You cannot suspend another person's driver's license yourself — only the state can do that
A driver's license belongs to the person whose name is on it. You cannot walk into a DMV and request that your spouse, adult child, or parent lose theirs, even if you believe they are unsafe to drive. Only a court, a state licensing authority, or law enforcement acting under state law can suspend or revoke a license. What you can do is report unsafe driving, request a medical review if someone is unfit to drive, or in some cases ask a court to intervene in a custody or safety matter.
The confusion often comes from situations where someone else's actions affect your own license — like when you are held responsible for a minor's traffic violations, or when you co-sign a loan and the borrower's default damages your credit. But suspending another adult's license is different. It is a state action, not a private one.
Key Takeaways
- Only state licensing authorities, courts, and law enforcement can suspend or revoke a driver's license — family members cannot request this action on their own.
- If someone is driving unsafely, you can report them to police, who may investigate and cite them for traffic violations that could lead to suspension.
- If a family member is medically unfit to drive due to age, illness, or disability, you can request a medical review through your state's DMV, which may trigger an evaluation.
- Parents of minors can restrict driving privileges through custody agreements or by refusing to pay insurance, but cannot directly suspend a license.
- If you are concerned about a family member's safety as a driver, talking to them directly or involving a doctor is often more effective than legal action.
When a state suspends a family member's license without your request
Your family member's license can be suspended for reasons that have nothing to do with you. The most common triggers are unpaid traffic fines, failure to pay child support, driving under the influence, accumulating too many points from traffic violations, or not maintaining required insurance. Some states also suspend licenses for unpaid court fees, unpaid taxes, or failure to appear in court.
If your family member is suspended for one of these reasons, they will receive notice from the state — usually by mail to the address on their license. The notice explains why the suspension happened and how long it lasts. They can sometimes request a hearing to contest the suspension, or they may need to pay fines, complete a program, or meet other conditions before the license is reinstated.
Reporting unsafe driving to law enforcement
If a family member is driving recklessly, under the influence, or in a way that endangers others, you can call the police and report the vehicle, location, and behavior. Provide the license plate number, description of the car, and details about what you observed — swerving, excessive speed, hitting objects, or driving erratically. Do not follow the vehicle or try to stop it yourself.
Police will investigate and may pull the driver over. If they find evidence of a traffic violation or impaired driving, they can issue a citation or make an arrest. Repeated violations or a DUI conviction can result in license suspension through the state's point system or through court order. This is the legal way unsafe driving leads to suspension — through the justice system, not through a family member's request.
Requesting a medical review of a driver's fitness
If you believe a family member is medically unfit to drive — due to dementia, severe vision loss, medication side effects, or another health condition — you can contact your state's DMV and request a medical review. Some states call this a "medical evaluation" or "fitness to drive" review. You do not need to be a doctor or a lawyer to make this request.
The process varies by state. In many places, you fill out a form describing the person's condition and mail it to the DMV. The DMV may then contact the driver and ask them to undergo a medical evaluation by a doctor or a DMV examiner. If the evaluation shows the person is unsafe to drive, the state can suspend or revoke their license. The driver has the right to contest the decision and request a hearing.
This route is most effective when the concern is genuine medical impairment, not just disagreement about driving habits. States take these requests seriously but also protect against misuse — someone cannot straightforward claim a family member is unfit out of spite.
What parents can and cannot do about a minor's license
Parents have more control over a minor's driving than over an adult's. You can refuse to pay for insurance, which means your child cannot legally drive. You can refuse to let them use the family car. You can set rules about when and where they can drive, and enforce those rules by taking away driving privileges at home.
What you cannot do is contact the state and have the minor's license suspended just because you want to punish them or restrict their independence. The state will not suspend a license based on a parent's request unless there is a court order involved — for example, in a custody dispute where a judge rules that a parent can restrict the minor's driving as part of custody terms.
If a minor accumulates traffic violations, gets a DUI, or fails to maintain insurance, the state can suspend their license through its own process. But that suspension comes from the state's rules, not from parental authority.
When a court can order license suspension
A judge can order someone's license suspended in specific situations. These include unpaid child support, failure to pay court-ordered fines, conviction of certain crimes, or as part of a custody arrangement. If you are involved in a family law case — custody, divorce, or child support — you can ask your attorney whether a license suspension is an option as part of the court order.
For example, if your ex-spouse owes child support and refuses to pay, the state's child support enforcement agency can request that the court suspend their license. If someone is convicted of a crime, the judge may order suspension as part of sentencing. But these are court actions, not actions you take on your own.
Alternatives to suspension when you are concerned about safety
Before pursuing legal action, consider whether a direct conversation might work. If you believe a family member is driving unsafely, talking to them about what you have observed — and why you are worried — sometimes leads to change. If the issue is medical, encouraging them to see a doctor and be honest about their symptoms can lead to a voluntary decision to stop driving.
If the person is a minor, you have the most straightforward option: do not let them drive. Refuse to insure them, do not let them use your car, and do not co-sign a loan for a vehicle. If the person is an adult and you are genuinely concerned for public safety, reporting unsafe driving to police is more direct than trying to navigate license suspension through the state.
If you are in a custody dispute or a family situation where control over driving is part of a larger conflict, an attorney can advise you on what a court might order. But in most everyday situations, conversation, refusal to enable the driving, or a police report are more practical than trying to suspend someone else's license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my spouse's license suspended if I think they drive too fast?
No, not directly. If you believe they are driving dangerously, you can report the behavior to police with details about when and where you observed it. Police can investigate and issue citations if they find violations. Repeated violations lead to suspension through the state's point system, but the suspension comes from the state's process, not from your request.
What if my parent has dementia and I am afraid they will cause an accident?
Contact your state's DMV and request a medical review or fitness-to-drive evaluation. You will need to describe the condition and how it affects their driving. The DMV will likely ask them to undergo an evaluation. If the evaluator determines they are unsafe, the state can suspend their license. This is the formal way to address medical fitness concerns.
Can I have my adult child's license suspended if they live with me?
No. You can refuse to pay for their insurance or let them use your car, which prevents them from driving legally. But you cannot contact the state and have their license suspended. If they accumulate traffic violations or fail to maintain insurance on their own, the state may suspend it, but that is the state's action, not yours.
What happens if I falsely report someone as medically unfit to drive?
Making a false report to the DMV can be considered filing a false report or making a frivolous complaint. The person can contest the medical evaluation, and if it is clear the report was malicious, you could face legal consequences. States take these reports seriously and investigate them, so false claims are usually discovered.
If my family member gets a DUI, will their license be suspended automatically?
Not always automatically, but very likely. Most states suspend licenses after a DUI conviction or even after an arrest, depending on state law. The suspension is imposed by the state as part of the criminal justice process, not because a family member requested it. The length of suspension varies by state and by whether it is a first or repeat offense.