Mar 6, 2025 - News

Maryland says its residents are registering their cars in cheaper Virginia

Cuneyt Dil

A procession of cars on the Washington area Beltway — Some of those Virginia plates may actually be Maryland drivers. Photo: Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Maryland is laying the horn on residents registering their cars in Virginia, where insurance and fees are less expensive.

Why it matters: Maryland says it loses millions of dollars in revenue, but there's little the state can do to go after the vehicle owners, the Baltimore Banner reports.

By the numbers: Virginia notified Maryland about 107,000 vehicles registered in Virginia but tied to an address in Maryland, according to a Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration report last June.

The MVA whittled the list down to 46,000 people whose vehicles were previously registered in Maryland. About 30% of the vehicles were linked to neighboring Prince George's County.

Context: A Virginia loophole had allowed drivers to register their car in the state without insurance by paying a one-time fee. Lawmakers closed the long-exploited provision last July.

Between the lines: Maryland is in a budget crunch, so it needs every dollar.

What we're watching: Maryland House lawmakers want to pass a law allowing the city to tow or impound such vehicles.

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Maryland says its residents are registering their cars in cheaper Virginia

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