Getting Your Driver’s License Back

When people get out of jail, they often can’t legally drive because their driver’s license was suspended or revoked before going to jail or prison.

In 2024, Minnesota started issuing a conditional driver’s license called a Reintegration Driver’s License (RDL). This lets people who have been released from custody drive legally, even if their driver’s license is suspended for past violations.

Things to know:

• You may have to pay old traffic fines and fees you owe to the court to be able to get your RDL. But the Department of Public Safety (DPS) can’t charge you fines or fees.
• You don’t have to pay a reinstatement fee
• The RDL is valid for 15 months
• The RDL is cancelled if you commit a new violation that causes a suspension or revocation of a driver’s license

After 15 months, if your RDL has not been cancelled, you can apply for a regular driver’s license. 

You are eligible for an RDL if:

• your driver license is suspended because of unpaid fines and fees, unpaid reinstatement fees or habitual violation
   
• you were incarcerated at least 180 days in a row
   
• you apply within 365 days of release (or before April 1, 2025, if your release date was prior to April 1, 2024)

• You are ordered to drive a vehicle with ignition interlock
   
• Your driver’s license is cancelled IPS (inimical to public safety- meaning you driving is a risk to safety)
   
• You have a criminal vehicular operation violation
   
• There is an unpaid child support suspension on your record 
   

Read the Department of Vehicle Services fact sheet for more details. 

If your driver’s license is revoked (taken away) for a DWI-related offense, you may be able to pay the $680 reinstatement fee in 2 parts instead of all at once. Income doesn’t matter for this option. If you can do this or not depends on your specific case but ask.

If you pay $395 your driver’s license is reinstated for 2 years. During those 2 years you can make payments on the second part owed ($345). You can make payments of any amount at any time during those 2 years.

If you don’t pay the full amount after 2 years, your license is revoked again until you pay it.

Starting in January 2022, Minnesota doesn’t suspend driver’s licenses because:

• You didn’t pay a fine or fee for a traffic violation.
   
• You didn’t appear in court on a petty misdemeanor traffic violation. This includes things like speeding, distracted driving, running a red light, parking tickets, or equipment violations.
   
• You paid a ticket for driving after suspension or driving after revocation.
   

If your license is suspended for other reasons, like unpaid child support, you have to fix the problem before you get your driver’s license reinstated. You also may have to pay a reinstatement fee of $20.

If your license was suspended for any of these reasons, even if it was before January 2022, contact the Department of Vehicle Services and ask if you can have your driver’s license reinstated. 

If you think your license may be eligible for reinstatement, contact Minnesota Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS):

• call 651-296-2025
• visit DVS online at drive.mn.gov  
• visit your local DVS office