Driving While License Invalid
Transp. Code 521.457 — a Class C offense, and what raises it
It is an offense to drive on a highway while the license or privilege is suspended or revoked, after it has been canceled or renewal has been denied without a new license since, while it is expired if it expired during a suspension, or while an order bars the person from getting a license.
| What is shown at trial | The class |
|---|---|
| What is shown at trialThe offense alone | The classClass C misdemeanor |
| What is shown at trialA prior conviction under the section, or driving without required insurance | The classClass B misdemeanor |
| What is shown at trialThe license was suspended before for an intoxicated driving offense | The classClass B misdemeanor |
| What is shown at trialDriving without required insurance and causing or being at fault in a crash with serious bodily injury or death | The classClass A misdemeanor |
Not receiving notice is a defense, and notice sent as the law requires is presumed received. It is an affirmative defense that the person did not receive actual notice of the cancellation, suspension, revocation or order, except for a suspension that follows a conviction under one section the statute names. Actual notice is presumed if the notice was sent in accordance with law.
Sources for this section (1)
- Transp. Code 521.457 — Driving while license invalid
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Texas attorney.