SR22 State

How to get your license reinstated in Virginia

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

Getting a suspended or revoked Virginia license back means meeting every requirement on your record and paying the reinstatement fee. The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) handles reinstatement. A free DMV compliance summary lists exactly what you still need to do. [1][2]

SR-22 required?
Yes
Base reinstatement fee
$145
Keep SR-22 for
3 years

Step by step

  1. Get your compliance summary

    Request a free compliance summary online, by phone at 804-497-7100, or at any DMV customer service center. It lists every requirement you still need to meet, as of the date printed at the top. [1][3]

    Compliance Summary ↗

  2. Serve the suspension or revocation period

    How long it lasts depends on the violation. Most suspensions run at the same time, but DUI and test-refusal suspensions run one after another with each other, and a few others can too. [1]

  3. Ask about restricted driving privileges

    A court can grant restricted privileges for some offenses, including a first or second DUI and reckless driving. DMV can grant them only for Driver Improvement Probation violations. You need papers showing why, such as an employer letter on letterhead, and an SR-22 or FR-44 on file if one is required. [1][4]

    Restricted Driving Privileges ↗

  4. Have your insurer file an SR-22 or FR-44, if required

    You need an FR-44 after a DUI-related conviction, and an SR-22 after an unsatisfied judgment or a suspension for driving uninsured. Your insurer files it electronically with DMV, and you keep it on file for 3 years from the end of the suspension or revocation (or the date a judgment is satisfied). If you don't own a vehicle, you still need one, through an operator's policy. [1]

  5. Complete any other requirements

    Your compliance summary may list other items, such as a driver improvement clinic, a medical or vision report, proof that a judgment was satisfied, or meeting a child support order. You must finish all of them before DMV can reinstate you. [1]

  6. Pay the reinstatement fee

    Fees range from $145 to $220, depending on the reason for the suspension or revocation. If you have several orders, you pay the highest fee plus $5 for each order after the first. Pay online, by mail, by phone, or at any DMV customer service center. [2][5]

    Reinstatement Fee Payment ↗

  7. Confirm your status before you drive

    Check your compliance summary again to make sure nothing is outstanding. After a revocation, DMV also requires a vision screening, a knowledge test, and a road skills test before it issues a license. [1][3]

    Compliance Summary ↗

After a DUI conviction

  1. Enroll in and complete VASAP

    After a first or second DUI, DMV can't issue a restricted license until you enroll in the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP). It can't fully reinstate you until you complete it. Contact your local VASAP office to enroll. [1]

  2. Install an ignition interlock, if required

    After a first DUI, you need an interlock on at least one vehicle and any vehicle you drive to get a restricted license, for at least 6 months in a row without violations. After a second or later DUI within 10 years, you need one on every vehicle you own, co-own, or drive for at least 12 months, even if you wait out the full revocation. [1]

  3. File an FR-44 and pay the DUI fee

    A DUI conviction requires an FR-44 with double the minimum liability limits, kept on file for 3 years. The DUI reinstatement fee is $220. [5][6]

Not legal advice. Rules change; confirm your own requirements with The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. Your insurance company files the SR-22 or FR-44 with DMV electronically. before you drive.

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

Sources

  1. Virginia DMV - A Guide to Reinstating Your Virginia Driving Privilege (DMV 292, rev. 07/01/2026) (official agency page, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
  2. Virginia DMV - Reinstate Your Driving Privilege (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  3. Virginia DMV - Compliance Summary (online request) (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  4. Virginia DMV - Restricted Driving Privileges (official agency page, accessed Oct 6, 2026)
  5. Virginia DMV - Reinstatement Fees (official agency page, accessed Oct 5, 2026)
  6. Code of Virginia 46.2-316 - Proof of financial responsibility (DUI double limits) (statute, accessed Oct 5, 2026)

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