What happens if you drive without a license and get stopped by the police?
You do not want to find out what happens if you drive without a license and auto insurance firsthand because the penalties are harsh, especially after being caught the first time. In Indiana, fines for driving without a license are as high as $10,000. Some states sentence unlicensed drivers to two years in prison. Find alternatives to driving illegally and allow any suspension period to pass without issue.
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Jeffrey Manola
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Jeffrey Manola is an experienced life insurance agent who founded TopQuoteLifeInsurance.com and NoMedicalExamQuotes.com. His mission when creating these sites was to provide online consumers searching for life insurance with the most affordable term life insurance, permanent life insurance, no medical exam life insurance, and burial insurance. Not only does he strive to provide consumers with t...
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UPDATED: Nov 20, 2024
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UPDATED: Nov 20, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different insurance providers please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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Is it illegal to drive without a license on you? And what happens if you drive without a license and auto insurance?
Driving with a suspended or revoked license will carry harsher penalties than merely operating a car without a valid license. You can face fines, a long suspension period, or jail time.
Additionally, the state may either impound or repossess your vehicle. And this will make your auto insurance rates skyrocket.
Read on to find out what type of crime driving without a license is and what penalties it carries. In the meantime, if you would like to review rates from auto insurance companies in your area, you can enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool above.
- Depending on your state and the number of offenses you commit, driving without a license is either a misdemeanor or a felony
- Fines for driving without a license can be as low as $50 or as high as $10,000, and penalties include jail sentences, car impoundments, and a forfeiture of your driver’s license
- If you get caught driving without a license, you can also face higher auto insurance rates
Is driving without a license a felony?
The level of offense you commit when driving without a license depends on your state and the act itself.
Types of Offenses
Specifically, these are five types of offenses you could commit:
- Drive without applying for a driver’s license – For example, a resident did not apply for a driver’s license within a given period. Or a non-resident did not apply for a state driver’s license — if required to — after a specific number of days. That may be considered a misdemeanor.
- Forget to carry your license before driving – If you just lost your valid driver’s license or forgot to take it with you, that is generally an infraction.
- Drive with an expired driver’s license – That may be an infraction as well.
- Drive with a suspended driver’s license – If you drive with a suspended or revoked license, that can be either a misdemeanor or a felony. It depends on how many infractions are already on your record.
- Operate a vehicle despite having a permanently revoked driver’s license – Authorities view this much the same as driving with a suspended license. Your first offense may be a misdemeanor, and some subsequent offenses may be felonies.
Below is a look at the classification of offense by state.
Classifications
Most first and subsequent offenses are misdemeanors. In rare cases, you would have to drive without a license at least three or more times to receive a felony charge.
Driving Without a License: Offense Classification
| State | Type of Offense |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Misdemeanor |
| Alaska | Class A Misdemeanor |
| Arizona | Class 1 Misdemeanor (first offense), Class 2 Misdemeanor (second offense) |
| Arkansas | Misdemeanor |
| Colorado | Misdemeanor |
| Florida | Second degree misdemeanor (first offense), first-degree misdemeanor (second offense), felony (subsequent offense) |
| Georgia | Misdemeanor, High and Aggravated Misdemeanor (second and third offenses), felony (subsequent offense) |
| Idaho | Misdemeanor |
| Illinois | Class A Misdemeanor (first offense), Class 4 Felony (subsequent offense) |
| Indiana | Class 6 Felony |
| Iowa | Misdemeanor |
| Kansas | Class B Nonperson Misdemeanor (first offense), Class A Nonperson Misdemeanor (subsequent offense) |
| Kentucky | Class B Misdemeanor (first offense), Class A Misdemeanor (second offense), Class D Felony (subsequent offense) |
| Maine | Class E Crime |
| Maryland | Misdemeanor |
| Massachusetts | Misdemeanor |
| Michigan | Misdemeanor |
| Minnesota | Misdemeanor |
| Mississippi | Misdemeanor |
| Missouri | Class D Misdemeanor (first offense), Class A Misdemeanor (second offense), Class E Felony (subsequent offense) |
| Montana | Misdemeanor |
| Nebraska | Class II Misdemeanor (first-third offense), Class I Misdemeanor (subsequent offense) |
| Nevada | Misdemeanor |
| New Hampshire | Misdemeanor |
| New Mexico | Misdemeanor |
| New York | Misdemeanor |
| North Carolina | Misdemeanor |
| North Dakota | Class B Misdemeanor |
| Ohio | Unclassified Misdemeanor (first offense), First Degree Misdemeanor (subsequent offense) |
| Oklahoma | Misdemeanor |
| Oregon | Class A Traffic Infraction |
| Pennsylvania | Summary Offense |
| Rhode Island | Misdemeanor$250-$1,000 |
| South Dakota | Class 1 Misdemeanor (revoked license), Class 2 Misdemeanor (suspended or canceled license) |
| Tennessee | Class B Misdemeanor (first offense), Class A Misdemeanor (second offense) |
| Texas | Class C Misdemeanor (first offense), Class B Misdemeanor (subsequent offense) |
| Utah | Class C Misdemeanor |
| Virginia | Class 1 Misdemeanor |
| Washington | Gross Misdemeanor |
| West Virginia | Misdemeanor |
| Wyoming | Misdemeanor |
Read on to learn more about the penalties for driving without a license.
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What are the penalties for driving without a license?
If a police officer stops you after you forget to carry your license on your person, you can likely get the charge dismissed in traffic court by proving that you have a valid driver’s license.
However, you will likely still pay extra fines and any court costs, and in some cases, you may go to jail for a short period. If the officer who stops you is not confident that you have provided the correct information, they may take you into a precinct until officers can verify your identity.
Beyond that, you could pay some fines and other harsh penalties.
Read more: Police Citation: Insurance Explained
Fines for Driving Without a License
These are the types of fines you may have to pay, per state:
Fines for Driving Without a License
| State | Fees |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $100-$500 |
| Alaska | -- |
| Arizona | -- |
| Arkansas | Up to $500 |
| California | $300-1,000 |
| Colorado | Up to $500, a minimum fine of $500-$1,000 if alcohol-related |
| Connecticut | $150-$200 |
| Delaware | $500-$1,000 |
| District of Columbia | $2,500 |
| Florida | $500-$5,000 |
| Georgia | $500-$5,000 |
| Hawaii | $250-$2,000 |
| Idaho | $1,000-$3,000 |
| Illinois | $2,500-$25,000 |
| Indiana | Up to $10,000 |
| Iowa | $250-$1,500 |
| Kansas | $100 |
| Kentucky | Up to $250 |
| Louisiana | $500-$2,500 |
| Maine | Up to $1,000 |
| Maryland | $1,000 |
| Massachusetts | $500-$1,000 |
| Michigan | $500-$1,000 |
| Minnesota | Up to $1,000 |
| Mississippi | $200-$500 |
| Missouri | $500-$2,000 |
| Montana | $500 |
| Nebraska | -- |
| Nevada | Up to $1,000 |
| New Hampshire | Up to $1,000 |
| New Jersey | $500-$1,000 |
| New Mexico | Up to $1,000 |
| New York | $250-$500 |
| North Carolina | Up to $300 |
| North Dakota | $1,500-$3,000 |
| Ohio | $1,000 |
| Oklahoma | $50-$1,000 |
| Oregon | $220-$2,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $200 |
| Rhode Island | |
| South Carolina | $300-$1,000 |
| South Dakota | $500-$2,000 |
| Tennessee | $500-$2,500 |
| Texas | $500-$2,000 |
| Utah | $1,000 |
| Vermont | Up to $5,000 |
| Virginia | Up to $2,500 |
| Washington | Up to $5,000 |
| West Virginia | $100-$500 |
| Wisconsin | $50-$2,500 |
| Wyoming | $750 |
Indiana has the harshest financial penalties. All offenses are felonies, and fines could reach $10,000.
Other Penalties, Based on Offense
First-time offenses can lead to penalties as severe as 180-day imprisonment, vehicle forfeiture, and fines that meet or surpass $1,000. If you already have a suspended license, your suspension period could extend past 90 days.
Second, third, fourth, and subsequent offenses carry stricter penalties. Fines increase, incarceration can reach two years, and some states, like Hawaii, might take your license away permanently.
Visit the National Conference of State Legislatures website for a more comprehensive breakdown of state penalties for driving without a license.
What happens when you drive without a license and are under 18 years old?
The law does not necessarily differentiate between the ages of the defenders. However, there may be special penalties for minors (citizens under 18 years), especially drivers in training.
In most cases, states will extend the training period by six months for each moving violation. Thus, a minor will have to wait longer to obtain a driver’s license in addition to paying any fines, plus other penalties, for driving without a valid driver’s license.
What happens if you drive without a license and auto insurance?
If you are caught driving without a license but have auto insurance, your auto insurance company views it as risky behavior. The company may overlook a simple infraction, but driving with a suspended license increases your risk. You will undoubtedly pay higher auto insurance rates.
If you have a suspended license, you will likely need to fill out an SR-22 form and change auto insurance companies provided your older insurance company dropped your coverage.
Failure to comply with state law will likely reset your SR-22 period, meaning you will pay higher auto insurance rates for for a longer time frame.
Read more: Can you get auto insurance without a license?
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Driving Without a License: The Final Word
As you can see, driving without a license can carry harsh penalties when you get caught. It’s best not to take that gamble and, rather, find legal ways to secure transportation. One thing you can do is look for a designated driver.
Also, find out if your state allows you to drive with a restricted license. If you can prove that you have no other viable means of transportation, you might be able to get clearance. However, you must drive only during specific hours and for specific purposes, such as traveling to and from work.
Ultimately, your top concern is to remain safe. Comply with the law, and wait for any suspension to pass, so that you can resume your full driving privileges as soon as possible. Remember, this can also affect your insurance rates.
Now that you know more about what happens if you drive without a license, would you like to see rates from top auto insurance companies in your area? If so, simply enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive with an international driver’s license if I don’t have a local license?
The rules regarding driving with an international driver’s license vary between countries and states. In general, an international driver’s license is not intended to replace a local driver’s license but serves as a translation of your existing license. Some jurisdictions may allow you to drive with an international driver’s license for a limited period, typically for tourists or individuals who recently moved to the area.
Will my car insurance cover me if I drive without a license and get stopped by the police?
Typically, car insurance policies do not provide coverage for incidents that occur while driving without a valid driver’s license. Driving without a license is considered a violation of the law, and insurance companies generally exclude coverage for illegal activities or actions that breach the terms of the policy.
What happens if I drive without a license and get stopped by the police?
Driving without a license is considered a serious offense in most jurisdictions. If you are caught driving without a valid driver’s license and get stopped by the police, the consequences can vary depending on local laws and the specific circumstances of the incident. However, some common outcomes include:
- Ticket or citation: You may receive a traffic ticket or citation for driving without a license. This usually results in a fine, which can vary depending on your location and any previous offenses.
- Vehicle impoundment: In some cases, the police may impound your vehicle if you are caught driving without a license. The duration of the impoundment can vary, and you may be responsible for the associated fees.
- Arrest or detention: Driving without a license can be considered a criminal offense in certain situations, leading to your arrest or detention. This is more likely to happen if you have a history of driving-related offenses or if you were involved in a serious traffic violation.
- Legal consequences: Driving without a license can have legal repercussions beyond fines and impoundments. It may result in increased insurance premiums, a suspension of your driving privileges, mandatory driving classes, or even potential jail time, particularly if you have a history of similar offenses.
Can I drive with a learner’s permit if I don’t have a full driver’s license?
The rules regarding driving with a learner’s permit vary between jurisdictions. In some places, individuals with a learner’s permit are allowed to drive under certain conditions, such as having a licensed adult in the vehicle or during specific hours. However, it’s important to note that a learner’s permit is not a substitute for a full driver’s license.
What should I do if I get stopped by the police without a license?
If you get stopped by the police and do not have a valid driver’s license, it’s essential to remain calm and cooperate with the officer. Here are some recommended steps to follow:
- Stay calm and polite: Avoid arguing or becoming confrontational with the police officer. Stay calm and respectful throughout the interaction.
- Provide identification if requested: Even if you don’t have a driver’s license, the officer may ask for identification. Cooperate and provide any alternative identification documents you have, such as a passport or identification card.
- Answer truthfully: If asked whether you have a driver’s license, it’s important to answer honestly. Providing false information can lead to further legal complications.
- Follow instructions: Comply with the officer’s instructions regarding any necessary documentation or procedures. This may involve providing contact information, getting your vehicle towed, or accompanying the officer to the police station, depending on the circumstances.
- Seek legal advice: If you are charged with driving without a license or face potential legal consequences, it is advisable to consult with a lawyer who specializes in traffic offenses. They can provide guidance and represent your interests in any legal proceedings.
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Jeffrey Manola
Licensed Insurance Agent
Jeffrey Manola is an experienced life insurance agent who founded TopQuoteLifeInsurance.com and NoMedicalExamQuotes.com. His mission when creating these sites was to provide online consumers searching for life insurance with the most affordable term life insurance, permanent life insurance, no medical exam life insurance, and burial insurance. Not only does he strive to provide consumers with t...
Licensed Insurance Agent
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.