DMV text scams are on the rise again in these states

Over the past few months, we’ve covered the rise of phishing scams across the US. Now, a popular new variant on E-ZPass toll scams is making the rounds again: scammy SMS messages targeting drivers under the guise of official DMV notices. These DMV text scams seem to be all over the country.

Initially, Departments of Motor Vehicles in large states like California, Florida, and New York issued public warnings about fraudulent texts claiming to represent their offices. The text messages allege that drivers owe unpaid tolls or have outstanding tickets, and if they don’t pay up, they’re threatened with credit damage, loss of their driver's license, or even criminal prosecution. In recent weeks, Google Trends data suggests that these scam texts have spiked in other states, including Utah, Colorado, and Illinois.

A more troubling detail is the use (or misuse) of state-specific legal codes to increase credibility. Most of the examples seen online show the same code: "15C-16.003," which is a real statute in Florida relating to car insurance, but which also appears in messages sent to New Yorkers, where no such code exists.

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State agencies do not use text messages to deliver legal notices or collect fines, but the scam is still rapidly gaining traction.

These DMV scams seem quite similar to the E-ZPass scam texts that have also proliferated in 2025. Scammers rely on exploiting confusion and targeting individuals who are less familiar with digital threats, often the elderly or those who aren’t tech-savvy. That's why the messages are sometimes filled with shoddy grammar and easily verifiable mistakes — scammers don't want to waste time on people who know better. The recent DMV ticket scams also use phrases like "DMV Final Notice," which increases urgency and makes people act before they have time to think clearly.

The most effective defense against these scams is simple:

What states are affected by DMV scam texts?

Since we first reported on this scam, we're still seeing it spread across the country. In fact, Mashable recently named it one of the top internet scams of 2025. Below, we've created a running list of states seemingly seeing a rise in DMV scams, using Google Trends data and local news reports.

Pennsylvania DMV scam texts

Pennsylvania has reportedly seen a rise in DMV scam texts over the summer of 2025, so much so that the attorney general issued a warning.

"It is disappointing to see people trying to scam Pennsylvanians by pretending to be affiliated with the Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles,” Attorney General Dave Sunday wrote in a statement last month. “PennDOT does not send text messages about traffic violations or fines. Consumers who receive a text message or email from anyone alleging to be from a government agency should reach out to that agency to confirm the authenticity of any such message."

Sunday offered the usual advice: Do not click any links and report the message as spam.

Colorado DMV scam texts

Colorado's DMV issued a similar warning that it was seeing a rise in these types of scam texts. Like most other official entities, it warned about not clicking links or responding to the texts. If Coloradans are worried they may have a real parking or traffic citation, the DMV wrote that they should, "contact the Colorado DMV directly through its official website at dmv.colorado.gov or by phone at (303) 205-5600."

Iowa DMV scam texts

Iowa, too, has seen a rise in these sorts of scams.

The state's DMV wrote:

"Fraudulent text messages appearing to come from the Iowa DOT or “DMV” are targeting recipients with false claims of unpaid traffic violations. Individuals are also receiving fraudulent Iowa DOT-generated text messages stating that they have an unpaid toll or registration fee. Both types of texts ask recipients to click on a link to provide personal information as well as credit card numbers. Many times, the link will lead to a website that looks like the Iowa DOT’s website."

To be clear, the state's DMV does not send fee collection reminders via text and does not ask for financial information. Local news station KCRG reported that the scams had proliferated throughout numerous counties throughout the state — so it's best to be wary of any such messages.

Washington WSDOT scam texts

There has been a rise in texts falsely claiming to be from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). These scams are much like the others across the nation. Specifically, WSDOT wrote in a press release it has seen scam messages directing people to a fake version of its Good to Go! service.

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WSDOT noted that people could file reports of the scam texts with the FBI or FTC.

Nevada DMV text scams

Like many other states, Nevada has apparently seen a rise in DMV text scams.

Nevada Department of Transportation warned, "New scam texts are making the rounds pretending to be from NDOT or the DMV. The message in the image is not legitimate."

As KLAS reported, these fake texts often warn people that this is their "final notice," creating a faux sense of urgency. If you receive one of these scam messages, do not click any links, delete the message, and report it as junk.

More states affected by DMV text scams

When we originally reported on this story, we identified a spike in Google searches for DMV and/or toll text scams in Florida, New York, Illinois, New Hampshire, and Utah.

And in our previous reporting on E-ZPass scams, we identified that scammers were impersonating state agencies such: Peach Pass in Georgia, The Texas DMV and Department of Transportation, Maryland's DriveEzMD service, and the DC DMV.

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