Driving Without a License: Penalties by State (2026)
How each state handles driving without a license and the penalties, from each state's code.
| State | Driving without a license |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Everyone (unless exempt) must get a driver's license before driving on Alabama highways, and new residents must get an Alabama license within 30 days. Driving without having obtained a required license is a misdemeanor with a fine of $10 to $100 plus a $50 additional penalty. Drivers must also carry their license and show it on demand; a person charged with not having it cannot be convicted if they later produce a license that was valid at the time of the stop. Ala. Code 1975 §§ 32-6-1, 32-6-9, 32-6-18(a) |
| Alaska | Anyone driving or in physical control of a motor vehicle on a highway, vehicular way or other public property must have a valid physical or electronic Alaska driver's license for that type of vehicle, unless exempt; violating this is an infraction. A licensed driver must also carry the license and show it to a peace officer on demand, also an infraction, but cannot be convicted if they later show the court or the citing officer's office a license that was valid at the time. Infractions are not crimes and cannot lead to jail. AS 28.15.011(b), (d); AS 28.15.131; AS 28.90.010(d) |
| Arizona | A person may not drive on a highway without a valid driver license with the proper endorsement, unless exempt. The license section sets no specific penalty, so the general Title 28 rule applies: a violation is a class 2 misdemeanor (up to 4 months and $750) unless another classification is stated. Drivers must also carry a legible license and show it to an officer on request; a person cited for not carrying it is found 'not responsible' if they later show a license that was valid at the time. A.R.S. §§ 28-3151, 28-121(A), 28-3169 |
| Arkansas | Anyone not expressly exempt must hold a valid driver's license to drive a motor vehicle on an Arkansas highway. A violation of the driver's license chapter is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, up to 90 days in jail, or both, unless another law sets a more serious penalty. Ark. Code §§ 27-16-602(a), 27-16-301 |
| California | No one may drive a motor vehicle on a highway without holding a valid California driver's license, unless expressly exempted; the offense may be charged as a misdemeanor or, at the prosecutor's or court's option, as an infraction. A licensed driver must have the license in immediate possession while driving; that charge must be dismissed if the driver shows the court a license that was valid at the time (the court has discretion on a third or later charge), and refusing to show a license to an officer on demand is a misdemeanor. Cal. Veh. Code 12500(a), 12951, 40000.11(g); Cal. Penal Code 17(d), 19.8, 19 |
| Colorado | Driving on a Colorado highway without ever having been issued a valid license or permit (or driving a vehicle class you are not licensed for) is a class A traffic infraction with a $35 penalty and $10 surcharge; a second or later conviction without getting a valid license adds 6 points to the driver's record. Driving with a license expired one year or less, or failing to have your license in your immediate possession, is a class B traffic infraction ($15 plus $6 surcharge), and the charge is dismissed if you show the court a valid license. C.R.S. §§ 42-2-101(1), (2), (5), (7), (10), (11), 42-4-1701(4)(a)(I)(A) |
| Connecticut | Driving without ever getting a license is, for a first offense, an infraction with a $75 to $90 fine; a later offense brings a $250 to $350 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both, with added penalties after prior unlicensed or suspended-license violations. Someone under 18 convicted of unlicensed driving cannot get a license (or has it suspended) for at least one year. A licensed driver who simply fails to carry the license commits an infraction. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-36(a), (i), 14-36k, 14-213 |
| Delaware | Driving without a valid license is fined $50 to $200 for a first offense; a later offense brings a $100 to $500 fine, up to 6 months in jail, or both. Driving with an expired license or in the wrong license class is fined $25 to $100 (then $50 to $100). A licensed driver must carry the license and show it to police on demand; producing in court a license that was valid at the time is a defense, and violations of the chapter with no specific penalty are fined $25 to $115 for a first offense. 21 Del. C. §§ 2701, 2721, 2757 |
| District of Columbia | Driving without ever obtaining a license is punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a fine of up to $500. Licensed drivers must carry the license and show it to police on demand; failing to do so is fined $10 to $50. Driving on a D.C. license that expired no more than 90 days earlier is a civil infraction with a fine of up to $100. D.C. Code §§ 50-1401.01(c), (d), (d-1), 22-3571.01 |
| Florida | Driving without a valid driver license is a second-degree misdemeanor (up to 60 days and $500) for a first conviction and a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $1,000) for a second; a third or later conviction also requires at least 10 days in jail. The charge is dismissed if the person shows the court a license that was valid at the time of the stop. A licensed driver who simply fails to carry or show the license commits a noncriminal nonmoving traffic infraction. Fla. Stat. §§ 322.03(1), (7), 322.15; Fla. Stat. §§ 775.082, 775.083 |
| Georgia | Driving without a valid Georgia license is punished under the same scale as driving while suspended: a misdemeanor with 2 days to 12 months and a $500 to $1,000 fine for a first conviction within five years, rising for repeat convictions to a felony on the fourth. A person whose Georgia license expired less than 31 days earlier is not guilty if they show the court a license that would have been valid. A licensed driver who fails to carry the license but shows the court a valid one faces a fine of no more than $10. O.C.G.A. §§ 40-5-20, 40-5-29, 40-5-121 |
| Hawaii | Driving without a license is punished like suspended-license driving: a fine of up to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both for a first offense; a $500 to $1,000 fine and up to 1 year for a second within five years; and a Class C felony for a third within five years. A minor under family court jurisdiction instead loses the right to drive until 18 or pays a $500 fine. Drivers must carry the license and show it to police on demand, but a person who later shows the court a license valid at the time of the stop cannot be convicted of failing to carry it. Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 286-102, 286-116, 286-136 |
| Idaho | Driving without a current and valid Class D (regular) driver's license is an infraction with a $150 fine; a second conviction within five years is an infraction with a $300 fine; a third or later within five years is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail. Driving a vehicle that requires a commercial (Class A, B or C) license without one is a misdemeanor. Drivers must carry their license and show it to an officer on demand, but a person charged with not having it will not be convicted if they produce a license that was valid at the time in court. Idaho Code §§ 49-301(8), 49-316 |
| Illinois | No one may drive a motor vehicle on an Illinois highway without a valid license or permit. Driving when you have never been issued a license, or are too young to get one, or with a license expired more than one year, is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail and up to $1,500); failing to get a license after a revocation period ends is a Class A misdemeanor. Drivers must have their license in immediate possession and show it to police on demand, but a person charged with not carrying it cannot be convicted if they show in court that a valid license had been issued to them. A driver without a license who is also uninsured has the vehicle impounded. 625 ILCS 5/6-101, 5/6-112, 5/6-601(c); 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-55, -60 |
| Indiana | Knowingly driving on a highway when you have never received a valid driver's license is a Class C misdemeanor (up to 60 days and $500); it is a Class A misdemeanor with a prior conviction or if it causes bodily injury, a Level 6 felony if it causes serious bodily injury, and a Level 5 felony if it causes death or catastrophic injury. The defendant has the burden to prove a valid license was issued. A licensed driver must keep a physical license in immediate possession while driving and show it to police or a court on demand; violating this is a Class C infraction (judgment up to $500). IC 9-24-18-1; IC 9-24-13-3, 9-24-13-5; IC 34-28-5-4(c); IC 35-50-3-2, -4 |
| Iowa | Driving on a highway without a valid driver's license for the vehicle is a scheduled violation with a $260 fine; driving with an expired license is a $70 fine. Drivers must carry their license and show it on demand, but the charge is dismissed if the driver shows the clerk of court a license that was valid at the time before the court date (court costs are still assessed). Driving a commercial vehicle without the proper license is a simple misdemeanor. Iowa Code §§ 321.174, 321.174A, 805.8A(4) |
| Kansas | Driving a motor vehicle on a highway without a valid driver's license (or one classified for that vehicle) is a class B nonperson misdemeanor (up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine). Drivers must carry their license and hand it to an officer on demand, but a person charged with not having it will not be convicted if they later show the court or the arresting officer's office a license that was valid at the time of arrest. K.S.A. 8-235(a), (e); K.S.A. 8-244; K.S.A. 21-6602 |
| Kentucky | Driving on a highway without ever having applied for an operator's license is barred by the same statute as driving while suspended and is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 90 days and $250); allowing an unlicensed person to drive your vehicle is also prohibited. Licensed drivers must carry their license and show it on demand; producing in court a license that was valid at the time of arrest is a defense, and a court may dismiss the charge without fine or costs if the person had a license but in good faith failed to carry or lost it. KRS 186.620(1)-(2), 186.510, 186.990(3), (5) |
| Louisiana | No one may drive on a Louisiana highway without being licensed. Driving unlicensed in a vehicle requiring an ordinary Class D or E license may be punished by a fine up to $500, up to 6 months, or both (up to $5,000 for vehicles requiring a commercial Class A, B or C license); an unlicensed driver in a crash causing serious bodily injury or death faces a fine of $500 to $1,000, up to 6 months, or both. A licensed driver must also have the license in immediate possession and show it to police on request; an officer who confirms a valid license that is simply not being carried issues a written summons. La. R.S. 32:52; R.S. 32:402; R.S. 32:411 |
| Maine | Driving a motor vehicle on a public way or parking area without ever being licensed, or in violation of a license condition or restriction, is a Class E crime (up to 6 months and $1,000) and a strict-liability offense. A Maine resident who drives on an out-of-state license is guilty of a traffic infraction if a resident for 30 to 90 days and a Class E crime after 90 days; driving on a Maine license that expired within the previous 90 days is a traffic infraction. 29-A M.R.S. § 1251(1), (1-A) |
| Maryland | Driving or attempting to drive on a Maryland highway without a driver's license (unless exempt) is punishable for a first offense by up to 60 days and/or a $500 fine, and for a second or later offense by up to 1 year and/or $500. A licensed driver must have the license with him or her and show it to a uniformed police officer on request; that duty is in a separate section, and unless another penalty applies, Vehicle Law violations carry a fine of up to $500. Md. Code, Transp. §§ 16-101, 16-112, 27-101 |
| Massachusetts | No one under 16 may drive, and no one else may drive without a Massachusetts license (or a valid learner's permit or other exception). Driving without ever having been issued a license is punished by a fine up to $500 for a first offense, $500 to $1,000 for a second, and $1,000 to $2,000 for later offenses. Drivers must also have their license and registration on their person or in the vehicle; violations of motor vehicle rules with no specific penalty carry a fine up to $35 for a first offense, rising to $75-$150 for repeat offenses within 12 months. G.L. c. 90, §§ 10, 11, 20 |
| Michigan | A person may not drive a motor vehicle on a Michigan highway without a valid operator's or chauffeur's license with the proper group designation, and a licensee must keep the license in immediate possession while driving and show it to police on demand. The licensing section itself does not state a penalty; under the Vehicle Code, a misdemeanor for which no other penalty is provided is punishable by up to 90 days and/or a $100 fine. MCL 257.301; MCL 257.311; MCL 257.901(2) |
| Minnesota | Except when expressly exempt, no one may drive a motor vehicle on a Minnesota street or highway without a valid license for the type of vehicle. A willful violation of the driver's license chapter is a misdemeanor unless another statute sets a different grade. Licensed drivers must have the license in immediate possession and show it to an officer on request, but a person charged with not having it cannot be convicted if he or she later produces in court or at the arresting officer's office a license that was valid at the time. Minn. Stat. §§ 171.02, subd. 1; 171.08; 171.241 |
| Mississippi | A person must obtain an operator's license before driving a motor vehicle on Mississippi highways unless exempt. Driving without the required license is a misdemeanor punishable by two days to six months in jail, a fine of $200 to $500, or both. Miss. Code Ann. § 63-1-5(1), (4) |
| Missouri | Driving on a highway without a valid license is a class D misdemeanor (fine up to $500) for a first offense, a class A misdemeanor (up to one year and $2,000) for a second, and a class E felony (up to 4 years) for a third or later. A licensed driver must carry the license while driving and show it to an officer on demand; failing to show it is presumptive evidence that the driver is unlicensed. RSMo §§ 302.020, 302.181.3; §§ 558.011, 558.002 |
| Montana | Driving on a Montana highway without a valid driver's license, unless exempt, carries a fine of up to $500. A licensed driver must have the license (a department-issued hard copy or digital version) in immediate possession while driving and show it on demand, but a person who later produces a license valid at the time of the stop may not be convicted. MCA 61-5-102(1), 61-5-116 |
| Nebraska | A Nebraska resident may not drive on the state's roads or alleys without first obtaining an operator's license. The licensing section sets no specific penalty, so the general penalty for violating the Motor Vehicle Operator's License Act applies: a Class III misdemeanor (up to three months and $500). Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 60-484(1), 60-4,111; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-105, § 28-106 |
| Nevada | A person may not drive on a Nevada highway without a valid license for the class of vehicle, unless exempt. Driving without a valid license is a misdemeanor, and the court must require the person to get a valid license or produce a DMV notice of disqualification. A licensed driver must carry the license while driving and surrender it on demand, but cannot be convicted of failing to carry it if a license valid at the time is later produced in court. NRS 483.230, 483.550, 483.350; NRS 193.130, 193.140, 193.150 |
| New Hampshire | No one may drive on a public way without a valid license for the vehicle class. Driving on a license expired no more than 12 months is a violation (a class B misdemeanor for a repeat), and driving when the person has never had a license is a class B misdemeanor (fine up to $1,200, no jail). Drivers must carry the license and show it on demand, but a person who produces a license valid at the time within 48 hours cannot be convicted of failing to carry it. RSA 263:1, 263:2; RSA 651:2, 625:9 |
| New Jersey | Driving without a valid permit or license is punishable by a fine up to $500 or up to 60 days in county jail; if the person has never been licensed anywhere, the fine is at least $200 and the court orders the Motor Vehicle Commission not to issue a license for at least 180 days. Not having one's license, registration and insurance card while driving, or not showing them to police, is a $150 fine ($250 for a bus driver), and the judge may dismiss the charge if documents valid on that day are shown in court. R.S. 39:3-10(a), (u); R.S. 39:3-29 |
| New Mexico | No one may drive a motor vehicle, neighborhood electric car or moped on a highway without a valid New Mexico license (unless exempt). Because no specific penalty is set, a violation is a misdemeanor under the Motor Vehicle Code's general penalty: a fine up to $300 and/or up to 90 days in jail; a person is not convicted if they show the court a license that was valid when arrested. Failing to carry a physical license and show it on demand is a penalty assessment misdemeanor ($25.00 'No license display'), dismissed if a valid physical license is produced in court. NMSA 1978, § 66-5-2; § 66-5-16; § 66-8-7; § 66-8-116(A) |
| New York | No one may drive a motor vehicle on a public highway without a license (except during a road test). The penalty is a fine of $75 to $300, up to 15 days in jail, or both; a license that lapsed within the past 60 days carries a fine of up to $40. N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 509(1), (11) |
| North Carolina | A person must be licensed to drive a motor vehicle on a highway and must carry the license while driving. Driving without ever obtaining a license is a Class 3 misdemeanor. Failing to carry a valid license is an infraction, and the person cannot be found responsible if they show the court a license that was valid when charged; a recently expired license renewed within 30 days is also a defense. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 20-7(a), 20-35(a1), (a2) |
| North Dakota | No one may drive a motor vehicle on a highway or public-access area without a valid operator's license; driving while not licensed is a noncriminal traffic offense with a $150 fee. A licensed driver must have a physical or electronic license in immediate possession and show it on demand; this is a moving violation ($20 fee), and the person cannot be convicted or charged costs if a valid license is shown to the prosecutor within 14 days. N.D.C.C. §§ 39-06-01, 39-06-16, 39-06.1-06(2), (9) |
| Ohio | Driving without ever holding a valid license is an unclassified misdemeanor with a fine up to $1,000 and no jail, or a first-degree misdemeanor with a prior conviction. Driving on a license that had expired is a minor misdemeanor, or a first-degree misdemeanor with two or more violations in three years. A driver must show their license on demand of a peace officer or a person injured in a collision; refusing is an unclassified misdemeanor (fine up to $1,000, no jail), or first-degree with two or more priors in three years. R.C. 4510.12(C), 4507.35 |
| Oklahoma | Driving without a valid license for the class of vehicle is a misdemeanor punished by a fine of $50 to $300 plus costs, up to thirty (30) days in jail, or both; the charge is dismissed without costs or fine if the person shows a renewal or replacement license in court by the court date. A licensed driver must carry the license and hand it to an officer on demand; failing to do so is a misdemeanor under the general traffic penalty, dismissed without costs or fine if the person shows a license that was valid at the time of arrest. 47 O.S. §§ 6-303(A), 6-112, 17-101 |
| Oregon | Driving a motor vehicle on a highway or public premises without any valid grant of driving privileges is operating without driving privileges, a Class B traffic violation (fine-only, up to $1,000). A driver who has a license but does not carry it, or does not hand it to an officer when stopped or after a crash, commits failure to carry or present a license, a Class C misdemeanor (up to 30 days); producing a license that was valid at the time is a defense. ORS 807.010, 807.570 |
| Pennsylvania | Driving on a highway without a valid driver's license is a summary offense with a $200 fine, reduced to $25 if the license expired less than one year earlier; there is no conviction if the person shows a valid license at the issuing authority within 15 days. A licensed driver must carry the license and show it to police on demand, but there is no conviction if the person produces a license valid at the time within 15 days. 75 Pa.C.S. §§ 1501(d), 1511 |
| Rhode Island | Driving without ever having applied for a license, after a license was refused or has expired, or otherwise without a license is penalized under the same section as ordinary suspended-license driving: a civil penalty up to $150 for a first offense, $250 for a second and $350 for a third, and a misdemeanor (up to one year and $500 to $1,000) for a fourth or later. Someone driving on an expired license who reinstates it within ten days has a complete defense. A licensed driver must carry the license and show it on demand, but is not convicted if they produce a license that was valid at the time of arrest. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-10-1, 31-11-18, 31-10-27 |
| South Carolina | Driving without a license is punished by a $50 to $100 fine or up to 30 days for a first offense, a $500 fine and/or up to 45 days for a second, and 45 days to six months for a third or later offense; the charge must be dismissed if the person proves they were licensed at the time of the violation. Licensed drivers must carry the license and show it on demand; no points are assessed for a carry violation, and the section sets no separate penalty. S.C. Code §§ 56-1-440, 56-1-190 |
| South Dakota | Driving a motor vehicle on a highway without a valid driver license (unless exempt, for example certain farm tractor use) is a Class 2 misdemeanor (up to 30 days and/or $500). A licensed driver must have the license in immediate possession while driving and show it on demand of a judge, magistrate, peace officer or Department of Public Safety inspector; failing to do so is a petty offense. SDCL 32-12-22, 32-12-39 |
| Tennessee | No one may drive on a Tennessee highway without a valid license for the type of vehicle, unless exempt. Drivers must also have the license in their immediate possession and show it to an officer on request; failing to carry or display it is a Class C misdemeanor (up to 30 days or a $50 fine). Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 55-50-301, 55-50-351; Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111 |
| Texas | No one may drive on a Texas highway without a driver license unless exempt, and drivers must carry the right class of license and show it on demand. Violating this is a misdemeanor with a fine up to $200; a third conviction within a year can bring $25-$500 and 72 hours to 6 months in jail, and causing a serious-injury crash while uninsured makes it a Class A misdemeanor. Producing in court a license that was valid at the time of the stop is a defense (the court may charge up to a $10 fee). Tex. Transp. Code §§ 521.021, 521.025, 521.461 |
| Utah | Driving without being licensed is an infraction (fine only); a repeat violation is a class B misdemeanor and the vehicle may be seized. Riding a motorcycle without the endorsement carries a minimum $350 fine, waived if the rider gets the endorsement within 30 days. Failing to carry or show your license is an infraction, and producing in court a license that was valid when you were cited is a defense. Utah Code §§ 53-3-202, 53-3-217 |
| Vermont | A Vermont resident may not drive on a highway without a valid license. Because no separate penalty is set, unlicensed driving is a civil traffic violation (not a crime) with a penalty of up to $1,000. A learner's-permit holder driving without a qualified adult beside them faces up to $50 and a 90-day permit recall. A licensed driver must carry the license, but is not convicted if a license that was valid (or expired within 14 days) is shown to the citing agency within seven business days. 23 V.S.A. §§ 601, 611, 615, 2302 |
| Virginia | Driving without ever having obtained a valid license is a Class 2 misdemeanor (up to 6 months and $1,000) for a first offense and a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 12 months and $2,500) for a repeat; the court may also suspend driving privileges for up to 90 days, and may dismiss the charge if the person gets a license before court. A licensed driver who fails to carry the license commits a traffic infraction with a $10 fine, which is cleared by showing a valid license to the court. Va. Code §§ 46.2-300, 46.2-104; Va. Code §§ 18.2-10, 18.2-11 |
| Washington | Driving without a valid Washington license is a misdemeanor (up to 90 days and $1,000). It is only a traffic infraction with a $250 penalty, cut to $50 if the person later gets a license, when the driver shows an expired license or other valid ID at the stop and is not suspended or revoked. Licensed drivers must carry their license and show it to police on demand. RCW 46.20.005, 46.20.015, 46.20.017; RCW 9A.20.021 |
| West Virginia | No one may drive on a public street or highway without a valid license for the class of vehicle. Driving unlicensed is a misdemeanor under the license chapter's default penalty: a fine of up to $500, up to 6 months in jail, or both. A licensed driver must carry the license and show it on demand; failing to do so is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500, but the charge is dismissed if the driver later shows a license that was valid at the time. W. Va. Code §§ 17B-2-1(a), 17B-5-1, 17B-2-9 |
| Wisconsin | Driving without a valid license (never licensed, or expired) is a civil forfeiture of up to $200 for a first offense (up to $100 if expired less than 3 months); a second offense within 3 years can bring up to $300 and 30 days in jail, and a third up to $500 and 6 months. Causing great bodily harm or death while unlicensed raises the forfeiture to $5,000-$10,000, and it becomes a Class I or Class H felony if the driver knew he or she had no valid license. A licensed driver must carry the license and show it on demand; failing to do so is a forfeiture of up to $200, but no conviction if the driver later produces a license that was valid at the time. Wis. Stat. §§ 343.05(3)(a), (5)(b), 343.18; Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50, 939.51 |
| Wyoming | No one may drive a motor vehicle on a Wyoming highway without a driver's license valid for that class of vehicle, unless exempt. Violating the licensing act, including driving without a license, is a misdemeanor under the act's general penalty: a fine of up to $750. Licensees must carry the license and show it on demand (a digital license may be shown on a phone); a driver who later produces in court a license valid at the time cannot be convicted of failing to carry it. W.S. 31-7-106(a), 31-7-116, 31-7-136 |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.