Purchasing your car is both an exciting and serious matter. While you can hit the open road, being a car owner involves much responsibility. It’s not all about newfound freedom and independence. To use your vehicle, you must register it with your state and have it approved.
Vehicle registration allows you to drive the vehicle on public roads legally. However, your car registration can quickly be removed should you commit a traffic offense. Dealing with a suspended car registration can be frustrating and overwhelming. This guide provides insight into what a suspended vehicle registration means and how to get it cleared.
What Happens When Your Vehicle Registration is Suspended?
When you have been notified that your vehicle registration is suspended, no one can drive that vehicle. Neither you nor any other household member can legally hit the road in it. You are being banned from driving your car because the DMV no longer acknowledges the vehicle registration.
You may have to turn in your registration and license plates to the state following the suspension so you are not tempted to drive the car. This is not an unusual request by states, but complete requirements may vary. Suppose you choose to ignore the suspension notice and continue driving your vehicle. In that case, you may face fines, imprisonment, driver’s license suspension, and other severe penalties.
Reasons Why Registration May be Suspended
Your state can suspend your car registration for several reasons. It usually follows a traffic violation like outstanding parking tickets or failing to pay registration fees. However, the two most common reasons a DMV suspends a car registration is due to:
- Driving without car insurance
- Driving without a valid driver’s license
Suppose you are caught driving without the proper car insurance or a license. In that case, the DMV will typically suspend your registration immediately. However, you do not have to be convicted of a traffic violation to get your vehicle registration suspended.
If you let your car insurance lapse, your car insurance provider must notify your DMV of the coverage gap. This can happen, for example, after you fail to keep up with your car insurance premiums.
If you fail to provide proof of insurance within 30 days following the issuance of a registration card, the DMV is generally required to suspend it. Likewise, suppose you wait to purchase car insurance within 45 days after the DMV has been notified. In that case, your coverage lapses, and the DMV must suspend your car registration.
To avoid this, you would have to provide proof of car insurance. If there is an issue with your driver’s license, you must show proof of license to keep your vehicle registration active.
While these are common reasons for suspending vehicle registration, they are not the only ones. You need to upkeep your vehicle, like not fixing a broken headlight or refusing to obey traffic laws, to avoid an unfortunate situation with the DMV.
Can You Drive Following a Registration Suspension?
In short, your driving eligibility can depend on a couple of things. You still can drive. However, you can’t use your specific vehicle. So long as your license was not suspended with your registration, feel free to borrow a friend’s or family member’s valid and insured vehicle to get where you need to go.
The suspension applies to your car itself, meaning that no matter how valid anyone’s license is, the vehicle is out of commission in the eyes of the DMV. The only instance where you are no longer a legal driver would be if your license were suspended on top of the vehicle registration.
Trouble With New Vehicle Registration
Some people think they can be clever about a vehicle registration suspension by attempting to register the vehicle under someone else’s name. For example, you may register the car with your sibling so the DMV can revalidate it. However, any state DMV will deny this new car registration filing if they flag it as suspicious.
The DMV will not renew a car registration if they notice the following about the new applicant:
- Has the same last name as you
- Resides at the same address the DMV has on file for you
Either of these indicators will raise red flags at the DMV when you try to transfer a vehicle to another person to sidestep the suspended car registration. When transferring a vehicle, you must sign a form stating that you are not trying to avoid a suspended registration.
The penalties for attempting to avoid a suspended registration are unclear, but it most likely comes with severe consequences. Your best bet to get your vehicle registration cleared is to provide the DMV with any car insurance information and fees they request.
How to Clear a Suspended Registration on Your Car
The most innovative, most straightforward way to clear your suspended registration is to find out why your vehicle registration was suspended in the first place. From there, the DMV can advise on the steps you need to take to reinstate the revoked registration. In most states, reinstating your car registration will require you to provide proof of car insurance or pay a reinstatement fee.
For example, if your registration were suspended due to accumulated parking tickets, you would have to pay the tickets and then provide the required fee for reinstatement. Suppose your car registration was suspended due to a lapse in car insurance coverage. In that case, you must submit valid proof of car insurance.
For instances where the suspended car registration resulted from driving without a license, they will typically require proof of a valid license, among other requirements. The DMV should be able to assist you and lay out the steps you need to take to regain control of your suspended car.
Regardless of your driving history, Insurance Navy is here to help. We provide drivers with coverage no matter what level of risk they have. Get a cheap car insurance quote with us today. Quotes are available online via our website and mobile app. You can also give us a call at 888-949-6289.
