Driving Tests

Maryland Cell Phone Law for New Drivers: Permit, Provisional, Under 18

informational·how to guide·Published April 7, 2026

Can a Maryland driver under 18 use a phone hands-free?

No. A Maryland driver under 18 may not use any wireless device while driving, handheld or hands-free, except to call 911. The MVA may suspend the license for up to 90 days. At 18 or older, permit and provisional holders may not use a handheld phone. A handheld fine is up to $75 for a first offense.

Where the Maryland phone rules come from

The rules come from the Maryland Transportation Article: section 21-1124 (drivers under 18), section 21-1124.1 (texting), section 21-1124.2 (handheld phones), section 21-1124.3 (crashes) and section 16-402 (points). The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA, "the MVA") adds its rules on the learner's permit page, the provisional license page and the Maryland Driver's Manual (October 2025 edition). This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Maryland MVA (mva.maryland.gov) before you drive.

Maryland phone rules by driver

Maryland phone rules by driver
Driver	Handheld phone	Hands-free call
Under 18, with a learner's permit or a provisional license	No	No. The ban covers any wireless device. Only a call to 911 is allowed.
18 or older, with a learner's permit or a provisional license	No, not even to start or end a call by hand	The law does not ban it. The MVA tells permit holders never to use a phone, even hands-free.
18 or older, with a full license	Hands only to start or end a call, or to turn the phone on or off	Allowed. The Driver's Manual says you can take calls if you do not hold the phone.

Permit and provisional holders: age decides the phone rule

The under-18 ban follows your age, not your license type. A 17-year-old with a learner's permit and a 17-year-old with a provisional license follow the same rule. The practice question on the phone rule for drivers under 18 tests its 911 exception. At 18 or older, the law bans a handheld phone for permit and provisional holders, but not a hands-free call. The MVA still tells all permit holders never to use a cell phone while driving, even with Bluetooth, and warns that violations may result in a suspension. The guide to Maryland learner's permit rules covers the other permit limits.

The handheld rule for drivers with a full license

A driver with a full license whose car is moving may use the hands on a handheld phone only to start or end a call or to turn the phone on or off. Holding the phone to keep a conversation going is not allowed. The practice question on holding a phone during a call tests this rule. This allowance does not apply to permit and provisional holders 18 or older: they may not use a handheld phone at all while they drive.

Phone use the law allows in an emergency or for navigation

Texting rule: it does not apply to a global positioning system (GPS) or to a text messaging device used to contact 911.
Handheld rule: it does not cover emergency use, such as calls to 911, a hospital, an ambulance service, a fire department, a law enforcement agency or a first aid squad.

Texting while driving: banned for every Maryland driver

No driver of any age may write, send or read a text message or an electronic message while driving on the travel portion of the roadway. If a driver under 18 texts, the MVA may suspend the license for up to 90 days and may issue a restricted license for that period, the same as for other phone use.

Penalties for phone violations in Maryland

Penalties for phone violations in Maryland
Violation	What can happen
Driver under 18 uses a wireless device, or texts	The MVA may suspend the license for up to 90 days. It may issue a restricted license for the suspension period, limited to driving for work, going to or from work, and going to or from school. You may ask for a hearing.
Handheld phone violation, any driver	A fine of up to $75 for a first offense, up to $125 for a second and up to $175 for a third or later offense. No points, unless the offense contributes to an accident.
Texting or handheld violation that causes an accident with the death or serious bodily injury of another person	Imprisonment of up to 1 year, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. The offense carries 12 points.

Can a court waive a first handheld fine?

Yes, it can. For a first handheld offense, the court may waive the penalty if you show proof that you have a hands-free accessory, an add-on or a built-in feature for your phone. For curfew, passenger and other provisional license violations, see the guide to Maryland provisional license penalties.

Safe call habits from the Maryland Driver's Manual

Use your cell phone only in emergencies. If possible, have a passenger make the call.
If you must make a call, pull safely off the road and stop before you call.
Let your voicemail answer incoming calls, and keep your conversations short.

Key takeaways

Under 18, you may not use any wireless device while driving, handheld or hands-free. The only exception is a call to 911.
At 18 or older, permit and provisional holders may not use a handheld phone at all. The MVA tells permit holders to avoid hands-free calls too.
No driver may text. A handheld fine is up to $75 for a first offense and up to $175 for a third or later offense. Under 18, the MVA may suspend the license for up to 90 days.
Next step: practice Maryland road rules on the free Maryland Class C practice test, in English only.

Maryland cell phone law: common questions

Can I use Bluetooth in the car on a Maryland learner's permit?

If you are under 18, no. The Maryland ban covers hands-free devices, so a Bluetooth call is not allowed, and only a 911 call is an exception. At 18 or older, the law bans only a handheld phone, but the MVA tells permit holders never to use a cell phone while driving, even with Bluetooth or hands-free devices.

How much is the fine for using a phone while driving in Maryland?

For a handheld phone violation, a Maryland court can fine you up to $75 for the first offense, up to $125 for the second and up to $175 for each later offense. The violation gives no points unless it contributes to an accident. For a first offense, the court may waive the fine if you show proof of a hands-free accessory.

Can I still drive to school if my license is suspended for phone use?

Maybe. If a driver under 18 uses a phone or texts, the MVA may suspend the license for up to 90 days. For that period, the MVA may issue a restricted license that allows driving for work, to or from work, and to or from school. You may also ask for a hearing about the suspension.

What happens if a phone causes a crash in Maryland?

If a texting or handheld violation causes an accident that directly results in the death or serious bodily injury of another person, the driver can get imprisonment of up to 1 year, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. A conviction for this offense also puts 12 points on the driving record.

Does the phone ban end when I turn 18 on a provisional license?

The total ban on wireless devices ends at 18. But with a provisional license or a learner's permit at 18 or older, you still may not use a handheld phone at all, not even to start or end a call by hand. The law does not ban a hands-free call for you, and no driver may text.