In New Jersey, there are a number of ways that your license could be suspended or revoked completely, including reckless driving, driving with no insurance, and driving while intoxicated. Driving in New Jersey with a suspended license is a major offense that can lead to expensive fines, further license suspension, and possible jail time — not to mention, it'll make it harder to find cheap car insurance in New Jersey.
For many of us, driving is an important part of our daily lives, particularly if you live in a heavily-urbanized state like New Jersey. Losing those driving privileges is the last thing you want to happen, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the ways you could possibly lose your New Jersey driver’s license.
That’s why #1-rated insurance app Jerry
created this handy guide to New Jersey’s license suspension regulations. We’ll describe some of the more common violations as well as the penalties involved with each of them, and we’ll even tell you how to save money on your car insurance
while we’re at it. Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers What’s the difference between license suspension and revocation?
When it comes to lost driving privileges, the two words you’ll hear most often are “suspended” and “revoked.” It may seem like the words are used interchangeably, but they have distinct definitions:
License suspension means that driving privileges have been temporarily lost for a predetermined period of time
A license revocation is more serious and often means that the driver has to reapply for their license
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) has the power to suspend or revoke licenses for a multitude of violations, from failure to pay child support to more serious infractions like DUIs.
What can your license be suspended for in New Jersey?
The NJMVC can suspend your license for a broad spectrum of reasons, but they can be roughly broken up into two separate categories—DUI-based infractions and Non-DUI infractions.
DUI-based infractions
If you are charged with a DUI in New Jersey
with a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) of 0.10% or higher OR any drug-related DUI, you will lose your license for anywhere between seven months to one year. In addition, any alcohol-related DUI with a BAC equal to or greater than 0.08% but less than 0.10% OR based on observational evidence (BAC not taken) will result in a three-month license loss. 2. Repeated DUI convictions
Multiple DUIs will virtually guarantee a lost license. After your second offense within ten years of the first, you will lose your license for two years. If there is a third offense within a decade of the second, you will lose your license for ten years!
3. Failure to pay DUI surcharges
If you are charged with a DUI and neglect to pay your fines, your license could be suspended indefinitely. Additionally, an action will be filed against you in State Superior Court by the Motor Vehicle Commission. This could lead to liens being taken out on your property and your wages being garnished.
4. Driving with a DUI suspension
If you get caught driving around with a DUI over your head, you will lose your license for an additional one to two years.
5. Refusing Alcotest/Breathalyzer
If you get arrested for a DUI, you are required to take an Alcotest/Breathalyzer test. If you refuse this test, you will be detained and brought to a hospital to have blood drawn. If you are convicted of refusing to submit to a test, the punishment is similar to that of a DUI conviction:
First offense: License loss for seven months to one year
Second offense: License loss for two years
Third offense and beyond: License loss for ten years
If you are under the age of 21, you can receive a DUI with a significantly lower BAC of 0.1%. This will lead to a 30 to 90-day license suspension as well as a variety of other penalties, including 15 to 30 days of mandatory community service and obligatory participation in alcohol education and highway safety programs. You will also have to pay the DUI Mandatory Fines and Penalties.
Non-DUI infractions
7. Driving while possessing drugs
Even if you aren’t intoxicated, driving around with drugs in your car is never a good idea. The penalty for simply having drugs while driving is losing your license for two years.
8. Driving without insurance
New Jersey
law requires that drivers maintain the minimum amount of liability coverage
on their vehicles. If you cancel or drop your policy, your insurance provider may notify you that your license has been suspended. Driving uninsured is a serious offense in New Jersey, punishable by up to 14 days in jail and license loss of one to two years.If you are behind on child support payments by six months or more, the New Jersey Department of Human Services
can temporarily suspend your license. Your license will remain suspended until the outstanding payments are made. 10. Too many violation points
Six or more points accumulated within a three-year period on your current driving record will lead to a fine. Twelve or more points will cause your license to be suspended. You will be notified by mail if this occurs.
Reckless driving in New Jersey
is a serious conviction that comes with hefty consequences. If you are found guilty, you could face up to 60 days in jail, fines between $50 and $200, and suspension of your license from one to 90 days. In addition, five points will be immediately added to your driving record. If you are convicted a second time, the jail time is upped to a maximum of three months, and the fines are increased to between $100 and $500. Furthermore, you will face a license suspension of up to six months.
How to save money on car insurance in New Jersey
Even if your driving record is less than squeaky clean, you can still use the Jerry
app to find savings on your car insurance policy. Jerry is the #1-rated insurance app, a licensed broker
, and the easiest way to shop for car insurance. We’ll never burden you with phone calls or paperwork—we take care of everything! In less than a minute, Jerry can give you a customized list of quotes from 50+ top-rated insurance carriers. If you find a policy you like, our team of experts can even help you cancel your old one. The best part? The average Jerry user saves $887 a year on their car insurance!
“Jerry
saved me so much time and money! I went from $230 to $150, still with full coverage! The whole process was amazingly simple!” —Ronda S.
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