Maryland Trip Permit

When Do You Need a Maryland Trip Permit?

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) mandates the issuance of temporary permits to non-apportioned commercial vehicles from other states. It is necessary to have a Maryland Trip Permit (IRP) if your vehicle is involved in interstate commerce and if the following conditions are met:

• Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW): You have a power unit with a gross vehicle weight or registered weight greater than 26,000 lbs.
• Combination Loads: You have combination loads whose total weight is greater than 26,000 lbs.
• Axle Setup: You have a vehicle with three or more axles irrespective of total weight.

Tip for Compliance: The IRP Trip Permit only serves as a temporary permit for the registration of your vehicle. For the commercial vehicles that are not registered for IFTA, it becomes necessary for you to get a Fuel Permit from Maryland as well.

Maryland Temporary Registration vs. Fuel Permits

There are separate validity periods for trip and fuel permits in Maryland. This information will allow you to plan your logistics correctly:

• Maryland Trip Permit (IRP) This is a substitute for ordinary apportioned license plates. The period for the IRP Trip Permit in Maryland is usually 72 hours, and this allows your vehicle to travel legally to deliver or receive loads within the state borders. Please note that one VIN can have no more than three 72-hour trip permits a year.
• Maryland Fuel Permit (IFTA) When you don't have an active IFTA license, then you need to obtain a temporary fuel permit. The validity period of a temporary fuel permit is 15 days starting from the effective date mentioned on the permit. The validity of the permit is one time use in Maryland.

How to Secure Your Maryland Permits

To prevent any chances of losing time in the process, you need to get your permits first before entering the Maryland state. There are chances that authorities can fine you an amount between $100-$500, or can even make you buy a permit on the spot or confiscate your vehicle.

Some simple choices you may go with include:

• Through the State: You may also get the permits through MDOT MVA through the mailing method, through fax or personal visits.
• Authorized Permit Services: There are many motor carriers that choose to go for third party permit services (wire services). The service provides easy access and often provides instant online issuance of IRP and IFTA permits.

Requirements for Applying:

Make sure that you have your company information and vehicle details handy for a quick process:

• Full VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
• Year, Make, Model of unit
• License Plate Number and State
• Gross Weight of the Vehicle
• FEIN of the Company (Federal Employer Identification Number)
• USDOT Number of Company

A Note on Oversize/Overweight (OSOW) Loads

It should be noted that neither the 72-hour Trip Permit nor the 15-day Fuel Permit permits the transport of oversize or overweight loads. In the case where the truck is heavier than Maryland's permissible weight limit, a specific Maryland OSOW permit should be obtained from the State Highway Administration.