If your driver’s license is suspended, you might be feeling angry or ashamed. However, you are most certainly not alone. More than 11 million Americans a year receive a suspended license for unpaid fees alone.
Many more have their licenses suspended due to lack of insurance, medical reasons, and other factors. If you need your car to get to work or to see loved ones, you’ll need to get your license reinstated as quickly as possible. Here’s how to do it.
Why Your License is Suspended Matters
Why you have been slapped with a license suspension is crucial, since this will greatly impact the reinstatement process. Usually, a person will have their driver’s license suspended for one or more of the following reasons:
- DWI/DUI
- Points for speeding/dangerous driving
- Convictions for drug offenses
- Failure to appear in court after a summons
- Failure to pay driving fines
- Failure to pay child support
- Diagnosis of a qualifying medical condition (e.g. schizophrenia)
You should always receive written communication from the DMW explaining why your license has been suspended, and what you need to do to reinstate your license.
When You Might Need a Lawyer
If your license is suspended, you might need to lawyer up. For example, if authorities have taken away your license unlawfully or are acting on incorrect information, a lawyer can fight your case and even sue for damages.
If your situation is more serious and you are facing jail time, call a lawyer immediately. You can find more information on the most serious driving offenses and what your legal options actually are if you are facing such charges.
Take an Approved Class
To reinstate your licenses, you will usually need to complete a DMV-approved class. If you have been convicted of a DUI, you will need to take an approved DUI course, which is usually run by a non-profit.
However, you will likely need to pay a course fee to participate, which can cost anything from a few bucks to several hundred dollars.
In other cases, the courts might ask you to complete a so-called “defensive driving course”. These are designed to re-educate you on basic road safety. It might seem patronizing, but completing these classes is the quickest way to get your license back.
Pay Your Fines
In nearly all cases of license suspension, a reinstatement fee will be levied against you. Typically, this will be very small.
In some states, the reinstatement fee for a suspended license is capped at $50. However, this can feel like a lot of money if you are struggling to pay the bills and can’t take your car to work.
Before you pay your reinstatement fee, make sure that you have the correct driving insurance. You may also need to fill out an SR-22 form to get your insurance after your license has been suspended.
Stay on the Right Side of the DMV
When your license is suspended, life suddenly feels a lot more difficult. However, it is not an insurmountable problem. By following these steps, you can get back on the road in no time.
Once you’re driving again, you’ll want to stay on the right side of the DMV, to prevent future problems from arising.
For this, you have come to the right place. Check out our expert Traffic Law resources to find out exactly what you need to do to avoid any future points on your license.
