The ALR reinstatement fee in Texas is a flat $125, paid to the Department of Public Safety before it will reissue or renew a license suspended through the Administrative License Revocation program. The amount is set by Texas Transportation Code Sections 524.051 and 724.046.1State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code TRANSP 524.051 – Reinstatement and Reissuance2State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code Section 724.046 – Reinstatement of License or Issuance of New License You pay the same $125 whether you refused a breath or blood test or failed one, and whether this is a first offense or a later one.
When You Owe the Fee and When You Don’t
ALR is a civil action run by DPS, separate from any criminal DWI case. That separation cuts both ways. If your criminal charges are dismissed or reduced, the ALR suspension and its $125 fee still stand. If you requested an ALR hearing within the 15-day window and the administrative law judge rescinded the suspension, you owe nothing for reinstatement.3Department of Public Safety. Section 19 – Administrative License Revocation (ALR) FAQ1State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code TRANSP 524.051 – Reinstatement and Reissuance
There is no waiver, no reduction, and no payment plan. Unlike some court-imposed fines, the $125 ALR fee has no hardship exception. If you don’t pay it, the suspension stays on your record indefinitely, even long after the original suspension period has ended. The money is deposited into the Texas Mobility Fund.2State of Texas. Texas Transportation Code Section 724.046 – Reinstatement of License or Issuance of New License
The $125 covers only the ALR track. If a criminal DWI conviction also suspended your license, or if other compliance items are outstanding, you may owe additional reinstatement fees before DPS shows you as eligible.
When You Become Eligible to Pay
You can’t settle the fee and drive the next day. The suspension has to run its full course first, and the length depends on what happened at the arrest and what’s already on your record.
- Failed test, first offense: 90-day suspension
- Failed test, second or subsequent offense: 1-year suspension
- Refusal, first offense: 180-day suspension
- Refusal, second or subsequent offense: 2-year suspension
A “second offense” for ALR purposes means your driving record shows at least one other alcohol-related or drug-related enforcement contact within the 10 years before the arrest.3Department of Public Safety. Section 19 – Administrative License Revocation (ALR) FAQ Try to pay before your eligibility date and the system will reject the payment.
Paying Online
The fastest route is the DPS License Eligibility portal at texas.gov/licenseeligibility.4Texas.gov. Texas Department of Public Safety – Driver License Eligibility Logging in takes three things: your Texas driver license or ID number, your date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Once you’re in, the portal lists any outstanding suspensions and fees. Pay by credit card or electronic check and you’ll get an immediate confirmation page.
Online payments post to your driving record within 24 to 48 hours.5Texas Department of Public Safety. Reinstating your Driver License or Driving Privilege Save or print the confirmation. If there’s any lag updating your record, that receipt is your proof.
Paying by Mail
If you’d rather not pay online, send a check or money order to:
Texas Department of Public Safety
Central Cash Receiving
P.O. Box 15999
Austin, TX 78761-59995Texas Department of Public Safety. Reinstating your Driver License or Driving Privilege
Write your full name, date of birth, and driver license number on the payment so DPS can match it to the right record. Include a copy of your suspension notice if you still have one. Mailed payments take up to 21 business days to process, so use a trackable method and build in the extra weeks.5Texas Department of Public Safety. Reinstating your Driver License or Driving Privilege
Confirming the Suspension Is Cleared
After the processing window, log back into the License Eligibility portal. Your status should move from “suspended” to “eligible” once DPS verifies payment and confirms nothing else is outstanding. That status change is what counts. It means you’re legally authorized to drive again, as long as the physical license hasn’t expired.
If you still show as suspended past the expected processing time, contact DPS. Typical reasons for a hold include a separate suspension tied to a criminal conviction that requires its own reinstatement steps, an SR-22 filing that never arrived, or another compliance document that was never submitted.
Other Fees and Filings That Can Stack On Top
Many drivers paying the $125 ALR fee also owe something else before DPS will consider them fully compliant.
Occupational License
If you can’t wait out the suspension because you need to drive for work, school, or essential household tasks, you can petition a court for an occupational driver license.6Department of Public Safety. Occupational Driver License Three things are required:
- A court order from a justice of the peace, county, or district court in the county where you live or where the offense occurred.
- An SR-22 insurance certificate filed with DPS.
- Payment of the occupational license fee plus any outstanding reinstatement fees, including the $125 ALR fee.
The restricted license is typically valid for one year, up to two years if the court grants the longer term. It does not cover commercial vehicles.
SR-22 After a DWI Conviction
The $125 ALR fee and the SR-22 obligation are separate but often overlap. If you’re convicted of DWI in criminal court, Texas requires you to file an SR-22 with DPS and keep it in place for two years from the conviction date.7Department of Public Safety. Financial Responsibility Insurance Certificate (SR-22) An SR-22 isn’t a separate policy. It’s a certificate from your insurer confirming you carry at least the state-minimum liability coverage. If the policy lapses, your insurer must notify DPS, and your license will be suspended again. A gap can reset the two-year clock, so continuous coverage matters.
Drivers facing only the ALR suspension, with the criminal case dismissed or resolved in acquittal, generally don’t need an SR-22 for ALR reinstatement itself. Verify your specific requirements through the License Eligibility portal before assuming.
Out-of-State License Holders
If you hold a license from another state, the Texas ALR suspension applies to your privilege to drive in Texas, and Texas reports it to the National Driver Register.8National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. National Driver Register When you try to renew or apply for a license in your home state, that state will see the unresolved Texas suspension and may refuse to act until you clear it.
You have to clear it with Texas DPS directly. Your home state can’t do it for you. The same $125 fee and the same online or mail payment process apply. Once Texas updates your record, the National Driver Register entry updates as well, which should release the hold back home. Allow extra time for the information to move between agencies.