Maryland Trailer Tag Violation: Fines and Penalties

In Maryland, operating a trailer without valid registration tags is a citable offense under the Transportation Article.

Fine Structure (as of current statutes)

• First Offense: $100 fine.
• Each Subsequent Offense: $200 fine.

Additional Costs

• Late Fees: If the registration is expired, the MVA may assess a $20 late fee for each 30-day period (or part thereof) the trailer has been operated without valid tags, up to a maximum.
• Court Costs: If you contest the ticket and lose, or fail to appear, court costs (~$30–$50) are added.
• Towing/Impound: Law enforcement may impound an unregistered trailer at the scene; you pay towing + daily storage fees.

Key Points

• Trailers over 3,000 lbs GVWR require title and registration; lighter trailers need registration only.
• "No tags" includes expired tags, missing tags, or tags assigned to a different trailer.
• Maryland offers permanent registration for trailers (one-time fee, no annual renewal)—highly recommended to avoid this issue.

Always verify current fine amounts on the Maryland MVA website or the citation itself, as statutes can be amended.