Out-of-State License Suspension in Massachusetts: Clearance Steps

If you have an out-of-state license suspension affecting your Massachusetts driving privileges, you clear it by resolving the underlying offense in the state where it happened, sending the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) proof that the other state has released you, and paying a Massachusetts reinstatement fee that runs from $100 to $1,200 depending on the offense. Until both sides are cleared, your license stays on hold and you cannot legally drive.

Why the RMV Suspended You in the First Place

Massachusetts shares driver information with other states through the Driver License Compact, the Non-Resident Violator Compact, and the federal National Driver Register. When another state suspends or revokes your driving privileges, or reports that you failed to pay a ticket or appear in court, that information reaches the RMV. Under Chapter 90, Section 22(c), the RMV then mails you a suspension notice and places a hold on your license that stays until you resolve the issue in the originating state and prove it.¹

The offenses that trigger this most often are OUI or its equivalent in another state, leaving the scene of an accident, vehicular homicide, chemical test refusal, and administrative failures like ignoring a ticket or missing a court date. For criminal offenses, the RMV treats the conduct as if it happened in Massachusetts and applies Massachusetts penalties, which can be harsher than what the other state imposed. A lesser charge elsewhere, such as New York’s Driving While Ability Impaired, can be reclassified as a full OUI by the RMV.¹

Step 1: Clear the Offense in the Other State

The RMV cannot act on your case until the other state lifts its suspension, so start there. Contact the motor vehicle department in the state where the offense occurred and ask exactly what you need to do to restore your driving privileges. For an unpaid ticket, the fix is usually paying the fine, or arranging to appear in court if a bench warrant was issued for failure to appear. For OUI-related offenses, the requirements are more involved and typically include completing a substance abuse program, paying fines and court costs, and serving any mandatory suspension period in that state.

Keep every receipt, letter, and document the other state gives you. You will need proof before the RMV will move.

Step 2: Get the Right Clearance Documents

Once the other state restores your driving privileges, gather documentation proving it. The RMV accepts several forms of proof:²

A clearance letter from the other state’s motor vehicle agency confirming your driving privileges are no longer suspended or revoked.
A certified driving record from the other state showing your status is clear, dated within 30 days of submission.¹
A “not the same person” letter, if the suspension was applied to you in error because of a name or data match.
Identity theft documentation from the other state, if that is the reason the record exists.

For OUI, chemical test refusal, and vehicular homicide, basic clearance is not enough. You will also need a certified driving history from the state where the offense occurred (current within 30 days), court abstracts showing the case disposition, and a letter of reinstatement from that state.¹ Missing any one piece will delay you, so confirm the full set before submitting.

Step 3: Submit Your Documents to the RMV

For non-OUI suspensions like unpaid tickets or failure-to-appear issues, you can upload clearance documents through the myRMV portal or bring them to an RMV Service Center.²

OUI-related offenses are handled differently. You must appear before a Hearings Officer who reviews your documentation, examines your driving record, and decides how Massachusetts law applies to the out-of-state offense.¹ This is where the reclassification happens: a New York DWAI can become a Massachusetts OUI, or a first offense in another state can be treated as a second offense if you already have an OUI on your Massachusetts record.

Step 4: Pay the Reinstatement Fee

After the RMV accepts your clearance, you pay a reinstatement fee. The amount is set by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 33, and for out-of-state suspensions it must be commensurate with the fee for the corresponding Massachusetts offense.³ Typical amounts:

$100 for unpaid tickets, failure to appear, and other administrative issues.
$500 for a first OUI offense and most other serious driving offenses, including leaving the scene and chemical test refusal.
$700 for a second OUI offense.
$1,200 for a third or subsequent OUI offense.

Those are Massachusetts fees only. You will also have paid whatever the other state charged to clear its suspension, and most states charge a small fee for the certified driving record or clearance letter. After paying, verify your license status through myRMV or by calling the RMV’s suspension department to confirm the hold has been lifted.

Extra Requirements If the Offense Is Treated as an OUI

If the RMV classifies your out-of-state offense as an OUI, reinstatement often involves more than a fee. First-time OUI offenders must complete a driver alcohol education program, commonly called the 24D program, as a condition of restoration.⁴ If you lived out of state at the time of disposition, the court may allow an equivalent program in your state of residence, provided it meets Massachusetts hour requirements.

Repeat OUI offenders face the ignition interlock device (IID) requirement. Drivers with two or more OUI convictions must have an IID installed for a minimum of two years. Some first-time offenders also face this requirement if they seek a hardship license and had a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or higher at arrest.⁵ For repeat offenders, the device stays on for the hardship license period plus two additional years after full reinstatement.

Can You Drive While the Suspension Is Active?

No. While the out-of-state reciprocal suspension is in effect, you are not permitted to operate a motor vehicle, and a hardship license is not available. The RMV’s position is that you cannot drive until your right to operate is restored.² The suspension is indefinite because it depends on another state’s unresolved action, and hardship relief only applies to fixed-term Massachusetts suspensions.

If, after you clear the other state’s hold, the RMV then imposes its own fixed-term Massachusetts suspension for the same offense, you may become eligible to apply for a hardship license during that separate period.

Appealing an RMV Decision

If you believe the RMV applied the wrong penalty or misclassified your out-of-state offense, you can appeal to the Board of Appeal on Motor Vehicle Liability Policies and Bonds. The Board handles appeals of decisions made by the Registrar. Court-ordered revocations and chemical test refusal cases go through the court system instead.⁶

Filing costs $50, nonrefundable, by check or money order payable to “Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” Hearings are conducted virtually by video or telephone. Do not submit evidence or supporting documents until you receive official notice that the hearing has been scheduled. If you need time to hire an attorney or gather information, request a continuance before the hearing date.⁶ If the Board rules against you, you can appeal to the Superior Court in your county of residence or in Suffolk County.

1
Mass.gov. Out of State Suspensions and Revocations
2
Mass.gov. Submit an Out of State Reciprocal Suspension Clearance Request
3
General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 90, Section 33
4
General Court of Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Laws Part I, Title XIV, Chapter 90, Section 24D
5
Mass.gov. Ignition Interlock Device Program
6
Mass.gov. Appeal a Decision of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles