What a hardship license is and who can get one

A hardship license in Florida is a restricted driving permit that lets you drive during a suspension when you meet specific conditions. It is not a full license — it limits where, when, and why you can drive. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) issues hardship licenses only to people whose license suspension would cause genuine financial or medical hardship.

You can request a hardship license if your suspension is for a DUI conviction, a refusal to take a breath or blood test, accumulating too many points, or certain other traffic violations. The specific rules depend on why your license was suspended. Not every suspension qualifies, and not every person with a may have access to suspension will be approved.

The hardship license does not erase your suspension — it runs alongside it. Once your suspension period ends, the hardship license expires and you return to a regular license (if you have not lost it for another reason).

Key Takeaways

  • You must show DHSMV that losing your license would cause real financial hardship, such as job loss, or medical hardship, such as needing to drive to treatment.
  • The process process involves filling out a form, paying a fee (currently $75), and submitting documents that prove your hardship claim.
  • You can submit your request by mail to DHSMV or in person at a local driver license office, and approval typically takes two to four weeks.
  • A hardship license comes with strict restrictions: you can drive only to work, school, medical appointments, court-ordered programs, or the driver license office itself.
  • Violating the restrictions or driving outside permitted hours can result in arrest and additional charges.

Gathering documents that prove your hardship

DHSMV will not approve a hardship license based on your word alone. You need to submit documents that show a real consequence if you cannot drive. The type of hardship determines what you submit.

For financial hardship, bring a letter from your employer on company letterhead stating that you will lose your job if you cannot drive to work. The letter should include your job title, the dates you have worked there, and why driving is necessary (for example, if public transportation does not serve your workplace or your job requires you to travel between locations). If you are self-employed, bring tax returns or business records showing income. If you need to drive to school, bring an enrollment letter from the school or college stating that you are a current student and that the program cannot be completed using public transportation.

For medical hardship, bring a letter from your doctor stating that you require ongoing medical treatment, the frequency of appointments, and why you cannot use public transportation or a medical transport service. The letter should be on the doctor's letterhead and include their signature and license number. If you are the primary caregiver for a family member who needs medical treatment, bring documentation of that relationship and the medical necessity.

Bring your current ID or passport, your Social Security number, and proof of your current address (a utility bill or lease dated within the last 60 days). You will also need the case number or citation number from your suspension.

Completing the hardship license process

The form you need is DHSMV Form DL 661, titled "process for Hardship License." You can read it from the DHSMV website or pick up a copy at any driver license office. The form asks for your personal information, your driver license number, the reason for your suspension, and a detailed explanation of the hardship you will face.

In the hardship section, be specific. Do not write "I need to work." Instead, write "I work as a delivery driver at XYZ Company, located at [address], which is not served by public transportation. My employer has stated in writing that I will be terminated if I cannot report to work. I have worked there for [length of time] and have no other source of income." The more concrete your explanation, the stronger your request.

Sign and date the form. Attach copies (not originals) of all your supporting documents. Do not send original documents — DHSMV will not return them. Make a copy of everything you are sending for your own records.

Where and how to submit your process

You have two options: mail your process or submit it in person at a driver license office.

By mail: Send your completed Form DL 661, supporting documents, and the $75 fee (check or money order made out to DHSMV) to the address listed on the form. Processing by mail takes two to four weeks. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want DHSMV to return a copy of your approval.

In person: Visit your local driver license office with your form, documents, and $75 fee. You can pay by cash, check, money order, or debit card at most offices. Staff will review your process on the spot and tell you whether it appears complete. If it is, you will receive your hardship license the same day or within a few business days. Call ahead to confirm your office accepts in-person hardship applications, because not all do.

Find your nearest office on the DHSMV website by entering your county or ZIP code. Bring your current ID and be prepared to wait — driver license offices are often busy.

What restrictions come with a hardship license

A hardship license is not a regular license. It permits you to drive only for specific purposes and only during specific hours. Violating these restrictions is a criminal offense.

You can drive to and from work, school, court-ordered DUI education or treatment programs, medical appointments, and the driver license office itself. You cannot drive for any other reason — not for groceries, not to visit family, not for errands. You can drive only between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, unless your job or medical treatment requires you to drive outside those hours (in which case you must have written documentation from your employer or doctor to show a police officer if stopped).

Your hardship license will have a notation showing the restrictions. Keep it with you whenever you drive. If a police officer stops you and you are driving outside the permitted purpose or hours, you can be arrested for driving with a suspended license, which carries criminal penalties including jail time, fines, and a longer suspension.

What happens if your process is denied

DHSMV will send you a written decision. If your process is denied, the letter will explain why — usually because the documents did not adequately prove hardship, or because your suspension does not may have access to for a hardship license.

You can request a hearing before a judge to challenge the denial. You have 30 days from the date of the denial letter to file a request. The hearing gives you a chance to present additional evidence or clarify your hardship claim in front of someone other than DHSMV staff. To request a hearing, contact the DHSMV office that denied your process or file online through the DHSMV website.

If you are denied and do not request a hearing, your suspension continues as originally ordered. You cannot reapply for a hardship license until your suspension period ends, unless your circumstances change significantly (for example, if you lose your job and can no longer claim financial hardship, but then develop a medical condition requiring treatment).

How long a hardship license lasts

Your hardship license remains valid for the entire length of your suspension. If your suspension is for six months, your hardship license lasts six months. If your suspension is for one year, your hardship license lasts one year.

When your suspension period ends, your hardship license automatically expires. You do not need to do anything — it straightforward stops being valid. At that point, if you have not lost your license for another reason, you can drive normally again using your regular license (if it is still valid) or you can renew it if it has expired.

If you are suspended again for a new violation before your current hardship license expires, the new suspension takes effect and your hardship license is cancelled. You would need to explore for a new hardship license based on the new suspension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drive to the grocery store or run errands with a hardship license?

No. A hardship license permits only work, school, medical appointments, court-ordered programs, and trips to the driver license office. Grocery shopping, visiting friends, or other personal errands are not permitted. Driving for these purposes violates the restrictions and can result in arrest.

What if my job requires me to drive at night or on weekends?

You can drive outside the standard 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. window if your employer provides written documentation stating that your job requires it. Bring this letter with you whenever you drive outside permitted hours. A police officer can ask to see it, and you should have it available to show.

Can I get a hardship license if I was suspended for accumulating too many points?

Yes, point-based suspensions may have access to for hardship licenses. The process is the same: you submit Form DL 661 with documents proving financial or medical hardship. However, some suspensions (such as those for habitual traffic offender status) do not may have access to. Check your suspension notice or call DHSMV to confirm your suspension type qualifies.

How much does a hardship license cost?

The current fee is $75, payable by cash, check, money order, or debit card. This fee is in addition to any fines or court costs related to your original violation. The fee does not may provide approval — it is charged only if you submit an process.

What if I move to a different county while my hardship license is active?

Your hardship license remains valid statewide. You do not need to reapply or update it. However, if you move out of Florida, your hardship license is no longer valid in your new state, and you cannot drive there on a Florida hardship license.