Where to check your Florida license status
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) runs the official license lookup tool at license.dhsmv.gov. This is the only state-run site where you can see whether your license is valid, suspended, or revoked. You do not need to create an account or pay a fee to use it.
The lookup tool works for any Florida driver's license, learner's permit, or commercial driver's license (CDL). It also shows the status of licenses held by people who have moved out of state but still have an active Florida record. The information updates within one business day of any change DHSMV makes to your record.
Key Takeaways
- Go to license.dhsmv.gov and enter your driver's license number and date of birth to see your current status when ready.
- A valid license shows no suspension, revocation, or restriction; a suspended license means you cannot legally drive until the suspension is lifted.
- Common reasons for suspension include unpaid traffic fines, failure to pay child support, and driving with a suspended license.
- If your license is suspended, the lookup tool shows the reason and the date it will be reinstated, or directs you to contact DHSMV if no end date appears.
- You can also call the DHSMV Customer Service Center at 1-844-5-DHSMV (1-844-534-7368) to speak with someone about your status.
What information you need to look up your license
You will need two pieces of information: your Florida driver's license number and your date of birth. The license number is the eight-digit number printed on the front of your card, usually in the upper right corner. Your date of birth must be entered in the format MM/DD/YYYY.
If you do not have your license number handy, you cannot use the online tool. In that case, call the DHSMV Customer Service Center at 1-844-534-7368 and have your Social Security number and date of birth ready instead. Wait times vary, but the line is typically shorter early in the morning on weekdays.
What the lookup results mean
The tool returns one of three statuses: Valid, Suspended, or Revoked. A valid license means you are legally allowed to drive in Florida and any other state that honors Florida licenses. You have no outstanding holds, fines, or court orders tied to your license.
A suspended license means you cannot legally drive. The suspension is temporary — it will end on a specific date, which the lookup tool displays. Common reasons for suspension include unpaid traffic citations, failure to pay child support ordered by a court, accumulation of too many points from traffic violations, or driving with a suspended license. Some suspensions are administrative (automatic) and others are court-ordered.
A revoked license is more serious than a suspension. Revocation means your license has been permanently cancelled and you cannot drive legally in Florida. You must wait a set period (usually one to five years, depending on the reason) before you can petition DHSMV to reinstate it. Revocation typically follows a DUI conviction, multiple suspensions, or serious traffic violations.
Common reasons your license may be suspended
Florida suspends licenses for many reasons, and some are not related to driving at all. The most common are unpaid traffic fines or court costs, failure to appear in court for a traffic ticket, accumulation of 12 or more points within 12 months (or 18 points within 24 months for drivers over 21), and conviction of a traffic crime like reckless driving or DUI.
Non-driving reasons include failure to pay child support ordered by a Florida court, failure to pay court-ordered restitution, failure to maintain car insurance after a crash, and medical suspension (when DHSMV believes a medical condition makes you unsafe to drive). Some suspensions are also triggered by other states — if you are suspended in Georgia, for example, Florida may suspend your Florida license too under an interstate agreement.
If the lookup tool shows your license is suspended but does not display a reason or reinstatement date, contact DHSMV directly. This usually means your case is still being processed or requires manual review.
How to reinstate a suspended license
The steps depend on why your license was suspended. If it was suspended for unpaid fines or court costs, you must pay the full amount owed to the court that issued the ticket. Once the court reports payment to DHSMV, your suspension is lifted — usually within one to three business days.
If your suspension was for failure to appear in court, you must appear in court (or have an attorney appear for you) and resolve the case. If it was for accumulating too many points, you must wait out the suspension period, which is typically 30 days for a first suspension. If it was for failure to maintain insurance, you must show proof of current insurance to DHSMV.
For child support suspensions, the Florida Department of Revenue must certify to DHSMV that you are current on payments or have made an approved payment arrangement. For medical suspensions, you may need to pass a medical examination or provide a doctor's statement that you are fit to drive.
Once you have resolved the underlying issue, you can request reinstatement through DHSMV. Some reinstatements happen automatically once the court or agency reports the resolution. Others require you to submit a formal reinstatement request and pay a reinstatement fee (usually $45 to $75, depending on the reason for suspension).
Using the lookup tool step by step
Go to license.dhsmv.gov in any web browser. You will see a straightforward form with two fields. In the first field, enter your eight-digit Florida driver's license number. In the second field, enter your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format (for example, 03/15/1985).
Click the "Check License Status" button. The page will display your status within a few seconds. If you entered your information correctly and your license is in the Florida system, you will see either "Valid," "Suspended," or "Revoked." If your license is suspended, the tool will show the reason and the date it will be reinstated (if known). If you entered incorrect information, the tool will ask you to try again.
The lookup tool is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It does not require you to log in, create an account, or provide any information beyond your license number and date of birth. Your search is not saved or tracked by DHSMV.
What to do if you cannot find your license information
If the lookup tool says your license number is not found, check that you entered it correctly. The license number is eight digits and appears on the front of your card. Do not include any letters or dashes. If you are unsure of your number, look at your physical card or your most recent renewal notice.
If you entered the number correctly and still get no results, your license may not be in the Florida system. This can happen if your license expired more than five years ago and was not renewed, or if you never held a Florida license. You can call DHSMV at 1-844-534-7368 to confirm whether you have an active record.
If you have a Florida license but the lookup tool is not working, try again in a few minutes — the site occasionally goes offline for maintenance. If the problem persists, call the DHSMV Customer Service Center. They can look up your status by phone using your Social Security number and date of birth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I look up someone else's license status?
No. The lookup tool requires the license number and date of birth, and DHSMV does not publish this information publicly. You can only look up your own license or, if you have legal authority (such as being a parent of a minor), your dependent's license. Employers and insurance companies have separate systems to verify license status.
How often does the lookup tool update?
The tool updates within one business day of any change DHSMV makes to your record. If you just paid a fine or resolved a suspension, the change may not appear until the next business day. Courts and other agencies may take longer to report the change to DHSMV, so allow a few days before assuming the tool is wrong.
What if my license shows suspended but I already fixed the problem?
Wait one to three business days for DHSMV to receive and process the update from the court or agency that resolved your case. If more than three business days have passed, call DHSMV at 1-844-534-7368 with proof that you resolved the issue (a receipt, court order, or letter from the agency). They can manually check your case and may be able to lift the suspension when ready.
Is the license lookup tool the same as checking my driving record?
No. The lookup tool shows only whether your license is valid, suspended, or revoked. Your full driving record includes all traffic violations, points, crashes, and convictions. You can order your driving record from DHSMV for a fee, or some insurance companies will show you a summary when you request a quote.
What should I do if my license is revoked?
Contact DHSMV to find out how long you must wait before you can petition for reinstatement — this varies from one to five years depending on the reason for revocation. Once the waiting period ends, you can submit a reinstatement petition and pay the required fee. You may also need to pass a written test, vision test, or both before your license is reinstated.