The following bullets are excerpted from Maryland MVA’s January 2026 “Talking Points” newsletter. We hope you find this information useful, and if you have a topic, you’d like us to cover in a future newsletter, please send it to Kristin Orlando-Dillahunt at korlando@mdot.maryland.gov.
Vehicle Services – Tips & Reminders
- When processing a title and registration transaction and the customer has a trade-in, the trade-in date should be the date the customer signed over the vehicle to the dealer. By doing this, it may prevent the creation of insurance violation notifications and/or cases and may automatically close any opened insurance lapse cases.
- It is necessary to complete a transmittal sheet (VR-205 dated 8/22) when uploading portal transactions. The MVA is looking to make an enhancement to the portal to create an electronic transmittal sheet when transactions are uploaded to the portal.
- When salvage certificates are submitted, the certificates will be batch printed and mailed to the customer. If the mailing address is different from the address on the application, please write the mailing address on the top of the form.
- When portal work is completed and the “Ready for pick-up” notification has been received, please pick up after 24 hours after receiving the pick-up notification.
- Title and registration documents must be retained for 3 years (the current year and three years after) as per bulletins dated June 13, 2023 and January 23, 2023. In accordance with Maryland Vehicle Law §15-105, licensees are required to retain title records (T1-T5 and duplicate titles) and registration transactions (Registration renewals, duplicate stickers, etc.), as well as voided transactions, for a period of 3 years. These records must be retained in their original format for the first year and then may be retained in an electronic format for the remaining 2 years. They shall be readily available for inspection and audit by authorized representatives of the state during normal business hours without advance notification.
- Federal regulations (49 CFR §580.8) require licensees to retain the odometer statement for at least 5 years. The federal odometer statement must also be retained in its original format for the first year and then may be retained in an electronic format for the remaining 4 years.
Business Licensing & Compliance Updates
- Trade-In requirements– The MVA has decided to pause any changes to the Trade-In requirements that had been previously discussed. The ERT vendors are aware of this pause as well.
- Later this month there will be changes to inventory restock levels for a select group of plate types. Instead of boxes of 25 plates, they will come in boxes of 5 plates. There will be a bulletin distributed with further details in the coming weeks. The ERT vendors are also aware of this change.
- Voiding pending transactions in ERT– Most ERT vendors offer a solution in their software that will allow you to void a Pending transaction and then re-submit a new transaction with all of the original data. This will make it easier if you need to correct a field within a pending transaction. Please contact your specific ERT vendor if you have any questions regarding this or need assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can we not have NMVTIS reporting when only a temporary tag has been issued?
- The vehicle information is not reported to NMVTIS until a title is printed; the vehicle information does not get reported to NMVTIS if a temporary tag is issued.
- Why do we have to add money in the portal before the deal is approved? If the deal is not approved, it takes a while to receive a refund.
- In order for transactions to be completed, we will need the funds to be added to the drawdown account so the transactions can be completed. If there is a question about a transaction prior to submitting it in the portal, please email MDDTTS@mdot.maryland.gov or call the branch where the work is submitted.
- Why do the plate types not populate when putting in tag numbers?
- In order for this to be an option, we would have to make changes to the MVA system as well as request the ERT vendors to make the change.
- Why are some plates showing an expiration date of 12/1/1900?
- We have asked our development team about this issue, but they did not find this to be an issue. If this continues to be an issue, please submit examples to srichardsmarks@mdot.maryland.gov.
Opportunity for Public Comments – Proposed Changes to Late Titling Fees
MVA is proposing to establish and standardize assessing fines on dealers and title service agents for submitting late transactions. The proposed changes are to Code of Maryland Regulations 11.12.07.01B.
The text in italics is proposed text, and the text in brackets is text proposed for deletion.
If you have comments on these proposed changes, please send them to Tracey C. Sheffield, Regulations Coordinator, MVA, 6601 Ritchie Highway N.E., Room 102, Glen Burnie MD 21062, or call 410.768.7545, or email tsheffield@mdot.maryland.gov. Comments will be accepted through January 26, 2026.
If you have a topic, you’d like us to cover in a future newsletter, please send it to Kristin Orlando-Dillahunt at korlando@mdot.maryland.gov.
Download Bulletin PDF