A suspended license isn’t always the end of the road. With a Florida hardship license, you can still drive to work, drop your kids off at school, and make other essential trips throughout the duration of your suspension.
Unfortunately, not everyone can apply for a Florida hardship license. Read on to learn more about hardship licenses and how taking a Florida Advanced Driver Improvement (ADI) course through Ticket School is part of the process for many to get back on the road again.
What Is a Florida Hardship License?
A Florida hardship license grants suspended drivers limited driving privileges during their suspension. While these privileges allow them to continue essential activities such as driving to and from work, they can’t drive anywhere beyond these limits.
Some suspended drivers are not eligible to obtain a hardship license while others are. It is difficult to say who is or isn’t eligible since each driver’s record is unique. Those that are eligible can set up a Hardship license hearing, register and complete a 12-hour Florida ADI course or DWI course, and submit a hardship application to try to obtain their hardship license.
Hardship License Eligibility
Most drivers with suspensions due to point or traffic citations are eligible to apply for a Florida hardship license, but there are circumstances where they are not. We recommend that anyone interested in getting their hardship first download the Florida Hardship Application Form and call one of the Administrative Review offices to determine if they are eligible to set up a hardship hearing.
Most suspended licenses are the result of accumulating too many points on your driving record. Other potential offenses include failure to appear for summons or failure to pay child support.
Habitual Traffic Offenders (HTOs) with suspended licenses are also eligible to apply for a hardship license. However, they’ll need to complete a Florida ADI course before applying.
Ineligible drivers are typically those whose licenses have been suspended for safety- and substance-related issues, such as:
- Drivers with a DUI conviction who have not completed a DUI course
- Drivers who have been deemed incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle
- Drivers with suspended licenses due to inadequate vision
Hardship License Types and Rules
Though a hardship license grants certain privileges, they are limited to either “employment purposes” or “business purposes,” depending on what type of license you’re issued.
An employment purposes hardship license only allows drivers to take trips to and from work. If your job requires work-related driving (such as making deliveries), you’ll need a “business purposes” hardship license.
A business purposes hardship license allows drivers to make trips to and from work and perform job-related driving activities or is used for certain non-work purposes such as education, church, or medical treatments.
While the business purposes license is the most flexible, your hearing officer will determine which one you’re eligible for based on your personal circumstances and the nature of your offense(s).
Apply for a Florida Hardship License
While having a suspended license is hard, applying for a hardship license is easy.
- Complete the Florida hardship license application form. Be sure to provide a complete list of reasons why you need to drive during your suspension (school, work, etc.).
- Register for a 12-hour Florida ADI course and get your enrollment certificate. With Ticket School’s online course, you can receive your enrollment certificate instantly during the registration process. Remember if you have been labeled a Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO), you are required to complete (not just enroll in) the ADI course before the hearing.
- Contact your local Florida Bureau of Administrative Review office to schedule your hearing. Be sure to provide your hardship license application form and Florida ADI course enrollment or completion certificate.
- Pay any required fees. State filing fees usually amount to $12 and $25 for hardship and administrative hearings, respectively.
- Attend your hearing and obtain your hardship license (if eligible).
Take Your Florida ADI Course Online at Ticket School
It is important to note that every person’s situation is unique, so it is highly recommended that drivers contact the Bureau of Administrative Review before starting down the process with any questions, to determine their eligibility, etc. As the hardship application form indicates, you must either show that you have enrolled in and/or completed either an Advanced Driver Improvement course (ADI) or a DUI course.
If you are unsure which you need, you should contact one of the Administrative Review offices listed on the hardship application form. Once it has been determined that taking the 12-hour Advanced driver improvement course is part of their process, taking the course online offers so many benefits. It will save you the time of finding a classroom option near you that fits your schedule and the time to drive there. The other great benefit is you can break up the class as needed instead of doing it over two sittings.
Ticket School’s online Florida ADI course is available entirely online 24/7. With a low price and a money-back guarantee, getting back on the road has never been more flexible and affordable.
Visit TicketSchool.com to get registered today! Call 1-800-558-9887 with any questions or concerns.