What You Pay to Get Your License Back
You've satisfied the suspension period, completed the required treatment or SR-22 filing, and now you're ready to reinstate. That figure comes from the Idaho Transportation Department, Division of Motor Vehicles, which administers reinstatements under Idaho Code 18-8002A and 49-326.
Idaho operates a multi-tier suspension system, meaning different violation codes trigger different reinstatement pathways and potentially different total costs. The base fee is what the state collects to process your reinstatement and restore your record to valid status. If your suspension required an SR-22 filing, you'll also pay your insurance carrier's filing fee on top of the state's reinstatement charge.
Compare car insurance rates in your state
Get quotes from licensed carriers — no obligation, no spam, results in minutes.
Get Your Free QuoteIdaho Base Reinstatement Fee
The Idaho Transportation Department charges this amount to process most administrative license reinstatements after a suspension period ends. The fee applies regardless of whether the suspension was for points, failure to maintain insurance, or other administrative triggers.
Idaho Code 18-8002A / 49-326
Why the Fee Varies by Violation Code
Idaho's multi-tier suspension structure means the violation that triggered your suspension determines the reinstatement pathway you follow. A suspension under Idaho Code 18-8002A for administrative license suspension after a DUI arrest follows a different reinstatement process than a suspension for accumulating too many points or failing to maintain liability insurance. Each pathway carries its own documentation requirements and potential additional fees.
If your suspension required proof of financial responsibility via SR-22, you'll pay your carrier's SR-22 filing fee separately.
If you're reinstating after a Restricted Driving Permit period, the $60 permit fee you already paid does not count toward the reinstatement fee. The permit allowed you to drive under restrictions during the suspension; the reinstatement fee is what you pay to lift those restrictions and return to unrestricted driving privileges.
Your license remains suspended until the fee is paid and ITD processes your reinstatement.
What You Submit to Reinstate
Start by confirming you've satisfied the suspension period and completed all court-ordered or ITD-mandated requirements. If your suspension required SR-22 filing, your insurance carrier must have filed the SR-22 certificate with ITD before you apply to reinstate. The SR-22 filing must be active and continuous for the full required period—typically three years for DUI-related suspensions in Idaho. A lapse in SR-22 coverage restarts the filing clock and delays reinstatement eligibility.
Submit proof of completed requirements to ITD DMV Operations in Boise. ITD processes reinstatements within approximately five business days of receiving complete documentation. Until ITD confirms reinstatement, your license remains suspended and you cannot legally drive, even if the suspension period has ended.
Related Articles
How SR-22 Filing Adds to the Total Cost
Idaho requires SR-22 for license suspension or revocation, serious driving violations including DUI, and driving without required motor vehicle insurance under Idaho Code 49-1229. The SR-22 filing period is three years, measured from the date ITD receives the initial filing, not from the date of conviction or suspension.
Carriers charge a one-time SR-22 filing fee to submit the certificate to ITD. That fee is separate from your insurance premium and separate from the state's reinstatement fee. You pay the filing fee to the carrier; the carrier submits the SR-22 to ITD electronically. Once ITD receives the SR-22, it appears on your driving record as proof of financial responsibility.
The SR-22 must remain active and continuous for the full three-year period. If you cancel your policy, switch carriers without transferring the SR-22, or let coverage lapse, ITD receives a cancellation notice and your SR-22 clock resets. That means you'll need to refile, pay another filing fee, and restart the three-year period from the new filing date. Maintaining continuous SR-22 coverage is the only way to satisfy the requirement and avoid extending the filing period.
Idaho SR-22 Filing Period
3 years
Idaho requires SR-22 filing for three years after a serious violation or suspension. The period begins when ITD receives the initial SR-22 certificate, not when the violation occurred. A lapse in coverage restarts the clock.
Idaho Code Title 49 ch. 12
Restricted Permit Fees Do Not Reduce Reinstatement Cost
If you held a Restricted Driving Permit during your suspension, you paid a $60 permit fee to ITD when you applied. That fee covered the cost of processing your RDP application and issuing the permit, which allowed you to drive under geographic and time restrictions for work, school, medical appointments, and basic life necessities.
The RDP and the reinstatement are separate processes with separate fees. The RDP allows limited driving during the suspension period; reinstatement lifts the suspension and returns you to full driving privileges. Idaho processes RDP applications within approximately five business days of receiving complete documentation, and reinstatements follow the same timeline once you submit the required proof and fee.
What Happens After You Pay the Fee
Once ITD receives your reinstatement fee, proof of completed requirements, and SR-22 filing if required, it processes your reinstatement and updates your driving record. Processing typically takes five business days. ITD will mail confirmation once your license is reinstated, but you can verify reinstatement status by contacting ITD DMV Operations or checking your driving record online.
Your license is not valid until ITD confirms reinstatement. Driving before reinstatement is processed counts as driving on a suspended license, even if you've paid the fee and submitted all required documentation. Wait for ITD's confirmation before you drive. Once reinstated, your license returns to its normal expiration date, and you can drive without restrictions as long as you maintain the required liability insurance and SR-22 filing if applicable.