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Whether it’s one too many speeding tickets, surcharges, or court-ordered suspension, losing your driving privileges can be a significant challenge.
This is especially true if you live in a part of New Jersey without a robust public transit system. Not being able to drive can impact every aspect of your life, including your ability to get to and from work.
But time will pass, and you’ll eventually again be able to drive.
And in this article, we’ll outline all you need to know about how to restore your driving license in New Jersey.
Types of license suspensions in NJ
Before we get into the details of restoring your NJ license, let’s quickly discuss the 4 types of license suspensions.
Surcharge suspensions
You can accumulate surcharges on your license by accumulating more than 4 points, if you let your driving insurance lapse, etc.
If you fail to pay your surcharges, then your license will be suspended by the New Jersey Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Your license will remain suspended till you pay the surcharges, or agree on a payment plan with the DMV.
(Remember making payments for traffic related offenses is easy in NJ using the NJMCdirect portal)
Close-out suspensions
Forgot to show up to court? That could result in a close-out suspension of your license.
When you fail to show up to court, or pay a court-ordered fine, or perform court-mandated community service, etc., your case goes into what is known as a close-out.
Your license will be suspended and there might even be a warrant. Typically you’d have to hire an attorney to show up on your behalf and take care of any outstanding issues.
Court order suspensions
The court in your jurisdiction has the authority to suspend your license for a variety of reasons.
It could be for driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), extending your suspension for driving without a license, driving without insurance, just to name a few.
In some cases, you can get these court-ordered suspensions modified or even eliminated, but it would depend on the details of your case, and you’d most likely have to work with an attorney.
Child support suspensions
In New Jersey, failure to pay child support can result in your driving privileges being revoked.
You can have a child support warrant issued in your name if you fall behind on your payments.
Your driving license will only be restored once the warrant is recalled, or you get current on your child support payments.
How long will my license stay suspended in NJ?
The length of your suspension can vary widely depending on a variety of factors. It can range from a matter of weeks to over ten years if it’s a case of multiple DUIs.
And if you get caught with violations during your suspension, then it can last even longer.
The length will depend on the following.
- The reason for your suspension
- If it’s your first offense, second, third, etc.
You will be notified in the mail about your license suspension, and the notice will specify the length of time during which you’re not allowed to drive.
Here’s a couple of examples to give you an idea.
- Too many traffic violations – 14-30 days
- DUI – 3 months to 10 years or more
- Refusing a breathalyzer test – 7 months to 10 years (multiple offenses)
You can find more details about the lengths of suspensions here.
How do I restore my suspended license in NJ?
Before you get started, you should call the NJ MVC and get as much information as possible about your specific case.
If you don’t already know why your license is suspended, they’ll be able to tell you. Maybe it’s because of points, or there’s a close-out, or it’s possible you’re behind on your child support payments.
You should also find out the following:
- If there’s a minimum suspension period, or if it’s just a matter of paying fees
- If you owe surcharges (and how much)
- If you owe child support
- If you have court orders you need to complete (and more info)
- If you need to complete any programs due to DUI, etc.
Once you’ve completed your suspension period and paid any associated fines, you may reinstate your license and registration. To do this, you must pay a $100 reinstatement fee, which you can submit in one of three ways.
Once the suspension period is over, you can get the process of restoring your license started
Step 1 – No outstanding fees
The first thing you need to make sure of is that you’ve paid any fees associated with the reason for your suspension, and completed any other requirements by the courts.
For example, if you had your license suspended due to a DUI and were supposed to take alcohol classes, make sure you’ve completed the classes and have evidence.
If your license was suspended due to nonpayment of surcharges, make sure they’re all paid up, or you have a payment plan in place with the MVC.
Step 2 – Pay the restoration fee
You have to pay a $100 NJ license reinstatement fee, which you can pay in one of three ways.
Online – Pay online.
By mail
Make the bottom portion of your suspension notice payable to the NJ MVC.
Then mail it to this address.
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission
P.O. Box 140
Trenton, NJ 08650-0140
In-person – At an MVC near you.
Step 3 – Notice of restoration
After you complete the restoration payment, the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will send you a notice of restoration.
If your license expired during the suspension period, be sure to renew your license before you start driving.
The process for restoring a license that was suspended due to DUI
If you get a DUI (drunk driving), you will lose your driving privileges for a specific period.
For first-time offenses, the suspension is usually 3 months. For third-time offenders, the right to drive can be revoked for up to 10 years.
For DUI’s NJ does not allow for any sort of hardship exceptions. That means no matter the circumstances, you can’t drive again till your suspension period is over.
Once your suspension period is over, you’ll get a letter from the MVC, along with instructions to reinstate your license.
The process of restoring your license after a DUI is the same as any other types of suspensions. You must pay the restoration fees, and follow the other steps, as listed above.
What are the penalties for driving with a suspended license in NJ?
There might be times when you will find it tempting to drive on a suspended license. Whether it’s simply a matter of convenience, like a quick drive to the pharmacy down the road, or something more pressing, like making it to work on time.
But remember that NJ treats driving on a suspended license very seriously. It’s a significant offense with steep fines, penalties, or potentially even jail time.
And while it won’t add to your moving violation points, it will add to your car insurance points. That means much more expensive insurance premiums when you do get your license back.
Here are the fines and penalties you can expect.
First offense (driving with a suspended license) – $500 fine, $250 surcharge, insurance points, extended license suspension for 6 months.
Second offense – $750 fine, $250 surcharge, insurance points, potential 1-5 days in jail, extended license suspension for 6 months.
Third offense – $1,000 fine, $250 surcharge, 9 insurance points, potential 10 days in jail, extended license suspension for 6 months.
As you can see, if you get caught driving with a suspended license, you’ll most likely end up digging yourself a bigger (and much more expensive) hole.
Key Takeaways
Getting your license suspended can be extremely inconvenient, to say the least.
It can disrupt your ability to get to work, or even do your work, depending on the line of work you’re in.
But the positive news is that you can get your driving privileges restored in New Jersey. You just have to find a way to manage in the meantime. That could mean planning a lot more time for your commute to use public transport, or ideally, finding a friend, family member, or coworker who can get you a ride.
Review the steps outlined above, and get the process started today to restore your license. Next thing you know, you’ll be back on the road cruising the Turnpike and listening to the radio before you know it.