License suspension is a common punishment in Kentucky for a wide range of offenses, including driving under the influence and even failing to pay your taxes. If you’re caught driving with a suspended license in Kentucky, you’re subject to a prolonged suspension period, severe fines, and even jail time. And of course, it could affect the cost of

car insurance in Kentucky.

Being able to use your driving license is a privilege in the Commonwealth of Kentucky that you must earn and uphold. It’s important to be aware of the laws and infractions that could cause you to lose these privileges if you’re not careful.

The car insurance shopping app

Jerry

is here to help you understand what is expected of you to maintain your privilege to drive. In this guide, we cover everything you need to avoid to hold on to your license in the Bluegrass State and what you need to do to save money on your

car insurance

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What’s the difference between a license suspension and revocation?

You can lose your driving privileges from a license suspension or a revocation, depending on the severity of your infraction. While the two may seem like the same thing on paper, here’s how they differ:

A license suspension results in a temporary hold on your driving privileges until the end of a set period or the fulfillment of set requirements.

A license revocation results in a longer, more serious loss of your driving privileges, which often requires you to apply for a new license after a set period or requirements.

The Transportation Cabinet of Kentucky can suspend your license for a wide range of offenses, from attempting to elude a police officer in your car to failing to pay child support. Mandatory revocation is typically reserved for vehicular crimes or serious accidents where someone has died, fled the scene, or other similar circumstances.

MORE:

Open container laws in Kentucky

What can your license be suspended for in Kentucky?

There are plenty of both driving and non-driving-related offenses that can get your license suspended or revoked by the Kentucky Division of Vehicles. Here are a few of

the most common reasons:

1. Accumulating too many points on your driving record

Kentucky driving records are based on a point system in which the points represent the severity of a committed violation. If you accumulate 12 points (or 7 points if you are under 18) in a two-year period, you’ll be summoned to a hearing to determine if your license should be suspended. If you fail to show up for your hearing, you’ll face an automatic suspension for six months or more.

2. Attempting to elude a police officer

If you attempt to escape or outrun traffic enforcement or a police officer you’ll face an automatic license suspension. It is always in your best interest to cooperate with law enforcement to avoid a more serious loss of privilege.

3. Drag racing or speeding

Both extreme speeding and racing can result in a possible license suspension. To be considered for a suspension on speeding alone, you would have had to be going at least 26 MPH over the legal speed limit.

4. Reckless driving

A single conviction of

reckless driving in Kentucky

may not necessarily cost you your license, but several reckless driving convictions could. Your license will be mandatorily revoked if you’re convicted of reckless driving three times in a 12-month period. Drivers also face mandatory revocation for any accident or violation that causes death or serious bodily harm.

5. Driving under the influence

Getting convicted of a

DUI in Kentucky

will automatically result in a license suspension, but the exact time will depend on how many times you’ve been convicted. Here are the different suspension periods for different numbers of convictions within a ten-year period:

1st DUI: six-month license suspension

2nd DUI: 18-month license suspension

3rd DUI: 36-month license suspension

4th DUI: 60-month license suspension

6. Refusing to take an alcohol or subsequent test

Kentucky is an implied consent state, meaning that you are legally expected to submit for chemical testing if you are suspected of driving under the influence. If you refuse to submit for a drug or alcohol test, you’ll face a license suspension for the same period as if you had been convicted for a DUI (see above).

7. Driving without insurance

Kentucky car insurance laws

require drivers to meet minimum requirements for insurance—at least $25,000 for

liability insurance

and at least $10,000 for

personal injury protection (PIP)

insurance. You can have your license suspended for up to a year or until proof of insurance is submitted if you ever fail to provide it to an officer or other official of the court.

8. Failing to pay child support

Though it may seem unrelated, your license will automatically be suspended if you fail to pay court-ordered child support. Specifically, if you owe a cumulative six months' worth in child support payments, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services will notify the Transportation Cabinet to suspend your license.

9. Failing to pay your tax debt

The Division of Collections can also notify the Transportation Cabinet to suspend your license if you have an unpaid tax debt per

Kentucky Revised Statute 131.1817

10. Repeating offenses

Last but not least, repeat offenses can have the worst suspension effects on your license. Subsequent convictions of reckless driving or failure to provide proof of insurance will result in mandatory revocation. We already know how repeated DUI offenses could affect your suspension period, and a similar increase applies to every 12 points on your driving record.

MORE:

Seat-belt laws in Kentucky

How to save money on car insurance in Kentucky

If a license suspension raises your insurance rates, you can find the lowest available quotes with help from the

Jerry

app. All you have to do is take 45 seconds to sign up, and Jerry will do the rest for you.

You’ll immediately be browsing the most competitive quotes tailored to your situation from 50+ top providers. You just pick the quote that works for you. As a

licensed broker

, Jerry takes care of the rest—securing your new policy and double-checking your rates when it’s time to renew. Even a Kentucky license suspension can’t beat the $887 a year saved for the average Jerry user.