The reinstatement application is the form the DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) uses to review a request to restore a District of Columbia driver's license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle that was revoked after an alcohol or drug related offense. It asks whether you have driven since the revocation, whether you have been charged with a traffic alcohol violation, and whether you completed state-certified alcohol counseling. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; DC DMV publishes the original PDF and decides the application.
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What is Reinstatement Application – District of Columbia?
The Reinstatement Application is the District of Columbia Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) form that a driver whose license or privilege to drive was revoked completes to ask for reinstatement, reporting driving since the revocation, any alcohol charge and counseling status.
DC DMV's reinstatement page explains the setting: a driver whose license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in the District was revoked as the result of an alcohol or drug related offense must submit a written application and include proof of completion of a state-certified alcohol/drug counseling program. This form is that written application.
The form collects your identifying details and the charge (its date and status), then asks a short series of questions about driving since the revocation, any traffic alcohol charge since then, and counseling. It ends with a certification that the information is true and correct, signed by the customer.
A Hearing Examiner reviews the application and documentation and sends a written decision by mail. If the examiner thinks an in-person or virtual hearing would help, you may be contacted to schedule one. If you are approved, DC DMV's page says you must pay all outstanding tickets and fees and the reinstatement fee. The form is not a license and does not itself restore driving privileges.
Who needs to file Reinstatement Application – District of Columbia?
Drivers whose District of Columbia driver's license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in the District was revoked as the result of an alcohol or drug related offense use this application to ask DC DMV for reinstatement. The form is completed and signed by the customer, and it asks for your driver license number, the issuing state, your date of birth and the charge that led to the revocation.
Conditions that come with the application:
- If you have been convicted of an alcohol-related offense, a certificate of completion from a state-certified alcohol-counseling program is mandatory.
- If you have not completed counseling, you may instead attach an alcohol/drug assessment that determined counseling was unnecessary.
- MADD Victim Impact courses and driver improvement courses do not meet the counseling requirement.
- High risk insurance may be required at reinstatement if the conviction occurred within the last three years; DC DMV's page says drivers licensed in the District must provide proof of SR-22 insurance in that case.
The form does not describe anyone signing for the applicant.
When to file Reinstatement Application – District of Columbia
Submit the Reinstatement Application when you are ready to ask DC DMV to reinstate a license or privilege that was revoked after an alcohol or drug related offense. The form prints no filing deadline. It does say that all documentation must be submitted with the application, so have your counseling certificate or assessment in hand before you send it.
After you file, a Hearing Examiner reviews the application and documents and sends the decision in writing by mail; you may be contacted to schedule a hearing if the examiner wants to better understand the circumstances. DC DMV's page states that, once approved, you must pay outstanding tickets and fees and the reinstatement fee; ask DC DMV for the current amount. If your conviction was within the last three years, insurance proof may be required at the time of reinstatement. No processing time is given.
Documents you need
- A copy of your certificate of completion from a state-certified alcohol-counseling program, if you answer Yes to having completed one. It is mandatory if you were convicted of an alcohol-related offense.
- A copy of your alcohol/drug assessment, if you have not completed counseling and an assessment determined counseling was unnecessary.
How to fill out Reinstatement Application – District of Columbia
Enter your full legal name
Under Customer Information, write your last name, first name, middle name and suffix, and complete the date field on that line.
Add your address and contact details
Enter your address, city, state, ZIP code, telephone number and e-mail address.
Enter license and birth information
Write your driver license number, the state that issued it and your date of birth.
Describe the charge
In the charge row, enter the charge, the date of the charge and the status of the charge.
Answer the questions about driving
Mark YES or NO to whether you operated a motor vehicle since you were revoked. If you did, enter the last time you operated one.
Report any alcohol violation charge
Mark YES or NO to whether you have been charged with a traffic alcohol violation since the revocation. If yes, state when and where the charge occurred.
State your counseling status
Mark YES or NO to having completed a state-certified alcohol counseling program; if yes, attach or upload the certificate of completion. If no, say whether an alcohol/drug assessment found counseling unnecessary and attach that assessment.
Sign and date the certification
Sign and date at the bottom to certify that the information is true and correct. Do not use a fictitious name or address.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check every answer and attachment against the form, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and submit it with your documents through the channels described under How to submit.
How to submit Reinstatement Application – District of Columbia
You can send the Reinstatement Application and your supporting documentation to DC DMV Adjudication Services by email, by mail or in person. The form says all documentation must go in together with the application.
- Email: [email protected], with the application and supporting documentation.
- Mail: the form prints Adjudication Services, PO Box 91980, Washington, DC 20098. DC DMV's reinstatement page lists DC DMV Adjudication Services, PO Box 90120, Washington, DC 20090. Because the two differ, confirm the current P.O. box with DC DMV before mailing.
- In person: during business hours, bring the completed form and documents to Adjudication Services, 955 L'Enfant Plaza SW, P-100, Washington, DC. DC DMV's page gives the location as 955 L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Promenade Level – Suite P100, Washington, DC 20024.
DC DMV notifies you of the decision in writing. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving out the certificate of completion from a state-certified alcohol-counseling program when you have an alcohol-related conviction; the form calls it mandatory.
- Submitting a MADD Victim Impact or driver improvement course as proof of counseling; the form states these are not acceptable.
- Sending the application and the supporting documents separately; the form says all documentation must be submitted with the application.
- Answering No to completing counseling but attaching no assessment showing counseling was unnecessary.
- Answering Yes to driving since the revocation, or to an alcohol charge since then, without the date of last driving or the when and where of the charge.
- Using a fictitious name or address, or knowingly making a false statement; the form says this violates D.C. Law (D.C. Official Code §22-2405).
- Mailing to the P.O. box without checking it: the form and DC DMV's page list different P.O. boxes for Adjudication Services.
- Leaving the customer signature and date blank under the certification that the information is true and correct.
Frequently asked questions
What is the reinstatement application for DC DMV?
It is the written application a driver sends to the DC Department of Motor Vehicles to ask for reinstatement of a District of Columbia license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle revoked after an alcohol or drug related offense. A Hearing Examiner reviews it.
Who has to file the DC DMV reinstatement application?
Drivers whose DC license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle in the District was revoked as the result of an alcohol or drug related offense. DC DMV's page says they must apply in writing and include proof of completing a state-certified alcohol/drug counseling program.
Is a MADD or driver improvement course accepted?
No. The form and DC DMV's page both say MADD Victim Impact and driver improvement courses are not acceptable for the state-certified alcohol-counseling requirement. A convicted driver needs a certificate of completion from a state-certified program.
Where do I send the reinstatement application?
Email [email protected], mail it to DC DMV Adjudication Services, or bring it to 955 L'Enfant Plaza SW, P-100, Washington, DC, during business hours. The form and DC DMV's page list different P.O. boxes, so confirm the mailing address with DC DMV first.
What happens after I submit the application?
A Hearing Examiner reviews the application and documents and mails you a written decision. If the examiner thinks a hearing would help, you may be contacted to schedule an in-person or virtual one. No processing time is stated.
What if I have not completed alcohol counseling?
The form asks whether an alcohol/drug assessment found counseling unnecessary. If it did, attach or upload a copy of that assessment. If you were convicted of an alcohol-related offense, the counseling certificate is mandatory.
Will I need SR-22 insurance or pay fees to be reinstated?
Possibly. DC DMV says drivers licensed in the District must provide SR-22 insurance proof if the conviction was within the last three years, and approved applicants must pay outstanding tickets and fees plus the reinstatement fee. Ask DC DMV for amounts.
Can I fill out the reinstatement application online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of DC DMV and does not submit the application; you send it by email, mail or in person.
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