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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>63779</law_id><section_number>46.2-427</section_number><catch_line>When suspensions to remain effective; relief from furnishing proof of financial responsibility; prohibition against registration in name of another person</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Titling, Registration and Licensure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Licensure of Drivers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="13">Suspension of Licenses for Unsatisfied Judgments and After Certain Accidents</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> required by the provisions of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Suspension for failure to satisfy motor vehicle accident judgment; exceptions; insurance in liquidated company; insurer obligated to pay judgment" href="/46.2-417/">46.2-417</a> shall continue except as otherwise provided by &#xA7;&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Effect of order for such payment and proof of financial responsibility" href="/46.2-421/">46.2-421</a> and <a class="law" title="Creditor's consent to license notwithstanding default in payment" href="/46.2-423/">46.2-423</a> until the person satisfies the judgment or <span class="dictionary">judgments</span> as prescribed in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="When judgment satisfied" href="/46.2-419/">46.2-419</a> and gives proof of his <span class="dictionary">financial responsibility in the future</span>. However, the <span class="dictionary">judgment debtor</span> whose driving <span class="dictionary">privileges</span>, registration certificates, and <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> have been so suspended may <span class="dictionary">petition</span> the <span class="dictionary">court</span> that entered the judgment for reinstatement of his driving <span class="dictionary">privileges</span>, registration certificates, and <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may <span class="dictionary">order</span> reinstatement if the judgment has not been satisfied, provided the <span class="dictionary">judgment debtor</span> proves by a <span class="dictionary">preponderance of the evidence</span> that the <span class="dictionary">judgment debtor</span> (i) is unable, after examination of the records of the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> reflecting that <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> and the exercise of due diligence, to locate the person to whom payment is due or, if the person to whom payment is due is dead, the <span class="dictionary">judgment debtor</span> is unable to identify either who are his heirs and assignees, or where they are located, and (ii) has paid into the <span class="dictionary">court</span> an amount equal to the judgment, <span class="dictionary">court</span> costs, and all interest that has accrued up to the date payment was made to the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. Any payment made to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> under this section shall be held for one year and, if unclaimed by the <span class="dictionary">judgment creditor</span> during that period, shall be transmitted by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> to the State Treasurer or his designee to be disposed of pursuant to the Virginia <span class="dictionary">Disposition</span> of Unclaimed Property Act (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/55.1-2500/">55.1-2500</a> et seq.).
		Upon receipt of such an <span class="dictionary">order</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall reinstate the driving <span class="dictionary">privileges</span>, registration certificates, and <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> of the <span class="dictionary">judgment debtor</span>, provided the <span class="dictionary">judgment debtor</span> has given proof of his <span class="dictionary">financial responsibility in the future</span> and satisfied all other reinstatement requirements as provided in this chapter.
		Notwithstanding the provisions of this article, a <span class="dictionary">judgment debtor</span> whose driving <span class="dictionary">privileges</span> have been suspended pursuant to this article may <span class="dictionary">petition</span> the <span class="dictionary">court</span> that entered the judgment for a restricted license to operate a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> during the period of <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> and the <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, for good cause shown, <span class="dictionary">order</span> the issuance of such restricted license for any of the purposes set forth in subsection E of &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Probation, education, and rehabilitation of person charged or convicted; person convicted under law of another state or federal law" href="/18.2-271.1/">18.2-271.1</a>. Such restricted license shall be carried at all times while operating a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>. Any person who operates a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> in violation of any restrictions imposed pursuant to this section shall be punished as provided in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Driving while license, permit, or privilege to drive suspended or revoked" href="/46.2-301/">46.2-301</a>. No restricted license issued pursuant to this section shall permit any person to operate a commercial <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> as defined in the Virginia Commercial <span class="dictionary">Driver</span>&#x2019;s License Act (&#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Title" href="/46.2-341.1/">46.2-341.1</a> et seq.).
		The <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> involved in the accident on which the <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> under &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Suspension for failure to satisfy motor vehicle accident judgment; exceptions; insurance in liquidated company; insurer obligated to pay judgment" href="/46.2-417/">46.2-417</a> is based shall not be registered in the name of any other person when the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> has reasonable grounds to believe that the registration of the vehicle will have the effect of defeating the purpose of the chapter and no other <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> shall be registered, and no <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license or learner&#x2019;s permit shall be issued in the name of the person suspended, except as prescribed in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Proof of financial responsibility by owner in lieu of driver" href="/46.2-437/">46.2-437</a> until the <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> is terminated.
		This section shall not relieve any person from giving or maintaining proof of his financial responsibility when he is required so to do for some reason rather than having been involved in a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> accident.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 46-446, 46-447, 46-477.1; 1950, p. 639; 1958, c. 541, &#xA7; 46.1-459; 1972, c. 638; 1984, c. 780; 1989, c. 727; 2003, c. 316; 2013, c. 598; 2024, c. 467.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
