In the United States, about 2.59% of all drivers say that they have a suspended drivers license.
If this is you, don’t panic. There are ways to get your license back so that you can legally drive again.
Regardless of why your license was suspended, keep reading for seven tips on how to get it back.
1. Take a Class
These may be some reasons why your license was suspended:
- Too many driving points
- Reckless driving
- DUI
If any of these happen, you need to take an approved class before you can get your license reinstated. Depending on why your license was suspended, you could have to take a DUI program.
A nonprofit organization typically hosts these, and they also include alcohol and drug education. The amount of time you’ll have to spend on the course depends on whether or not it was your first offense.
However, most of these courses only take a few hours. You will have to pay a fee to take the course, and the fee will depend on the number of previous offenses.
If you were suspended because of too many points, then you may have to take a basic road rules class as a refresher.
If you were suspended because of reckless driving, you may have to take a defensive driving program. This could also be a driver improvement class, like the one you’d take if you had too many points.
In these classes, you’ll get a refresher on basic driving and safety measures. You may even have to take a driving test with an instructor before you can pass. In some states, these classes are only available online, but sometimes you have to attend in person.
2. File an Appeal
You can also file an appeal. Appealing DVLA decisions has happened before, but it could be a long process.
In most cases, you can reach out to the DMV or the Department of Transportation. They should have mailed you your suspension letter (which states why you were suspended).
If you don’t receive a letter, you can call the DMV or check their database. You may have your license suspended because of a DUI or too many points on your driving record, or because you didn’t pay child support or any court fees.
Once you have that letter, you can file an appeal with them to contest the issue.
3. Pay Any Fees
When you’re applying to reinstate your license, you’ll also have to pay a fee. The fee will vary depending on what state you’re in, but it could be as little as $25 or as much as $1,200.
If you can’t pay this fee, then you won’t be able to have your license reinstated.
4. Get Insurance
Again, depending on what state you live in, they might also require you to get special insurance before you can reinstate your license.
You’ll have to get an SR-22 form, which is also known as a certificate of financial responsibility. Until you have this, you can’t legally drive.
This document is important to have because it means that you meet the state’s auto liability requirements. You’ll need to carry this with you along with your proof of insurance.
However, keep in mind that not every insurance company will offer them. If your current insurer doesn’t, you will need to switch providers to find one that does.
6. Contest a Ticket
If your license is suspended because of a ticket, you can contest the ticket in court. You can do this on your own, but it might help to have the help of a lawyer with you.
Fighting tickets can cost extra money and time, so before you start the process, ensure you actually want to do it. Each ticket has different time frames of when you have to contest it, so you should look up the local traffic rules in your state.
For example, in California, you don’t have to actually show up. You can send in a written contestation.
6. Request a Hearing
In some states, you can request a hearing to contest your suspension. You’ll need to submit a request for a hearing, and then wait for them to contact you with a date.
Some states don’t require an in-person hearing, they just request a written form. However, some states also don’t have a form. Check out your state’s government page for more information.
7. Prepare for the Hearing
If your hearing is approved, then you’ll need to prepare for it. Each license suspension hearing is basically an informal trial.
You’ll get a chance to make your argument, give sworn testimony, and provide evidence that contests your license suspension.
You can even make an opening statement to the judge to make your case even stronger. When you end your argument, showcase why you think the judge should end up ruling in your favor.
To prepare, you should gather any documentation that helps support your claim. If there are any witnesses, you can contact them and see if they will come and testify on your behalf.
Before you go into the trial, make sure you understand all of the laws and whether or not they were applied. If this sounds confusing, it might help to hire a lawyer.
Learn More About Having a Suspended Drivers License
These tips should help you reinstate your suspended drivers license. However, if they don’t, it may be helpful to call an attorney.
If you don’t have the money for an attorney, then we can offer some extra help.
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