Suspended License

Your Driver's License Status

Whenever you need or want to check the status of your driver’s license, you can order a driving record report. This record will spell out if your driver’s license is currently valid. Should your license have been revoked or suspended, the report will indicate that according to what’s on record at the MVC. This report will also show points against your license and, in some cases, information on any accidents you have had.

Point Accumulation

Any New Jersey driver who is convicted of a moving violation while driving a vehicle is assessed points for each conviction in accordance with the New Jersey Statutes Annotated (NJSA) Point Schedule.

If you accumulate a total of 12 or more points on your driving record, the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) will issue a Notice of Scheduled Suspension of your driving privilege.

Reasons for Suspension

You can also lose your driving privileges for a number of other reasons, including:

• Failing to appear in court or pay fines for a traffic violation

• Driving while already suspended

• Driving under the influence (DUI)

• Being at fault in an accident that results in fatalities

• Abandoning your car on a public road

• Reckless driving

• Failing to provide adequate proof of insurance coverage

• Being a problem driver (repeated violations)

License Restoration

When a driver license is surrendered due to suspension, a notation is made on your driver history record, and the actual license is destroyed.

If this happens, you will be issued a Restoration Notice in the mail to obtain a replacement license. You can then visit any MVC agency and pay a fee if required.

If your driving or registration privilege is suspended for any reason, you must follow the instructions on your Scheduled Order of Suspension and/or the Order of Suspension notice. (You can also call the MVC at (609) 292-7500 for assistance.)

If you request a hearing after receiving this notice, you may be asked to appear before an Administrative Law Judge. However, the MVC's Chief Administrator will make the final determination on suspending your driving privilege.

The Driver Improvement Program: This program is offered as an alternative to a 30-day suspension for drivers who accumulate 12 to 14 points within two years. Information about the Driver Improvement Program is included in the notice sent out by the MVC. Up to three points will be removed from your driving record if you successfully complete the program, which costs $100.

To drive after your suspension period ends, you must pay a $100 license online.

Once your license is restored, you will be on automatic probation for a year, and any traffic violation during that year will result in a proposed repeat suspension of your driving privilege.

For more information about license suspension and restoration, please see Chapter Seven: Driving Privileges and Penalties from the New Jersey Driver Manual.

Hardship Licenses

The state of New Jersey does not issue hardship licenses for drivers who have had their licenses suspended.