, getting your license reinstated could be as simple as paying an overdue fine and sending proof to your local service center—but for more serious violations, you’ll have to wait for your suspension to expire and take a driver improvement course to get your driver’s license back.

A Florida driver’s license reinstatement usually costs $45 or $75.
If your license is suspended or revoked, you typically need to wait out the suspension period and pay any required fees before your driving privileges will be reinstated.
You may also need to fulfill other court requirements—like enrollment into a driver improvement course—before you can get your suspended driver's license back.

Why you might need a license reinstatement in Florida

You may need to apply for a license reinstatement when your license is either suspended or revoked by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV or DHSMV).

The FLHSMV issues license suspensions and revocations for a wide range of traffic violations and other offenses from driving without insurance to DUIs. In other instances, you could have your license suspended for failure to pay court charges, like child support, or revoked for vehicular homicide.

In most cases, you won’t automatically get your license back when your suspension period runs out. Instead, the Florida DMV requires drivers to submit paperwork and reinstatement fees to regain access to your driving privileges.

If you’re not sure whether or not you need a license reinstatement, you can

check the status of your driver’s license online

MORE:

Can you get car insurance with a suspended license?

How to get a license reinstatement in Florida

There are a few ways to get a suspended license reinstated in the state of Florida, depending on the nature of the driver license suspension. Some require completion of a driver improvement course—traffic school—and you may need to pay an overdue fee.

If your suspension was due to traffic citations and court suspensions: You’ll need to fulfill court requirements, pay outstanding charges, and contact the traffic court where your ticket was issued. Send a receipt of fees or completion documents to your local

Florida driver’s license service center

, along with a $45 reinstatement fee.

If your suspension was due to driver violation points: You can apply for reinstatement after the suspension period has expired. Submit proof that you completed

an Advanced Driver Improvement (ADI) course

and a $45 reinstatement fee to your local license service center.

If your license was revoked: You can usually apply for reinstatement once the revocation period ends. Follow the same procedure as a point suspension by completing an ADI course and sending the proof to your local service center. The reinstatement fee for a revoked license is $75—and you may have additional costs to pay depending on the circumstances.

How to pay your fees: You can submit documentation and

a reinstatement fee

of $45 or $75 (depending on the circumstances) to the following address:

The Bureau of Motorist Compliance

P.O. Box 5775

Tallahassee, Florida 32314-5775

Make any checks or money orders payable to the Division of Motorist Services, and allow up to 10 business days for processing.

Depending on the citation, you can also potentially clear the suspension over the phone by calling 850-617-3000 or online through the

Florida Department of Revenue website

Keep in mind: As of July 2022, the fees required for a license reinstatement were lowered, allowing clerks to charge only $25 (or less than 10% of the total owed) for a down payment on unpaid fines and fees.

How to get a hardship license in Florida

It can be difficult to get around without a vehicle. Thankfully, Florida allows drivers with certain suspensions to apply for hardship licenses. These grant permissions for driving under restricted circumstances like getting to and from school or work.

Who qualifies: Unpaid traffic tickets exclude you from getting a hardship license if they were the reason for your suspension. Otherwise, you can apply for a hardship license through your local Administrative Reviews Office for point violations and some license revocations.

How to get a hardship license: Submit proof of ADI completion with an

Application for Administrative Hearing

and a $12 filing fee. You can request an expedited review, which authorizes the Bureau of Administrative Reviews to decide your case based only on your submitted documents. Another option is a hearing where you can give testimony to explain why you need a hardship license.

When you can apply:

If your license was suspended due to a points violation: You can apply immediately

If your license was revoked due to a drug conviction: You’ll need to wait six months from the revocation date

If your license was revoked because you’re a habitual traffic offender (HTO): You must wait one year from the revocation date

Filing for an SR-22 certificate

If your Florida license has been suspended or revoked, you may be required to file for an SR-22 or

FR-44 certificate

through your insurance provider. Sometimes called “SR-22 insurance,” these certificates constitute legal proof that you’ve met Florida’s minimum insurance requirements.

You might be required to file

a Florida SR-22 certificate

for the following offenses:

Repeated tickets or a habitual traffic offender (HTO) designation

Driving without insurance

Driving with a suspended or revoked license

If you’ve committed any of the following offenses, you may be required to file an FR-44 certificate:

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Causing bodily injury while driving under the influence

Any driving violation that involves controlled substances, serious bodily injury, or death

You’ll file an SR-22/FR-44 through your insurance company and pay a small fee of around $15-$25. Although the filing process is typically inexpensive, driving with an SR-22 or FR-44 certificate is guaranteed to skyrocket your insurance premiums.

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