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If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in Maryland, you might be wondering what happens to your driving record in the years that follow. One of the most common questions people have is: does a DUI stay on your driving record—and for how long?
This blog post is designed to answer that clearly. In Maryland, a DUI affects your driving history in specific ways that are tracked by the Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). This record can influence everything from your license status to your insurance premiums and your eligibility for future driving-related programs.
This post breaks down how long a DUI stays on your Maryland driving record, how the MVA handles violations, what impact it has on points, and how insurance companies and other agencies view these entries over time. It also explains the difference between criminal and driving records—two things often confused in DUI cases.
By the end, you’ll have a full picture of what it means for a DUI to remain on your Maryland driving record, and how it can affect your life moving forward.
How Maryland Tracks DUI Violations on Driving Records
In Maryland, your driving record is maintained by the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA). This record keeps track of license points, suspensions, revocations, and serious driving offenses—including DUI.
When you’re convicted of a DUI, the MVA adds the violation to your driving history. This record is different from your criminal record; it’s administrative, not judicial. However, the effects are still significant.
A DUI conviction results in:
- 12 points added to your license
- Immediate license revocation in most cases
- Long-term visibility of the offense to the MVA and insurance providers
This violation is not just a momentary issue. While some parts of it, like points, may diminish over time, the record of the DUI itself may remain visible to key agencies for many years.
The MVA tracks this information for both public safety and penalty enforcement purposes, meaning the DUI can be referenced in future administrative actions even a decade after the event.
How Long Does a DUI Stay on a Maryland Driving Record?
The points resulting from a DUI conviction—12 points in Maryland—typically remain on your license for two years. However, the DUI violation itself stays on your driving record for at least five years, and in many cases, longer.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Points Duration: Active for two years. These influence penalties for additional violations within that time.
- Violation Visibility: A DUI offense remains on your driving record for life in internal MVA systems, though it’s most impactful for 5–10 years depending on future infractions or applications.
The MVA uses your driving record history when determining eligibility for license reinstatement, participation in ignition interlock programs, and future suspension decisions. If you’re convicted of a second DUI, the prior DUI—even if it’s 8–10 years old—can still influence how your case is handled.
Does a DUI on Your Driving Record Affect Insurance?
Yes. A DUI on your Maryland driving record can significantly impact your auto insurance premiums, and those effects often last well beyond the period when points are active.
Most insurance companies will:
- Check your full driving history, not just current points
- Penalize DUI convictions with rate increases, often for 3–5 years
- Classify you as a high-risk driver, limiting your policy options
In Maryland, insurers typically look back at least five years when reviewing applications or renewals. Some may look back even further if a serious offense like a DUI is involved.
Even after rates stabilize, the DUI remains visible on your driving record and may affect how insurers respond to any future incidents or infractions.
Difference Between Driving Record and Criminal Record
Understanding the difference between your driving record and your criminal record is important, especially when it comes to DUI.
- Driving Record: Maintained by the Maryland MVA. Focuses on license-related actions, points, and driving violations.
- Criminal Record: Maintained by the court system. Tracks arrests, charges, and convictions—including DUIs.
A DUI conviction appears on both records but for different reasons. The driving record tracks the administrative consequences (like license suspension), while the criminal record captures the legal outcome of the offense.
The key takeaway: even if you’ve resolved the criminal case, the MVA may still keep the DUI on your driving record for internal enforcement and tracking.
Does a PBJ Still Go on Your Driving Record?
In Maryland, some first-time DUI offenders may be eligible for Probation Before Judgment (PBJ). While PBJ prevents a conviction from being entered on your criminal record, it does not erase the offense from your driving record.
Here’s what that means:
- PBJ Outcome: You avoid a formal conviction.
- Driving Record Impact: The DUI still appears on your driving record and can lead to administrative consequences like license suspension or interlock requirements.
Even with PBJ, the MVA continues to monitor your driving history, and insurance companies can still see the DUI. So while PBJ can lessen legal consequences, it doesn’t eliminate the impact on your driver profile.
Will the DUI Eventually Disappear from My Driving Record?
The DUI violation does not disappear from your Maryland driving record automatically. While it may become less relevant over time, it remains accessible to:
- The MVA (for future enforcement decisions)
- Auto insurance companies (during rate assessments)
- Some employers (especially if the job involves driving)
There’s no formal “expiration” for the violation. Even after points expire or rates return to normal, the DUI can still influence administrative decisions years later.
The only true change that occurs is how actively the violation is used in decision-making. After 5–10 years of clean driving, its weight may lessen, but the record of the offense still exists.
What Happens If You Get Another DUI?
If you’re convicted of another DUI in Maryland, your driving record history plays a major role in how your case is handled.
Maryland uses a 10-year lookback period to determine whether the offense qualifies as a repeat violation. This means that if your previous DUI was within the last 10 years, the penalties can be more severe.
Impacts include:
- Longer license suspensions or revocations
- Mandatory ignition interlock installation
- Ineligibility for PBJ
- Higher insurance rates
Even if your previous DUI was longer ago, the MVA still tracks all past violations, and they may influence administrative decisions or your eligibility for relief programs.
FAQ: Maryland DUI and Driving Records
How long does a DUI stay on your Maryland driving record?
The violation can remain for life, but its most significant effects typically last 5–10 years.
Do points from a DUI go away?
Yes, the 12 points from a DUI expire after two years, but the violation itself stays on record longer.
Can insurance companies see a DUI on my driving record?
Yes. Most insurers look back at least five years and will factor in a DUI when setting rates.
Does a PBJ remove a DUI from my driving record?
No. PBJ prevents a conviction on your criminal record but does not erase the violation from your driving history.
Will a DUI ever be fully erased from my driving record?
Not automatically. While its influence decreases over time, it remains visible to the MVA and insurers indefinitely.
Conclusion
A DUI in Maryland doesn’t just go away—it stays on your driving record for years, and in many cases, permanently. The points may expire, and insurance rates may stabilize over time, but the violation remains accessible and can impact future decisions by the MVA, law enforcement, and insurers.
Even if you receive a PBJ, the DUI is still recorded in your driving history. Understanding this long-term visibility is essential for making informed decisions and managing your risk moving forward.
For more insight into the long-term consequences of DUI convictions, visit the DUI Records And Long Term Impact page. To dive deeper into how long a DUI stays on your record, check out our guide on How Long a DUI Stays on Your Record.