Hardship Licenses
If your drivers' license is suspended and you need to be restored, you may be eligible for a PA Hardship License. If Penndot approves the client's application for their OLL they will be able to drive to and from work, school, and for specific medical purposes.If you are required to have an ignition interlock, that means every vehicle you drive must have one installed, including vehicles you do not own. Driving a vehicle without a device means you are breaking the law and could face more penalties if you're caught.
To Apply for an OLL:
- You must complete Form DL-15 (PDF) Occupational Limited License Petition.
- Send it, along with the appropriate fee, to the address listed on the form.
- PennDOT will evaluate the petition and determine your eligibility by reviewing the violations on your driving record.
When your license gets suspended for a DUI or some other traffic violation, it's often possible to obtain a hardship license for driving to and from places like work and school. A restricted license allows a motorist to drive to and from certain places while on an otherwise suspended license.
Automatic penalties in Pennsylvania include a $200 fine and an added year or two of license suspension for a first time offense. For a second offense you can be fined up to $1,000 and six months in jail.
An Occupational Limited License (OLL), also commonly referred to as a Bread and Butter license, is a driver's license issued to a driver whose Pennsylvania driving privilege has been, or will be, suspended.
So, to get a hardship license in the first place, motorists often have to prove to the court or DMV that they need to drive to:
- maintain employment.
- get to school (or get kids to school)
- attend alcohol or drug treatment.
- obtain emergency medical care, or.
- complete some other important task.
The following flowchart explains how to apply for a work licence:
- Go to court. If you have been charged with an offence you will have to go to the magistrates court and explain your situation to a magistrate.
- Prepare your application for a work licence.
- The court hears your work licence application.
You can only drive with a suspended license, if you're eligible for a restricted license that allows you to drive to and from work or school and nowhere else. Some states may indefinitely suspend your license if you have a medical condition that could make it unsafe for you to be on the road.
Driving Without a License in Pennsylvania
Revoked, canceled or suspended license by the authorities: If you are a first time offender, you will have to pay a fine of up to $500, and you can also be imprisoned for 60 to 90 days. However, there is a fine of $25.When your license gets suspended for a DUI or some other traffic violation, it's often possible to obtain a hardship license for driving to and from places like work and school. A restricted license allows a motorist to drive to and from certain places while on an otherwise suspended license.
To Apply for an OLL:
- You must complete Form DL-15 (PDF) Occupational Limited License Petition.
- Send it, along with the appropriate fee, to the address listed on the form.
- PennDOT will evaluate the petition and determine your eligibility by reviewing the violations on your driving record.
The Occupational Limited License may be granted to you after a DUI under certain conditions. If there are other violations as a result of your DUI, they may disqualify you from the Work License. We can help you apply for the Occupational License and with the guarantee that you will get your OLL or your money back!
How much does it cost to apply for a Limited Licence? The cost of filing an application for a Limited Licence at the District Court is $153.33. You do not have to pay a lawyer to help you, although it will make it much easier if you can afford it (the fees could be more than $1,000).
A: An Occupational Limited License (OLL) is a limited driver's license issued to a driver whose Pennsylvania driving privilege has been suspended. If you have never been licensed by this or any other state, and you are not a resident of PA, you are also ineligible to apply.
Driving in violation of a restricted license could result in getting your license suspended, with no restricted license available. It could also result in criminal charges and lead to fines and possible jail time.
In such states, you won't make a motion to a judge to get your administrative suspension lifted. Instead, you'll request a hearing with the DMV where an administrative judge or a DMV official will make a decision on whether you can get your license back.
Sometimes officers randomly run a license plate to see if it's all valid, and the registered owner comes back suspended. Then they check DMV's description for the registered owner and they see if the person driving roughly matches that description.
You can find a job without a driver's license, as long as you are smart about your search. Visit the Driver's License Bureau or Department of Motor Vehicles in your state. Before you can apply for a job, you need proper identification.
A Driver's License or ID card marked “limited term” merely signifies that it is issued to a person who is a foreign national with temporary lawful status in the United States and has a shorter term than a regular Driver's License or ID card. Identification |
How to Get a Suspended License Back Early. To get a driver's license reinstated, one needs to satisfy the courts that the reason for the suspension has been resolved. For example, if your license has been suspended due to non-payment of a fine, you will need to submit payment and any additional fees.
The law is very specific with respect to a restricted driver's license, and does not permit you to drive anywhere other than work and alcohol school. As a result, the restricted license does not allow driving for doctor's appointments, your children's school, the grocery store, or anywhere else.
Unfortunately you won't be able to drive for Uber/Lyft with that kind of a restriction on your license.
If you get a suspended license, PennDOT sends you written notice of your suspension. You'll need to surrender your license to the Bureau of Driver Licensing by the effective date listed, or police will be notified to retrieve your license. In addition, Pennsylvania enforces strict penalties for license suspensions.
Most restoration fees are $25 and can be paid at any time during a license suspension. Your license will not be restored until the restoration fee is paid, but paying (and PennDOT accepting) the restoration fee does not mean your license is instantly restored. There may be other steps to restoration.
You can call DVS at (800) 932-4600 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays to speak with a customer service representative. If you're calling from outside the state, call (717) 412-5300. Provide your name and Pennsylvania driver's license number.
Report a Lost or Stolen Pennsylvania License, Permit, or ID
- Report your license lost or stolen to the PennDOT at (800) 932-4600.
- Complete a Fraudulent Misuse of ID/Driver's License Credentials form (RMO-1DL).
After your suspension or revocation period is over, the option to reinstate a driver's license is available for most through Pennsylvania's Department of Transportation (PennDOT). But it isn't an automatic process. You must apply to get your license back. There are several ways to apply for reinstatement.
A restoration fee must be paid by check or money order to PennDOT. Place the vehicle's title number on the check to ensure the fee is correctly applied. You may also pay by credit card online at pa.gov by selecting "Restorations” from the Online Services heading.
As part of your suspension, you must surrender your vehicle's registration plate and your driver's license to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). To reinstate your license and registration, you'll need to pay a restoration fee for each.
