It is a given that if you commit an offense, you get punished. The same principle applies to driving. When you get caught drunk driving, and you get convicted, you are mostly likely to be stripped off of your driver’s license.
But laws are not without compassion as it takes into consideration the effect of the suspension to your work, education or even your health. That is why some US states allow you to apply for a hardship license to be able to attend to your most basic human needs.
A hardship license is a limited and temporary driving type of license that gives suspended drivers a restricted driving privilege during the period when the standard driver’s license has been suspended due to varying reason but most commonly when caught DUI.
To get this privilege, there is naturally a price to pay. The cost to get a hardship license depends on several factors, which we will be breaking down below.
Average Cost of Hardship License
The average hardship license price typically ranges from $10 to $100 depending on the state and the type of restrictions.
Some of the states’ application fees are as follows:
- Alcohol restricted license or ID: $50.
- Limited-license application: $100.
- Limited permit: $25.
- Alcohol-related suspensions: $100.
- Probationary license (PL):$88.75.
- Occupational limited license (OLL): $50.
- Restricted driver’s license: $100.
- Occupational license fee: $10
- Ignition interlock restricted license: $125
- Enhanced ignition interlock restricted license: $150
- Occupational/restricted license (ORL) application fee: $100
- Restricted license application: $100
- Probationary license following DUI conviction/deferred prosecution: $50
Additional Costs
Some of the additional costs you might encounter on your home state on top of the hardship license price might include:
- Alcohol restricted license or ID: $50.
- Limited-license application: $100.
- Limited permit: $25.
- Alcohol-related suspensions: $100.
- Probationary license (PL):$88.75.
- Occupational limited license (OLL): $50.
- Restricted driver’s license: $100.
- Occupational license fee: $10
- Ignition interlock restricted license: $125
- Enhanced ignition interlock restricted license: $150
- Occupational/restricted license (ORL) application fee: $100
- Restricted license application: $100
- Probationary license following DUI conviction/deferred prosecution: $50
Factors Affecting Cost to Get a Hardship License
- State – not all states offer hardship license, and those which offer do not have the same rates.
- Type of restricted license – this could be a probationary license, occupational license, or ignition interlock restricted license. The latter mainly works by installing an ignition interlock that would only allow you to start your vehicle depending on the alcohol concentration in your blood.
- Type of offense – each state impose different levels of restrictions depending on the nature of suspension
- How many times an offense has been committed – some states have better tolerance than others and give offenders more chances before imposing the heftier hardship license price and punishments.
- Age – some states give hardship license to minors and some to adult offenders at varying rates.
- Expiration – the validity of these types of licenses, therefore differ in prices.
- Regular or enhanced – limited licenses may also be applied to enhanced driving license.
- The length of suspension – the validity of your restricted license will depend on the length of your suspension. Therefore, the longer your suspension period is, the higher the cost incurred for the hardship license.
- Ignition Interlock Device – various states require installing an IID to your vehicle as part of the conditions for hardship license and this entails additional cost on your part as a driver as the license application is higher and you are required to pay for certain maintenance fee.
Where to Apply for Hardship License?
Visit your state’s motor vehicle agencies to apply for your restricted driver’s license.
The procedure in getting your hardship license is almost the same as applying for any other type of license, except that you get to be asked for additional requirements like requiring you to complete a short period of rehabilitation for DUI and an official copy of your driving record.
Once you qualify and your application has been accepted, you may be required to comply with other conditions like seeing a probation officer and installing an Ignition Interlock Device (IID), among others.
For the complete list of requirements, check out DMV.org.
How Does Your License Get Suspended?
Getting caught drunk driving is not the only reason for license suspension. Among other reasons include:
- Failing to pay an agreed child support
- Pile up of speed limit tickets, traffic violations, and driving record points
- Not being able to appear in court and pay fees or fines
- Pile up of too many driving record points
Hardship Licenses for Minors
Restricted license for minors is also allowed by some state. These are given to drivers aged 14 and 15, or can be as old as 18 in some areas, who are allowed to drive between home and school or work due to serious conditions such as financial and medical problems in the family among others.
Some of the states giving this privilege are the following:
- California
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- Ohio
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Most requirements and fees for this type of license are the same as when applying for provisional license. Check out motor vehicle agencies near you for the accurate list of requirements and cost to get a hardship license for minors.
Factors Affecting the Granting of Hardship License
Not all suspensions are granted with restricted driver’s license. Certain eligibility factors are taken into consideration before you can be considered a candidate. Some of these are the following:
- State – if you reside in a state where it is offered, you will have greater chance to on availing this kind of license. But always remember, not all state is that lenient. You might just get one shot so you better be good.
- The reason for your suspension – is it light enough to merit consideration?
- Clean record – if you are a habitual offender, you will less likely be able to avail this privilege
- The necessity of hardship license – if proven that your driving is critical to your existence like your need to drive for livelihood, otherwise, you and those you support will starve.
- Residence – if you reside in a remote location and there are limited or no other means of transportation.