When you are caught driving with your license suspended or revoked in Florida, you may wonder what the process is to get your license reinstated and how long it will take. Many Florida drivers rely heavily on their driver’s licenses due to lacking public transportation. 

Do not drive if your license is suspended as being caught driving with a suspended or revoked license can carry heavy penalties. 

The first thing you will want to do is confirm that your license is actually suspended. This is something that you can do via the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles website. An experienced traffic attorney can also look this up for you. 

Once you have confirmed that your license has been suspended or is pending suspension, you’ll need to fix the cause of the suspension. For example, if your license is suspended for failing to pay an outstanding traffic ticket, you may need to pay it in order to clear the D6 (suspension). However, it is important you consult with an experienced traffic attorney prior to taking any action. Oftentimes, paying past-due tickets to clear the suspension can lead to a new suspension for points, Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO), etc.

Once whatever is causing the suspension is taken care of, you’ll be able to proceed with getting your suspended license reinstated. The DMV will charge you a reinstatement fee and will issue you a new driver’s license card.

Some suspensions can be cleared up immediately with your County Clerk of Courts Office if you are licensed in Florida. Other Clerk’s Offices may issue a D6 clearance form which you must take to the Tax Collector’s Office in your county of residence. If you carry an out-of-state license, the Clerk’s Office may issue you a D6 clearance form to take to the DMV in your home state.

For more complex suspension matters needing court action, an attorney can typically resolve the issue within a couple of weeks. The Clerk’s Office will transmit the information to the DMV in Tallahassee which can take up to 10 business days to process the information and clear the suspension. The timing of reinstating a driver’s license must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

As with any traffic matter, it is best to have an experienced suspended license attorney on your side. An attorney can advise you on what actions must be taken and in what order to get you back on the road driving legally again.