Maryland Scrap Metal Dealer Registration Requirements

Maryland regulates scrap metal dealers under Maryland Code, Business Regulation Article § 17-601 et seq. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) administers dealer registrations — an unusual arrangement that reflects Maryland's approach to regulating used vehicle parts dealers alongside scrap metal dealers.

Registration at a Glance

Item	Detail
Issuing agency	Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA)
Annual fee	$250 per location
Surety bond	None required statewide
Background check	Required — fingerprint-based
Payment hold	3 business days — regulated metals
Cash payment	No cash for catalytic converters and nonferrous metals
Record retention	2 years
Fingerprint requirement	Fingerprint-based background check for all owners

Fingerprint background check: Maryland's requirement for a fingerprint-based (not just name-based) background check is more thorough than most states. Allow additional processing time for this step — fingerprint results can take 2–4 weeks to process through the Maryland State Police and FBI.

Montgomery County and Prince George's County

The Maryland suburbs of Washington D.C. — particularly Montgomery County and Prince George's County — have some of the most active metal theft enforcement programs in the state. Both counties participate in the National Capital Region metal theft task force and conduct regular joint operations with federal law enforcement. Dealers in these jurisdictions should expect more frequent inspections and stricter enforcement of documentation requirements.

Maryland Catalytic Converter Law (HB 12, 2023)

Maryland's House Bill 12 (effective October 2023) requires for every catalytic converter purchase: seller photo ID, VIN of source vehicle, current vehicle registration or title, photograph of converter and seller, no cash payment, 3-business-day hold, and electronic reporting to the Maryland State Police Metal Theft Prevention database within 24 hours of the transaction.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Maryland State Police operates a statewide electronic database where registered scrap dealers must submit catalytic converter transaction data within 24 hours of each purchase. The database is cross-referenced against stolen vehicle reports and active theft investigations. Contact the Maryland State Police Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) division for account setup instructions and API documentation for third-party software integration.

Verify current Maryland requirements at mva.maryland.gov. Not legal advice.