What a Florida hardship license does and who can get one
A hardship license (officially called a "Business Purpose Only" license) lets you drive to specific places — work, school, medical appointments, court — even though your regular license is suspended. It does not restore your full driving privileges. You can only drive to the destinations listed on the license, during the hours approved, and you must carry the hardship license with you at all times while driving.
Florida issues hardship licenses for most suspension reasons, including unpaid traffic fines, failure to pay child support, failure to appear in court, and administrative suspensions from DUI arrests. The state does not issue them for suspensions tied to serious criminal convictions or for drivers under 18 in most cases.
You can request a hardship license while your suspension is still active. You do not have to wait until the suspension ends. The license is temporary — it lasts only as long as your suspension does, or until you resolve the underlying issue.
Key Takeaways
- A hardship license lets you drive only to work, school, medical care, and court — not for personal errands or pleasure.
- You must explore in person at a Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles office with proof of the hardship, proof of residence, and a valid ID.
- The fee is $75, and approval usually takes one to two weeks, though some offices process requests the same day.
- You must carry the hardship license at all times while driving, and driving outside the approved purposes or hours is a separate criminal offense.
- If your suspension is for unpaid fines or child support, paying what you owe will end the suspension and make the hardship license unnecessary.
Reasons Florida suspends licenses and which ones allow hardship licenses
Florida suspends licenses for many reasons, and not all of them allow you to get a hardship license. The most common suspension reasons that do allow hardship licenses are unpaid traffic fines, failure to appear in court, failure to pay child support, and administrative suspensions from DUI arrests (before conviction).
Suspensions that typically do not allow hardship licenses include those tied to a criminal conviction for driving under the influence, reckless driving causing injury or death, or habitual traffic offender status. Drivers under 18 face stricter rules and may not be able to get a hardship license even for suspensions that would may have access to an adult.
Before you go to the DHSMV office, call ahead or check your suspension notice to confirm your suspension type allows a hardship license. The notice you received in the mail should state the reason for suspension and whether you are may be able to access.
Documents and proof you need to bring
You must bring several documents in person to a Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles office. Bring your current valid ID (passport, military ID, or another government-issued photo ID), proof of residence (a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or bank statement dated within the last 60 days), and your Social Security number.
You also need proof of the hardship itself. For work, bring a letter from your employer on company letterhead stating your job title, work address, and work schedule. For school, bring an enrollment letter or class schedule from the school. For medical care, bring a letter from your doctor or medical provider stating the type of care and the appointment schedule. For court-ordered programs, bring a copy of the court order or a letter from the program.
If your suspension is for unpaid fines or child support, bring proof of the debt (the notice or court order) and, if you have made a payment plan, proof of that arrangement. If your suspension is for failure to appear, bring the court notice or a letter from the court confirming the failure to appear.
how the process works at a Florida DHSMV office
Go to the official Florida DHSMV website and use the office locator to find the nearest office to you. Call that office before you go — wait times and processing speed vary widely by location, and some offices are much busier than others. Ask whether they can process your request the same day or whether you should expect to wait.
Bring all your documents, your current driver's license (even though it is suspended), and $75 in cash or card. Fill out the process form at the office — staff can help you if you are unsure. Tell the clerk you are requesting a hardship license and hand over your documents and proof of hardship.
The clerk will review your documents on the spot. If everything is in order, they will take your photo and issue the hardship license when ready or within a few days. If documents are missing or incomplete, they will tell you what you need and you can come back. Do not leave without asking exactly what is missing and when you should return.
What you can and cannot do with a hardship license
Your hardship license will list the specific purposes you are allowed to drive for — typically work, school, medical, and court. It will also list the hours you are allowed to drive, usually matching your work or school schedule plus a small buffer for travel time. You can drive only to those places, during those hours, and only for those purposes.
You cannot use a hardship license for grocery shopping, visiting friends, running errands, or any other personal reason. You cannot drive outside the approved hours, even if you are going to an approved destination. If you are stopped by police and you are driving outside your approved purposes or hours, you can be charged with a separate crime — driving with a suspended license — even though you have the hardship license in your possession.
Keep the hardship license with you every time you drive. If you are stopped and cannot produce it, you will be treated as if you are driving with a suspended license. If your circumstances change — you lose your job, finish school, or no longer need medical care — contact the DHSMV office and ask to update your hardship license.
How long a hardship license lasts and what happens when it expires
A hardship license lasts for the duration of your suspension or until you resolve the underlying issue, whichever comes first. If your suspension is for unpaid fines and you pay the fines, your suspension ends when ready and your hardship license becomes invalid. If your suspension is for failure to appear and you appear in court, the suspension ends and the hardship license is no longer needed.
If your suspension is for a set number of months — for example, a six-month administrative suspension from a DUI arrest — your hardship license will expire when those six months are up. Your regular license will be restored automatically at that point, and you will not need to do anything else.
If your hardship license expires or becomes invalid, you cannot drive at all, even to the approved destinations. Driving after your hardship license has expired is the same offense as driving with a suspended license.
Resolving the underlying issue to end your suspension early
In many cases, you can end your suspension before the time period is up by addressing the reason for the suspension. If your suspension is for unpaid fines, paying the full amount or setting up a payment plan with the court will lift the suspension. If it is for failure to appear, appearing in court or contacting the court to reschedule will resolve it. If it is for unpaid child support, making a payment or arranging a payment plan with the child support enforcement office will end it.
Contact the court, the child support enforcement office, or the agency that issued your suspension notice to find out exactly what you need to do. Ask for a written confirmation once you have paid or resolved the issue — the DHSMV office will need this to restore your license. Do not assume the suspension will automatically lift; follow up to make sure the DHSMV has been notified.
If your suspension is for a DUI arrest and you have not yet been convicted, you may be able to have the administrative suspension lifted by winning your case in court or by completing a DUI program, depending on the circumstances. Talk to a DUI attorney or contact the court handling your case.
What happens if you drive outside your hardship license terms
Driving outside the purposes, hours, or destinations listed on your hardship license is a separate criminal offense. You can be charged with driving with a suspended license even though you have the hardship license in your possession. A conviction can result in fines up to $500, jail time up to 60 days, and an additional suspension on top of your existing one.
If you are stopped by police, be honest about where you were going and why. If you made a mistake about your approved hours or destinations, tell the officer. Some officers will issue a warning for a first offense, but there is no may provide. If you are charged, you have the right to contest the charge in court.
If you lose your hardship license or it is damaged, go back to the DHSMV office and request a replacement. There is usually no fee for a replacement. Do not drive without it, even if you are going to an approved destination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a hardship license if my license was suspended for a DUI?
Yes, if your suspension is administrative (issued by the DHSMV after your arrest, before trial). You cannot get one if you have been convicted of DUI. The administrative suspension usually lasts six months for a first offense. Bring the notice of suspension and proof of your hardship to the DHSMV office.
How much does a hardship license cost?
The fee is $75. You can pay with cash or card at the DHSMV office. There is no additional fee if you need to replace a lost or damaged hardship license.
What if I was suspended for unpaid child support and I set up a payment plan?
Setting up a payment plan usually does not lift the suspension when ready. You must make at least one payment or reach an agreement with the child support enforcement office, then bring proof of that agreement to the DHSMV. The suspension will be lifted once the office confirms the arrangement. In the meantime, you can request a hardship license.
Can I drive to the grocery store if it is on the way to work?
No. A hardship license allows you to drive only to the specific destinations listed — work, school, medical appointments, or court. Stopping at a grocery store, even briefly, is driving outside your approved purposes and can result in a charge of driving with a suspended license.
What do I do if my job location changes while I have a hardship license?
Return to the DHSMV office with a new letter from your employer stating your new work address and schedule. The office will update your hardship license to reflect the new location. Do not drive to the new location until your hardship license has been updated.