Reinstating a Driver's License in Iowa
How to check your Iowa license status, what gets a license suspended, reinstatement steps and fees, and hardship licenses.
Short answer: Sign in to the Iowa DOT's myMVD portal with your Iowa driver's license number or customer number to check your license status and view your reinstatement requirements. Iowa DOT, Suspensions & Revocations
| Checking and reinstating a license | Sign in to the Iowa DOT's myMVD portal with your Iowa driver's license number or customer number to check your license status and view your reinstatement requirements. Reinstatement requirements: https://mymvd.iowadot.gov/Compliance |
|---|---|
| License suspension | Suspensions include habitual-violator suspensions, serious violations (speeding 25 mph or more over, a first offense of unlawfully passing a school bus, or a moving violation contributing to a fatal crash), unpaid traffic court debt, violating license restrictions (at least 30 days for a first violation), OWI-related revocations, and habitual-offender bars of two to six years. Reinstatement generally requires proof of SR-22 insurance among other steps. |
| Hardship or restricted license | The DOT may issue a temporary restricted license to a person whose noncommercial license is revoked under the OWI chapter (or suspended solely for OWI-related violations), allowing driving like a regular class C license, but only after an approved ignition interlock is installed on all vehicles operated. It is not available to drivers under 18 revoked under the under-21 law or during certain ineligibility periods. Source: Iowa Code § 321J.20 |
Where to get help in Iowa
More Iowa traffic tickets & dui
- DUI Laws in Iowa
- How Driver Points Work in Iowa
- Paying or Contesting a Traffic Ticket in Iowa
- All Iowa traffic tickets & dui rules
FAQ
How do I check if my license is suspended and get it reinstated in Iowa?
Sign in to the Iowa DOT's myMVD portal with your Iowa driver's license number or customer number to check your license status and view your reinstatement requirements.
What gets your license suspended in Iowa?
Suspensions include habitual-violator suspensions, serious violations (speeding 25 mph or more over, a first offense of unlawfully passing a school bus, or a moving violation contributing to a fatal crash), unpaid traffic court debt, violating license restrictions (at least 30 days for a first violation), OWI-related revocations, and habitual-offender bars of two to six years. Reinstatement generally requires proof of SR-22 insurance among other steps.
Can you get a hardship license in Iowa?
The DOT may issue a temporary restricted license to a person whose noncommercial license is revoked under the OWI chapter (or suspended solely for OWI-related violations), allowing driving like a regular class C license, but only after an approved ignition interlock is installed on all vehicles operated. It is not available to drivers under 18 revoked under the under-21 law or during certain ineligibility periods.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.