How to Reinstate a Suspended License in Missouri

November 7, 2025
6 Min Read

Dealing with a suspended or revoked driver’s license in Missouri is a stressful, confusing process. The most important thing to know is that there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution.

The process to get your license back is not a single form or fee. Instead, the Department of Revenue (DOR) places a “hold” on your record, and you must clear a specific checklist of compliance items.

The steps for an unpaid ticket are completely different from a DUI. This guide will show you the only way to find your personal checklist, what the requirements mean, and the exact steps to get back on the road.

Your First Step: Check Your License Status (The Only Way to Start)

Before you can fix the problem, you must get your official “to-do list” from the state. Do not guess.

Missouri provides a FREE online tool to check your status.

  1. Visit the official Missouri DOR License Eligibility Tool.
  2. Enter your Missouri Driver’s License Number (DLN) and Social Security Number (SSN).
  3. The system will give you a simple, one-word answer: “VALID,” “SUSPENDED,” or “REVOKED.”

If your status is “Suspended” or “Revoked,” your next step is to get your full compliance list by ordering your official driving record. This is the only way to see your exact checklist.

You can order your Missouri Driving Record online for a small fee (around $2.82). This record will list every compliance item you must complete.

Suspension vs. Revocation: Why It Matters

You must know if your license was suspended or revoked. They are not the same, and the reinstatement process is different.

  • Suspension: Your license is temporarily on hold (e.g., for unpaid tickets, points, or no insurance). You do nothave to re-test. You just clear your compliance items, pay your fees, and your privilege is restored.
  • Revocation: Your license is cancelled (e.g., for a DUI, leaving the scene of an accident). 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)

Your driving record will show you which of these checklists you need to follow.

Case 1: Suspension for Unpaid Tickets (Failure to Appear)

This is the most common and easiest to fix.

  1. Contact the Court: You must first contact the local court in the county where you received the ticket (not the DOR).
  2. Pay All Court Fines: Pay the original fine plus any new late fees.
  3. Get Court Clearance: The court will give you a “compliance letter” or electronically notify the DOR that you have paid.
  4. Pay the DOR Fee: Once the DOR has the clearance, you must pay the separate $20 reinstatement fee to the DOR.

Case 2: Suspension for Point Accumulation

In Missouri, if you get 8 points in 18 months, your license will be suspended (30 days for a first offense).

  1. Serve Your Suspension Period: This is a definite period (e.g., 30 days). You must wait for this time to end.
  2. Get an SR-22 (If Required): Depending on the violations, the DOR may also require you to file an SR-22.
  3. Pay the DOR Fee: Once your suspension period is over, you must pay the $20 reinstatement fee to the DOR.

Case 3: Suspension for No Insurance

If you were caught driving without liability insurance.

  1. Get an SR-22: You must contact an insurance company and purchase SR-22 insurance. This is not a standard policy, but a special certificate your insurer files with the DOR. It is non-negotiable. For a full explanation of what this is and how to get one, see our complete guide to SR-22 insurance.
  2. Pay the DOR Fee: You must pay the $20 reinstatement fee.
  3. Maintain the SR-22: You must keep this SR-22 policy active for two years. If you let it lapse, your license will be suspended again.

Case 4: Revocation for a DUI / DWI (Alcohol or Drug Offense)

This is a revocation (cancellation) 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 have an SR-22 on file. This is a certificate your insurance company files for you, and it is a critical part of the reinstatement. You can learn all about it in our guide to SR-22 insurance.
  3. Complete SATOP: You must enroll in and complete the Substance Abuse Traffic Offender Program (SATOP). You will receive a completion certificate.
  4. Pay the DOR Fee: You must pay the $45 reinstatement fee to the DOR.
  5. Re-take All Tests: Because this is a revocation, you must now re-apply as a new driver. This involves going to a Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) Driver Examination Station (walk-in) to pass the vision, written, and road tests.
  6. Get Your New License: Take your SATOP certificate, SR-22 proof, and MSHP “passed” slip to a DOR License Office (walk-in) to be issued your new license.

The Final Step: How to Pay Your Fees

Once your driving record shows all compliance items are complete, you must pay your final reinstatement fee(s) to the DOR.

  • Online: You can pay your fees on the myDMV portal. This is the fastest way for simple suspensions.
  • By Mail: You can mail your reinstatement form (if you have one) and a check/money order to the DOR in Jefferson City. This is the best method if you are also submitting documents (like a SATOP certificate).
  • In-Person (Walk-In): You can pay your fee at any DOR License Office. This is mandatory for all revocationsbecause you must present your “passed” test results from the MSHP to be issued your new license. As our Missouri DMV guide explains, this is a walk-in service, so no appointment is needed.

FAQs

I paid my $300 ticket. Why is my license still suspended?

This is the #1 problem. You paid the court fine, but you did not pay the DOR reinstatement fee. These are two separate payments to two different government agencies. You must pay both.

I got an “8-point” letter from the DOR. Am I suspended right now?

Not yet. That letter is your Notice of Suspension. It will tell you the date your 30-day suspension begins. This is your final warning to stop driving on that date.

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

You must clear your Missouri suspension. You cannot get a license in any other state because the suspension is reported to the National Driver Register.
1. Order your MO driving record by mail to get your checklist.
2. You can complete most requirements by mail (pay court fines online, mail the DOR fee).
3. If you need an SR-22, you can get it from an insurer in your new state (they must have an “inter-state” filing system).
4. If you were revoked and must re-test, you will have to make arrangements to travel back to Missouri to take the tests.

My license was revoked for 10 years. What do I do?

This is a 10-Year Denial for being a habitual offender (e.g., multiple DUIs). This is the most serious penalty. To get your license back, you must:
1. Serve the entire 10-year period.
2. After the 10 years, you must file a petition with the Circuit Court in your county of residence.
3. A judge (not the DOR) must review your case and sign a court order granting you driving privileges.
4. You then take that court order to the DOR and re-take all driving tests.

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