DMV 'Final Notice' Text Scam
A text impersonating your state DMV warns of a 'final notice,' suspension, or unpaid fee and links to a fake payment or verification page.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
You receive a text claiming to be from your state Department of Motor Vehicles about a final notice, an unpaid fee, or a pending license or registration suspension, with a link to resolve it. The page is fake and collects your license number, personal details, and card. These blast out by area code and impersonate whichever state agency fits. State DMVs do not demand payment by text link.
What it usually looks like
- A 'final notice' text about your license or registration.
- A threat of suspension or penalty within days.
- A link to a page that is not your state's official .gov site.
- Requests for your license number and card.
Common warning signs
- DMVs do not text payment links or suspension threats.
- The link is not your state's official .gov address.
- Urgent penalties and short deadlines.
- It arrives to a phone with no DMV account tied to it.
Example wording scammers use
“State DMV Final Notice: Your driver's license will be suspended today for an unpaid fee. Resolve now: dmv-gov-services.info”
“DMV: Vehicle registration issue detected. Verify your details to avoid a penalty.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- Your driver's license number and personal details.
- Your card, behind a 'fee.'
- Data to commit identity theft.
What to do
- Do not click; contact your DMV through its official state website or phone.
- Look up your state DMV yourself rather than trusting the link.
- Delete the text and report it.
- Warn others in your area — these blast by region.
What to do if you already responded
- Call your card issuer if you paid.
- Watch for identity-theft signs and consider a credit freeze.
- Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.