How to Get an Oregon Driver’s License Reinstatement

To have your Oregon driver’s license reinstated, you must pay $75 and meet any additional requirements set out in your court case.
Written by Holden Easterbrook
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If you need to get your driver’s license reinstated in
Oregon
, you’ll need to pay a fee of $75 and any other requirements mandated by the court.
  • Your suspension notification should contain the details of your license reinstatement process. It always involves at least a $75 reinstatement fee.
  • If you’re required to serve out a suspension sentence, you can apply for a hardship license to take your vehicle to work or other essential events.
  • Some reinstatement processes may require filing an SR-22, which often results in a sharp increase in your
    Oregon car insurance costs
    .

How to get a license reinstatement in Oregon

There are a few different ways to reinstate your
Oregon driver's license
, which can be found in your Suspension Notice. This should be delivered to the mailing address on file with the Oregon DMV.
For example: Someone with a DUI conviction will have different requirements than someone who failed to pay child support.
Figuring out the reason for your
license suspension
can be difficult, so it’s a good idea to check out the
official guide
for help interpreting it. 
Here are the main ways to reinstate your license.

Failure to appear reinstatement

If you’ve missed a required court appearance in either Oregon or
Washington
, you could have your license suspended for 10 years or until the Driver and Motor Vehicle Services Division of the Department of Transportation receives evidence that the court has cleared your case.
In this case, you can only get your license reinstated by:
  • Returning your driver’s license to the local DMV
  • Contacting the court that issued the suspension and rescheduling your appearance
  • Appearing in circuit court and obtaining an official clearance document to be given to the DMV (document may be sent electronically)
  • Paying your reinstatement fee of $75
If you’ve fallen behind on child support payments, the Oregon Child Support Program will have the DMV suspend your driver’s license.
To get your license reinstated, you’ll need to:
  • Surrender your driver’s license to the DMV
  • Contact the
    Oregon Child Support Program
    to discuss your options for getting your license reinstated, such as setting up a payment plan for back payments
  • Pay a $75 reinstatement fee
If you’re charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants (DUII), or other public-safety-related traffic violations, your driver’s license will often be suspended. 
The exact period of revocation will be determined by the severity of your
DUI conviction
and whether you’re a habitual offender.
To have your license reinstated, you’ll have to:
  • Turn your driver’s license over to the DMV
  • Serve out the period of your driver’s license suspension
  • Satisfy all court-ordered requirements, such as completing Oregon’s Driver Improvement Program, installing an ignition interlock device (IID), and/or completing a drug or alcohol treatment program
  • Pay your reinstatement fee of $75
  • Have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle. The court may or may not require this

When you need a license reinstatement in Oregon

The
Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles
has the power to revoke or suspend your driving privileges for many reasons—failure to appear in court, multiple traffic offenses, and even missing child support payments.
It’s not always obvious when your license is suspended. If you’re unsure of the current status of your Oregon driver’s license, you can
check it online
through the state’s DMV website.

How to get a hardship permit in Oregon

If you need a vehicle for work or something else while your license is suspended, you may be granted a hardship permit that will allow you to drive—so long as you follow certain restrictions.
If you want to find out your eligibility for a hardship permit,
contact the Oregon DMV
for more information. Note that you can’t receive a hardship permit if your license was suspended due to a traffic crime.
To receive a hardship permit, you must wait to apply until the license suspension is in effect. 
Once the suspension is in effect, you’ll need to:
  • Attach all the required documentation
  • Include a fee payment (check or money order)
  • Mail the application, documents, and fee payment to: DMV - Driver Suspension Unit, 1905 Lana Avenue NE, Salem, OR 97314
In some cases, you may be required to serve out your mandatory suspension period before you can apply.

Some reinstatement processes require an SR-22

While it is not always required, you may need to purchase
SR-22 auto insurance
as part of your driver’s license reinstatement process.
The purpose of filing an
SR-22 in Oregon
is to provide proof that you are meeting the requirements of
Oregon’s minimum liability insurance laws
. This will be given to the DMV to fulfill your reinstatement requirements.
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