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Driving without a license is illegal in all states. If you’re caught without a valid driver’s license or with a suspended or revoked license, you risk serious consequences. Keep reading to find out what penalties apply in your state.
What Are Some Possible Outcomes of Driving Without a License?
Charges for driving without a license vary by state, but they commonly include:
- Fine
- Jail time
- Points on your license
- License suspension
- Vehicle impoundment
- Increased insurance rates.
Here is a breakdown of what penalties you can expect in each state if you’re caught driving without a license:
| State | Fees | First offense | Subsequent offenses |
| Alabama | Misdemeanor: $100-$500 | Imprisonment for no more than 180 daysImmediate vehicle impoundment Possible license suspension increase by 6 months. | |
| Alaska | Class A Misdemeanor: 10 day suspended imprisonment provided at least 80 hours of community service are completedPossible forfeiture of vehicleLicense suspension increased by at least 90 days. | Class A Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for at least 10 daysPossible forfeiture of vehicleLicense suspension increased by at least 90 days. | |
| Arizona | Class 1 Misdemeanor:Imprisonment for no more than 6 monthsPossible vehicle impoundment for no more than 30 days | Class 2 Misdemeanor:Potential sentence of 4 months in jail Fine of no more than $750. | |
| Arkansas | Misdemeanor: Fine of no more than $500 | Imprisonment for between 2 days and 6 months | Extended period of the suspension for an additional like periodIf the conviction was upon a charge of driving while a license was revoked, the office shall not issue a new license for an additional period of one year. |
| California | $300-$1,000 | Imprisonment for between 5 days and 6 months | Imprisonment for between 10 days and 1 year$500-$2000 fine. |
| Colorado | Misdemeanor: no more than $500 | Imprisonment for no more than 6 monthsLicense suspension increased by 1 year.If the license restraint is due to an alcohol related offense there is a mandatory 30 days to 1 year in jail for a first offense. Minimum fine of $500 to $1,000. | Driver ineligible to be issued a driver’s license for a period of three years.A second alcohol-based driving under restraint: mandatory 90-day to 2-year jail sentence. Minimum fine of $500 to $3,000. |
| Connecticut | $150 – $200 | Imprisonment for no more than 3 months | Imprisonment for no more than 1 year, $200-$600 fine, or both. |
| Delaware | $500-$1,000 | Imprisonment for between 30 days and 6 months. Possible vehicle impoundment of at least 90 days | Imprisonment for between 60 days and 1 year$1,000-$4,000 finePossible vehicle impoundment of at least 1 year. |
| District of Columbia | $2,500 | Imprisonment for no more than 1 year | |
| Florida | Misdemeanor $500 – $5,000 | Second Degree Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 60 days or $500 fine | Second Offense -1st Degree Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 1 year or $1,000 fine.Subsequent Offense- 3rd Degree Felony: Imprisonment for no more than 5 years or $5,000 fine. Immediate vehicle impoundment. |
| Georgia | Misdemeanor $500 -$5,000 | Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for between 2 days and 1 yearPossible additional fine of no more than $1,000. | Second or Third Offenses – High and Aggravated Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for between 10 days and 1 yearPossible additional fine of $1,000-$2,500. Fourth or Subsequent Offenses – Felony: Imprisonment for 1-5 yearsPossible addition fine of $2,500-$5,000. |
| Hawaii | $250-$2,000 | Imprisonment for 3-30 days$250-$1,000 fineLicense suspension increased by 1 year Additional, inapplicable penalties. | Second Offense – Imprisonment for 30 days$1,000 fineLicense suspension increased by 2 years. Subsequent Offense – Imprisonment for 1 year$2,000 finePermanent license revocation Additional, inapplicable penalties. |
| Idaho | Misdemeanor:$1,000-$3,000 | Misdemeanor:Imprisonment for between 2 days and 6 monthsFine of no more than $1,000License suspension increased by 180 days. | Second Offense – Imprisonment for between 20 days and 1 year, fine of no more than $1,000, license suspension increased by 1 year. Subsequent Offenses – Imprisonment for between 30 days and 1 yearFine of no more than $3,000License suspension increased by 2 years. |
| Illinois | Misdemeanor: $2,500-$25,000 | Class A Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 1 yearFine of no more than $2,500. | Subsequent Offense – Class 4 Felony: Imprisonment for 1-3 years, fine of no more than $25,000. Possible vehicle impoundment. Fourth or Subsequent Offenses – Possible seizure of license platePossible vehicle immobilization. |
| Indiana | Felony: No more than $10,000 | Class 6 Felony: Imprisonment for between 6 months and 2 years, 6 monthsFine of no more than $10,000. | |
| Iowa | Misdemeanor: $250 -$1,500 | License suspension increased for an additional like period or for one year, whichever is shorter. | |
| Kansas | Misdemeanor: $100 | Class B Nonperson Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for at least 5 daysFine of at least $100. | Class A Nonperson Misdemeanor: Imprisonment without eligibility for parole until completion of 5 daysFine of at least $100. License suspension increased by 90 days. |
| Kentucky | Misdemeanor: No more than $250 | Class B Misdemeanor: Imprisonment no more than 90 daysLicense suspension increased by 6 months. Fine of no more than $250 | Second Offense – Class A Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for between 90 days and 1 year, license suspension increased by 1 year. Third or Subsequent Offense – Class D Felony: Imprisonment for 1-5 years, license suspension revoked for additional 2 years. |
| Louisiana | $500-$2,500 | Person with a Class D or E driver’s license: Imprisonment for no more than 6 months, fine of no more than $500, or both. May be subject to a civil penalty of no more than $1,250. Person with a Class A, B, or C driver’s license: Imprisonment for no more than 6 months, fine of no more than $5,000, or both. May be subject to a civil penalty of no more than $2,500 | Subsequent Offense – Imprisonment for between 7 days and 6 months, fine of $300-$500, potential civil fine of no more than $1,150 Subsequent Offense – Class A, B, or C driver’s license: Imprisonment for between 7 days and 6 months, fine of $300-$500, potential civil fine of no more than $2,500. License suspension increased by 1 year |
| Maine | Class E Crime: No more than $1,000 | Class E Crime: No more than six months incarceration and a $1,000 fine | |
| Maryland | Misdemeanor: $1,000 | Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 1 year, fine of no more than $1,000, or both Possible license suspension increased by no more than 1 year | Misdemeanor:Imprisonment for no more than 2 years, fine of no more than $1,000, or bothPossible license suspension increased by no more than 18 months if second offense, no more than 2 years for subsequent offenses. Possible vehicle impoundment. |
| Massachusetts | Misdemeanor: $500 -$1,000 | Imprisonment for no more than 10 days, $500-$1,000 fine, or both | Imprisonment for between 60 days and 1 year. License suspension increased by 60 days. |
| Michigan | Misdemeanor: $500 -$1,000 | Misdemeanor:Imprisonment for no more than 93 days, fine of no more than $500, or both. | Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 1 year, fine of no more than $1,000, or both. Cancellation of vehicle registration plates.License suspension increased by like period. |
| Minnesota | Misdemeanor: No more than $1,000 | Misdemeanor:Imprisonment for no more than 90 days, $1,000 fine, or both. | |
| Mississippi | Misdemeanor: $200 -$500 | Misdemeanor:Imprisonment for between 48 hours and 6 months$200-$500 fineLicense suspension increased by 6 months. | |
| Missouri | Class D Misdemeanor: No more than $500 fine. No set term of imprisonment, not to exceed one year. | Second Offense – Class A Misdemeanor: Fine not to exceed $2,000. Imprisonment for between 6 months and 1 year. Subsequent Offense – Class E Felony: Imprisonment for no more than 4 years. | |
| Montana | Misdemeanor: No more than $500 | Fine not to exceed $500Term of imprisonment not to exceed 6 months. | Imprisonment for no less than 2 days and not to exceed 6 months, license suspension increased by 1 year, vehicle used is seized and rendered inoperable for 30 days. |
| Nebraska | Class II Misdemeanor: Unable to operate any motor vehicle for 1 yearLicense revocation for like period. | Second or Third Offense – Class II Misdemeanor: Unable to operate any motor vehicle for 2 year, license revocation for like period. Fourth or Subsequent Offense – Class I Misdemeanor: Unable to operate any motor vehicle for 2 year, license revocation for like period. | |
| Nevada | Misdemeanor: No more than $1,000 | Imprisonment for no more than 6 months, fine of no more than $1,000, or both. If license suspended, extension of suspension by like period. If license (revoked), extension of period of ineligibility for license by 1 year. | |
| New Hampshire | Misdemeanor: No more than $1,000 | Misdemeanor:Imprisonment for a period not less than 7 consecutive 24-hour periods to be served within 6 months of the convictionFine of no more than $1,000License suspension increased by 1 year. | |
| New Jersey | $500-$1,000 | $500 fine. | Second Offense – Imprisonment for 1-5 days, $750 fine. Subsequent Offense – Imprisonment for 10 days, $1,000 fine. License suspension increased by no more than 6 months. |
| New Mexico | Misdemeanor: No more than $1,000 | Imprisonment for 4-364 daysFine of no more than $1,000. Possible vehicle immobilization. | |
| New York | Misdemeanor: $250 -$500 | Imprisonment for no more than 30 days, $200-$500 fine, or both. | Imprisonment for no more than 180 daysFine of no less than $500. |
| North Carolina | Misdemeanor: No more than $300 | Class 3 Misdemeanor:Imprisonment for 1-10 daysFine of no more than $200License suspension increased by 1 year. | Second Offense – License suspension increased by 2 years. Third Offense – Permanent license suspension. |
| North Dakota | Misdemeanor: $1,500 -$3,000 | First, second or third offense:Class B Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 30 days, $1,500 fine, or both. | Fourth or subsequent Offense – Class A Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 1 year, $3,000 fine, or both.Possible destruction of license plate. |
| Ohio | Misdemeanor: $1,000 | Unclassified Misdemeanor: Fine of no more than $1,000500 hours community service. | Subsequent Offense – 1st Degree Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 180 days, $1,000 fine. Possible license plate impoundment. |
| Oklahoma | Misdemeanor: $50-$1,000 | $100-$500 fine. | Second Offense – $200-$750 fine. Subsequent Offense – Imprisonment for no more than 1 year, 300-$1,000 fine, or both. |
| Oregon | $220-$2,000 | Class A Traffic Infraction: $220-$2,000 fine. Possible vehicle impoundment. | |
| Pennsylvania | $200 | Summary Offense: $200 fineLicense suspension increased by 1 year if originally suspended, 2 years if it was originally revoked. | |
| Rhode Island | Misdemeanor: $250-$1,000 | Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 30 days$250-$500 fineLicense suspension increased by 3 months. | Subsequent Offense – Imprisonment for no more than 1 year, $350-$1,000 fine, 2nd Offense – license suspension increased by 6 months, license revoked. |
| South Carolina | $300-$1,000 | Imprisonment for no more than 30 days, $300 fine, or both. | Second Offense – Imprisonment for no more than 60 days, $600 fine, or both. Subsequent Offense – Imprisonment for no more than 90 days, $1,000 fine. |
| South Dakota | Misdemeanor: No more than $2,000 | Revoked – Class 1 Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 1 yearFine of no more than $2,000. Suspended or Cancelled – Class 2 Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 30 daysFine of no more than $500. | |
| Tennessee | Misdemeanor: $500 -$2,500 | Class B Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for not more than 6 months, fine of no more than $500, or both, License suspension increased by like period of time. | Subsequent Offense – Class A Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for not more than 11 months, 29 days, fine of no more than $2,500, or bothLicense suspension increased by like period of time. |
| Texas | Misdemeanor:$500 -$2,000 | Class C Misdemeanor: Fine of no more than $500. | Subsequent Offense – Class B Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 180 days, fine of no more than $2,000, or both. |
| Utah | Misdemeanor: $1,000 | Class C Misdemeanor: Imprisonment of no more than 90 daysNo more than $750 fine. | |
| Vermont | No more than $5,000 | Imprisonment for no more than 2 years, fine of no more than $5,000, or both. | Sixth or Subsequent Offense – Imprisonment for no more than 2 years, fine of $5,000, or both. Possible seizure of license plates. |
| Virginia | Misdemeanor: No more than $2,500 | Class 1 Misdemeanor:Imprisonment for no more than 12 months, fine of no more than $2,500, or both. | |
| Washington | Misdemeanor: No more than $5,000 | Gross Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 364 days, fine of no more than $5,000, or both. | |
| West Virginia | Misdemeanor: $100 -$500 | First Offense Misdemeanor: $100-$500 fine. | Second Offense – Misdemeanor: $100-$500 fine. Third or Subsequent Offense – Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for 30-90 days, $150-$500 fine. |
| Wisconsin | $50-$2,500 | Suspended license: $50-$200 fine. Revoked license: Fine of no more than $2,500. Vehicle may be impounded | |
| Wyoming | Misdemeanor:$750 | Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for no more than 6 months, fine of no more than $750, or both. |
Types of Driver Licensing Violations
The most common types of traffic violations related to driver’s licenses include:
- Failing to show proof of a valid license
- Driving with an expired license
- Driving with a suspended or revoked license
- Failing to apply for a state-issued driver’s license within the time allowed.
What Happens When You Let Someone Drive Your Car Without a License?
It is a criminal offense to allow a person without a valid license to operate a motor vehicle. If you lend your car to a friend and family member who doesn’t have a valid driver’s license, not only will the driver be arrested, but you could also get arrested for allowing them to drive. What’s more, you may be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor and have your license suspended.
However, it is perfectly legal to loan your car to someone who has a valid driver’s license. If you have given that person permission to drive your vehicle, your auto insurance will usually cover them if they cause an accident.
