License Restoration
PennDOT restoration fee.
What it actually costs to get a Pennsylvania license back, every surcharge that can stack on top of the base fee, and the three ways to pay PennDOT.
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Short answer: the PennDOT restoration fee is $70. That is the entire cost for most suspensions. If your suspension came from a chemical-test refusal, add $500 (first refusal), $1,000 (second) or $2,000 (third or later)[2] . Add $65 if you are applying for an Ignition Interlock Limited License, and $500–$1,000 if you were cited for driving while suspended[1] . You can pay online, in person at a Driver License Center, or by mail.
The fee chart.
Only the first row applies to everyone. Everything below it is conditional — read the "when it applies" column before you add it to your total. The controlling schedule is PennDOT Form DL-32.
| Fee | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Standard restoration fee | $70 | Every suspension or revocation restoration, whatever the underlying reason. |
| Chemical test refusal — first | $500 | Added on top of the $70 when the suspension came from a refusal under § 1547. |
| Chemical test refusal — second | $1,000 | Second refusal on your record. |
| Chemical test refusal — third or more | $2,000 | Third and subsequent refusals. |
| Ignition Interlock Limited License (IILL) | $65 | Only if you apply for an IILL to drive during the suspension. |
| Driving under suspension surcharge | $500 – $1,000 | Assessed when you were cited for driving while suspended under § 1543. |
| Duplicate / replacement product | $34.50 (approx.) | If you also need a replacement license or ID issued with the restoration. |
Most straightforward restorations land between $70 and $135. Refusal cases are the expensive outlier. Fees are set by statute and PennDOT schedule and can change — confirm your figure on your own DL-16LC letter before paying.
How to pay the restoration fee.
PennDOT accepts payment three ways. Online posts the same day, which matters if you are trying to be restored the moment your suspension ends.
Pull your restoration requirements letter (DL-16LC)
It lists every outstanding requirement and your exact fee total. If you never got it, your address on file is probably stale — update it and request a driver history through PennDOT Driver and Vehicle Services.
Confirm every non-fee requirement is satisfied
Court costs, alcohol highway safety school, CRN evaluation, treatment, interlock installation. Restoration fees are non-refundable, so verify before you pay.
Pay online (fastest)
Use PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services online portal with a credit or debit card. You will need your driver's license number, date of birth, and the last four digits of your SSN. Payment posts the same day.
Or pay in person
Any PennDOT Driver License Center takes payment, and if your record already reads CLEARED they can issue the restored license the same visit. Bring photo ID and your DL-16LC.
Or pay by mail
Send a check or money order payable to PennDOT with your completed DL-16LC and supporting documents to the address printed on the form. Allow extra time for mail and processing.
Keep the receipt and confirm the record cleared
Save the confirmation number. Check your driver record a few days later — a payment that posted but a requirement still flagged is the usual reason a restoration stalls.
Paying the fee is not the same as being restored.
Do not drive on the strength of a paid receipt. Until PennDOT actually restores the privilege, driving is still an offense under 75 Pa.C.S. § 1543[1] , and a DUI-related suspension carries a mandatory minimum jail sentence[4] . If you need to drive during the suspension, the Ignition Interlock Limited License is the only real option[3] .
Related license reading.
- Getting your license back after a DUI — the full 6-step restoration sequence
- How many points suspend a PA license — the 6 and 11-point thresholds
- Driving on a suspended license in PA — § 1543 penalties and defenses
- PA ignition interlock & IILL — how to keep driving during suspension
Free download · 5-page PDF
PA License Points & Suspension Guide
Every point value, the 6 and 11-point suspension thresholds, how points come off your record, PennDOT restoration fees, and the 30-day appeal window — printable and shareable. Tell us where to send it.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Common questions about the PennDOT restoration fee and paying it.
The standard PennDOT restoration fee is $70. That is the whole cost for most suspensions. Refusal-based suspensions add $500 for a first refusal, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for a third or later refusal. An Ignition Interlock Limited License adds $65, and a driving-under-suspension citation can add $500–$1,000 in surcharges.
Three ways: online through PennDOT's Driver and Vehicle Services portal with a credit or debit card, in person at any PennDOT Driver License Center, or by mail with a check or money order payable to PennDOT along with your restoration requirements letter (Form DL-16LC). Online is fastest — the payment posts the same day.
Yes. You can pay the fee and pre-file the rest of the restoration packet before your suspension end date so the restoration issues on day one instead of two to three weeks later. Paying early does not shorten the suspension itself.
Not automatically. Payment is one requirement. Once every requirement is satisfied and your record reads CLEARED, PennDOT mails the restored license in roughly 2–3 weeks, or you can walk into a Driver License Center for same-day issuance.
No. PennDOT does not refund restoration fees, so confirm you have satisfied every requirement on your DL-16LC before paying. Pull your driver history first if you are unsure what is still outstanding.
The DL-16LC goes to the address PennDOT has on file, which is why out-of-date addresses are the single most common reason people never see it. Update your address, then request a driver history or the letter through PennDOT's online portal or by calling Driver and Vehicle Services.
Yes — the $70 fee applies to any suspension restoration, including point-based suspensions, not just DUI. Refusal surcharges only apply to chemical-test refusals.
Yes. Pay online or by mail. Pennsylvania will not restore your PA driving privilege until the fee is paid and every requirement is met, and your home state generally will not issue you a license while a PA suspension is outstanding.
Related pages
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BAC tiers, ARD, and how to keep it off your record.
Second-offense DUI in PA
Mandatory jail, 12–18 month suspension, and where the defense wins.
ARD & Act 58 of 2025
How a prior ARD now counts as a prior offense.
Criminal defense
Beyond DUI — every PA misdemeanor and felony.
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Sources & statutory citations
- [1]75 Pa.C.S. § 1543 — Driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked; §1543(b) — DUI-related suspension penalties.
- [2]75 Pa.C.S. § 1547 — Chemical testing / implied consent; refusal suspension (12 months first, 18 months for second/subsequent).
- [3]75 Pa.C.S. § 1553 — Occupational limited license (OLL).
- [4]75 Pa.C.S. § 3804 — DUI penalty tiers, mandatory minimums, license suspension, ignition interlock.
Statutes are summarized for public reference. Confirm current text at palegis.us. This page is attorney advertising, not legal advice.
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