How to Reinstate Your Alabama Driver’s Licens

November 9, 2025
5 Min Read

Having your driver’s license suspended can disrupt your daily life significantly, affecting your ability to commute for work, school, or personal errands. The process isn’t automatic; it’s a checklist of compliance items you must complete.

The steps you must take depend entirely on why your license was suspended. The process for unpaid tickets is completely different from a DUI. This guide will walk you through the correct steps for your specific situation.

Your First Step: Get Your Official Reinstatement Checklist

Before you can fix the problem, you must get your official “to-do list” from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). Do not guess what you need to do.

  1. Go to the ALEA Portal: Visit the official ALEA Online Driver License Reinstatement page.
  2. Enter Your Information: You will need your Driver’s License Number (or SSN) and Date of Birth to log in.
  3. Get Your Checklist: The system will show you your license status and a personal reinstatement checklist. This is your only source of truth. It will list every single item you must complete (e.g., “Pay $275 Fee,” “File SR-22,” “Complete DUI Course”).

Your goal is to clear every item on this list.

Suspension vs. Revocation: Why It Matters

You must know if your license was suspended or revoked. They are not the same.

  • Suspension: Your license is temporarily on hold (e.g., for too many points or unpaid tickets). You do not have to re-test. You just clear your compliance items and pay your fee.
  • Revocation: Your license is cancelled (e.g., for a DUI). You must re-apply as a new driver. This means you must retake the vision, written (permit), and road (driving) tests again.

How to Reinstate Your License (Based on Your Suspension)

Case 1: Suspension for Unpaid Tickets or Too Many Points

  • 1. Pay All Fines: You must first contact the local court in the county where you got the ticket and pay all outstanding fines.
  • 2. Get Court Clearance: The court will then notify ALEA that you have complied.
  • 3. Pay the ALEA Fee: Once ALEA has the clearance, you can go online (see Section 4) and pay your reinstatement fee (typically $100).

Case 2: Revocation for a DUI / Alcohol or Drug Offense

This is the most serious and has the most steps.

  • 1. Serve Your Revocation Period: You must wait for the mandatory time to pass (e.g., 90 days, 1 year).
  • 2. Get an SR-22: You must contact an insurance company and purchase SR-22 insurance. This is a special certificate your insurer files with ALEA. We explain this in our complete guide to SR-22 insurance.
  • 3. Install an Ignition Interlock Device (IID): For all alcohol-related reinstatements, you must install an IID (a breathalyzer) in your vehicle for a set period (e.g., 1-2 years).
  • 4. Complete DUI School: You must enroll in and complete a state-approved DUI or drug education program.
  • 5. Pay All Fees: You must pay the $275 reinstatement fee to ALEA.
  • 6. Re-take All Tests: Because this is a revocation, you must book an ALEA appointment, go to an office, and pass the vision, written, and road tests again.

Case 3: Suspension for No Insurance

  • 1. Get an SR-22: You must file an SR-22 (see above) with ALEA to prove you now have insurance.
  • 2. Pay the ALEA Fee: You must pay the $100 reinstatement fee online.
  • 3. Maintain the SR-22: You must keep this policy active for 1-3 years. If you let it lapse, your license will be suspended again.

How to Pay Your Alabama Reinstatement Fee

Once your online checklist shows you are eligible, you can pay your fees.

Method 1: Online (Fastest Way)

  1. Go to the ALEA Online Reinstatement portal.
  2. Log in with your DL number and DOB.
  3. The system will show you the exact fee you owe. Pay it with a valid credit or debit card.

Method 2: By Mail

  1. Get a certified check or money order payable to the “Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.”
  2. Mail your payment and any required documents (like your DUI school certificate) to:Driver License Department P.O. Box 1471 Montgomery, AL 36102-1471

Official Reinstatement Fees:

Suspension / Revocation TypeALEA Reinstatement Fee
Suspended License (Points, No Insurance, etc.)$100
Revoked License (Non-DUI)$175
DUI / Alcohol / Drug Offense$275
Additional Penalty (Failure to surrender license card)+$50

FAQs

I don’t own a car. How can I get an SR-22 and an IID?

This is a common problem.
>For the SR-22: You must buy a “Non-Owner” SR-22 policy. This insures you as a driver in any car you borrow.
>For the IID: You must have an IID installed on a vehicle you will be driving. This can be a family member’s or a friend’s car, but you must have a notarized “Vehicle Use Form” from the car’s owner. You cannot get your license back without it.

I need to drive to work. Can I get a hardship license?

Yes. Alabama offers a “Hardship Driver License” (ODL – Occupational Driver License) for some suspensions. This is a separate, court-ordered license you must petition a judge for. It is not granted by the ALEA. You can learn about the process in our guide to the Alabama hardship license.

I live in another state now, but I have a “hold” from Alabama. How do I fix it?

You must clear your Alabama suspension, or your new state will not issue you a license.
1. Call ALEA (334) 242-4400 to get your official reinstatement checklist.
2. You can complete most requirements by mail.
3. You can get an SR-22 from an insurer in your new state (they must have an “inter-state” filing system).
4. You can mail your reinstatement fee to Montgomery.
5. If you were revoked (for a DUI) and must re-test, you will have to make arrangements to travel back to Alabama to take all three tests.

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