How to pay a driver civil penalty

A driver civil penalty is a fine you must pay to DMV for certain offenses before your license or driving privilege can be restored after a suspension or revocation. This fine is in addition to any other fines, penalties or surcharges that you must pay for a traffic conviction.  The purpose of the driver civil penalty is to prevent the repeated behavior of problem drivers and to improve traffic safety.  The quickest and easiest way is to pay a driver civil penalty online.


Who must pay

You must pay a driver civil penalty if

or, if your driver license or driving privilege was revoked because

  • you refused to take a chemical test for alcohol or drugs
  • you operated or permitted the operation of a motor vehicle without automobile liability insurance
  • you operated a motor vehicle involved in a traffic crash and the vehicle was not covered by automobile liability insurance

 

If your driver license is revoked or suspended

If revoked

If your driver license is revoked, your payment of the driver civil penalty does not restore your privilege to drive.  You must request and receive approval from DMV to restore your license or driving privilege unless your revocation was for an uninsured accident. If your revocation was for an uninsured accident, you must contact the DMV Insurance Services Bureau. 1

 

If suspended for a violation of the Zero tolerance law

If you are suspended for a violation of the Zero Tolerance Law, you must wait until the suspension period ends, pay a suspension termination fee and have a valid driver license before you can legally drive.  To check if you have a valid driver license, create a MyDMV account and use our My License, Permit, or ID service.


Penalty amount

The amount depends on the reason for the suspension or revocation.  You may owe more than one civil penalty.

Penalty amounts
ViolationPenalty
1st violation of Zero Tolerance Law$125
2nd violation of Zero Tolerance Law$125
Chemical Test Refusal$500 2
Chemical Test Refusal (Commercial Drivers)$550 3
Chemical Test Refusal within five years of a previous DWI-related charge/Chemical Test Refusal$750 4
Chemical Test Refusal within five years of a previous DWI-related charge/Chemical Test Refusal (Commercial Drivers)$750 5
Chemical Test Refusal - Zero Tolerance Law violation$500
Chemical Test Refusal -
Second or subsequent Zero Tolerance Law violation
$750
Uninsured accident$750 6
Operated or permitted operation of an uninsured vehicle$750 7

 

Pay online

You can pay with a credit or debit card. 8  Your name and address on DMV records must be correct.  Create a MyDMV account to verify or change your address.    

You must provide

  • the last four digits of your Social Security Number
  • your DMV ID Number (Client ID Number) from your NY State driver license, learner permit or non-driver photo ID card (see where to find information on your driver license), or
  • your full name, date of birth and gender


You can pay more than one civil penalty online at a time

You are not required to pay all of your civil penalties in one transaction, but you cannot be approved for a new driver license or restoration of your driving privilege until you pay all the civil penalties you owe. You can return to the transaction later to pay additional civil penalties.

 

Pay a driver civil penalty online

 


By mail

To pay a driver civil penalty by mail for uninsured operation or uninsured accident, send a certified check, personal check or money order payable to “Commissioner of Motor Vehicles” to:

Insurance Services Bureau
NYS DMV
6 Empire State Plaza, Room 332B
Albany, NY 12228

To pay a driver civil penalty by mail for a chemical test refusal or violation of the Zero Tolerance Law, send a certified check or money order payable to “Commissioner of Motor Vehicles” to:

Driver Improvement Unit
NYS DMV
6 Empire State Plaza, Room 336
Albany, NY 12228


At a DMV office

You can pay the driver civil penalty at the office listed on your suspension or revocation order, but it’s much faster and easier to pay online. 

 

See location, instructions and reservation information for your DMV

 

  1. 1. Contact information: 

    Insurance Services Bureau
    NYS DMV
    6 Empire State Plaza, Room 332B
    Albany, NY 12228

  2. 2. This is the civil penalty amount effective 11/1/2006. If your order was issued before that date, the civil penalty depends on the date of the order.
    • if the order was issued between January 1, 1981 and June 30, 1990, the civil penalty is $100
    • if the order was issued between July 1, 1990 and October 31, 1996, the civil penalty is $200
    • if the order was issued between November 1, 1996 and October 31, 2006, the civil penalty is $300
  3. 3. This is the civil penalty amount effective November 1, 2006. If your order was issued before that date, the civil penalty depends on the date of the order.
    • if the order was issued between November 1, 1992 and October 31, 1996, the civil penalty is $250
    • if the order was issued between November 1, 1996 and October 31, 2006, the civil penalty is $350
  4. 4. This is the civil penalty amount effective November 1, 1996. If your order was issued before that date, the civil penalty depends on the date of the order.
    • if the order was issued between September 1, 1983 and June 30, 1990, the civil penalty is $250
    • if the order was issued between July 1, 1990 and October 31, 1996, the civil penalty is $500
  5. 5. This is the civil penalty amount effective November 1, 1996. If your order was issued before that date, the civil penalty depends on the date of the order.
    • if the order was issued between July 1, 1990 and October 31, 1996, the civil penalty is $500
  6. 6. This is the civil penalty amount effective May 13, 2003. If your order was issued before that date, the civil penalty depends on the date of the order.
    • if the order was issued between June 1, 1972 and April 30, 1989, the civil penalty is $300
    • if the order was issued between May 1, 1989 and May 14, 2003, the civil penalty is $500
  7. 7. This is the civil penalty amount effective May 13, 2003. If your order was issued before that date, the civil penalty depends on the date of the order.
    • if the order was issued between June 1, 1972 and April 30, 1989, the civil penalty is $300
    • if the order was issued between May 1, 1989 and May 14, 2003, the civil penalty is $500.
  8. 8.

    The DMV accepts:

    • American Express® Card
    • Discover Card®/Novus®
    • MasterCard®
    • MasterCard® Debit card without personal identification number (PIN)
    • VISA® Card
    • Visa Debit Card without personal identification number (PIN)