Suspended License

Once you've passed all the tests and obtained your Florida driver license, the only basic rule involved in keeping it is just to drive safely and legally. If you become an unsafe driver or ignore certain other laws, you could lose your driving privilege. Licenses in Florida can become suspended (taken away temporarily) or revoked (taken away for a much longer time or even permanently).

License Suspension

Your license can be suspended if you:

• Give false information on a license application.

• Refuse to comply with state laws. This could include failure to pay child support, not stopping for a school bus, not carrying required vehicle insurance, using tobacco if you're younger than 18, or refusing to take a blood alcohol test when suspected of driving under the influence.

• Get a traffic ticket and fail to pay the fine or appear in court.

• Receive point violations. Twelve points in a 12-month period will result in a 30-day suspension, 18 points in an 18-month period will result in a three-month suspension, and 24 points in a 36-month period will earn a 12-month suspension.

Drivers Younger Than 21

Drivers younger than 21 years of age will receive harsher penalties for some traffic infractions, which could result in quick suspension or revocation of their license. See the Teen Drivers section on this site for details.

License Revocation

Your license can be revoked if you:

• Commit a felony or immoral act involving a motor vehicle.

• Drive after drinking or using drugs.

• Do not stay at the scene after your vehicle is involved in an accident that results in personal injury or death. (You will receive an automatic three-year revocation if you kill someone while driving recklessly.)

• Are ticketed three times for reckless driving within one year.

• Are cited for three major traffic offenses or 15 smaller incidents that result in points violations, within a five-year period.

• Race on the highway.

• Do not meet minimum vision requirements to hold a license.

Hardship Reinstatement

In some cases of suspension or revocation, it might be possible to request a hardship reinstatement of your license, usually for employment purposes. Depending on the reason your license was suspended or revoked in the first place, a court might rule that you are allowed to use your license in a limited fashion, namely, driving to work and back only.

To see if you are eligible, contact your local driver license office or call the Division of Driver License Customer Service at (850) 922-9000.

Applying for a General Reinstatement

Some infractions, like failure to pay a traffic ticket or failure to appear in court on a traffic summons, will result in an indefinite suspension. Usually the suspension lasts until the fine has been paid. Contact your local traffic court (or the court in the jurisdiction where you received the ticket, including out-of-state locations), and satisfy the summons.

Then you'll need to present proof of that satisfaction and a reinstatement fee of $47.50 to your local driver license office. You'll receive a letter of clearance in the mail soon after that, and will be eligible to use your license again.

For other specific suspension circumstances, see the state's suspension-related FAQ.