Reinstating Your License After Failure to Appear in St. Paul

You must appear at the Ramsey County Government Center at 15 W Kellogg Blvd to address the failure-to-appear warrant. Call 651-266-8266 to confirm your court date before appearing — some cases allow walk-in resolution, others require a scheduled hearing. The court will reopen your case and give you three options: pay the original fine plus failure-to-appear penalties, request a continuance to contest the ticket, or enter a plea agreement. Most St. Paul courts assess a $50–$200 failure-to-appear penalty on top of the original fine. If the original ticket was a payable petty misdemeanor, expect to pay both amounts the same day to close the case. Once you resolve the ticket, request a case disposition form from the court clerk. This is a single-page document showing the case is closed. The DVS will not process your reinstatement without it. Keep the original — you will need to mail or upload it as part of your reinstatement application.

Minnesota requires a formal reinstatement application even after you clear the underlying case. You cannot simply resume driving once the court case closes. The DVS will not process your reinstatement until you submit proof of case resolution and pay the $30 reinstatement fee. You can file online through the DVS Driver and Vehicle Services portal or mail Form PS-2000 to Minnesota DVS, 445 Minnesota St Suite 168, St. Paul, MN 55101. Attach your court disposition form and payment. Online submissions process in 3–5 business days. Mailed applications take 10–14 business days. If your suspension lasted more than 30 days or you had a lapse in insurance coverage during the suspension period, Minnesota may require SR-22 proof of financial responsibility before reinstating your license. The DVS will notify you if SR-22 is required — it is not automatic for all failure-to-appear cases.

Minnesota does not require you to maintain insurance while your license is suspended for failure to appear, but letting your policy lapse creates a separate insurance lapse violation. If the DVS records a coverage gap longer than 30 days, you will face an additional $200 insurance lapse reinstatement fee and mandatory SR-22 filing for one year. If you own a vehicle and cancel your insurance during suspension, you must surrender your license plates to the DVS to avoid the lapse penalty. Most St. Paul drivers keep minimal liability coverage active during short suspensions to avoid triggering the lapse clock. Minnesota minimum liability is 30/60/10 — $30,000 per person bodily injury, $60,000 per accident, $10,000 property damage. If the DVS requires SR-22 filing, you must contact an insurer licensed to file SR-22 in Minnesota, purchase a policy meeting state minimums, and have the carrier file the SR-22 certificate electronically with the DVS. The SR-22 filing itself costs $15–$50 depending on the carrier. Your premium will increase 20–40% for the SR-22 endorsement alone, separate from any rate increase tied to the underlying violation.

Court resolution typically takes 1–3 business days if you pay the fine and close the case immediately. If you request a hearing or enter a continuance, expect 30–90 days before the case closes and the court issues your disposition form. DVS reinstatement processing adds 3–5 business days for online filings or 10–14 business days for mailed applications. If SR-22 is required, add 1–3 business days for your insurer to file the certificate electronically with the DVS after you purchase the policy. Total timeline: 5–10 business days from court resolution to reinstated license if no SR-22 is required and you file online. 15–21 business days if SR-22 is required. 20–30 business days if you mail your reinstatement application. These timelines assume you resolve the court case in a single appearance and have no other suspensions or violations on your record.

Driving on a suspended license in Minnesota is a misdemeanor criminal offense, not a traffic ticket. St. Paul Police and Minnesota State Patrol have access to real-time DVS suspension records during traffic stops. If you are stopped and your license shows suspended, you will be arrested, your vehicle will be towed, and you will face criminal charges. First-offense driving after suspension carries up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. The court typically sentences first-time offenders to probation, community service, and an additional 30-day license suspension on top of your existing suspension period. Your vehicle impound and towing fees will run $200–$400. A conviction adds a criminal misdemeanor to your record, which insurers treat as a major violation. Expect your premium to increase 50–100% for three years after conviction. High-risk insurers may be the only carriers willing to write you a policy during that period.