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Department of Motor Vehicles
 

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-DC DMV will no longer prevent DC residents from applying for a new or renewed driver license because of failing to meet the requirements of the Clean Hands Law.

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License Reinstatement

DC DMV may suspend or revoke your driver license if you commit certain violations. DC DMV will notify you by mail of the suspension or revocation and let you know what you must do to reinstate your license. Your license will be eligible for reinstatement after you make the necessary payments or complete the necessary hearing, training, or testing steps outlined below.

Please remember that if you drive with a suspended or revoked license, you may be jailed for up to 1 year, and/or pay a fine of up to $5,000.

DC or DC Metropolitan Area Residents

To get your DC DMV driver license reinstated after it has been SUSPENDED, you must pay your reinstatement fee online ONLY. If you are going to pay the reinstatement fee online, please note that DC DMV complies with federal regulations regarding the use of credit cards, so to utilize the online services and pay with a credit card, use browsers with minimum version requirements, such as:

  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Apple Safari

The online payment system is available at the link below:

A list of DC DMV service centers is available at the link below:

Required Reinstatement Documents

  • State Certified Alcohol Awareness Completion Certificate
  • Court disposition for alcohol charge

You can also mail your request for a reinstatement hearing to:

DC DMV Driver Improvement Office
PO Box 90120
Washington, DC 20090

If it is determined at your virtual hearing that your license can be reinstated, you will have to repeat the steps to obtain a license. That is, you will have to take and pass the knowledge test; get a learner permit; schedule, take, and pass the road skills test; and submit all the appropriate documents for the type of license you will get—either a REAL ID or a Limited Purpose. The DC DMV REAL ID driver license is a secure, federal ID; the DC DMV Limited Purpose driver license is available to District residents who do not have a Social Security number and cannot establish legal presence in the United States.

If it is determined at your hearing that your license cannot be reinstated, you have the option to appeal the hearing examiner's decision.  The appeal of the denial of reinstatement, as the result of a hearing, must be appealed to the Traffic Adjudication Appeals Board.

More information on all of the steps and requirements for getting a DC DMV driver license is available at the links below:

Drivers whose license has been suspended because of accumulated points on your driver record, it may be reinstated at the end of your mandatory suspension period.

Drivers whose license has been revoked because of accumulated points on your driver record or a major moving violation, you may apply for reinstatement at the end of your revocation period. You will be required to attend a virtual reinstatement hearing as explained above.

Drivers whose license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in the District of Columbia was revoked as the result of an alcohol or drug-related offense must submit a written application to DC DMV for reinstatement. You must include proof of completion of a state-certified alcohol/drug counseling program.

To enroll in services, call or visit the DC Department of Behavioral Health Substance Abuse's Assessment and Referral Center (The ARC)

Hours of Operation: 7am - 6pm
For same day service, arrive before 3:30pm
75 P Street NE (enter on Florida Avenue near the P Street intersection)
Washington, DC 20002
Telephone (202) 727-8473
Fax: (202) 727-8411

When your license is eligible for reinstatement after either suspension or revocation, you must pay the reinstatement fee and clear any applicable stops on your record. Information on the reinstatement fee is available at the link below:

Non-DC Metropolitan Area Residents

If you do not live in the DC metropolitan area, you may submit a written request for reinstatement of your driving privileges when you have cleared any stops on your record (which means you must first pay any unpaid DC parking, photo enforcement, and moving violation tickets; pay any unpaid child support; get vehicle insurance to cover any insurance lapses and pay any fines for the lapse in coverage; and clear any other stops in the National Drivers Registry).

Mail your request for reinstatement and include a check or money order for the reinstatement fee and copies of all applicable documentation, such as ticket receipts, certified counseling programs, letters of clearance, etc., to:

DC DMV Driver Improvement Office
PO Box 90120
Washington, DC 20090

Information on the reinstatement fee is available at the link below:

If your DC DMV driver license was suspended or revoked for an alcohol/drug offense under the authority of the DC Superior Court, or a similar offense in another jurisdiction, you will have to attend, a virtual hearing for reinstatement of your license. To schedule a hearing, please complete the Request for Reinstatement Hearing form available at the link below:

 and mail it to the DC DMV Driver Improvement Office.

You will need to include proof of completion of a state certified alcohol/drug counseling program. Please contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles with assistance in identifying a program in your jurisdiction.

Note: MADD Victim Impact and driver improvement courses are not acceptable documentation for the state-certified alcohol-counseling program requirement.

If it is determined at the hearing that your license may be reinstated, you will have to visit a DC DMV service center and follow the reinstatement procedures outlined in the hearing disposition.

Sign Language Translation

Requests for an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter require two weeks notice. For scheduled hearings, including walk-in and virtual hearings on a minor moving, parking and photo enforcement violations, please submit ASL interpreter requests in-person or via email at [email protected]. For email submissions, enter “ASL Interpreter Request” in the subject line. The hearing request should include your name, hearing date and ticket number. If the hearing is related to the reinstatement of a driver license or privilege to operate a vehicle in DC, include your driver license number. Adjudication Services will arrange for an interpreter and confirm scheduling via email.

Contact TTY: 
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