Washington — Reinstatement Guide
Washington Driver's License Reinstatement
Most people have more than one reason their Washington license is on hold and don't know it. This page walks the common reasons, what each requires per Washington's published process, and the order the state expects them in. The roadmap itself is free.
DUI-Specific Path
Suspended after a DUI?
We have a Washington-specific page for the administrative road back once the DUI case is resolved — required program, interlock if applicable, financial-responsibility filing, fees.
See the Washington DUI reinstatement road back →Common Reasons a Washington License Is Suspended
Each reason has its own requirements, fee, and order in the state's process. If more than one applies to you, they have to be cleared in the right sequence — that's what the free roadmap does.
Type A1
Lapse in insurance / SR-22 required
If your insurance lapsed, the state suspends your driving privileges until you re-establish coverage and (in most states) file an SR-22 financial-responsibility certificate.
What Washington requires: file FR proof (SR-22 3 yr / $60k deposit / bond); pay reinstatement
State reinstatement fee: $60–$75 (paid directly to WA DOL)
Type A2
Failure to appear or failure to pay a ticket
If you missed a court date or didn't resolve a citation, the court notifies the state and your license is held until the underlying matter is cleared with the court.
What Washington requires: pay fine at court → court electronically notifies DOL (FTA cleared, ~2 business days) OR same-day Adjudication Slip to DOL → pay reinstatement
State reinstatement fee: $75 (paid directly to WA DOL)
Type A3
Points / accumulated violations
Multiple moving violations within the state's lookback window can trigger a points-based suspension that requires waiting out the suspension period and clearing reinstatement requirements.
What Washington requires: 6 moving violations/12 mo = 60-day susp (4×/1 yr or 5×/2 yr = HTO); serve; pay reinstatement
State reinstatement fee: $75 (paid directly to WA DOL)
Type B-DUI-ADMIN
DUI administrative suspension
An administrative-license-revocation suspension (separate from any criminal court case) is handled through the state's reinstatement process — the criminal case itself is for an attorney, not for us.
What Washington requires: 90-day susp (1st admin, BAC 0.08+); SR-22 3 yr; IID; pay alcohol-related reinstatement
State reinstatement fee: $170 (paid directly to WA DOL)
Free
Do it yourself
The Washington agency's reinstatement information is free and online. Use the official link above and follow your roadmap. Many people clear their hold this way.
From $99
Or have us prepare your packet
We find every hold, fill Washington's official forms with the info you provide, check completeness against Washington's published requirements, and give you the exact filing steps. Your state fee is paid separately to the agency.
Every requirement, fee, and link on this page comes from Washington's own published process. Where Washington hasn't published a value at primary source, we leave it out rather than guess — the free roadmap carries the citations behind each step. Requirements can change; always confirm current requirements with the state before submitting.
Ready to see what's holding your Washington license?
The intake takes about a minute. Your roadmap is free, and nothing is sent to Washington from this site without you initiating it.
Start your Washington roadmap