In New York, there is a multitude of reasons why your license might get suspended or revoked—ranging from failure to answer a ticket to failing to pay child support. Regardless of the reason, driving with a suspended license is considered a serious offense and can lead to hefty fines and possible jail time. Not to mention, it'll make it much harder to find cheap car insurance in New York.
Earning the privilege to drive is a momentous occasion. But if you’re not careful, you can lose that privilege by getting your license suspended or revoked. Because each state has its own rules dictating suspendable offenses, it’s important to get to know the laws in your state.
Here, car insurance
comparison shopping app Jerry
will break down the most common ways drivers get their license suspended in the Empire State. From ticket avoidance to tax debt, here’s what not to do if you want to keep your New York license in good standing. RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
What’s the difference between a license suspension and revocation?
It’s easy to confuse the terms “suspension” and “revocation.” While both lead to a loss of driving privileges, their meanings are slightly different.
A license suspension means that you have temporarily lost your driving privileges, usually for a specified period of time
A license revocation means that your loss of driving privileges is more serious, and you will need to reapply for a license and request approval from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to drive again
In NY, a suspension can either be definite or indefinite. A definite suspension will have a specified timeframe during which you may not drive, while an indefinite suspension will require you to take action to redeem your driving privileges.
What can your license be suspended for in New York?
There are a number of reasons why your license might get suspended in New York. Here are the most common ones.
1. If you fail to answer a traffic ticket
When you receive a traffic ticket in New York—for violations like speeding—you must either pay a fine or appear in court. If you fail to do either by the deadline indicated on your citation, the DMV will take this as a failure to answer and your license will be suspended indefinitely.
2. If you fail to file an accident report
According to New York's car accident laws
, if you’re involved in a motor vehicle accident with more than $1,000 in damages to any party, you need to file an accident report with the DMV within 10 days of the event. Failure to do so will result in license suspension until the DMV has received your report. 3. If you fail to pay a Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA)
A DRA is an annual fee paid out over a three-year period that is a requirement for those who have committed certain traffic offenses.
Refusal to take a chemical drug or alcohol test—$250 per year
Alcohol or drug-related traffic convictions—$250 per year
Receiving six or more points on your record within 18 months—$25 per point per year
If you fail to pay this fee by the payment date at any point during the three-year assessment period, your license will be suspended indefinitely.
4. If you have unpaid New York tax debts
If you are at least $10,000 in debt from past-due New York State taxes, the tax department can recommend that your license be suspended until your debt has been paid in full.
5. If you collect too many tickets in an 18-month period
In New York, the DMV uses the point system
to keep track of traffic violations on your record. If you receive 11 points or more within an 18-month period, your license may be suspended indefinitely. 6. If you don’t pay child support
Though it might not seem related, you can actually lose your driving privileges from failing to pay child support. By New York State law, family court has the right to direct the DMV to suspend an individual’s license if they have failed to pay four or more months of child support. To remove the suspension, the driver in question must contact their local child support enforcement agency.
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7. If you have a medical condition that affects your driving ability
The DMV can suspend your driver’s license if they are informed by a licensed physician that you have a medical condition that will impair your ability to drive. This type of suspension is called an Administrative Review and will require certification from a physician that the condition has been treated or controlled in order for the suspension to be lifted.
8. If you don’t follow the rules for junior drivers
Depending on where you live in New York, there may be a certain set of restrictions for drivers under the age of 18 who have a junior learner permit or junior driver license. Failure to comply with both the statewide learner permit restrictions
and the regional learner permit and junior driver license restrictions
will lead to an indefinite suspension. 9. If you’re convicted of an alcohol- or drug-related driving charge
There are serious consequences for DUIs in New York
. Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or under the influence of alcohol, Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI) by a drug or combo of alcohol and drugs, and refusing to take a chemical drug or alcohol test will result in immediate license revocation. As a somewhat lesser offense, Driving While Ability Impaired by alcohol and driving under the age of 21 with a BAC between .02 and .07 will result in license suspension for 90 days and six months, respectively.
10. If you don’t maintain New York car insurance
In order to legally drive in New York, you need to maintain a minimum amount of liability coverage
. This coverage must remain in effect the entire time your vehicle’s registration is valid. If you are caught with lapsed insurance coverage on the road, your license will be suspended until you submit proof of current coverage online or through the mail
. How to save money on car insurance in New York
To keep your New York insurance coverage from lapsing—and save some cash in the process—you’ll want to download the Jerry
app. It’s free to use and instantly compares custom quotes from over 50 top insurance companies to track down the lowest rates available for your coverage needs. As a licensed broker
, Jerry will help you sign up and even help cancel your old insurance so you can start saving right away. The average user ends up saving $887 a year on car insurance, so it’s definitely worth a look—especially if a past license suspension caused your rates to shoot up!
“My past tickets were making it hard to find affordable insurance. With Jerry
, I went from paying $450/month to $273/month. They took care of everything—such a relief!” —Josephine R.
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