Why So Many Virginia License Plates Are Showing Up in Baltimore

Vanity License Plate - Virginia — Source: Joe Sohm/Visions of America / Getty

If you’ve noticed a bunch of Virginia license plates on Baltimore’s streets lately, you’re not alone and it’s costing Maryland millions of dollars. According to a recent report from the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), the state is losing between $8 and $12 million a year in registration fees because thousands of Marylanders are registering their cars in Virginia instead.

Last summer, Virginia officials handed over a list of nearly 107,000 vehicles registered in their state but linked to a primary address in Maryland, The Baltimore Banner reports. Of those, Maryland’s MVA found about 46,000 that had previously been registered in Maryland, an increase from the prior year.

The highest concentration of these cars is in Prince George’s County (30%), followed by Baltimore City and Baltimore County (34% combined). And it’s not just about lost revenue, some of these out-of-state vehicles belong to drivers with unpaid traffic violations, suspended registrations, and even insurance issues.

Why Are Marylanders Registering in Virginia?

Simple: it’s cheaper. Virginia has lower registration fees, looser emissions rules, and until recently, a loophole that let drivers avoid carrying car insurance if they paid a one-time fee. That loophole was closed last July, but the trend of Marylanders registering in Virginia hasn’t stopped.

Is It Legal?

Technically, no. Maryland law requires all residents to register their vehicles in-state within 60 days of moving here. But here’s the catch: Virginia doesn’t require proof of residency to register a vehicle. That means Marylanders using Virginia plates are breaking Maryland law but not Virginia law.

And Maryland doesn’t have much power to stop it.

What Can the State Do?

Lawmakers in Baltimore have tried to crack down on this issue. A bill that would have allowed the city to tow and impound improperly registered cars passed the Maryland House last year but stalled in the Senate. It’s back on the table this year.

Supporters argue that the bill would make it easier to track violations, hold reckless drivers accountable, and stop these vehicles from racking up unpaid tolls and fines while taking up parking spots or being abandoned.

Will Anything Change?

So far, enforcement efforts haven’t had much success. In late 2023, the MVA sent notices to nearly 34,000 suspected violators, reminding them of Maryland’s registration requirements. Only about 2.4% of them (809 people) switched their registration to Maryland.

Some lawmakers are considering tougher penalties, like denying vehicle owners a Maryland driver’s license renewal if their car is registered in another state. But as long as Virginia keeps allowing out-of-state residents to register cars, Maryland is stuck playing catch-up.

Meanwhile, the cost of owning and insuring a car in Maryland keeps rising—giving some drivers even more incentive to look south of the border for cheaper options.