(SEE BELOW FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL) INFORMATION)

There is a difference between having your Ohio driver’s license suspended and having it revoked.

• A suspension means you cannot drive for a certain period of time, but can get your license back later.
• A revocation of your license means your driver’s license is cancelled, and you will need to submit to an investigation before you can obtain another license.

Insurance companies keep a close watch on license suspensions / revocations. Your insurance premiums may go up drastically, and you may be labeled a “high-risk” customer. Even worse, your insurance company may cancel your policy, leaving you to search for insurance with the “high-risk” driver tag, meaning you’ll have to pay much higher premiums. It is recommended that you get in touch with a DUI/DWI lawyer as they are experts at handling such incidents and can offer you the best advice. Additionally, you will face Heavy Fines and Reinstatement Fees, and Points on your driver’s license! All this information can be found on our website. You could also contact an STA Advisor absolutely FREE!!!

There are a variety of reasons why your Ohio driver’s license might be suspended. Some of these are related to specific driving violations, while others may be due to violation of other State laws. If your offense resulted in a criminal conviction, you may face additional fines and penalties from the court.

The following are some of the most common reasons for an Ohio driver’s license to be suspended or revoked.

• Driving Under the Influence: If you drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% you are considered to be legally drunk. Your Ohio driver’s license will be suspended if you are found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If you fail a breath test, you will be subject to an Administrative License Suspension (ALS), which means you will lose your right to drive for a period of between 90 days and 5 years, depending on your driving record. Your license will be confiscated on the spot. You may also face further punishment in court.
• Refusal to Take a Breath or Urine Test: For refusing to take a breath or urine test when requested, your license will be suspended for between 1 year and 5 years. You will still need to take the test and face further punishment depending on the result.
• Excessive Moving Violations: Like most other States, Ohio operates a point system, in which drivers accumulate points on their license for every moving violation that they commit. If you accumulate 12 or more points in a 2-year period, your license will be suspended for 6 months. Following suspension, you will need to retake the driving test after taking a remedial driving course.
• Driving While Suspended: If you are caught driving while your license is suspended, you are guilty of a 1st degree misdemeanor and will face a possible $1,000 fine and 6 months in jail. You may also be suspended for another year.
• Driving without Insurance: Your license will be suspended for up to 2 years if you drive without insurance or cause an accident while uninsured.
• Physical or Psychological Disqualification: The BMV can order a re-examination of any person who may not be fit to drive. An individual’s driving privileges may be suspended if the re-examination finds they are physically or psychologically unable to drive safely.
• Non-Driving Related Offenses: Your Ohio driver license can also be suspended for a number of non-driving related offenses, such as bringing a weapon onto school property, failure to appear in court on bond and having unsatisfied civil judgments, not responding to a BMV notice or not appearing in court; failing to pay traffic tickets, fines or surcharges; and not paying child support.

For information about your suspension, please refer to your OH BMV suspension notice or visit the BMV website.

Having your Ohio driver’s license suspended is a serious matter and it is essential to adhere to state law in the event that your license is suspended. Depending on the reason for your license suspension, you may be eligible to apply for limited driving privileges in a municipal, county or mayor’s court to enable you to drive to and from work or school (see below). If you believe your license may be suspended due to one of the reasons listed above it is prudent to speak with a traffic ticket lawyer or a DUI-DWI lawyer.

Convictions, license suspensions, and revocations will show up on your 3-year and 5-year driving records. You may be able to dismiss traffic tickets and remove points from your driving record by completing an online defensive driving course. Because your driving record can affect your auto insurance rates and even your employment, it’s crucial that you make sure your information is accurate.

Most administrative hearing requests must be made within 30 days after receiving your suspension notice. If you refuse to take a BAC test, or are above the legal limit, you must appeal within 5 days of the arrest. However, you need to prove that either the arresting officer did not have reasonable grounds for requesting a test, or the officer did not request that you take the test, or the officer did not advise you of the consequences of failing or not taking the test, or you maintain that you did not refuse or fail the test. You may also request that a qualified person of your choosing give you the test again, but this must be done within 2 hours of the arrest.

If you receive a Notice of Scheduled Suspension from the BMV, and you wish to challenge the suspension, you may request a hearing in court. An administrative law judge will hear your case, and determine whether your driver’s license should be suspended or not. Generally, to request a hearing/appeal your suspension, you must either appeal during your first court appearance, contact the court that served your suspension or mail a written hearing request to the Ohio BMV:

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles

P.O. Box 16784

Columbus, OH 43216-6784

Include a $30 check or money order payable to “Treasurer, State of Ohio”. In addition, drivers whose license may be suspended due to accumulating excessive points may be eligible to enroll in a Driver Improvement Program. Completing a Driver Improvement Program removes 2 points from the current driving record if you have 2 to 11 points, and in some cases, enable an individual to avoid having his license suspended. It is also a good idea to seek the advice of a traffic ticket lawyer or a DUI-DWI lawyer, based on the reason for the suspension.

NOTE: Administrative hearings have no effect on court convictions, fines and penalties.

For more information on requesting a hearing/appeal for specific types of suspensions, read the Driver’s License Reinstatement Procedures, or contact the Ohio BMV at (614) 752-7500.

Depending on the circumstances of your suspended license, you may be able to request a restricted driver’s license that allows you to drive to and from authorized locations. To obtain a restricted license, you must:

• Contact the court that served your suspension and obtain a restricted driver’s license court order that includes the court seal.
• Have a current driver’s license OR a court order that allows you to renew or apply for a license.
• Pass the driving knowledge and skills tests, if required.
• Have no other pending suspensions.

Your reinstatement requirements will vary depending on the reason for your driver’s license suspension. To prevent reinstatement delays, the Ohio BMV recommends that you mail any required documents and pay your fees at least 20 days before the end of your suspension.

To reinstate your suspended license, you will generally need to:

• Wait-out the duration of your suspension.
• Satisfy any court requirements/fines, if applicable.
• Complete a remedial driving course, if required.
• Retake and pass the driving knowledge and skills tests, if required.
• File and maintain SR22 car insurance for 3 to 5 years, for non-compliance suspensions.
• Pay your reinstatement fees. (See “Fees to Reinstate Your OH Driver’s License” below.)

Any required documents must be mailed to:

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles

Attn. RE Fee

P.O. Box 16520

Columbus OH 43216-6520

Your reinstatement fees can be paid by mail to the address above, the address noted on your suspension notice, in person at your local Ohio BMV office, by phone at 1-866-OPLATES (675-2837) or online at the Ohio BMV website.

If you visit an OH BMV office, you may need to provide proof of your identity and Ohio residency. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ website provides a list of acceptable proofs. Reinstatement fees vary depending on the reason for suspension – full list of the reinstatement fees is available here.

Convictions, license suspensions, and revocations will show up on your 3-year and 5-year driving records. You may be able to dismiss traffic tickets and remove points from your driving record by completing an online defensive driving course. Because your driving record can affect your auto insurance rates and even your employment, it’s crucial that you make sure your information is accurate.

If you want to contest your CDL disqualification/suspension, you must request an Ohio BMV administrative hearing within 30 days of receiving your disqualification notice. Follow the instructions on your notice, or contact the Ohio BMV at (614) 752-7500 for more information.

If your hearing request is accepted, your disqualification will be placed on hold.

NOTE: OH BMV administrative hearings have no effect on court convictions. If you want to contest a suspension caused by a court conviction, you must contact the court.

Your reinstatement requirements will vary depending on the reason for your CDL disqualification and whether or not your non-commercial driving privileges are also suspended.

NOTE: To prevent reinstatement delays, the OH BMV recommends that you mail any suspension requirements and pay your fees at least 20 days before the end of your suspension.

To reinstate your suspended license/disqualified CDL, you may need to:

• Wait out the duration of your suspension/disqualification.
• Satisfy any court requirements/fines, if applicable.
• Complete a remedial driving course, if required.
• Retake and pass the commercial driving knowledge and skills tests, if required.
• File and maintain SR22 insurance for 3 to 5 years, for non-compliance suspensions.
• Pay your reinstatement fees. (See “Fees to Reinstate Your Ohio CDL” below.)

You must mail any required documents to:

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles

Attn. RE Fee

P.O. Box 16520

Columbus OH 43216-6520

NOTE: You must retake the CDL knowledge and skills tests if your license class was downgraded or your license was expired for more than 6 months during your suspension.

You can pay your reinstatement fees:

• By mail to the address above or the address indicated on your suspension notice.
• In person at your local Ohio BMV office.
• By phone by calling 1-866-OPLATES (675-2837).
• Online at the Ohio BMV website.

If you visit an OH BMV office in person, you may need to provide proof of your identity and Ohio residency. For a complete list of accepted documents, please see the Ohio BMV website.

FEES TO REINSTATE YOUR OHIO CDL

Your reinstatement fees will vary depending on the reason for your suspension/disqualification. You may face additional fines if you were convicted in court. Included below are general reinstatement fees:

• DUI/DWI conviction or BAC Test refusal/failure: $475.
• Insurance law violations:
  • Random selection: $100.
  • 1st offense: $100.
  • 2nd offense within 5 years: $300.
  • 3rd offense within 5 years: $600.
• Accumulating too many driving record points: $40.
• CDL duplicate/replacement: $27.
• CDL renewal: $44.75.
• CDL tests:
  • Pre-trip inspection: $10.
  • Off-road maneuvering: $10.
  • On-road test: $30.

For a complete list of reinstatement fees, read the Driver License Reinstatement Procedures. To view your specific reinstatement fees and requirements, please refer to your suspension notice.

Acceptable Forms of Payment:

• In person: Cash, check, and money order.
• By mail: Check or money order.
• Online/by phone: Using your checking account information.

NOTE: Checks and money orders must be made payable to “Ohio State Treasurer.”