Question: What’s the difference between a surrender and a license suspension?
Answer:
License surrender and license suspension are two of the three basic ways you can lose your ability to drive legally. While they all have the same result, they differ in who initiates the process and what you’ll need to do to get your license back—if you can get it back.
What is a license suspension?
A suspension means that your driving privileges are taken away temporarily—but you can get them back by complying with certain requirements. This often involves applying for reinstatement and paying a fee. For example, in Alabama you need to pay $200 for your first reinstatement, and in New York, you must pay $50.
A license suspension can be definite or indefinite. A definite suspension means that your license is suspended for a set amount of time, depending on your violation. An indefinite suspension means that you need to take a certain action before your license is reinstated. For example, you may have to pay off unpaid tickets or child support obligations.
What is a license revocation?
A license revocation is a step up from license suspension. Revocation typically means that your license is voided, and you will need to get it back as if you were a new driver.
Revocations are usually meted out in response to a severe violation, such as repeatedly driving under the influence or reckless driving. In New York, the first Driving While Ability Impaired by Alcohol (DWAI) offense will get you a 90-day suspension, but if you commit a DWAI within five years of any previous alcohol or drug-related violations, then you’ll receive six months of revocation. That is, it’s six months before you can apply for a new license.
It is possible to have your license permanently revoked for especially serious offenses.
What is surrendering a license?
Surrendering a license means giving up your license to an official body, like the DMV or a court. You can surrender a license voluntarily, or you could be compelled to surrender it as part of a suspension or revocation.
For example, in California Vehicle Code section 13551, the state can compel a driver who has received a revocation or suspension to return all of their driver’s licenses. At the same time, the California DMV also has a form which you can fill out to request a cancellation or surrender of a driver’s license. You might use this if you feel it’s no longer safe for you to drive.
Xuyun Zeng is a content strategist with a wide-ranging content background including tech, journalism, cars and health care. After graduating with highest honors in journalism, Xuyun led a newspaper to win eight awards, helped start an award-winning film industry podcast and has written over a hundred articles about cars repair, state laws and insurance. Prior to joining Jerry, Xuyun worked as a freelance SEO consultant with a mission to create the best content that will help readers and grow organic traffic.
Alice Holbrook is an editor with more than a decade of experience covering personal finance, including car insurance. She\’s passionate about creating easy-to-understand content that demystifies intimidating topics for readers. Previously, she worked for NerdWallet, and her work has been featured by Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Associated Press, among others.
