Can i go to jail for driving without license

Driving without a licence or insurance may seem like minor offences compared with other motoring offences, however, the effects can be far-reaching. You could receive hefty fines, your insurance premiums are likely to increase, and you could even be disqualified from driving in certain circumstances. Therefore, it’s absolutely essential that you seek the services of an expert motoring offences solicitor to guide you through the criminal justice process.

At Gepp, we provide bespoke criminal law services, designed to preserve your rights and ensure you receive the highest standards of legal advice and defence possible.

If you need advice because you have been caught driving without a licence or insurance cover, get in touch with our specialist motoring law solicitors in Chelmsford by calling 01206 369889 or by filling in our enquiry form.

StateFees1st Offense PenaltySubsequent Offense Penalty

AlabamaIn case of felony fine will be $100-$500Chances of jail time less than 180 days and immediate impoundment of the vehicle. Chances of license suspension by 6 months.-NA-Alaska -NA-In case of first offense it will be a Class A felony with 10 days suspended imprisonment along with a minimum of 80 hours of community service. There are chances of forfeiture of vehicles. The license can be suspended for at least 90 days.Subsequent Offense -Class A felony: Imprisonment for at least are 10 days; possible forfeiture of the vehicle; license suspension increased by at least 90 days.Arizona -NA-For class 1 felony the driver gets imprisonment for up to 6 months. There are chances of vehicle impoundment for up to 30 days.If a driver gets caught with a suspended or revoked license then it will be considered as a class 2 misdemeanor. It will be charged with a potential sentence of 4 months in jail along with a fine of a maximum of $750.ArkansasIn case the driver gets a felony then it will be a fine of less than $500.For first-time drivers, the punishment can be imprisonment for a minimum of 2 days and a maximum of 6 months.If it is more than one time then the license will be revoked with no new license for at least one (1) year.CaliforniaIn case the driver gets a felony then it will be a fine of between $300-$1,000Drivers in California can get imprisonment for between 5 days and 6 months or a penalty fee of $300-$1,000 for 1st offense.In case of a subsequent offense, the driver will get imprisonment for between 10 days and 1 year; $500-$2000 fine.ColoradoThe driver in Colorado will get a fine of less than $500 in case of a felony.For first-time offenses, there will be jail time for less than 6 months along with license suspension for at least 1 year.If the reason behind restraining the license is because of an alcohol-related offense then there will be a mandatory jail time for a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of 1 year for the first offense. With a fine of $500 to $1,000.In case of a subsequent offense, the driver will not get a driver’s license for at least three years.A second alcohol-based driving with a restraining order then there will be a jail time of a minimum of 90-days to a maximum 2-year jail sentence. The driver will have to pay a fine of $500 to $3,000.ConnecticutFine of $150 – $200Jail time for less than 3 monthsIn case of subsequent offense – Jailtime for no more than 1 year, $200-$600 fine, or both.DelawareFine of $500-$1,000Jail time for minimum 30 days and maximum 6 months. Chances of vehicle impoundment of minimum 90 daysSubsequent Offense – Imprisonment for between 60 days and 1 year; $1,000-$4,000 fine; possible vehicle impoundment of at least 1 year.District of ColumbiaFine of $2500Jail time for less than 1 year -NA-FloridaFor felony fine of $500 – $5,000For first offense driver will get a 2nd Degree Misdemeanor: Jail time for less than 60 days or $500 fineSecond Offense will be treated as 1st Degree felony with a jail time for less than 1 year or $1,000 fine. Subsequent Offense will be 3rd Degree Felony with a jail time for less than 5 years or a $5,000 fine and an immediate vehicle impoundment.GeorgiaFelony will result in a fine of $500 -$5,000First Offense jail time for between 2 days and 1-year chances of an additional fine of less more than $1,000.Second or Third Offenses will result in High and Aggravated Felony. Imprisonment for between 10 days and 1 year. Chances of additional fine of $1,000-$2,500. Fourth or Subsequent Offenses will result in jail time for 1-5 years; possible extra fine of $2,500-$5,000.HawaiiFine of $250-$2,000Jail time for minimum 3 and maximum 30 days; $250-$1,000 fine and the license suspension will increase by 1 year. There are chances of inapplicable penalties.Second Offense – jail time for 30 days with a $1,000 fine and license suspension for 2 years. In case of subsequent offense jail time for 1 year with a $2,000 fine. The license can get revoked and chances of additional penalties.IdahoMisdemeanor – $1,000 -$3,000First Offense – Felony: Imprisonment for between 2 days and 6 months; fine of no more than $1,000; license suspension increased by 180 days.Second Offense – Imprisonment for between 20 days and 1 year; fine of no more than $1,000; license suspension increased by 1 year. Subsequent Offense – Imprisonment for between 30 days and 1 year; fine of no more than $3,000; license suspension increased by 2 years.IllinoisFine of $2,500 -$25,000Class A Felony jail time for less than 1 year with a fine of less than $2,500.Subsequent Offense will be treated as Class 4 Felony jail time for 1-3 years; a fine of up to $25,000. Possible vehicle impoundment. Fourth or Subsequent Offenses chances of seizure of license plate with vehicle immobilization.IndianaFelony less than $10,000 fineClass 6 Felony – jail time for minimum 6 months and maximum 2 years with a fine of less than $10,000. -NA-IowaMisdemeanor with a fine of $250 -$1,500License suspension for an additional like period or for one year. -NA-KansasMisdemeanor fine of $100For first offense it will be Class B Nonperson Felony with jail time for at least 5 days; fine of at least $100.Subsequent Offense – Class A Nonperson Felony jail time without parole of 5 days with a fine of at least $100. The license can also get suspended for 90 days.KentuckyFine of $250First Offense will be a Class B Felony jail time up to 90 days. The license can be suspended for 6 months with a fine of $250Second Offense – Class A Felony: Imprisonment for between 90 days and 1 year; license suspension increased by 1 year. Third or Subsequent Offense – Class D Felony: Imprisonment for 1-5 years; license suspension revoked for additional 2 years.LouisianaFine of $500-$2,500In case the driver has a Class D or E license then the imprisonment will be less than 6 months along with a fine of less than $500, or it can be both. Along with that, the driver might get a civil penalty of up to $1,250. Individuals with a Class A, B, or C driver’s license: 6 months in prison or a fine of no more than $5,000.The driver who has a Class A, B, or C license will get imprisonment for less than 6 months along with a fine of less than $5,000.Maine -NA-In Maine, driving without a license is treated as Class E Crime with a fine of max $1,000.For a first offense, there can be a six months incarceration along with a $1,000 fine.Maryland Felony – Fine of $1,000First Offense can get an Imprisonment for less than 1 year and the chances of license suspension for less than 1 year.Imprisonment for a felony offense not exceeding 2 years, a fine not exceeding $1,000, or both; possible license suspension of 18 months for a second offense, and 2 years for a subsequent offense. Possible vehicle impoundment.MassachusettsIn case of felony there will be a fine of $500 -$1,000.For the first offense, the driver can get a jail time of fewer than 10 days with a fine of $500 – $1000 or both.In case of a subsequent offense, there will be a jail time for between 60 days and 1 year along with a license suspension for 60 days.MichiganIn case of felony the fine will be $500 -$1,000.The first Offense will result in Imprisonment for less than 93 days with a fine of less than $500, or both.The Second Offense will be treated as a Misdemeanor with a jail time for less than 1 year, a fine of less than $1,000, or both. Chances of vehicle registration plates get canceled. License suspension for a similar period.MinnesotaMisdemeanor fine of less than $1,000 Felony with a jail time for less than 90 days with a fine of less than $1,000, or both. -NA-Mississippi -NA-In case of a felony the driver gets a fine of $200 -$500 along with imprisonment for between 2 days and 6 monthsIn case of subsequent offenses, there will be a fine of $200-$500 and a license suspension for 6 months.Missouri -NA-In case of first offense it will be a Class D misdemeanor with a fine of maximum $500 fine with one year max jail time.In case of a second offense, it will be Class A felony and there will be a fine of max. exceed $2,000 with a jail time for between 6 months and 1 year. Class E Felony: Imprisonment for no more than 4 years.MontanaIn case of a misdemeanor there will be a fine of less than $500.For the first offense, there will be a fine of less than $500 and jail time for 6 months.Jail time for a minimum of 2 days and a maximum of 6 months with a license suspension for 1 year. The vehicle can be seized for 30 days.Nebraska -NA-First Offense will be treated as a Class II felony driver will not be allowed to operate any motor vehicle for 1 year and the license revocation for the same period.For subsequent offenses, it will be a Class II felony and the driver might not be able to drive for at least 2 years. Subsequent Offense – Class I Misdemeanor: License revoked for 2 years and ineligible to operate any motor vehicle.NevadaMisdemeanor for less than $1,000For a felony there will be a fine of less than $1,000 and imprisonment for less than 6 months. If the license of the driver is already suspended, then there will be an extension of suspension by 1 year. -NA-New HampshireMisdemeanor – less than $1,000In case it is a misdemeanor there will be a fine of less than $1,000 and a jail time for a period not less than 7 consecutive 24-hour periods to be served within 6 months of the conviction, fine of no more than $1,000; license suspension increased by 1 year. -NA-New JerseyFine of $500-$1,000First Offense fine of $500.And for the second offense, there will be a jail time of 1-5 days along with a fine of $750. For subsequent offenses, the driver will get imprisonment for at least 10 days and a $1,000 fine along with license suspension for less than 6 months.New MexicoMisdemeanor less than $1,000Jail time for between 4-364 days with a fine of less than $1,000. Chances of vehicle immobilization. -NA-New YorkMisdemeanor fine of $250 -$500First Offense – Jail time for less than 30 days or a fine of $200-$500, or both.Subsequent Offense jail time for less than 180 days with a fine of less than $500.North CarolinaMisdemeanor – less than $300First Offense will be treated as Class 3 Felony with jail time for 1-10 days and a fine of less than $200. Chances of license suspension by 1 year.Second Offense – License suspension increased by 2 years. Third Offense – Permanent license suspension.North DakotaFine of $1,500 -$3,000First, Second or Third Offense will be a Class B Felony: Jail time for less than 30 days, or a fine of $1,500, or both.Fourth or Subsequent Offense – Class A Felony – Imprisonment for no more than 1 year, $3,000 fine, or both. Possible destruction of license plate.Ohio Felony – fine of $1,000First Offense will be Unclassified Misdemeanor there will be a fine of less than $1,000; with 500 hours of community service.Subsequent Offense – 1st Degree Felony : Imprisonment for no more than 180 days; $1,000 fine. Possible license plate impoundment.OklahomaFine of $50-$1,000First Offense will result in the fine of $100-$500.The Second Offense will result in a $200-$750 fine. Subsequent Offense will lead to jail time of less than 1 year with $300-$1,000 fine, or both.OregonFine of $220-$2,000Driving without license is treated as a Class A Traffic Infraction where the driver gets a fine of $220-$2,000 with chances of vehicle impoundment. -NA-PennsylvaniaFine of $200The driver will have to pay a fine of $200 fine with a license suspension for 1 year or more. -NA-Rhode Island Felony with a fine of $250-$1,000First Offense will lead to jail time for less than 30 days with a fine of $250-$500. Chances of license suspension for 3 months.Subsequent Offense – Imprisonment for no more than 1 year; $350-$1,000 fine; 2nd Offense – license suspension increased by 6 months, license revoked.South CarolinaFine of$300-$1,000First Offense – Jail time for less than 30 days, or a $300 fine, or both.Second Offense jail time for less than 60 days and a fine of $600, or both. Subsequent Offense will result in jail time for less than 90 days and a $1,000 fine.South DakotaMisdemeanor fine of less than $2,000It will be a Class 1 Felony with imprisonment for less than 1 year with a fine of less than $2,000. For subsequent offense it will be Class 2 Misdemeanor there will be a jail time for less than 30 days and a fine of $500 or less. -NA-Tennessee Felony with a fine of $500 -$2,500First Offense will be Class B Felony with a jail time for less than 6 months, fine of less than $500, or both. Chances of license suspension of time.Subsequent Offense – Class A Misdemeanor: Imprisonment for not more than 11 months, 29 days, fine of no more than $2,500, or both; license suspension increased by the like period of time.TexasMisdemeanor – fine of $500 -$2,000First Offense will be a Class C Felony with a fine of less than $500.Subsequent Offense will be a Class B Felony with a jail time for less than 180 days, a fine of less than $2,000, or both.UtahMisdemeanor fine of $1,000In the case of a Class C Misdemeanor, there will be imprisonment of fewer than 90 days with a fine of $750 fine. -NA-VermontLess than $5,000First Offense will be imprisonment for less than 2 years, fine of less than $5,000, or both.Sixth or Subsequent Offense will be a jail time for no more than 2 years, a fine of $5,000, or both. Possible seizure of license plates.VirginiaMisdemeanor for less than $2,500A subsequent offense will be treated as a Class 1 Misdemeanor. The driver will get jail time for less than 12 months with a fine of less than $2,500, or both. -NA-WashingtonMisdemeanor – less than $5,000In Washington drivers will get a gross misdemeanor with a jail time of fewer than 364 days with a fine of less than $5,000, or both. -NA-West VirginiaMisdemeanor will result in a fine of $100 -$500First offense will be treated as a felony with a $100-$500 fine.The Second Offense will be a Misdemeanor driver who will have to pay a fine of $100-$500. Third or Subsequent Offense -will result in jail time for 30-90 days; $150-$500 fine.WisconsinFine of $50-$2,500If the license is already suspended then there will be a fine of $50-$200. In case your license is revoked then there will be a fine of less than $2,500. With impoundment of the vehicle. -NA-WyomingMisdemeanor with a fine of $750In case it was declared as a Misdemeanor then there will be a fine of $750 and jail time of not more than 6 months, or both. -NA-

What happens if you drive around with no license?

Driving without a valid driver's license is a serious offense that can result in jail time and higher insurance rates. Charges for driving without a license vary by state, but there are usually hefty fines involved if you get caught by law enforcement.

What is the penalty in Georgia for driving without a license?

Georgia law considers it a violation if any person drives without a valid license, whether they never had a license or had one suspended. The penalty for driving without a license in Georgia begins with a misdemeanor charge, with the potential of up to 12 months in jail or a fine of $500 to 1,000.

What happens if you get pulled over without a license in Minnesota?

In Minnesota, driving without your physical license is considered a correctable offense. In most cases, you will be issued a ticket and will have to go to court and show the judge that your license was indeed active at the time. At that point, you will need to pay a fine.

What is the penalty in NJ for driving without a license?

The financial penalty for driving without a license in New Jersey (with proof of prior license) is a fine of up to $500. The financial penalty for driving without a license in New Jersey (no prior license in New Jersey or any other jurisdiction) is a fine of at least $200.