What Happens If You Get Caught Driving Without a License?

Last Updated on December 12, 2025

In every U.S. state, you need a valid driver’s license (or learner’s permit) to legally drive on public roads. If you get caught driving without one, you could face anything from a correctable ticket to criminal charges, towing/impoundment, and even jail time—especially if your license is suspended or revoked.

If you’re dealing with licensing issues and insurance at the same time, start here: auto insurance without a driver’s license. And if your license is already suspended, this guide on car insurance with a suspended driver’s license can help you understand your options.

Key Takeaways

“Driving without a license” can mean different things: forgetting your wallet, driving on an expired license, or driving while suspended/revoked—and penalties vary a lot by situation.
In many states, driving without a valid license/privilege is treated as a criminal offense (often a misdemeanor), with fines, possible jail time, and license suspension extensions.
Repeat violations usually trigger much harsher consequences—sometimes escalating to felony charges, longer loss of driving privileges, and possible towing/impoundment.
If you’re unlicensed or suspended, fixing the underlying licensing issue first can save you money and stress (and may make it easier to buy coverage later).

Table Of Contents

What counts as “driving without a license”?
Common penalties (and why they vary)
State-by-state penalties for driving without a valid license
FAQs on Driving Without a License
Final word: Don’t gamble with “no license” driving

What counts as “driving without a license”?

States use slightly different wording, but most “no license” traffic stops fall into one of these buckets:

You have a valid license but didn’t have it on you: Often treated as a correctable (“fix-it”) violation if you later show proof you were licensed at the time.
Your license is expired or you’re driving outside your license restrictions: Usually more serious than forgetting your wallet, but often less serious than driving while suspended.
You’re unlicensed or your driving privilege is suspended/revoked/canceled: This is where penalties escalate quickly (and where towing/impoundment and jail time become more common).

Common penalties (and why they vary)

The consequences depend on your state, your driving record, and why you didn’t have a valid license. But across the U.S., common outcomes include:

Fines (sometimes a few hundred dollars, sometimes thousands)
Misdemeanor charges (and in a few states, felony charges for repeat offenses)
Jail time for repeat offenses or certain suspensions/revocations
Longer suspensions/revocations or a longer wait to become eligible for a license
Towing/impoundment, registration actions, or even plate seizure in extreme cases

Important: The state summaries below focus on penalties for driving without a valid license/privilege to drive (often including driving while suspended or revoked). If you simply forgot to carry your license, your penalty may be much smaller. This article is for general information—not legal advice.

State-by-state penalties for driving without a valid license

Tip: Use your browser’s “Find” feature (Ctrl+F / Command+F) to jump to your state.

These summaries are based on a 50-state overview from the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) and state statutes. Laws change over time, and local courts may apply additional fees and consequences.

Reference: NCSL’s “Driving While Revoked, Suspended or Otherwise Unlicensed: Penalties by State”

Alabama

Misdemeanor. Fine of $100–$500 (plus an additional $50) and up to 180 days in jail. Alabama may impound the vehicle and can extend a license suspension by 6 months.

Alaska

Class A misdemeanor. A first offense can involve a 10-day suspended jail sentence if at least 80 hours of community service are completed, plus possible vehicle forfeiture and an increased suspension (at least 90 days). Later offenses can trigger at least 10 days in jail, possible forfeiture, and additional suspension time.

Arizona

Class 1 misdemeanor. Up to 6 months in jail is possible, and Arizona may impound your vehicle depending on the circumstances.

Arkansas

Misdemeanor. Possible jail time of 2 days to 6 months and a fine up to $500.

California

First offense: 5 days to 6 months in jail and a $300–$1,000 fine. Subsequent offenses can increase to 10 days to 1 year in jail and a $500–$2,000 fine.

Colorado

First offense: misdemeanor with up to 6 months in jail, a fine up to $500, and a possible 1-year increase in suspension time. Subsequent offenses may make you ineligible to be issued a driver’s license for 3 years.

Connecticut

First offense: up to 3 months in jail and/or a $150–$200 fine. Subsequent offenses can increase to up to 1 year in jail and/or a $200–$600 fine.

Delaware

First offense: 30 days to 6 months in jail and a $500–$1,000 fine, plus possible vehicle impoundment for at least 90 days. Subsequent offenses can increase to 60 days to 1 year in jail, a $1,000–$4,000 fine, and possible impoundment for at least 1 year.

District of Columbia

Up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine up to $2,500.

Florida

Florida distinguishes between driving without a valid license and driving while suspended/revoked. As of July 1, 2024, driving without a valid license is a second-degree misdemeanor for a first conviction, a first-degree misdemeanor for a second conviction, and a first-degree misdemeanor for a third or subsequent conviction—with a minimum mandatory 10 days in jail for a third (or later) conviction.

If your license is suspended, canceled, or revoked, Florida has separate laws and penalties that can be much harsher. (If you’re dealing with that situation, see: car insurance with a suspended driver’s license.)

Florida law reference (2024 update)

Georgia

First offense: misdemeanor with 2 days to 1 year in jail and a possible additional fine up to $500. Second or third offenses can be charged as “high and aggravated” misdemeanors (10 days to 1 year in jail, plus higher fines). Fourth or subsequent offenses can be felonies (1–5 years in prison). Georgia can also extend license suspension time.

Hawaii

Hawaii’s listed penalties here apply to certain DUI-related revocations/suspensions. A first offense can mean 3–30 days in jail, a $250–$1,000 fine, and a 1-year suspension increase. Second offenses can mean 30 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a 2-year suspension increase. Later offenses can involve 1 year of imprisonment, a $2,000 fine, and permanent revocation.

Idaho

First offense: misdemeanor with 2 days to 6 months in jail, a fine up to $1,000, and an added 180 days of suspension. Second offense: 20 days to 1 year in jail, fine up to $1,000, and an added 1 year of suspension. Later offenses can increase jail time, fines (up to $3,000), and suspension extensions (up to 2 years).

Illinois

First offense: Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail and up to a $2,500 fine). Subsequent offenses can become a Class 4 felony (1–3 years in prison and up to a $25,000 fine), and Illinois may impound the vehicle. For fourth and later offenses, Illinois may seize license plates and immobilize the vehicle (related: license plate seizure).

Indiana

Indiana can treat this as a Class 6 felony, with possible imprisonment of about 6 months to 2.5 years and a fine up to $10,000 (depending on the facts of the case and prior history).

Iowa

Simple misdemeanor. Fines can range from $250 to $1,500, and Iowa may extend suspension time (up to an additional year or up to the original suspension period, whichever is shorter).

Kansas

First offense: Class B nonperson misdemeanor with at least 5 days in jail and a fine of at least $100. Subsequent offenses can be Class A nonperson misdemeanors, with a required 5 days served and at least a $100 fine. Kansas can also extend suspension time (at least 90 days).

Kentucky

Penalties escalate quickly for repeat offenses. A first offense can be a Class B misdemeanor with at least 90 days in jail and a suspension increase of 6 months. A second offense can be a Class A misdemeanor (90 days to 1 year). Third or later offenses can be charged as a Class D felony (1–5 years), with additional suspension consequences.

Louisiana

Louisiana penalties can vary based on license class. For some drivers, penalties can include up to 6 months in jail and fines up to $500. For certain commercial classes, fines can be as high as $5,000. Subsequent offenses can trigger jail time (7 days to 6 months), fines, possible civil penalties, and an additional 1-year suspension increase.

Maine

Class E crime. Maine uses mandatory minimum fines in many cases: $250 for a first offense and $500 for a second offense, with possible added suspension consequences. (If the suspension/revocation is tied to an OUI/DUI, mandatory minimums and jail requirements can be significantly higher.)

Maryland

First offense: misdemeanor with up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000, plus possible added suspension time. Subsequent offenses can increase to up to 2 years in jail and/or up to a $1,000 fine. Maryland may also impound the vehicle.

Massachusetts

First offense: up to 10 days in jail and/or a $500–$1,000 fine. Subsequent offenses can involve 60 days to 1 year in jail. Massachusetts can also increase suspension time.

Michigan

First offense: misdemeanor with up to 93 days in jail and/or a fine up to $500. Second offense: up to 1 year in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000. Michigan may also cancel your vehicle’s registration plates and extend the suspension (related: vehicle registration suspension).

Minnesota

Misdemeanor. Up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000.

Mississippi

Misdemeanor. Jail time can range from 48 hours to 6 months, with fines of $200–$500 and an added 6 months of suspension time.

Missouri

First offense: Class D misdemeanor (no set jail term, but not to exceed 1 year). Second offense: Class A misdemeanor (6 months to 1 year). Subsequent offenses can be charged as a Class E felony with up to 4 years of imprisonment.

Montana

First offense: fine up to $500. Second offense: 2 days to 6 months in jail, a fine up to $500, and a possible 1-year suspension increase.

Nebraska

Nebraska can restrict your ability to operate any motor vehicle for long periods. A first offense can mean being unable to operate for 1 year with revocation for the same period. Second or third offenses can increase this to 2 years, and later offenses can remain severe.

Nevada

Misdemeanor. Up to 6 months in jail and/or a fine up to $1,000. Nevada can also extend suspensions, revocations, or restricted-license ineligibility periods, and these extensions may run consecutively.

New Hampshire

Misdemeanor. At least 1 week in jail, a fine up to $1,000, and a possible 1-year suspension increase.

New Jersey

First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: 1–5 days in jail and a $750 fine. Subsequent offenses: 10 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. New Jersey can also increase suspension time (up to 6 months).

New Mexico

Misdemeanor. Possible jail time of 4 to 364 days and a fine up to $1,000, plus possible vehicle immobilization.

New York

First offense: misdemeanor with up to 30 days in jail and/or a $200–$500 fine. Subsequent offenses can increase to up to 180 days in jail, with higher fines (including fines of at least $500 in some situations).

North Carolina

First offense: Class 3 misdemeanor (1–10 days in jail and a fine up to $200), plus a 1-year suspension increase. Second offenses can add 2 years to the suspension, and a third offense can result in permanent suspension.

North Dakota

First, second, or third offense: Class B misdemeanor (up to 30 days in jail and/or a $1,500 fine). Fourth or later: Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or a $3,000 fine). North Dakota may also allow destruction of the license plate in some situations.

Ohio

First offense: unclassified misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and possible community service (up to 500 hours). Subsequent offenses can be first-degree misdemeanors with up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Ohio may also impound license plates.

Oklahoma

Oklahoma can treat this as a misdemeanor. First offense fines can range from $100–$500. Second offenses can range from $200–$750. Subsequent offenses can involve up to 1 year in jail and fines of $300–$1,000 (or both).

Oregon

Class A traffic infraction. Fines can range from $220 to $2,000, and Oregon may impound your vehicle in some cases.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania penalties can increase sharply for repeat violations. A first violation may be a summary offense with a $200 fine (and added suspension time depending on whether you were suspended or revoked). A second violation can carry a $1,000 fine and at least 90 days in jail. Subsequent violations can be third-degree misdemeanors with a $2,500 fine and at least 6 months in jail.

Rhode Island

First offense: violation with a $250–$500 fine. Second offense: $350–$500 fine. Subsequent offenses can become misdemeanors with up to 90 days in jail and/or a $500–$1,000 fine, plus possible suspension time.

South Carolina

First offense: up to 30 days in jail and/or a $300 fine. Second offense: up to 60 days and/or a $600 fine. Subsequent offenses: up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

South Dakota

South Dakota separates penalties based on whether your license is suspended/canceled versus revoked. Suspended or canceled can be a Class 2 misdemeanor (up to 30 days in jail and/or a fine up to $500). Revoked can be a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 1 year and/or a fine up to $2,000).

Tennessee

Tennessee penalties vary for residents vs. non-residents and escalate with repeat offenses. A first offense for residents can be a Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail and/or a fine up to $500), and Tennessee can extend the suspension by a similar period. Subsequent resident offenses can rise to a Class A misdemeanor (up to 11 months, 29 days and/or a fine up to $2,500).

Texas

First offense: Class C misdemeanor with a fine up to $500. Subsequent offenses can be Class B misdemeanors with up to 180 days in jail and/or a fine up to $2,000.

Utah

Class B misdemeanor. Up to 6 months in jail and a fine up to $1,000 are possible.

Vermont

Vermont penalties can be severe. A first offense can involve up to 2 years in jail and/or a fine up to $5,000. Vermont may also allow seizure of license plates in some circumstances, and repeat offenses can remain serious.

Virginia

Class 1 misdemeanor. Up to 12 months in jail and/or a fine up to $2,500. Virginia may also impound the vehicle for up to 90 days in some situations.

Washington

Gross misdemeanor. Up to 364 days in jail and/or a fine up to $5,000.

West Virginia

First and second offenses: misdemeanor with a $100–$500 fine. Third or later offenses can add 30–90 days in jail and a $150–$500 fine.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin typically treats operating while suspended as a forfeiture with a $50–$200 fine. Operating while revoked can carry fines up to $2,500, and vehicle impoundment may be possible. Penalties can be higher (including jail) depending on the reason for revocation and the driver’s history.

Wyoming

Misdemeanor. Wyoming can impose up to 6 months in jail and/or a fine up to $750.

FAQs on Driving Without a License

Is driving without a license always a misdemeanor?

Not always—but it often is when you’re truly unlicensed or your driving privilege is suspended/revoked. If you simply forgot your license at home (but were validly licensed), many states treat that as a correctable ticket. Repeat offenses, driving while revoked, or driving during certain suspensions can trigger harsher criminal charges.

What if I have a valid license but didn’t have it with me?

In many states, that’s treated differently than being unlicensed. You may get a citation that can be reduced or dismissed if you later show proof that your license was valid at the time of the stop. Still, you should follow the ticket’s instructions and meet any court deadline so it doesn’t turn into a bigger problem.

Can police tow or impound my car if I’m driving without a license?

Yes, in some states and situations—especially if you’re driving while suspended/revoked or you can’t legally drive the vehicle away from the stop. Even when towing isn’t mandatory, officers may tow if there’s no licensed driver available to take the car. Towing and storage fees can add up fast.

Does driving without a license affect car insurance?

It can. A no-license citation (or a criminal conviction for driving while suspended/revoked) may make it harder or more expensive to insure you, depending on the insurer and your record. If you’re trying to get insured without a license, read: https://www.insurancepanda.com/faq/auto-insurance-without-a-drivers-license/

How long will a ‘no license’ ticket affect me?

That depends on your state, the exact charge, and whether it’s a criminal conviction or a minor traffic infraction. Many insurers look back 3–5 years for violations, while courts and DMVs may track the event longer. If it involved a suspension/revocation, consequences can extend until you fully reinstate your driving privilege.

What should I do if my license is suspended and I need to drive?

Driving on a suspended license is usually one of the fastest ways to make the situation worse. If you can, avoid driving and work on reinstatement (fees, paperwork, SR-22 requirements, or court compliance). If you’re also trying to keep coverage, see: https://www.insurancepanda.com/4800/car-insurance-suspended-drivers-license/

Final word: Don’t gamble with “no license” driving

Driving without a valid license (or while suspended/revoked) can create a chain reaction: criminal charges, bigger fines, towing fees, longer suspensions, and insurance headaches. And if you cause a crash, the consequences can be even more serious.

If you’re not licensed, the safest move is to stop driving until you’re eligible and properly licensed. If your license is suspended, handle the suspension first—then shop for coverage using guides like car insurance with a suspended driver’s license.