Complying With a Safety Equipment Repair Order

A Safety Equipment Repair Order (SERO) is issued by a Maryland State Police trooper or another Maryland law enforcement officer when a vehicle has defective or unsafe equipment as described below.

A SERO can be issued for defective safety equipment on all classes of Maryland registered motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers except those vehicles displaying the following types of license plates:

• Historic plates (1985 or older)
• Street rods (a Class N motor vehicle that is at least 25 years old and has been substantially altered from its original design)
• Interchangeable license plates (dealer, transporter, finance company, special mobile equipment);
• Temporary registration plates

How to comply with a SERO

1. Get the repairs done: The identified problems must be fixed within 10 days.  Note: repairs can be done at any repair shop or by you.
2. Get the repair inspected and certified within 30 days.
3. After fixing the issues, take the vehicle and SERO to a licensed Maryland Inspection station.
4. The inspector will confirm that all issues were repaired.

5. Submit the certification: The owner must submit the completed and certified repair order  Copy 5 (buff card stock) of the handwritten SERO, or the right half of an electronically generated SERO to the Maryland State Police ASED. The copy must be submitted no later than 30 days after the date on which the SERO was issued.

   Either mail or hand-deliver Copy 5, or the right half of an electronically generated SERO to:

   Maryland State Police
   Automotive Safety Enforcement Division (ASED)
   6601 Ritchie Highway, NE
   Glen Burnie, MD 21062

   The certified copy can be emailed to [email protected]

   You should retain Copy 4 (goldenrod), or the left side of the electronically generated SERO, in your vehicle, for your records.

Failure to submit the certified repair form to the ASED within 30 days will result in the suspension of your vehicle's registration. You will be notified 5 days prior to the effective date of suspension.

If suspended:

• You are prohibited from driving or renewing your registration.
• You must immediately return your license plates to the MVA.
• Failure to return your license plates within 10 days may lead to confiscation of your tags by a police officer.

Automotive Safety Enforcement Division (ASED) Offices

The ASED has personnel stationed at most Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) locations throughout the state. These personnel are available to address issues related to the State Safety Inspection Program, including Safety Equipment Repair Orders (SEROs).

If you no longer own the vehicle

If you sold, traded, junked, or had your vehicle repossessed, attach proof showing what happened to your vehicle and include it with your SERO copy. For example,

• Traded: copy of the dealer contract.
• Sold: notarized statement from you.
• Repossessed: submit a statement on the letterhead of the company that repossessed the vehicle (usually a financial institution).
• Junked: statement on recycler letterhead.

If you lost your SERO

If you lose your SERO, contact the Automotive Safety Enforcement Division or your local Maryland State Police barrack to request a duplicate copy. 

Fees

• Vehicle owners pay for all repairs.
• Inspection stations may charge a fee if jacking, lifting, or testing if needed.
• Stations set their own hourly rates, but fees must be reasonable and posted. 

Questions?

Related information

• Vehicle inspections
• Salvage Vehicles Inspections
• Barrack Locations
• Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR)