What you need to do to get your license back
To clear a suspended Massachusetts driver's license, you must first find out why it was suspended — the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) will not restore it until you address the specific reason. The most common causes are unpaid traffic fines, failure to pay child support, failure to appear in court, medical or vision issues, or accumulation of points from traffic violations. Each reason has its own path to reinstatement, and taking the wrong step wastes time.
Start by contacting the RMV directly to learn the exact reason for your suspension. You can call the RMV at 617-351-4500, visit an RMV service center in person, or check your status online through the RMV website using your license number and date of birth. The RMV will tell you what you owe, what documents you need, and whether you can handle it by mail or must appear in person.
Key Takeaways
- The RMV will not restore your license until you address the specific reason for suspension — you must contact them first to learn what that reason is.
- If your suspension is due to unpaid fines or court costs, you must pay in full or set up a payment plan with the court that issued the ticket.
- If your suspension is due to failure to appear in court, you must appear before the judge or file a motion to recall the warrant before paying any fines.
- If your suspension is medical-related, you may need a doctor's letter or to pass a vision test at an RMV service center before reinstatement.
- After resolving the underlying issue, you must request reinstatement from the RMV, which typically takes one to two weeks.
Suspension due to unpaid fines or court costs
If your license was suspended because you did not pay a traffic fine, parking ticket, or court costs, you must pay the full amount owed or arrange a payment plan. The court that issued the ticket holds the money, not the RMV. Contact the court directly — the ticket itself lists the court name and phone number — and ask what you owe and whether they accept payment plans.
Many Massachusetts courts allow payment plans if you cannot pay in full at once. Once you have paid in full or the court confirms your payment plan is in place, the court sends a notice to the RMV. The RMV then removes the suspension, usually within one to two weeks. You do not need to visit the RMV yourself for this type of reinstatement — the court handles the notification.
Suspension due to failure to appear in court
If you missed a court date, the court issued a warrant for your arrest and the RMV suspended your license. You cannot straightforward pay a fine to clear this suspension. You must either appear before the judge or file a motion to recall the warrant before the court will notify the RMV to lift the suspension.
Contact the court that issued the warrant (the ticket lists which court) and ask how to recall the warrant or reschedule your appearance. Some courts allow you to file a motion by mail; others require you to appear in person. Once the judge recalls the warrant or you appear and resolve the case, the court notifies the RMV. If fines are owed as part of the resolution, you must pay those as well before reinstatement is complete.
Suspension due to child support arrears
The Department of Revenue's Child Support Enforcement division can request an RMV suspension if you owe child support. To clear this suspension, you must contact the Child Support Enforcement office and either pay the full amount owed or arrange a payment plan. The phone number is 617-660-1234, or you can find your local office through the state website.
Once you have paid or a payment plan is in place, Child Support Enforcement sends notice to the RMV. Reinstatement typically takes one to two weeks. If you are behind on payments, the office may require you to make several payments on schedule before they will request the RMV lift the suspension, so ask about their specific policy when you call.
Suspension due to medical or vision issues
If the RMV suspended your license for medical reasons — such as a seizure disorder, vision loss, or a report from a healthcare provider — you must provide medical clearance before reinstatement. The RMV will tell you what type of clearance is needed: sometimes a letter from your doctor, sometimes a vision test at an RMV service center, or sometimes both.
Schedule a vision test at any RMV service center if that is what is required. If a doctor's letter is needed, ask your physician to write one stating that you are safe to drive and that any condition has been managed or resolved. Once you have the required documentation, submit it to the RMV by mail or in person at a service center. The RMV reviews it and notifies you of reinstatement, usually within one to two weeks.
Suspension due to point accumulation
If you accumulated too many points from traffic violations, your license was suspended automatically. Massachusetts suspends licenses when a driver reaches 12 points within two years. Unlike other suspension reasons, you cannot straightforward pay a fee to clear this type of suspension — you must wait out the suspension period or take a driver improvement course.
The RMV will tell you the length of your suspension when you contact them. You can request early reinstatement by completing an approved driver improvement course; the RMV website lists which courses are approved. After you complete the course, submit proof to the RMV. If you straightforward wait out the suspension period without taking a course, you can request reinstatement once the period ends. Either way, you must contact the RMV to formally request reinstatement.
How to request reinstatement from the RMV
Once you have resolved the underlying reason for suspension — paid fines, appeared in court, obtained medical clearance, or completed a driver improvement course — you must request reinstatement from the RMV. Some suspensions are lifted automatically once the court or other agency notifies the RMV, but it is wise to confirm rather than assume.
You can request reinstatement by phone at 617-351-4500, by mail by sending a letter to the RMV with your name, license number, and date of birth, or in person at any RMV service center. The RMV will confirm whether the suspension has been lifted and, if not, tell you what step is still missing. Reinstatement typically takes one to two weeks after the underlying issue is resolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive while my license is suspended?
No. Driving with a suspended license in Massachusetts is a separate criminal offense that carries fines, jail time, and additional license suspension. If you are stopped by police, your vehicle can be impounded. Do not drive until the RMV confirms your license has been reinstated.
What if I do not know why my license was suspended?
Contact the RMV at 617-351-4500 or visit an RMV service center with your license. They will tell you the reason and what you must do to clear it. You can also check your status online through the RMV website if you have your license number and date of birth.
Do I have to pay a reinstatement fee?
Massachusetts does not charge a reinstatement fee for most suspensions. However, you must pay any fines, court costs, or child support owed that caused the suspension in the first place. Some driver improvement courses charge a fee if you take one to clear a point-accumulation suspension.
How long does reinstatement take after I resolve the issue?
Most reinstatements take one to two weeks after the underlying issue is resolved and the RMV is notified. If you resolve the issue on a Friday, the RMV may not process it until the following week. You can call the RMV to confirm your reinstatement has been processed rather than waiting.
What if the court says I paid but the RMV says I still owe?
Ask the court for written proof of payment and the date it was received. Send this proof to the RMV by mail or bring it to a service center. Sometimes there is a delay between when the court receives payment and when they notify the RMV. Written proof from the court speeds up the process.