What Happens If You Get Caught Driving With An Expired License?

State governments take driving without insurance very seriously, with large penalties for people who fail to purchase the required amount of insurance. This can include fines, fees, possible driver's license suspension, and jail time. Most people are aware of these penalties, yet many people choose to drive without a car insurance plan anyway. This puts people at incredible financial risk, not only in fees and fines from the government, but also in liability of having to pay for the damages accidents they are at fault for causing. People are less aware, however, of what happens if a person drives with an expired license.

Depending on the state you live in, you could face a plethora of different penalties. Each state has its own laws in regards to driving in the state, and driving with an expired license is one of the things each state can address differently.

Fines For Driving With An Expired License

Some states administer tickets and fines for people who are driving with an expired license. It is also possible for a person to find their vehicle impounded, and they can also be arrested in some cases for driving without a valid driver's license. This includes driving with an expired license. Most states require a person to renew their driver’s license every few years. In many states, renewal is required every four years. Drivers licenses usually expire on a person’s birthday, so if your birthday is upcoming, you should check and see if your licenses set to expire. There are harsh penalties for driving without a valid driver's license.

People can get tickets of up to $250 for driving with an expired license, but points can also be added to a person’s record. This can lead to an increase in their insurance rates if they have too many points on their license, and it can also lead to a driver's license suspension as well. A person’s vehicle can also be impounded, and there is a chance that they will be arrested as well. These tickets, points, and other penalties can vary from one state to the next.

Insurance Penalties

When people get points on their driver’s license, their insurance rates can go up fairly quickly. Since driving without a valid license stays on your record for a while, your insurance rates could also continue to be higher for a while. Points are generally difficult to remove and can increase a person’s insurance premium. The more points you have, the higher your rates could be on average. If you have multiple offenses for driving with an expired license, you could get even more points, further raising rates.

How To Renew Your License

To prevent these penalties, a person must know how to renew their driver’s license. This can depend on the state you live in, as each state has different laws and requirements for driver's license renewal. In many cases, renewing an expired license is an easy task. Generally speaking, stopping by your local DMV or RMV, waiting in line, and presenting your expired license is enough. In many cases, you need to show up with proper paperwork, however. Research at your local RMV or DMV for the latest on what you will need to bring to the office.

Many states now allow people to renew their driver’s license online. In some states, however, a vision test is required, as well as a new photo. In these cases, you may need to go to the DMV itself for your renewal. You can also expect to pay a fee of between $25 and $150 to renew a license that is expired. Remember that the longer you let your driver’s license expire without renewing, the more likely you are to be caught driving with a valid license. If you wait too long, you may also need to retake your driving test, depending on the state.