Occupational/Restricted Driver License (ORL)

While your driver license is suspended or revoked, you may be eligible to receive an Occupational/Restricted Driver License (ORL). It’s good for the length of your suspension or revocation period.

You may use an ORL for:

  • Work, including self-employment, WorkFirst, apprenticeship, or on-the-job training.
  • School, if you’re enrolled in an educational institution and pursuing a diploma, degree, or other certification.
  • Court-ordered community service.
  • Substance abuse treatment or 12-step meeting, if no transit service is available.
  • Continuing your own healthcare, driving to a healthcare provider.
  • Providing continuing care of someone who is dependent on you.
  • Applying for an apprenticeship or on-the-job training. This type of ORL gives you 14 days to apply for these employment programs.

ORL driving restrictions

An ORL restricts the:

  • Times of day you may drive (not to exceed 12 hours in a 24-hour period).
  • Days of the week you may drive.
  • Areas where you may drive.
  • Vehicles you may drive (only vehicles that you’ve filed proof of financial responsibility).

Who’s eligible to get an ORL?

You may be eligible if you:

  • Have a Washington State driver license.
  • or
  • Are stationed in Washington State on active military duty. (You and your dependents may be eligible.)

You’re not eligible if:

  • You’ve been convicted of vehicular assault or vehicular homicide within the last 7 years prior to your current incident.
  • Your driver license is suspended for:
    • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI).
    • Physical control (drug or alcohol-related).
    • Minor in possession.
    • Vehicular assault or vehicular homicide.
    • Intermediate (teen) license violations.
    • Too many rules of the road violations while you have an intermediate license.
    • Failure to pay child support.
    • Fraud.
    • Medical or vision reasons.
    • Violation of court-ordered probation.
    • Habitual traffic offender status.
    • Failure to:
      • Qualify on a medical or visual examination.
      • Qualify on a driver skills examination.
      • Undergo required alcohol/chemical dependency treatment.
    • Violation of ORL restrictions.
    • Canceled SR-22 insurance (proof of financial responsibility).

Commercial drivers

You can’t get an ORL to drive a commercial motor vehicle. But, if you have a commercial driver license, you may apply for an ORL to operate a non-commercial motor vehicle.

Fees

The fee is $100 and isn’t refundable even if your application isn’t approved.

How to apply for an ORL

Note: We’ll hold your application for 30 days so you’re able to get us the required documents. After 30 days you forfeit any fees you’ve paid, and you’ll have to start over again with a new application and fee.

  1. If you’re eligible, complete a Restricted Driver License Application.
  2. Provide 1 of the following as proof of financial responsibility:
    • A certificate of insurance (SR-22). Contact an auto insurance agent for help.
    • A State Treasurer’s certificate of deposit of $60,000 or approved collateral of equal value.
    • A surety bond executed by the person giving proof and a surety company authorized to do business in Washington State, or by the person giving proof and by 2 individual sureties.
  3. If you’re suspended for a failure to appear in court or pay tickets (FTA), also include your Payment Plan Verification (completed and signed by a court representative).
  4. Submit your application, supporting documents, and non-refundable $100 fee:
    • At any driver licensing office.
    • or
    • By mail to:
      Restricted Driver License
      Department of Licensing
      PO Box 3907
      Seattle, WA 98124-3907
  5. We’ll process your application and mail you the ORL. We process applications in the order they are received.

When you’ll get your ORL

If you qualify, we’ll issue your ORL and mail or email it to you on the day your license suspension begins.

If you are denied an ORL

If your application is denied, you may request a hearing with us to consider whether or not you meet the eligibility requirements for an ORL. Use the hearing request form enclosed with your denial letter to request a hearing, or mail a letter requesting a hearing to:

Hearings and Interviews
Department of Licensing
PO Box 9031
Olympia, WA 98507-9031

We may deny your hearing request if your license is suspended or revoked for a reason where the law does not permit us to issue an ORL, or if the law otherwise prevents us from issuing an ORL.

ORL cancellations

We’ll cancel your ORL and notify you in writing if any of the following occurs:

  • You’re convicted of operating a vehicle in violation of the ORL restrictions.
  • You commit an offense that requires us to suspend/revoke your driving privilege while the ORL is in effect.
  • You no longer meet the criteria.
  • You cancel your SR-22 insurance (proof of financial responsibility).
  • You remove a required ignition interlock device (IID).

Related laws

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