Question: 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 would happen if I didn’t change my license to my new state.
Answer:
In most states, you must get a new license within 10–90 days. The process typically involves visiting the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), providing proof of your new address, and surrendering your old license. The timeline can vary from state to state, so please check with your local DMV.
Not having the correct address on your driver’s license could result in consequences if you get pulled over or stopped by law enforcement. Nothing is likely to happen if you never get pulled over, although you would still be violating state law. It could also complicate things when your out-of-state license expires and you go to renew.
You could get a ticket
Failing to update your driver’s license address is generally not a major offense, but don’t be surprised if law enforcement gives you a ticket along with directions to get it updated. You may get off with a verbal or written warning, depending on the situation.
If you do get ticketed for driving with a license that has not been properly updated, the judge may reduce or waive the ticket if you have a clean driving record and you take care of the issue before your court date. However, laws vary by state.
Some states, like Florida, treat driving with an outdated license as a non-moving violation. Others, like New York, can fine you amounts that total over $100 and also put points on your license. Texas, however, caps its fines at $20, assuming you remedy the situation within 20 days of the offense. Other states, like Washington, have higher fines. If you don’t change your license after moving to Washington, you could be cited for driving without a valid Washington State license and fined up to $250 if you don’t get it fixed quickly.
One of the reasons these laws exist is because some people will try moving across state lines to get away from possible warrants or issues they have had in other states. Obviously if this is the case you should not be evading law enforcement.
Assuming you have a good driving record, it’s likely you’ll get out of the situation with a small fine or warning if you don’t update your license within the required time frame. However, the allotted time to update your license varies by state, as do the consequences, so it is best to have updating your address on the top of your “moving to-do list.” You’ll need to show proof of residency, which is often an official piece of mail like a utility bill, mortgage statement or rental agreement.
Don’t forget to change the address on your auto insurance as well. Your insurance company needs to know about your relocation and new driving area, which could affect your insurance rates.
Kevin Berry is the Senior Director of Content at Jerry and has been working in the digital content space since 2011 across the car insurance/repair, personal finance, travel and sports industries. Prior to Jerry, Kevin was a content team lead at NerdWallet overseeing the Multimedia Production and Travel Rewards teams. Previously, he worked for NBC Sports, Comcast Cable and Nike. He has a Master`s Degree from Arkansas State and a Bachelor`s from Oregon State University.
Giselle Gomez is an editor with over a decade of experience editing content across personal finance, education, travel, and sports. In editing for Jerry, Giselle’s focus is on making sure content is consumer and SEO-friendly and helping readers understand all things car ownership. In prior roles, she worked as a content strategist, syndication editor, and writer. Her work is featured in AP, NerdWallet.com, BestColleges.com, and more. Giselle holds a master’s degree from Arizona State University.
