Mass. Hardship License Reinstatement Fees

Some Massachusetts hardship license applicants are confused with respect to the license reinstatement fees which the Registry charges. They mistakenly believe that they will have to pay the reinstatement fees twice, once to get a hardship license and again to get a full reinstatement. This is incorrect. The Registry only charges one reinstatement fee per suspension. For example, if you were a habitual traffic offender who received hardship relief from either the Mass. RMV or the Registry Board of Appeals, you would only pay one (1) reinstatement fee in the amount of $500.00 when you obtained your hardship license from the Registry, after meeting with a Registry hearings officer. When your 4 year Habitual Traffic Offender revocation time was served, you would be eligible to have the 12 hour hardship license restriction removed from your driver’s license. The removal of the hardship hours would not require payment of an additional reinstatement fee, since you license was already reinstated, albeit with a hardship restriction. The same holds true for other license suspensions, including those for DUI, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, no liability policy, 7 surchargable events, drug convictions, and the other approximately 65 ways to lose your Massachusetts Driver’s License.

Of course, in order to get a hardship or any other type of driver’s license from the Mass. Registry, all outstanding obligations must be paid in full. This rule applies to unpaid parking tickets, excise tax, fast lane violations, traffic citations, speeding tickets, and the like. I recommend addressing these matters before even trying to apply for a hardship license, as doing so demonstrates responsibility and it may increase your chances of getting a hardship license. The Registry and Board of Appeal have complete discretion when it comes to deciding who gets a hardship license and who does not.