The DMV is a term that has been around for the last 30 years or so, referencing DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Though the entire District of Columbia is always included in definitions of the area, questions remain about what parts of Maryland and Virginia make the cut (video below).
In 2020 we wrote a piece that told “The Story Behind The DMV.”(how the name came about). This led to a fun debate in many of our comment sections on what the area referred to as the DMV is actually made up of. While some are reluctant to use any acronym or abbreviation they didn’t grow up with, almost everyone agreed that DC is the heart of the DMV (except for one person who strongly argued that the D stood for Delaware).
Almost everyone feels that the areas immediately surrounding DC are part of the DMV. This includes places like Bethesda and Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church, etc. in Northern Virginia, and Oxon Hill, Temple Hills, Suitland, Capital Heights, Hyattsville, College Park, etc. in Prince George’s County.
Most feel that the DMV expands beyond the areas bordering D.C., including areas as far as Rockville, Gaithersburg, etc. in Montgomery County, Vienna, Springfield, etc. in Northern Virginia, and Upper Marlboro, Bowie, etc. in Prince George’s County. This aligns with the belief many have that the DMV goes as far as the DC Metro extends.
Some, but not most, think the DMV expands to include the entirety of the counties surrounding DC, plus some of the counties beyond that, this includes: All of Montgomery County, much of Loudoun County, all of Fairfax County, all of Prince William County, all of Prince George’s County, parts of of Howard County, parts of Anne Arundel County, a small portion of Carroll County, a small portion of Frederick County and places like Waldorf, MD, Annapolis, MD, and Woodbridge, VA.
A small amount of people believe it expands to include all of the counties mentioned above and further. This include areas like Baltimore, MD, Fredericksburg, VA, and even places as far out as Harper’s Ferry, WV. Our very own Mr. MoCo discusses it on FOX5 below:
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