law, drivers were charged a fee to renew their vehicle registration if they did not have insurance. Now, drivers are required to have insurance in order to register a vehicle.
But Redmer told 11 News Investigates that it will take time for drivers to become compliant, especially those who have no interest in following the law.
“We had thousands and thousands of folks traveling in the state of Maryland, living in Maryland, without automobile insurance (who were) sanctioned by the state of Virginia,” Redmer told 11 News Investigates.
The issue has gone before Maryland lawmakers in recent years, but so far, nothing has passed. Now, the MVA wants state leadership to consider options, including mandating legal out-of-state drivers to display a permit or allowing the MVA to enforce requirements and additional penalties.
“We are all well-aware of the Virginia problem,” Redmer told 11 News Investigates.
The MDOT report underscores Redmer’s sentiment, saying: “Improper vehicle registration will continue to be challenging as long as the commonwealth of Virginia registers vehicles without residency requirements.”
Based in New York, Stephen Freeman is a Senior Editor at Trending Insurance News. Previously he has worked for Forbes and The Huffington Post. Steven is a graduate of Risk Management at the University of New York.