SR22 State

How to get your license reinstated in Connecticut

Checked against official Connecticut sources · Last reviewed October 5, 2026

Getting a suspended Connecticut license back (the DMV calls it restoration) means completing the requirements on your suspension notice, paying the $175 reinstatement fee, and checking your status before you drive. The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Driver Services Division handles restoration. [1][2]

SR-22 required?
Yes (insurer certificate)
Base reinstatement fee
$175

Step by step

  1. Read your suspension notice

    Your notice lists the requirements you must complete, and they vary by suspension. If you didn't get a notice, contact Driver Services at dmv.suspension@ct.gov or 860-263-5720. [2]

    Correct driver's license suspension, tickets, and fees ↗

  2. Ask about a special operator permit

    A special permit may let you drive for work, college classes and exams, or ongoing medical treatment while suspended. It is not available if your record shows a DUI suspension, a suspension for failing to appear or pay a ticket, or driving while suspended, among other things. Apply on form MD-1 with a $100 non-refundable fee, and allow 10 business days. [1][3]

    Special use permits for suspended drivers ↗

  3. File proof of insurance if the DMV requires it

    The DMV Commissioner may require proof of financial responsibility, usually a certificate filed by your insurer, if your driving record warrants it. An operator's policy can be used, and your insurer may charge no more than $10 to file it. After 12 months you may ask the Commissioner to remove the requirement. [4]

  4. Pay the $175 reinstatement fee

    Pay online by credit card, by phone at 860-263-5720, or by mail. If you mail a check or money order payable to DMV, send it to Driver Services, 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161-1013 at least two weeks before your eligibility date. [1][2]

    Pay Your License Reinstatement Fee ↗

  5. Check your status before you drive

    Processing can take up to 10 business days, and paying the fee does not by itself restore your license. Check your license status online before you start driving. [1][2]

    Pay Your License Reinstatement Fee ↗

  6. Keep any required proof in force

    If the DMV requires proof, your insurer must tell the Commissioner at least 10 days before the policy ends. Without the required proof, your license can be suspended again until you furnish new proof. [4]

After a DUI arrest or test refusal

  1. Request a hearing within 7 days, if you want one

    The DMV mails a suspension notice that gives you 7 days to request a hearing. Contact the Administrative Per Se Unit at 860-263-5204 or DMV.AdminPerse@ct.gov before the deadline on your notice. [5]

    Driving Under the Influence: Laws & Penalties ↗

  2. Install an ignition interlock before restoration

    Failing or refusing a test or a DUI means you need an ignition interlock to restore your license. The DMV recommends having an approved vendor install it, and paying the fees, at least 10 days before your eligibility date, or 20 days if you pay by mail. You pay a $100 interlock administration fee on top of the $175 reinstatement fee. [6]

    Ignition Interlock Device ↗

  3. Keep the interlock for the full period

    The period starts on the date your license is restored, not the install date. The DMV lists 6 months after a first .08 suspension for drivers 21 and older, and 1, 2, or 3 years after a test refusal. You must bring each vehicle in for calibration every 25 to 30 days. [5][6]

Not legal advice. Rules change; confirm your own requirements with Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (Commissioner of Motor Vehicles); Driver Services handles suspensions and reinstatement before you drive.

SR-22 rules in Connecticut · If your SR-22 lapses · Reinstatement in other states

Sources

  1. CT DMV - Pay Your License Reinstatement Fee (official agency page, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
  2. CT DMV - Correct driver's license suspension, tickets, and fees (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  3. CT DMV - Special use permits for suspended drivers (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  4. Conn. Gen. Stat. 14-112 - Proof of financial responsibility (Chapter 246, current official text with history notes) (statute, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
  5. CT DMV - Driving Under the Influence: Laws & Penalties (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  6. CT DMV - Ignition Interlock Device (IID) Program (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)

Another state?