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What is the penalty for not updating a driver's license after moving to a new state?
What is the penalty for driving in a new state without updating your license? I am moving from a northeast state to the south soon and I want to know what will happen if I didn’t change my license to my new state.
Rachel Juillerat · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
You are at risk of having your license suspended—or even facing jail time—if you don’t get a new license in your new state.
In most states, you must get a new license within 30-60 days. The timeline can vary from state to state, so please check with your local DMV.
You must notify:
- Your new state
- Your old state
- Your insurance company
If you don’t notify these parties of your address change, you risk having your
license suspended
. In addition to suspension, not changing your license to your new state may have severe penalties. Most states can levy the following punishments:
- Charge you with a misdemeanor crime
- Jail time for up to a year
- Fees and fines
- License suspension
Here’s how it works. Your insurer requires that the correct address is on file with your state of license. If your license gets suspended, your insurance may no longer cover you which will result in a
policy lapse
. Having a gap in coverage will cause your rates to go up in the future, and you risk paying for costly car accident damages and fines out of pocket.Remember that you may also need to update your coverage to meet your new state’s
minimum insurance requirements
.View full answer
- Gregory R.
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