License Revocation in New York

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The penalties are steep if you're caught driving without insurance in the state of New York. Getting convicted could mean your license being revoked for a year, along with fines and potential vehicle impoundment.

And if you're involved in an accident while uninsured, your license could be revoked for up to three years. You'll receive a notice from the New York Department of Motor Vehicles (NY DMV) that informs you of the revocation of your license, how long it will be revoked and directions for restoring your license.

License revocation for driving without insurance

Before you receive a notice informing you of the revocation of your license, you may receive an "inquiry letter" from the NY DMV, asking you to verify your insurance status. The DMV usually sends this after they receive a report from the police that you did not have insurance at the time of a traffic stop or accident. You will be asked to prove that you had liability insurance at the time. If you are unable to do so, the DMV will send you a notice informing you of your license revocation.

A revocation means the DMV has effectively canceled your license. You’ll have to wait until the end of the revocation period before applying for a new license.

In most cases, you can easily apply for a new license at the end of the revocation period. However, if the DMV has evidence that you were in an accident while uninsured or if you have a particularly high-risk driving record, the process may be more complicated.

To avoid further penalties, do not operate a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license. You should wait until the revocation period has ended and you have received a new license to drive.

Restoring your license after a revocation

The DMV will assess a civil penalty of $750 when your license has been revoked for either operating a motor vehicle or being involved in an accident while uninsured. Before applying for a new license, you must make sure to pay the fee correctly (see below) and get approval from the Driver Improvement Unit (DIU).

Pay the civil penalty

You must pay the civil fine of $750 before submitting your request to the DMV Driver Improvement Unit. The easiest and fastest way to pay the fee is online.

1. Pay online:

  • To pay your civil penalty online, visit this link and provide your DMV ID number from your NY driver’s license plus the last four digits of your Social Security number. You can use your credit or debit card to pay the fee.
  • You cannot pay the civil penalty online if your vehicle registration was suspended because of an uninsured accident. You will have to pay the civil penalty fee by mail.

2. Pay by mail:

You can pay the civil penalty by mail for a conviction of driving uninsured or an uninsured accident. Send a check or money order, made payable to the "Commissioner of Motor Vehicles", to:

  • Insurance Services Bureau
  • NYS DMV
  • 6 Empire State Plaza, Room 332B
  • Albany, NY 12228
  • (518) 474-0700

3. Pay in person:

You can also pay at a DMV office, but the NY DMV advises against that, due to long wait times. Many DMV offices require an advance appointment. You can use the number of the DMV office listed on your revocation order to inquire how to pay your civil penalty.

Request approval from the DMV Driver Improvement Unit

The next step to restoring your license is to request approval from the DMV DIU. You must wait until there are 30 days — or less — left on your revocation period before submitting your request. Before requesting approval, you must check to make sure that your license has not been suspended in addition to being revoked. You can check if your license has been suspended by logging into your MyDMV account and using their MyLicense service. You should also pay any outstanding fines from traffic tickets.

In most cases, you can request approval online through your MyDMV account. Some high-risk drivers with complex records may have to submit the request to the DIU in writing. After submitting information, the online system will automatically tell you whether you can submit a request online or if certain aspects of your driving record will require you to send your request in writing. If you are deemed eligible by the online system, you will have to pay the $100 reapplication fee, and the DMV will immediately email your approval.

You will be unable to request approval online if you were in an accident while uninsured. In that case, you will have to submit your request in writing to the DIU. Download and complete the MV-44 form and leave the " Applying for" and “Purpose for Application” boxes blank.

Send the completed MV-44 form, as well as the $100 reapplication fee in the form of a check or money order, to:

Driver Improvement Unit NYS DMV 6 Empire State Plaza, Room 336 Albany, NY 12228

You can also fax your completed MV-44 form to (518) 474-6208.

Before mailing your request, make sure that your revocation period is ending in 30 days or sooner. The DIU will take up to 12 weeks to process your request.

Applying for a new driver’s license

If you’ve paid the civil penalty and received approval, you can apply for a new driver’s license. Head to your local DMV to see if you must take a written and/or road test before you’re eligible for a new license.

You should purchase NY auto insurance before applying for a new license. You may be unable to find insurance, due to the revocation of your license. If that is the case, you can apply for insurance through the New York Automobile Insurance Plan.

Still have questions?

If your license or registration was suspended or revoked due to an uninsured accident, or if you have a complex driving record, contact the Insurance Services Bureau at (518) 474-0700 for more information.