Maryland Driver License Photo Requirements

Photo law and requirements

Maryland Transportation Article § 16-111.1(d)(2)(iv) requires a noncommercial Class A, B, C, or M license to include a photograph of the applicant taken in accordance with a procedure the Motor Vehicle Administration requires; § 16-122(d)(3)(v) has a parallel requirement for licenses issued under that section. Chapter 116 of 2026 (HB 248), effective October 1, 2026, removes the requirement that the photograph be in color. § 16-115(a)(4) lets the Administration renew a license without an in-person appearance if the photograph was taken less than 16 years before the renewal, and § 16-115 also addresses mail and electronic renewal for certain applicants. The photo statutes were reviewed; the COMAR administrative-rule audit remains pending.

Where the photo is taken

Maryland MVA allows eligible license renewals online, by mail, or in person. Its renewal page does not state whether an ordinary in-person renewal takes a new photo. MVA explicitly says a new photo is taken for certain in-person transactions, such as an ID application or some corrections; those instructions should not be generalized to every renewal.

Online renewal, photo reuse, and upload

Online or mail renewal is available only when MVA says the customer is eligible. The reviewed renewal page does not explain whether an existing portrait is reused or allow a new portrait upload. Follow the renewal notice and myMVA eligibility result; do not prepare a separate photo unless MVA asks.

New photo upload: Only treat upload as allowed when the linked official instructions explicitly say so.