How to get your license back after a DUI in Alabama
Getting a license back after a DUI is an agency process, not a court one: the steps below are the ones the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division lists, in its order, each quoted from the agency's own page. Requirements differ by offense, blood-alcohol level, refusal, and prior record; the state's wording controls.
Steps the state lists
- 1
Serve the suspension or revocation period
Under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191(e), a first conviction carries a 90-day suspension, which is stayed if the offender elects to install an approved ignition interlock device for 90 days; where the interlock is mandatory (BAC 0.15 or higher, refusal, child under 14 passenger, or injury) a minimum of 45 days of the suspension must be completed before the interlock period starts. A second conviction carries a one-year revocation (§ 32-5A-191(f)).
What the source says
“After a minimum of 45 days of the license revocation or suspension pursuant to Section 32-5A-304 or this section, or both, is completed, upon receipt of a court order from the convicting court, upon issuance of an ignition interlock restricted driver license, and upon proof of installation of an ope”
- 2
Court order forwarded to ALEA
ALEA states that upon conviction, whether the interlock is elective or mandatory, the judge signs and forwards an order to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
What the source says
“Upon conviction, whether the use of an IID is elective or mandatory, the Judge will sign and forward an Order to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA).”
- 3
Install an approved ignition interlock device and obtain the ignition interlock restricted driver license
The offender has an approved device installed and provides proof of installation to ALEA to obtain the ignition interlock restricted driver license; ALEA charges $150 for this license.
What the source says
“The Offender shall have an approved IID installed in their vehicle and provide proof of installation to the ALEA to obtain the required ignition interlock restricted driver license. There is a $150 fee for this driver license.”
- 4
Complete the DUI or substance abuse court referral program
Under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191(k)(1), every person convicted is referred to the court referral officer and must at a minimum complete a DUI or substance abuse court referral program approved by the Administrative Office of Courts; ALEA will not reissue a license without proof of successful completion.
What the source says
“The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency shall not reissue a driver’s license to a person convicted under this section without receiving proof that the defendant has successfully completed the required program.”
- 5
Remain in compliance for the full interlock term
ALEA states the IID term begins on issuance of the ignition interlock restricted driver license, may differ from court-imposed restriction periods, and that any violation during the mandated period extends the term by six months.
What the source says
“The offender shall remain in compliance of the ignition interlock requirement for the duration of the IID Term, which begins upon issuance of the Ignition Interlock restricted driver license and based off the law. The IID Term may not be the same as any restriction periods imposed by the court. Any ”
- 6
File SR-22 insurance if ALEA requires it
ALEA's Request for Reinstatement Requirements form (DI-46A) lists 'Must File SR22 Insurance Showing Coverage for Alabama Until ___' as a possible requirement and states the fee and SR22 (if required) are not to be submitted until all tickets are settled and any hearing is complete.
What the source says
“Must File SR22 Insurance Showing Coverage for Alabama Until ... NOTE: The reinstatement fee and/or SR22 (if required) should not be submitted until all tickets are settled and your hearing (if required) is complete.”
- 7
Pay the reinstatement fee
ALEA lists the reinstatement fee for alcohol/drug-related offenses as $275 (suspended or revoked), with an additional $25 drug-related fee where applicable; the license may be reinstated online. Personal checks are not accepted.
What the source says
“Reinstatement Fees You may reinstate your license online HERE . Suspended/cancelled licenses - $100 Revoked licenses - $175 Alcohol/drug-related offenses: Suspended - $275 Revoked - $275 Additional drug-related fee - $25 Interlock Issuance Fee - $150”
- 8
Device removal after the court confirms completion
ALEA states the device can only be removed on completion of the IID term and when the court of conviction confirms to ALEA that the offender has completed all requirements and is no longer subject to the interlock requirement.
What the source says
“The device can only be removed upon completion of the IID Term and when the court of conviction confirms to the ALEA that the offender has successfully completed all requirements and no longer subject to the ignition interlock device requirement.”
Official reinstatement page: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Department of Public Safety, Driver License Division
Conditions that travel with reinstatement
| Reinstatement fee | $275 |
|---|---|
| SR-22 / financial-responsibility filing | Yes · 3 years — details |
| Ignition interlock | Alabama interlock rule |
| Required program | DUI or substance abuse court referral program (Alabama Court Referral Program) |
| Driving during the suspension | Ignition interlock restricted driver license |
Required program: DUI or substance abuse court referral program (Alabama Court Referral Program)
Ala. Code § 32-5A-191(k)(1) requires every person convicted to be referred to the court referral officer and to complete, at a minimum, a DUI or substance abuse court referral program approved by the Administrative Office of Courts under the Mandatory Treatment Act of 1990. The Administrative Office of Courts describes the program as Level 1 (minimum 12-hour presentation) or Level 2 (minimum 24-hour program with four self-help meetings), with Level 3 being a referral to treatment.
“The Level 1 Program is a minimum 12-hour presentation which includes an orientation to the court referral program, substance abuse, laws/consequences, alcohol/other drugs and their effects, and looking ahead. ... The Level 2 component is a minimum 24-hour interactional program”
Driving during the suspension: Ignition interlock restricted driver license
Under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191(k)(2), upon presentation of proof of installation and compliance with all ignition interlock requirements, ALEA issues a driver's license with a restriction that the licensee may operate a motor vehicle only with the certified ignition interlock device installed and properly operating. ALEA charges $150 for this license. ALEA's separate Hardship Driver License is not available to a person adjudicated or convicted of DUI under § 32-5A-191.
“Upon presentation of proof and compliance with all ignition interlock requirements, the agency shall issue a driver’s license with a restriction indicating that the licensee may operate a motor vehicle only with the certified ignition interlock device installed and properly operating.”
When the interlock can be removed
Removal is completion-based and court-authorized: under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191(k)(2) the interlock requirement may be removed only when the court of conviction confirms to ALEA that the licensee is no longer subject to it, and ALEA states the device can only be removed upon completion of the IID term and that court confirmation. Any ignition interlock driving violation during the mandated period extends the term by six months (§ 32-5A-191(u)(3); ALEA). No early-removal provision and no removal fee cap is stated; the statute caps the fee to reissue a regular license at not more than $75.
Compliance period: none stated as a separate violation-free window; the full IID term must be completed, and any violation during the mandated period extends the term six months
“The requirement that the licensee use the ignition interlock device may be removed only when the court of conviction confirms to the agency that the licensee is no longer subject to the ignition interlock device requirement.”
Questions about reinstatement in Alabama
- What must be completed before ALEA reissues a license after a DUI conviction in Alabama?
- Under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191(k), ALEA does not reissue a license until the mandatory suspension or revocation period is completed, all other suspensions are cleared, proof of installation of an approved ignition interlock device is presented where required, and proof is received that the DUI or substance abuse court referral program was successfully completed. ALEA lists a $275 reinstatement fee for alcohol/drug-related offenses.
- When can an ignition interlock device be removed in Alabama?
- ALEA's Ignition Interlock Laws page states the device can only be removed upon completion of the IID term and when the court of conviction confirms to ALEA that the offender has completed all requirements. Ala. Code § 32-5A-191(k)(2) provides the requirement may be removed only on that court confirmation. Any violation during the mandated period extends the term by six months.
- Is a hardship license available after a DUI conviction in Alabama?
- No. ALEA's Hardship Driver License page states that a person who has been adjudicated or convicted of DUI under Ala. Code § 32-5A-191 is not eligible to apply for a hardship license. The license available to DUI offenders is the ignition interlock restricted driver license issued under § 32-5A-191(k)(2), for which ALEA charges $150.
Sources
- ALEA – Driver Records, Crash Reports, and Driver License Reinstatements (reinstatement fees; online reinstatement)
- ALEA – Ignition Interlock Laws (IID terms, install/uninstall process, violations)
- Code of Alabama § 32-5A-191 Driving While Under Influence (ALISON; text retrieved via the site's GraphQL API, query codesOfAlabama; raw/al_gql_32-5A-191.json)
- Code of Alabama § 32-5A-191.4 Ignition Interlock Devices (ALISON GraphQL; raw/al_gql_32-5A-191.4.json)
- Alabama Administrative Office of Courts – Court Referral Educational Programs
- ALEA form DI-46A Request for Reinstatement Requirements (cached copy raw/al_DI46A_dlforms.pdf)
- ALEA – Hardship Driver License (DUI ineligibility)