To get a license reinstatment in Minnesota, you have to wait out the duration of the suspension period, fulfill potential court orders, and pay the applicable fines and a driver’s license reinstatement fee.
The process of reinstating a driver’s license can be different for everyone because it varies by offense. Sometimes, all you need to do is pay a reinstatement fee and wait a few weeks. Other times, you may have to follow certain court orders in addition to paying fees, which can take anywhere from a few months to a few years.
While the process of reinstating your license might feel daunting, Jerry
is here to break it down for you. And we'll show you how to get the lowest Minnesota car insurance costs
when you get back behind the wheel. Why you might need a license reinstatement in Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Driver and Vehicle Services division
can recall your driving privileges for a variety of reasons, ranging from an excess of moving violations to vehicular homicide. The court will ultimately rule whether your license will be suspended or revoked (we break these differences down for you in just a sec). Suspensions
If you have to get your license reinstated, you’ve most likely had a suspension
put on your license. Just think of a school suspension—. It’s basically the same idea. When you have a suspension
placed on your license, it means that you’ll lose your driving privilege for a period of time, but not permanently. However, you’ll be able to regain your privileges come the end of that period. Here are some of the most common violations that can lead to license suspension:
Racking up too many moving violations
Driving without a license or with a suspended license
Driving without insurance
Physical or psychological disqualification
Revocations
If a court has your license revoked, you’ll be required to submit an investigation before you can get a new license. This process often takes longer than reinstating a suspended license.
Some of the most common violations that lead to a revoked license:
Driving under the influence
Performing a felony in your vehicle
Perjury or false vehicle statements
Driving Under the Influence
More often than not, when the DPV revokes a license, it’s because the driver was driving under the influence. If this happened to you, your license could be suspended for an indeterminate period of time. Your penalty is based on the specifics of your offense—your blood alcohol content level, number of passengers in your vehicle, injuries, past offenses, etc.
If you were pulled over and refused to take a BAC test, your license could be placed under an administrative suspension. This suspension lasts for 90 days. You can request a hearing to fight this penalty. However, it’s worth noting that this suspension can be given regardless of whether or not you were found guilty of a DUI.
Key Takeaway: There are a number of violations that can get your license suspended or revoked in Minnesota, including reckless driving, habitual tickets, and driving without insurance.
How to get a license reinstatement in Minnesota
Whatever your ruling, once your license is eligible for restoration, you will receive a letter from the Minnesota DVS explaining the steps that you specifically will need to take to have your Minnesota license reinstated.
Most of the time, the process is simple:
Wait out the duration of the suspension period
Pay a driver’s license reinstatement fee
If you are unsure of your driver’s license status
, you can easily check it online. All you need to do is click the link and plug in your driver’s license number. RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
How to pay your reinstatement fee
Whether your license has been restricted, suspended, or revoked, to get back on the road, you’ll need to pay a reinstatement fee. In Minnesota, the price is dependent upon your offense.
If your license was suspended due to a criminal offense or substance use, your reinstatement fee will likely cost $680. All other offenses will require a fee of $20. If you have any questions about your fee, you can call the DVS at (651) 215-1328.
You can choose to pay the fee in person, by check, money order, or online
. If you choose to pay your fee by check or money order, you can mail it to this address:
Driver and Vehicle Services
445 Minnesota St. Suite 168
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Am I eligible for a hardship license?
Depending on your situation, you may be eligible for a hardship license, also known as a limited license. What exactly is a hardship license? Basically, it’s a license that permits you to drive under certain circumstances while your actual license is suspended.
These circumstances can be quite specific, sometimes limiting drivers to driving at certain times of day, under specific traffic conditions, or other set rules.
You may be a candidate for a hardship license if you need to drive to:
Receive medical treatment
Attend chemical dependency treatment or counseling
Take care of dependents in your household
If you think you qualify, you can apply 15 days after your original suspension date. For more information, call (651) 296-6911.
Minnesota Driver Diversion Program (DDP)
Minnesota is fairly understanding when it comes to financial hardship. That’s why it developed the Driver Diversion Program
. The DDP supports drivers with paying fees and completing any requirements necessary for reinstating their license. If you take part in the DDP, you may have the opportunity to develop payment plans, take part in training, and acquire insurance. Most drivers can qualify for the DDP. It’s important to note, however, that to stay in the program one must not accrue any additional violations.
To learn more about the program, you can contact Diversion Solutions
. MORE: How Do Driver Violation Points Affect Your Insurance Rates?
What is an SR-22 certificate?
If you’ve accrued one too many driving violations and are now attempting to have your license reinstated, you may have heard about this thing called an SR-22 certificate
. What is it? A distant relative of R2-D2? What gives? Quickly: an SR-22 is a certificate you file to prove that you have the minimum insurance necessary to legally be back on the road.
However, if you drive with a Minnesota license, then you don’t need to worry about an SR-22. Minnesota is one of the few states that doesn’t require one.
Instead, you simply need to provide the DPV with proof of insurance, or an Insurance Certification Form.
MORE: High-risk car insurance: Everything you need to know
How to save money on car insurance in Montana
After losing your license, you may be deemed by a high-risk driver. Unfortunately, this label often leads to an increase on your car insurance premium. To pay a decent rate, you may need to shop around for new car insurance.
This can be a headache, as each insurance company has its own algorithm for determining the cost of a driver's premium. So many numbers, so little time, and you just want to get back to the road. Instead, leave the hassle to the team at Jerry
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