If your Louisiana driver's license has been suspended, you must pay a fee of $60 to $300 to reinstate the license after the terms of your suspension have been fulfilled.

Louisiana may

suspend

or revoke your license if you've been convicted of driving under the influence, driving without

car insurance

, or too many moving violations. Fortunately, license suspension is temporary—but your license does not automatically reinstate once your suspension is over. You usually must file paperwork and pay a reinstatement fee.

The process can get complicated, but don't worry.

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Why you might need a license reinstatement in Louisiana

A wide variety of violations can lead to a suspended license in Louisiana, and the terms of your suspension depend on your offense. Some suspensions last six months or less, while others can run for two years.

In most cases, you are liable for a reinstatement fee of $60 at the end of your license suspension period. If you were convicted of a more serious offense, such as driving under the influence, your reinstatement fee may climb as high as $300.

You can check the status of your driver's license reinstatement through the

Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles website

. You'll just need your driver's license number and the last four digits of your Social Security number.

MORE:

Louisiana car insurance laws—all you need to know

How to get a license reinstatement in Louisiana

Once your suspension period is over, you should be able to reinstate your driver's license as long as you have paid any required fines and have not incurred any additional suspensions. For most drivers, reinstatement entails a $60 fee to the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections.

Drivers whose licenses were suspended due to driving under the influence must pay larger fees. For example:

DUI

on record prior to application of reinstatement: $100

Two DUIs on record prior to application of reinstatement: $200

For each DUI on record after the second DUI prior to application of reinstatement: $300

Traffic citations and court suspensions

Louisiana may suspend your license if you fail to pay certain taxes, fines, or fees. In this case, reinstatement or renewal of your suspended license will be denied until you pay or show that you've made arrangements to pay all costs, including the delinquent tax and any interest and penalties.

Once you've settled those debts, the Louisiana Department of Revenue notifies the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. At that point, you should qualify to reinstate your license.

Revocations

Suspension and revocation are different. When your driver's license is revoked, it is essentially canceled, and you must submit to an investigation by the state of Louisiana before you can get a new driver's license.

Key Takeaway Most drivers can reinstate their suspended licenses by paying a $60 reinstatement fee after fulfilling the license suspension period. Those who were convicted of driving under the influence may be liable for larger fees.

MORE:

How to get a suspended license reinstated

How to get a hardship license in Louisiana

If your license suspension is a first offense, you may qualify for a hardship license, which allows you to drive to necessary places like school or work even while your license is suspended. In a state like Louisiana, which is full of rural areas, this may come in handy.

Note that for many drivers—specifically those with DUIs—a hardship license entails this installation of an ignition interlock device. This is an in-car breath screening device that measures alcohol levels. This device keeps your car from starting if it detects blood alcohol at or above a certain limit.

To apply for a hardship license in Louisiana, you must demonstrate that you need to drive in order to support and maintain your life.

When can you apply for a hardship license?

Louisiana requires drivers to meet a 30-day minimum suspension before they can apply for a hardship license. After that threshold, you may petition your parish's district court for a hardship license.

MORE:

Is my license suspended?

What is an SR-22 certificate?

In most states, if your driver's license has been suspended or revoked, you must file for an SR-22 certificate, often called

SR-22 insurance

. In Louisiana, this is a certificate verifying that you have the minimum amount of

liability coverage

legally required by the state.

This minimum coverage includes:

$15,000 per individual for

bodily injury

$30,000 per accident for bodily injury

$25,000 per accident for

property damage

If you plan to apply for a hardship license, you may have to file for an SR-22 certificate first. In most cases, you must maintain your SR-22 certificate for three years following a license suspension. If you cancel this certificate or let it lapse, you run the risk of having your license suspended again.

In most cases, your insurance company will file for an SR-22 on your behalf. However, not all are willing to issue SR-22s, as this certificate usually indicates that you are a

high-risk driver

. Bear this in mind if you're shopping for a new car insurance company.

MORE:

SR-22 in Louisiana: What you need to know

How to save money on car insurance in Louisiana

Keep in mind that if your license has been suspended or revoked, your insurance premium may drastically increase. That's why it's more important than ever to find the best possible deal on car insurance. Fortunately,

Jerry

can help you with that.

Jerry is a car insurance comparison super app, and within a minute of downloading, it presents you with personalized insurance quotes from more than 50 top companies. Jerry will even sign you up for a new policy and help you cancel your old one.

And don't forget the best part: Jerry users save an average of $887 per year on car insurance. These savings may come especially in handy after reinstating your suspended driver's license.

“
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