Restricted driver license

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

What kind of driving can ORLs be used for?

• Work — includes self-employment, WorkFirst, apprenticeship, or on-the-job training.
• School — enrolled in an educational institution and pursuing a course of study leading to 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).
• the days of the week you may drive.
• the geographical area where you may drive.
• the vehicles you may drive (limited to vehicles for which you have filed proof of financial responsibility).

Who can get an ORL?

You may be eligible for an ORL if your driver license:

• was valid on the date it was suspended or revoked for the offense causing you to apply for this ORL.
• OR
• was valid on the date of a prior suspension or revocation that continually prohibited the reissue of a valid license.

You are not eligible for an ORL if:

• you have been convicted of vehicular assault or vehicular homicide within 7 years before the incident for which you are requesting the ORL.
• your driver license is suspended for:
  • 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.
  • failure to qualify on a driver skills examination.
  • failure to undergo required alcohol/chemical dependency treatment.
  • violation of ORL restrictions.
  • cancelled SR-22 insurance (proof of financial responsibility).

Commercial drivers

An ORL cannot be issued to drive a commercial motor vehicle. If you have a commercial driver license, you may still apply for an ORL to operate a non-commercial motor vehicle.

Waiting period for DUI suspensions

If your license is suspended or revoked for driving under the influence (DUI), you must complete a waiting period before receiving an ORL. The waiting period is determined by the reason for suspension or revocation, as shown in the table below:

Fees

The fee to apply for an ORL is $100. If your application is not approved, the fee will not be refunded.

How to apply for an ORL

1. If you are eligible for an ORL, you should complete an Occupational/Restricted Driver License Application for each reason you are seeking an ORL. For example, if you need to drive to work and to school, complete one application for driving to work and one for driving to school. Application forms may also be picked up at any driver licensing office.
2. Pay the nonrefundable application fee of $100. You will need to pay the application fee for each type of suspension or revocation. For example, if your applications to drive to work and to school are needed because you have one suspension, you pay one fee ($100). If you submit applications for 2 different suspensions, you pay 2 fees ($200).
3. Take the completed application(s) and fee to any driver licensing office or mail them to:
   
   Occupational/Restricted License
   Department of Licensing
   PO Box 9048
   Olympia, WA 98507-9048
4. Provide us with ONE of the following types of 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 two individual sureties.
5. If your driver license is suspended because of a DUI or other alcohol-related offense, you must get an ignition interlock device installed in any vehicle you drive. This includes vehicles owned by your employer that you drive as part of your job. The company that installs the ignition interlock device will send us proof of installation. To locate a company in your area, check the yellow pages of your local phone book.
6. If your driver license is suspended because you did not pay a ticket or appear in court (FTA), submit proof that you have entered into a payment plan with the court. Courts can complete our FTA Payment Plan Verification form and give it to you to attach to your ORL application.
7. We will process your application and mail you the ORL, usually within 7 to 10 working days. We process applications in the order they are received. If we are unable to process your application for any reason, we will notify you in writing.

Can I request a hearing if I’m denied an ORL?

Yes, you may request a hearing with the Department of Licensing to consider whether or not you meet the eligibility requirements for an ORL. Use the hearing request form enclosed with your denial letter, or request a hearing by writing to:

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 will cancel your ORL and notify you in writing if any of the following occurs:

• You are 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 or have the driving need stated on your ORL application.
• You cancel your SR-22 insurance (proof of financial responsibility).
• You remove a required ignition interlock device.

Related laws

• RCW 46.20.380: Fee
• RCW 46.20.391: Application — Eligibility — Restrictions — Cancellation
• RCW 46.20.394: Detailed restrictions — Violation
• RCW 46.20.400: Obtaining new driver license — surrender or order of current license
• RCW 46.20.410: Penalty