How to Get a Restricted License After DUI

Posted on June 4, 2026 in DUI

If you have been arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs in Arizona, then, depending on the nature of your conviction, your Arizona driver’s license may be subject to an administrative suspension in addition to any criminal sentencing.

Fortunately, Arizona law provides a path to a restricted license after a DUI — either through a restricted driving permit or through a special ignition interlock restricted driver’s license (SIIRDL).

In this article, we explain how each option works, the mandatory hard suspension period you must serve in some instances, what steps you must complete, and what a restricted license actually allows you to do.

Why Choose Rosenstein Law Group to Get Your Restricted License?

If you have been arrested for or charged with DUI in Arizona, Rosenstein Law Group DUI defense attorneys can represent you. We provide legal counsel throughout all phases of the DUI process, from pre-trial negotiations to trial defense.

We also help clients maintain their Arizona driving privileges if they are charged with or convicted of DUI.

To speak with an experienced Rosenstein Law Group defense lawyer, call us any time at (480) 248-7666 to schedule a free initial consultation. Or, you can use our online contact form to reach us.

Eligibility Requirements for a Restricted License After a DUI Arrest in Arizona

After a DUI, you have two basic options to apply for a restricted license in Arizona: a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) or a Special Ignition Interlock Restricted Driver’s License (SIIRDL).

The Hard Suspension Period

Before you can drive on a restricted driving permit in Arizona, with one exception, you must first complete a mandatory “hard” 30-day suspension period during which you cannot drive at all. The exception is:

Your DUI did not cause death or serious physical injury, you have not been convicted of a DUI within the past 84 months, and you provide satisfactory evidence to the MVD that you have completed MVD-ordered alcohol and/or drug screening, in which case you can request an SIIRDL with installation of an IID. You won’t face the “hard” 30-day suspension.

If this exception does not apply, then the length of the hard suspension depends on the type of suspension you are on:

First-offense Admin Per Se suspension under A.R.S. § 28-1385: 90 days total. A restricted driving permit may be issued after 30 days.
First-refusal implied consent suspension under A.R.S. § 28-1321: 12 months total. An SIIRDL may be issued upon completion of ADOT requirements, and you can avoid the hard suspension.
Second refusal within 84 months under A.R.S. § 28-1321: 24-month hard suspension – no SIIRDL or restricted-permit option available.

Do not drive during any hard suspension period. Any DUI while your license is suspended can trigger an aggravated DUI Class 4 felony charge under A.R.S. § 28-1383.

Restricted Driving Permit (Only Available if Consented to Chemical Test)

A restricted driving permit allows you to drive in limited situations:

To and from work, or while on the job
To and from school
To and from medical appointments
To and from court-ordered screening, education, or treatment sessions

To be eligible for a restricted driving permit, you must:

Have waited at least 30 days of your driver’s license “hard” suspension period, have not caused serious physical injury to another, and have not had a previous Admin Per Se suspension within 84 months (7 years).
Have no other suspensions or withdrawals on your driver’s license.
In some circumstances, you may be required to obtain a certificate of future financial responsibility, also known as “SR-22 insurance.”

If you meet these conditions, then you can apply for a restricted driving permit at a Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) office or through an authorized third-party driver’s license provider.

After a first‑offense Admin Per Se suspension, you may apply for a restricted permit after 30 days upon your successful completion of alcohol and/or drug screening. For a second Admin Per Se suspension within 84 months, a restricted permit is not available, and you must serve the entire “hard” 90-day suspension.

The main advantage of a Restricted Driving Permit is that it does not require you to install a certified ignition interlock device (IID) in any vehicle that you operate.

The main drawback to this kind of restricted permit is that you are restricted in where and under what circumstances you can drive, and you have to withstand the first 30 days of the 90 with a hard suspension – no driving.

Special Ignition Interlock Restricted Driver’s License

If you want to drive during the suspension period and are willing to have an IID installed in any vehicle you drive, then an SIIRDL may be the better choice for you. As with restricted driving permits, the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) of the Arizona Department of Transportation issues an SIIRDL.

Applying for an SIIRDL is voluntary.
By getting an SIIRDL, you will waive any right to a hearing before the MVD.
If your license is a commercial driver’s license, then while you are driving with an SIIRDL, your license will be reduced to a Class D license (a non-commercial license).

Generally speaking, to qualify for an Arizona SIIRDL after a DUI arrest, you must meet all of the following conditions:

Be a previously licensed driver.
Be a first-time DUI offender, or if you are a second-time offender, your first DUI was not an aggravated DUI conviction.
Contact the MVD to verify your eligibility.
Have no other outstanding withdrawal actions pending on your driving record.
Install an ignition interlock on your vehicle before the issuance of the SIIRDL, and provide proof to the MVD with a Verification of Installation form.
Comply with mandatory alcohol treatment programs (if required) and submit proof of completion to the MVD.
Submit proof of future financial responsibility to the MVD (an SR-22 certificate), if required.
Pay all applicable fees.

Typically, IID requirements range from 3 (SIIRDL for Admin Per Se suspension) to 12 – 24 months for a DUI conviction, depending on the DUI classification. If you install your IID before your conviction, the time you serve with an SIIRDL may be credited toward your overall IID requirement in the event you are convicted of DUI, provided your SIIRDL was issued on or after January 1, 2023, and you are over the age of 21.

BAC Test Refusals and SIIRDL Eligibility

Declining to give your consent to blood, breath, or urine testing after a DUI arrest triggers a separate automatic license suspension under Arizona’s implied consent law (A.R.S. § 28-1321).

The suspension length and SIIRDL waiting period are listed in “The Mandatory Hard Suspension Period” above: a first refusal carries a 12-month suspension with an SIIRDL available upon IID installation, and a second refusal within 84 months carries a 24-month hard suspension – no SIIRDL eligibility.

You can still apply for an SIIRDL during either of these suspension periods, provided you satisfy all the other eligibility requirements.

Can You Remove the IID Early?

In some cases, you may be able to have your IID removed after six months, followed by a six-month probationary period. Here are the conditions you must satisfy to qualify:

Your violation occurred on or after January 1, 2012.
Your DUI was a standard DUI with no accident involved.
You have no prior DUI conviction within an 84-month period.
You have completed at least 16 hours of substance abuse education.
There are no extensions or suspensions on your IID.
At least 6 months have passed since your reinstatement date.

What Happens When Your SIIRDL Expires?

Your SIIRDL expires when the suspension or revocation period that the SIIRDL is attached to ends. When your SIIRDL expires, your official IID timeframe will start — but you still need to complete reinstatement at an MVD office before you can legally drive on a full license again.

Once your SIIRDL expires, you will need to complete any remaining license reinstatement requirements before you can get your Arizona driver’s license restored. These may include:

Completing a revocation application
Obtaining or continuing your SR-22 insurance
Maintaining your ignition interlock device
Reinstating your driving privileges
Paying reinstatement fees at any MVD or approved third-party office

Can You Get an SIIRDL With an Aggravated DUI?

In Arizona, an aggravated DUI is a felony that usually results in license revocation instead of suspension. Aggravated DUI occurs when:

Your DUI occurred while your license was suspended, canceled, revoked, refused, or restricted.
Your DUI is your third DUI within 84 months.
Your DUI occurred while a person under 15 years of age was in the vehicle.
You were driving the wrong way on a divided roadway while DUI.

An SIIRDL is only available for aggravated DUI under A.R.S. § 28-1383(A)(3) (a person under 15 years of age in the vehicle), and only if no death or serious physical injury occurred.

If your aggravated DUI falls under A.R.S. § 28-1383(A)(3), you may qualify for an SIIRDL, but only if all of the following conditions apply:

The offense did not involve death or serious injury.
The aggravated DUI qualifies under A.R.S. § 28-1383(A)(3) (a person under 15 years of age in the vehicle).
You complete all required alcohol screening and treatment.
You have installed a certified ignition interlock on every vehicle you operate.
No other active license withdrawals exist.

How Can You Lose an SIIRDL?

Any violation of your SIIRDL IID requirements will result in cancellation of your SIIRDL. Examples include:

Driving a vehicle without an IID installed
Failing to keep the IID maintained and calibrated
Failing to complete IID rolling retests while driving
Tampering with the IID

What a Restricted License Allows You to Do

A restricted license is not a full reinstatement of your driving privileges — but for most people, it is the difference between keeping a job and losing it. What you can actually do with a restricted license depends on which kind you qualify for.

With a Restricted Driving Permit (RDP), you can:

Drive to and from work, or while on the job
Drive to and from school
Drive to and from scheduled medical appointments
Drive to and from court-ordered screening, education, or treatment sessions

With an SIIRDL, you can:

Drive anywhere in Arizona for any legal purpose
Drive any vehicle on which you have installed a certified ignition interlock device

Either type of restricted license can be canceled for any violation of its conditions. Drive only within the scope your permit or license allows, and — if you hold an SIIRDL — keep your IID calibrated, maintained, and free of tampering.

Required Steps for DUI License Reinstatement in Arizona

Whether you are applying for a Restricted Driving Permit, an SIIRDL, or full reinstatement after your restricted license expires, the core steps for DUI license reinstatement in Arizona are the same:

Serve the mandatory hard suspension period for the Restricted Driving Permit. Do not drive during this window.
Complete substance abuse screening through an ADOT-approved provider. In most DUI cases, this also means completing the recommended education or treatment program.
Install a certified ignition interlock device on every vehicle you operate (required for an SIIRDL and required for most post-conviction driving in Arizona). Provide the MVD with verification of installation.
Obtain an SR-22 certificate (only in certain situations) — a certificate of future financial responsibility filed by your insurer with the MVD — and keep it in force for the full required period.
Apply at an MVD office or authorized third-party provider and pay all applicable fees.

Missing any one of these steps, or letting your SR-22 lapse, can delay or cancel your restricted license.

Has Your Arizona Driver’s License Been Suspended or Revoked Because of a DUI?

Having a suspended license in Arizona can have a tremendous negative impact on your ability to work, attend school, or even perform everyday activities like buying groceries or seeing a doctor or dentist.

Even if your license has been suspended or revoked, by applying to the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, you may be able to reinstate at least some of your driving privileges through a DUI restricted license — either a Restricted Driving Permit or an SIIRDL. A Rosenstein Law Group DUI attorney can help you if you have been arrested for suspicion of DUI and are facing a driver’s license suspension or revocation.

To find out more, we are a phone call away at (480) 248-7666, or you can contact us online at any time to schedule a free consultation with one of our highly experienced DUI lawyers.

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