How to get your license back after a DUI in Arkansas
Getting a license back after a DUI is an agency process, not a court one: the steps below are the ones the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Driver Services 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 period
The DFA Office of Driver Services lists suspension periods for DWI/BWI alcohol offenses of 6 months (1st offense), 24 months (2nd within 5 years), 30 months (3rd within 5 years) and a 4-year revocation (4th within 5 years), and states the following requirements must be completed before the licensee may be reinstated.
What the source says
“1 st offense = 6 months suspension. 2 nd offense = 24-month suspension (if 2 nd offense was within a 5-year time span). 3 rd offense = 30-months suspension (if 3 rd offense was within a 5-year time span). 4 th offense = 4-year revocation (if 4 th offense was within a 5-year time span)”
- 2
Complete a state-sanctioned Drug and Alcohol Education or treatment program
The individual must complete a state sanctioned Drug and Alcohol Education or treatment program and submit the original signed completion certificate to Driver Control.
What the source says
“Individual must complete a state sanctioned Drug and Alcohol Education or treatment program. They must submit the “original” signed completion certificate to Driver Control.”
- 3
Attend a Victim Impact Panel
The individual must attend a Victim Impact Panel class and submit a completion certificate to Driver Control. DFA states Arkansas does not accept online MADD certificates or out-of-state certificates for reinstatement; panels are provided by the DASEP providers.
What the source says
“Individual must attend a Victim Impact Panel class and submit a completion certificate to Driver Control.”
- 4
Install an ignition interlock device for a period equal to the suspension
The individual must have an ignition interlock device installed for a period equal to the driver's license suspension time and submit a 'Confirmation of Interlock Requirement' form to Driver Control.
What the source says
“Individual must have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle for a period equal to the driver’s license suspension time. They must submit a “Confirmation of Interlock Requirement” form to Driver Control.”
- 5
Pay the $150 reinstatement fee
Payment may be made in person at any State Revenue Office, by mail, or online at mydmv.arkansas.gov.
What the source says
“Individual must pay a $150 reinstatement fee. Payments may be made in person at any State Revenue Office, by mail or online at mydmv.arkansas.gov.”
- 6
If revoked, pass all phases of the Arkansas Driver's License Exam
An individual with a 'Revoked' license status is required to pass all phases of the Arkansas Driver's License Exam.
What the source says
“Individual with a “Revoked” license status will be required to pass all phases of the Arkansas Driver’s License Exam.”
Official reinstatement page: Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Driver Services
Conditions that travel with reinstatement
| Reinstatement fee | $150 |
|---|---|
| SR-22 / financial-responsibility filing | No — Arkansas SR-22 requirements |
| Ignition interlock | Arkansas interlock rule |
| Required program | Alcohol education program (Drug and Alcohol Safety Educational Program, DASEP) or licensed alcoholism treatment program |
| Driving during the suspension | Interlock restricted license (ignition interlock restricted license under § 5-65-104) or restricted driving permit |
| Re-examination | Knowledge test: required in some cases · road test: required in some cases |
Required program: Alcohol education program (Drug and Alcohol Safety Educational Program, DASEP) or licensed alcoholism treatment program
DFA states a person whose driving privileges are suspended or revoked for violating § 5-65-103 (among others) must complete an alcohol education program provided by a contractor with the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services of the Department of Human Services, or an alcoholism treatment program licensed by that division; a certificate from an approved treatment provider does not have to be converted by an education provider. DFA's directory lists the DASEP providers by area.
“A person whose driving privileges are suspended or revoked for violating § 5-65-103, ... is required to complete an alcohol education program provided by a contractor with the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services ... or an alcoholism treatment program licensed by the division.”
Driving during the suspension: Interlock restricted license (ignition interlock restricted license under § 5-65-104) or restricted driving permit
DFA's DUI/DWI Information page states the individual may request an uncontested hearing with Driver Control to determine eligibility for an interlock restricted license or a restricted driving permit, contingent on the type of DUI/DWI/BUI/BWI offense. Act 841 of 2025 provides that when the office restricts a person to an interlock in conjunction with an ignition interlock restricted license under § 5-65-104, the interlock period runs until the original suspension imposed under § 5-65-104 has been completed. DFA's forms page links a 'Restricted Permit Request Form'. The codified eligibility conditions in § 5-65-104 were not available online when the record was verified.
“The individual may also request an uncontested hearing with Driver Control to determine their eligibility for an interlock restricted license or a restricted driving permit contingent on the type of DUI/DWI/BUI/BWI offense.”
When the interlock can be removed
Compliance-certified removal (Act 841 of 2025, adding § 5-65-118(h), effective July 1, 2026): on completion of the required period the person requests that the interlock provider certify that there was no violation during the final 60 days (a start attempt above 0.025% BAC without a passing retest within 10 minutes, a missed random retest, a failed random retest, or failure to have the device serviced); if the provider issues a certificate of compliance the person presents it to the Office of Driver Services to remove the interlock restriction from the license. A confirmed violation extends the period by 60 days, after which the person may demand removal and the provider notifies the office. The required period itself equals the suspension period (DFA), or under Act 841 § 5-65-118(b)(1)(B) runs until the original suspension under § 5-65-104 is completed. No early-removal provision and no removal fee cap is stated.
Compliance period: final 60 days of the original period (or of an extension) violation-free, certified by the provider
“the person shall request that the ignition interlock device provider certify that the person has not had a violation ... If the ignition interlock device provider issues a certificate of compliance, the person may present the certificate to the office to remove the ignition interlock restriction”
Will you have to retake the test? Re-examination in Arkansas
Some states hand the license back once the conditions are met; others treat a revoked or long-withdrawn license as expired and issue a new one only after the knowledge test, the road test or a vision screening is passed again. The rules below are the licensing agency's own, one per test.
| Knowledge (written) test | Required in some cases A driver whose license status is 'Revoked' passes all phases of the Arkansas Driver's License Exam before reinstatement. The exam is given by the Arkansas State Police and consists of the knowledge exam, the vision test and the skills test. For a suspension the listed requirements are the alcohol education or treatment program, the victim impact panel, the ignition interlock period and the $150 reinstatement fee, with no exam. What the source says“Individual with a “Revoked” license status will be required to pass all phases of the Arkansas Driver’s License Exam.” |
|---|---|
| Road (driving) test | Required in some cases The skills test is one of the phases a revoked driver passes; the Arkansas State Police give it at troop testing sites, by appointment only, booked through the statewide scheduler. What the source says“Individual with a “Revoked” license status will be required to pass all phases of the Arkansas Driver’s License Exam.” |
| Vision screening | Required in some cases The vision test is a phase of the exam: the State Police study guide states that every applicant passes a vision test before a license or instruction permit is issued, and a vision referral form must be completed by an Arkansas optometrist. What the source says“Vision Requirements- Arkansas Code Annotated §27-16-704 (b)(3)(4)(5)(6) requires that every applicant pass a vision test before issuance of a driver's license or instruction permit.” |
What triggers a re-test
A license in 'Revoked' status, as opposed to a suspended one: the Office of Driver Services lists the full driver's license exam only for a revoked status, on its DUI, refusal and underage-offense pages alike. The State Police study guide lists, among the conditions for a license, that the applicant is not suspended, revoked, expired or denied, or that one year has passed from any revocation.
“Individual must pay a $150 reinstatement fee. Payments may be made in person at any State Revenue Office, by mail or online at mydmv.arkansas.gov. Individual with a “Revoked” license status will be required to pass all phases of the Arkansas Driver’s License Exam.”- Testing fee
- $40.00 — fee for a Class D license at 21 and older, valid eight years; no separate fee for the exam is stated, and the $150 reinstatement fee is separate
What the source says
“Class D (Ages 21+) $40.00 8 years”
- Where to take it
- dfa.arkansas.gov — knowledge and skills tests are given by the Arkansas State Police at troop testing sites; skills testing requires an appointment, booked through the statewide scheduler
- Official driver manual
- Arkansas Driver License Test Study Guide
Questions about re-testing in Arkansas
- Does an Arkansas DWI revocation mean retaking the driver's license exam?
- Yes, where the license status is 'Revoked'. The Office of Driver Services states that an individual with a Revoked license status will be required to pass all phases of the Arkansas Driver's License Exam, in addition to the education or treatment program, the victim impact panel, the ignition interlock period and the $150 reinstatement fee.
- What are the phases of the exam?
- The Arkansas State Police study guide describes the knowledge exam, the vision test and the skills test; a permit records completion of all three. Every applicant passes a vision test before a license or permit is issued.
- Where is the exam taken?
- The Arkansas State Police give driver's license testing at troop testing sites on a schedule set by each troop commander; skills testing requires an appointment, booked through the statewide scheduler. The license itself is issued at a State Revenue Office.
Reinstatement knowledge check: Arkansas
Ten questions on the rules this site cites for the state — the figures the licensing agency and the statute state, with a link to where each one is stated. The order changes every time.
This is not the agency's knowledge test and does not predict it; it checks the rules cited on this site.
Questions about reinstatement in Arkansas
- What does Arkansas require to reinstate a license after an alcohol-related DWI?
- The DFA Office of Driver Services lists five requirements: complete a state-sanctioned Drug and Alcohol Education or treatment program and submit the original certificate; attend a Victim Impact Panel and submit the certificate; have an ignition interlock installed for a period equal to the suspension and submit the Confirmation of Interlock Requirement form; pay the $150 reinstatement fee; and, if the license is revoked, pass all phases of the Arkansas driver's license exam.
- How is the ignition interlock restriction removed in Arkansas?
- Under Act 841 of 2025 (Ark. Code § 5-65-118(h), effective July 1, 2026), on completion of the interlock period the person asks the provider to certify no violation occurred in the final 60 days; with a certificate of compliance the person presents it to the Office of Driver Services to remove the restriction. A confirmed violation extends the requirement by 60 days.
- Who provides the Arkansas alcohol education program required for reinstatement?
- DFA states the program must be an alcohol education program provided by a contractor with the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services of the Department of Human Services, or an alcoholism treatment program licensed by that division. DFA publishes the Alcohol Education Directory and Alcohol Treatment Programs lists by area; the DASEP providers also conduct the Victim Impact Panels.
Sources
- Arkansas DFA Office of Driver Services – DUI, DWI, BUI, BWI Offenses (suspension periods and reinstatement requirements)
- Arkansas DFA – Alcohol Education Directory
- Arkansas DFA – Alcohol Treatment Programs
- Arkansas DFA – Victim Impact Panel
- Arkansas DFA – DUI/DWI Information (interlock restricted license / restricted driving permit eligibility hearing)
- Arkansas DFA – Driver Services Forms (Restricted Permit Request Form link)
- Act 841 of 2025 (HB1875) amending Ark. Code § 5-65-118 – Arkansas General Assembly enrolled act PDF (removal certificate of compliance, 60-day extension)
- Arkansas DFA – Interlock Providers