Indianapolis Driver’s License Suspensions and Reinstatement Attorney
How Can I Get My Driver's License Reinstated in Indiana?
You can get your license reinstated by resolving all underlying suspensions, paying BMV reinstatement fees, and providing proof of insurance where required under Indiana Code 9-25-4. Accumulating 18 or more points in two years, a DUI/OVWI conviction, habitual traffic violator status, and driving without insurance are the most common causes of suspension — an attorney can help identify the fastest path back to reinstatement, especially in cases involving multiple suspensions.
When the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) or an Indiana court determines that a driver has acted in an illegal or harmful way—or has demonstrated a pattern of committing smaller offenses—they can suspend your driver’s license. Not being able to drive can often seriously disrupt a driver’s life and knowing how the BMV’s license suspension and reinstatement system works can be critical in making sure you are legally back on the road as soon as possible.
If your license has been suspended and you want to streamline the reinstatement process, then it is recommended that you contact a knowledgeable and thorough Indianapolis driver’s license lawyer at Keffer Hirschauer LLP today. Our trusted team is ready to sit down with you, review the circumstances of your suspension, and help you take the proper steps to get you back behind the wheel.
What Can Cause a Driver’s License to Be Suspended in Indiana?
Here are some of the various actions that can cause someone to have his or her license suspended:
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs ( DUI/OVWI/OVI )
- Being considered a habitual traffic violator, meaning the driver has committed a certain number of traffic violations within a 10-year period
- Failing to complete Driver Safety Program (DSP) or Defensive Driving Course (DDC) when it has been ordered by the court (usually required after convictions for traffic violations)
- Driving without insurance
- Failing to pay traffic tickets or failing to appear in court regarding traffic citations
- Accumulating 18 or more traffic ticket “points” during a two-year period (as explained below)
How Do License Points Work in Indiana?
Indiana uses a points system to monitor a driver’s illegal activity on the road, where each moving violation assigns certain number of points to your license. If eighteen of these points accumulate on your license over the course of two years, then a hearing is set and it is likely your license automatically becomes suspended.
Common violations and their point values include:
- Traveling 1-15 mph over the speed limit: 2 points
- Ignoring a traffic device: 4 points
- Failure to signal: 2 points
- Failure to yield: 6 points
- Failure to yield for an emergency vehicle: 8 points
- Improper U-turn: 4 points
- Driving while suspended: 8 points plus a mandatory suspension
Many of the more serious violations come with high point value, plus an automatic license suspension of one year. These include driving while suspended, resisting law enforcement inside a vehicle, and operating a vehicle while being suspended as a habitual traffic violator.
How Do I Get My License Reinstated After Accumulating Points?
Just because you have accumulated eighteen or more points does not necessarily mean your license will be completely suspended. If a BMV hearing is set, then you may have the opportunity to argue down some of your violations or petition for specialized driving privileges. At Keffer Hirschauer LLP, we are prepared to stand by you during these hearings, speak emphatically on your behalf, and ensure that every avenue towards retaining your ability to drive is explored.
There are some cases in which it is possible to completely avoid a license suspension or to get your driver’s license reinstated sooner rather than later. For example, it may be possible to prove that the driver was actually insured at the time of his or her citation, or there may be strong grounds to contest a DUI/OVWI/OVI suspension in an administrative hearing (such as the grounds that the officer did not have enough probable cause to make the stop).
Get Help from our Indiana Drivers License Suspension Attorneys
If you are at risk of having your driver’s license suspended or you need help getting your license reinstated after a suspension, you should not hesitate to consult with a competent attorney. At Keffer Hirschauer LLP, our Indianapolis lawyers are fully knowledgeable of how the BMV system works and what steps need to be taken to help you protect your driving privileges.
Our legal team wants to do everything possible to help you avoid a driver’s license suspension, or to help you regain your license as soon as possible after your suspension. Contact Keffer Hirschauer LLP so we can advocate for you!
Frequently Asked Question
You can get your Indiana driver’s license reinstated by resolving all underlying suspensions, paying BMV reinstatement fees, and providing proof of insurance when required under Indiana Code 9-25-4. In complex cases involving multiple suspensions, an Indianapolis Driver’s License Suspensions and Reinstatement Attorney can help identify the fastest reinstatement path.
Specialized Driving Privileges (SDP) are available to most suspended drivers except those specifically barred under Indiana Code 9-30-16-1, such as individuals who refused a chemical test or never held an Indiana license, subject to some exceptions. Eligible drivers must file a verified petition and follow all court-ordered conditions.
License suspensions in Indiana can last anywhere from 90 days to several years, depending on the offense type and whether it involves OWI, HTV, or criminal convictions. Statutory suspension lengths appear throughout Indiana Code 9-30-16 and vary widely by case.
You generally cannot drive for work with a suspended license unless the court grants specialized driving privileges in Indiana, which allow limited driving for employment, medical care, and other essential travel. Driving without such privileges can result in new criminal charges under Indiana’s traffic laws.
Yes—suspensions tied to OWI or HTV can sometimes be appealed or modified, either through administrative review or by seeking specialized driving privileges. In these situations, an Indianapolis Driver’s License Suspension Attorney can help determine whether an appeal, modification, or SDP petition is the best option.