Is It Illegal to Have a Loaded Gun in Your Car in Maryland?

 Posted on June 20, 2025 in Criminal Defense

A Dundalk, MD man is currently facing gun charges after an alleged road rage incident in Baltimore County. The 26-year-old man has been charged with using a firearm during a felony crime, as well as having a loaded handgun in his vehicle, along with assault charges and drug charges. Another driver alleged that the man pointed a "silver firearm" at him during a road-rage interaction, and the police later recovered three loaded firearms at the suspect’s place of employment and his home.

Gun laws across the state of Maryland are some of the strictest in the nation. Understanding what is legal and what is not, especially if you come from a state with more lenient gun laws, can be confusing, especially regarding transporting a loaded gun in a vehicle. Perhaps you have a concealed carry permit, either from the state of Maryland or another state. Or perhaps you are traveling and have a loaded firearm in your vehicle for protection. Either way, you could find yourself facing serious charges with serious penalties.

Obviously, there are times when a person who owns a legal firearm must transport it. If you buy a firearm, you must be able to bring it home. If you want to go to a shooting range, you must be able to take your gun. However, you must understand Maryland laws regarding the transportation of firearms to avoid arrest. If you are facing charges of transporting a loaded firearm or any other type of gun charges, speaking to an experienced Queen Anne’s County, MD, criminal defense attorney can be your best course of action.   

Is Concealed Carry Legal in Maryland?

Maryland, in general, prohibits carrying, wearing, or transporting a handgun, whether it is in the open or concealed, unless the individual has a permit. This prohibition does not apply to having a gun inside your residence or at a business you own. The requirements to obtain a concealed carry permit were strengthened in 2023, making it very difficult to obtain. Additionally, Maryland does not honor concealed carry permits from other states.  

How Can You Legally Transport a Gun in a Vehicle?

If you want to transport a gun inside your vehicle, the gun should be kept in a compartment that is separate from the driver’s compartment, and the firearm and ammunition should be kept separately. The gun should be in a locked box rather than the glove box or console. The gun could also be in the trunk of the vehicle. The ammunition must be kept in a different place than the gun.

Unlawful Transporting of a Loaded Firearm

When an individual is going to and from the place where the firearm was purchased, to and from a shooting range, on the way to a gun safety training or certification class, or going to hunt, the firearm can be transported, but only without ammunition in it, and stored safely in a container. A person with a prior felony conviction can never transport a firearm under any circumstances. If the weapon is loaded during transport, then you could be charged with a crime.

Penalties for Transporting a Loaded Firearm

All weapons charges in the state carry a mandatory minimum sentence. The highest minimum penalty is three years in prison, while the lowest is 30 days. The more serious the offense, the more mandatory jail time. Transporting a firearm is an offense that carries a maximum fine of $2,500 and up to three years in jail, assuming the person charged has no criminal history. If the firearm is loaded, the penalties are enhanced.

Contact an Anne Arundel County, MD Gun Crimes Lawyer

If you have been charged with any type of Maryland gun crime, you are potentially facing jail or prison time. When you choose an Annapolis, MD gun crimes attorney from Henley & Henley, Attorneys at Law, you are more likely to have a more positive outcome. Our two attorneys have more than 50 years of combined legal experience. We often charge a flat fee for our services, making it more affordable. To schedule an initial attorney consultation, call 410-280-0530.