2013 Maryland Code
TRANSPORTATION
§ 13-104 - Application for certificate of title -- In general

§13-104.

(a) (1) The application for a certificate of title of a vehicle shall be made by the owner of the vehicle on the form that the Administration requires.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, an application for a certificate of title of an off-highway recreational vehicle, a motor scooter, or a moped shall be made by electronic transmission under § 13-610 of this title.

(3) The owner of a motor scooter or moped shall certify at the time of titling that the motor scooter or moped is covered by the required security described in § 17-103 of this article.

(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Administration may not issue a certificate of title to any individual who is not at least 18 years old.

(2) The Administration may issue a certificate of title to an individual under the age of 18 years if the individual submits an application for a certificate of title that is cosigned by:

(i) A parent or guardian of the applicant; or

(ii) If the applicant has no parent or guardian or is married, an adult employer of the applicant or any other responsible adult.

(3) The individual cosigning the application of a minor under this subsection shall certify that the statements made in the application are true to the best of the cosigner’s knowledge, information, and belief.

(c) The application shall contain:

(1) The full name and Maryland address of the owner, including:

(i) If the owner is an individual, the owner’s Maryland residence and mailing addresses;

(ii) If the owner is a business firm, association, or corporation, its federal identification number and:

1. Its business address in this State; or

2. The name and address of its resident agent in this State;

(iii) If the owner is a partnership or joint venture, the name of each partner or joint venturer;

(iv) If the owner is an unincorporated association, joint stock company, or other group described in § 6-406 of the Courts Article, the name and address of a resident agent on whom service may be made in any lawsuit arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of the vehicle; and

(v) If the owner is a trustee, the address of the trust in this State and the name and address of a person in this State on whom service may be made in any lawsuit arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of the vehicle;

(2) (i) If the owner is an individual, the owner’s date of birth; and

(ii) If the owner is a partnership or joint venture, the date of birth of each partner or joint venturer;

(3) A description of the vehicle, including:

(i) To the extent that the information exists, its make, model, year, vehicle identification number, type of body, and number of cylinders;

(ii) If the vehicle is a two-stage vehicle:

1. The make and year of the first stage; and

2. The make, model, and year of the second stage;

(iii) If the vehicle is a motorcycle with an engine manufactured on or after January 1, 1977, the identifying number of the engine; and

(iv) Any other information that the Administration requires;

(4) A statement of:

(i) The applicant’s title to and each security interest in the vehicle; and

(ii) The name and address of each secured party with any security interest in the vehicle and the nature and order of priority of that interest; and

(5) Any other information that the Administration reasonably requires to determine if the owner is entitled to a certificate of title.

(d) The application shall be signed in ink by:

(1) Each owner who is an individual;

(2) The individual cosigning the application on behalf of a minor in accordance with subsection (b) of this section;

(3) An officer or authorized agent of the owner, if the owner is a business firm, association, or corporation;

(4) A partner or joint venturer, if the owner is a partnership or joint venture;

(5) An officer or authorized agent, if the owner is an unincorporated association, joint stock company, or other group described in § 6-406 of the Courts Article; or

(6) A trustee, if the owner is a trust.

(e) The application shall be accompanied by each certificate of title of the vehicle that previously may have been issued by this or any other state and still is outstanding.

§ 13-104 - 1. Application for certificate of title -- New vehicles

If an application for a certificate of title is for a new vehicle, the application also shall be accompanied by:

(1) The manufacturer's certificate of origin for the vehicle, assigned by the transferor to the transferee; or

(2) If the vehicle was acquired in another state or country the laws of which do not provide for a manufacturer's certificate of origin, a certified bill of sale or other documents required by law in the other state or country, showing any security interest retained by the seller or created at the time of sale to secure the payment of the purchase price.

§ 13-104 - 2. Application for certificate of title -- Specially constructed, reconstructed, and foreign vehicles

(a) Definitions. --

(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2) "Essential parts" means all integral and body parts, whether new or used, the removal, addition, alteration, or substitution of which would tend to conceal the identity of the vehicle or substantially alter its appearance, model, type, or mode of operation.

(3) "Reconstructed vehicle" means any vehicle that:

(i) Is of a type required to be registered under this title; and

(ii) Has been materially altered from its original construction by the removal, addition, alteration, or substitution of essential parts.

(4) "Specially constructed vehicle" means any vehicle that:

(i) Is of a type required to be registered under this title;

(ii) Was not originally constructed under a distinctive name, make, model, or type by a generally recognized manufacturer of vehicles; and

(iii) Has not been materially altered from its original construction.

(b) Additional application requirements. -- If an application for a certificate of title is for a foreign vehicle previously titled or registered in another state or country, for a reconstructed vehicle, or for a specially constructed vehicle, the application also shall be accompanied by:

(1) Any information or documents the Administration reasonably requires to establish the ownership of the vehicle and the existence or nonexistence of security interests in it;

(2) Either:

(i) The certification of a person authorized by the Administration stating that the vehicle identification number of the vehicle has been inspected and found to conform to the description given in the application; or

(ii) Any other proof of the identity of the vehicle that the Administration reasonably requires; and

(3) As to a foreign vehicle previously titled or registered in another state or country:

(i) Any certificate of title issued by the other state or country; or

(ii) If the other state or country does not issue a certificate of title for vehicles of the type to which the application refers, a certified bill of sale and any registration documents issued by that state or country.