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HomeVehicle CodeDiv. 7Ch. 2Art. 2§ 16379 License Restoration After Judgment

§ 16379 License Restoration After Judgment

Vehicle Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 16379 License Restoration After Judgment

This law says your driver's license won't be suspended if you can't pay a court judgment right away, as long as you prove you can pay for future damages and the court lets you pay in small parts over time.

Key Takeaways

  • •Your license won't be suspended if you can't pay a court judgment all at once.
  • •You must prove you can pay for future damages (like having car insurance).
  • •The court must agree to let you pay in installments, and you can't miss any payments.
  • •The court sends proof of your payment plan to the DMV so they know not to suspend your license.

Example

You get into a car crash and the court says you owe $10,000, but you can't pay it all at once.

If the court lets you pay $200 every month and you don't miss a payment, your license won't be taken away. You also have to show you have car insurance or money to cover future accidents.

How to Calculate

No specific formula provided in the statute.

  1. No calculation steps required.

Not applicable

Result: Not applicable

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 16379 License Restoration After Judgment

(a) The department shall not suspend a license and shall restore any suspended license following nonpayment of a final judgment when the judgment debtor gives proof of financial responsibility for future damages and when the trial court in which the judgment was rendered orders the payment of the judgment in installments and while the payment of any installment payment is not in default. (b) Whenever the trial court orders the payment of a judgment in installments as provided in this section, upon payment of the required fees by the judgment creditor, it shall forward a certified copy of the order to the department, together with a certified copy of the judgment or a certified copy of the register of actions in an action resulting in a judgment for damages and a certificate of facts relative to the judgment on a form provided by the department. (c) The court shall determine the required fees, which shall be commensurate with the cost incurred by the court in carrying out the provisions of this section. (Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 44, Sec. 13. Effective January 1, 2002.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

license suspensionproof of financial responsibilityinstallment paymentscertified copyjudgment debtor

Related Statutes

  • § 16371 License Suspension Requirements
  • § 16373 Judgment Creditor Document Request
  • § 16374 License Suspension For Unpaid Judgments
  • § 16381 Driver License Suspension Default
  • § 13200 Driver License Suspension Penalties

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Vehicle Code. Section 16379.
View Official Source