Getting Your Driver’s License Back

When people get out of jail, they often can’t legally drive because their driver’s license was suspended or revoked before going to jail or prison. 

In 2024, Minnesota started issuing a conditional driver’s license called a Reintegration Driver’s License (RDL). This lets people who have been released from custody drive legally, even if their driver’s license is suspended for past violations.

Things to know:

• You may have to pay old traffic fines and fees you owe to the court to be able to get your RDL. But the Department of Public Safety (DPS) can’t charge you fines or fees
   
• You don’t have to pay a reinstatement fee
   
• The RDL is valid for 24 months
   
• The RDL is cancelled if you commit a new violation that causes a suspension or revocation of a driver’s license

After 12 months, if your RDL has not been cancelled, you can apply for a regular driver’s license. 

You MAY be eligible for an RDL if:

• your driver’s license was suspended or revoked before you were incarcerated  AND
• you were incarcerated at least 180 days in a row  AND
• you apply within 365 days of release 

If your license was cancelled because you did not have proof of insurance, you have to give Driver & Vehicle Services proof of insurance to get your RDL.

• You never had a driver’s license or permit before
• You are ordered to drive a vehicle with ignition interlock
• Your driver’s license is cancelled IPS (inimical to public safety- meaning you driving is a risk to safety)
• Your driver’s license was revoked because you hurt or killed someone while driving
• There is an unpaid child support suspension on your record 
   

Visit the Driver & Vehicle Services website for more details. 

An RDL is good for 24 months. You cannot renew an RDL.

After you have an RDL for at least 12 months, if it has not been cancelled, you can apply for a regular driver’s license. When you apply, you have to:

• Take care of any court fines.
• Pay the fee for the new license. See the list of fees on the Department of Vehicle Services website.
• If another state put a hold on your license, you need to take care of that hold.

As long as you apply for your regular license within 90 days after your RDL expires, you do NOT have to pay reinstatement fees. This includes the $680 reinstatement fee for DWI-related offenses.

If your driver’s license is revoked (taken away) for a DWI-related offense, you may be able to pay the $680 reinstatement fee in 2 parts or all at once. You also pay a $30 filing fee each time you make a payment. Income doesn’t matter for this option. If you can split payments depends on the exact DWI offense you were convicted of. Ask DVS if you can use this option.

If you pay $395 ($365 + $30 filing fee) your driver’s license is reinstated for 2 years. During those 2 years you can make the second payment of $345 ($315 + $30 filing fee).

If you don’t pay the full amount after 2 years, your license is revoked again until you pay it.

Starting in January 2022, Minnesota doesn’t suspend driver’s licenses because:

• You didn’t pay a fine or fee for a traffic violation.
   
• You didn’t appear in court on a petty misdemeanor traffic violation. This includes things like speeding, distracted driving, running a red light, parking tickets, or equipment violations.
   
• You paid a ticket for driving after suspension or driving after revocation.

If your license is suspended for other reasons, like unpaid child support, you have to fix the problem before you get your driver’s license reinstated. You also may have to pay a reinstatement fee of $20.

If your license was suspended for any of these reasons, even if it was before January 2022, contact the Department of Vehicle Services and ask if you can have your driver’s license reinstated. 

If you think your license may be eligible for reinstatement, contact Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS):

• call 651-296-2025
• visit DVS online at drive.mn.gov   
• visit your local DVS office