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- Vehicle registration allows you to legally drive your car on public roads.
- Suspension of your vehicle’s registration is most likely to occur when you violate key driving laws and rules of the road.
- Unless your driver’s license has been suspended too, you can still legally drive other vehicles without their registration.
Buying a vehicle is a crucial way for most of us to maintain our day-to-day independence. Without a car, it would be difficult to get to work, run daily errands or purchase the goods and services we need.
If the state suspends your vehicle registration, your car could suddenly end up stuck in your garage until you rectify the situation. Find out when you might be vulnerable to a vehicle registration suspension and how to avoid this fate.
What is vehicle registration?
A vehicle registration officially certifies that your car is legal to drive on public roads. Your state will require you to register the vehicle through a government agency like the Division of Motor Vehicles or the state’s Department of Transportation.
“Maintaining your vehicle registration is really important. Failure to maintain the registration could result in your insurance company denying coverage if the vehicle is in an accident,” says Jason Turchin, attorney with the Law Offices of Jason Turchin in Weston, Florida. “Vehicle registration may be a prerequisite to obtaining car insurance, and failure to have the vehicle registered could void coverage.”
During this process, you will likely pay a fee and the government will issue a paper certificate or card showing that the vehicle has been registered.
Why could my registration be suspended?
There are many reasons why your state might suspend your vehicle registration. Suspension is most commonly levied on drivers who violate laws such as:
- Driving without car insurance
- Driving without a valid driver’s license
- Failure to pay parking tickets
- Failure to pay registration fees
If you forget to inform the DMV that you changed or canceled your insurance policy without obtaining a new one within 45 days, the DMV will likely suspend your registration. Furthermore, you must provide the DMV with proof of insurance within 30 days of its issuance.
See common reasons for suspension and reinstatement fees in the table below.
| State | Common reasons for suspension | Reinstatement fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Lapse in insurance, unpaid tickets, failure to renew | $50–$100 depending on length of lapse | Driving with suspended registration can result in vehicle impoundment. |
| California | No insurance, smog check failure, unpaid tolls or tickets | $14 reinstatement fee + proof of insurance | CA DMV requires proof of insurance (SR-22 if high-risk). |
| Florida | Insurance lapse, DUI-related offense, unpaid child support | $150 (first offense), $250 (second), $500 (third) | Repeat offenses carry steep penalties and longer suspensions. |
| Texas | Insurance lapse, failure to pay surcharges or fees | $180 reinstatement fee + SR-22 proof of insurance | Suspension can also affect your license status. |
State-by-state registration rules and fees
How an insurance lapse affects your registration in New York
If you had a lapse in your insurance coverage in New York, you must turn in your registration and license tags.
If you do not surrender your vehicle plates immediately, your registration will be suspended for the days you did not have insurance coverage but did hold the vehicle plates. If that time is longer than 90 days, your driver’s license is also suspended for the same amount of time as the registration.
When your registration is suspended, neither you nor anyone else can drive the car. You cannot sell the vehicle to someone related to you, either.
For instance, the New York DMV will not issue a new registration if the applicant:
- Has the same last name as the registrant whose registration is suspended.
- Resides at the same address as the registrant whose registration is suspended.
The DMV will not issue a registration to any person unless that person makes a sworn statement on form FS-2. The statement certifies that the purpose of the application is not to avoid the results of the current suspension. The local DMV office determines if the application will be accepted or rejected.
How to reinstate a suspended registration
The process to reinstate a suspended registration varies by state, but most drivers will need to take the following steps:
- Pay reinstatement fees: States charge anywhere from $15 to $500 depending on the reason for suspension and whether it’s a repeat offense.
- Show proof of insurance: You’ll usually need to provide proof of active car insurance. In some cases, the state may require an SR-22 or FR-44 filing if the suspension was tied to a serious violation or insurance lapse.
- Resolve the underlying issue:
- Pay any outstanding tickets, tolls, or court fines.
- Provide documents for smog or safety inspections (if required in your state).
- Submit proof of compliance for child support or DUI-related suspensions.
- Submit paperwork to the DMV: Depending on your state, you may need to apply online, by mail, or in person at your DMV.
- Wait for reinstatement confirmation: Some reinstatements are immediate after fees and paperwork are processed, while others may require you to wait out a mandatory suspension period.
Always check your DMV’s website for exact requirements — failing to file the right form or missing an SR-22 deadline can extend your suspension.
Hidden costs of a suspended registration
Reinstatement fees are just the beginning. A suspended registration can lead to a number of additional costs:
- Towing and impound fees: If you’re caught driving with suspended registration, your car may be towed. Daily storage fees add up quickly.
- Court fines: Driving with a suspended registration can result in misdemeanor charges and hundreds of dollars in fines.
- SR-22 or FR-44 filings: These add administrative costs from insurers and can raise your rates for three years or more.
- Higher insurance premiums: Even after reinstatement, insurers view suspended registration as a risk factor. Expect higher rates at renewal.
- Time and missed work: Multiple DMV visits, court dates, or waiting periods can add indirect financial stress.
| Reason for suspension | Typical reinstatement cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance lapse | $50 – $500 | Many states also require an SR-22 filing. Repeat lapses = higher fees. |
| Unpaid tickets or tolls | $100 – $300 + ticket/toll balance | Must pay all outstanding fines in addition to reinstatement. |
| DUI-related offense | $200 – $500 | Almost always requires SR-22/FR-44 filing and longer suspension. |
| Expired or non-renewed registration | $25 – $100 | Generally lower fees if resolved quickly. |
| Emissions or safety inspection failure | $20 – $200 | Must show proof of passing inspection before reinstatement. |
| Unpaid child support (in some states) | $50 – $200 + proof of compliance | Suspension remains until court clears the hold. |
Typical reinstatement costs by reason for suspension
The cost of a suspended registrationThe real cost of a suspended registration often goes well beyond DMV fees. Factoring in insurance increases and potential impound costs, drivers may end up paying hundreds to thousands of dollars more before legally returning to the road.
How registration suspension affects your car insurance
In most cases, you can’t register a car without proof of insurance in most states – the only states that allow registration without proof of insurance are Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin.
If your registration is suspended, driving the vehicle associated with the suspension is illegal, and parking it on public roads is prohibited. A state suspension of your registration keeps your car off the road for a specific time; typically, this is a penalty after you have committed a serious offense.
If you have insurance, such as an SR22 form required by your state to show that you have the mandated liability coverage, you’ll need to show proof of your insurance before the DMV will allow registration.
If you do not have insurance, most states will suspend your registration. The penalty for driving with suspended registration will vary by state but likely would be a fine and/or imprisonment and possible suspension of your driver’s license.
What happens if you drive with a suspended registration?
Driving with a suspended registration is a serious offense and can lead to much harsher penalties than the suspension itself.
- Fines and court costs: Most states impose additional fines that can range from $100 to over $1,000, depending on whether it’s a first or repeat offense.
- Vehicle impoundment: Police can tow and impound your car. You’ll be responsible for towing fees and daily storage costs.
- Extended suspension: The DMV may extend your suspension period, delaying reinstatement even after you’ve paid fees.
- Criminal charges: In some states, driving with a suspended registration is a misdemeanor that may carry jail time, especially for repeat violations.
- Impact on insurance: Insurers may view driving with suspended registration as a high-risk violation. This can trigger an SR-22 requirement and raise your premiums for years.
The financial and legal consequences of driving with a suspended registration can easily add up to thousands of dollars — far more than the cost of reinstating properly.
Frequently Asked Questions: Suspended registration
Can I sell a car with a suspended registration?
No. Driving without proper insurance can lead to registration suspension. When a driver’s credentials are revoked, they are denied the ability to take their car out on the roads and prevented from selling it.
Can I insure a car with a suspended registration?
In most cases, you cannot insure a car with a suspended registration because the vehicle is not legally allowed on the road. However, you may still be able to purchase or maintain a policy if it’s part of the reinstatement process.
- To reinstate registration: Many states require you to show proof of insurance — sometimes with an SR-22 or FR-44 filing — before the DMV will lift the suspension.
- To keep coverage active: If your registration is suspended, keeping insurance in force prevents a lapse in coverage, which could otherwise make your future rates much higher.
How do you clear a suspended registration?
To reinstate a suspended registration, one must first ascertain the cause of suspension from their local DMV. Once the reasoning is determined, necessary measures should be taken to settle any outstanding fees and get your vehicle registered again.
Does a registration suspension affect your license?
No. Car registration suspension means you cannot drive the vehicle that the state has suspended. However, unless the state also suspends your driver’s license, you can still drive other legally registered vehicles. However, if your driver’s license has been suspended, you cannot drive any vehicle legally.
Does suspension of my current registration pose any issues for obtaining a new vehicle registration?
Once you have met your state’s requirements for registering your vehicle, obtaining a new vehicle registration should be pretty straightforward.
For example, in California, you can go to the Department of Motor Vehicles website to check the status of your suspension and to submit proof of insurance. Then, you simply:
- Provide your license plate number
- Provide the last five characters of your vehicle identification number (or a letter sent by the DMV that has your personal identification number)
- Pay a $14 reinstatement fee
Resources & Methodology
Sources
- Insurance Navy. “What Does Suspension of Registration Mean?” Accessed June 2025.
- State of California Department of Motor Vehicles. “Suspended Registration Reinstatement/Proof of Insurance Submission.” Accessed June 2025.
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