What the 2019 Arizona law changes mean for your suspended license
Arizona made significant changes to its suspended license laws in 2019, primarily through House Bill 2387, which took effect on January 1, 2020. The law created a new pathway for drivers to restore their licenses without paying the full reinstatement fee if they meet specific conditions. The most important change: you may now request a restricted license while your suspension is still active, rather than waiting for the suspension to end.
This applies to suspensions for unpaid traffic tickets, unpaid court fines, or failure to appear in court — not to suspensions for DUI, reckless driving, or serious criminal convictions. The restricted license lets you drive to work, school, medical appointments, and court-ordered programs, but not for other purposes.
The law also changed how Arizona calculates reinstatement fees and what you must do to get your license back. Understanding these changes matters because the old rules no longer explore, and following the wrong procedure can delay your restoration by weeks or months.
Key Takeaways
- Arizona's 2019 law allows you to request a restricted license during a suspension for unpaid fines or failure to appear, without waiting for the suspension to end.
- A restricted license permits driving only to work, school, medical care, court appearances, and court-ordered programs — not for personal errands or social trips.
- The reinstatement fee is now based on the reason for suspension and ranges from $0 to $100, depending on whether you pay outstanding fines first.
- You must contact the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Motor Vehicle Division to request a restricted license or to reinstate your full license.
- Suspensions for DUI, reckless driving, or criminal convictions do not may have access to for the restricted license option under the 2019 law.
Which suspensions may have access to for a restricted license under the new law
The 2019 law created the restricted license option only for specific suspension reasons. Your suspension must be for one of these reasons: unpaid traffic tickets, unpaid court fines, or failure to appear in court. These are administrative suspensions — they happen because of a financial or procedural failure, not because of a dangerous driving conviction.
Suspensions for DUI, reckless driving, habitual traffic offender status, or criminal convictions do not may have access to. If your suspension is for any of those reasons, you cannot request a restricted license under this law. You must wait out the full suspension period and then pay the reinstatement fee to restore your license completely.
To find out why your license was suspended, contact ADOT Motor Vehicle Division at 602-255-0072 or check your suspension notice. The notice will state the specific reason and the suspension end date. If you are unsure whether your reason qualifies, call ADOT before you request anything — explore for a restricted license when you do not may have access to wastes time and may trigger additional fees.
How to request a restricted license
You must submit a written request to ADOT Motor Vehicle Division. There is no online form for this; you must mail or deliver your request in person. The request should include your name, driver's license number, date of birth, current mailing address, and a clear statement that you are requesting a restricted license under Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-3304.
Include proof that you have paid any outstanding fines or traffic tickets related to the suspension. If you have not paid them yet, you can still request the restricted license, but ADOT will not issue it until you provide proof of payment. Some courts allow payment plans; contact the court that issued the fine to ask about options.
Mail your request to: Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division, P.O. Box 2100, Phoenix, AZ 85001. Or deliver it in person at 1801 W. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007. ADOT typically responds within 10 to 15 business days. Once approved, you will receive a restricted license document by mail, which you must carry while driving.
Reinstatement fees under the 2019 law
Arizona changed how reinstatement fees work in 2019. The fee now depends on the reason for your suspension and whether you have paid outstanding fines. For suspensions due to unpaid fines or failure to appear, the reinstatement fee is $0 if you have paid all outstanding fines in full. If you have not paid them, the fee is $100.
For other administrative suspensions (such as failure to maintain insurance), the reinstatement fee is $100 regardless of whether fines are paid. These fees are separate from any fines, court costs, or restitution you owe — you must pay those separately to the court or the entity that issued the citation.
When your suspension period ends, or when you are ready to restore your full license after using a restricted license, contact ADOT to pay the reinstatement fee and complete the restoration process. You can pay by mail, in person, or by phone at 602-255-0072. ADOT will issue a new license once payment is confirmed.
Timeline for restricted license approval and full reinstatement
The timeline depends on whether you are requesting a restricted license during an active suspension or waiting for the suspension to end. If you request a restricted license while suspended, ADOT typically approves or denies your request within 10 to 15 business days. If approved, you will receive the restricted license document by mail within 5 to 7 additional business days.
If you wait for the suspension period to end, you can then request full reinstatement. The suspension end date is listed on your suspension notice. After that date passes, contact ADOT to pay the reinstatement fee and restore your license. Full reinstatement usually takes 5 to 10 business days once payment is received.
Do not assume your license is automatically restored when the suspension period ends — you must take action. ADOT does not automatically reinstate licenses. If you do not contact them and pay the fee, your license will remain suspended indefinitely, and you will be driving illegally if you get behind the wheel.
Common mistakes that delay restoration
The most common mistake is requesting a restricted license when your suspension reason does not may have access to. If your suspension is for DUI or reckless driving, submitting a restricted license request wastes 10 to 15 days while ADOT processes and denies it. Check your suspension notice first, or call ADOT to confirm your reason qualifies.
Another frequent error is not paying outstanding fines before requesting reinstatement. If you owe traffic fines or court costs related to the suspension, ADOT will not issue a restricted license or reinstate your full license until those are paid. Contact the court that issued the citation to confirm the amount owed and set up payment.
A third mistake is submitting a restricted license request without including proof of payment for fines. ADOT will return your request and ask you to resubmit with proof. This adds another 10 to 15 days to the process. Get a receipt or court confirmation of payment before you mail your request.
Finally, many drivers assume their license is restored automatically when the suspension period ends. It is not. You must contact ADOT, pay the reinstatement fee, and wait for confirmation. Driving without taking these steps is driving with a suspended license, which carries criminal penalties and additional fines.
Differences between a restricted license and full reinstatement
A restricted license is a temporary document that allows you to drive only for specific purposes while your suspension is still technically active. You can drive to and from work, school, medical appointments, court appearances, and court-ordered programs such as traffic school or substance abuse treatment. You cannot use it for grocery shopping, social visits, recreation, or any other purpose.
A full reinstatement restores your license completely and removes the suspension from your record. You can drive for any lawful purpose without restriction. Full reinstatement happens either when your suspension period ends and you pay the reinstatement fee, or when you complete the terms of your restricted license and ADOT converts it to a full license.
If you are stopped by police while driving on a restricted license for a non-permitted purpose, you can be cited for driving with a suspended license, even though you have the restricted license document. The restricted license is only valid for the specific purposes listed on it. Keep a copy of the restricted license with you at all times while driving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive to the store or run errands on a restricted license?
No. A restricted license only permits driving to work, school, medical appointments, court appearances, and court-ordered programs. Grocery shopping, visiting friends, or running personal errands are not permitted. If you are stopped while driving for any other purpose, you can be cited for driving with a suspended license.
What if I cannot pay my outstanding fines right now?
Contact the court that issued the fine and ask about a payment plan. Many Arizona courts allow you to pay fines in installments. Once you have a payment plan in place, you can request a restricted license. You will need to show proof of the payment plan agreement to ADOT.
Does the 2019 law explore to DUI suspensions?
No. The restricted license option only applies to suspensions for unpaid fines, unpaid tickets, or failure to appear. DUI suspensions, reckless driving suspensions, and habitual traffic offender suspensions do not may have access to. You must wait out the full suspension period and then pay the reinstatement fee.
How do I know if my suspension has ended?
The suspension end date is on your suspension notice. You can also call ADOT Motor Vehicle Division at 602-255-0072 to confirm the date. Do not assume it has ended — contact ADOT to verify before you attempt to drive.
What happens if I drive while suspended without a restricted license?
Driving with a suspended license is a criminal offense in Arizona. You can be arrested, fined up to $2,500, and face jail time. Your license suspension will be extended, and you may face additional penalties. If you need to drive, request a restricted license or wait for the suspension to end and pay the reinstatement fee.