Florida Reinstatement Fees: The Full Cost Breakdown

Reinstating a suspended or revoked Florida driver's license costs between $45 and $150, depending on why your license was suspended and how long it has been inactive. The base reinstatement fee is $45, but you will pay additional fees if your suspension was tied to unpaid traffic fines, child support arrears, or certain criminal convictions. If you are reinstating after a DUI-related suspension, you will also pay a separate substance abuse course fee and possibly a reinstatement fee specific to that offense.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) does not accept partial payments for reinstatement fees. You must pay the full amount owed before your license becomes active again. If you owe money to the state for other reasons — unpaid court fines, child support, or restitution — those debts must be resolved before DHSMV will process your reinstatement, even if you pay the reinstatement fee itself.

Payment methods include credit card, debit card, or check by mail. You cannot pay in person at a Florida DMV office; reinstatement payments are handled only through the mail, online, or by phone through the DHSMV reinstatement line.

Key Takeaways

  • The base reinstatement fee in Florida is $45, but additional fees explore if your suspension involved unpaid fines, child support, or DUI-related offenses.
  • You must pay the full reinstatement amount before your license becomes active; partial payments are not accepted.
  • If you owe money to the state for any reason — court fines, child support, or restitution — those debts must be cleared before reinstatement processing begins.
  • Payment is accepted by mail, online, or phone only; Florida DMV offices do not accept reinstatement payments in person.
  • DUI-related reinstatements include additional costs for substance abuse education courses and may require an ignition interlock device installation fee.

Suspension Type and What You Will Pay

The reinstatement fee structure depends on the reason your license was suspended. A suspension for unpaid traffic citations carries the $45 base fee plus whatever amount you owe on those citations. A suspension for failure to pay child support requires the $45 reinstatement fee plus the full amount of back child support owed; the state will not reinstate your license until the Department of Revenue confirms the debt is paid.

Suspensions related to a DUI conviction or refusal to take a breath test carry a $150 reinstatement fee instead of $45. You will also be required to complete a substance abuse course approved by DHSMV before reinstatement is processed. That course costs between $25 and $75 depending on the provider, and you must submit proof of completion to DHSMV along with your reinstatement fee.

If your suspension was for a criminal conviction unrelated to DUI — such as a felony involving a motor vehicle — the reinstatement fee is $45, but you may face additional requirements set by the court or the sentencing judge. Check your court documents or contact the clerk of court in the county where you were convicted to confirm what conditions must be met before DHSMV will process your reinstatement.

How to Pay Your Reinstatement Fee

To pay by mail, write a check or money order payable to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Include a cover letter stating your name, date of birth, driver's license number, and the reason for reinstatement. Mail the payment to the address provided in your suspension notice or on the DHSMV website. Processing by mail typically takes 7 to 10 business days after DHSMV receives your payment.

To pay online, visit the official DHSMV website and use the reinstatement payment portal. You will need your driver's license number and date of birth to access the system. The portal accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Online payments are processed when ready, but your license will not be active until DHSMV confirms all other suspension conditions have been met.

To pay by phone, call the DHSMV reinstatement line at 1-850-617-3800. Have your driver's license number, date of birth, and a credit or debit card ready. The phone line is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. A processing fee of $2.50 is added to phone payments.

Additional Costs Beyond the Reinstatement Fee

If your suspension involved a DUI, you will pay for a substance abuse course in addition to the $150 reinstatement fee. Approved providers in Florida charge between $25 and $75 for the course, which is typically a four-hour online or in-person program. You must complete the course and submit the certificate of completion to DHSMV before your license is reactivated.

If you are reinstating after a DUI suspension and your license was revoked (not just suspended), Florida law may require you to install an ignition interlock device on any vehicle you own or operate. The device costs between $100 and $300 to install, plus a monthly monitoring fee of $50 to $100. This is a separate cost from the reinstatement fee and is required by law, not by DHSMV.

If your suspension was for unpaid court fines or restitution, you must pay those amounts in full before reinstatement. The court, not DHSMV, sets those amounts. Contact the clerk of court in the county where your case was handled to learn the exact balance owed and payment methods accepted by that court.

What Happens If You Cannot Pay the Full Amount

Florida does not offer payment plans for reinstatement fees. DHSMV requires the full amount before processing your reinstatement. However, if you owe unpaid court fines or child support, the court or the Department of Revenue may offer a payment plan for those debts separately. Paying down a court fine or child support debt does not automatically reinstate your license; you must still pay the reinstatement fee itself once the underlying debt is resolved.

If you are unable to pay, your license will remain suspended. You can continue to drive on a temporary permit if you are may be able to access for one, but a temporary permit is not the same as reinstatement and expires after a set period. Contact the court or agency that imposed the suspension to ask about hardship options or payment arrangements for the underlying debt.

Timeline: When Your License Becomes Active After Payment

If you pay online or by phone, DHSMV processes the payment when ready, but your license will not be active until the next business day. If you pay by mail, allow 7 to 10 business days for DHSMV to receive and process your payment. Weekends and state holidays do not count as business days.

If your suspension involved a DUI and you have not yet submitted proof of substance abuse course completion, your license will not be reactivated even after you pay the reinstatement fee. DHSMV will hold your reinstatement until the course certificate arrives. Once DHSMV receives the certificate, your license becomes active within one business day.

After your license is reactivated, you can check your driving record online through the DHSMV website to confirm the suspension has been lifted. Your physical license card remains valid; you do not need to obtain a replacement card unless it is damaged or expired.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a temporary driving permit while my license is suspended and I am saving up to pay the reinstatement fee?

A temporary permit is not available for a suspended license. You may be able to request a hardship license from the court that imposed the suspension, but that is a separate legal process and is not may provide. Contact the clerk of court in your county to ask whether a hardship license is an option for your situation.

What if I paid my reinstatement fee but my license is still showing as suspended?

If you paid by mail, allow 7 to 10 business days for processing. If you paid online or by phone and it has been more than one business day, contact DHSMV at 1-850-617-3800 to confirm the payment was received. Have your receipt or confirmation number ready. If your suspension involved a DUI, DHSMV may be waiting for proof of substance abuse course completion before reactivating your license.

Do I have to pay the reinstatement fee if I just want to renew my license?

Yes. A suspended license cannot be renewed. You must pay the reinstatement fee and clear any underlying debts before you can renew your license. Once your license is reinstated, you can renew it at the same time or wait until the expiration date on your current card.

Will paying the reinstatement fee remove points from my driving record?

No. The reinstatement fee reactivates your license but does not erase points or violations from your record. Points remain on your record for three years from the date of the violation. Your insurance rates may still reflect those violations even after reinstatement.

What if I owe child support and cannot pay it all at once?

Contact the Florida Department of Revenue, which handles child support collection. They may offer a payment plan for the child support debt. However, DHSMV will not reinstate your license until the Department of Revenue confirms the debt is paid in full or a court-approved payment plan is in place. Even then, you must still pay the $45 reinstatement fee to DHSMV.