Reinstating Florida Driver's License

You might consider your capacity to get behind the wheel of a car and drive to be a right. Driving, on the other hand, is a state-granted privilege. This privilege may be revoked if you violate the law. In rare cases, your driving privilege may be revoked for life. However, in most cases, your driver's license is only suspended for a limited time. It could be for six months or five years. When the suspension or revocation period expires, you will be able to drive again. You must first reinstate your driver's license before you may make use of it.

Understand How License Suspensions Work

Drivers' licenses in Florida can be suspended for a variety of reasons, including the following:
  • Failure to pay traffic citations
  • Failure to pass a vision examination
  • Failure to appear in court for a traffic summons
  • Driving while intoxicated (DUI)
  • Having an excessive number of violation points on your record
  • One of the most typical grounds for a license suspension is the accumulation of violation points. Minor offenses, such as failure to stop or speeding, result in violation points over time. Drivers' licenses can be suspended if they accumulate too many points in a short period.
The term of license suspension varies depending on the overall number of points and the accrual period. Drivers in Florida can have their licenses suspended for up to a year.
  • 30-day suspension – 12 points for traffic violations in 12 months
  • 3-month suspension – 18 points for traffic violations in 18 months
  • 12-month suspension — 24 points for traffic violations in 36 months
Even a 30-day suspension can be a considerable impediment to daily living for many people. Fortunately, most Florida drivers who have had their license suspended can apply for a hardship license. Drivers with a Florida hardship license can still go to work, pick up their children, and perform other necessary chores while their license is suspended.

Reinstate Your Suspended Florida Driver's License

Following a suspension, Florida state regulations allow drivers to earn back part of their driving rights. One possibility is to have your license reinstated. In contrast to a hardship license, reinstatement will restore your full driving privileges. In Florida, the requirements for reinstatement of a suspended license differ based on the conviction and whether it is your first offense. Your Notice of Suspension letter will include a detailed summary of all reinstatement requirements that apply to your situation. You can also contact your local Florida driver's license center to determine what procedures you need to do to get your Florida driver's license reissued. FLHSMV professionals can discuss your case with you over the phone or in person. Below are the general steps that need to be taken to get your Florida driver's license reinstated.

Step 1: Complete The Suspension Period

After the suspension time is over, the person gets reinstated. You must apply for a hardship license if you want to drive before the suspension period expires.

Step 2: Enroll In An ADI Course

You must complete or be enrolled in an Advanced Driver Improvement (ADI) course before your license can be reinstated. It is the same course required for a hardship license. Once enrolled, you will be sent an enrollment verification letter, which must be returned before your license may be reactivated.

Step 3: Meet The Conditions

You may also be asked to accomplish the following tasks:
  • Drug and alcohol course
  • Jail sentence
  • Probationary period
  • DMV-approved traffic school
  • Court-ordered community service
The circumstances fluctuate from one situation to the next. You'll need to go over the Notice of Suspension letter and other court paperwork to figure out what requirements must be completed before you can be reinstated.

Step 4: Pay Your Fees

After you've completed the first three steps, you'll need to visit your nearest Florida driver's license service center. Any outstanding fines must be paid. The reinstatement charge of $45 is included in this figure. To get your license reactivated, you'll also need to present the enrollment verification letter. So there you have it. If your license has been suspended, this does not imply you will never be able to drive again. That is, you must obtain further education, identify the skills you need to improve, and then gradually return to normal driving.