Suspended license in Oregon: points, other causes, and how to reinstate
Oregon does not use a points system; it counts convictions instead. No course removes points. The fee to reinstate after a suspension that is not alcohol-related is $85.
A DUI is only one of the ways a license gets suspended. Points from ordinary tickets, an unpaid ticket, a lapse in insurance, unpaid child support or a missed court date each carry their own suspension and their own path back. The rules below are the ones the Oregon Department of Transportation, Driver and Motor Vehicle Services (DMV) states, each quoted from its page or from the statute.
How the points system works
This state does not use a points system. What it uses instead — a count of convictions inside a period, a driver-improvement rule or a habitual-offender rule — is described below in the state's own words.
Oregon DMV does not assign points; it administers a Driver Improvement Program (Adult and Provisional) that counts driver improvement offenses, meaning convictions for listed traffic offenses and preventable accidents. An adult with three such offenses in a 24-month period is restricted for 30 days (no driving between midnight and 5 a.m.), five offenses in 24 months brings a 30-day suspension, and each further offense within the two years brings another 30-day suspension. A separate Habitual Offender rule revokes for five years after three listed serious convictions in five years.
Points period stated by the agency: 2 years. DMV looks back from the record review date to the incident date of each conviction or preventable accident within the 24-month period immediately before the review; Habitual Offender revocation counts listed convictions within a five-year period.
“DMV will restrict the license or instruction permit of an adult driver who within the 24-month period immediately prior to the record review date has three driver improvement offenses.”
Check points or the driving record: oregon.gov
The statute: ORS 809.480 (Driver improvement programs; rules), implemented by OAR 735-072-0027 (Adult Driver Improvement Program)
“The Department of Transportation may establish, by administrative rule, programs for the improvement of the driving behavior of persons who drive in this state. The programs shall have as their goal the reduction of traffic convictions and especially accidents.”
Traffic school and point reduction
| Course | Driver Improvement Course (court-ordered under ORS 809.270) |
|---|---|
| Effect | No point-reduction course |
Oregon DMV describes no course that removes driver improvement offenses from the record or dismisses a ticket; restrictions and suspensions under the Driver Improvement Program are separate from and in addition to any other penalty for the conviction or collision. The only course on DMV's suspension guide is a court-ordered Driver Improvement Course under ORS 809.270, and failure to complete it is itself a court-requested suspension of up to five years.
“Driver Improvement Course –Court Order to Complete | ORS 809.270”
Other reasons a license is suspended, and what ends each one
These are the causes the licensing agency itself lists on its suspension pages, with what it requires to lift each one. Court-imposed suspensions and DUI suspensions are covered on the state's DUI pages.
| Cause | What the agency states | To reinstate | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Driver Improvement Program (convictions and preventable accidents) | Three convictions, three preventable accidents, or a combination totaling three in a 24-month period brings a 30-day restriction (no driving between midnight and 5 a.m.); five in 24 months brings a 30-day suspension, and each further offense within two years brings another 30-day suspension even during a current Driver Improvement suspension. | Serve the 30-day restriction or suspension; a suspension also requires the $85 reinstatement fee. A hardship permit is available for the 30-day suspension but not for the restriction. | $85 |
| Habitual Offender | DMV revokes the license for five years on conviction of three or more listed offenses within a five-year period, including DUII, driving while suspended or revoked, reckless driving, failure to perform the duties of a driver, fleeing or attempting to elude, and vehicular homicide, murder, manslaughter or assault arising from driving. | Serve the five-year revocation; reinstatement of revoked privileges under ORS 809.390 requires the $85 fee. A hardship permit is available. | $85 |
| Failure to Appear | DMV may suspend Oregon driving privileges and the right to apply for privileges when a driver fails to appear as required by an Oregon court; the suspension continues until the earlier of ten years from the date of the traffic offense or the date the court submits proof of clearance. Oregon courts no longer request suspensions for failure to comply. | The court submits proof of clearance to DMV (or ten years pass), then the $85 reinstatement fee. A hardship permit is available. | $85 |
| Failure to Pay Child Support | The license may be suspended for being behind on child support payments; the suspension is indefinite and remains until the Oregon Child Support Program notifies DMV to reinstate. No hardship permit is available. | Reinstatement notice from the Oregon Child Support Program to DMV. | — |
| Failure to Make and/or Maintain Future Responsibility Filing upon Conviction of Driving Uninsured | A conviction for driving uninsured requires a future responsibility (SR-22) filing; DMV suspends for failure to make or maintain it, for not more than one year for convictions on or after January 1, 2026 (not more than three years under the general future-responsibility rule). No hardship permit is available. | File and maintain the future responsibility filing and pay the $85 reinstatement fee. | $85 |
| Failure to Obtain Medical Clearance | A DMV suspension of indefinite length; no hardship permit is available. DMV also suspends indefinitely for failure to appear for or satisfactorily complete a required examination. | Provide the required medical clearance to DMV and pay the reinstatement fee. | $85 |
| Unsettled Judgment | A court-requested suspension for an unsettled motor vehicle judgment under ORS 809.415(1), for not more than seven years; a hardship permit is available. | Satisfy the judgment as reported by the court and pay the $85 reinstatement fee. | $85 |
Source quotes for each cause
Adult Driver Improvement Program (convictions and preventable accidents)
“For each violation or preventable accident after five (within 2 years), DMV will suspend your license or your right to apply for a license for 30 days, even if you have a previous or current Driver Improvement Program suspension.”
Habitual Offender
“DMV will revoke your license for five years if you are convicted of three or more of the following offenses within a five year period:”
Failure to Appear
“DMV may suspend your Oregon driving privileges and right to apply for privileges if you fail to appear as required by Oregon court.”
Failure to Pay Child Support
“If your license is suspended for failure to pay child support, the suspension remains in place until the Oregon Child Support Program notifies DMV to reinstate your license.”
Failure to Make and/or Maintain Future Responsibility Filing upon Conviction of Driving Uninsured
“Failure to Make and/or Maintain Future Responsibility Filing upon Conviction* of Driving Uninsured ORS 806.010(4), 809.415(3) *Convictions on or after January 1, 2026 Not > 1 yr”
Failure to Obtain Medical Clearance
“Failure to Obtain Medical Clearance DMV Suspension Indefinite No”
Unsettled Judgment
“Unsettled Judgment ORS 809.415(1) Court Suspension Not > 7 yrs Yes”
Reinstating after a non-DUI suspension
Reinstatement fee: $85. ORS 807.370(10) sets an $85 fee for reinstatement of suspended driving privileges under ORS 809.380 or revoked privileges under ORS 809.390; ORS 809.380 provides that no reinstatement of suspended privileges is made until the fee is paid or waived (waivable in listed cases such as a suspension for failure to take an examination). DMV's hardship permit page lists the same $85 reinstatement fee alongside a $75 non-refundable application fee.
“(10) Fee for reinstatement of revoked driving privileges under ORS 809.390 or reinstatement of suspended driving privileges under ORS 809.380, $85.”
Read the DMV notice
DMV sends notice of a suspension, revocation, cancellation or disqualification to the address on file, stating the effective date and time and the right to request a hearing or administrative review.
“DMV sends notice to the address on file. Notice will contain the following information: Effective date and time of the withdrawal. Information about your right to request a hearing or administrative review.”
Serve the period or obtain clearance
Term suspensions run for the stated length; indefinite suspensions end when the court, the Child Support Program or the required filing clears the record.
“The suspension will continue until the earlier of: Ten years from the date of the traffic offense for which you were required to appear; or The date the court submits proof of clearance to DMV.”
Pay the $85 reinstatement fee
No reinstatement of suspended driving privileges is made until the ORS 807.370 fee is paid to or waived by DMV.
“no reinstatement of suspended driving privileges will be made by the department until the fee for reinstatement of suspended driving privileges established under ORS 807.370 is paid to or waived by the department.”
Obtain a valid license or permit before driving
After a withdrawal becomes effective, driving is not permitted until the right to apply for driving privileges is reinstated and a valid license or permit is obtained.
“Once any of the withdrawal actions listed above becomes effective, do not drive until you have reinstated your right to apply for driving privileges and have obtained a valid license or permit.”
Official page: oregon.gov
After a DUI the steps are different: how to get a license back after a DUI in Oregon.
Driving during a non-DUI suspension
Available in some cases · Hardship Permit. A hardship permit is available for some driver license suspensions and for a driver revoked as a habitual offender, allowing driving at specific times for reasons such as work or medical treatment, up to 12 hours a day. It is not available when privileges are revoked for a traffic crime, suspended under the At-Risk Driver Program, or during a waiting period, and DMV's guide shows no hardship permit for the Driver Improvement 30-day restriction, child support suspensions or future-responsibility filing suspensions. Fees are a $75 non-refundable application fee and the $85 reinstatement fee.
“A hardship permit is available for some driver license suspensions or for a driver revoked as a habitual offender. A hardship permit allows you to drive during specific times for certain reasons like work or medical treatment.”
For the privilege after a DUI, see driving after a DUI in Oregon.
Questions about a suspended license in Oregon
- Does Oregon have a driver's license point system?
- No points are described by Oregon DMV. Under ORS 809.480 and OAR 735-072-0027, DMV runs a Driver Improvement Program that counts driver improvement offenses (convictions for listed offenses and preventable accidents). For adults, three in a 24-month period brings a 30-day restriction and five brings a 30-day suspension, with a further 30-day suspension for each additional offense within two years.
- Can a course remove an Oregon driver improvement offense?
- Oregon DMV describes no course that removes driver improvement offenses or dismisses a citation. Its suspension guide lists only a court-ordered Driver Improvement Course under ORS 809.270, and failure to complete it is a court-requested suspension of up to five years.
- What is Oregon's reinstatement fee?
- ORS 807.370(10) sets $85 for reinstatement of suspended privileges under ORS 809.380 or revoked privileges under ORS 809.390, and ORS 809.380 bars reinstatement until the fee is paid or waived. Oregon DMV's hardship permit page lists the same $85 fee plus a $75 application fee for a hardship permit.
- How long does a failure-to-appear suspension last in Oregon?
- Oregon DMV states the suspension continues until the earlier of ten years from the date of the traffic offense or the date the court submits proof of clearance to DMV. Oregon courts no longer request suspensions for failure to comply, and some unpaid fines were remitted by the Governors' remittance orders.
- Is a hardship permit available for non-DUII suspensions in Oregon?
- Oregon DMV states a hardship permit is available for some suspensions and for habitual offender revocations, but not when privileges are revoked for a traffic crime or suspended under the At-Risk Driver Program. DMV's guide marks the Driver Improvement 30-day suspension, failure to appear and unsettled judgment as hardship-eligible, and child support and future-responsibility filing suspensions as not.
Sources
- Oregon DMV - Suspensions, Revocations and Cancellations (Driver Improvement, Habitual Offender, Failure to Appear, Child Support, notice)
- Oregon DMV Form 735-7484 - Oregon Suspension/Revocation/Cancellation Guide (all causes, lengths, hardship eligibility)
- Oregon DMV - Does DMV Monitor My Driving Record? (Provisional Driver Improvement Program)
- Oregon DMV - Hardship Permits (eligibility, $75 application and $85 reinstatement fees)
- Oregon DMV - Records Home (order your driving record online or by mail)
- OAR 735-072-0027 - Adult Driver Improvement Program (Oregon Secretary of State)
- ORS chapter 809, incl. ORS 809.380 (reinstatement of suspended privileges; fee), 809.415, 809.480 (driver improvement programs), 809.600 (habitual offender)
- ORS chapter 807, incl. ORS 807.370(10) (reinstatement fee $85)
Cite this page
Every state page quotes the statute or agency page each value comes from; when citing this page, include the verification date shown above.
WheelsBack. "Oregon license suspension, points and reinstatement rules." Verified against primary sources August 29, 2026; sources re-checked September 4, 2026. https://wheelsback.com/oregon/suspended-license/