How Do I Reinstate My License in Fort Lauderdale After a DUI?
To reinstate a Fort Lauderdale license after a DUI: finish DUI school, submit documents, file FR-44, pay FLHSMV fees, and reinstate at a Broward Tax Collector office.
To reinstate your license in Fort Lauderdale after a DUI you complete DUI school, submit your documentation, file an FR-44 through your insurer, pay the FLHSMV reinstatement fees, and then finish reinstatement at a Broward County Tax Collector driver-license office, such as the main branch at 115 S. Andrews Ave in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Some suspensions can be reinstated online. Once your privilege is restored, the FR-44 stays on file for about three years.
How do I reinstate my Fort Lauderdale license after a DUI?
You reinstate by clearing every condition tied to your DUI and then completing the reinstatement itself, in that order, because you cannot reinstate until the pieces are in place. There is no single button; it is a short sequence you work through.
For most Broward drivers the path is: finish DUI school, gather and submit your documentation, have your insurer file the FR-44 with the FLHSMV, pay the state’s reinstatement fees, and then reinstate at a Tax Collector office or online. The FR-44 carries the higher 100/300/50 liability the state requires after a DUI. For the statewide version of these steps, see the FR-44 filing guide.
The reason reinstatement feels stressful is that the steps live in different places. The DUI school is one organization, the FR-44 comes from your insurer, the fees go to the state, and the final reinstatement happens at a county office. Nothing automatically tells one of those places that you finished at another, so it falls on you to carry the proof. Working the list in order, and keeping every receipt and certificate, is what turns a confusing process into a short one.
- Complete the required DUI school (a substance-abuse course).
- Submit your documentation to the FLHSMV.
- Have your insurer file the FR-44 electronically.
- Pay the FLHSMV reinstatement fees tied to your case.
- Reinstate at a Broward County Tax Collector office, or online if eligible.
Which Broward County offices handle license reinstatement?
License reinstatement in Broward runs through the county Tax Collector, which operates the local driver-license offices. You do not go to the courthouse to get your license back; you go to one of these service branches.
The main office is at 115 S. Andrews Ave, A100, in downtown Fort Lauderdale, and there is a driver-license office in Lauderdale Lakes at 3718 W. Oakland Park Blvd. General hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Depending on your case, some suspensions can be reinstated online through the Tax Collector or the FLHSMV, which can save you a trip.
It is worth stating plainly, because plenty of Broward drivers show up at the wrong building. The courthouse is where your case is decided, but it is not where your license is printed. The Tax Collector driver-license offices are the ones that actually restore your driving privilege, confirm your FR-44 is on file, and verify your fees are paid. Keep that division in mind and you will not lose a morning in the wrong line.
Where is my Broward DUI case handled?
The DUI case itself is separate from reinstatement and is handled in county court under the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, at the Broward County Courthouse, 201 SE 6th Street in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The court resolves the charge; the Tax Collector restores the license.
Keep the two tracks straight in your head. The court sets your legal conditions, while the Tax Collector office restores your driving privilege once you have met those conditions and filed the FR-44. Finishing the court requirements is what unlocks the reinstatement step, so the sequence flows from the courthouse to the license office, not the other way around.
This separation is also why patience with the paperwork pays off. Anything the court asks for, from proof of DUI school to case documents, should be in hand before you head to the Tax Collector, because a Broward license office cannot reinstate around a condition the court has not yet released. Line the two up in the right order and the final visit is short.
Bring your paperwork, and check online eligibility first
Before you visit a Broward office, confirm your DUI school completion and documentation are submitted, and check whether your suspension can be reinstated online. Arriving with the FR-44 already on file keeps the visit short.
How long does reinstatement take in Fort Lauderdale?
There is no fixed number of days, because it depends on how quickly you finish DUI school, submit documentation, and get the FR-44 filed. The insurer usually files the FR-44 fast, often the same day you buy the policy, so the insurance paperwork is rarely the bottleneck.
The parts that take time are the course and clearing your case conditions. Once everything is in place, reinstatement at a Tax Collector office or online is the final step, and your roughly three-year FR-44 period begins that day. To see all your Broward options in one place, start at the Fort Lauderdale FR-44 hub.
If you want the shortest path, start DUI school early and get the FR-44 quote and filing moving at the same time rather than one after the other. Those two steps do not depend on each other, so running them side by side shaves real time off the wait. The faster you clear both, the sooner a Broward office can put your license back in your hand.
Frequently asked questions
Do I go to the courthouse to get my license back in Broward?
No. Your DUI case is heard in county court at the Broward County Courthouse, 201 SE 6th Street, but reinstatement is handled by the Broward County Tax Collector at a driver-license office such as 115 S. Andrews Ave, or online if eligible.
Do I need to finish DUI school before I reinstate in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. Completing the required DUI school and submitting your documentation are conditions you clear before reinstatement. The FR-44 is filed alongside these steps, and then you reinstate.
Can I reinstate my Fort Lauderdale license online after a DUI?
Some suspensions can be reinstated online through the Tax Collector or FLHSMV once your requirements are met and the FR-44 is filed. Others require an in-person visit, so check your specific case.
How long do I keep the FR-44 after I reinstate in Fort Lauderdale?
The FR-44 stays on file for about three years from the date of reinstatement, and it must remain continuous. A lapse is reported to the FLHSMV and can restart that three-year period.
Informational only. Not legal, financial, or insurance advice. FR-44 and SR-22 requirements are set by Florida (FLHSMV) and the courts and can change; verify your specific requirement with the FLHSMV. Pricing shown is illustrative, not a quote. FR44 Insurance of Florida is an independent insurance agency and not a government entity.