The steps needed to reinstate your West Virginia driver’s licensedriver’s license will depend on the violation you committed and the specifics of your case. That said, you can typically apply for license reinstatement by waiting for the end of your suspension term and mailing a reinstatement fee to the West Virginia DMV.

Losing your license is a big deal that can seriously limit your ability to get around. If your license gets suspended, you’ll probably want it reinstated as soon as possible. While the specific steps you should take are unique to your situation, it’s important to understand where to begin.

We know the license reinstatement process can be confusing. That’s why the

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Why you might need a license reinstatement in West Virginia

The West Virginia DMV can

suspend your license

for a variety of traffic and civil violations. Most often, you’ll earn a license suspension for accumulating too many driver violation points on your license.

The point system in West Virginia ensures that anyone who gets more than 12 points in two years will have their license suspended for 30-90 days—depending on the number of points they’ve accumulated.

If you get more than 20 points, your license will stay suspended until your points are reduced to 11, which could take as long as two years.

While you can typically start driving once your suspension is over, you’ll need to contact the DMV before you can legally hit the road.

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Can you get car insurance with a suspended license?

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How to get a license reinstatement in West Virginia

In West Virginia, you can

reinstate your suspended license

online, by mail, or in person. Of course, more extreme cases may warrant a longer process or higher payments that you may want to handle in person. Before making any payments, contact the West Virginia DMV to find out exactly how much you owe.

Traffic citations and court suspensions

West Virginia recognizes that losing your driving privileges makes a large impact on your daily life. That’s why only serious violations warrant an immediate suspension.

Here are a few of the most common violations that could result in a license suspension:

Driving with a fake license

Driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Driving without insurance

Driving under the influence

Fleeing the scene of an accident that involved injuries or death

While your license will typically get suspended for traffic-related infractions, you may also face suspension for civil infractions including the following:

Failing to pay child support

Refusing to comply with a court sentence

Even though the civil infractions aren’t related to traffic, license suspensions are a means for courts to enforce accountability from state residents.

Point suspensions

The most common reason for a license suspension is accumulating too many points against your license. While different amounts of points warrant different length suspensions, you could lose your license for up to two years if you commit enough violations. The good news is West Virginia’s point system is relatively forgiving.

While major violations like

DUIs

could warrant up to eight points, most minor violations are only worth two points. Since the West Virginia DMV suspends your license once you’ve collected at least 12 points, you can make up to 6 minor violations in two years without losing your driving privileges.

Once your suspension time is up, simply pay the required fees on the West Virginia DMV website or mail your payment to the following address:

P.O. Box 17030

Charleston, WV 25317

MORE:

How long does a speeding ticket stay on your record?

Revocations

Suspended licenses are typically easy to reinstate, but revoked licenses are a different story. With a revocation, you will likely need to reapply for a license altogether.

You can’t apply for a new license as soon as you lose your old one. Before you can reapply, you’ll need to wait a predetermined amount of time that depends on the specifics of your case.

Key Takeaway When your license gets suspended, you can usually get it reinstated by paying the required fees and waiting for the suspension term to end.

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How to get car insurance with a bad driving record

How to get a hardship license in West Virginia

Suspended licenses are issued to people the court sees as a danger on the road, but sometimes cars are necessary for daily life. If the loss of driving privileges interferes with your work or education, you may qualify for a hardship license—or a restricted driving license.

In West Virginia, you may apply for a hardship license through the Second Chance Driver’s License Program. The program allows people struggling financially to pay the court-mandated fines to use their car in limited situations so they can earn the money to pay off their debt.

Once you’re enrolled in the Second Chance program, the court will set specific restrictions on your driving behaviors and help you establish a payment plan for your fines.

When can you apply for a hardship license?

While some states may offer hardship licenses to a broad group of drivers, West Virginia requires Second Chance applicants to meet the following set of conditions:

The license must have been suspended/revoked for failing to pay court-mandated fees

The driver in question must be at least 12 months behind on their payments.

The driver cannot have any unpaid charges related to driving a commercial vehicle.

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What is an SR-22 certificate?

Some states require drivers to file an SR-22 form through their insurance provider after having their license suspended. The SR-22 form simply states that you have the state-required minimum car insurance coverage so you can legally hit the road.

Since a license suspension positions you as a risk on the road, the SR-22 form helps assure them you have the necessary financial coverage to help take care of any damages you may cause. That said, West Virginia does not require drivers to file SR-22 forms after a license suspension or revocation.

MORE:

SR-22 in West Virginia: What you need to know

How to save money on car insurance in West Virginia

After dealing with a license suspension, finding an affordable car insurance policy will be a whole new hurdle. Luckily, the

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Just download the

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Users save an average of $887 a year on car insurance with Jerry—and it only takes a minute to sign up.

“I saw an ad for
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