Area License Bureaus
All Area License Bureaus (Deputy Registrar License Agencies) allow customers to conduct business locally with everything from getting a license to processing reinstatement requirements such as submitting paperwork and paying fees. (Please be aware that there is a fee charged by the area license bureaus to do this work for you.) For your convenience, some of the local area bureaus are listed below.
Area License Bureaus Include
Centerville License Bureau
104 W Spring Valley Rd
Centerville, OH 45458
937-435-5970
West Carrollton & Moraine License Bureau
5582 N. Springboro Pike
Moraine, OH 45449
937-866-9511
Dayton License Bureau
1036 S. Smithville Rd – 937-252-6204
8389 N Main St – 937-454-5222
451 W. Third St – 937-496-3352
Ohio BMV Reinstatement Fee Debt Reduction & Amnesty Program
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) has implemented a driver’s license reinstatement fee debt reduction and amnesty program for individuals whose driver’s licenses have been suspended for specific violations. Visit the Suspensions & Reinstatements portion of the BMV website for more information.
Your Driving Record
There are several options for getting information about the status of your license. You can call the BMV at (844) OHIOBMV or send them an email. Perhaps most convenient would be to use the Online Services portion of their website. Through this link you can view your driving record, check reinstatement requirements on existing suspensions, pay reinstatement fees, renew plates, etc. You will need to have your personal information handy such as name, date of birth, last four digits of your social security number and driver license number.
Proof of Insurance and the Court’s Role
Ohio law requires all car owners to carry insurance (financial responsibility) on the vehicles they drive or allow others to drive (Ohio Revised Code section 4509.101). This insurance is mandatory. This proof is required for the car you were driving when stopped whether you own the car or not. When you are given a ticket, the Clerk’s Office is required to report the status of your insurance to the BMV. If you do not provide the required proof – either to the officer, the court, or later to the BMV – the BMV will take away your driving privileges for a period of time as determined by your driving record history. You will also have to pay additional fees and have additional insurance requirements. This is called a “non-compliance” suspension for failure to maintain insurance/financial responsibility. The BMV maintains a full list of financial responsibility violator penalties and requirements. If you have a ticket in this court please visit our section regarding how to show proof of insurance.
Your Driver License and the Court’s Role
People driving without a license or under a suspended license will often find themselves in front of a judge, facing the possibility of an additional suspension, added points on their license, court fees to pay and even the possibility of jail time. The court can impose optional or mandatory suspensions for certain violations. The Ohio Revised Code (ORC) lists different classes of suspensions which carry different time periods of suspension. The Clerk’s Office is required by law to report any convictions, points and suspensions that may have been imposed as a result of your ticket. Many people have been caught in a cycle of suspensions and fees that can be very difficult to get out of. As such, it is important to be aware of the status of your license and only drive when you are legally allowed to do so.
If you fail to make appearances or comply with other judicial orders, the judges may also impose other restrictions on your license, such as a warrant block, vehicle registration block, and/or license forfeiture. All court-imposed actions may be lifted by a judge when you make the required appearance or provide the required information to the Court. Once restrictions are lifted, you will need to pay any reinstatement fees directly to the BMV before you can reinstate your license.
Categories of Suspensions
Ohio Revised Code (ORC) § 4510.01(H) provides a detailed definition of a license suspension. There are two broad categories of suspensions: Court Suspensions and BMV Suspensions. Under these two categories, there are many specific types of suspensions that can be imposed. Below is a brief overview of some of the most frequently seen suspensions in our court. (For a thorough overview of the multiple types of suspensions in the State of Ohio, visit the Suspensions & Reinstatements section of the BMV website.)
Court Suspensions
| • Court-ordered suspension – As a result of a conviction on a violation. May possibly be eligible for driving privileges. • License forfeiture suspension – As a result of failing to appear in court on a 1st – 4th degree misdemeanor charge. Not eligible for driving privileges. Will need to follow-up with the court where the suspension originated. • Violator compact suspension – As a result of an unpaid ticket from an out of state court. Not eligible for driving privileges. Will need to follow-up with the court where the suspension originated. • Court blocks – Although not a suspension, a judge can block your ability to renew/apply for a driver license or tag a vehicle due to failure to comply with judicial orders. Not eligible for driving privileges. Will need to follow-up with the court where the block originated. |
BMV Suspensions
| • Insurance-related suspensions – Non-compliance, judgment and security suspensions. May possibly be eligible for driving privileges on a non-compliance suspension. See BMV for information on how to handle judgment and security suspensions. • Alcohol-related suspensions – OVI, physical control and administrative license suspensions. May possibly be eligible for driving privileges. • Other suspensions – 12-point suspensions, child support and medical suspensions. May possibly be eligible for driving privileges on 12-point suspension only. See BMV for information on how to handle child support and medical suspensions. |
Driving Privileges
For information regarding driving privileges on Court-ordered suspensions as well as Alcohol-related suspensions, visit the Driving Privileges portion of our website.
For information regarding driving privileges on certain BMV suspensions, visit the BMV Suspensions portion of our website.