What Happens if You’re Caught Driving Without a License?
 Written by Dylan Tate Dylan TateDylan Tate is an insurance content expert for SmartFinancial with 70+ articles about home, auto and life insurance under... Read more |  Edited by Dan MarticioDan MarticioDan Marticio is the content manager at SmartFinancial and has written 150+ articles across multiple insurance verticals.... Read more |
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Driving without a license violates state laws throughout the country, meaning you could face penalties like fines, vehicle impoundment and even imprisonment if you are caught. In addition, insurance companies are likely to view unlicensed driving as high-risk behavior and may charge you more for car insurance coverage as a result.
Continue reading to learn more about the risks associated with driving without a valid license and to see a breakdown of the penalties you could encounter for violating driving laws in each state.
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Key Takeaways
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Is It Illegal To Drive Without a License?
In every state, it is illegal to drive if you don’t have a driver’s license. First offenses are usually counted as misdemeanors, while subsequent offenses may be upgraded to felonies. However, a first offense may be considered a felony if there are aggravating factors at play like if you strike and kill a pedestrian while driving without a license or the reason you don’t have a license is because you were previously convicted of driving under the influence (DUI).[1]
Why Is It Illegal To Drive Without a License?
In many cases, unlicensed drivers have either lost their licenses due to unsafe driving behaviors in the past or never earned their licenses in the first place, meaning they are especially likely to pose a risk to other drivers on the road. There were at least 10,777 drivers without valid licenses involved in fatal car accidents in 2021, accounting for around 18% of all fatal crashes where the driver’s license compliance status was recorded.[2]
What Are the Consequences of Driving Without a License?
Some of the most common legal consequences of getting on the road without a driver’s license are fines and imprisonment. Depending on where you live, you could have to pay the court a fine of as little as $50 or as much as $25,000, while you could have to go to jail for as little as one day or as much as five years. Remember that you will generally face harsher penalties if you have already been convicted of the same crime in the past few years.
In addition, if your license is already suspended, you can expect to have your suspension extended even further if you are caught driving. Depending on your circumstances, a judge could also have your license revoked permanently.
Meanwhile, police officers and courts may have the discretion to impose additional penalties such as the impoundment of your motor vehicle or license plate. If this happens, you will be temporarily unable to drive your car until the government allows you to reclaim it or its license plate.
Penalty for Driving Without a License: State by State
The exact punishment for unlicensed driving varies greatly from state to state and can also depend on your specific circumstances. See the table below for an overview of the various penalties you could potentially face if you’re caught driving without a license in each state.[3]
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State/District |
Possible Penalties |
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Fine: $100 to $500 Jail sentence: Up to 180 days License suspension period: Six months Other penalties: Vehicle impoundment, additional $50 penalty |
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Jail sentence: 10 days (sentence may be suspended after first offense if 80 hours of community service are completed) License suspension period: At least 90 days Other penalties: Vehicle impoundment |
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Jail sentence: Up to six months Other penalties: Vehicle impoundment |
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Fine: Up to $500 Jail sentence: Two days to six months |
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Fine: $300 to $1,000 for first offense, $500 to $2,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Five days to six months for first offense, 10 days to one year for subsequent offenses |
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Fine: Up to $500 Jail sentence: Up to six months License suspension period: One year for first offense, three years for subsequent offenses |
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Fine: $150 to $200 for first offense, $200 to $600 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to three months for first offense, up to one year for subsequent offenses |
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Fine: $500 to $1,000 for first offense, $1,000 to $4,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: 30 days to six months for first offense, 60 days to one year for subsequent offenses Other penalties: Vehicle impoundment lasting at least 90 days for first offense and at least one year for subsequent offenses |
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Fine: Up to $2,500 Jail sentence: Up to one year |
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Fine: $500 for first offense, $1,000 for second offense, $5,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to 60 days for first offense, up to one year for second offense, 10 days to five years for subsequent offenses Other penalties: Vehicle impoundment |
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Fine: Up to $500 for first offense, $1,000 to $2,500 for second or third offense, $2,500 to $5,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Two days to one year for first offense, 10 days to one year for second or third offense, one to five years for subsequent offenses License suspension period: Six months Other penalties: $210 license reinstatement fee for first offense ($200 if paid by mail), $310 license reinstatement fee for second offense ($300 if paid by mail), $410 license reinstatement fee for subsequent offenses ($400 if paid by mail) |
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Fine: $250 to $1,000 for first offense, $1,000 for second offense, $2,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Three to 30 days for first offense, 30 days for second offense, one year for subsequent offenses License suspension period: One year for first offense, two years for second offense, permanent revocation for third offense |
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Fine: Up to $1,000 for first or second offense, up to $3,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Two days to six months for first offense, 20 days to one year for second offense, 30 days to one year for subsequent offenses License suspension period: 180 days for first offense, one year for second offense, two years for subsequent offenses |
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Fine: Up to $2,500 for first offense, up to $25,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to one year for first offense, one to three years for subsequent offenses Other penalties: Vehicle impoundment, license plate seizure or vehicle immobilization for fourth offense and subsequent offenses |
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Fine: Up to $10,000 Jail sentence: Six months to 30 months |
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Fine: $250 to $1,500 License suspension period: One year or a period of time similar to your prior suspension, whichever is shorter |
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Fine: At least $100 Jail sentence: At least five days (no eligibility for parole until after five days for repeat offenses) License suspension period: 90 days |
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Jail sentence: At least 90 days for first offense, 90 days to one year for second offense, one to five years for subsequent offenses License suspension period: Six months for first offense, one year for second offense, two years for subsequent offenses |
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Fine: Up to $500 (Class D or E license) or up to $5,000 (Class A, B or C license) for first offense, $300 to $500 (Class D or E License) or $300 to $5,000 (Class A, B or C license) for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to six months for first offense, seven days to six months for subsequent offenses License suspension period: One year Other penalties: Civil fine of up to $1,250 (Class D or E license) or up to $2,500 (Class A, B or C license) for repeat offenses |
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Fine: $250 for first offense, $500 for subsequent offenses License suspension period: One year |
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Fine: Up to $1,000 Jail sentence: Up to one year for first offense, up to two years for subsequent offenses License suspension period: Up to one year for first offense, up to 18 months for second offense, up to two years for subsequent offenses Other penalties: Vehicle impoundment |
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Fine: $500 to $1,000 Jail sentence: Up to 10 days for first offense, 60 days to one year for subsequent offenses License suspension period: 60 days |
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Fine: Up to $500 for first offense, up to $1,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to 93 days for first offense, up to one year for subsequent offenses License suspension period: A period of time similar to your prior suspension Other penalties: License plate cancellation |
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Fine: Up to $1,000 Jail sentence: Up to 90 days |
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Fine: $200 to $500 Jail sentence: 48 hours to six months License suspension period: Six months |
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Jail sentence: Up to one year for first offense, six months to one year for second offense, up to four years for subsequent offenses |
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Fine: Up to $500 Jail sentence: Two days to six months for repeat offenses License suspension period: One year for repeat offenses |
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License suspension period: A period of time similar to your prior suspension Other penalties: One-year ban on operating motor vehicles for first offense, two-year ban on operating motor vehicles for subsequent offenses |
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Fine: Up to $1,000 Jail sentence: Up to six months License suspension period: A period of time similar to your prior suspension or one year if your license was previously revoked or restricted |
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Fine: Up to $1,000 Jail sentence: At least one week License suspension period: One year |
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Fine: $500 for first offense, $750 for second offense, $1,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: One to five days for second offense, 10 days for subsequent offenses License suspension period: Up to six months |
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Fine: Up to $1,000 Jail sentence: Four to 364 days Other penalties: Vehicle immobilization |
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Fine: $200 to $500 for first offense, at least $500 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to 30 days for first offense, up to 180 days for subsequent offenses |
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Fine: Up to $200 Jail sentence: One to 10 days License suspension period: One year for first offense, two years for second offense, permanent revocation for third offense |
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Fine: $1,500 for first three offenses, $3,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to 30 days for first three offenses, up to one year for subsequent offenses Other penalties: License plate destruction |
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Fine: Up to $1,000 for first offense, $1,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to 180 days for repeat offenses Other penalties: 500 hours of community service for first offense, license plate impoundment |
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Fine: $100 to $500 for first offense, $200 to $750 for second offense, $300 to $1,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to one year for third offense and subsequent offenses |
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Fine: $220 to $2,000 Other penalties: Vehicle impoundment |
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Fine: $200 for first offense, $1,000 for second offense, $2,500 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: At least 90 days for second offense, at least six months for subsequent offenses License suspension period: One year if your license was previously suspended, two years if your license was previously revoked |
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Fine: $250 to $500 for first offense, $350 to $500 for second offense, $500 to $1,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to 90 days for third offense and subsequent offenses License suspension period: Up to 90 days for third offense and subsequent offenses |
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Fine: $300 for first offense, $600 for second offense, $1,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to 30 days for first offense, up to 60 days for second offense, up to 90 days for subsequent offenses |
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Fine: Up to $500 if your license was previously suspended or canceled, up to $2,000 if your license was previously revoked Jail sentence: Up to 30 days if your license was previously suspended or canceled, up to one year if your license was previously revoked |
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Fine: Up to $500 for first offense, up to $2,500 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to six months for first offense, up to 11 months and 29 days for subsequent offenses License suspension period: A period of time similar to your prior suspension |
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Fine: Up to $500 for first offense, up to $2,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to 180 days for repeat offenses |
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Fine: $1,000 Jail sentence: Up to six months |
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Fine: Up to $5,000 for first five offenses, $5,000 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: Up to two years Other penalties: License plate seizure |
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Fine: Up to $2,500 Jail sentence: Up to 12 months Other penalties: Vehicle impoundment lasting up to 90 days |
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Fine: Up to $5,000 Jail sentence: Up to 364 days |
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Fine: $100 to $500 for first or second offense, $150 to $500 for subsequent offenses Jail sentence: 30 to 90 days for third offense and subsequent offenses |
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Fine: $50 to $200 if your license was previously suspended, up to $2,500 if your license was previously revoked Other penalties: Vehicle impoundment |
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Fine: Up to $750 Jail sentence: Up to six months |
Why Do People Drive Without a License?
For the most part, the only justifiable reason to drive without a license is when you need to do so because of an emergency. You may be able to avoid penalties for driving with a revoked or suspended license in some states by arguing the necessity defense in court.[1] For example, your fine may be waived if you were the only other person with someone having a medical emergency and it was quicker for you to drive them to the hospital than to wait for an ambulance.
In general, the reason you drive without a license is likely to have an impact on the severity of your punishment. For example, if you have a valid driver’s license and simply forgot it at home, then it’s possible a police officer will let you off with a warning instead of giving you a traffic citation. Conversely, you are likely to face much harsher penalties if you are pulled over after your license has been revoked or before you have received a driver’s license in the first place.
Will My Insurance Be Affected if I’m Caught Driving Without a License?
Being caught on the road with a suspended or revoked license is likely to affect your car insurance premiums and your ability to find coverage. Since driving without a license is often viewed as risky behavior, insurers may consider you more likely to get into an accident and file a claim and may charge you higher car insurance rates as a result. For example, drivers in Florida see their premiums go up by 30% to 80% on average after they are caught driving without a license, according to Patti Yencho, owner of Professional Insurance Advisors.
“If the driver has a history of repeated offenses or additional violations at the time of the offense, such as speeding or reckless driving, the insurance rate increase could be on the higher end,” Yencho said in a message to SmartFinancial. “On the other hand, drivers with previously clean records who might have simply neglected to renew their license could be met with more lenient rate increases.”
In addition, if auto insurance companies view you as too risky to insure, they may refuse to sell you coverage altogether. If multiple insurance carriers decline to cover you, then you may eventually need to buy coverage from a nonstandard insurance company that specializes in selling expensive policies to high-risk drivers.
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Dylan Tate is an insurance content expert for SmartFinancial with 70+ articles about home, auto and life insurance under his belt. He has over seven years of experience writing for online publications, primarily about gaming and esports. In the process, he has become an expert in search engine optimization, news reporting, feature writing and copy editing.
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