In New Jersey, you can find out about your license suspension in several ways by mail or phone.
You may think you’d only get a license suspension for driving uninsured or after drinking. But New Jersey drivers can receive a suspension for other reasons too, including:
No. If your license has expired, you have up to three years to renew it. However, driving while your license is expired is illegal. If you miss the three-year window, you’ll have to apply for a new license.
In some cases, you may have a grace period before expiration. During the coronavirus, New Jersey extended expiring driver’s licenses and registrations by two months.
If you get a suspension, you won’t be able to drive for the length of your suspension, according to New Jersey law. You’ll also need to take care of any fines or surcharges that apply to your suspension.
For example, a suspension from too many license points could mean a big surcharge. Typically, the charge is $150 for the first six points and $25 per point thereafter, which totals $300 for 12 points. The surcharge can apply for up to three years.
However, you can appeal your suspension if you’re not guilty or never received notice of the suspension beforehand. However, appealing if you didn’t receive a notice could require that you’ve kept your address updated with the DMV.
Also, you could avoid the suspension by reducing points on your license or paying your outstanding fines, but these decisions may be up to the judge or police officer.
Finder data suggests that men aged 25-34 are most likely to be researching this topic.
| Response | Male (%) | Female (%) |
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| 65+ | 4.11% | 2.27% |
| 55-64 | 7.79% | 8.22% |
| 45-54 | 8.22% | 9.49% |
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| 25-34 | 13.17% | 9.77% |
| 18-24 | 9.07% | 5.52% |
New Jersey law does not allow driving with a suspended license. If you get caught doing so, you’ll receive a $500 fine plus $250 surcharge for up to three years with an additional license suspension of six months.
Each offense after the first receives a steeper fine, surcharge, insurance points and jail time. That includes insurance points, a $750 fine, $250 surcharge and up to five days in jail for a second offense. The third time, you’ll receive points, a $1,000 fine, $250 surcharge and up to 10 days in jail.
After you’ve completed your suspension period, you can reinstate your license after paying any outstanding fines or surcharges as directed and then paying a reinstatement fee. You’ll need to tag any of these methods with your driver’s license number for quick processing.
How to pay the $100 reinstatement fee:
First, you’ll need to complete your suspension period, which should be specified by your ticket or the judge at court. If you get a suspension for not paying surcharges, your suspension lasts only until you pay the surcharge and reinstatement fee and receive notice of your restored license.
After you’ve completed the suspension and reinstatement process, you’ll receive a Notice of Restoration in the mail, which allows you to drive with a valid driver’s license.
You may need car insurance with a suspended license to keep your car protected or to avoid a coverage lapse even while you’re not driving.
However, your current insurer may drop you after a suspension because of higher driving risk. In that case, you can get insurance in several ways:
Getting your license suspended in New Jersey can mean hefty fines and surcharges along with your driving restriction, and fines vary based on the violation. However, during your suspension, you might compare insurers for the best high-risk driver coverage and rates.
How do I get the New Jersey Special Auto Insurance Policy with a suspended license?
Suspended drivers don’t qualify for this “dollar-a-day” program. However, you may qualify once your license is reinstated.
How do I pay my surcharge in New Jersey?
Pay your surcharge in a variety of ways, including:
How do I check points on my license in New Jersey?
Request a copy of your driving record online through the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission or in person at your local motor vehicle agency. You can also call the MVC at 609-292-6500 or the toll-free number 888-486-3339.
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