What a Missouri hardship license does and who can get one
A Missouri hardship license (officially called a Restricted Driving Permit) lets you drive to specific places—work, school, medical appointments, court—while your license is suspended. You cannot use it for errands, social trips, or any other reason. It is not a full license, and it does not restore your driving privileges; it carves out narrow exceptions to a suspension that is still in effect.
You can request one if your license was suspended for a DWI conviction, accumulating too many points, or failing to pay child support or traffic fines. You cannot get one if your suspension is for a medical reason (like failing a vision test) or if you are under 16. The suspension must have been in place for at least 30 days before you can even ask.
Missouri does not mail these to you. You have to go to your local Missouri Department of Revenue office in person, bring the right documents, and pay a fee. The office will tell you on the spot whether you meet the rules for your specific suspension reason.
Key Takeaways
- A Restricted Driving Permit in Missouri allows you to drive only to work, school, medical care, court, or to meet with your lawyer—nowhere else.
- You must wait at least 30 days after your suspension begins before you can request one, and you have to go to a Department of Revenue office in person.
- The fee is $10, and you will need your suspension notice, proof of insurance, and a list of the specific places you need to drive to.
- If your suspension is for a DWI, you may also need to show proof that you have enrolled in a substance abuse program or completed one.
- The permit is valid only while your suspension is active; once your suspension ends, the permit expires.
The 30-day waiting period and when you become may be able to access
Missouri law requires you to serve at least 30 days of your suspension before you can request a Restricted Driving Permit. This means if your suspension started on January 1st, you cannot walk into a Department of Revenue office and ask for one until January 31st at the earliest.
The 30 days runs from the date the suspension took effect, not from the date you received the notice. If you are unsure of your exact suspension start date, call your local Department of Revenue office or check your suspension notice—it should say when the suspension began.
Once you have served 30 days, you can request the permit at any time during the suspension period. There is no important date to ask, but the permit will only be valid until your suspension ends. If you wait until the last week of a three-month suspension to request one, you will have a permit for only a few days.
Documents you need to bring to the Department of Revenue
Bring your suspension notice (the official letter from Missouri saying your license is suspended). If you cannot find it, the Department of Revenue office can look up your record, but having the notice speeds things up. You will also need proof of current car insurance—a valid insurance card or a printed declaration page from your insurance company. Missouri requires you to carry insurance, and the office will not issue a permit without proof.
Bring a written list of the specific places you need to drive to. Write down your employer's name and address, your school's name and address if you are a student, your doctor's office address if you have regular medical appointments, or your lawyer's office address if you are working with an attorney. The more specific you are, the better. "Work" is not enough; the office needs the actual business name and street address.
Bring your photo ID (a passport, military ID, or another government-issued ID). You will also need to pay a $10 fee—bring cash or a debit card, as not all offices accept checks.
If your suspension is for a DWI, bring proof that you have enrolled in or completed a substance abuse program. This might be a letter from the program, a certificate of completion, or an enrollment confirmation. If you have not enrolled yet, ask the office staff whether you can come back once you have proof, or whether you need to enroll before they will issue the permit.
How to find your nearest Department of Revenue office
Missouri has Department of Revenue offices in most counties. Go to the official Missouri Department of Revenue website and use their office locator tool, or call 573-526-2407 to find the office nearest you. Some offices are in county courthouses; others are in standalone state buildings. Hours vary by location, so check before you go.
Many offices accept walk-ins, but some require you to make an appointment first. Call ahead or check the office's page on the state website to see whether you need to book a time slot. If the office is very busy, you may wait 30 minutes to an hour even with an appointment.
Bring all your documents in a folder or envelope so they do not get lost or bent. The office staff will review them, ask you questions about where you need to drive, and either issue the permit on the spot or tell you what is missing. If something is missing, they will tell you what to bring back.
What happens after you get your Restricted Driving Permit
Once issued, your permit is a physical card that looks similar to a regular Missouri driver's license. Carry it with you every time you drive. If you are stopped by police, show both your permit and your proof of insurance. The permit is only valid for the specific routes and purposes listed on it—if you drive somewhere else, you are driving on a suspended license, which is a separate crime.
The permit expires on the same date your suspension ends. If your suspension was for 90 days, your permit is good for those 90 days and no longer. If your suspension is lifted early (for example, because you paid off a fine or completed a required program), your permit ends at that time too.
If you need to add a new location—a new job, a new doctor—go back to the Department of Revenue office and ask for an amended permit. Bring the same documents plus proof of the new location (a job offer letter, a doctor's appointment card, or similar). There may be an additional fee, though some offices waive it for amendments.
Restrictions and what you cannot do with a Restricted Driving Permit
Your permit is not a license. You can drive only to the places listed on it and only for the reasons listed. You cannot drive to the grocery store, the gym, a friend's house, a restaurant, or anywhere else, even if it is on the way to work. You cannot drive for pleasure or to run personal errands. If you are caught driving outside the permitted routes or for unpermitted reasons, you can be charged with driving with a suspended license, which carries fines, possible jail time, and a longer suspension.
The permit does not restore your right to drive a commercial vehicle or to drive for work that requires a commercial license. If your job requires a commercial driver's license (CDL), a Restricted Driving Permit will not help you.
You still have to follow all traffic laws. Speeding, running a red light, or any other violation while driving on your permit can result in additional charges on top of the original suspension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a Restricted Driving Permit if my license was suspended for too many points?
Yes. Point-based suspensions (usually after accumulating 12 or more points in a three-year period) may have access to you for a permit after 30 days. You will need your suspension notice, proof of insurance, and a list of where you need to drive. The process is the same as for any other suspension.
What if I do not have proof of insurance?
You cannot get a permit without it. Missouri law requires proof of current insurance before the Department of Revenue will issue one. Contact your insurance company and ask them to email or mail you a proof of insurance document or a declaration page. This usually takes a few hours to a day.
Can I use my permit to drive to places not on the list if it is an emergency?
No. The permit is strict about where you can drive. If you have a genuine emergency (a medical crisis, for example), call 911 instead of driving yourself. If you drive outside your permitted routes, you are breaking the law, even in an emergency.
What happens to my permit when my suspension ends?
Your permit expires automatically on the date your suspension ends. You do not need to turn it in or do anything else. Once your suspension is over, you can explore to have your full license reinstated through the normal process.
Can I get a permit if I have not paid a traffic fine yet?
It depends on why your license was suspended. If it was suspended because you did not pay a fine, you may need to set up a payment plan or pay part of it before the office will issue a permit. Call your local Department of Revenue office and ask what payment arrangements they accept.