If your suspension stemmed from a DUI, points accumulation, uninsured driving, or another violation trigger, you'll pay an additional trigger-specific fee on top of the base—typically $60 to $85 depending on the cause. Most suspended drivers discover the layered structure only when they arrive at the DMV counter with insufficient payment.
The trigger-specific fee—set under Idaho Code 18-8002A and related statutes—varies by what caused the suspension in the first place.
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Get Your Free QuoteIdaho Trigger-Specific Fee
$85
The $85 fee applies to most suspension causes including DUI, points, and uninsured driving violations under Idaho Code 18-8002A.
Idaho Code 18-8002A, Idaho Transportation Department
What the Base Fee Covers and What It Does Not
It does not cover court fines, unpaid tickets, SR-22 filing fees, DUI education course costs, or any penalty imposed by the court that ordered the suspension.
If your suspension was court-ordered (DUI conviction, reckless driving, excessive points), you may owe additional fines to the court before ITD will accept your reinstatement payment. The court and ITD operate separate payment systems—clearing one does not automatically clear the other.
Processing time after payment is approximately 5 business days. ITD will not begin processing until all underlying violations are cleared, all required fees are paid in full, and proof of insurance (SR-22 if required) is on file. Partial payment does not start the clock.
The Payment Sequence That Blocks Most Reinstatements
First, clear all outstanding court fines and unpaid tickets with the county court that issued them. ITD's system flags unresolved court balances and will reject your reinstatement application until those are satisfied. Second, if your suspension requires SR-22 filing (most DUI, uninsured, and serious violation cases do), obtain proof of insurance from a carrier licensed to file SR-22 in Idaho and have the carrier submit the SR-22 electronically to ITD before you attempt reinstatement. Third, if a DUI education course or defensive driving class was court-ordered, submit proof of completion to ITD.
Payment is submitted to ITD DMV Operations - Restricted Permits, P.O. Box 7129, Boise, ID 83707. Include your driver's license number, case number if applicable, and a contact phone number. ITD processes reinstatement payments in approximately 5 business days once all prerequisites are met. If any prerequisite is missing, ITD returns the payment unprocessed and the suspension remains active.
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SR-22 Filing Adds a Separate Cost Layer
If your suspension cause requires SR-22 filing—DUI, uninsured driving, serious violations, or driving without required insurance under Idaho Code 49-1229—you'll pay a one-time SR-22 filing fee set by your insurance carrier (typically a small administrative charge) plus a sustained premium increase for the 3-year filing period. Idaho charges no separate state SR-22 filing fee; the carrier handles the electronic filing to ITD at no additional state cost.
The SR-22 filing must remain active and uninterrupted for 3 years from the date ITD receives it. If your policy lapses or cancels during that period, the carrier notifies ITD within 10 days and your license is re-suspended immediately. You'll face a new suspension period and another reinstatement cycle. Most carriers writing SR-22 policies in Idaho are non-standard or high-risk tier insurers—State Farm, GEICO, Progressive, Farmers, Dairyland, Bristol West, National General, The General, and USAA all file SR-22 in Idaho, but not all write policies for recently-suspended drivers.
Non-owner SR-22 policies cover drivers who do not own a vehicle but need to maintain filing compliance. If your vehicle was sold, repossessed, or totaled during the suspension period, a non-owner policy satisfies the SR-22 requirement at a lower premium than owner-operator coverage. The 3-year filing period runs from the date ITD receives the SR-22, not from your reinstatement date—file early if possible to start the clock sooner.
Idaho SR-22 Filing Period
3 years
Idaho requires SR-22 filing for 3 years after license suspension for DUI, uninsured driving, and serious violations. The period begins when ITD receives the electronic filing from your carrier, not when your license is reinstated.
Idaho Code Title 49 Chapter 12
Restricted Driving Permits During Suspension
Idaho offers a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) that allows limited driving during the suspension period for work, school, medical appointments, treatment, and basic life necessities. The RDP application requires Form ITD-3227, ITD-3208 work or school verification signed by your employer or school, a signed Drivers Agreement (ITD-3238), proof of liability insurance (SR-22 if your suspension cause requires it), satisfaction of all reinstatement prerequisites, and a non-refundable $60 permit fee.
RDP processing takes approximately 5 business days after ITD receives a complete application. The permit is available for DUI suspensions and points-based suspensions. Geographic restrictions limit driving to specific states, counties, or cities, and time restrictions may apply—for example, an 18-8002A administrative license suspension RDP is restricted to 8am-5pm Monday through Friday. Violating the permit's restrictions triggers immediate revocation and extends your suspension period.
What Happens After You Pay
Once ITD processes your reinstatement payment and confirms all prerequisites are met, your license is restored and the suspension flag is removed from your driving record. You can verify reinstatement status by contacting ITD or checking your driver record online. If SR-22 filing was required, your 3-year filing period continues from the date ITD originally received the SR-22—reinstatement does not reset that clock.
Your insurance premium will remain elevated for the duration of the SR-22 filing period and typically for 3 to 5 years beyond that as the violation surcharge phases out. Non-standard carriers that wrote your SR-22 policy may not offer competitive rates once the filing period ends—shop standard-market carriers at the 3-year mark to see if you qualify for lower premiums. If you move out of state during the SR-22 period, Idaho's filing requirement follows you and the new state may impose its own filing or proof-of-insurance rules on top of Idaho's mandate.