Guidance on Temporary Tags in Maryland and Virginia

Dear WANADA Members,

Earlier this week, the Virginia Motor Vehicle Dealer Board informed us that temporary tags are not included in the commonwealth's list of DMV-related document extensions. This means that temporary tags that have expired, or will expire in the coming weeks, must either be renewed for a second 30-day window through the state's Print on Demand service, or upgraded to permanent plates.

As has been the case since the beginning of the year, dealers may manually process titling and registration work by mailing it to one of two Manheim Auto locations listed here. We also encourage you to also avail yourselves of the online services portal.

The state DMV has also started offering in-person services on a by-appointment basis at nine locations in the commonwealth, with the closest location to our region located in Spotsylvania County. The DMV had originally said that 11 locations would open beginning on May 18; however, the locations in Richmond and Accomack County on the Eastern Shore remain closed for the time being.

In Maryland, the Motor Vehicle Administration has said that temporary tags are part of the emergency document extension. According to the MVA, all temporary tags that were set to expire on March 12 or later will remain valid until 30 days after the state of emergency is lifted. That state of emergency remains in effect, even as the state transitions to a "safer-at-home" regulatory policy for many retail businesses.

MVA branches statewide remain closed indefinitely, and we encourage you to continue to use the state's online services portal. You may order additional temporary tag paper from the state by completing the form linked here.

Please let me or Joe Koch ( [email protected]) know if you have any questions about this update. As the state DMVs continue to modify their service operations, we will be certain to keep you informed.

Sincerely,
  
John O'Donnell
WANADA President and CEO