Maryland lets visitors and other nonresidents drive on a valid driver’s license from their home state or country under Md. Code, Transp. § 16-101 — generally for up to one year after arriving. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is not a license; it is an official translation of your home-country license and must be carried together with that license. Once you become a Maryland resident, you have 60 days to exchange your license for a Maryland one (30 days for a commercial license). Driving beyond these limits can bring a § 16-101 charge — the same one used for driving without a license — which carries up to $500 and 5 points.
This area causes more confusion than almost any other in Maryland licensing — partly because the rules differ for tourists, students, and new residents, and partly because enforcement is uneven. An officer at the roadside often has no way to know how long you have been in the country, so a perfectly lawful visitor sometimes gets cited anyway. Knowing the rule, and carrying the right paperwork, prevents most problems before they start — and makes the rest straightforward to clear up.
Visitors and Nonresidents: What § 16-101 Allows
Section 16-101 expressly allows a nonresident to drive in Maryland on a license issued by their home state or country. For foreign visitors, students, and other temporary nonresidents, that generally means you may drive on your valid home-country license for up to about a year after you arrive, as long as the license is current.
Two practical conditions matter. First, your license must be valid — not expired, not suspended. Second, if it is not written in English, you should carry an official English translation or an International Driving Permit alongside it, so an officer can read it. Always carry the original license itself; a translation or permit by itself is not enough.
The International Driving Permit: What It Is and Isn’t
An IDP is widely misunderstood. It is not a standalone license and it grants no driving privileges on its own. It is simply a standardized translation of the license you already hold, issued by an authorized body in your home country. It is valid only when carried with that underlying license, and only for as long as the license is valid.
One common trap: IDPs issued in the United States (for example, through AAA) are meant for U.S. license holders driving abroad — they are not valid for driving inside the United States. If you are a foreign visitor who wants the protection of an IDP while driving in Maryland, you must obtain it in your home country before you travel. For visitors whose license is already in English, an IDP is helpful but usually not required.
Becoming a Maryland Resident: The 60-Day Rule
The one-year visitor allowance ends the moment you become a Maryland resident. Taking a job here, signing a lease, registering to vote, or otherwise establishing that Maryland is your home triggers a deadline: new residents must obtain a Maryland driver’s license within 60 days (within 30 days for a commercial license). After you are a resident, your foreign license no longer covers you, even if you have been here less than a year.
If you have been licensed for less than 18 months when you exchange, Maryland issues you a provisional license, which comes with its own restrictions and a stricter sanction ladder for violations — see our guide to provisional license tickets in Maryland. The safest course for anyone settling in Maryland is to start the exchange early rather than waiting out the 60 days.
Exchanging a Foreign License for a Maryland One
To exchange a foreign license, you will generally need to pass the vision, knowledge, and driving skills tests, and provide proof of age, identity, and Maryland residency. Because licenses are tied to lawful presence, the MVA may verify your status through the federal SAVE system, so applicants with temporary status often receive a license that expires when their status does.
There are exceptions. Maryland has reciprocity agreements with certain countries — France and Japan among them — that waive the knowledge and skills tests for an equivalent Class C license. If your foreign license is expired, those waivers generally do not apply and full testing is required, much like renewing an expired Maryland license after a long lapse. You will also have to surrender your foreign license, because Maryland allows only one license per driver.
If You’re Charged Anyway
Because officers cannot see your arrival date on the roadside, lawful visitors do sometimes get cited under § 16-101. When that happens, the defense is documentation: proof of your arrival or visa date, your valid home-country license, and an IDP or translation if you carried one. When the paperwork shows you were within the lawful window, these charges are frequently dismissed.
What you should not do is simply pay the citation. Paying is a guilty plea, and a § 16-101 conviction adds 5 points to your Maryland driving record — points that can follow you, raise your insurance, and complicate a later license application. If you were driving lawfully, the citation is worth contesting rather than paying.
Related Questions
- Driving on an expired license in Maryland
- License suspension vs. revocation vs. cancellation in Maryland
- How Maryland’s point system works
- Provisional license tickets in Maryland
- What to expect at a Maryland MVA hearing
Cited for Driving on a Foreign License? It’s Often Fixable
If you were driving within Maryland’s rules and still got a ticket, the right documentation often gets the charge dismissed — but only if it is presented properly and on time. A Maryland traffic lawyer can review your situation, identify the documents that matter, and frequently appear in court on your behalf so a paperwork misunderstanding does not become points on your record.
Toll-free: 1-877-566-2408. For the broader picture, see the complete Maryland license and MVA issues guide.
Last updated: May 2026.