Maryland MVA · Quick Reference 2026

Maryland MVA Test Cheat Sheet

Every key number, rule, and fact from the Maryland Driver's Manual (DL-002, December 2025) — on one page. Bookmark it or print it.

🏎️ Speed Limits

Maximum legal speedPosted limit

All highwaysPosted limit

Reduce speedRain · ice · heavy traffic

Urban districtObey posted signs

Residential / businessObey posted signs

School zoneObey posted signs · watch for kids

Slow-moving signVehicle going 25 mph or less

Work zone — finesMuch higher · higher with workers present

💡 The posted speed limit is the maximum legal speed under ideal conditions. Driving slower than other traffic encourages constant passing and increases crash risk — stay near the flow up to the limit.

🅿️ Parking Distances

From fire hydrantObey posted signs CHECK CURB

From crosswalk / intersectionObey posted signs

From fire station drivewayObey posted signs

From stop sign / yield / signalObey posted signs

From railroad crossingObey posted signs

From curb when parkingAs close as possible

In front of a drivewayNever — prohibited

🍺 Alcohol & DUI Laws

BAC limit — drivers 21+0.08%

BAC limit — under 21Any amount = suspension Zero tolerance

Open container — passenger areaIllegal

Refuse chemical testLicense will be suspended

Implied consentRequired if asked

BAC 0.08+License suspended

DUI with child in vehicleJudge may double fine + jail

Under-21 alcohol detectedSuspension or revocation

After DUI convictionIgnition interlock breathalyzer

Open container6-pack with empty/missing bottles = open

⚠️ Even at a BAC well below 0.08, judgment, vision, simple movements, and reaction time may be impaired with just one drink — and you can still face criminal charges.

⚖️ DUI Penalties (Adults)

Offense	Fine	Jail	Suspension
BAC 0.08+ (any age)	License suspended by MVA	Per court	Per MVA
DUI w/ child in vehicle	Judge may double	Judge may double	Per MVA
Refuse chemical test	—	—	License suspended
Under 21 — any alcohol	Per court	Per court	Suspension or revocation

📏 Key Distances & Rules

Following distance — ideal3–4 seconds

Following — buses / vans4–5 seconds

Following — bad weatherEven more

Headlights requiredCan't see 1,000 ft

School bus stop distance20 feet (front and back)

No passing near intersection / RR100 feet

No passing — view obstructed100 ft of bridge / tunnel

Dim high beams — oncoming500 feet

Dim high beams — following300 feet

Wipers on?Headlights ON (MD law)

Bicycle brake (10 mph)Stop within 15 ft

Pass bicyclist3 feet minimum

Bus / school bus / hazmat at RRAlways stop before crossing

Move Over LawMove over OR slow safely

💡 Maryland-unique rule: headlights are required whenever you are using your windshield wipers in inclement weather — not only at night or in fog.

🔷 Sign Shapes

Shape	Meaning	Example
Octagon (8 sides)	STOP	Stop sign
Inverted triangle	YIELD	Yield sign
Diamond	WARNING	Curves, merges, hills
Pentagon (5 sides)	SCHOOL	School zone/crossing
Circle	RAILROAD	Advance RR warning
Pennant	NO PASSING	No passing zone (left side)
Vertical rectangle	REGULATORY	Speed limits, rules
Horizontal rectangle	GUIDE	Directions, distances
Crossbuck (X)	RR CROSSING	At the crossing itself

🎨 Sign Colors

Color	Meaning
🔴 Red	Stop, yield, do not enter, prohibition
⬜ White	Regulatory — rules and laws
🟡 Yellow	Warning — hazards ahead
🟢 Green	Guide — directions, distances
🔵 Blue	Services — gas, food, hospital
🟠 Orange	Construction / work zone
🟤 Brown	Parks, recreation, historic
💛 Yellow-Green	Pedestrian, school, bicycle

↗️ Right-of-Way Rules

→At a 4-way stop: first to arrive goes first. If tied, driver on the RIGHT goes first.
→At an uncontrolled intersection: yield to the vehicle on the RIGHT.
→Turning left: always yield to oncoming straight-through traffic.
→Entering from alley, driveway, or private road: stop and yield to ALL traffic.
→At a T-intersection (no signs): the vehicle on the terminating road yields.
→Pedestrians in a crosswalk: ALWAYS yield — marked or unmarked.
→Emergency vehicles with lights/sirens: pull to the RIGHT and stop.
→Funeral procession: yield even if you have a green light, until all procession vehicles have passed.

🚌 School Bus Rules

→Stop at least 20 feet from the front or back of a school bus when its red lights are flashing — both behind and approaching from the front.
→Exception: on a road divided by a physical barrier, you do not need to stop if the bus is on the OTHER side of the barrier.
→You may not move again until the bus starts moving or its flashing red lights turn off.

🎓 Teen / GDL Laws

Type 1 Permit (under 25)15 yrs 9 mo

Permit hold (under 18)9 months no violation

Practice — under 2560 hrs / 10 night

Practice — 25+14 hrs / 3 night

Permit hold — 18 (HS/GED)–243 months no violation

Permit hold — 25+45 days minimum

Provisional hold18 months minimum

Provisional curfew (under 18)12 a.m. – 5 a.m.

Curfew exceptionsWork · school · athletic · volunteer

Provisional passenger ruleFirst 151 days no under-18 (non-family)

Phone — Permit / ProvisionalNo wireless device · 911 only

Supervising driver21+, licensed 3+ yrs, beside you

🛡️ Child Restraint & Safety Belts

Under age 2Rear-facing car seat

Under age 8 (or under 4'9")Child safety seat

Air bag distance10–12 in. chest to wheel

Age 8+ or 4'9"+Lap/shoulder seatbelt

Under age 13Should ride in rear seat

Rear-facing + air bagNever put rear-facing seat in front of an active passenger air bag

🏦 Insurance & Financial Responsibility

Insurance ID cardRequired when driving

Electronic ID cardAccepted

No insurance — max fine$2,500 per vehicle / year

Proof of insuranceRequired at traffic stops — electronic proof on phone accepted

📋 License Fees & Administration

Standard Class C licenseSee current MVA fee

Knowledge test25 Qs · 20 min · 88% to pass

Type 1 / Type 2 PermitSee current MVA fee

Duplicate licenseSee current MVA fee

Vision standard20/40 each eye · 140° field

Address changeNotify the MVA — keep current

Organ donor (18+)Register at MVA · 16+ with parental consent

🚗 Other Must-Know Rules

→Handheld phone use while driving: illegal in Maryland. Texting is illegal.
→Drivers under 18: no wireless communication device — even hands-free — except for a 911 emergency call.
→Headlights required: sunset to sunrise + whenever wipers are on.
→Hill parking: downhill = turn wheels TO curb. Uphill with curb = turn wheels AWAY from curb.
→U-turns: not legal everywhere — check first, signal, stop, and yield to oncoming traffic before turning into the outside lane.
→Skidding: ease off gas/brakes, steer INTO the direction of the skid.
→Move Over Law: move to a non-adjacent lane, or slow to a safe speed if you cannot move over. Basic violation: $110 + 1 point. With crash: $150 + 3 points. With death/serious injury: $750 + 3 points.
→Hit and run: up to 5 years prison / $5,000 fine if it causes serious injury; up to 10 years / $10,000 if it causes death.

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