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Hardship licenses can provide a great way to face your punishment for certain violations and crimes without having your entire life ruined. These exclusive licenses are not available in every state and, even when they are available in your state, you must make sure that you personally qualify for one given your specific circumstances. Here’s what you need to know:

What Is a Hardship License?

A hardship license is a restricted license that enables you to drive under limited circumstances in a few situations. While you own a hardship license, you will not be permitted to drive under the normal rules of the road. Instead, you will be subject to additional restrictions. A common restriction is that your license will only be considered valid while you drive to and from work or healthcare appointments.

Hardship licenses are designed specifically for people who have recently had their driver licenses suspended or revoked due to administrative or civil penalties. These licenses are rarely (if ever) given out to people who have been convicted of egregious crimes, like vehicular manslaughter or multiple DUIs.

Obtaining a hardship license is usually a testament to the skill of your lawyer. To find a lawyer skilled enough to secure this kind of favorable court outcome for you, download the WinIt app and begin searching today.

Other Names for Hardship License?

Hardship licenses are also often called restricted licenses or limited driving privileges. Each state is authorized by law to create its own rules and regulations pertaining to hardship licenses, including what to call them. For that reason, the name varies from state to state. However, the most common name for such a license is “hardship license.”

Where Can You Drive with a Hardship License?

Where you can drive with a hardship license depends on two factors: What state you live in and what you can prove to your state’s transportation department (which, in most states, is the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)).

Not every state authorizes the same exemptions for hardship licensed drivers and those that do often require you to submit substantial proof of need. For example, if you need your vehicle to drive to and from work, then you will need to live in a state where that is considered a valid reason for a hardship license and to provide proof to the DMV that you cannot possibly get to or from work any other way.

Here is a brief list of places where you might be able to drive while on a hardship license:

• Work
• School
• Your children’s school
• Healthcare and doctor appointments
• Emergency rooms and urgent cares

Depending on your specific circumstances and what led to you getting your license suspended or revoked in the first place, your hardship license might come with additional restrictions and requirements as well. For example, if your license were suspended due to a DUI conviction, then you might also have to have an ignition interlock device (IID) attached to your car.

Why Would One’s License Be Suspended?

There are too many ways to count. In states where the government uses a point system, you can have your license suspended for obtaining too many points in too short a time. In states where no such system exists, you can still have your license suspended for being convicted of too many moving violations in too short a time. 

You can also have your driver license suspended immediately for being convicted of severe and egregious violations. Examples are as follows:

• Committing multiple DUIs.
• Reckless driving.
• Excessive speeding.
• Aggressive driving.
• Eluding police.

The specifics of how your license can be suspended and what happens next depend on what state you are licensed in. Each state has its own traffic laws and enforcement system therefor, which can make it difficult to list all possible suspensions in one article.

Who Will Qualify for a Hardship License?

As mentioned earlier in this article, every state has its own requirements for hardship licenses. To know exactly what exemptions are available in your state, contact your location transportation authority. For most of you, that will be the Department of Motor Vehicles. Generally speaking, you must meet all of the following requirements to obtain a hardship license:

• Been found guilty of a violation and had your license suspended.
• Completed any “hard suspension” period issued by the court.
• Enrolled in drug or alcohol treatment (if you’ve been convicted of a DUI charge).
• Demonstrated a willingness to change.
• Submitted proof of hardship to your local transportation authority.

You will also typically need to fill out an application for a hardship license, similar to how you must fill out an application for other kinds of driver licenses. This application may be approved or rejected at the whim of the transportation authority.

Violating a Restricted License

If you are granted a hardship license and are later caught violating the terms of that license, the government will likely take it away and ban you from ever obtaining another one. Most states that offer hardship licenses do not offer second chances. You can have one and, if you violate it, you will never get another.

To make matters worse, violating the terms of a restricted license can sometimes be considered aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, which is typically considered a major misdemeanor. Such a crime often comes with significant jail time, fines, fees, surcharges, ect. Being convicted of a crime that results in jail time will result in you earning a permanent criminal record.