License Reinstatement

No. Paying the reinstatement fee alone does not automatically restore your driving privileges. All suspension requirements must be satisfied before all driver privileges can be restored.

Testing depends on the length of your suspension. No testing is required for drivers suspended for less than one year.

Vision and written tests are required for drivers suspended for more than one year.

If suspended for over five years, the driver must start the process over by taking the vision and written test and obtaining a permit.

A $40 reinstatement or re-licensing fee may be required. Refer to your suspension notice from the Division of Driver Licensing to confirm whether a fee is required.

Eligible in-state license holders may pay online through myDrive. You will need to create a myDrive account and link it to your Kentucky license using a valid Letter ID.

If you currently have an active ID card, it must be canceled before you can pay your reinstatement fee.

The Kentucky State Police oversees all written and road testing throughout Kentucky.

​CDL reinstatement fees cannot be paid online.

If your license has been suspended for over one year, you will need to meet all the requirements of the suspension, pay the reinstatement fee, and schedule an appointment with the Kentucky State Police​ to retake the written and vision tests.​

​Suspension notices are mailed to the address as it appears on your license/identification card when the suspension is issued. If you have moved and have not notified the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet of your new address (as required by law), you may not receive your written notice of suspension.​

​​The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet does not accept payments for fines. These must be paid directly to the court in the county where you received the ticket. While you can pay a reinstatement fee before paying your fine, your license will not be active until ALL requirements are met.

​​​Once a suspension for failure to pay a fine on a ticket or a citation goes into effect, you must meet ALL requirements for reinstatement. In addition to paying your fine to the court, you must pay a reinstatement fee to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. You cannot be reinstated if you have paid your fine but have not paid your reinstatement fee. There is no statute of limitations on driver suspensions, as they remain in effect until all requirements are met and the Driver Licensing Division has issued a notice of reinstatement.​

​​​​Since 1996, the federal government has required that all states participate in a program that prevents individuals who have had a suspension issued to them in one state (or more than one state) from obtaining a license in another. A nationwide system tracks all drivers (or potential drivers) to prevent the issuance of a license to a suspended person.​

​​​​If your license expires during your suspension timeframe, you will need to pay the renewal fee in addition to your reinstatement fee.