Suspended License and License Reinstatement Lawyer in Greensboro, NC
Driving before it is fixed creates a new charge, driving while license revoked, under G.S. 20-28. Attorney Chad Garrett pulls your DMV record, finds exactly what is holding the license, and fixes the court side. Call (336) 379-0539 before you drive again.
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Sending this form does not make us your lawyer yet.
Getting a North Carolina license back starts with one question: why was it suspended? A missed court date, unpaid fines, too many points, a speeding conviction or a DWI each has its own fix, its own wait and its own fee.
- Find Out Why It Is Suspended First
- How We Get Your License Back
- What It Costs To Reinstate a License
- Caught Driving While Revoked
- Limited Driving Privileges
- License Revoked After a DWI
- What a License Reinstatement Lawyer Costs
- How To Choose a License Reinstatement Lawyer
- Your attorney
- What clients say
- Where we practice
- Questions people ask
Find Out Why It Is Suspended First
| Why It Was Suspended | How Long | What Gets It Back | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missed court on a motor vehicle charge | Until the charge is resolved | Dispose of the charge in the court where you missed | G.S. 20-24.1(a)(1), (b)(1) |
| Unpaid fine or court costs | Until paid, or the court finds nonpayment was not willful | Pay, or show good faith and ask the court to remit | G.S. 20-24.1(a)(2), (b)(3)-(4) |
| 12 or more points in three years | Set by DMV | DMV process; 8 points in three years after reinstatement can suspend it again | G.S. 20-16(a)(5) |
| Speeding more than 15 over and above 55 mph, or above 80 mph | 30 days | Wait out the suspension; a limited privilege may be allowed on a first conviction | G.S. 20-16.1(a), (b)(1) |
| DWI charge (civil revocation at arrest) | 30 days in most cases | Wait out the revocation; limited privilege possible after 10 days | G.S. 20-16.5(p) |
| DWI conviction | Set by G.S. 20-19 | Restoration conditions, assessment, fee | G.S. 20-17(a)(2), 20-19 |
Timing matters on the court-side causes. If you resolve a missed court date or unpaid fine before the DMV revocation takes effect, the revocation order and the entries about it are deleted from your record and no restoration fee is owed. G.S. 20-24.1(c).
That revocation takes effect on the 60th day after DMV mails the order. G.S. 20-24.1(a). If you have that letter, the date is printed on it. Call before it.
Missed a court date? See our missed court date lawyer page.
How We Get Your License Back
- Pull your DMV record. Many people have more than one thing holding the license. Fixing one and driving on the other is how DWLR charges happen.
- Fix the court side. We put missed cases back on the calendar, resolve the underlying tickets, and address unpaid costs with the court.
- Get the paperwork to DMV. The clerk must give you a copy of the compliance notice on request, to prevent an unjustified driving while revoked charge. G.S. 20-24.1(d).
- Ask for a limited privilege where the law allows one, so you can drive to work while the rest is resolved.
- Handle the DMV side where a hearing or a conditional restoration is involved. See DMV hearing attorney.
None of these steps happen on their own. The court and DMV act on what is filed with them, and on time.
What It Costs To Reinstate a License
| Fee | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Restoration fee, most revocations | $83.50 | G.S. 20-7(i1) |
| Restoration fee, revocation after DWI conviction (G.S. 20-17(a)(2)) | $167.25 | G.S. 20-7(i1) |
| Missed court date fee (motor vehicle, after 20 days) | $200 | G.S. 7A-304(a)(6) |
The restoration fee is not owed if a failure to appear or unpaid fine revocation is fixed before it takes effect. G.S. 20-24.1(c).
Caught Driving While Revoked
| Charge | Class | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Driving while license revoked (ordinary revocation) | Class 3 misdemeanor | G.S. 20-28(a) |
| Driving while revoked for an impaired driving revocation | Class 1 misdemeanor, plus an additional revocation of 1 year (first), 2 years (second), permanent (third or more) | G.S. 20-28(a1) |
| Driving after DMV notice of an impaired revocation | Class 1 misdemeanor, same additional revocations | G.S. 20-28(a3)(1) |
A Class 3 misdemeanor carries up to 10 days. With three or fewer prior convictions, G.S. 15A-1340.23(d) says the judgment is a fine only, capped at $200. The conviction on your record, and what it does to your license, is the part that lasts, and that is what a lawyer is for.
There is an important defense in the statute itself. Under G.S. 20-28(a2), a DWLR is punished only as driving without a license if, for example, your license was revoked solely under G.S. 20-16.5 and you were caught more than 30 days after that revocation took effect. In plain terms, you had already served the time and only failed to reclaim the license. Proving that takes the record and the dates, which we pull.
Read more: Driving while license revoked and DWLR after an impaired revocation.
Limited Driving Privileges
A limited driving privilege lets you drive for set purposes, usually work, school and treatment, while a revocation runs. Eligibility depends on why the license was taken.
| Situation | When You Can Apply | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 30 day civil revocation after a DWI charge | After 10 days, with a substance abuse assessment and other conditions | G.S. 20-16.5(p) |
| DWI conviction | If the statutory conditions are met, including no impaired driving conviction in the previous seven years and a Level Three, Four or Five sentence | G.S. 20-179.3(b) |
| 30 day speeding suspension | On a first conviction only, at the judge’s discretion | G.S. 20-16.1(b)(1) |
| Revocation for unpaid fines only | Up to one year, if no such privilege in the prior three years | G.S. 20-24.1(f) |
A privilege is a court order. The judge decides it, on a petition that has to be prepared correctly. That is work your lawyer does.
License Revoked After a DWI
DWI revocations follow their own rules under G.S. 20-19, and some can be conditionally restored early. For example, G.S. 20-19(e1) allows conditional restoration of certain permanent revocations after at least three years if strict conditions are met.
See our Greensboro DWI lawyer and driver’s license restoration pages.
What a License Reinstatement Lawyer Costs
Fees depend on what is holding the license. One missed ticket is a different job from three counties of old cases or a DWLR charge on top.
Call and we will review your record and give you the fee before you decide.
How To Choose a License Reinstatement Lawyer
North Carolina’s rules do not allow a lawyer to claim to be the best. Ask any firm:
- Will you pull my full DMV record before quoting a fee?
- Can you resolve old cases in other counties?
- Will you handle a DWLR charge if I have one?
- Can you ask for a limited driving privilege?
- What is the fee, and what does it cover?
Your attorney
Chad D. Garrett
Criminal Defense, DWI and Traffic Law
Chad started the firm and defends criminal cases in state and federal court. He wrote ABC's of Traffic Law, ABC's of DWI and DWI Essentials.
- Continuing Legal Education Instructor of the Year, North Carolina Bar Association
- Board Member, Criminal Justice Section, North Carolina Bar Association
Chad D. GarrettFounder
Jason AycothPartner
Sean OlsonPartner
Brandon GoldsboroughCriminal Defense
Stephanie GoldsboroughCriminal Defense
Rebecca ElliottCriminal Defense
Patrick BidwellCriminal Defense
Samantha HeplerCriminal DefenseWhat clients say
4.9 out of 5 from 587 Google reviews. A few recent ones:
Where we practice
Our office is at 317 South Greene St in Greensboro, the Guilford County seat.
Guilford County: Greensboro · High Point · Jamestown · Gibsonville · Summerfield · Oak Ridge · Pleasant Garden · Stokesdale · Whitsett · McLeansville · Sedalia
Also serving: Randolph, Forsyth, Alamance, Rockingham and Davidson Counties
Questions people ask
How do I get my suspended license back in North Carolina?
First find out why it was suspended, because each cause has its own fix. A missed court date or unpaid fine is fixed in court; points, speeding and DWI revocations run on DMV timelines and may need a restoration fee under G.S. 20-7(i1).
How much does it cost to reinstate a license in NC?
The restoration fee is $83.50 for most revocations and $167.25 after a DWI conviction revocation, under G.S. 20-7(i1). Court costs and fees on the underlying case are separate.
How many points before my license is suspended?
DMV can suspend a license for 12 or more points in three years, or 8 or more in the three years after a reinstatement, under G.S. 20-16(a)(5).
Will my license be suspended for missing court?
On a motor vehicle charge, yes. DMV must revoke it after the court reports the failure to appear, effective on the 60th day after the order is mailed, under G.S. 20-24.1(a).
Can I avoid the restoration fee?
If a missed court or unpaid fine revocation is fixed before it takes effect, the order is deleted and no restoration fee is owed, under G.S. 20-24.1(c).
What is the penalty for driving while license revoked?
Ordinary DWLR is a Class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 20-28(a). If the revocation was for impaired driving, it is a Class 1 misdemeanor with an additional revocation under G.S. 20-28(a1).
Can I get a limited driving privilege?
It depends on the reason for the revocation. G.S. 20-16.5(p), 20-179.3, 20-16.1(b) and 20-24.1(f) each set their own conditions. A judge decides.
How long is a license suspended for speeding?
Thirty days for a conviction of more than 15 mph over the limit while going above 55 mph, or for going above 80 mph, under G.S. 20-16.1(a).
Can a suspended license case be fixed without going to court?
Some cannot, because the fix is disposing of a court case. A lawyer can often appear for you and resolve the case.
What should I do if I was stopped while my license was revoked?
Do not drive again until the license is restored, and call us before your court date. G.S. 20-28(a2) can reduce some DWLR charges to driving without a license, depending on the record.
License suspended?
Call Chad Garrett at (336) 379-0539 before you drive again.
Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Attorneys at Law
317 South Greene St, Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 379-0539 · answered live, 24 hours
Free consultation · Se habla español
This page provides general information about North Carolina law, including G.S. 20-7, 20-16, 20-16.1, 20-16.5, 20-17, 20-19, 20-24.1, 20-24.2, 20-28, 20-179.3, 7A-304 and 15A-1340.23. It is not legal advice.