Suspended License

Your Driving Privilege

License suspensions and revocations mean a loss of your driving privileges, and in Nevada the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can take away your privilege for a number of reasons. Each one is serious enough to the state to warrant taking this step and compelling you to show proof of compliance before you're able to drive legally again.

Check Your Driver's License Status

Whenever you need or want to check the status of your driver’s license, you can order a driving record report. This record will spell out if your driver’s license is currently valid. Should your license have been revoked or suspended, the report will indicate that according to what’s on record at the DMV. This report will also show points against your license and, in some cases, information on any accidents you have had.

Suspensions and Revocations

The following are the main reasons your license can be suspended or revoked:

• Driving under the influence (DUI).

• Failure to appear (not paying your traffic ticket on time or not appearing in court when assigned).

• Inadequate insurance coverage (if you're in an accident totaling more than $750 in damages and you don't have liability coverage, or you fail to provide proof of insurance after a suspension or revocation).

• Failure to pay child support.

• Twelve demerit points within a 12-month period.

• Convicted of a graffiti violation.

• Convicted of a firearm offense (juveniles only).

• Possession of alcohol or drugs (juveniles only).

• Truancy from school (juveniles only).

Your license can also be canceled―in effect, the same result as a suspension or revocation―if your license application was fraudulent or if your check for the application fees bounces.

The Consequences

The DMV will notify you about your license suspension or revocation by certified mail, and in all cases you will be able to request a hearing if you don't agree with the decision. Please contact the Office of Administrative Hearings to start the hearing process. You'll need to complete the hearing request form.

Once your license is suspended or revoked, that information is shared with all 50 states. You will not be able to obtain a license in any state until the matter with your suspension or revocation is cleared up in Nevada.

If you have a suspension or revocation in another state, you'll need to resolve that matter there before the Nevada DMV will grant you a license in this state. Each state has its own reinstatement procedure; check out the DMV information for all 50 states.

If you currently live in Nevada and resolve a license matter in another state, that state will send you a clearance letter. You can then apply for a Nevada driver's license with that clearance letter.

Licenses are also not just automatically reinstated after taking care of whatever issue caused the suspension or revocation. There is no statute of limitations or time limit. You must go through an official reinstatement process, even if the criminal charges against you were dismissed or resolved.

License Reinstatement

The DMV will not notify you of the end date of your suspension. The original suspension or revocation letter will contain all such dates. The end date simply means the date that you can begin reinstatement procedures.

Depending on the circumstances that caused your license suspension or revocation, your required actions will vary. Please call or write, using the information below, for more information about your specific case. You can also e-mail the request to info@dmv.state.nv.us. Include your name, Nevada driver license number, and Social Security number (if you have one):

• DMV Driver License Review

• 555 Wright Way

• Carson City, NV 89711-0400

Phone numbers:

• Las Vegas: (702) 486-4368; options 4, 5

• Reno/Carson City: (775) 684-4368; option 6

• Rural Nevada (toll free): (877) 368-7828; option 6

• TDD for the hearing impaired: (775) 684-4904

Regardless of the steps required to resolve your individual circumstances, you will definitely need to retake the vision and written tests before receiving a new license. You may also need to take the driving test if your license has been invalid for more than a year.

Proof of financial responsibility: In some circumstances, filing an SR-22 form from your insurance company will be part of your reinstatement requirements. If so, the DMV suggests that you wait to obtain this coverage until you've completed all other requirements and are ready to reapply for your license. The coverage period will begin when your license is officially reinstated.

Restricted Licenses

Depending on the circumstances of your suspension, you might be allowed to apply for a restricted license after serving at least half of the suspension. The restricted license may allow you the privilege of driving to and from work, the grocery store, or the doctor's office, among other things.

To be granted the restricted license, you might need to take the driving, written, and vision tests again and pay a reinstatement fee. You might also need to provide proof of financial responsibility by filing form SR-22.

More restrictions and conditions could apply, according to your situation. Contact a DMV office for more information, or review the application form.