Send your suspended license to the state DMV that issued it, not to a court or police department
When your driver's license is suspended, you do not automatically send it anywhere. The state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) — or your state's equivalent agency, which may be called the Secretary of State or Registry of Motor Vehicles — already has a record of the suspension in their system. However, if you are ordered by a court or the DMV itself to surrender your physical license, you send it to the DMV office that issued it, typically by mail to their central processing location.
The confusion arises because suspension orders come from different sources: a court (for criminal convictions or traffic violations), the DMV (for medical reasons, unpaid fines, or accumulating points), or sometimes a combination. Each source tells you what to do with your license, and the instructions vary by state and by reason for suspension.
Key Takeaways
- If a court or DMV orders you to surrender your license, send it to your state's DMV central office, not to the court or police.
- Some suspensions do not require you to surrender your physical license — the DMV straightforward marks it suspended in their database.
- Your state's DMV website lists the mailing address for license surrender and the specific reason codes that trigger surrender requirements.
- Failure to surrender a license when ordered can result in additional charges, so follow the written order you receive carefully.
- You cannot legally drive during a suspension, even if you still physically possess your license.
When the DMV requires you to physically surrender your license
Not every suspension requires you to mail in your physical license. Some suspensions are administrative — the DMV flags your record, and you straightforward cannot renew or use your license legally, but you keep the card. Other suspensions, particularly those tied to criminal convictions, medical disqualifications, or serious violations, do require surrender.
The order to surrender comes in writing, usually from the court or the DMV itself. It will state clearly that you must surrender your license and provide an address or instructions. If you received a court order, read it carefully: it will say whether to send the license to the court, the DMV, or a specific agency. If you received a DMV notice, it will direct you to the DMV's license surrender address.
States that commonly require surrender include those suspending licenses for DUI convictions, habitual traffic offender designations, medical reasons (such as seizure disorders or vision loss), or failure to pay court-ordered fines. Your state's DMV website lists which suspension reasons trigger a surrender requirement.
How to find your state's DMV surrender address
Each state maintains a central mailing address for license surrender, separate from local DMV branch offices. This address is listed on your state's DMV website under sections titled "License Suspension," "Surrender Your License," or "Administrative Suspensions." You can also call your state DMV directly and ask for the correct mailing address for your specific suspension reason.
When you mail your license, include a cover letter stating your name, date of birth, license number, and the reason for suspension (or the case number if it is court-ordered). Send it certified mail with return receipt requested so you have proof of delivery. Keep a copy of the cover letter and the receipt.
Some states now allow you to surrender your license in person at a DMV office instead of mailing it. Call ahead to confirm whether your local office accepts in-person surrender and whether you need an appointment.
What happens if you do not surrender when ordered
Failing to surrender your license when a court or DMV order requires it is a separate violation. Depending on your state, it can result in additional criminal charges (such as failure to comply with a court order), fines, or an extended suspension period. Some states treat it as a misdemeanor.
Police can also charge you with driving with a suspended license if they stop you and find you still have the card in your possession, even if you did not know you were supposed to surrender it. This is why reading your suspension order carefully and acting on it promptly is critical.
If you lost your license or did not receive the surrender order, contact your state DMV when ready to explain. Some states will accept a written statement in place of the physical card if you can document that it was lost or destroyed.
Suspensions that do not require physical surrender
Many suspensions are purely administrative. The DMV records the suspension in their system, and your license becomes invalid for driving purposes, but you do not need to mail in the card. This is common for suspensions due to unpaid traffic fines, accumulation of points, or failure to appear in court — unless a specific court order says otherwise.
You will know whether surrender is required because the notice you receive will explicitly state it. If the notice says "your license is suspended" but does not say "you must surrender your license," then you keep the card. However, you cannot legally drive, and carrying a suspended license while driving can result in additional charges.
During an administrative suspension, your license remains valid for identification purposes (boarding a plane, entering a federal building, proving age). It is only invalid for driving.
Reinstating your license after surrender
Once you have surrendered your license, you cannot straightforward request it back. Reinstatement requires you to meet the conditions that led to the suspension: paying fines, completing a DUI program, passing a medical evaluation, or waiting out a mandatory suspension period.
After you have met those conditions, you must explore for reinstatement through your state DMV. This usually involves submitting a reinstatement form, paying a reinstatement fee (which varies by state and reason), and sometimes passing a written or driving test. The DMV will issue you a new physical license once reinstatement is approved.
Some states allow you to request a temporary driving permit during the reinstatement process if you can show hardship (such as a medical appointment or work necessity). Check your state's DMV website for hardship permit options.
Court-ordered surrender versus DMV-ordered surrender
If a court orders you to surrender your license, the order will specify where to send it. Some courts require you to surrender it to the court clerk's office; others direct you to the DMV. Read the order word-for-word. If it is unclear, call the court that issued the order and ask.
If the DMV orders you to surrender your license (for example, after you accumulate too many points or fail to respond to a notice), the DMV notice will include the mailing address. This is almost always the state DMV's central office, not a local branch.
In some states, the court and DMV coordinate: the court notifies the DMV of the suspension, and the DMV then sends you a separate notice with surrender instructions. Do not assume the court has already told the DMV what to do with your physical license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just throw away my suspended license instead of mailing it?
No. If you were ordered to surrender it, throwing it away does not comply with the order. You must mail it to the address specified. If you lost it, contact your DMV and explain; they may accept a lost-license affidavit instead. Ignoring a surrender order can result in additional charges.
What if I moved to a different state after my license was suspended?
You still send your license to the state that issued it and suspended it. That state's DMV maintains the suspension record. If you obtain a license in your new state, that state will see the suspension flag when they check your driving history, and they may refuse to issue a new license or impose their own suspension.
Do I need to include anything with my license when I mail it?
Yes. Include a cover letter with your name, date of birth, license number, and the reason for suspension or case number. Send it certified mail with return receipt. Keep copies for your records. Some states provide a surrender form on their DMV website; check before mailing.
Can I surrender my license at a police station instead of mailing it to the DMV?
No. Police departments do not process license surrenders. You must mail it to the DMV address specified in your suspension order, or surrender it in person at a DMV office if your state allows that option. Call your DMV to confirm whether in-person surrender is available.
What if the suspension order does not say where to send the license?
Call the agency that issued the order — either the court or your state DMV — and ask for the correct mailing address. Do not guess. Getting the address wrong delays compliance and could be used against you if you are charged with failure to comply.