Motorists can be issued an Arkansas drivers license suspension if they do not obey state road rules and regulations. The Department of Finance and Administration is in charge of issuing suspended drivers licenses due to traffic violations and offenses.

Before reinstating drivers licenses in Arkansas, drivers need to complete a set of requirements, which vary depending on the type of offense committed. Continue reading the sections below for more details about how to reinstate suspended drivers licenses in Arkansas.

Reinstating An Arkansas Suspended License

Drivers must complete an AR drivers license reinstatement process in order to continue legally operating motor vehicles on public roads within the state. Your drivers privileges may be suspended or revoked due to a variety of reasons, including traffic offenses you have committed. Drivers can check their license status and how many points will result in an Arkansas drivers license suspension or revocation by ordering their driving record.

How To Reinstate An Arkansas Suspended Drivers License

To reinstate suspended drivers licenses in Arkansas, drivers must first fulfill their suspension period and then satisfy certain requirements, including submitting payment of applicable reinstatement fees. The AR suspended drivers license reinstatement process varies depending on the reason for your suspension.

However, if you want to reinstate drivers licenses you may have to do the following:

  • Wait for the suspension period to pass.
  • Satisfy your court requirements.
  • Submit clearance documents, if needed.
  • Submit proof of SR-22 auto insurance.
  • Complete a Drug and Alcohol Safety Education Program (DASEP), if needed.
  • Pass required examinations, if applicable.
  • Pay your drivers license reinstatement fees.

For further information about reinstating drivers licenses in Arkansas, contact the Department of Finance and Administration.

Suspension Periods in Arkansas

The period of drivers license suspension in Arkansas can range anywhere from three months to one year, depending on the number of points you accumulate on your driving record. For instance, drivers with 10 to 13 demerit points on their records receive warning letters.

Additionally, accumulating 14 to 17 points will result in a suspension period of three months, 18 to 23 points – a period of six months, and 24 or more demerit points will result in a drivers license suspension period of one year.

Note: If you wish to find out how many demerit points you have already accumulated, order a copy of your driving record.

Arkansas Point System

Arkansas drivers license suspensions are the result of an accumulation of many demerit points on your driving record. The Department of Finance and Administration has an established point system for traffic violations and offenses, such as the following:

  • Reckless driving – 8 points.
  • Speeding 15 mph over the limit – 3 points.
  • Other moving violations – from 3 to 14 points.

For more detailed information about the point system and violations that may bring you a drivers license suspension in Arkansas, contact a local DFA branch in your area.

Traffic School in Arkansas

Drivers are issued suspended drivers licenses in Arkansas when there is an accumulation of demerit points on their driving records. In order to prevent accruing points, the Department of Finance and Administration may allow you to enroll in a defensive driving course in order to avoid a drivers license suspension. For more information about the offered traffic school courses in Arkansas, contact the state DFA.

Types of Arkansas Drivers License Suspensions

Suspended or revoked drivers licenses in Arkansas may result due to various driving or non-driving related reasons and offenses. There are different types of drivers license suspensions, depending on the violation and offender. For instance, the most common offenses that may bring you an Arkansas suspended driving licenses are the following:

  • Driving Under the Influence (DUI) violations.
  • Seat belt violations.
  • Speeding.
  • Reckless driving.
  • Hit-and-run.
  • Failure to maintain auto insurance.

Drivers who are uncertain which of these violations may lead to a drivers license suspension, can order a copy of their driving records and check their license status.

Arkansas DUI Suspensions

Drivers may get a receipt and a notice of drivers license suspension or revocation when arrested by a police officer for a DUI-related violation. The Notice of Suspension/Revocation of Driving Privileges permits license holders to operate their motor vehicles for a period of 30 days.

Once you receive the notice, you can contact Driver Control, or request a hearing within seven days in order to determine your eligibility for a restricted credential. DUI/DWI offenders may get the following drivers license suspensions or revocations:

  • Six-month suspension for a first DUI/DWI offense.
  • 180-day suspension for a first Blood Alcohol Concentrate (BAC) test refusal.
  • Two-year suspension for a second offense within five years.
  • 30-month suspension for a third offense within five years.
  • Four-year revocation for fourth DUI/DWI offense within five years.
  • Permanent revocation for fourth BAC test refusal within five years.

Car Insurance Suspensions

Arkansas drivers license suspension can be issued to motorists who failed to maintain auto insurance. According to state law, drivers are required to purchase a minimum liability insurance coverage of $25,000 for bodily injury of a person, $50,000 for bodily injury in an accident, and $25,000 for property damage.

To reinstate suspended drivers licenses, drivers must satisfy a set of requirements determined by the Department of Finance and Administration. One of those AR drivers license reinstatement requirements is to present proof of current SR-22 car insurance.

Traffic Summons or Failure To Pay

A drivers license suspension in Arkansas may occur as a result of failing to pay traffic tickets. When you have 13 demerit points, the DFA will mail you a warning letter, indicating your license may be suspended if you get 14 or more points on your driving record.

Drivers must pay their traffic tickets on time and appear in court, if necessary, in order to avoid an AR drivers licenses suspension or revocation. Arkansas offers an Online Court Payment system that you may use to pay your traffic tickets and citations. Before paying the required fees, check the list of participating courts that accept online payments.

Note: Failure to appear in court and pay your traffic citation will result in an issuance of a Failure to Appear warrant. You will not only face a drivers license suspension, but you will also have to pay additional fines and costs.

Fees to Reinstate An Arkansas Drivers License

To begin an AR suspended drivers license reinstatement process, drivers must pay the appropriate restoration fees. Calculate the applicable fees before submitting a payment. The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration offers online drivers license reinstatement fee payment service for motorists who have a suspended driving license. To use this service, you may be asked to provide the following information:

  • Your AR driver’s license number.
  • Your date of birth.
  • The last five digits of your Social Security Number.

If you commit a DWI/Refusal offense, you will be required to pay $150 for each offense. If you are a holder of an out-of-state driver’s license, you need to enter your full name and date of birth into the online system. The DFA accepts payments through Visa, MasterCard and Discover card.

Last updated on Tuesday, March 3 2020.