Getting Back on the Road to Your Future: Restoring a Driver’s License in New Jersey
December 5, 2024
Authored by: Diana Onuschak
This article is made possible by the generous support from Taylor Tobey at 9Sail.
Diana Onuschak
In New Jersey, there are hundreds of reasons why someone’s driving privileges can be suspended, including reasons that have little to do with unsafe driving. Suspended driving privileges can force people to choose between continuing to drive to keep their employment and risk more fines and/or criminal charges, or seeking new employment accessible by public transportation or within walking distance from their home. Further, even for those who can secure steady employment close to home, many jobs require a valid license even when the job responsibilities do not entail driving.
Top Reasons Why Your License May Get Suspended in New Jersey
First, it is essential to understand how a driver’s license can be suspended through actions from the court or the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). Below are a few common reasons a license can be suspended in New Jersey:
Unpaid parking tickets. In many parts of New Jersey, street parking is the only option, often resulting in parking tickets. While parking tickets may seem minor, if enough tickets go unpaid or unaddressed with the issuing municipality (Municipal Court), it can result in a suspended license in New Jersey.
Driving violations. Many types of moving-related violations can result in a suspension if the driver fails to pay the ordered-fines or appear in court. Convictions for certain moving violations can carry term suspensions as part of the court-sentence.
MVC insurance surcharges. The MVC imposes additional fines in the form of surcharges after an accumulation of 6 or more points during a three-year time period. These surcharges are in addition to fines that may be issued by the court. Failure to pay these surcharges, or accumulating 12 or more points, can result in suspension.
Unpaid child support. If court-ordered child support continues to go unpaid, the Family Court overseeing the child support order can issue a court-ordered license suspension in New Jersey.
Therefore, the primary issue someone’s license in New Jersey can be suspended is failure to pay or to respond. Not only can the dollar amount owed for parking tickets and driving violations be crippling for someone with limited income, but failure to pay or appear can result in municipal court bench warrants. These warrants may involve minor offenses, yet the costs and consequences can be devastating --- jail time, loss of license, employment, and stability for one and one’s family.
How to Restore Your Driver’s License in New Jersey
The first step to restoring driving privileges in New Jersey is to understand why your license is suspended. As discussed, there can be many reasons why a license has been suspended, and understanding the root causes helps create a pathway to reinstatement.
Get more information. To confirm whether your license is suspended and, if so, why, you can start by calling the MVC at (609) 292-7500.
If your license is suspended:Take notes. Take detailed notes when speaking with MVC so you can understand if you owe any fines to any courts, how much you owe to the MVC, if you need to complete any MVC programs (for example, the Intoxicated Driving Resource Center (IDRC) program), or you own child support).
Be aware of bench warrants. The court can issue bench warrants for failure to pay or appear in court. To check the status, including whether there is a warrant, visit New Jersey Municipal Court Case Search for municipal matters and New Jersey Promis Gavel for superior court matters.
Legal representation. For open, unresolved court matters and/or warrant(s), it is recommended that you consult with a criminal defense or municipal practice attorney or apply for representation with the public defender.
Request your driving record. You can request a copy online for $15. Note that you must be able to pay by credit card and have an email address.
Review your record and understand all reasons for suspensions.
Court-issued suspensions. You will need to address all outstanding suspensions with each court separately. For example, if you have parking violations in East Orange, NJ, and Atlantic City, NJ, you will need to work with both municipal courts to resolve outstanding issues (this may include paying fines).
Resolving Municipal Court matters should be a priority, however if unpaid child support is one of your reasons for suspension, you will also need to appear in Family Court to discuss outstanding support and discuss the possibility of a payment plan. Be aware, you can be detained in Family Court if you have open warrants in Municipal Court.
MVC-issued suspensions. In addition to resolving any court-issued suspension, you must resolve outstanding suspensions with MVC. This may require setting up a monthly payment plan to pay surcharges in installments.
Pay the restoration fee. Once you have resolved all the matters resulting in your suspended license, you will be required to pay a $100 restoration fee to MVC.
Pay the registration fee. You may also need to pay the $100 registration fee to MVC.
Retake driving exam. If you were never legally licensed or have not driven in over three years, you may be required to retake the written or road test before your license can be restored. A vision test may also be necessarily depending on the length of suspension. Contact the MVC to confirm if you are required to take a test, and if so, schedule an appointment to complete it.
Visit a motor vehicle agency. Once the above is complete, you can get your new license at any motor vehicle agency (some require an appointment). Be prepared to bring the following:
$100 restoration fee
$100 registration fee
$24 new license fee
Proof of address
Proof that all suspension reasons (above) have been settled (e.g., letters from the court, etc.)
Need Help With Restoring Your Driver’s License?
While the above provides step-by-step directions for anyone to understand their driving privileges in New Jersey, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) can assist veterans and military personnel with license issues (NJ only). If you are a veteran or military personnel, you can apply online for an appointment with VLJ’s Veterans Legal Program. VLJ staff will collect basic information about you to request records from the MVC. If MVC records confirm the veterans’ driver’s license is suspended, VLJ will seek to provide advice on what steps to take for a veteran to restore their license.
