Resolve Traffic Debt NC

What you need to know to prevent or overcome debt-based North Carolina License Suspension

Overcoming Driver’s License Suspension

If your driver’s license is already suspended for unpaid traffic tickets, take the following steps to overcome the suspension.

Getting and Understanding Your Driving Record

The first step to reinstate your license is to understand why your driving privilege is suspended. 

You can get a copy of your state driving record from the NC Division of Motor Vehicles (NC DMV). The driving record will show your driving history as it appears at the NC DMV. You can request a driving record online, by mail or in person at the NC DMV. You will have to pay a fee. It can take up approximately 10 business days to receive a driving record that has been requested by mail. If you request your driving record in person at a DMV, it will be issued immediately. For more information about ordering your driving record, visit the NC DMV website.

Sample Driving Record

When you get your record and determine that your driver’s license is suspended, look in the “Nature of Record on Division Action” section of the record to find out what outstanding suspensions you have. You will need to take care of all outstanding suspensions before you can  get your license back. The driving record will show you what kind of suspension you have, the county where you had the conviction, and the court case number. 

Driving records can be challenging to understand. If you have time, we suggest you start by requesting a free advice letter on the NC Fair Chance website. The NC Pro Bono Resource Center will request a copy of your NC driving record and send you a letter explaining the reasons your license is currently suspended, including county and case number details.

Once you have information about the debt-based suspension(s) (i.e., failure to pay), you can deal with it by either paying the debt or successfully asking the court to eliminate, waive, or reduce the traffic debt that led to the suspension of your driver’s license.

I can afford to pay my ticket

If you CAN afford to fully pay the amount owed, follow these steps to resolve the debt:

1. Contact the clerk of court’s office in the applicable county to determine the payment process. 

2. Pay the court the full amount owed.

  • You can pay off certain tickets online at https://www3.nccourts.org/onlinepayments/menu.sp. Online payment can be made with debit/ credit card; or
  • You can pay in person at the courthouse. In person payment can usually be made with cash, debit/credit card, money order, certified check, or cashier’s check, but make sure to confirm with the court before going to pay.

The court will notify the DMV once you have paid the full amount owed and the DMV will stop your suspension.

I cannot afford to pay my ticket

If you ARE NOT able to pay the  traffic ticket(s), North Carolina law allows you to return to court and ask the court to 

  1. eliminate the entire debt; or
  2. reduce the debt amount to an amount you can afford; or
  3. change the traffic debt into a civil judgment; or
  4. allow you to enter a payment plan; or 
  5. allow you to do community service in place of the debt.  

A judge can take your request into consideration and decide to provide one of the above types of debt relief. It is up to the judge whether to do so.   

If the court eliminates the entire debt, the court will notify the DMV that the unpaid ticket has been resolved and the DMV will stop your suspension.

To ask the court for one of these options, take the following steps:

  1. Complete Form AOC-CR-415, Request For Relief from Fines, Fees And Other Monetary Obligations, And Order on Request, to ask the court for relief from the unpaid traffic ticket amount. It is a best practice to fill out three copies of the form. One copy for the court, one copy for the District Attorney’s office, and one copy for your record. Use this toolkit to obtain detailed instructions to help you fill out the form  or use the court “guide and file” software to create your petition online (coming soon).

Here is a sample of a completed form requesting traffic debt relief. 

Sample Form lightbox
  1. Take the three copies to the form to the district attorney’s office and get a signature from the appropriate person who works in the office for each copy. Leave one copy of the form with the appropriate person in the district attorney’s office.
  2. File one copy of the Motion, the original, with the clerk of the court where the unpaid court debt is owed. The process for filing the motion with the clerk’s office varies from county to county. Contact the traffic and criminal clerk of court to find out the process for filing the motion. Keep one file-stamped copy of the motion for your records.
  3. Add Case Back on to Court Calendar for a hearing. The process for adding cases back onto the traffic court  varies from county to county. Contact the traffic and criminal clerk of court to find out the process to get your specific case put on the court calendar for a hearing so you can resolve the case. 
  4. Attend Court Hearing. Court hearings also  vary from county to county. Contact the traffic and criminal clerk of court to find out information about the hearing. 
  5. Await the Court’s ruling
  6. Repeat the process for each unpaid traffic ticket that is causing your license to be suspended. You must resolved all of the suspensions on your record to get your driver’s license back..

There is no guarantee the court will grant your motion to give you what you ask for. If the court grants your motion, wait until 3 business days after the hearing and contact the NC DMV at (919) 715-7000 to make sure the NC DMV’s records have been updated.

Disclaimer

The information on the website is designed to give you general information and assist you in representing yourself in a court matter. Information is provided about what form may be used, how to fill it out, and where to file it. The information included on this website is not legal advice and is not a substitute for legal representation by an attorney. While you have the right to represent yourself in your legal matter, there are certain significant risks and responsibilities attached to that right. Be aware that people who represent themselves must follow the same rules as those represented by attorneys. Should you need additional assistance or forms that are not provided on this site, you may wish to consult an attorney. If you have specific questions regarding your case, call an attorney or legal services office before proceeding. Your use of this website, and any links or forms provided on the website, is at your own risk and without any warranties, promises or liability to the North Carolina Justice Center.