Can You Legally Drive with an Expired License? (2025)

Most states don’t have a grace period between the time of license expiration and license renewal that allows drivers to legally operate their vehicle with an expired license. Specific penalties vary based on the state you live in, but consequences for driving with an expired license include tickets, fines, jail time, suspension, and denied claims from your car insurance company.

The best method of avoiding complications related to an expired driver’s license is proactive license renewal. If mistakes happen, the penalties associated with driving with an expired license will likely increase the cost of your insurance. Before you buy or renew a car insurance policy, compare quotes from multiple companies to find the best option for you.

Can you drive with an expired license?

No. You can’t drive with an expired license. Only a few states have limited grace periods in place for license renewal. Driving with an expired license is illegal because states rely on obtaining updated driver information and ensuring your continued ability to drive safely.

Though a few states provide drivers a grace period to complete driver’s license renewals after expiration, the period generally lasts for less than 30 days. The smartest option is to renew your license prior to expiration.

Consequences of driving with an expired license

The penalties drivers face for driving without a renewed and valid driver’s license range in severity depending on state law. Serious consequences following interactions with law enforcement include suspended registration, hefty fines, tickets, potential jail time, and a lack of coverage from your insurer for anything occurring after your driver’s license expires.

What happens if you renew your driver’s license after the expiration date?

If you renew your license after the expiration date but don’t drive with an expired license, you’ll likely face a more tedious renewal process, depending on what state you live in.

In Missouri, for example, drivers with a license expired for more than six months have to repass the state’s vision screening, road sign recognition, skills test, and written test but don’t have to pay a late-renewal fee.^[1]

Why do driver’s licenses expire?

Driver’s licenses regularly expire for a few different reasons. Many states need to confirm that drivers can see well enough to drive by conducting an eye test at the time of renewal. Mandated renewal also helps each state’s motor vehicle agency or department of motor vehicles update driver photos and addresses. License expiration dates also prevent the fraudulent use of a lost or stolen license.

How often do you need to renew your license?

Specific guidelines vary by state and age, but drivers in the United States must renew their driver’s licenses anywhere from every two to every 12 years.^[2] The most common renewal cycles last between four and eight years.

The deadline for license renewal often occurs on the driver’s date of birth, making the expiration date easier to remember.

Here are the different renewal periods each state requires. You may notice that some states have different rules based on your age.

State	Renewal Period
Alabama	4 years
Alaska	5 years
Arizona	At age 21 and age 65, then every 5 years after 65
Arkansas	8 years
California	5 years
Colorado	5 years
Connecticut	6 to 8 years; phasing to an 8-year cycle
Delaware	8 years
Florida	8 years
Georgia	8 years
Hawaii	4 years for under 25 8 years between 25 and 71 2 years for 72+
Idaho	4 years before 21 and after 62 8 years between 21 and 61
Illinois	3 months after 21st birthday 4 years between 21 and 80 2 years between 81 and 86 1 year for 87 and older
Indiana	6 years 74 and under 3 years between 75 and 84 2 years 85 and older
Iowa	2 years under 17 and 11 months 8 years between 17 and 11 months and 72 Based on the issue date age:  7 years at 73 6 years at 74 5 years at 75 4 years at 76 3 years at 77 2 years at 78 and older
Kansas	4 years under 21 and over 65 6 years between 21 and 64
Kentucky	4 years for standard operators license 8 years for new licenses and REAL IDs
Louisiana	6 years
Maine	6 years under 65 4 years over 65
Maryland	8 years
Massachusetts	5 years
Michigan	4 years
Minnesota	4 years
Mississippi	4 or 8 years
Missouri	2 years 16 and 17 3 years between 18 and 20 6 years between 21 and 69 3 years over 70
Montana	8 years
Nebraska	On 21st birthday 5 years
Nevada	8 years 4 years over 65
New Hampshire	5 years
New Jersey	4 years
New Mexico	4 or 8 years
New York	8 years
North Carolina	8 years between 18 and 65 5 years over 66
North Dakota	4 years
Ohio	4 or 8 years
Oklahoma	4 or 8 years
Oregon	8 years
Pennsylvania	4 years
Rhode Island	5 years 3 years over 72 2 years over 75
South Carolina	8 years
South Dakota	5 years or 30 days after 21st birthday
Tennessee	8 years
Texas	8 years
Utah	8 years
Vermont	4 years
Virginia	8 years
Washington	6 or 8 years
Washington, D.C.	8 years
West Virginia	5 years
Wisconsin	8 years
Wyoming	10 years

Does your insurance coverage still apply if your license expires?

No. Your insurance company can refuse coverage if you get into an accident with an expired license. But rare exceptions exist.

Some insurers may cover an accident if your state has a set grace period — an established timeframe in which you can legally drive after your license expires. In most cases, driving with an expired license violates the terms of your insurance policy.

If you have comprehensive coverage for a classic car in storage, this policy can still offer financial protection from non-collision events if you don’t have a driver’s license.

Insurers typically won’t pay claims if you have a moving violation — like an at-fault accident, speeding ticket, or DUI — while driving with an expired license. Your insurance company may cancel your coverage if you violate your specific policy by driving without a license.

Although you can’t legally drive with an expired license, it’s still a good idea to maintain your insurance coverage while you’re getting your license renewed. A gap in coverage can make it more difficult to get car insurance at affordable rates in the future. In the long run, it’ll be cheaper to maintain your coverage than to let it lapse, or cancel it, and try to get a new policy later.

For some perspective on insurance costs, here are the average monthly car insurance rates in each state, from cheapest full-coverage rate to most expensive.

The below rates are estimated rates current as of: Thursday, May 1 at 12:00 PM PDT. 

State	Full Coverage	Liability Only
North Carolina	$92	$59
New Hampshire	$109	$59
Wyoming	$115	$55
Iowa	$119	$56
Idaho	$122	$67
South Dakota	$127	$56
Ohio	$127	$72
Wisconsin	$130	$66
North Dakota	$136	$79
Indiana	$142	$74
Alabama	$142	$61
Tennessee	$145	$72
Rhode Island	$147	$87
Vermont	$147	$65
Maine	$149	$82
West Virginia	$154	$80
New Mexico	$155	$69
Oregon	$156	$97
Washington	$159	$83
Kansas	$162	$81
Montana	$164	$77
Illinois	$166	$81
Nebraska	$170	$82
Pennsylvania	$170	$97
Arizona	$171	$93
Massachusetts	$173	$105
Oklahoma	$175	$85
Utah	$181	$113
New Jersey	$183	$148
Missouri	$188	$96
Virginia	$190	$112
Minnesota	$192	$103
United States	$195	$105
Mississippi	$204	$91
Kentucky	$210	$128
Colorado	$215	$100
Louisiana	$218	$116
Florida	$224	$150
Texas	$231	$121
California	$237	$101
Delaware	$242	$160
Georgia	$245	$158
Arkansas	$250	$120
South Carolina	$263	$173
Michigan	$263	$170
Nevada	$275	$171
Connecticut	$327	$205
Maryland	$331	$209
Washington D.C.	$344	$230
New York	$460	$349

Disclaimer: Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify's 50-plus partner insurance providers. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer's unique driver profile.

State penalties for driving without a license

State penalties for driving without a license vary.^[3] People caught driving with an expired license may end up facing the same penalties as people driving without any license.

Below, you can find your state’s penalties for a driver’s first offense of driving without a license. Keep in mind the listed penalties may not apply concurrently and don’t include penalties beyond the first offense.

State	Penalty for Driving Without a License
Alabama	Misdemeanor Fine between $10 and $100 and an additional $50 traffic fine Up to 180 days in jail Immediate vehicle impoundment License suspension increased by six months
Alaska	Misdemeanor Existing license suspension increased by at least 90 days Possible forfeiture of vehicle Completion of community service hours
Arizona	Misdemeanor Up to six months in jail Possible vehicle impoundment
Arkansas	Misdemeanor Between two days and six months in jail Possible fine of up to $500
California	Between five days and six months in jail Fine between $300 and $1,000
Colorado	Misdemeanor Up to six months in jail Fine of up to $500 Existing license suspension increased by one year
Connecticut	Up to three months in jail Fine between $150 and $200
Delaware	Between 30 days and six months in jail Fine between $500 and $1,000 Vehicle impoundment up to 90 days possible
Florida	Misdemeanor Up to 60 days in jail Fine of up to $500
Georgia	Misdemeanor Between two days and one year in jail Additional fine of up to $500 possible for first offense
Hawaii	Up to 30 days in jail Fine of up to $1,000
Idaho	Misdemeanor Between two days and six months in jail Fine of up to $1,000 Existing license suspension increased by 180 days
Illinois	Misdemeanor Up to one year in jail Fine of up to $2,500
Indiana	Felony Between six months and two and a half years in jail Fine of up to $10,000
Iowa	Misdemeanor Fine between $250 and $1,500 Existing license suspension increased for up to one year
Kansas	Misdemeanor Up to five days in jail Fine of at least $100
Kentucky	Misdemeanor At least 90 days in jail Existing license suspension increased by six months
Louisiana	Up to six months in jail Fine of up to $500
Maine	Class E crime $250 fine
Maryland	Misdemeanor Up to one year in jail Fine of up to $1,000 Existing license suspension possibly increased by up to one year
Massachusetts	Up to 10 days in jail Fine between $500 and $1,000
Michigan	Misdemeanor Up to 93 days in jail Fine of up to $500
Minnesota	Up to 90 days in jail Fine of up to $1,000
Mississippi	Between two days and six months in jail Fine between $200 and $500 Existing license suspension increased by six months
Missouri	Misdemeanor Up to one year in jail (though no set term of imprisonment)
Montana	Fine of up to $500
Nebraska	Misdemeanor License revocation for one year Unable to operate any motor vehicle for one year
Nevada	Misdemeanor Up to six months in jail Fine of up to $1,000 Existing license suspension, revocation, or restriction extended
New Hampshire	Misdemeanor At least one week in jail Fine of up to $1,000 Existing license suspension increased by up to six months
New Jersey	$500 fine
New Mexico	Misdemeanor Between four and 364 days in jail Fine of up to $1,000 Possible vehicle immobilization
New York	Misdemeanor Up to 30 days in jail Fine between $200 and $500
North Carolina	Misdemeanor Between one and 10 days in jail Fine of up to $200 Existing license suspension increased by one year
North Dakota	Misdemeanor Up to 30 days in jail $1,500 fine
Ohio	Misdemeanor Fine of up to $1,000 500 hours of community service
Oklahoma	Misdemeanor Up to 30 days in jail Fine between $50 and $300
Oregon	Class A traffic infraction Fine between $220 and $2,000 Possible vehicle impoundment
Pennsylvania	Summary offense $200 fine Existing license suspension increased by one year Existing license revocation increased by two years
Rhode Island	Violation Fine between $250 and $500
South Carolina	Up to 30 days in jail $300 fine
South Dakota	Misdemeanor Up to 30 days in jail Fine of up to $500
Tennessee	Misdemeanor Up to six months in jail Fine of up to $500 Existing license suspension increased
Texas	Misdemeanor Fine of up to $500
Utah	Misdemeanor Up to six months in jail $1,000 fine
Vermont	Up to two years in jail Fine of up to $5,000
Virginia	Misdemeanor Up to one year in jail Fine of up to $2,500 Possible vehicle impoundment of up to 90 days
Washington	Misdemeanor Up to 364 days in jail Fine of up to $5,000
Washington, D.C.	Up to one year in jail Fine of up to $2,500
West Virginia	Misdemeanor Fine between $100 and $500
Wisconsin	$100 fine if license has been expired for less than three months Fine between $50 and $200 for driver with suspended license Fine of up to $2,500 for driver with revoked license Possible vehicle impoundment for driver with revoked license
Wyoming	Misdemeanor Fine of up to $750

Ways to renew your driver’s license

By renewing your license prior to expiration, you avoid penalties and fees for late renewal and driving with an expired license. Renewal requirements vary by state, so check your state’s DMV website to find specifics. Necessary paperwork for in-person renewal may include your current license, Social Security number, a bill with your current address, and more.

All states allow drivers to renew their licenses in person, and some even require it for all drivers. Drivers are able to renew their driver’s licenses online in many states, with some exceptions and in-person requirements for obtaining a REAL ID or implementing a full name change on the new driver’s license. Depending on your eligibility, you may also be able to renew by mail.

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