Driver's License Suspensions Will Be Restored July 1, 2019

On April 3, 2019, the Senate of Virginia officially passed the driver's license suspension repeal.  As of July 1, 2019, approximately 613,000 drivers whose licenses were once suspended for failure to pay court costs will have the option to drive again.  Virginia courts will no longer be permitted to suspend driving privileges for failure to pay court fines and court costs and currently suspended drivers will have their privilege to drive automatically restored without the need to pay the $145 reinstatement fee.  The new law will not result in a refund of any reinstatement fee which has been previously paid.  Drivers will still be responsible for non-payment of tolls.  Court fines and court costs will still need to be paid, although it will no longer affect one's privilege to drive.

Drivers should look to their Compliance Summary located on their DMV account for guidance on where exactly they stand regarding the status of their license.

Virginia Residents

• Update your mailing address with the DMV as soon as possible.
• If your license has expired or you do not have your physical license, you will have to obtain a replacement driver's license or renew your license and will be required to pay the usual driver's license issue fee ($20 for a replacement or $32 for an eight-year revewal, an additional $10 for REAL ID).  
• Proof of permanent legal presence in the United States (i.e. birth certificate, U.S. Passport, legal permanent resident card) will be required.

Virginia Non-Residents

• No action is necessary if your driving privilege was suspended only due to failure to pay court fines and costs.
• Suspensions due to the failure to pay court fines and costs will no longer be visible to other states' driver licensing agencies on/after July 1.

If there is any confusion regarding what a resident or non-resident driver needs to do in order to legally drive, they should contact an attorney promptly to avoid any further law violations..