How to Get a Louisiana License Reinstatement
To get a Louisiana driver’s license reinstatement, be prepared to wait out the suspension period and pay a fee from $50 to $300.
Written by R.E. Fulton
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If your Louisiana driver’s license has been suspended by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) or Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), you’ll need to pay a fee and serve your suspension or submit evidence of compliance before you can get your
Louisiana
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The process to reinstate a
suspended license in Louisiana
depends partly on the reason for the suspension. In most cases, though, you’ll need to complete three basic steps: - Serve the full suspension period
- Send proof of compliance, if necessary, to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV)
- Pay the reinstatement fee
There are two alternatives to the reinstatement process. If you think that your license was unfairly suspended, you can request an administrative hearing to dispute it. Or, if you know that the suspension was fair but need a license in order to get to work, school, or other essential functions, you can apply for a restricted hardship license for use during the suspension period.
We’ll go over all your options—starting with the reinstatement process.
If your license was suspended due to a DWI/UDUI
One of the most common reasons for a suspended license in Louisiana is driving while intoxicated or under the influence (including UDUI, or underage DUI). If you’re convicted of a
Louisiana DWI or UDUI
, you’ll need to serve the following suspension term: - DWI (first offense): One year
- DWI w/BAC over .20 (first offense): Two years
- DWI (second offense): Two years
- DWI w/BAC over .20 (second offense): Four years
- DWI (third offense): Three years
- UDUI: One year
Once you’ve completed the mandatory suspension/disqualification period, you’ll be able to submit proof of financial responsibility to the OMV in the form of a
Louisiana SR-22 certificate
. This document, usually filed by your insurance company, certifies that you’ve got the liability insurance coverage required by state law, and you must maintain it for three years from the date of your conviction. In addition to serving your suspension and filing an SR-22, you must pay the following fee to the Louisiana OMV:
- 1st DWI: $100
- 2nd DWI: $200
- 3rd DWI: $300
- UDUI: $60
If your license was suspended due to a BAC test
Your license may be suspended for an unlawful blood alcohol concentration (BAC) before you’re convicted of a DWI. If you submit to a BAC test, Louisiana law calls this type of arrest a “Submit.”
To get your license back, you’ll need to serve a certain period of suspension, pay a $50 fee, and possibly install an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle. The table below gives a breakdown of the reinstatement requirements based on your age, BAC, and number of offenses.
Violation | BAC | Suspension period | Length of interlock requirement (if ordered) |
|---|---|---|---|
First offense (21+ years) / First offense w/out-of-state license | .08 – .19 | 90 days (three months) | 180 days (six months) |
First offense (any age) / First offense w/out-of-state license | .20 or above | 730 days (two years) | 730 days (two years) |
Second offense (21+ years) / Second offense w/out-of-state license | .08 – .19 | 365 days (one year) | 365 days (one year) |
Second offense (any age) / Second offense w/out-of-state license | .20 or above | 1,460 days (four years) | 1,460 days (four years) |
Third offense (21+) / Third offense w/out-of-state license | .08 or above | 365 days (one year) | 365 days (one year) |
Underage offense | .02 – .19 | 180 days (six months) | 180 days (six months) |
An ignition interlock device is typically required if the crash involved moderate to serious bodily injury or a child age 12 or younger, or if you have a previous alcohol violation.
If your license was suspended due to refusal to take a BAC test
Refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test comes with its own penalties—and a slightly more involved reinstatement process.
The table below summarizes the suspension period and potential interlock requirements for an arrest for refusal to submit to a chemical BAC test. In order to reinstate your license after this type of arrest, you’ll need to serve the suspension, pay a $50 fee, install the IID if necessary, and file an SR-22 for three years from your original arrest date.
Violation | Date of arrest | Suspension period | Length of interlock requirement (if ordered) |
|---|---|---|---|
First offense | On or after 9/01/2009 | 365 days (one year) | 365 days (one year) |
Second offense | On or after 9/01/2009 | 730 days (two years) | 730 days (two years) |
Third offense | On or after 9/01/2009 | 730 days (two years) | 730 days (two years) |
First offense w/fatality or serious injury | On or after 9/01/2009 | 365 days (one year) | 365 days (one year) |
Second offense w/fatality or serious injury | On or after 9/01/2009 | 730 days (two years) | 730 days (two years) |
First offense | Prior to 9/01/2009 | 180 days (six months) | 180 days (six months) |
Second offense | Prior to 9/01/2009 | 545 days (18 months) | 545 days (18 months) |
Third offense | Prior to 9/01/2009 | 545 days (18 months) | 545 days (18 months) |
First offense w/fatality or serious injury | Prior to 9/01/2009 | 545 days (18 months) | 545 days (18 months) |
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The same penalties apply to this offense regardless of age or license type (e.g. out-of-state).
If your license was suspended due to an unpaid traffic ticket or failure to appear in court
To get your license back after suspension for unpaid traffic tickets or a failure to appear in court, you must submit proof of compliance. That could include:
- A receipt from your traffic ticket payment
- A continuance form for your new court date
- The final disposition of an affidavit
- Compliance including the ticket number
You’ll also need to submit a fee, which varies depending on your circumstances and the location of the court. For most Louisiana courts, the fee is $100, while out-of-state courts have a $60 fee. In the city of
Shreveport
, the fee is $87.50. If your license was suspended due to driving on a suspended license
Driving with a suspended license will add one year to your existing suspension term. Once you’ve completed that suspension period, all you need to do is pay your $60 reinstatement fee by phone or mail.
If your license was suspended due to nonpayment of taxes or child support
Your Louisiana driver’s license can be suspended for things that aren’t directly related to your driving record, such as unpaid income taxes or child support.
In this case, there’s no set suspension period. Instead, the most important thing is to demonstrate compliance to the OMV. That means sending in proof that you’ve paid your income taxes or child support (including a LASES number from Louisiana Support Enforcement Services). If you can’t provide that proof, you may also be able to submit:
- A Certified Compliance Release from the Louisiana Department of Revenue (if your license was suspended for unpaid taxes)
- A release certificate or Partial Compliance Release from the Department of Social Services (DSS) (if your license was suspended for unpaid child support)
Regardless of how you show (or avoid) compliance, you’ll need to pay a $60 fee to get your driving privileges reinstated.
Where to submit your reinstatement documents
The driver’s license reinstatement process in Louisiana has one special snag: you can’t do it in person at OMV field offices. To submit the required documents for reinstatement, you can use the following options:
- By phone: Call the OMV call center at 225-925-6146 and select Option 3 to access driver’s license reinstatement services.
- By mail: Send your documents and fees to P.O. Box 64886 Baton Rouge, LA 70896
In-person reinstatement services may also be offered at your local Public Tag Agency (PTA). The OMV maintains an online list of
PTA locations
. Louisiana driver’s license reinstatement fees
The fee to reinstate your Louisiana license depends on the nature of the violation. We’ve listed them above, but the table below compares them all for convenience.
Reason for suspension | Reinstatement fee |
|---|---|
DWI (first offense) | $100 |
DWI (second offense) | $200 |
DWI (third and subsequent offenses) | $300 |
UDUI | $60 |
Unlawful BAC test | $50 |
Refusal to submit to BAC test | $50 |
Unpaid ticket/failure to appear (Louisiana court) | $100 |
Unpaid ticket/failure to appear (out-of-state court) | $60 |
Unpaid ticket/failure to appear (City of Shreveport) | $87.50 |
Driving with a suspended license | $60 |
Unpaid taxes/child support | $60 |
You can use the following methods to pay your reinstatement fee:
- By phone: Debit or credit card
- By mail: Money order, cashier’s check, or certified funds
- With a public tag agent: Contact your local agency
MORE: Where to complete your Louisiana vehicle registration
How to check your Louisiana driver’s license status
If you’re not sure whether your license has been suspended, you can use the OMV’s
online reinstatement status checker
to verify the status of your license. You’ll need your driver’s license number and the last four digits of your Social Security number to check on your suspended driver’s license. MORE: Louisiana driver’s license renewal process
Alternatives to driver’s license reinstatement
The main steps to reinstate a suspended license in Louisiana are waiting out the suspension period and paying the requisite fine. But what if you can’t afford the fine—or if you need your driving privileges back sooner?
Request a hearing
If you feel that your license was wrongly suspended, you have 30 days from the date of your arrest to request an administrative hearing. Mail your written request to the OMV at P.O. Box 64886 Baton Rouge, LA 70896, or visit your local OMV field office to request the hearing.
Apply for a hardship license
If you have no other means of transportation, you can apply for a temporary hardship license, a form of restricted license that allows you to drive to and from work, school, and other necessary activities for the duration of your suspension.
You must complete at least 30 days of your suspension before you become eligible to apply for a hardship license. At that point, you can apply to your parish’s district court. The court will determine your eligibility and either issue or deny your license.
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FAQs
Will my license still be suspended if I pay my reinstatement fee in Louisiana?
It could be—if you haven’t satisfied the other requirements for reinstatement. In most cases, you’ll have to serve the full suspension period, submit evidence of compliance, or both.
What is the reinstatement number for Louisiana driver's license suspensions?
For information about Louisiana driver’s license reinstatement, or to reinstate your suspended license, call 225-925-6146 and select Option 3.
