How much is a ticket for driving without a license?
The cost of a ticket for driving without a license varies considerably between states. On the low end, a driver can expect to pay $100. And on the high end, someone could have to pay as much as $10,000.
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Schimri Yoyo
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Schimri Yoyo is a financial advisor with active insurance licenses in seven states and over 20 years of professional experience. During his career, he has held roles at Foresters Financial, Strayer University, Minnesota Life, Securian Financial Services, Delaware Valley Advisors, Bridgemark Wealth Management, and Fidelity. Schimri is an educator eager to assist individuals and families in ach...
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
UPDATED: Mar 24, 2024
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UPDATED: Mar 24, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right cheap car insurance coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare cheap car insurance quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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How much is a ticket for driving without a license? The cost of a ticket for driving without a license varies considerably based on your state. In addition to a fine, many states also have other penalties for driving without a license — including jail time in some cases. Driving with an expired license or driving alone with a learner’s permit can also result in a fine or other penalties.
It’s worth keeping in mind that the total cost of driving illegally can be greater than the ticket itself. Car insurance rates can also go up if someone has driving without a license on their criminal record. Likewise, some car insurance companies may refuse to cover a driver with a poor driving record. In some cases, driving without a license can even limit someone’s coverage options to high-risk car insurance.
In this article, we’ll help you find out how much a ticket for driving without a license costs in your state. We’ll also look at what other penalties drivers can face for driving without a license, as well as what happens if you’re caught driving with an expired license.
How much does a ticket for driving without a license cost?
While driving without a license carries some serious penalties in all states, the exact cost of a ticket for driving without a license varies considerably between states — with fine amounts ranging from $100 (in Alaska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and West Virginia) to as much as $10,000, which is the maximum fine for a conviction of driving without a valid driver license in Indiana. Take a look at the table below for a summary of ticket costs for driving without a license in each state. This table is based on information compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
If you’re caught driving with an expired license, you may face the same penalties as someone driving without a license or with a suspended license, depending on the state you’re in. If you’re lucky, you may get off with a warning or have penalties waived — as long as you renew your license and can provide proof that you’ve done so by a certain date.
State Ticket cost
Alabama $100 – $500 and additional $50 fine
Alaska No fine (may be penalized with community service or imprisonment)
Arizona No fine (may be penalized with community service or imprisonment)
Arkansas No more than $500
California $300 – $1,000 for first offense; $500 – $2,000 for subsequent offense
Colorado No more than $500
Connecticut $150 – $200 for first offense; $200 – $600 for subsequent offense
Delaware $500 – $1,000 for first offense; $1,000 – $4,000 for subsequent offense
Florida $500 for first offense; $1,000 for second offense; $5,000 fine for subsequent offense
Georgia No more than $500 for first offense; $1,000 – $2,500 for second or third offense; $2,500 – $5,000 for subsequent offense
Hawaii $250 – $1,000 for first offense; $1,000 for second offense; $2,000 for subsequent offense
Idaho No more than $1,000 for first and second offense; no more than $3,000 for subsequent offense
Illinois No more than $2,500 for first offense; up to $25,000 for subsequent offense
Indiana No more than $10,000
Iowa $250 – $1,500
Kansas At least $100
Kentucky No fine (may be penalized with community service or imprisonment)
Louisiana No more than $500 for Class D or E license; no more than $5,000 for Class A, B, or C; additional fines of $300 – $500 for subsequent offense
Maine $250 for first offense; $500 for subsequent offense
Maryland No more than $1,000
Massachusetts $500 – $1,000
Michigan No more than $500 for first offense; no more than $1,000 for subsequent offense
Minnesota No more than $1,000
Mississippi $200 – $500
Missouri No fine (may be penalized with community service or imprisonment)
Montana No more than $500
Nebraska No fine (license revoked for 1 – 2 years)
Nevada No more than $1,000
New Hampshire No more than $1,000
New Jersey $500 for first offense; $750 for second offense; $1,000 for subsequent offense
New Mexico No more than $1,000
New York $200 – $500 for first offense; no less than $500 for subsequent offense
North Carolina No more than $200
North Dakota $1,500 for first, second, and third offense; $3,000 for subsequent offense
Ohio No more than $1,000 for first offense; $1,000 for subsequent offense
Oklahoma $100 – $500 for first offense; $200 – $750 for second offense; $300 – $1,000 for subsequent offense
Oregon $220 – $2,000
Pennsylvania $200 for first offense; $1,000 for second offense; $2,500 for subsequent offense
Rhode Island $250 – $500 for first offense; $350 – $500 for second offense; $500 – $1,000 for subsequent offense
South Carolina $300 for first offense; $600 for second offense; $1,000 fine for subsequent offense
South Dakota No more than $2,000 for revoked license; no more than $500 for suspended or canceled license
Tennessee No more than $500 for first offense; no more than $2,500 for subsequent offense
Texas No more than $500 for first offense; no more than $2,000 for subsequent offense
Utah $1,000
Vermont No more than $5,000 for first offense; $5,000 for sixth or subsequent offense
Virginia No more than $2,500
Washington No more than $5,000
West Virginia $100 – $500 for first or second offense; $150 – $300 for subsequent offense
Wisconsin $50 – $200 for suspended license; no more than $2,500 for revoked license
Wyoming No more than $750
What happens if you’re caught driving with an expired license?
In other cases, you’ll face harsher penalties, which can include the following:
- A fine of $100 or more depending on your state
- Arrest
- Impoundment of your vehicle
Is there a way to drive without a license legally? Unless you count driving with a learner’s permit and an experienced driver in the car, there isn’t really a way to drive without a license legally — with the possible exception of emergency situations. (For more information, read our “Can you get car insurance with a permit?”).
What to Remember About Tickets for Driving Without a License
- Depending on the state, the cost of a ticket for driving without a license can cost between $100 and $10,000. In many states, ticket costs rise with subsequent offenses.
- Driving without a license can also result in community service, impoundment of your vehicle — and even jail time — depending on the state.
- Many states have separate penalties for people who drive with a suspended or revoked license.
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Schimri Yoyo
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
Schimri Yoyo is a financial advisor with active insurance licenses in seven states and over 20 years of professional experience. During his career, he has held roles at Foresters Financial, Strayer University, Minnesota Life, Securian Financial Services, Delaware Valley Advisors, Bridgemark Wealth Management, and Fidelity. Schimri is an educator eager to assist individuals and families in ach...
Licensed Agent & Financial Advisor
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about car insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything car insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by car insurance experts.