I have a suspended license in South Carolina. Can I obtain a license in Connecticut? What if I take the driving class and the tests again?

To the best of our knowledge you cannot obtain a Connecticut driver's license while your license is still under suspension in South Carolina. The General Statutes of Connecticut (GSC) Section 14-36 notes in subsection (g) that before issuing an operator's license the CT Department of Motor Vehicles shall request information from the National Driver Registry (NDR).

When state officials process a driver’s license application, they are required to check the National Driver Register database to determine if the applicant has been identified as a problem driver in another state. If a match is found in NDR, state officials are directed to another state DMV system for details on the traffic conviction or status of the license.

The federal requirement to check applicants against NDR was intended to prevent problem drivers from shopping around for a license meaning a person would go to a different state to get a new driver’s license when their current licenses are suspended or revoked. Keeping problem drivers off the road is critical to the NHTSA's (the administrator of the NDR) goal of reducing highway fatalities and injuries.

So the CT DMV will check the NDR and see your South Carolina suspension on it if you apply for a Connecticut driver's license.

CT statute 14-111k notes in subsection (a) that upon application for a motor vehicle operator's license or identification card, the DMV shall determine whether the applicant has ever held, or is the holder of, a license issued by any other jurisdiction. Furthermore the DMV shall not issue a license to any applicant whose license is withdrawn in any other member jurisdiction for any conviction or administrative action required to be reported under the driver license agreement, as evidenced by the driver control record.

GCS Section 14-111h defines “Withdrawal" as meaning the suspension, revocation, cancellation or denial of a license or motor vehicle registration or of the privilege to operate a motor vehicle or to obtain a license or registration.

We thus take from these Connecticut laws that with a suspended license in South Carolina that you will be unable to obtain a CT driver's license until your issues in SC are resolved and that license is reinstated. You can check with the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles however about your specific situation to see if any type of license would be available to you in their state.

While the CT handbook states that all license applicants 18 years of age or older who have not previously held a license in Connecticut or who does not hold a valid license issued by another state will be required to take an 8-hour course on safe driving practices and present a certificate showing proof of attending this course to the DMV we do not believe this would apply to your situation since your license is in fact suspended out of state. This would only apply if you were unlicensed and obtaining your first driver's license.

The CT DMV can tell you for certain if there are any tests you can take to get a regular or restricted license presently with your out of state suspended license however it is that in order to get a Connecticut license they will require you to take care of the SC issue first.

If you are able to get a CT driver's license you can search for inexpensive car insurance here.