Vehicle lifts in Maryland: plates, tail lamps and DORS help

When a scooter or power chair rides on a hitch lift behind a Maryland car, the first practical question is whether the plate and lights still meet state law. The second is whether the state can help pay for the lift. Maryland's Vehicle Law answers the first in a few plain sentences, and the Division of Rehabilitation Services answers part of the second for people working toward a job.

Here is what those sources say, then how Maryland weather and a few specific lifts fit in.

Maryland's plate and lamp rules, read for a hitch lift

The display rule is in Transportation Article § 13-411. Where two plates are issued, "one plate shall be attached on the front and the other on the rear of the vehicle." Under subsection (c)(1), each plate "at all times" must be "Maintained free from foreign materials, including registration plate covers," and "in a condition to be clearly legible," and must be "Securely fastened to the vehicle for which it is issued" in a horizontal position, "In a manner that prevents the plate from swinging," and "In a place and position to be clearly visible."

A folded platform or a scooter sitting on the hitch can do exactly what the statute forbids: put an object between the plate and the car behind you. Maryland's text does not carve out bike racks or mobility carriers, so plan for the plate to be visible with the lift loaded and folded.

Lighting is covered by § 22-204. Vehicles made after June 1, 1971 need "at least 2 tail lamps mounted on the rear" that "emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear," mounted "at a height of not more than 72 inches nor less than 20 inches." Subsection (f) adds that "Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be constructed and placed to illuminate, with a white light, the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear," and that lamp must be lit whenever the headlamps are.

The Maryland statutes we read do not name wheelchair carriers or scooter lifts. That is why the plate mount and the lights on a given lift matter more than its capacity when you compare models. If you have a question about a particular setup, put it to the Motor Vehicle Administration before you rely on it.

Vehicle modification help through DORS

Maryland's vocational rehabilitation agency, the Division of Rehabilitation Services, runs driver and vehicle services at its Workforce and Technology Center. Its Driver and Vehicle Services page says: "To qualify for these services, you must apply for DORS services and be determined eligible." It adds that driver and vehicle services "may be included in your Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) if these services are needed to help you get a job or maintain employment."

On the vehicle side, the page says WTC's "state-licensed evaluators determine what adaptive equipment and other modifications a vehicle needs to allow individuals with disabilities to enter, exit and safely operate it," and that "Modifications are for vehicles owned (not leased) by the DORS consumer or their family." If a lift is part of getting to work, ask your DORS counselor before you buy, since the agency's process comes first.

Four lifts, four situations

• Bruno ASL-700 Chariot: it rolls behind the vehicle on its own suspension, so the load rests on the Chariot, and its lighting includes a license plate holder, brake and running lights and turn signals. It lifts up to 350 lb and fits Class I or II 1.25 in hitches.
• Harmar AL100HD: a hitch lift for heavier scooters, up to 400 lb, with powered lift and fold. A license plate mount comes in the box, and a license plate riser and scooter cover are add-ons. It needs a Class III hitch or higher.
• Harmar AL425: a 2-axis hoist that mounts in the cargo area of a van, SUV or truck and lifts up to 400 lb, which keeps the rear of the vehicle, plate included, clear.
• Harmar AL030 Power Tote: built for manual wheelchairs, with powered lifting and a 100 lb capacity on a Class I or greater hitch, for sedans as well as larger vehicles.

Snow, nor'easters and heavy rain on a carried device

NOAA's Maryland climate summary notes that winter's mix of interior cold air and Atlantic moisture "provide the energy for occasional intense storms commonly known as nor'easters," and lists blizzards and ice storms among the state's extreme weather. Heavy downpours have become more common: days with 2 inches or more of rain averaged 2.5 a year in 2005 to 2020, up from 1.8 a year in 1950 to 2004.

A scooter carried outside the car takes all of that. A fitted cover helps on hitch lifts, and an inside hoist keeps the device dry. In snow, check that the plate lamp and tail lamps are clear before you drive, since the 50-foot and 1,000-foot visibility rules do not pause for weather.

Maryland's assistive technology program

The Maryland Technology Assistance Program, under the Maryland Department of Disabilities, is listed by the AT3 Center with device loans, demonstrations, reutilization and a financial loan program. Trying a different mobility device before choosing a lift can save buying a lift that does not fit the device you end up using.

Ordering and delivery to Maryland

We work with a team of credentialed local specialists to guarantee timely, safe, and optimal delivery and installation. Faith Mobility ships to the lower 48 states and DC. Orders over $500 ship free and orders under $500 ship for $15, and we cover the sales tax on every order. Most products are processed in 2-5 business days; some brands differ. See our Maryland shipping page, and use the vehicle lift fit check to match a lift to your hitch and device.

Questions about vehicle lifts in Maryland

Can a scooter lift block my license plate in Maryland?

It should not. Maryland Transportation Article § 13-411 requires each plate to be free from foreign materials, clearly legible and fastened "In a place and position to be clearly visible." If a loaded or folded lift covers the rear plate, the setup needs a relocated plate mount or a lift that carries its own. Many Harmar hitch lifts include a license plate mount.

Does Maryland require a light on the rear plate?

Yes. Under § 22-204(f), a tail lamp or separate lamp must light the rear registration plate with white light and make it clearly legible from 50 feet to the rear, and it must be wired to light whenever the headlamps are on. A hitch lift or the device on it should not block that lamp.

Will DORS pay for a wheelchair lift on my car?

DORS says you must apply and be found eligible, and driver and vehicle services may be added to your Individualized Plan for Employment if they are needed to get or keep a job. Its evaluators decide what modifications a vehicle needs, and modifications are for vehicles owned, not leased, by the consumer or family. Ask your counselor before buying.

Is a hoist inside the vehicle better for Maryland winters?

It keeps the device out of the weather. NOAA describes nor'easters, blizzards and ice storms in Maryland, and an inside hoist such as the Harmar AL425 keeps the scooter or chair dry and leaves the plate and tail lamps uncovered. The trade-off is cargo space inside the vehicle.

Browse our vehicle lift collection, try the fit check, or work through the full assessment. Questions? Email us at info@faithmobility.com.

Sources

• Maryland Code, Transportation § 13-411 (display of registration plates)
• Maryland Code, Transportation § 22-204 (tail lamps and plate lamp)
• Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services: Driver and Vehicle Services
• NOAA NCEI State Climate Summaries: Maryland and the District of Columbia (2022)
• Maryland Department of Disabilities: Assistive Technology Program
• AT3 Center: state assistive technology programs
• Product specifications: Faith Mobility product pages for the Bruno ASL-700, Harmar AL100HD, Harmar AL425 and Harmar AL030